N-A-A Chapter 30 Changchun Zhenren and the Giant Eagle
Chapter 30 Changchun Zhenren and the Giant Eagle
June 15th, Xiangyang.
The solar halo in midsummer resembles the feathers of a golden crow in mythology, its sharp brilliance blinding.
Amidst the verdant mountains, the sharp waters are pierced by the mountain's edge, turning into rising steam that diffuses throughout the landscape, bringing a rare coolness to travelers.
The operation of heaven and earth always follows the laws of nature, and never deviates in the slightest due to personal will.
The divine steed, Golden Crow, idly grazes on the green grass by the pool, while more than ten warriors dressed in brown stand like pine trees on the water's edge.
A hundred meters deep into the cold pool, a waterfall cascades down from the mountaintop, its flow seemingly imbued with the power of heaven and earth, transforming into countless fragments the moment it falls.
Yang Kang sat cross-legged between the waterfall, shirtless, letting the raging water crash against his body without flinching.
Amidst the white mist, wisps of white true energy, interspersed with crimson true energy, slowly flowed through Yang Kang's skin and veins, dissipating around him.
Since leaving the Iron Palm Clan, it has been seven days since we arrived in Xiangyang.
Qiu Chuji had arranged to meet Yang Kang in Xiangyang in a letter.
However, since there were still several months between the agreed meeting and the time, the Taoist priest simply traveled leisurely, taking his time.
He arrived even later than Yang Kang, but fortunately Yang Kang had deliberately arranged to meet him in Xiangyang, as he had other plans.
While Qiu Chuji was still away, Yang Kang and Shi Tianze spent their days wandering around Xiangyang, discussing how to conquer this vital strategic location when they raised an army to march south.
In addition, Yang Kang was also determined to obtain several rare treasures outside Xiangyang City.
Around noon, Mu Nianci returned from the woods with four women in white.
Four women dressed in white each carried a bamboo basket, from which the hissing and flicking of snakes could be heard from time to time.
Yang Kang suddenly opened his eyes, a crimson glint flashing within them.
With a loud shout, a crimson protective shield of true energy emerged. Amidst the exploding true energy and swirling water vapor, a violent explosion resounded through the mountains, startling the onlookers who all showed expressions of admiration.
Yang Kang leaped out of the waterfall and used his feet to lift the robes hanging from the lakeside and put them on.
"It seems Nianci has brought me some good news."
Yang Kang asked as he fastened his robe.
As his true energy circulated instinctively, moisture rapidly evaporated from his body, and under the radiance of the sun, his entire body faintly glowed with a strange color.
"Brother, you have at least fulfilled your mission."
"Qin'er and the others have captured enough Bodhi snakes. Given time, they will surely be able to breed and thrive in our world."
Mu Nianci lowered her head, her mind filled with the image of Yang Kang's half-naked body from just moments before.
"Well done, Nianci."
Yang Kang nodded in approval and gently patted Mu Nianci's head.
Mu Nianci was caught off guard by Yang Kang's sudden intimate gesture, and her eyes darted around in a panic.
"The agreed-upon date has passed three days ago, and there's still no news from Master?"
Yang Kang turned to his subordinate beside him and continued to ask.
"Chief, we have searched all over Xiangyang, but have not found any trace of Daoist Qiu."
One of his men quickly replied.
"The Xiangyang branch sent someone to see the gang leader, saying they had something important to report. Lord Shi dared not delay and could only ask Miss Cheng to continue waiting for Master Qiu, while ordering us to report to the gang leader first."
The subordinate hurriedly replied.
"Urgent? Could it be that something's happened in Shandong?"
Yang Kang pondered to himself.
"It seems we can't stay here any longer."
Although there was no trace of the Sword Tomb and the Divine Eagle, obtaining the Bodhi Serpent was not entirely without gain for him.
Just as Yang Kang was about to instruct everyone to set off, a long howl suddenly came from among the mountains.
"Master."
Upon hearing the sound, Yang Kang immediately grabbed his iron spear and flew towards the direction from which the sound came.
Before long, Yang Kang landed in a deep valley. Below the valley, a cool breeze blew gently. Within this small space, it felt like springtime without cold and summer without heat. A pear tree bloomed alone among the mountains.
Beside the pear blossoms, among the blue stones, a poem has been newly engraved.
"She resembled a fairy from Mount Guye, possessing natural beauty and a noble, lofty spirit."
Upon seeing this line, Yang Kang knew it was written by his own master.
"Pear Blossom, I wonder how Fourth Sister is doing these days?"
As Yang Kang looked at Qiu Chuji's poem, which used pear blossoms as a metaphor for himself, and at the pear blossom spear in his hand, he immediately thought of his soon-to-be wife.
He chuckled and walked again toward the direction from which the strange noises were coming from.
On the other side of the cliff, a giant eagle with a ferocious and ugly appearance, and a head taller than Yang Kang, was fighting with the Taoist.
Since Qiu Chuji resolved to support Yang Kang in his quest for power, he no longer displayed his former competitive nature. In cultivating his character and temperament, his state of mind increasingly resembled that of the man from Changchun in history.
