Chapter 1130: Frenzied White Bear King (Double Update Combined)

If you want to harass the village and eat a few living people, the Dragon Patrol Guards will come knocking to settle the score in just a few days.

"Who has that kind of ability?" Wang Wei gave a bitter smile. "Before the State of Julu was established, the three families here were constantly at war, seizing and fighting each other, even boys under twelve were conscripted to fight. Their strength was reserved for fighting people—who would have the spare hands to exterminate these bear demons?"

He continued: "Back then, bear demons and wolf monsters didn't even need to hunt when they came down from the mountains—there were corpses everywhere along the roads, in the wilderness, and in the villages, more than they could eat. If it weren't so easy to find food, how could the evil beasts of Bai Mao Mountain have gathered in such numbers? Ah, this is what I witnessed with my own eyes—I hope I never have to live through such days again in this lifetime."

Everyone fell silent.

No one understands the cruelty of war better than they do.

When humans weaken, demons and ghosts flourish—one wanes as the other waxes.

Hu Min then asked: "Is the White Bear King very strong?"

"Supposedly very formidable," Wang Wei replied. "Nine years ago in autumn, when the State of Julu had not yet been founded, the remnants of the army defeated by our ruler fled into Bai Mao Peak, probably intending to march straight to Dongmin State—but—"

He shook his finger: "Over five hundred men, and not a single one came out!"

"They were all eaten?" Only then did the crowd grasp the severity. Even if the remnants were weak, they were still stronger than ordinary civilians—and might even retain some vestiges of spiritual energy.

In the end, they too were buried in the bear's belly.

"Isn't that so?" Wang Wei sighed. "The demons on Bai Mao Peak are especially vicious in spring and autumn."

Bear demons need to hibernate, so in autumn they lie in wait, and in early spring they search for food—both times they are especially ravenous.

"Doesn't the authorities intervene?" Isn't the Julu King very attentive to people's livelihood?

"They do try, but this nest of demons is especially cunning, the terrain of Bai Mao Peak is complex, and the two demon-hunting squads organized by the authorities both failed. Recently, Dongmin State invaded our northwestern borders, and Wang Ting has no spare manpower to redirect against the bear demons." Wang Wei sighed. "Our land is simply plagued by misfortune—demons and monsters abound, and though the war has temporarily ceased, everyone's life remains bitter."

He Lingchuan casually asked: "Are there many demons nearby? Any other places?"

What Wang Wei said was true: the spiritual energy on the Jinping Plains is scarcer than elsewhere, the lingering baleful qi is greater, and with the state being small and weak, spiritual energy is extremely thin, unable to mitigate disasters.

If this continues, won't it just become a land of endless tribulations?

"Two hundred li to the northeast from here lies the Shrieking Forest. It is said to have once been an ancient battlefield, where the dead became vengeful spirits that emerge each year to wreak havoc."

A Luo spat out a chicken bone: "Can't the nearby residents just move away?"

Trees may be moved, but people must live.

"Ten years ago we still had tiger troubles here—tigers roamed the villages and towns, and many wanted to flee into the mountains to settle." Wang Wei waved his hand. "How many people can a tiger eat in a year? If they stayed here, sigh! Before the State of Julu was founded, farmers had to surrender eight jin of every ten jin of rice harvest, leaving barely enough to eat. Some truly couldn't bear the hunger and ate their seed grain—next year, if they didn't sell their children, the whole family would have to drink the northwest wind."

He himself had endured those years, and speaking of them still made his heart tremble.

He Lingchuan comforted: "No matter what, the new ruler is wise and capable—your days will gradually improve."

This was only comfort, for he knew all too well the future of this land.

"What future?" Wang Gesheng interjected: "Your father has just returned, unaware that two months ago the ruler issued a bounty, calling all strong individuals to exterminate demons."

Hu Min laughed aloud: "Five hundred rebel troops were eaten by mountain demons—sending two more people isn't just throwing away a pair?"

That's sending two to their deaths.

"No, no—it's about recruiting civilian strongmen to form a demon-hunting squad." Wang Gesheng said seriously. "Originally, they recruited enough to gather several hundred people to go up the mountain together."

Hearing this, He Lingchuan shook his head: "This squad is too large and conspicuous—is it going up to hunt demons, or to be hunted by them? Better to disperse, act flexibly and efficiently."

