Devouring Evil Martial Arts, Eliminating Demons from All Heavens

Chapter 108 The Visitor from Afar, Kunlun Slave

The journey from Sichuan to Nanzhao was truly through thousands of mountains and cliffs.

The perilous peaks and rugged cliffs are endless, and the sharp, precipitous ridges are chilling.

On land, you either have to cross mountains or take detours; no matter how fine the horse or how steady the driver, you can't go fast.

However, if you make good use of waterways, you can save a lot of travel time.

The Green Jade River, south of the royal city, was called a stream in ancient times. It is unknown when it became such a large river after a flash flood.

Since the Nanzhao Kingdom existed, passenger boats, fishing boats, and cargo ships have been constantly on the river all year round.

Especially around the time of the March Festival, fishermen and boat owners would decorate their boats, picking at least a few bundles of wildflowers and tying them to the awnings.

Those who were extravagant and refined decorated their boats with large floral patterns made of brightly colored fabrics.

The March Festival is a festival to commemorate Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Legend has it that during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Guanyin Bodhisattva manifested her power and subdued the demons that were causing chaos in the Nanzhao Kingdom, bringing favorable weather, free from floods and locust plagues.

The people of Nanzhao would choose a day between the 15th and 21st of the third month to visit a small earthen temple dedicated to Guanyin, offer incense, and pray for blessings.

At that time, passenger boats on the water will light up, and monks and nuns will chant sutras praising Guanyin Bodhisattva and scatter flowers on the water.

Night markets were open both inside and outside the capital, allowing people to enjoy themselves all night long and experience the rare nighttime pleasures.

But the kind of bustling crowds always resided in towns, or at least near the city walls.

Elsewhere, little preparation is made for the March Festival.

This year is different.

Recently, many people have been taking boats to dock about 20 miles south of the city.

They stepped onto the grassland there, and after walking two or three miles, they could see the Emerald Rock Slope.

The surrounding mountains are mostly covered with trees, or have been cultivated into farmland.

However, this hillside is impossible to cultivate into farmland because of the dense, hard rocks that are deeply embedded in the ground.

The soil on the slope, which extends for miles around, is not thick enough to support large trees.

However, the slope is shady and the area is rainy, so a lot of moss grows on the rocks, which is why it has earned the name "Emerald Rock".

Looking around, the entire hillside is covered with piles of blue stones, uneven in height, interspersed with a few small trees and sparse wild grass.

Yet, this very place became the site where the Commander of the Tang Dynasty's Inner Guard challenged the King of Nanzhao to a duel!

The challenge was so loud a few nights ago that the news spread like wildfire, and no one knows how far it has gone.

Many of the people who have come here recently are renowned swordsmen and martial artists, as well as members of the Nanzhao army.

Two days before March 15th, neither side of the challenge had shown up, but some of them had already decided to stay in the vicinity, having endured the elements.

This stay actually benefited the fishermen and boat owners in the vicinity.

Aside from those who are truly poor and rely solely on their own dry rations and wild water, other people who see the boatmen cooking river delicacies are always willing to buy some to try.

Some people also hired boatmen to travel between this place and the city, both to carry messages and to deliver food and wine daily, for which they were paid generously.

The relatively desolate section of the river thus appears somewhat prosperous.

"It's a complete mess. How do these people cook? It smells so foul."

An old man with a jade crown and green robe, sporting a bushy beard, stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the nearby boats with a look of disgust.

When stewing fish in an earthenware pot, the fish is put directly into the water without any good seasonings to mask the flavor, so it will have a fishy smell when it first boils.

Skim off all the foam, and after cooking for a while, the fishy smell will fade and the fish will release its fresh aroma.

The old man, however, didn't bother to think about it and had already taken out several golden pellets the size of a thumb.

"Uncle Qing, come back."

A deep voice came from inside the boat awning.

Upon hearing this, the old man turned and went back.

Inside the boat awning was a flat, wide wooden box. A middle-aged man with short beard and sword-like eyebrows sat cross-legged on the box, staring at the old man.

"I've said it so many times, our line of work is prone to causing bad karma. We might kill or harm some people while doing things, and that's fine."

