Chapter 23

Bringing 100,000 taels of treasure and 100,000 taels of gold bank notes, he mounted the carriage.

Just leaving Upper Valley City, the first thing that came into view was the endless expanse of white flowers covering the mountains and fields. From the steep mountainside to the summit, these white flowers bloomed everywhere, a silvery sea like poured autumn sunlight over the mountains.

Looking closer at the rows of old trees, they were vigorous and upright, starkly different from the melancholic flowers of the distant mountains.

The rivers along the way and at the mountain's base seemed to flow down from the white flower groves atop the summit.

"These white flowers blooming prove autumn is coming soon!" Long Wang sighed, "Think about it—there's still half a month until August 15."

"I never expected Southern Frontier to be this beautiful, so why do so few people live here?" Gazing at the breathtaking scenery filling his eyes, Chen Yi He asked.

"I'm not sure about that either. Southern Frontier used to be a terrifying place, even more so than the Western Desert. Here, countless legends have been passed down…"

"Legends?"

"Yes."

"What are they?" Chen Yi He's interest was piqued.

"These legends have been blocked by both the martial world and the imperial court; outsiders know nothing of them. We can learn them only when we have enough strength!"

"Tch, that's as good as saying nothing…" Chen Yi He felt his heightened appetite vanish instantly.

"The Thousand-layer Gate is right ahead—are you ready?" The Dragon King driving the carriage suddenly turned his head to ask Chen Yi He, who was lying on the carriage bed.

"What need to say? Now that we have money, heh heh… we'll take it down!" Chen Yi He clenched a fist and drew a long arc in the air. As if something occurred to him, he sat up straight and asked Long Wang, "You said the young palace master of the Five Absolutes Palace, whether in status or cultivation, is top-tier among peers—why would she still compete for the Thousand-layer Gate? And that imperial prince, why not just stay home and wait to become emperor? Why meddle in these martial affairs?"

Long Wang laughed, his dark face breaking into a smile as bright as the white flowers on the mountain. "The Thousand-layer Gate has a history of thousands of years on the Heavenly Peace Continent. Exactly how many thousands, no one knows, but it is older than the Great Zhou Dynasty, older than the Five Absolutes Palace… It opens every ten years, selecting a hundred people each time. It imposes no restrictions based on sect or status, nor does it matter whether you are good or evil. As long as you have sufficient strength, or those behind you do, you can be selected. Legend says that whoever enters, after ten years of cultivation, will achieve the utmost progress in both martial prowess and state of mind. For thousands of years it has operated steadily."

Chen Yi He nodded thoughtfully, yet still puzzled. "Then the imperial prince doesn't need any cultivation either, does he?"

"This is a symbol of status. Entering the Thousand-layer Gate undoubtedly adds a most honorable medal to his already noble identity. Consider: every emperor in history has undergone trials at the Thousand-layer Gate, yet he has not—how could he become emperor, how could he win the world's trust? Think of that young palace master of the Five Absolutes Palace; if she cannot enter the Thousand-layer Gate, would her master or mother entrust the Five Absolutes Palace to her? The same principle applies."

"Looks like those ten spots will have everyone fighting tooth and nail!"

"It's not that simple a brawl; I expect a bloody battle in Southern Frontier City—you need to be mentally prepared!" Long Wang warned Chen Yi He.

"Hahaha, no problem at all! Small case!" Chen Yi He blurted out.

"What? Dying of thirst?"

"Just dialect, it's nothing much…"

"Oh oh, Yi He, you said yesterday you were Manager Chen of No. 22 Middle School, and your hometown is there?" Long Wang, as if recalling something, asked.

"Mm-hmm…"

"Such a great Bei Du—I, Long Wang, have also roamed the world a bit, but I've truly never heard of this place."

"When the chance comes, I'll definitely take you to see it!"

Yeah, Chen Yi He hasn't thought of home in a long time. Since arriving in this book's world, it's been over three months, and he wonders whether his parents, teachers, classmates, and the girl he secretly loves are all still alright.

Can he still return?

"Good! If I get the chance, I'll definitely go take a look!"

Chen Yi He said without confidence, "That's just necessary……"

"That's settled then. When the time comes, you'll bring me fine wine and meat!"

"The finest Moutai, only for the finest you……"

"In short, first think about August 15th. No one knows what lies inside the Thousandfold Gate, but this year they've changed a rule that has stood for a thousand years—undoubtedly they are sending a signal to the outside world, and the previously stable pattern may change. So, we'll charge in even if we lose our arms and legs!" Long Wang said firmly. However, he was still muttering in his heart, "What's this Moutai? Never mind all that—Yi He has made sure there's no shortage……"

While Chen Yi He and Long Wang were chatting, the carriage traveled along the small path and river, heading straight into the white flower thicket.