His swordsmanship had lost the fierce and domineering style of more than ten years ago, and instead became elegant and agile.
The Taoist priest and the Divine Eagle's winged sword fought without any sign of barbarity; rather, they resembled two Taoist practitioners discussing the Dao through martial arts.
While the two were engrossed in their fierce battle, a triangular venomous python, as thick as a bowl, had somehow appeared and was now lying prostrate beside a tree.
Seeing that the Divine Eagle had been forced back by Qiu Chuji's sword and had come to the tree where it was hiding, the venomous python suddenly opened its mouth wide and bit at the blood tumor on the Divine Eagle's head.
Qiu Chuji was immediately horrified and hastily threw out his long sword to save him.
Just then, a long spear came flying through the air, pinning the giant python's head and body firmly to the tree trunk, preventing it from struggling.
"Kang'er".
Qiu Chuji exclaimed in delight.
"Master's cultivation has become increasingly otherworldly lately."
"He neglected his promise to his disciple, yet he had the mind to frolic with this beast in the mountains."
Yang Kang said with a smile.
"Hahaha."
"I arrived in Xiangyang three days ago."
"Passing by this place, I saw that pear blossoms were still blooming in the mountains and fields in June. On a whim, I inscribed a poem on the stone wall."
"Unexpectedly, this eagle seems to have taken the wrong medicine, and it rushed out to fight its master to the death."
"Even I never expected that such a divine eagle would exist in the mountains and fields of Xiangyang."
"I have been entangled here by him for several days and have not been able to escape."
Qiu Chuji stroked his beard and laughed heartily as he spoke.
"Is it that you can't leave, or that you don't want to leave?"
Yang Kang looked at Qiu Chuji with a half-smile and said.
Qiu Chuji simply laughed heartily, showing no remorse whatsoever for missing his appointment with his disciple due to his eagerness to hunt.
"The Tao follows nature; wherever it goes, that's where it is."
"Why should my disciple argue with his master?"
In a moment of carefree abandon, Qiu Chuji no longer displayed the stubbornness he once had, who had traveled the world for a mere bet.
As they were talking, the divine eagle pecked open the venomous python's body, brought out the snake's gall bladder, and gestured for Yang Kang to take it.
"For me?"
Yang Kang looked at the Divine Condor in astonishment.
"My sword only hit the snake's tail, but your spear hit the snake's head, saving Brother Eagle."
"It is repaying this favor, for the gall of the venomous python is a rare treasure."
"Kang'er, please accept it."
Looking at the bloody snake gall, Qiu Chuji, knowing Yang Kang's obsession with cleanliness, immediately said something mischievous.
"Brother Eagle, you're too kind."
"No need for snake gall. I find the scenery here quite unique. Why don't you show us around, Brother Eagle?"
Yang Kang waved his hand and quickly refused.
"Kang'er, no matter how extraordinary this eagle is, it is not human."
"What can he show you around?"
"This mountain paradise is truly a place for leisurely strolls."
Qiu Chuji was taken aback, thinking that Yang Kang was just talking nonsense due to his obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Upon hearing this, the Divine Eagle swallowed the snake gall bladder whole and let out a long howl. Qiu Chuji wondered if it was just his imagination, but he could detect a hint of dissatisfaction in the sound.
The divine eagle flapped its wings; though it could not fly, its terrifying leg strength allowed it to move nimbly through the mountains like a martial arts master.
Its wings, like long swords, swept away all the vines and weeds.
A cave was revealed, and although the entrance was dilapidated and simple, the traces of chisel work were clearly visible.
"Is this land owned?"
Qiu Chuji said in astonishment.
"No wonder, no wonder!"
"This eagle is extraordinary, yet it insists on fighting this humble Taoist."
"So, did I inscribe this without the owner's permission?"
"Brother Diao, Qiu Chuji has been impolite."
"I will erase that poem right now."
Qiu Chuji immediately understood why the Condor Heroes was so persistent in pursuing him.
He hurried toward the place where he had carved the inscription, intending to erase it.
The divine eagle let out a long cry and flapped its wings a few times on his shoulder, as if to indicate that it was unnecessary to do so.
The divine eagle let out a few low cries, then tugged at Yang Kang's sleeve, signaling him to come with it.
Yang Kang and Qiu Chuji exchanged a glance, then used their lightness skills together to follow the Divine Condor.
Apart from a stone table and stone benches, there was nothing else in the cave. In one corner of the cave, there was a pile of random rocks, which looked like a tomb.
On the cave wall, faint traces of writing can be seen amidst the moss.
Qiu Chuji was greatly surprised when he saw this. He quickly took out a tinderbox and lit it. He then swung his sword to cut away the withered grass and wiped away the moss, revealing three lines of small characters.
"Having roamed the martial world for over thirty years, slaying all my enemies and defeating all heroes, I am now utterly helpless. With no other choice, I have retreated to a deep valley, taking eagles as my companions. Alas! In my life, I have sought a worthy opponent but could not find one; my loneliness is truly unbearable."
The inscription reads "Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai".