Starting from Tianlong, Wudu Tianxia

A northerly wind howled along the riverbank, and wispy clouds gradually piled up in the sky, as if there were signs of rain.

Forty miles below the Lancang River in Tianshui County.

Standing on the shore and looking around, one can see that the iron bridge lying across the front has four iron chains: two at the bottom with wooden planks laid on top for walking, and two on the sides as handrails.

The wooden planks and iron chains looked quite new, unlike what Mu Wufu and the others had said about them being old and dilapidated.

The river water rippled beneath the bridge, stirring up countless bubbles, like galloping horses.

On the shore, the path extends into meadows and hills covered with small white flowers.

Gao Yuan and his group arrived at the bridge around noon. At that time, the disciples of the Shennong Gang were following his instructions, spreading out the path they saw on the bridge bank in search of the wild peach trees or peach groves he had mentioned.

He stood on the shore and pulled his clothes tighter.

The original text only vaguely mentions that the cave Duan Yu emerged from was about ten feet above the river surface, and that there were countless paths on the iron bridge of the Good Man's Ferry, but it is unknown which one Duan Yu took.

Going back in time, at the end of the path, there was still more than ten miles of desolate wilderness with no road ahead, the only landmark being a wild peach tree.

Most importantly...

This iron bridge is nameless and unknown; whether it was used by a kind person to cross it is still uncertain, and even he himself was unsure.

Fortunately, there were enough people. Since we were already here, we might as well give it a try.

We can't exactly follow Duan Yu's example and jump off the cliff of the main peak of Wuliang Jade Wall.

Moreover, we don't even know from which point he jumped. At a height of over a hundred feet, anyone who jumps there will be killed!

"Hey buddy, are you a local?"

Gao Yuan looked up and saw Mu Wufu standing at the foot of the bridge, asking a young woodcutter with a machete at his waist who was about to go up the mountain.

When the young woodcutter was questioned by Mu Wufu and noticed that the men were dressed in fine clothes, he bowed and said:

"Yes, I've made a living along the Lancang River since I was a child. If you're so kind as to ask what I do for a living?"

Gao Yuan's eyes lit up, and he stepped forward, clasping his hands in greeting:

"Young man, I'd like to ask you something. Is this place called 'Kind Person's Ferry', or are there any wild peach groves or anything like that?"

"Shanren Ferry? Oh dear, you're mistaken. This place isn't called Shanren Ferry, it's called Hongling Ferry. There are hardly any houses on the mountain, just broken stones and weeds. Only hunters and woodcutters like me come here to make a living."

"If you wish to ascend Wuliang Mountain, there are well-maintained mountain paths and steps in Shangshui County. From here, it is more than thirty li further up that there are no paths and only barren mountains."

Gao Yuan felt a chill in his heart. If the name didn't match, could it be that he had looked for the wrong person?

"Thanks, bro!"

Before he could finish speaking, a shout came from the east: "We've found an old peach tree in the desolate wilderness of the southwest path!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Yuan was not particularly pleased. Since the location was wrong, the peach tree he had found was probably not right either.

The young woodcutter noticed that his expression kept changing, but he didn't pay much attention. Honglingdu was a very remote place, and apart from firewood, he couldn't think of anything else they were looking for.

He muttered a couple of things to himself and then left.

As dusk approached, the sky grew darker and the rain clouds thickened.

At this moment, Gao Yuan's face was as cold as frost, growing even more somber.

None of the groups of gang members who had been sent out brought back any crucial information. They were just waiting for the last group of gang members to return before they could ride back to Kainan Prefecture.

Mu Wufu handed over some food and said respectfully, "Chief, please have something to eat first."

Gao Yuan shook his head and refused.

At this moment, the remaining group of disciples suddenly emerged from the weeds, and Mu Wufu had no choice but to retreat and go to the other side of the iron bridge to inquire about the situation.

Gao Yuan calmed down and mounted his horse with ease.

The horse snorted and exhaled a puff of white vapor.

Looking up, he saw a man coming down the mountain path; it was the young woodcutter who had come up the mountain earlier.

He was carrying a heavy bundle of firewood. Seeing that Gao Yuan was still there, he panted heavily, wiped the sweat from his face, and said with a smile:

"I've already told you this place isn't called the Good People's Ferry. If you're looking for someone, you can ask in Liyuan Village, fifteen miles down below."

Gao Yuan knew he meant well, glanced at his water pouch, and then...

He handed him the Muwu Talisman.