"In addition, we should still be kind to others."

Uncle Qing put away the bullet: "Master, I think the people of Nanzhao are fierce. Breaking a few pottery jars is something a normal swordsman would do. No one will suspect our identities."

The man was none other than Yuwen Chiming, the patriarch of the Yuwen family.

Yuwen Qing was one of the clan elders who had not left home to handle affairs for many years and had become accustomed to a life of luxury.

This long journey must have left him quite angry.

Yuwen Chiming shook his head and said, "This matter of the correspondence should not have been too difficult, but he died here in Nanzhao. Who knows if it wasn't because he was usually fierce and had made too many enemies, which caused this unexpected trouble?"

Yuwen Qing clenched his fist, and it cracked.

"Wasn't the communications officer killed by Hai Donglai? Those hateful imperial guards!"

“When Tongxian died, Hai Donglai had not yet arrived, and there shouldn’t have been a group of guards in the Nanzhao capital who could have killed him.”

Yuwen Chiming said, "We may not necessarily have to deal with Shanghai Donglai personally this time, but people like Zheng Hui will definitely be targets that need to be dealt with."

"We can't let them be too alert beforehand and know what weapons we're using."

Yuwen Qing nodded: "But if Duan Zhong were to face Shanghai Donglai alone, how much of a chance do you think he would have?"

Yuwen Chiming wasn't embarrassed and replied casually, "Fifty percent."

"Fifty percent?"

Yuwen Qing pondered and said, "Duan Zhong, whose weapon back then was a ring, was already considered a first-rate figure. Although he hasn't fought outside in recent years, he has been practicing diligently in Tibet and I've heard that he has some amazing deeds."

"Hai Donglai is terrifying, but he must be injured, and we will also intervene and plot against him."

Yuwen Qing looked at the flat, wide wooden box, revealing a hint of apprehension, yet unable to suppress his excitement.

"In the past two years, you have become adept at using this treasure, as if its former master has been resurrected. I think you would have a 50% chance of defeating Shanghai Donglai alone."

"So, based on this calculation, Duan Zhong only has a 50% chance of winning?"

Yuwen Chiming didn't say much.

When he was young, he would set a goal for himself and like to break it down into multiple steps. If he could prepare for each step well, it meant he had a 10% higher chance of success. Back then, when his elders asked him about something, he would often say that he was 60%, 70%, or even 90% sure.

However, after he became an elder and the head of the family, he gradually became fond of another way of speaking.

There are only two outcomes in doing anything: success or failure.

Therefore, when asking whether something can be accomplished, saying you're 50% sure is always a safe bet.

"No outsider can fathom Duan Zhong's current strength, but Hai Donglai is a monster. Even with this treasure, I wouldn't have much confidence if I were to fight him one-on-one."

Yuwen Chiming touched the wooden box and smiled.

"Fortunately, besides Duan Zhong and us, we will have more helpers."

Yuwen Qing asked in surprise, "Does Tibet still intend to send more experts?"

“All their skilled soldiers must be on guard against the Tang army, and they also need to keep people in the capital. This time, a high priest died outside, so I'm afraid they can't send out any decent people.”

Yuwen Qing guessed, "Is it your mysterious ally in Chang'an?"

Several members of the Yuwen family knew that the patriarch had allies in the Chang'an court.

The world is not just Chang'an and Huaixi. In times of turmoil, they often exchanged intelligence and shared their merits and benefits.

People in the court were promoted, and the Yuwen family's power developed more smoothly. Many of their sons held important civil and military positions in the regional military governorships. Why not?
However, that person's identity was shrouded in mystery, and no one except the head of the family knew his true face.

Moreover, in recent years, the Yuwen family has not received any more mysterious intelligence benefits, as if the other party has made enough contributions and the contact between them has been cut off.

"it's him."

Yuwen Chiming sighed as he mentioned that person.

"I originally thought he was a man who would rather die than live in luxury, a fellow man with great ambitions."

"But I only learned this year that the man was probably up to no good. His real scheme was not about achieving great things, but just happened to become an aid to our great cause."

Yuwen Chiming laughed and said, "That's good. He's already obsessed, so he'll be even more willing to spend a fortune for this matter."

The green water rippled, and the small boat turned and left.

Not long after Yuwen Chiming and Yuwen Qing landed, they sneaked into the Prince Yi's mansion.

The Yuwen family members they dispatched separately had already arrived at the Prince's residence to meet up.

Duan Zhong reserved a garden specifically for them to meet.

Sure enough, right here, Yuwen Chiming also saw the all-out investment of his ally.

There were dozens of men dressed in tight-fitting clothes and wearing straw hats, each of them standing there, their breathing incredibly long.

With Yuwen Chiming's keen senses, he could detect a metallic smell emanating from them, like the metallic scent of copper ore.

Duan Zhongye was also scrutinizing these people.

"He is one of the three commanders of the Inner Guard. His official identity this time is that he is with the second group of Tang Dynasty envoys and is responsible for investigating the incident involving the first group of envoys."

Duan Zhong said, "So, he didn't come to my residence, but he secretly sent his trusted confidants to bring these people to my residence just now."

"Brother Chiming, would you like to test the skills of these men in your family?"

Yuwen Chiming simply smiled and said, "This is the Prince Yi's residence. How dare we usurp the host's place? Please ask the Prince Yi to send someone to give it a try."

Duan Zhong's gaze shifted slightly.

Two Duan family guards, having received a signal, stepped forward, their broadswords drawn and crossed in front of Duan Zhong.

when! !

Duan Zhong flicked his right middle finger, and one knife collided with another, shattering simultaneously.

A rain of steel fragments flew towards the men in straw hats.

Thick cloth clothing was torn apart like illusory water vapor, and the straw hat was shattered, revealing a human face.

These people all had dark brown skin, curly hair, thick and wide lips, and their bone structure was very different from that of the people of the Nanzhao tribes in the Central Plains.

They turned out to be a group of Kunlun slaves.

A piece of iron shot towards the Kunlun slave's eyeball, but the Kunlun slave simply closed his eyes.

despair!
The metal piece bounced off his eyelid, causing it to dent for a moment and leaving a white spot.

The Kunlun slave seemed to be a little stimulated. Suddenly, he turned his head and saw a bird's nest on a tree about four zhang away and nearly two zhang high.

He suddenly moved, leaving the tattered cloth on his body in mid-air, and took two quick steps to reach out.

The Duan family guards were stunned into seeing him standing under the tree, holding a bird in his right hand, and biting off half of the bird's body.

"So fast!"

The Duan family guard who had lost his knife felt a pang of anxiety and couldn't help but look at the other Kunlun slaves, only to see that they all had blank expressions.

Even the steel fragments from the crossbow, as strong as the small crossbow, did not leave any marks on them.

Could it be that all these Kunlun slaves possess such skills?
"I knew long ago that his poisoning skills were top-notch, even surpassing his martial arts skills. I never imagined he could also create poison-infused human figures."

Yuwen Chiming's eyes shone brightly as he immediately revealed the origins of these Kunlun slaves.

I've long heard that there's practically another city beneath Chang'an.

It was known as the Ghost Market, the Underground River, and the Gold and Silver Cave, with tens of thousands of people coming and going, doing all sorts of business that were not openly lucrative.

Even the commander of the Imperial Guard, if he wanted to create poison-infused humanoids, would probably only be able to find an opportunity in such a place.

Yang Su, a powerful minister of the Sui Dynasty, also loved to refine poisonous people. He once concluded that Kunlun slaves were more resistant to poison, but they were quite expensive.

I wonder how many people that commander of the Imperial Guards used up to train such a batch of finished products.

Duan Zhong looked at the bloodthirsty Kunlun slave and smiled: "Good!"

Yuwen Chiming couldn't help but smile.

“We are greedy for achievements, while the people there are deluded. King Yi was furious.”

“Even Bodhisattvas cannot overcome greed, anger, and ignorance; they still need the Buddha to save them. This time, with our complete alliance, how can the mere Nanzhao region, even with the addition of Hai Donglai, possibly stop us?”

If someone were to ask him now what his chances of winning are, he might not say it, but he would definitely have only one thought in his mind.

Will you win? Yes you will!
(End of this chapter)