Chapter 167: Entering Coiling Dragon Ridge

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the truce ended. The Qiang Army regrouped their forces and launched another large-scale attack on Yanyun Pass.

The siege lasted for two days and one night. Nangong Shu killed the top warrior in the Qiang Army, as well as 10,000 other soldiers, and the Qiang Army suffered a crushing defeat.

On the outskirts of Youzhou, the festive atmosphere of the New Year came to an abrupt halt. The entire army was at the ready as they kept a close eye on the situation, and were prepared for Xiao Lie to deploy them at the drop of a hat.

On the fourth day, Wei Tan suddenly arrived at the military camp and notified Su Jiu that he had news of Zhao Xiong.

After undergoing a routine body-search, Wei Tan was led into Xiao Lie’s tent.

His expression grave, he said to Su Jiu, “I managed to contact one of the men under Zhao Xiong. According to him, the last time he heard from Zhao Xiong was before Zhao Xiong went to Coiling Dragon Ridge. It’s been ten days, and he hasn’t seen him since.”

In other words, after Zhao Xiong had descended Mount Hala, he had gone to Coiling Dragon Ridge with his men, before disappearing without a trace.

“Coiling Dragon Ridge?” Xiao Lie asked as his eyes darkened.

Wei Tan opened his mouth to say something, but changed his mind and closed it instead.

Judging from the expressions on the faces of the two men, Su Jiu could tell that something was up with Coiling Dragon Ridge, and she asked, “Chief Guard Wei, just say it as it is. I need to have a clear understanding of the situation before I can make a decision.”

Wei Tan nodded his head, and said in a solemn voice, “I’ll be honest with you, Young Mistress. Coiling Dragon Ridge is to the north of Mount Hala and is known as the Mountain of Doom by the people in Northern Xinjiang. That’s because, in the past, shepherds and their flock who went to graze there all disappeared. Those who went there in search of them never returned either. Regardless of whether they were travelers, woodcutters, or hunters, anyone who went to that mountain never came back alive. That’s why the Coiling Dragon Ridge is also known as Mount Doom. The people of Northern Xinjiang are terrified of it, and no one dares to go close.”

As to why Zhao Xiong had gone into the Coiling Dragon Ridge with his men, he was none the wiser.

Su Jiu frowned. “So what you’re saying is that… Zhao Xiong is in danger?”

He had been missing for so many days and had gone missing on the mysterious Coiling Dragon Ridge. That was indeed concerning.

“Don’t worry, Young Mistress. I have already sent my men to search for traces of Zhao Xiong and his men. As soon as I have any news, I will report it to you immediately!” Wei Tan assured her.

When Xiao Lie heard how Wei Tan addressed Su Jiu, his brows shot together, and his demeanor turned icy.

“Thank you,” Su Jiu replied. “You must ensure the safety of your men too. If there is any danger at all, retreat immediately! If there’s any problem, we’ll think of a solution together!”

Originally, her sole reason for finding Zhao Xiong had been to have him continue working on his concealed grenades. However, the purpose of looking for Zhao Xiong now went beyond that. He and his subordinates had risked their lives when they fought along her side to rescue Dapao. That was a kindness she could never repay. If he was in danger, she had to do her utmost to save him!

“Yes, Young Mistress. Please don’t worry!” Wei Tan rose. “I shall take my leave now!”

“Take care, Chief Guard Wei!”

Su Jiu walked Wei Tan out, and when she returned, she found Xiao Lie with his eyes closed, in deep thought.

“What do you think?” Su Jiu asked.

Xiao Lie rolled a teacup in his hand, and replied, “I’ve heard a little about the rumors regarding Coiling Dragon Ridge. In fact, some of them are even recorded in books. But I don’t believe them. That mountain has to be hiding some secret.”

But what could it be?

Even if it was a beast, regardless of how ferocious it was, it would have been impossible for there to be no survivors.

Therefore, it had to be something even more dangerous than a ferocious beast.

“I don’t care what it is. If Zhao Xiong remains missing, I’ll go up to Coiling Dragon Ridge personally.” Su Jiu’s eyes were bright and clear.