The white flowers blanketed heaven and earth, growing from the mountaintop down to the base, endless and continuous. They grew by the river, they grew beside the road. The carriage was merciless, its wheels crushing over the white flowers.

The white flowers weren't innocent either—who let them cover the only road? The fragrance of flowers all along the way… truly intoxicating.

"Whoa!"

Long Wang grabbed the reins, and the carriage came to a sudden halt!

"Ah, it kills me!" the unprepared Chen Yi He clutched his forehead and shouted, as the carriage suddenly braked, causing his head to smash into a pile of gems.

"Shh!" Long Wang signaled Chen Yi He to stay quiet. Then he got off the carriage and walked a distance.

It was a speck of red among countless white blossoms, vivid and gorgeous. The deep red blood stained the snow‑white petals, making them look lush and tempting. A thick smell of blood filled Long Wang's nostrils; he stepped forward, carefully lifting the blood‑stained flower cluster, and gasped in shock!

It was a corpse lying face up! Beneath its costly garments, blood was still flowing—it seemed to have died less than an hour ago.

Turning it over, Long Wang started again—this corpse was actually Ma Ming, the boss of Changle Gate whom they had tried to extort and kill in Qunshan City! How did he end up here?

Chen Yi He also sensed something wrong; while secretly gathering his qi, he stepped down from the carriage, wary of everything around him—in this snow‑pure sea of flowers, a killing intent seemed to lurk.

"It's Ma Ming." Long Wang said.

"How did he die here?" Chen Yi He voiced their shared question.

"I don't know." Long Wang shook his head, then whispered to Chen Yi He, "He just died—we've been targeted."

"Whoosh!" As the first arrow tore through the sky, that ripping‑air sound was especially shrill, like the crack of a breaking branch.

"Get on the carriage, quick!" Long Wang flung Ma Ming's corpse aside and shouted loudly at Chen Yi He.

Then came a dense rain of arrows, like a locust swarm sweeping across the sky—shooting straight at Chen Yi He and Long Wang! They were the targets!

Long Wang drew his Azure Dragon Blade, waving it to deflect the arrows, protecting himself with blade qi; for a moment blade and arrow clashed, producing a clanging "dang‑dang‑dang" sound!

Chen Yi He had no sword; at first he thought of dodging left and right, but he never expected the arrows to be so numerous and dense that there was no room to evade, so he finally had to meet them with his palms—"Parting Cloud Palm!"

He thrust out both palms, and his mighty true qi shattered the arrows into fragments, which scattered into the white flower thicket, ruining the beautiful blossoms—truly a pity.

While they resisted, they also retreated, hoping to mount the carriage and flee quickly.

Yet the snowy white ground was gradually turning black as crowds surged from afar, their knives and swords glinting in the autumn light; keen‑eyed Chen Yi He saw clearly, "It's the Embroidered Uniform Guard of the Western Depot!"

"We're surrounded!" Long Wang also saw it.

The arrow rain ceased, and Li Lan, whom they had glimpsed once in Shanggu City, had ridden over on horseback; from a distance he pointed his whip at Chen Yi He and Long Wang and said, "You can't escape."

"Report! Lieutenant Li, we found Ma Ming's corpse in the flower thicket!" The Embroidered Uniform Guard lifted Ma Ming's body out. They headed straight for the corpse's location, needing no extra search, and lifted it with practiced ease—as if they had originally placed it there, or as if they had killed Ma Ming right there.

"You two killed the master of Changle Gate, Ma Ming; I, acting on the orders of Eunuch Zhang, have come specially to apprehend you."

"This framing trick, over and over again—I think you're addicted to it!" Chen Yi He shouted angrily.

"Don't talk nonsense, what you're saying now will be evidence once you go to court." Li Lan's pale face looked twisted; he lowered his head, playing with the horsewhip in his hand, stroking the hairs that stood up on the whip, "Yesterday in Upper Valley City, I sensed your presence; I didn't act because I wanted to give you two a chance, but unfortunately you didn't seize it, and you still went on the road to Southern Border City, so don't blame me for being ruthless."

Having smoothed the hairs, he waved his hand and said again, "Five thousand Embroidered Uniform Guard have already surrounded this place; you cannot escape even with wings, surrender and live, resist and die, choose for yourselves!"