Black Wind Ridge

The Mountain Ghost Spirit Officer had come in a hurry and left just as quickly. The Black Bear Monster peered after his departing figure, then turned to Qin Xuan. "Benefactor, he wants your life." "How could you tell, Master?" The black bear pressed his palms together. "One need only possess the discerning eye of wisdom that distinguishes good from evil." Qin Xuan frowned slightly, looking in the direction where the spirit officer had fled. What kind of benefit had the black catfish demon promised to make the Hawk's Beak Mountain God take such a reckless risk, even entering the fray in person? However, recalling that the relationship between the Black Bear Monster and the Hawk's Beak Mountain God was far from harmonious, Qin Xuan did not entirely take him at his word. "Master," he said, pointing to his own arm, "my corpse poison has flared up. Might I visit your esteemed sanctuary another time?" The Black Bear Monster fixed his eyes on Qin Xuan's wound. "This poison is exceptionally vicious. Poor monk has a spirit spring at home; Benefactor may go and take a good soak in it." To refuse now would be no different from testing the black bear's bottom line. The sword qi bestowed by the sword immortal sister was a karmic gift and could never be used lightly. Qin Xuan had no desire to go with him, but the words changed the moment they reached his lips: "Many thanks." A swirl of mist rose beside the towering, pagoda-like monk, lifting beneath their feet before carrying them straight into the depths of Hawk's Beak Mountain. The Black Bear Monster had long recognized Qin Xuan's identity, and now took the opportunity to properly introduce themselves. "How should I address Benefactor?" "My surname is Qin, given name Xuan. And what is Master's dharma name?" "Benefactor Qin, this poor monk is Jie Wang." "Ah, so it is Master Jie Wang! Long have I admired your name, and to meet you today, you truly possess an immortal bearing and an extraordinary presence." Within the mist, there was complete silence for a good while. Only after an awkward pause did a voice drift out: "Benefactor Qin... this poor monk only came up with that dharma name just now..." "..." Black Wind Ridge lay to the east of Hawk's Beak Mountain, separated from the king's tomb by fifty or sixty li. The ridge's name sounded ominous, but when Qin Xuan arrived, the scenery before him was remarkably tranquil and secluded. Lush, towering trees blanketed the ridge, most of them ancient specimens thousands of years old. Their overlapping branches and leaves formed a dark, heavy canopy when viewed from afar, which was why it was called Black Wind Ridge, rather than possessing any sinister or baleful miasma. "Benefactor Qin, that is the spirit spring." Looking down from the cloud head, one could see a deep ravine behind the ridge, its waters flowing forth from a stone cleft at the summit. Below lay a pool. On either cliff face grew a white sandalwood tree, dozens of feet high, hanging over the water like a gateway. The pool was shrouded in a wondrous white vapor, which welled up incessantly from the bottom. Qin Xuan was brought down to the water's edge, and the bear gestured for him to get in. Having just learned a hard lesson from Old Man Black Corpse, Qin Xuan was far more cautious now. He probed, "Master, could you do me a favor?" "Please speak." Qin Xuan retrieved the long-necked porcelain bottle from Feng Jiu's hundred-treasure pouch. "I have a talisman trapped within Gui Yin Corpse-Refining Divine Evil and cannot extract it. Might I trouble you for a helping hand? My elders are currently searching for me, and I must use this talisman to send word that I am safe." "Amitabha, how excellent." The Black Bear Monster raised his hand and drew out the Gui Yin Corpse-Refining Divine Evil, plucked free the Talisman of Conferment, and returned the divine evil into the bottle. Handing both the talisman and the bottle back to Qin Xuan, he said, "Benefactor may report your safety, but do not summon anyone here. Soak away the corpse poison first; this poor monk will come find you shortly." With those words, he departed on a cloud of mist. Holding the talisman, Qin Xuan pondered what this black bear was truly after. Should he summon the temple head here? In the end, he activated the Talisman of Conferment three consecutive times. A single signal was a call for rescue; three meant all was well. "If he bore ill intent, there would have been no need to hand back the talisman. In another's domain, one must not breach etiquette." The old bear was a stickler for propriety, and Qin Xuan had no desire to break his rules. Just as he submerged himself in the spirit spring to purge Feng Jiu's corpse poison, an old Daoist hovering high above Pingyuan Commandery sensed the talisman's aura, and his face instantly cleared. Tossing aside a corpse he had been holding in his grip, he flicked his horsetail whisk and headed straight for the City God Temple in the commandery seat. Daoist Wu arrived riding a white cloud, where the Day Wandering Spirit and Night Wandering Spirit of the City God Temple stepped forward together to receive him. Inside the temple, the clay statue of Lord City God spoke directly: "Fellow Daoist Wu, what leisure brings you to grace my humble temple today?" As the mightiest divine entity in the commandery, who had already enjoyed four centuries of spirit lifespan, the moment he spoke, both inside and outside the temple fell into hushed reverence. Daoist Wu showed not the slightest smile. "Xieling evildoers run rampant through