Regardless of whether he was dead or alive, she had to see him with her own eyes.

Xiao Lie looked up to face her, and his expression darkened.

Su Jiu waited for seven days, but there was still no news from Wei Tan. However, Luo Sheng turned up bearing bad news.

The Qiang and Naye Clans had laid siege to Yanyun Pass, only to be defeated successively. On their last attempt, the two armies had suffered a crushing defeat. Commander Hage, who was also the chieftain of the Qiang Clan, had been besieged by the Daliang Army and had fled with 2,000 of his soldiers. In the chaos, they had entered the Coiling Dragon Ridge, and Nangong Shu and his men had pursued them. Currently, Hage and Nangong Shu had disappeared into the mountain for a whole day and night, and no one knew of their whereabouts.

Xiao Lie’s face was very grave when he heard the news. “Did you send anyone to look for General Nangong?” he asked.

“The messenger said that a search team was sent into the mountain to look for him, but none of them returned either,” Luo Sheng replied. “Right now, the enemy has lost their commander, and they are now in chaos. The remaining 20,000 soldiers have retreated 30 miles. Yanyun Pass is now under the command of General Nangong’s second-in-command, Deputy General Shao Yun. He is awaiting orders from you, Your Highness!”

Xiao Lie’s voice was solemn. “Send my command to Shao Yun. Tell him to take advantage of the fact that the enemy is without a leader, and pursue them immediately. I want the armies of both clans annihilated this time around!”

“Yes!” Luo Sheng replied. “What about General Nangong?” he asked.

“I will bring my men to search for General Nangong personally!” Xiao Lie said, before pressing his lips into a thin line.

Su Jiu got up. “I’ll go with you!”

“No, stay here. I’ll bring Zhao Xiong back for you too!” Xiao Lie said.

“No!” Su Jiu stared hard at him. “I’m going with you!” she insisted.

With his head lowered, Luo Sheng glanced at the two individuals and said respectfully, “I shall do so right away!”

“Go!” Xiao Lie said with a nod of his head.

Luo Sheng exited the tent, and Nangong Bi came charging in. Her face was white with worry as she asked, “My brother is in danger, isn’t he?”

She hadn’t heard the conversation clearly from outside the tent, but she knew that it had something to do with her brother.

“Nangong, don’t panic. We just don’t have any news on the general’s whereabouts. He’s not necessarily in danger!” Su Jiu replied.

“So why hasn’t there been any news after so long?” Nangong Bi shook her head in fear as she looked at Xiao Lie. “Your Highness, are you going to look for my brother? Take me along with you!”

“No way. Even if Coiling Dragon Ridge isn’t harboring any other dangers, Hage and his soldiers are still hiding within! You cannot go!” Xiao Lie declared firmly.

“No, I must go! I’m not a frail and delicate lady! I know martial arts and I can protect myself. I won’t be a burden to anyone! Furthermore, my brother and I are biologically related, and we are close enough to be able to read each other’s minds. I know I’ll be able to find my brother sooner than any of you!”

Nangong Bi spoke anxiously as she looked at Su Jiu and Xiao Lie with hope in her eyes. “Please let me go!”

Although she was often willful and behaved immaturely, she knew the gravity of the situation.

She was confident that she’d be able to find her brother!

“Let Nangong Bi come,” Su Jiu said to Xiao Lie, “I’ll protect her!”

Xiao Lie was silent for a moment before he nodded his head. “Alright,” he acquiesced, “But no one is allowed to move alone when we’re at Coiling Dragon Ridge. You must listen to me!”

“Yes!”

Su Jiu and Nangong replied in unison.

“One more thing!” Su Jiu faced Xiao Lie with raised eyebrows and said somberly, “There’s one more person we need to take with us—Luo Sheng!”

At present, two commanders had gone missing on Coiling Dragon Ridge. Their departure from the military camp was akin to putting their lives and the fate of Youzhou into Luo Sheng’s hands. Since she didn’t trust this person, it would be simpler to keep him by their side instead.

Xiao Lie nodded his head in agreement and summoned his aide immediately. He ordered, “Round up a thousand elite soldiers to follow me into Coiling Dragon Ridge. Also, send word to General Luo. Tell him that he’ll be coming with us.”

Coiling Dragon Ridge was some distance away from the military camp. It was a three days’ journey without stopping for any rest at night. However, with Nangong Shu missing and unaccounted for, they had no time to spare.

Su Jiu and Nangong Bi each prepared for the imminent departure.

Two hours later, the thousand-strong cavalry had been gathered. With Xiao Lie as the commander, the army set off with Hu Dapao, Su Jiu, and the rest of the gang, as well as Nangong Bi.

Upon exiting the military camp, Luo Sheng came riding over on horseback. When he neared, he got off his horse and knelt in front of Xiao Lie’s. “Greetings, Your Highness!” he said.

Xiao Lie regarded him with a pair of fathomless eyes. “I’m taking the soldiers with me to look for General Nangong. However, as I’m not native to Youzhou, I’ll need you to come along since you’re more familiar with Mount Hala.”

With his head bowed, a look flashed across Luo Sheng’s eyes, and his brows rose imperceptibly. However, his tone remained firm as he replied, “Yes, Your Highness! I will lead the way for you to find the Great General!”

“Let’s move off!”

Xiao Lie was dressed in his black military uniform, and his bearing was aloof. With that command, he nudged his horse into a gallop and led the way in front.

Behind him, a thousand soldiers on cavalry followed. The sound of the horses’ hooves thundered as dirt was kicked up in the air, and the army moved off with a battle cry.

By the time Wei Tan received news that Su Jiu had gone to Coiling Dragon Ridge, it was already two days later. Around the same time, a letter came from the capital, enquiring about Su Jiu’s well-being.

Wei Tan debated with himself for half a day and eventually decided to conceal the information that Su Jiu had gone to Coiling Dragon Ridge.

Coiling Dragon Ridge was an ineffable place as far as the people of Northern Xinjiang were concerned, and no one could guarantee Su Jiu’s safe return. The letter would take roughly seven to eight days to reach the capital, and there existed a possibility that further news of Su Jiu would be available by then.

Therefore, Wei Tan made the call to conceal the information that Su Jiu had gone to Coiling Dragon Ridge and held by his reply. Instead, he took some men with him and prepared to set off for Coiling Dragon Ridge.

When his subordinates heard where Wei Tan was intending to go, the color drained from their faces, and they exclaimed, “Chief Guard, please reconsider it!”

The legends of the Coiling Dragon Ridge were as old as time. As natives of Youzhou, all of them grew up listening to the stories and possessed a deep-rooted fear of Coiling Dragon Ridge. Moreover, a few of them even had family members who had disappeared on that frightful mountain before.

Many a time, the fear of fear itself was more frightful than the danger present.

Wei Tan’s expression remained resolute. “We are from the Ji Manor, and we must protect our master! We cannot shy away from danger! Those who do not want to go may remain behind. I will not force any of you to go against your will!”

When the men saw that Wei Tan’s mind had been made up, they looked at one another and expressed their stance in unison, “We are bound to follow the Chief Guard to the death, and protect our Young Mistress!”

“Good! All of you have two hours to prepare. After which, we will set off right away!”

“Yes, sir!”

…

On the third morning after Su Jiu and the group left the military camp, they arrived at Coiling Dragon Ridge.

Coiling Dragon Ridge was steep. Like what its name described, it looked like a coiled dragon resting on the plains of Northern Xinjiang. The summit disappeared into the clouds, and no one could begin to even estimate its height just by looking up.

The mountain had an imposing and majestic aura and carried with it a sense of impenetrability.

Coiling Dragon Ridge was the biggest mountain in the entire region. It stretched on for hundreds of miles, and its peaks overlapped. It would have been difficult to find a group of a few thousand people within these ridges, much less a handful of individuals.

Had it been any other place, they would have been able to enlist the help of the locals to guide them along. However, the mystery and terror surrounding the Coiling Dragon Ridge struck fear in the hearts of the natives, and no amount of money could convince them to enter the mountain.

Xiao Lie took out his map of Northern Xinjiang and laid it out on the floor as he studied it. “The summit and northern side of Coiling Dragon Ridge are constantly covered in snow. It’ll be impossible for people to pass through them. Therefore, we’ll only have to search along this stretch.”

