The Path Toward Heaven

Zhao Layue was curious, asking, “How was he fooled?”

“It’s because he is too suspicious,” Jing Jiu replied.

Thinking of his Big Brother being tricked by him, the corners of his mouth were pulled up slightly, revealing a smile, which indicated Jing Jiu was quite satisfied at the accomplishment.

Zhao Layue was a bit surprised because Jing Jiu had seldom displayed such emotions.

No matter how well he performed at the Inherited Sword Competition by the stream, the Sword Trial on Green Mountain, or the Plum Meeting, he had never shown any emotion, taking the achievements in stride.

Zhao Layue didn’t know what Jing Jiu had fooled that person about, and Jing Jiu didn’t know how useful fooling him would be; but it was a habit he had developed over hundreds of years, having some trump cards in the hands, that is.

This was something he had learned from his Big Brother.

He had known that there was a hidden enemy on the Green Mountain, but he hadn’t expected that the enemy was Fang Jingtian. The Little Four hadn’t forgotten about his master after so many years.

“Fang Jingtian attempted to kill you twice. Did he suspect that you had found something?” Zhao Layue asked.

“Zhuo Yi wanted to kill you on Sword Peak back then,” Jing Jiu said, “because he learned through the Curtain Rollers that you were investigating Bihu Peak. Though Fang Jingtian didn’t know what I was investigating, he knew I was investigating something; that was a reason enough to kill me.”

Hearing this, Zhao Layue lifted her inky brows slightly, but she didn’t say anything.

This matter would have significant repercussions. If she and Jing Jiu pushed their opponents into a corner, what should they do when their opponents fought back with full force?

Though Shenmo Peak was very popular at the moment, it was actually the weakest among the nine peaks of the Green Mountain. She, having the highest Cultivation state on Shenmo Peak, was merely in the initial state of the Free Travel. They definitely had no chance of fighting against their enemies.

Jing Jiu knew what she was worried about. He was similarly worried when he and Zhao Layue saw Yin San’s corpse years ago.

His idea hadn’t changed during the years he spent in the snowland; he still believed that it was much safer to stay on the Green Mountain.

Nobody could do anything here.

Yet, there would be a problem. Those two guys left the Green Mountain for a while a few years later. If the hidden enemies on various peaks would take the opportunity to strike, what should they do then?

Facing life and death, prudence was always necessary. Moreover, this was his Green Mountain; if he had a mishap here, it would be ridiculous.

Jing Jiu didn’t want to give his enemies any opportunity. “Let’s go somewhere,” Jing Jiu stood up and said this to Zhao Layue.

“Where?” asked Zhao Layue.

“Bihu Peak,” said Jing Jiu.

Zhao Layue was taken aback slightly.

Before Jing Yang’s ascension, two pieces of the Thunder-Soul Wood had mysteriously disappeared from Bihu Peak. She wanted to investigate this incident many years ago, but she was stopped by Jing Jiu.

Now that he wanted to take her to Bihu Peak, was it because he was ready to reveal the truth?

…

…

All nine peaks of the Green Mountain were different from each other.

Shenmo Peak was the loneliest, similar to Sword Peak, looking like a stone sword pointing toward the sky.

Yet, Bihu Peak was lush with green trees, looking like a fake stone mountain in the gardens, with the dense forest covering it like the moss, blocking all the mountain paths.

Only when one walked on it would they realize just how huge Bihu Peak was. It would be a rare incident to encounter any human being here.

The slightly cold clouds and fog were drifting amid the green forest. The mountain path kept fading in and out of sight, looking like a path leading to the fairy realm, as if it would disappear at any moment.

As they arrived at a cliff’s edge, Jing Jiu looked at the distant peak and said after a moment of silence, “I dislike the cold even more now.”

Back when he was on that peak, he disliked the cold intent coming up from the bottom of the well; even the boiling soup of hotpot couldn’t bring any comfort to him.

This feeling became even stronger after many years he spent in the snowland.

There were many broken cliffs on that peak, with icy snow remaining on the cliffs, but the green pine trees covered the higher section of the peak. It exuded cold intent across the heaven and earth. One could still sense its cold intent from such a distance.

That place was Shangde Peak.

Zhao Layue’s gaze fixed in that direction as well.

