Chapter 60: Bamboo Horse, Fate

Donghu Mountain was perilous. The cliff where Zhao Xing stood was shrouded in mist, its end completely obscured, yet it was at least four to five hundred meters high.

Falling straight down from such a height?

Zhao Xing looked closely and saw that the person was a bloody mess, even missing several body parts.

But he was still alive!

Under the observation of his Bright Sight spell, a sliver of life force still remained in the person.

"What was that? Scared the wits out of me!" Zong Shichang leaped from his chair.

"It's a person," Zhao Xing said, activating his Bright Sight spell.

"Dead or alive?"

"Not dead yet, but close."

"Oh no! I know this person!" Zong Shichang exclaimed, his face changing after a closer look.

He immediately ran over.

Zhao Xing surveyed his surroundings, then activated his Floating Clouds technique before slowly walking over.

"Brother Wang, how... how did you fall from the mountain?" Zong Shichang rushed to the rubble pile and knelt down.

"Pig... pig..." The man, surnamed Wang, appeared to be a martial artist. Despite being severed in half, he was still not completely dead and even had the strength to speak.

"Pig? Where are the pigs?" Zong Shichang asked. "Brother Wang, please be clearer."

"Horse... horse..."

"Horse? What are you trying to say?" Zong Shichang was bewildered. First pigs, then horses—what did he mean?

"Brother Wang, if you have any last words, please say them clearly. Oh, wait, after we pass the Oblivion Stele, I won't remember anyway."

"You... ungh~" The man surnamed Wang's eyes were wide in death, unable to close. It was unclear if he was angered by Zong Shichang.

"Don't worry. Although I don't know why, you died while doing business for my Zong family. After we leave this place, I will certainly take care of your family." Zong Shichang reached out sadly to close the man's eyes.

Strangely, after Zong Shichang spoke, the man's eyes, which had been wide open in death, finally closed.

Creak, creak, creak, creak~

Once the man was completely dead, a gust of eerie wind suddenly appeared. The rubble pile began to sink, pulling both halves of the man's body into the ground.

Seeing this, Zhao Xing and Zong Shichang quickly clasped their hands and bowed towards the ground in reverence.

This was the Yin God of Donghu Mountain, sending the official's remains out.

Moving away from the rubble, before Zhao Xing could even ask, Zong Shichang proactively spoke: "This man was Wang Dong, a member of the Martial Department in Maixian. He was one of the four people my family entrusted to come here."

"He only reached the eighth stage of Qi Gathering at 45, and had been unable to secure an official position. This year, he sought help from my family, and my father promised to help him get a position as a subordinate guard. Who would have thought he'd die here less than an hour after entering the mountain?"

"Brother Zhao, do you think his dying words about pigs and horses were him resenting me, regretting taking on this task for me?"

Zhao Xing shook his head. "If he resented you, why would he trust you to take care of his family?"

Zong Shichang seemed relieved. "You're right. But what exactly was he trying to tell me?"

Zhao Xing remained silent, deep in thought.

With someone dead, Zong Shichang lost all inclination to drink or enjoy the scenery. He sat there, frowning in contemplation.

Unexpectedly, not long after peace returned, a tragic and urgent cry echoed from deep within the dense forest, mixed with the roars of an unknown beast.

Fortunately, the roars gradually faded into the distance after a while.

A moment later, Zong Shichang stood up, pulled a box from a chest, and walked over. "Brother Zhao, I plan to ascend the mountain. I won't be staying here with you."

"Why the change of heart?" Zhao Xing asked.

Zong Shichang sighed. "I originally intended to wait at the foot of the mountain. But now it seems that once you're inside the mountain, neither the top nor the bottom is safe."

"I'm going to contact the other three. If we gather together, with their protection, it will be safer."

"Here's a box of Qi Gathering Pills. Take them and use them. We'll part ways here."

Zhao Xing looked at the medicine box Zong Shichang had placed down. "Brother Zong, wait."

Zong Shichang turned back, a look of confusion on his face.

Zhao Xing slowly said, "I didn't intend to say much, and I don't know if telling you this will be good or bad, but the Brother Wang you hired was already severely injured before he fell off the cliff."

"His chest was caved in, likely from a blunt force impact. And according to his dying words, he was probably referring to the Mohist sect's treasure, the Unicorne Bamboo Horse."

Zong Shichang paused, then enlightenment dawned on him.

Zhao Xing continued, "Let me make a bolder guess: your family's transaction with Brother Wang might not be a secret to everyone."

"The Zong family conducts extensive business in Nanyang Commandery, which inevitably draws jealousy. If someone decided to use this opportunity to harm you, then this 'accident' might have been him taking the blow for you."

Zong Shichang's expression changed, and his gaze became uncertain and wary.

Zhao Xing calmly stated, "Donghu Mountain is monitored by the Yin God, and while killing is forbidden, robbery and conflict are not. The line between these has always been blurry; otherwise, the Oblivion Stele wouldn't have been set up."

"Furthermore, killing doesn't necessarily require direct action. Suppose I competed with you for the Spiritual Essence, used a spell to bind you, and left you here. If a wild beast later ate you, that wouldn't be a violation of the rules; it would merely be considered bad luck on your part."

"You don't lack this Spiritual Essence. I still suggest you descend the mountain directly, without taking this risk."

Zong Shichang frowned deeply, seemingly pondering Zhao Xing's words.

It was evident that this privileged young man had never experienced true hardship; after all, he was always surrounded by flattery and praise, and everyone showed deference to his father. How could he have considered such possibilities before?

Now, reminded by Zhao Xing, he seemed to be connecting the dots, his expression constantly shifting, apparently in a dilemma.

Zhao Xing continued, "If you insist on going up, then be extra careful yourself. If you encounter anyone riding a bamboo horse, turn around and leave immediately. Don't risk your life betting that I'm wrong."

Seeing Zong Shichang deep in thought, Zhao Xing said no more.

To say more would be taboo.

As he had just said, an accident on the mountain was simply considered bad luck.

If one had bad luck, how could they serve as an official in a Dynasty of Fortune?

For someone to be promoted to the ninth rank, if the national fortune were to elevate someone with inherently poor innate fortune, it would require a greater cost.

The national fortune had to consider its balance of payments, which is why there was a rule for officials whose fortune returned to the imperial court after their death.

There were also cases like Xue Wenzhong, who hadn't been promoted for decades. At its root, the old Registrar had too low an innate fortune level, only capable of reaching a ninth-rank official, unless he could achieve a great meritorious deed. But serving as a registrar in the rear made opportunities for great deeds scarce.

Gathering Spiritual Essence was both a way to filter out those with poor luck and to offer people an opportunity to compensate for their fortune.

Of course, these weren't the only methods, but he had no intention of going into too much detail about the intricacies involved.

By offering these warnings, he considered himself to have repaid Zong Shichang for the information he had previously provided.

"Alright, I understand. Thank you, Brother Zhao," Zong Shichang said, cupping his hands in a salute.

Zhao Xing nodded, watching him depart.

As for whether Zong Shichang truly believed him, who he had animosity with, or if he would continue up the mountain—Zhao Xing had no interest in knowing, nor did he intend to pay attention.

His Vajra Bamboo and Green Vines were about to ripen.