His finger elegantly slid across the south and the west of the mountain.

“We’ll enter the mountain here, and see if we can find any trace of the Great General. It’ll be best if we’re able to. That way, we’ll just have to follow the trail. Coiling Dragon Ridge has been isolated for many years, so if the Great General had passed through, he would have left a trail.”

Hu Dapao nodded his head. “I agree with His Highness’ deduction!”

Su Jiu and the others nodded their heads as well.

Xiao Lie looked up at Luo Sheng. “General Luo, you’re from Northern Xinjiang. What do you think?”

“What?” Luo Sheng was stunned for a moment before shaking his head. “I shall defer to all your directives regarding this, Your Highness. Although I’m from Northern Xinjiang, because Coiling Dragon Ridge has always been a taboo, there is very little that I know of it.”

“Since that is the case, the army will rest here for an hour. Everyone, pack sufficient rations. We’ll enter the mountain after this!” Xiao Lie ordered. “Upon entering the mountain, everyone is to stick close to his platoon. No one is to act on his own without permission! If anything unusual is detected, it is to be reported immediately!”

“Yes, sir!” all the soldiers replied in deafening unison.

Xiao Lie walked over to Su Jiu and said quietly, “When we ascend the mountain later, follow closely behind me! Remember this, my life depends on you too. Regardless of what happens, protect yourself. Understood?”

Su Jiu’s heart skipped a beat, and she tilted her head up to look into the man’s deep and fathomless eyes. She nodded her head in reply.

Xiao Lie held the beaded bracelet that was around Su Jiu’s wrist and said in a voice that was loud enough for only the both of them to hear, “Should we be forced to separate, shake the bell once to convey that you’re safe, and ring it twice if you’re in danger. Got it?”

“Yes!” Su Jiu replied solemnly.

The man stroked her cheek with his finger. “Su Jiu, if the legends are true, and we’re unable to leave the mountain, don’t worry. Regardless of where you go, I’ll always be by your side!”

Even if it was to the netherworld, he wasn’t going to let go of her hand!

Su Jiu’s eyes shined brightly, and her face suddenly broke out in a smile. She said with confidence, “We will get down the mountain safely!”

Xiao Lie pressed his lips into a thin line, resisting the urge to pull her into his arms. With a smile that reached his eyes, he nodded his head.

“Yes, we will make it back safely! Together!”

Ah Shu and Chang Huan went ahead to find a way up the mountain. However, they could not find any trace of any army or horses having passed by.

Gazing at the towering peak of the mountain, Ah Shu asked, “Do you think this mountain is truly cursed? What on earth is in it?”

Chang Huan scoffed, “To hell with what’s in it! Even if there are ghosts, with so many of us around, I’m sure we’ll be able to scare them to death again!”

Ah Shu replied with a frown, “Huan’er, if anything were to happen to me, I’ll leave the Chief in your hands. The same goes for Zhao Shan. Please take good care of her for me!”

Chang Huan glanced at him. “Stop talking trash! Take care of your people on your own! All of us, including Chief, will be fine!”

Ah Shu broke out in a smile. “I’m just saying ‘if’! Don’t worry! Our skin is tough. Even a beast won’t be able to bite through it!”

Chang Huan turned around to look at Su Jiu. His handsome face looked determined as he said softly, “We have to protect Chief. Therefore, none of us can die!”

Nangong Bi tilted her head up and looked at the mountain peak, and her eyes were filled with worry. With her fingers clasped together, she prayed for her brother’s safety.

Please, he had to be alive and waiting for her, safe and sound!

She prayed hard.

Hu Dapao walked over and handed a biscuit to her. “You didn’t eat anything last night. Have a bite. Climbing the mountain is going to require energy. You have to take care of yourself if you’re going to find the general!”

“Thank you!”

It had been many days since Nangong Bi had gotten any proper rest. Her face looked haggard, and her voice was hoarse. She took the biscuit from Hu Dapao, broke a piece off, and put it into her mouth. However, she felt a huge pressure on her chest and could not bring herself to swallow the biscuit.

“Don’t worry. The general is a good man. The heavens will protect him!” Hu Dapao said softly.

He wasn’t very good at consoling others, but when he saw the girl in this state, his heart ached. He couldn’t help lowering his voice, and the look in his eyes turned gentle.

Nangong Bi’s eyes were red, and she looked at him earnestly. “Do you think anything bad happened to my brother?”

“No!” Hu Dapao declared confidently, “We will find the general. Trust me!”

Nangong rested her forehead against his chest as she sniffed. The prolonged worry and fear had made her weak, and she couldn’t help wanting someone to lean on.

Her brother had been in the mountain for six days now. If he were fine, why hadn’t he returned? Why wasn’t there any trace of him?

If anything bad had befallen her brother, what was she going to say to her parents?

Unable to bear that thought, she turned her attention to take a forceful bite off the biscuit.

Hu Dapao felt a pang in his heart. After a moment’s hesitation, he gently wrapped his arms around the girl’s shoulders and said urgently to her, “We’re already here. We’ll find the general soon. Believe me!”

Nangong Bi continued shoving the biscuit into the mouth and nodded her head.

Yes! They would certainly find her brother!

Two hours later, everyone was done with their preparations, and they walked into the Coiling Dragon Ridge without looking back.

Upon entering the mountain, the sun suddenly disappeared, even though it was still noon. Dark clouds gathered overhead, and the light dimmed. A cold breeze swept across, bringing an icy chill along with it.

Everyone instinctively hugged their arms. The chill permeated to their bones, and they shivered.

Rarely did anyone come into Coiling Dragon Ridge. The woods were densely populated with trees, and wild grass covered everything. Branches reached out overhead, and at that instant, it was as if they had been transported into another desolate world.

Because it was winter, there were no animals out and about in the mountain. Other than the sound of their footsteps, the entire surroundings were eerily silent.

As they continued further up, the mountain road grew steeper. Coupled with the dense thorn bushes, it was almost impossible to move. The soldiers had to cut a path out for them, and their pace slowed significantly.

Xiao Lie and Su Jiu walked in front, while Hu Dapao, Ah Shu, and Chang Huan followed behind to protect Nangong Bi. Further back was Luo Sheng and the 1,000 elite soldiers.

The sky grew increasingly dark. They couldn’t see the sun, and it was getting harder for them to discern their directions. According to everyone’s speculations, the sky was going to turn dark soon.

Su Jiu ordered for those behind to stay close and to notify them immediately if anything occurred.

After trudging along for another two hours, the terrain grew rugged. The path they had just taken could no longer be seen, and the peak of the mountain remained out of their sight.

All of a sudden, a scout up ahead returned with the report that he had found traces of the general’s journey up the mountain.

Everyone was immediately refreshed and energized and headed towards the direction of the discovery.

As expected, the grass had been stepped on, creating a trail deep into the mountain. From the looks of it, it seemed that a huge battalion of soldiers had passed through.

Nangong Bi ran ahead excitedly and called out.

“Brother!”

“Brother!”

However, her voice bounced against the rocks and echoed back. There was no other response.

Su Jiu held Nangong Bi back, preventing her from running forward any further. “Don’t move on your own! Follow the group! The general must have brought others with him into the mountain. As long as we follow their trail, we’re bound to find him!”

Nangong Bi nodded her head and held Su Jiu’s hand. “Alright, I’ll listen to you. Let’s hurry along!”

Having discovered the general’s trail, everyone heaved a sigh of relief and followed the track that had been beaten by the previous group of soldiers.

Perhaps, they could find the Daliang Army soon.

As to why Commander Hage and Nangong Shu had remained in the mountain for so long without emerging, too many possible explanations existed.

Perhaps Nangong Shu had found Commander Hage, and both sides were engaged in a deadlock. Or perhaps both sides had met with danger and were stuck elsewhere. Of course, the worst possibility existed too.

The sky gradually darkened, and they could no longer see the road ahead of them. Xiao Lie instructed the soldiers to set up tents and rest for the night. They would continue their journey at daybreak.