the city, yet how can Lord City God turn a blind eye?" The City God replied, "I have received orders from Prison City and dare not act rashly. Fellow Daoist Wu, I ask for your understanding." The so-called Prison City was a special penitentiary within the imperial dynasty. Unlike ordinary mortal prisons, it held all manner of monsters, demons, and heretics. Both Great Xia and Great Shu possessed their own Prison Cities. They assisted the dynasties in maintaining stability; the imperial courts handed troublesome figures over to them for capture, using them to check and balance the great immortal sects. Prison City, in turn, oversaw the subordinate divine realms through Yingyang Prefecture and enjoyed their offerings of incense. The Prison Cities backing the three great dynasties formed the most formidable incense-based orthodox lineages among all the myriad teachings and paths in Zhongzhou. Hearing this, Daoist Wu sent a voice transmission, pressing further: "What orders did Prison City give?" Lord City God looked troubled. "Fellow Daoist, that is rather difficult to say." Daoist Wu was displeased. "Many of the demon sect figures who struck today fled straight out of shrines under your jurisdiction. A core disciple of our sect—a genius highly valued by the elders—has been abducted." Seeing his unyielding stance, Lord City God knew he would not rest until he learned the truth. "Fellow Daoist, the imperial mausoleum of Great Xia was breached, and the tomb of the King of Henai was plundered, causing tremors in the dragon veins. News of this spread from Zhongzhou to Great Yan, and the grave robbers have also arrived in the Eastern Ascendant Continent. "The Sovereign of Great Yan has commanded every Prison City to remain on high alert and cooperate with Great Xia to capture these perpetrators. Therefore, all subordinate deities must prioritize this matter above all else. Until the Commander of Prison City arrives, no one is permitted to act rashly." "Even so, that is no excuse to ignore turmoil within the city," Daoist Wu sighed. "City God Sun, in my memory, you were not such a deity." Lord City God let out a long sigh of his own. "How could this old one ever enjoy the freedom you possess, Daoist Wu? A single misstep, and I will have little spirit lifespan left to speak of. How could I dare defy higher orders?" Sensing his genuine difficulties, Daoist Wu softened his tone. "Do you know which faction acted with such audacity?" "It is the Juetian Sect," Lord City God replied. He then offered a well-meaning warning: "Certain figures from Great Xia have already stepped out from Huangbo Immortal Mountain and entered the North Sea Dragon Palace. Within days, they will arrive in the Eastern Ascendant Continent. Who knows what was stolen? Since you can remain uninvolved, Fellow Daoist Wu, do not wade into these murky waters." This was the first Daoist Wu had heard of this, and he realized the gravity of the situation. Since Guanjiang Mountain was not intervening, he had no wish to pry further. Daoist Wu stepped into the temple hall and gazed up at the statue of Lord City God. "Those from the Xieling Sect mostly came from the direction of the Yishui River God's Mansion. Does City God Sun know anything about that?" Lord City God replied, "The Clear Water Flood Dragon King of Guangling Water Palace is deeply dissatisfied with the distribution of spirit veins along the upper reaches of the Lan River. Your Upper Court has always been unyielding and offended the dragon king. Meanwhile, a manager in the Lan River happens to harbor a grudge against your disciples, and taking advantage of his master's displeasure, he sought to make trouble for you. "The Yishui River God's Mansion naturally acted in accordance with that Lan River manager's arrangements." The City God received intelligence from local deities far and wide and was privy to many secrets. The moment he spoke, Daoist Wu's doubts were cleared. "Many thanks." After offering his thanks, Daoist Wu lit three sticks of incense for Lord City God. The City God smiled warmly. "You are too polite, Fellow Daoist. This is the first time I have tasted incense of this grade; it seems Yuansong Temple has produced a remarkable junior." Then, shifting his tone, he drew a clear boundary: "Neither the Yishui River God's Mansion nor the Lan River Water Palace has the slightest connection to me." ... A wondrous vapor rose from the spirit spring on Black Wind Ridge. Before long, the corpse poison planted by Feng Jiu was completely purged by the billowing mist, which also rapidly replenished Qin Xuan's magic power. The Black Bear Monster returned and led Qin Xuan into a cave abode bearing the inscription "Heart-Cleansing Chan Cave" above its entrance. The cavern was roughly thirty feet wide and fifty feet deep, its stone walls smooth and even, adorned with several hanging ink wash landscape scrolls. In the center stood a stone dais topped with a meditation cushion, beside which lay an open copy of the Diamond Chan Scripture. To the left sat a stove simmering an earthenware pot, gurgling softly as tea brewed within. Qin Xuan located the wild boars the Black Bear Monster had mentioned, dressed them clean, and set them over a fire to roast. Once settled, he sought to probe the bear's intentions. "Master, besides delivering these wild boars to the afterlife, is there anything else I might help with?" "Benefactor Qin possesses great spiritual roots," the Black Bear Monster praised before continuing, "There is a matter that has weighed on poor monk's heart for a long