"Hey buddy, take a break and have some water."

"No, no, thank you, young master. My home is just ahead, I can carry it all the way back in one go. If I stop, I'll get tired soon!"

Seeing that he wasn't drinking, Gao Yuan was about to nod when he noticed the woodcutter's brows furrow slightly.

"Young master, you wouldn't happen to be from the Yang family, would you?"

Gao Yuan raised an eyebrow: "Master Yang? Who is he?"

"Aren't you? Master Yang is a wealthy man in Shangshui County. He paid for the repair of Hongling Ferry. The government intends to rename the ferry after him to honor his virtue."

Finally, he explained, "At first, I thought you were looking for someone, but then I saw you looking at the iron bridge so intently, so I assumed you were someone sent by Master Yang to inspect the construction!"

"What was Master Yang's original name?"

The woodcutter pondered for a moment, then said uncertainly, "It seems...it seems his name is Yang Yongshan."

"boom!"

Gao Yuan's mind suddenly exploded.

Yang Yongshan, a benevolent man who guides others!

It turns out we didn't go to the wrong place; the name just hadn't been changed yet!

He glanced at Mu Wufu and the others on the other side of the bridge, his face showing no joy.

"Smack!"

A drop of water slid down to the ground from a tender cedar leaf a meter away, and the clouds that had been brewing for a long time began to stir violently.

"Oh dear! It's raining, I'm going home now."

The young woodcutter hurriedly turned and left, as if afraid that if the rain got any heavier, his way home would be muddy.

"Brother Mu, is everyone here?"

"Reporting to the gang leader, all the brothers who went out have returned."

Mu Wufu gave a wry smile: "I guess we went to the wrong bridge; we didn't find the information you were looking for!"

Gao Yuan accepted the bamboo hat handed to him by Wu Mufu: "It's alright, but thank you all for your hard work. Let's go!"

"Yes, sir!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he spurred his horse forward, and the rest of the group followed closely behind, their hooves splashing up tiny droplets of water.

A few birds flew through the rain, and the wind picked up!

But Gao Yuan was overjoyed.

With the right name and peach trees, Langhuan Blessed Land is now a certainty!

......

The next morning, after arranging the gang's affairs, Gao Yuan spent two days talking with Sikong Xuan before going off on his own to search for the bridge and the cave.

He took a sword and headed south to gather and integrate the information he had obtained.

They rode their horses all the way, and by noon they finally returned to Hongling Ferry.

Following the path with peach trees I found yesterday, I ran straight for three hours until it got dark before I reached the end.

Further ahead lay a desolate wilderness with no path. Gao Yuan drew his longsword and hacked through the wild trees and thickets.

As evening fell, a mist rose, soaking the wheat fields and wetting our clothes. To the left and right, ancient cypress trees were covered in foliage, their branches drooping like tears.

After traveling another ten miles or so, they suddenly saw a wild peach tree with swaying branches and leaves, leaving only bare branches sticking out at an angle.

Gao Yuan's spirits were lifted, and he rushed out of the rugged mountain road for seven or eight miles in one breath, and then walked several hundred more steps.

"Boom!"

The Lancang River's rapids crash against the reefs, carrying silt and sand with them.

At first glance, the raging waves surged and the current was swift, with steep cliffs rising from the riverbanks.

Gao Yuan concentrated his mind and gathered his energy, and the Northern Darkness True Qi instantly filled his entire body. With a light tap of his toes, he stepped on the stone and branches and jumped down.

A northerly wind, carrying river mist, rushed towards him. Gao Yuan lightly touched the rocks on the riverbank, seeking balance.

With the raging Lancang River beneath his feet, he spotted the protruding rocks and branches on the riverbank, suddenly plummeted down, then snapped back up, using the momentum to spring back up.

Gao Yuan kept his eyes fixed on the depressions along the way, constantly shifting his position, which greatly depleted his internal energy.

Climbing along the riverbank, after skimming for another four or five miles, we passed through some wild thorns and finally saw a withered vine hanging from the rock face on the right, with the outline of a dark cave entrance hidden beneath its leaves.

With a sudden burst of strength, it spun in mid-air and landed steadily on the narrow rock in front of the cave entrance.

He peered inside and saw a cave just big enough to fit him. His clothes fluttered in the river breeze as he pressed his palms against the cold rock wall.

A smile tugged at the corners of Gao Yuan's mouth.

We've finally found the blessed land of Langhuan!

......