Jing Jiu continued, “That person was locked in Sword Jail at the bottom of Shangde Peak.”

Zhao Layue realized why he had stopped. Thinking of the story he was going to tell her, Zhao Layue couldn’t help but feel somewhat tense.

“Sword Jail is the offensive gate of the Green Mountain Sword Formation, so the preventative measures are quite strong there. He used numerous methods to escape, but failed.”

Jing Jiu didn’t show any emotional fluctuation in his voice.

“Until one year he managed obtain Thunder-Soul Wood. After he made up his mind to give up his Dao Body, he transferred his soul to the body of an Underworld disciple, and as a result, he had successfully escaped from Sword Jail.”

At that time, the nine peaks of the Green Mountain, and even the entire Chaotian, focused their attentions on the Shenmo Peak, so it was indeed a good opportunity.

Zhao Layue recalled the corpse outside Cloudy Town, remaining silent.

Jing Jiu continued, “It was not enough to simply escape from Sword Jail. In addition, he had faked his own death through Master Meng’s sword. It was then that he had escaped without leaving any clues behind.”

“It seems what the Curtain Rollers said is true. Master Meng did get involved in this matter,” said Zhao Layue.

Jing Jiu said, “He probably didn’t know too much about the whole thing, but he must have been involved. This was the clue that led Shangde Peak to discovering Bihu Peak’s involvement in the matter.”

Zhao Layue didn’t quite understand it and asked, “But Master Meng has been working on breaking through the Free Travel State on Shangde Peak behind closed doors, wasn’t he?”

Jing Jiu said, “He is actually imprisoned, though they tell others that he is behind closed doors.”

Now Zhao Layue understood it. “The former peak master of Bihu, Lei Poyun, was imprisoned because of this matter, but how could he have escaped from Sword Jail?” she asked after a silent pause.

Jing Jiu said, “He was let out by somebody.”

“His accomplices wanted to rescue him?” Zhao Layue guessed.

Jing Jiu said, “They maybe wanted to shut him up by getting him killed, because Shangde Peak had no intention of killing him, originally.”

Zhao Layue looked at the distant cold peak, asking, “Is the purpose of investigating the lost Thunder-Soul Woods to find that escaped person, rather than investigating the matter related to the ascension of Grandmaster Jing Yang?”

Jing Jiu said, “The ascension formation doesn’t need the Thunder-Soul Wood.”

Zhao Layue brought her gaze from the distant peak to Jing Jiu, asking, “Where did the other piece of Thunder-Soul Wood go?”

“Somebody must have need of it,” said Jing Jiu.

Zhao Layue remained silent for a while before asking, “Why did we come to Bihu Peak for today?”

“This is what you want to investigate,” Jing Jiu said. “I have to let you see it with your own eyes, and meanwhile let you meet somebody.”

Having said that, he resumed walking; Zhao Layue followed close behind.

The mountain path was getting steeper. After a long while, the thin fog had suddenly lifted, and a damp breeze blew on their faces. Now they could see the Daoist Hall in front of the cliff in the distance.

Zhao Layue knew that the Blue Lake was located behind the cliff.

“Who is there?”

Along with the formidable sword wills, two disciples showed up, looking at them cautiously.

There was only one path on Shenmo Peak, leading up to the peak top. The path was not guarded by the disciples, instead being prohibited by the formation.

Bihu Peak was different, where there were at least more than ten paths leading to the peak top, guarded by the disciples the entire time; and the formations were only placed somewhere close to the peak top.

Before Jing Jiu and Zhao Layue could reply, the two disciples of Bihu Peak recognized them, and their expressions changed slightly. “Greetings, Peak Master and Senior Master Jing,” they greeted them with a bow.

The two disciples of Bihu Peak were startled, wondering why these two masters had come here instead of arriving directly on the peak top by riding their swords. Yet, they received Jing Jiu and Zhao Layue with immense respect, and were about to send a message to their masters.

“I haven’t come here for a long time, so I’d like to walk around to have a look. No need to send a message, and in fact, don’t even pay attention to me.”

Jing Jiu led Zhao Layue walking away.

Soon, they arrived on top of the peak, from where they could see the Blue Lake that was as big as the sea, and the white seagulls flying in the air.

And they could also vaguely see a palace on the distant island.