While on Mount Hua, my mind is at peace!

Chapter 155 Those who come, stop; those who advance, die.

On the mountain path, a sword light shot into the sky. Though it appeared for only a moment, it sent all the hidden weapons flying backward. Muffled groans and screams filled the air, but Pan Kai and the bandits were all unharmed.

Their bodies were stiff, their eyes glazed over. The sword light had disappeared for quite some time, yet they still couldn't believe they had survived what seemed like a certain death.

Yue Feng patted Pan Kai on the shoulder and said, "There should be a few survivors. Would you mind looking for them?"

Pan Kai shuddered, his gaze towards Yue Feng a mixture of admiration, fear, or perhaps both. He felt a gentle surge of true energy enter his body, instantly silencing his trembling and gradually restoring his strength.

Without a word, he immediately commanded a group of men to climb the cliff face between the two paths and bring all those lying in ambush there, dead or alive, to the stronghold. He then respectfully addressed Yue Feng:

"Hero Yue, you saved our brothers, so our lives are yours now. This isn't the place to talk, let's go upstairs first?"

Yue Feng said, "I'm not some great hero. I just happened to be there and had to take action. Your lives aren't mine, they're your own. If you all think highly of me, we can be friends; if not, hehe, I'll shamelessly ask you for a drink."

Pan Kai and the bandits initially thought that although Yue Feng was skilled in martial arts, he was too arrogant and that they were not on the same side. However, after hearing Yue Feng's words, they immediately changed their opinion of him, and even Pan Kai couldn't help but laugh.

"There's not much else on the mountain, but plenty of wine. If you like, brother, I'll build you a wine pool so you can swim in it, haha!"

As they talked, they climbed to the summit of East Mountain. At the summit was a large open area, its extent obscured by the darkness; Pan Kai's East Mountain stronghold was located there.

Pan Kai's bandits were quite efficient, having already dragged the group that had been lying in ambush into the stronghold. Most of them were motionless, with only a few still rolling and struggling.

Pan Kai took a torch, looked at a person, and was immediately filled with rage. He kicked the person in the chest.

The man was kicked so hard he rolled a long way away, and several bandits quickly brought him back. The man was unharmed, except that he was bleeding profusely from the spot where he was hit by the hidden weapon, and his face was pale, because he had been poisoned by the hidden weapon.

Pan Kai said, "Jiang Chuan! You've got some nerve, daring to plot against me! Even if you kill me, with the chief chief here, Dongshan Village won't stand a chance for you!"

Jiang Chuan chuckled disdainfully and said, "You, surnamed Pan, are nothing but Du Yi's dog! If you truly consider yourself one of his comrades, then go wait for him on the road to the Yellow Springs! It won't be long before he comes to find you underground! Haha, haha!"

Pan Kai's face changed instantly. He grabbed Jiang Chuan by the collar and lifted him up: "What did you say? You...you...how dare you harm the chief chief?"

Jiang Chuan said, "If you're so worried about him, why don't you go check on him at Peach Blossom Peak? I'm afraid you're too afraid to risk your own life and will only dare to hide in your East Mountain Stronghold, acting like a spineless coward!"

With a sudden whoosh, Pan Kai snatched a single-edged sword from a bandit and chopped off Jiang Chuan's head with a single stroke.

He kicked Jiang Chuan's head off the cliff and shouted, "Gather all the brothers and follow me to Peach Blossom Peak!" Then, softening his tone, he said to Yue Feng:

"Brother Yue, I'm really sorry, something happened on the mountain and I have to go to the main camp. You can stay here for the night. I'll leave a few brothers for you. If you need anything, just tell them."

Yue Feng shook his head and said, "You said you would personally take me to Peach Blossom Peak, you can't go back on your word."

Pan Kai opened his mouth, suddenly understanding the meaning behind Yue Feng's words—he was very likely to die on Peach Blossom Peak, which would mean breaking his promise. The only way was to take Yue Feng with him; in that way, whether he lived or died, he would at least have fulfilled his promise.

Pan Kai nodded and said, "Alright. With Brother Yue's martial arts skills, I wouldn't normally need to say anything more. However, since the situation is unclear, you must be extra careful."

Yue Feng agreed. By this time, the bandits of Dongshan Village had also assembled, and Pan Kai led them on their way. The group descended Dongshan Peak, mounted their horses, and galloped for a while before arriving at the foot of Peach Blossom Peak.

From afar, Peach Blossom Peak already towers into the clouds; up close, it resembles a jade pillar supporting the sky, dazzling the senses. The group dismounted, finding the surroundings eerily quiet, without a single soul in sight. Pan Kai exclaimed, "Where the people guarding this place are? Where the hell are they? Go find them!"

The bandits searched the area, but found neither the living nor the dead. Pan Kai said to Yue Feng, "It seems something really has happened at the main stronghold. I'm going up the mountain now, Brother Yue, you…"

Yue Feng said nothing, only pointing to the mountain path. Pan Kai sighed and ran wildly up the mountain. The bandits followed him like a swarm of bees.

The mountain path on Peach Blossom Peak was even more treacherous than that on East Peak. The more anxious Pan Kai became, the sooner his stamina began to give out. Before he could even finish a meal, his pace had noticeably slowed down.

Yue Feng said, "I'll go ahead and scout the way. You guys take your time and conserve your strength, otherwise even if you reach the top of the mountain, you won't be able to do anything." Without waiting for Pan Kai's reply, he used his lightness skill to leap up the mountain.

In the darkness, they saw a wisp of blue cloud rise slowly along the mountain path, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye. Pan Kai and the bandits exchanged bewildered glances, unable to believe that such lightness skill existed in the martial world. Yet, the fact was right before their eyes, leaving them no choice but to believe it.

Traveling alone, Yue Feng was much faster, and in no time he reached the summit of Peach Blossom Peak. A straight path led from the summit into the hidden forest.

Yue Feng hurried along the main road for a while, but the road gradually narrowed, eventually turning into a winding and secluded path. Yue Feng couldn't help but slow down, and that strange sense of unease resurfaced in his heart.

When he arrived at the gate of Liangshan Temple, he saw a dark figure sitting cross-legged at the top of the stone steps, looking lonely and bored. A sheathless sword lay across the man's lap, its white surface reflecting the moonlight.

The man was hunched over, head bowed, staring motionlessly at the longsword on his lap, as if trying to use it as a mirror to reflect his own image. Hearing Yue Feng's footsteps, the man didn't look up, but spoke in a wooden tone:

"Those who come, halt! Those who advance, die!"

Yue Feng stood at the foot of the stone steps, his deep, pool-like gaze sweeping over him twice before pausing on the longsword at his knee. He then took a step and slowly ascended the stone steps.

The man suddenly sighed softly, shook his head slightly, and a flash of white light appeared in the darkness. Three incomparably sharp sword energies surged down towards Yue Feng from above.