The Legend of the Condor Heroes: From Being Expelled from Peach Blossom Island

Chapter 280 Ziwu Ridge Ghost Gate
The name Qingfeng Mountain is too common to pinpoint its location.

Wu Chengyu traveled westward from Chang'an, heading straight into the territory of the Western Xia in Gansu. He had been traveling for several days, and judging by his pace, he was almost out of the Jin Kingdom's territory. The border between Shaanxi and Gansu seemed to be a continuous mountain range called the Ziwu Ridge.

Wu Chengyu lowered his head and pondered for a moment, roughly figuring out his current location. The Ziwu Ridge is located on the border between Qingyang City in Gansu Province and Yan'an City in SX Province, and is also close to the northeast of Xianyang and the north of Tongchuan, facing the Qinling Mountains across the Guanzhong Plain.

This is a vital passage traversing the Loess Plateau from north to south. Since the Qin Dynasty, straight roads, beacon towers, and passes have been built here, making it a crucial route for military strategists.

In his previous life, Wu Chengyu was a mid-level manager in a state-owned enterprise. He had participated in many visits to old revolutionary areas, including Yan'an. He even slept in a teacher's cave dwelling for a while and had some knowledge of the area. Who would have thought that after traveling back a thousand years, he would actually come to Ziwu Ridge again.

This area is surrounded by countless mountain ranges, and it would take more than a few hundred miles to get around it. But why would he want to go around it?
However, it is necessary to confirm whether it is or not.

"I don't think I've ever heard of Qingfeng Mountain before."

"Of course not. This is the name our leader came up with. The place is beautiful with clear waters and lush mountains, but it's difficult to get in. However, it's also very safe. Our friends just wanted to go down the mountain to get some furs to trade for salt. Who would have thought they would run into a man-eating demon?"

"Do you know what these mountains are called?"

The three shook their heads in unison. These guys were actually orphans from various places who had escaped and managed to get together by sheer luck. It was a struggle for them to survive, so they didn't care where they were.

"Have you heard of some place names like Ziwu Ridge or Guimen Pass?"

The three of them had a vague impression of Ziwu Ridge, but couldn't quite put their finger on it. However, the words "Gate of Hell" gave them a jolt of excitement.

"Big brother, big brother, are you from Mengjiabao in Guimenguan? We want to go to Guimenguan to ask them for help."

The name Guimenguan (Ghost Gate Pass) is quite prestigious. Located on the Ziwu Ridge in the northwest of Huangling County, Shaanxi Province, it was first built in the Qin Dynasty and supervised by General Meng Tian. It was originally called Guimenguan until the end of the Qing Dynasty when it was renamed Xinglongguan.

Alright, with the words "Gate of Hell" on his head, Wu Chengyu was certain that he had arrived at Ziwu Ridge. Crossing Ziwu Ridge would take him to Gansu, which was now within the territory of Western Xia.

"What kind of place is Mengjiabao, and why do you want to ask them for help?"

"Actually, we don't know either. We just heard that there is a Ghost Gate in this mountain forest, and there is a Meng Family Fort there. The people of the Meng Family Fort specialize in fighting those bandits. As long as we find the Meng Family Fort, we can naturally rescue our people."

"Brother, you're so amazing, you must be from Mengjiabao, right?"

Wu Chengyu had no idea about Mengjiabao. These children hiding in the mountains probably only knew what they'd heard. But this was the only thing they could think of. So the three children foolishly went down the mountain to seek help, without even knowing where Mengjiabao was.

"I'm not from Mengjiabao, and are you sure you can really find Mengjiabao, and that they'll really help you?"

Upon hearing this, the three children immediately became disheartened, especially the other two, who began to shed tears.

"There's nothing we can do. If we wait a few more days, the calf, the stone, and the deer might get eaten."

Especially Little Deer Sister, she's so fair-skinned, she might be divided into several days to be eaten too, but what are we going to do?

I don't want them to die, someone please help us.

The two children began to cry loudly. The little wolf cub who had been enduring the pain suddenly jumped up from the ground, walked up to Wu Chengyu, knelt down on both knees, and banged his head on Wu Chengyu several times. Soon, blood appeared on his forehead.

The other two children, not understanding why, immediately knelt down together and kowtowed to Wu Chengyu.

Wu Chengyu did not stop them until the three children could no longer bang on the ground, then he spoke.

"What do you want?" the wolf cub said. "You defeated us so easily just now. You've killed a lot of people, so you must be very powerful. Also, you made us unable to move for a moment, so you must know martial arts. If you're willing to help me save them, we'll do anything you ask."

"Is it really true that you can do anything?"

"Yes, I would be willing to take you as my disciple and teach you martial arts."

Wu Chengyu was speechless. Something felt off. With Wu Chengyu's current martial arts skills, countless people would be willing to kowtow and become his disciples if he wanted to. How come this kid was the one giving Wu Chengyu a benefit? He must have miscalculated.

Wu Chengyu looked at him with a hint of disdain and said, "Thank you, but please don't become my disciple. I don't accept disciples."

"But you just kowtowed to me about ten times. Aren't there over a hundred bandits in that fortress? One kowtow counts as ten heads. If there are more bandits, you'll have to kowtow back to me later."

The three children were initially confused, but they quickly understood Wu Chengyu's meaning and were overjoyed.

"Is it really just a matter of kowtowing?"

“You kowtowed because you asked me to help you. Before I could stop you, you had already kowtowed so many times, which makes me owe you. But I don’t want to kowtow back to you, so I had no choice but to help you.”

Actually, I don't need to kowtow. I'll definitely pass by that bandit stronghold. If I don't like them, I'll just kill them on the spot.

"How are you three doing? Does your head hurt?"

Upon hearing that Wu Chengyu was willing to help, the three children were overjoyed, but after their joy, they hesitated.

"Big brother, can you really defeat those man-eating demons? There are so many of them."

Wu Chengyu stood up with a smile and stretched his limbs a little:
"Enough with the nonsense. That fortress is just to the west, right? How far is it?"

The wolf cub immediately replied, "Ten miles to the west, there is a small valley. The fort is built in the valley, and there is nothing around it, so it is easy to spot."

"Alright, it's getting dark. You three must be exhausted. Are you sleepy? Go get some rest."

Wu Chengyu then used his persuasive skills, and the three children immediately fell into a deep sleep under his control. Wu Chengyu then pressed their pressure points, making them sleep even more soundly.

Then, carrying two in one hand and his own luggage and the little wolf cub in the other, he ran in the direction he pointed.

Wu Chengyu felt guilty for letting such cannibalistic villains live for even one more night. He was determined to eliminate evil without delay, and the journey was only ten miles, which would be over in no time.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Wu Chengyu, with his lightness skill fully activated, quickly found his destination.

Late at night, the fortress was brightly lit, and filled with laughter and screams.

Wu Chengyu did not go in immediately. Instead, he found a large tree near the fortress, placed the three children on the tree, tied them with ropes, and sprinkled a circle of medicinal powder around them to drive away snakes, insects, and rodents.

By this time, it was already past midnight. Wu Chengyu looked at the fortress so close at hand, and only seven words came to mind.

The King of Hell wants you dead at midnight.

(End of this chapter)