"Exactly, He Lingchuan is absolutely right!" Wang Gesheng exclaimed, looking at him with new respect. "The White Bear King is cunning, hiding from beginning to end. The demon-hunting squad encountered few wolves or bears, but instead was constantly harassed by the White Bear King leading his pack, losing dozens of men. After suffering such a loss, the squad changed tactics—now they send small teams of twenty or thirty into the mountains, setting traps and bait, conducting dispersed searches."

He Lingchuan cracked open a peanut: "Bear demons are lazy and gluttonous, disobedient—the White Bear King can restrain them for a time, but not for ten days or half a month."

When he served as a patrol guard on the Chi Po Plateau, he had slain many bear demons. Moreover, Fan Bao, the Three Commanders of the Tongxin Guard in Lingxu City, was himself a giant bear.

He knows the nature of bear demons better than anyone.

The White Bear King's subordinates are nothing like Zhu Erniang's offspring—so obedient, so efficient in execution.

"Yes, divide and conquer makes it easy to deal with." Over the past two months, various demon-hunting teams have collectively taken down over thirty bears, more than five hundred wolves, and many miscellaneous minor demons to claim bounties. I heard the ruler was overjoyed.

The Julu State's strategy is to first use civilian demon-hunting squads to pluck out the White Bear King's claws and fangs—then dealing with the main target will be far easier.

Only civilians can afford to spend so much time in the mountains, repeatedly maneuvering against the bear and wolf demons. Julu's army cannot afford to maneuver in the mountains for two months just to chase demons.

"Julu State has money now, huh." Who without funds could play like this? On one front they fight Dongmin State in the west, on another they lavishly spend on bounties for Bai Mao Mountain's demons, and still have to attend to domestic livelihood.

Why is this small state hampered everywhere, unable to do anything well? In the end, isn't it just due to lack of money? "I don't know—perhaps because these past few years have been peaceful and prosperous?" Wang Wei scratched his head. "Five years ago we still suffered a flood."

"The White Bear King seems to have been provoked." After several demon-hunting teams entered the mountains and never returned, everyone said they had encountered the White Bear King. Wang Gesheng took another sip of wine, this time a little urgent, coughing several times: "In past years, when bear demons came down from the mountains, they merely attacked nearby villages. But the White Bear King recently went to Rongzhen."

Wang Wei's eyes widened: "Rongzhen? They ran to Rongzhen?"

Where is Rongzhen? Several outsiders don't know.

"Less than twenty li from Ducheng—it's a fine place specializing in melons and fruits." Wang Gesheng explained to them. "Now it's become a ghost town. The White Bear King launched a night attack, and over six hundred people in the town, young and old, were wiped out—most were killed but not eaten."

This is revenge, pure and simple revenge.

"Ancient great demons, it is said, could devour an entire city's population." Hu Min shook his head. "If this White Bear King continues to develop, it will be much the same."

"Once this news spreads, even Ducheng will be filled with panic. The ruler flew into a rage and dispatched the Ducheng garrison to hunt demons."

He turned to Wang Wei, swallowed, then said: "Father, I also signed up."

Wang Wei spat out his wine with a puff: "What?!"

"The bounty is very generous—if I..."

"Cancel it!" Wang Wei, heedless of He Lingchuan's presence, thickened his neck and slammed the table: "Does our family lack those few coins that you must risk your life for? The White Bear King is how formidable a demon—ordinary troops can't do anything against it! You've only learned a few days of divine powers and dare to seek it? That's not demon extermination—it's suicide! Cancel your registration, and you are not to go!"

Wang Gesheng seemed to have anticipated his father's reaction, speaking softly: "Once registered, it cannot be canceled."

"Just registered a name, and it can't be canceled?" Wang Wei sneered. "I know your garrison commander—his daughter studies in my school! Let me go ask him if it can be canceled!"

After saying that, he remembered He Lingchuan and the others were still beside him, felt awkward, and was about to apologize and leave.

But He Lingchuan said: "Master Wang, don't get angry—your son is very clever."

"But..."

"Before, it hid in Bai Mao Mountain, playing hide-and-seek on its own turf—you couldn't find it. Now it has come to your turf—no need to say more, the area around Ducheng is not a place it can long remain, and the White Bear King will ultimately have to return to the mountains. As long as we anticipate its return route, we can ambush it unprepared." He Lingchuan declared firmly. "It shouldn't have come out at all."

"Moreover, now that the White Bear King has pressed right up to the vicinity of the capital, the ruler cannot but act. The Ducheng garrison has spiritual energy—with them leading the way, your son need not recklessly advance for glory, and the danger will be greatly reduced."

For Wang Gesheng, this is a good opportunity. He scratched his head, feeling a little embarrassed, unaware that He Lingchuan had seen through his every thought.

