Chapter 207

The Strong-Righteous Band's dwelling was built beside a small stream in a mountain valley, consisting of thirty or forty crude thatched huts made of wooden planks, with colorful clothes drying outside, a few young daughters-in-law leaning against the wall mending shoe soles, looking like a 'refugee camp'.

However, the environment here is not bad, with mountains and water, and it is quite secluded.

Baldy ordered a few of his underlings to carry the purchased goods, then stopped paying attention to Heng Xian, excitedly rushing inside while shouting, 'We've got an awesome guest—guess who it is!'

Dozens of people came running out of the dilapidated wooden-plank house, each in tattered clothes, with fierce faces.

Leading them were the big-bearded second chief and a girl wearing leather armor, with her hair tied in a ponytail, wheat-colored skin, and a pair of peach-blossom eyes.

The second chief picked at a wild vegetable stuck in his teeth, a little impatient: 'What guest? Third chief, are you crazy?'

Baldy turned and pointed at Heng Xian: 'The renowned Heng Xian!'

The second chief stared for a moment, then exclaimed 'Damn!' and, with his followers clamoring, rushed over to size up Heng Xian, all bursting into laughter.

The second chief's mouth hung open: 'This is truly a famous awesome guy! After not seeing each other for a few months, meeting again, I'm really excited!'

Having said that, he firmly gripped Heng Xian's hand.

His enthusiasm was a bit over the top, catching Heng Xian off guard; he could only smile and say, 'I thought you'd beat me up, after all the Strong-Righteous Band got implicated because of me!'

What nonsense! It's got nothing to do with you! Heng Xian, you're famous throughout Dongyu's cultivation world, you've played the fourteen major sects like a fiddle—too satisfying for us; we've long disliked those hypocrites.

The second chief wore a familiar expression, then turned and enthusiastically introduced Heng Xian to the nearby chiefs, finally pointing at the leather-armored woman: 'This is the elder chief's sister, Baizhu, now our fourth chief!'

The leather-armored girl had been staring at Heng Xian nonstop; now she clasped her fists and said, 'Baizhu pays her respects, Mr. Heng.'

Her voice was ice-cold, as if she were born not to like speaking.

Heng Xian returned the salute, curious: 'I… don't think I've met you before.'

Baldy laughed: 'Baizhu used to be a true disciple of the Three Mysteries Sect, quite prestigious; she just came over last month to join us.'

The Three Mysteries Sect is a minor sect; Heng Xian had vaguely heard of it, and he casually asked, 'Why give up being a proper sect disciple to become a mountain bandit, a career with such promising prospects?'

Baizhu said bluntly: 'The sect leader's dao companion ran off with the vice sect leader; the sect leader dissolved the sect and fled to Lingtai Mountain to become a monk.'

Heng Xian paused, then said solemnly: 'Your sect is carefree and loves freedom—truly enviable.'

The second chief laughed: 'Don't stand outside—go see the elder chief. Initially you designed a collaboration between the elder chief and Tao Saniangzi, which almost killed Song Rufeng.'

The elder chief often mentions this, saying your intellect is extraordinary, not that of an ordinary person, and that you will surely become famous worldwide—sure enough, you became renowned across the world in just a few days!

Speaking thus, everyone escorted Heng Xian toward the largest wooden thatched hut in the center of the stronghold.

Opening the door, a medicinal fragrance rushed forth.

The room is quite spacious, with very simple furnishings: more than ten fox-skin chairs, a large 'Righteous' character pasted on the central wall, a few medicine jars by the door, and a bed at the far end.

At the bedside, a youth with disheveled lengthened hair slowly walked while holding the bed rail—this was the elder chief, Baoyu.

He looked utterly depleted of vigor, completely lacking his former vitality.

Seeing the crowd burst in, Baoyu glanced at Heng Xian and grinned: 'Old brother Heng, how have you been?'

Heng Xian clasped his fists: 'I'm fine; we haven't seen each other in a long time!'

Baoyu sat on the bed, gesturing for everyone to sit as they pleased, and laughed: 'You and I haven't met in ages, yet I hear your name every day!'

Heng Xian pulled a chair, sat to the side, and said: 'Is your reputation fragrant or foul?'

