Chapter 9: Three Mountains Bandits

The carriage rode along the pitch‑black official road, and only after finally reaching the post station outside Lin Shan Cheng did it go to the inn to rest.

"Hm? Isn't this the Yan family's inn? Why has the sign changed?"

"Hey, have you been to Lin Shan Cheng before? The Yan family's days aren't good now. I don't know what madness the Yan master fell into to sell his assets; this shop is now owned by our boss Zhang." The footman tied the carriage and said with a smile.

Zhong Shifu nodded: "I see."

"Zhong Uncle, I'm exhausted; first arrange my lodging."

"Yes, miss!"

The next morning.

Zhong Shifu stood at Ling Yan's doorway, saw Ling Yan finished washing and stepping out, clasped his fists and said, "Miss, did you rest well yesterday?"

"No problem, let's eat something first."

"It's already prepared."

Ling Yan smiled: "Zhong Uncle, your handling truly puts my mind at ease."

The footman quickly carried the dishes upstairs to Ling Yan's guest room, while Zhong Shifu waited at the door.

"Zhong Uncle, who was that senior last night? I haven't heard of any master‑level expert near Lin Shan Cheng with that designation." Ling Yan said while eating breakfast daintily.

Zhong Shifu frowned: "The nearby masters all come from sects and have good relations with the Ling family. Yet this person's qi and blood flow like a dragon; when idle he is calm, but when he acts he erupts like a volcano, overwhelmingly domineering. That is precisely the hallmark of a fully completed Cross‑Training, divine light restrained, strength refined into the bones. Few can advance Cross‑Training to such a level, let alone a master‑stronger who roams the jianghu; he should be known."

"So you mean a Cross‑Training master who appeared out of nowhere?" Ling Yan asked curiously.

Zhong Shifu nodded: "Forgive my ignorance, but I've never heard of such a person near Lin Shan Cheng."

After finishing breakfast, Ling Yan wiped his mouth: "Could it be that he also came because of those Three Mountains Bandits?"

Zhong Shifu furrowed his brow: "Miss, this matter is serious; we should first go pay a visit to the Lin Shan Cheng prefect."

"Agreed."

Soon, the carriage entered Lin Shan Cheng.

The party arrived at the prefect's residence, presented their tribute letters, and immediately someone stepped out to usher them inside.

Soon, Ling Yan met the Lin Shan Cheng prefect Sun You.

Sun You smiled: "I wonder what brings the Ling family miss here?"

Ling Yan looked around, smiled, and said nothing.

Sun You raised an eyebrow and looked at the servants nearby: "You all step back."

"Zhong Uncle, you also wait at the doorway."

"Yes, miss!"

In the hall only two remained; Ling Yan clasped her hands and said, "Lord Sun, I, a young lady, come by my father's command to eradicate the Three Mountains Bandits!"

"Huh?"

"Even if the Ling family in Huang Long City has someone in the court, what of it?"

"Why bring idle matters to my Lin Shan Cheng?"

Sun You felt a surge of displeasure, yet his face wore a smile: "The Three Mountains Bandits have raided passing caravans; truly despicable and damned. Yet those bandits number no fewer than a hundred, howling and gathering, and they even have scouts hidden in villages outside the city. Moreover, the heads of the three half‑step masters and that enigmatic Grand Boss… It's not that I haven't thought of wiping out these villains; I simply lack the strength. Moreover, these people are truly cunning; several large‑scale encirclements have been thwarted, yet they never harm my officials, making them hard to deal with."

"Haha, precisely for that reason, I have come to assist Lord Sun in exterminating the villains and to bring a bright sky over Lin Shan Cheng!" Ling Yan laughed.

Sun You looked at her puzzled: "Although the Ling family is powerful, why intervene? Huang Long City is over a thousand li away from Lin Shan Cheng; the Three Mountains Bandits couldn't have offended the Ling family, could they?"