Yes, he simply thought the opportunity was not bad—that's why he wanted to get involved.

Hearing him say that, Wang Wei was stunned, his anger subsiding, but he still said: "I, I'll go out for a bit."

Having spoken, he hurriedly left home.

Seeing his back disappear outside the door, He Lingchuan asked Wang Gesheng: "Does anyone know the cultivation level of the White Bear King?"

"Some say three hundred years, some say five hundred years, but my teammate's father saw him a few years ago and said his build wasn't large, only slightly bigger than an ordinary white bear. I don't know why he's so formidable, blades and spears don't pierce him." Wang Gesheng sighed, "He led bear demons to attack a town, which used to be a military garrison, and there were still siege crossbows on the gate tower. The local guards raised the siege crossbow, shot the White Bear King, but to their surprise, he was unharmed! Seeing that, everyone thought, what's the point of fighting, and scattered in all directions."

The most direct way to gauge a monster's cultivation level is often its size.

Some monsters grow larger with deeper cultivation, while others are the opposite.

But based on He Lingchuan's years of experience exterminating bears on the Panlong Wasteland and Mao River Plain, the larger the bear demon's build, the deeper its cultivation tends to be. With so many demonic creatures under the White Bear King rampaging, and even able to devour a five-hundred-strong army, he must be a major demon, at the very least stronger than the Civilized King.

Yet his size is only slightly larger than an ordinary white bear? That sounds unscientific.

The door panel said from the side: "Maybe the guards misaimed, hitting another white bear."

Real battle scenes are often chaotic, and misjudgments happen frequently.

"No, no, the White Bear King has a diamond-shaped dark patch on his chest, very noticeable. It's said the soldiers on the wall aimed precisely at that dark spot, and the siege crossbow indeed struck the White Bear King."

"A diamond-shaped dark patch? What is that?"

Wang Gesheng honestly replied: "I don't know either."

He thought for a moment, then also went out.

He Lingchuan and the others wandered around Jilu Port for a few cycles, experiencing the local customs completely different from later eras, and incidentally replenished fruits and dry rations, with the door panel also buying a large bag of walnuts by the way.

Bear demons descending the mountain to harm people, pressing close to the capital, is today's hot topic at the port, discussed everywhere. Port guards patrol fully armed, and many others wear armor and wield sharp weapons, hurrying back and forth, but they are not official soldiers, looking very much like the demon hunters Wang Gesheng mentioned.

People's hearts tremble, public opinion surges, and the Jilu Kingdom this time stands irreconcilably opposed to the White Bear King.

When He Lingchuan returned to the Wang family guesthouse, before even entering the courtyard, he nearly bumped into Wang Gesheng chest-first.

This youth had a sword at his waist, a bow and quiver on his back, and was swinging a bundle onto his shoulder, looking like he was about to set out on a long journey.

Wang Wei stood behind, his face full of worry.

"Where are you going?"

"The White Bear King attacked Hezhen again last night!" Wang Gesheng said hurriedly, "Wang Ting has found the demons' whereabouts, and now he's summoning all demon hunters to jointly pursue the White Bear King with the capital garrison! That force numbers at least three thousand, Father need not worry!"

By the time he finished those last words, he had already stepped out the gate.

Wang Wei sighed long and short behind him, appearing to have lost in the father-son confrontation.

He Lingchuan comforted him with a few words, didn't even change clothes, and brought Hu Min and others to rent several horses, leaving Jilu Port heading north.

Being able to confirm the White Bear King has left Bai Mao Peak, this is his good opportunity to take the Bright Lamp Bowl.

Compared to later eras, this trade route's road conditions are roughly the same, with no additional turns. Though it doesn't match the constant flow of Blade Edge Port's main road, merchants come and go in an endless stream, clearly shouldering the heavy task of transporting goods inland at this time.

Jilu Kingdom is well-governed, so there aren't as many bandits on this road as in later eras.

Hu Min asked him:

"Is our target inside the White Bear King's den? Does this monster also collect Bright Lamp Bowls?"

Do monster cultivators also face the inner demon tribulation? Hu Min had never considered this question.

"Not quite right to say that." He Lingchuan rode his horse, very relaxed, "We've come at the wrong time, not during the Bright Lamp Bowl's maturation period."

The Bright Lamp Bowl matures every thirty years. The next maturation will be in thirteen years.

"Then?"

"But there's good news, at least for us. The White Bear King occupied Bai Mao Mountain twenty years ago, meaning the Bright Lamp Bowl matured during his reign over the mountain, so it's likely not been taken by humans."