The arrangements for the night watch were made, and everyone else got to work picking up firewood from nearby. Retrieving the rations they had brought with them, they cooked them by the fire and ate.

A thousand people spread out on the mountain, and the fire roaring among them gave everyone a huge sense of security. Everyone was exhausted and fell asleep on the grass after eating.

Most of these elite soldiers were from the capital and didn’t possess the fear that the locals had towards the Coiling Dragon Ridge. Therefore, other than a sense of lethargy, they didn’t feel much else. They believed that the legends of Mount Doom were mere exaggerations, and they even joked about it for a while before going to sleep. Very soon, the whole place was filled with the sound of snoring.

Xiao Lie, Su Jiu, and the others were seated around the campfire when Su Jiu suggested going further into the mountain alone with Ah Shu and Chang Huan the next morning. The three of them were experienced in qinggong, and their pace was guaranteed to be faster than the army. Perhaps they would be able to find Nangong Shu sooner that way.

“No way!” Xiao Lie objected immediately. “Don’t think that just because we didn’t meet with any danger today, we can let our guard down. The stories of Coiling Dragon Ridge have been around for a long time, and it hasn’t been just one or two individuals who have gone missing here. There’s something suspicious about this mountain. No one is allowed to move on their own! Otherwise, if anything were to happen, we wouldn’t even be able to help one another!”

“His Highness is right!” Hu Dapao concurred. “It’ll be safer for all of us to stick together!”

Upon seeing that her suggestion was met with objection from two fronts, Su Jiu decided to go with the flow.

Nangong Bi hadn’t been able to get any good sleep for the past few nights. Now that they had finally found a trace of Nangong Shu, her heart was a little more reassured. Sleepiness finally overtook her, and she leaned against a tree and closed her eyes.

Hu Dapao walked over and untied his cloak to drape it over the girl. Just as he was about to get up, the girl suddenly held on to his robe.

“Why don’t you sit here?” Nangong Bi whispered.

“Oh!” Hu Dapao replied, in a daze. Keeping some distance away from the young lady, he sat and leaned against the tree as well.

Nangong Bi glanced at him before scooting over and leaning on the man. She covered the cloak over both of them and said, “It’s warmer this way!”

“Right!” Hu Dapao nodded his head at once. He adjusted his posture such that his body shielded her from the wind.

Nangong Bi felt her heart warm up as she watched the man’s actions. Leaning her head against his shoulder, she closed her eyes.

Su Jiu, Ah Shu, and Chang Huan snuggled together for a quick nap. When Su Jiu woke up, it was deep in the middle of the night, and everyone else was fast asleep. Only the night watchmen were awake, gathering by the fire and whispering among one another.

A cloak was draped over her, and when she looked over to the campfire burning in front of her, she found Xiao Lie sitting there. The flame danced in the dark, and under the glow of the fire, his handsome features made him look even more aloof. At the same time, his expression did not betray his thoughts, and his calm eyes gave nothing away, making it hard to know what he was thinking.

Su Jiu got up and walked over. As she sat down beside him, the man turned to face her immediately and asked with a smile, “Why are you awake?”

“I could ask you the same thing! Why aren’t you asleep?” The smile on Su Jiu’s face reached her eyes as she added a few more logs into the fire. Her eyes were sparkling, and she looked beautiful.

The look in Xiao Lie’s eyes deepened and he replied with a light chuckle, “I couldn’t fall asleep, so I decided to just watch the fire instead.”

“Are you worried about General Nangong?” Su Jiu asked.

Xiao Lie raised his head and looked towards the dark expanse of the mountain. “I know what Nangong Shu is like as a person,” he said softly. “It’s been so many days. If he were fine, he would have sent word to the military camp already.”

He was, after all, the military commander, and he knew how big of an impact the commander’s disappearance would have on the entire Daliang Army.

Therefore, the only possibility was that he couldn’t leave the mountain, and neither could any of his soldiers.

But just what kind of situation could keep him from getting away?

It couldn’t be the Qiang soldiers. Nangong Shu had always been level-headed. If he went in pursuit of them with his soldiers, it meant that he had possessed absolute certainty in his victory.