"That is something Lord Sun does not know; several merchant caravans under the Ling family have fallen victim to the Three Mountains Bandits. Moreover, in the jianghu these bandits capture martial artists everywhere; none who enter their hideout ever come out!" Ling Yan said sternly.

"Huh?"

"So what of it?"

"Those jianghu folk rely on their superior martial arts and disregard the authorities; I even have a few locked in Lin Shan Cheng's great prison now, so what of it?"

Sun You, puzzled, said: "I don't know much about jianghu affairs, but if the Ling family only seeks to eradicate evil and clear bandits, why travel thousands of li to Lin Shan Cheng?"

Ling Yan, seeing Sun You probing, did not dodge and said directly:

"Lord Sun, do you know of the great demonic sect of the past, the Blood Flow Sect?"

"Blood Flow Sect?! The one that roams capturing martial artists to force them to practice demonic arts and even plans rebellion? Wasn't it already exterminated by the court?"

Sun You's face darkened instantly; dealing with such jianghu types, those with power and ambition rise and seem eager to become emperor the next day, truly giving officials a headache.

"But we cannot suppress them too harshly, otherwise those commoners will get angry and come at night to slit his throat."

"Thus the court's stance toward the jianghu has always been to curb but not crush, maintaining a balance. If they rise in rebellion, the nature changes."

Ling Yan solemnly said: "Twenty years ago the Ling family followed the Iron Tiger Guard in pursuing the Blood Flow Sect Remnant Faction, but afterwards a master of the Iron Tiger Guard disappeared, taking the remnant with him."

"Ah? This matter actually… the Iron Tiger Guard is alarmed?!" Sun You exclaimed.

"Indeed, this time we come because the Iron Tiger Guard elder discovered that the vanished master has taken up residence in Lin Shan Cheng. That's not the main point; the key is that the Blood Flow Sect Remnant Faction may have obtained the long‑lost secret demonic art 'Blood Essence Skill'!"

Sun You looked bewildered; although he's not a jianghu man, he's heard of these things.

Ling Yan explained helplessly: "The Blood Essence Skill relies on devouring the refined blood of martial artists to strengthen the practitioner; centuries ago it caused chaos in the Kun Dao region, bringing a reign of blood and carnage to the empire. I suppose, Lord Sun, having served many years, you have also seen the half‑broken palace gate on the other side of the imperial city, right?"

"Indeed, I have."

"That half of the palace gate was shattered by the founding master of the Blood Flow Sect when he practiced the Blood Essence Skill!"

"This… impossible! That palace gate was forged of pure steel, poured with countless tons of molten iron, ten meters high and three meters thick, weighing ten thousand jin; after centuries it shows only rust. How could mortal strength shatter it?!" Sun You was shocked.

"Investigate it yourself, Lord Sun, and you'll see; when the Blood Flow Sect founder struck, he didn't just break half the gate, he also gouged a breach in the city wall," Ling Yan said.

Sun You's face turned pale; combining what Ling Yan said, he smirked: "Could it be that the Blood Flow Sect thieves are now within Lin Shan Cheng's territory?!"

"The facts are unclear, but we came because of the Blood Flow Sect Remnant Faction; we hope Lord Sun can discreetly aid us, without exposing our existence. At the right moment, we also hope you can muster the city's garrison to lend us a hand!" Ling Yan smiled.

Sun You also understood the seriousness, and nodded: "Certainly not impossible. As Miss Ling says, you aren't the only group arriving?"

"Naturally, the Iron Tiger Guard elder arrived in Lin Shan Cheng long ago; we are here by invitation!"

Sun You's legs grew weak, and he nearly slid off his chair to kneel on the ground.

"Who… who is the honored guest arriving?"

Ling Yan's eyes flashed with disdain, he said: "The one who came is the Sir Wind Guard among the Iron Tiger Guard."

"Wind Guard?! That's one of the Four Guards of Wind, Fire, Mountain, and Forest under the two masters of Qiankun of the Iron Tiger Guard?!" Sun You exclaimed in shock.

"That's right."