time, yet I have never been able to accomplish it, and I wished to consult someone. It concerns the Hawk's Beak Mountain God Temple." Seeing Qin Xuan listening attentively, he carried on: "Inside that mountain god's temple lies a treasured kasaya inscribed with Buddhist scriptures. Poor monk dearly wishes to borrow it for a look." "A treasured kasaya?" Qin Xuan was baffled. "Master, the Hawk's Beak Mountain God belongs to the royal shrine divine order. How could he possess a Buddhist treasure you hold in such high regard?" The Black Bear Monster could barely maintain his pious facade any longer and rubbed his paws together anxiously. "You do not know—that mountain god is deeply connected with Monk Jin Guan of Liangfeng Temple, and Liangfeng Temple likewise possesses a treasured kasaya." "How did Master learn of this?" "It is quite a coincidence," the bear said, pointing west. "There is another great demon in these mountains, a venomous scorpion named Ma Jin. She often transforms into a comely village woman to seduce men far and wide, which is why she is called Lady Soul Snatcher. "The Poison Scorpion King of Chuanlai Commandery, Ma Chang, is her elder brother. The two of them were once lovers, but because Lady Soul Snatcher took lovers everywhere she went, Ma Chang grew resentful. A quarrel broke out between them, so she left and came to Hawk's Beak Mountain." The bear's words poured out rapidly: "When Lady Soul Snatcher failed to seduce this poor monk, she settled for the next best thing and took our neighbor, Mountain God Tan, as her paramour. About five or six years later, I detected Buddhist magic power on that scorpion demon. Following that trail, I finally uncovered the Hawk's Beak Mountain God's secret." The moment he mentioned the treasured kasaya, the Black Bear Monster wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth. Qin Xuan could clearly see his burning yearning for the Buddha-dharma. The bear continued, "Some time ago, a spider demon under the Poison Scorpion King went to the mountain god's temple to visit Lady Soul Snatcher. There was also a crab demon from the Lan River present. Poor monk hid in the shadows and eavesdropped on their discussion..." When he reached the word "discussion," his eyes locked onto Qin Xuan. "Discussing how to eliminate me?" Qin Xuan pointed to himself. The Black Bear Monster nodded. "Benefactor Qin is truly capable. They had differing objectives and were initially bickering fiercely, nearly coming to blows. Then that crab demon proposed getting rid of you first, and all dispute in the temple vanished. "Their various schemes happened to converge right on you, Benefactor Qin." Qin Xuan's expression darkened. Every last one of those deities and demons deserved death. He then recalled Senior Mao's instructions to investigate the connection between the Lan River Water Palace and the spider demon. Glancing at the Black Bear Monster, a plan suddenly formed in his mind. He stood up, pacing back and forth within the cave as he weighed the possibilities. "Master, if you wish to borrow that kasaya from the temple, I fear you will only have a chance once Mountain God Tan leaves." The Black Bear Monster pressed his palms together. "Benefactor Qin, what guidance can you offer?" Qin Xuan asked, "If Master acts, could you do me a favor in return?" "Naturally," the bear asked eagerly. "Where should this poor monk apply his strength?" Qin Xuan was careful not to promise too much. "Allow me to return to the city first to make arrangements. Give me a transmission talisman; once you receive my signal, head straight for the Hawk's Beak Mountain God Temple. However, I can only try—I cannot guarantee anything, Master." The Black Bear Monster's spirits soared. Wanting Qin Xuan to do his utmost, he pledged, "Monks do not speak falsehoods. If this succeeds, poor monk will bestow a tremendous boon upon Benefactor Qin." Though this master was bent on stealing a kasaya, he was nevertheless a bear of principle. Qin Xuan smiled and nodded. Those figures on Hawk's Beak Mountain were his enemies anyway. Dealing with them would fulfill Senior Mao's request while also earning the Black Bear Monster's favor and rewards. This was well worth doing. The wild boars in the cave were nearly finished roasting, but Qin Xuan was eager to return to the city. "I must hurry back to make plans on Master's behalf. I will leave these wild boars for Master to deliver to the afterlife alone. This place is not far from Lady Soul Snatcher's cave abode; might I trouble Master to give me a lift?" Hearing this, the Black Bear Monster conjured mist and carried Qin Xuan toward the commandery city. They chatted along the way. Lacking a transmission talisman, the bear gave Qin Xuan a palm-length bamboo sword to maintain contact between them. When they touched down three li outside the city walls, Qin Xuan suddenly remembered something. Reaching into his hundred-treasure pouch, he pulled out a large jar of spirit bee honey. "Master, delivering them to the afterlife with this will make it all the sweeter." "Amitabha, excellent." Knowing that taking a gift obliges reciprocity, the Black Bear Monster drew an object from his sleeve—a bamboo tube wrapped tightly in lotus leaves. "This is True Water Mist gathered by this poor monk from the depths of the spirit spring. I see you carry evil qi; if you are willing to part with it, seek an elder in your sect to help refine it, and then cultivate a cloud-soaring art. In the future, you will no longer need to ride the wind—it will be far more convenient..."