Baoyu replied: 'Fragrant, very fragrant—you can toy with the fourteen major sects; we admire you greatly!'

The second chief, Baldy, and their entourage followed with laughter: 'Quite admirable!'

Baoyu awkwardly crossed his legs: 'Now that you're here, you might as well stay—there's nowhere else to go, so join us brothers as mountain bandits!'

Heng Xian asked: 'Aren't you afraid I'll implicate you?'

Baoyu laughed: 'No problem—just stop calling yourself Heng Xian and call yourself Linghu Yingjun instead.'

'Exactly!' the second chief said: 'From now on you'll be Linghu Yingjun; you have many ideas, so you'll be our strategist, giving us plans.'

Baldy also said: 'We've been bullied terribly lately by the Tiger Stronghold and the Black Wind Gang—you need to come up with an idea!'

Heng Xian wondered: 'Do the Tiger Stronghold and Black Wind Gang have many experts?'

The second chief replied: 'Not many! Only the Tiger Stronghold's chief, Dou Wei, and the Black Wind Gang's leader, Ye Dalong, are at the Yuan Dan Initial Realm; the rest are quite low.'

Heng Xian pointed at Baoyu: 'If the elder chief heals his injuries, we could just take them out directly, right?'

The band of followers stared for a moment, then their spirits sank.

Baoyu laughed through tears: 'We were hunted by disciples of the fourteen sects; in the midst, I fought two Yuan Dan experts from their side, damaging my inner elixir and the spiritual apertures of both legs—walking is already a strain; I fear it can't be healed!'

Heng Xian fell silent, opened the Heavenly Hexagram of Xuanhuang, performed a divination, then solemnly grasped Baoyu's wrist: 'Let me take a look.'

Baoyu immediately complied.

The room grew quiet.

After feeling his pulse for a while, Heng Xian waved his sleeve, took out paper and brush, and began to write a prescription.

Baoyu's eyes lit up, his whole body trembling with excitement: 'You can cure… me?'

Baizhu, the second chief, Baldy, and the others widened their eyes, breathing rapidly.

'Just drop the particle—no big deal.' Heng Xian said.

Baoyu clenched his fists tightly; Baizhu, the second chief, and the others instantly cheered and leapt for joy.

……

Night fell.

Wind and sand swept across the sky, the Hanshan mountains vast and desolate.

Heng Xian stuffed himself with spirit mutton and coarse liquor, staggering out of the Hall of Gathered Righteousness; after a few steps he turned back, glanced, and regained his composure.

Behind him, the cheers inside the Hall of Gathered Righteousness continued.

The elder chief's body has been healed—especially after he prescribed medicine and freely gave out a pile of herbs and materials, everyone was very happy.

Yet he felt puzzled; he asked about their cultivation progress, and these fellows only cared about food and clothing, paying no attention to cultivation—whether they had spiritual energy or not made no difference to them.

And Baoyu, injured and here for several months, still didn't quite understand where the spiritual veins were.

Without spiritual energy, in such a barren place, even if one could hide for a lifetime, what would be the point?

He glanced at the bright moonlight in the sky, his figure flashed and he arrived at the top of the highest wooden house, lay down, and opened the "Mysterious Yellow Heavenly Hexagram": "Are there any spirit veins nearby?"

The hexagram showed: 【There are not a few small spirit veins nearby: three locations 317 li to the north, seven locations 250 li to the west, five locations 190 li to the south, enough for the host to cultivate to the Primordial Dan Realm.】

Heng Xian let out a breath of relief; having spirit veins is good, first rest a few days, then go over and look.

Thinking of this, he took out his Storage Bag, played with it a bit; this Storage Bag was a gift from Ji Yaoyue, its quality is truly not bad.

At that moment, a thought moved him; he took out the small drum he had obtained from the Yang family and examined it up and down.

This thing is a treasure, with seven layers of seals, each layer stronger than the last; in a life‑and‑death struggle with others, it is a rare aid!

He slipped the small drum back, then took out the jade pendant given by Ji Yaoyue, facing the moonlight to examine it; he saw only that its surface was butterfly‑shaped, icy cool, the material very special, seemingly also having a mind‑focusing and brain‑awakening effect, absolutely priceless!

As he was engrossed in looking, a face suddenly appeared on the back of the jade pendant.

(End of chapter)