So, what could it be? Just what could trap a highly-skilled martial artist like Nangong Shu and several thousand of his soldiers in the mountain?

“Moreover, did you notice something?” Xiao Lie continued, “Throughout the entire way here, we haven’t found any of the soldiers from the Qiang Army.”

Of course, the Coiling Dragon Ridge was a vast area, and even if the enemy soldiers had escaped, they might have taken another route. However, considering that there were supposed to be a few thousand people on the mountain, it was indeed peculiar that not a single trace of any of them had been found.

Su Jiu frowned. “Do you think something truly terrifying is lurking in this mountain?”

Xiao Lie’s gaze turned to her, and he said with a chuckle, “Regardless of what it is, we’ll find out when we see it!”

The man’s eyes were calm and composed, and a light glimmered within them. There was no uncertainty or indecision in his demeanor, and he exuded an innate, aristocratic aura.

Su Jiu’s brows lifted as she laughed and agreed, “Yes! Nothing will be able to scare us!”

Xiao Lie covered the back of her hand with his palm, and his eyes darkened as he said, “Other than seeing you getting hurt, there is nothing that I fear.”

Astonished, Su Jiu stared at him, before lowering her eyes and slowly pulling her hand out of his grasp.

There were no traces of disappointment on Xiao Lie’s face. He put his hand down, and said with a grin, “What’s destined to come might just turn up tomorrow. It’s useless thinking about it now. Get some rest. What’s most important for us now is to conserve our energy.”

“Alright!”

As the night stretched on, even the guards on the night watch stopped talking. The mountain fog thickened, slowly extinguishing the blazing fires.

There was no moonlight, and no stars could be seen either. The surroundings were shrouded in complete darkness. It was so dark that nothing in the immediate distance could even be seen, and shadows could barely be made out.

Under the cover of the night, a figure hiding among the watchmen began to retrace their steps to head down the mountain.

The figure crouched behind a tree, looking furtively around. Someone who didn’t know better would have thought he was sneaking off for a clandestine affair.

He hid behind a huge bush of dry grass and managed to evade a group of patrolling soldiers. His heart rejoiced at this small victory. All of a sudden, a gust of wind blew over his head, and he found the slender figure of a young lady standing in front of him. With a chuckle, she asked, “General Luo, where are you off to in the middle of the night?”

Luo Sheng was taken aback and fell to the ground with a loud thump. In the darkness of the night, a small pale face looked up at Su Jiu in terror.

“I… I’m going… to pee!” Luo Sheng stammered.

“Oh! You’re going to pee? Judging from your actions, I mistakenly thought that you were about to desert us and run down the mountain!” Su Jiu retorted with a sardonic laugh.

“Not… not at all!” Luo Sheng shook his head in denial, before adding sheepishly, “It’s so dark! How would I find my way down?”

“Exactly! It’s so dark. If you were to miss your step and fall off the cliff, no one would be able to find your body!” Su Jiu curled her lip in a malicious smile. “General Luo, since you’re off to pee on your own, why don’t I go with you?”

“What?” Luo Sheng’s eyes widened in alarm.

After he had witnessed this woman killing 20,000 Naye soldiers, he had been having trouble believing she was a woman!

And for a good reason!

How could a woman be shameless enough to offer to accompany a man to pee?

Luo Sheng didn’t dare to remain in her company. However, her close relationship with Xiao Lie was a crucial reason for him not to offend her either.

“I… I’m done peeing!” Luo Sheng said with a forced laugh. “I’m done peeing!”

“Really?” Su Jiu challenged him with a quirk of her brow.

“Yes! Really!” Luo Sheng stood up quickly and hurried to join the others. “Don’t trouble yourself, my lady! Have a good rest!”

Su Jiu sneered at the sight of the man staggering back, and followed behind him.

The moment she sat down, Xiao Lie held her hand.

Su Jiu knew that he was awake and that he naturally knew about Luo Sheng’s intention to desert.

“I’ll get someone to keep an eye on him tomorrow!” the man murmured with his eyes half-closed.

Su Jiu nodded her head lightly and closed her eyes.

When she reopened her eyes, the sky was already bright. Several soldiers were already up and moving, and were starting a fire to prepare breakfast.

