Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing

After dealing with the bandits, Lin Zheyu did not bother with their corpses. Such bandits were common in Beast Roar Mountain, where murders occurred almost daily. A few corpses meant little. With beasts roaming everywhere in Beast Roar Mountain, it would not be long before the bodies became their meal.

After looting the bodies, his pack bulged with items as he continued on his jolly way. He encountered two more hostile groups afterwards and dispatched them with ease as well, leaving his pack too full to carry more.

”Not a bad haul. With all this random stuff, it should fetch at least 2 or 3 taels of silver,” Lin Zheyu mused.

He had already swapped his pack for a larger blue one taken from a bandit. It was stuffed with all sorts of things—countless bottles, jars, and packets of powder, though he did not recognize them. He could only bring them back and find a way to sell them.

Leaning against a tree trunk, Lin Zheyu studied his map and thought, Another 2.5 kilometers or so, and I’ll reach the official road. From there, if I follow the road for about 500 meters, I’ll arrive at Senior Brother Han’s garrison. Maybe I’ll be able to pay him a visit while I’m at it.

After more than 2 hours of travel, he finally neared Lion Valley. Lion Valley was a vast basin surrounded by mountains, filled with dense forests, poisonous mists, insects, and drifting fog.

Lin Zheyu had set out that morning, and by the time he reached Lion Valley, it was already close to the Shen hour, or around 3 in the afternoon. If he had been familiar with the forest paths, he probably could have arrived in less than 4 hours. After all, most of the time had been wasted studying the map and searching for the right routes. With today’s experience, he would not waste so much time the next time he came.

***

By the official road near Lion Valley.

Han Mo was stationed here with his elite troops.

”Hah!”

From within the formation camp came shouts in perfect unison that carried a chilling, murderous aura. It was the soldiers being drilled under Han Mo’s command.

In past years, the closer it came to year’s end, the more caravans traveled the official road. But this year, because of the rebel army’s unrest, many caravans either did not come at all or had delivered their goods early to Songyi City.

Just two more days, and I can return. Once back, with a month or so of hard training, I might even have a chance to break through to the Blood Qi Realm, thought Han Mo.

He was holding his saber, practicing the Sixfold Saber technique. Behind him, the soldiers moved in perfect order, arranging themselves into a military formation. The soldiers’ essence, qi, and spirit connected with Han Mo’s, and a dense, overwhelming killing intent brewed within the formation.

This was their usual method of training. Simply arranging the formation without excessively drawing on the soldiers’ essence, qi, and spirit would not overly burden them. Only after years of constant practice in formation could the soldiers fully adapt, and the general perfectly control this unique power.

”Kill!” The soldiers roared in unison, their shout shaking the heavens.

As their cry echoed, Han Mo’s blood qi surged, his blood seeming to boil within him. As the general within the formation, he enjoyed a unique benefit. He could temper his spirit amidst the killing aura, using the energy condensed by the formation to gain early insights into the Blood Qi Realm. Over time, this greatly increased his chances of breaking through to the Blood Qi Realm.

”Report!”

”1.5 kilometers ahead, a caravan has been attacked by bandits.”

”Report!”

”2.5 kilometers to the left, another caravan is under attack!”

”Report!”

”......”

Just as Han Mo was immersed in comprehending the flow of qi and blood[1] within his body, scouts patrolling the official road galloped back to the camp with urgent reports.

”Form ranks and move out! Huang Zihang, take thirty elite soldiers and head 2.5 kilometers left to hunt down the bandits there. Ma Fan, you will stay with fifty soldiers to guard the camp. If any enemy dares approach, show no mercy! Huang Jun, gather twenty soldiers and follow me to strike down the bandits 1.5 kilometers ahead.”

Han Mo issued his orders calmly and methodically. Their manpower was only enough to support two locations at once. However, caravans that dared to pass through here generally had some strength of their own, so Han Mo did not worry too much for their safety. Their stationing here was meant only to keep the bandits from growing bolder.

With the military strength of Songyi City, it was impossible to enter the mountains and wipe out the bandits completely. All they could do was chase down and eliminate those who dared to strike at the caravans.

For every bandit they saw, they would kill one, instilling fear so the bandits would not linger long on the official road or attempt a drawn-out campaign. With fear in their hearts, the bandits would strike quickly and flee, sparing the caravans from heavy losses in goods or lives.

***

”Stop! This is a military camp. Outsiders are not allowed near!”

When Lin Zheyu arrived at the garrison where his Senior Brother Han Mo was stationed, a soldier stepped forward to block his path.

”I am Lin Zheyu. Lord Han Mo is my senior brother. Please inform him of my arrival,” said Lin Zheyu.

”Lord Han’s junior brother? Please wait outside. Lord Han has gone out to suppress bandits and will return shortly. Until he comes back, no one is allowed to enter the camp.” The soldier softened his tone, yet still did not allow Lin Zheyu inside.

The camp held supplies, weapons, and other important stores. It was not a place just anyone could walk into. Without proof that this youth truly was Lord Han’s junior brother, they dared not let him in.

”Senior Brother Han went out to suppress bandits? Which direction did he take?” asked Lin Zheyu curiously.

He had taken a keen interest in bandits lately. Though they carried little silver, the medicines, poisons, and poison powders they relied on for survival and killing were valuable and could be sold for a good price.

”That is military confidential. I cannot disclose it. My apologies,” replied the soldier.

”A pity. I had hoped to witness my senior brother’s valor in leading troops. Brother, what is your name?” asked Lin Zheyu.

The armored soldier remained expressionless. Even though Lin Zheyu claimed to be Han Mo’s junior brother, his attitude stayed cold.

”Apologies, I cannot tell you,” replied the soldier without emotion, his hand resting on his weapon and his face full of vigilance.

The surrounding soldiers were the same, their eyes wary of this unfamiliar youth. They did not relax in the slightest, even after hearing he was Lord Han’s junior brother. It was clear from this that Han Mo’s training of his men was extremely strict.

Lin Zheyu pulled out his map and asked the soldier, ”Brother, if you cannot reveal your name and cannot tell me where my senior brother went to suppress bandits, then at least can you tell me where bandits most often appear around here? I cannot tolerate evil. I despise these murderous bandits and wish to do all I can to eliminate as many of them as possible.”

The soldier thought for a moment. This did not involve military secrets, but he still did not wish to speak too much. He recalled that there had been a caravan attacked not long ago, but they had lacked enough troops to assist. So he said, ”Head about 4 kilometers along the official road in this direction. A group of bandits is attacking a caravan there. If you go now, you might be of some help.”

”How fortunate. Thank you, brother. I’ll go have a look.” Lin Zheyu grinned and tossed his pack over as he said, ”Keep this safe for me. It’s full of valuable things, so don’t lose it.”

With that, he stepped forward and shot off toward the location the soldier had mentioned, moving at astonishing speed.

1. This is not the same as blood qi. ☜