The door panel, hearing this, also became curious: "Was it taken by the White Bear King?"

"The probability is very low." He Lingchuan laughed, "Bright Lamp Grass is interesting—you cut a red rope into two pieces, tie one piece to the Bright Lamp Grass, then chant a secret phrase. Then, the next time you go up the mountain, as long as you have the other piece tied to your wrist and repeatedly chant that secret phrase, you're sure to encounter it. If not—"

He shook his head: "Even if you break your legs walking, you won't find it."

The door panel clicked his tongue in wonder: "Can this grass run?"

"Why not? It just doesn't walk on two legs like a person." He Lingchuan said, "Although the White Bear King lives on Bai Mao Mountain, he never tied a rope to the Bright Lamp Grass beforehand, so this spiritual grass might ignore him. On Bai Mao Mountain, they are neighbors who never see each other all day."

"As for this Bai Mao Mountain, it wasn't originally called that, but was known as 'Longshou Mountain.' Legend says ancient people saw a black dragon descend from heaven and perished here."

Upon hearing the legend, the garrison soldiers all found it interesting: "What a coincidence, we also have a black dragon totem in our city."

Actually, this record was not transmitted back to Panlongcheng by Shao Jian via someone, but He Lingchuan learned it from Shao Jian's notes in later eras.

Hu Min followed up: "If the black dragon perished here, the earth qi of Longshou Mountain should be excellent."

As the saying goes, when a whale falls, myriad things arise.

Then what about a dragon's demise? He Lingchuan shook his head: "What kind of feng shui treasure mountain is a dragon's death place? A dragon's rise place is good. As the saying goes, the hidden dragon ascending to heaven is unstoppable."

Yet in his mind, another question arose: How did the Great Vase restore this place's history?

Before, when he entered the Panlong world, it was either the Panlong Wasteland, the old Xiji lands, or Yuheng City—none far from where the Great Vase is located. The Great Vase personally experienced that history, so it being able to re-manifest it is hardly surprising.

But Jilu Port, the Jinjin Plain—this place should not have been within the Great Vase's former perceptual range. In other words, the Great Vase should know nothing about this region.

Why can the Great Vase re-manifest the history of this unknown heaven and earth with such vivid detail? He Lingchuan also noticed a detail: this history only began unfolding after he stepped onto Jilu Port in reality.

Is it because the Divine Bone Necklace arrived here, thus reading this region's past history? Where exactly did the Great Vase obtain this history from?

But one thing, He Lingchuan still feels reassured: the history re-manifested by the Great Vase should have minimal deviation and error, providing reference and assistance for his real-world actions.

Thus, his perspective on observing the Jinjin Plain has gained another dimension: the dimension of history.

The more perspectives of observation, the less likely the conclusions are to be wrong.

The door panel asked him: "Chief, where are we going now?"

Hu Min immediately said: "If the White Bear King doesn't have the Bright Lamp Bowl, we naturally go to find someone with clues, that is—the holder of the red rope?"

He Lingchuan gave him an affirmative answer:

"Yes."

The message Shao Jian sent to Panlongcheng was precisely that he had found the holder of the red rope.

He Lingchuan also doesn't know how he found it, anyway Shao Jian has always been resourceful.

This person lives near Jiu Lu Port in Dao Town, and the red rope and dark language were both inherited from his father.

He was willing to sell these two items to Shao Jian, but Shao Jian could not tell their authenticity, because this person was unwilling to go up the mountain at that time—

What a joke—there are man-eating bear demons on Bai Mao Mountain; whoever goes there dies without exception. Even if the bright lantern were priceless, he could not enter the mountain.

Slaying demons and eliminating evil is not Shao Jian's strong suit; besides, he has more important tasks at hand, so he transmitted this information by flying message to Pan Long City.

Then, He Lingchuan arrived.

Dao Town is an ordinary small town with fewer than two hundred residents, but it relies on Jiu Lu Port for some cargo business. In recent years, Jiu Lu Port has been thriving, with cargo throughput greatly increasing, and the townspeople's lives have also seen noticeable improvement.

Following Shao Jian's hint, He Lingchuan found the keeper of the bright lantern.

This is just an ordinary resident; his summer jacket still has three or four patches. The enthusiastic villager led He Lingchuan to his doorstep, shouting "Old Liu" just as he was climbing onto the roof to patch the thatch, lest it leak again when it rains.

His dwelling is only about seven or eight square meters larger than He Lingchuan's wooden hut in Pan Long City.

(End of chapter)