The night had passed uneventfully!

The air was enveloped in a dense mist, and visibility was extremely low. Xiao Lie ordered the troops to wait for the fog to disperse before setting off.

After breakfast, the wind on the mountain picked up, and the dense fog gradually subsided. The soldiers packed up their belongings and continued their way up the mountain.

After a good night’s rest, the soldiers felt reinvigorated and recharged. They had discovered General Nangong’s trail the day before, and the night had passed without any dangers. As a result, the troops were a lot less guarded than they had been originally. Occasional waves of laughter could even be heard ringing out among them.

Su Jiu knew that there was more to the mountain than met the eye, and repeatedly reminded those at the back to follow them closely.

On the contrary, Nangong Bu was still as anxious as before. She couldn’t let her guard down as long as she hadn’t found her brother.

After the army had been trudging for four hours, the darkened clouds overhead rolled away, and a few rays of sunlight faintly streamed through the staggered branches, brightening the atmosphere and everyone’s hearts along with it.

“What is that?” Ah Shu suddenly called out as he ran over to the bushes and retrieved a single military boot.

Everyone was shocked upon seeing it. They could all recognize the military boot as part of the Daliang army uniform.

Why would a soldier have thrown his boot in the middle of nowhere for no good reason?

The mountain terrains were harsh, and it would have been impossible to walk without a boot. Even if Nangong Shu had wanted to leave a trail, he would never have used a boot.

The only explanation was that the owner of the boot had met with misfortune!

Su Jiu and Xiao Lie hurried over to the spot where the boot was found. There were no bloodstains or footprints that suggested any struggle. In fact, there were no signs of any fighting around them at all.

There was just that boot.

Su Jiu and Xiao Lie looked at each other in bewilderment.

The only thing they could rejoice over was the confirmation that Nangong Shu had indeed passed through the same area with his men.

Throwing the strange military boot aside, the troops continued forward.

After walking for nearly another half an hour, a soldier from behind suddenly came running forward.

Xiao Lie and Su Jiu knew something had happened, and instantly stopped in their tracks.

As expected, the soldier stepped forward anxiously and reported, “Your Highness, someone has gone missing!”

“How did he go missing?” Xiao Lie asked at once.

The soldier who had come forward was a captain, and he replied, “This missing person is called Xu Yuan. He was stationed at the back of the troops and complained that a thorn had pierced his foot, so he stopped to clear out the debris from his boots. By the time those around him realized that he hadn’t caught up, there was already no sign of him, and he was nowhere to be found!”

Su Jiu clenched her fists tightly.

“Everyone, rest here for a moment!” Xiao Lie ordered, “Send ten groups of ten men each to look for him. Report back to me in half an hour!”

“Yes, sir!” the captain replied.

Upon hearing that someone had gone missing, the expressions of Hu Dapao and the others turned somber. How could someone go missing in broad daylight?

No one had heard any cries for help either. How could a grown man just disappear into thin air?

“Your Highness, allow me to lead a search team as well!” Hu Dapao stepped forward to request.

Su Jiu turned to Xiao Lie and saw him nod his head. He said, “Dapao, take Ah Shu and Chang Huan with you to search for the man. Don’t go too far, and don’t split up. If you can’t find him, return immediately!”

“Yes, sir!” Hu Dapao replied with a nod of his head, before heading off with Ah Shu and Chang Huan.

Nangong Bi watched with creased brows as Hu Dapao left. She grabbed Su Jiu’s hand and asked, “Su Jiu, what do you think is going on?”

Su Jiu shook her head. She had no idea either. Had the soldier been terrified like Luo Sheng, and deserted when no one was watching?

The rest of the army stopped to wait. After half an hour, Hu Dapao was the first to return together with Ah Shu and Chang Huan. With his brows creased together, he shook his head at Su Jiu.

They hadn’t found anything!

They had searched even further than any of the other search parties. They had even climbed atop the trees to look into the distance. All they had seen were rocks and shrubs. There was no one else in sight.

Very soon, the captain who had been sent to search for the man returned. “Your Highness, we couldn’t find him!”

A hundred soldiers had been sent out in ten different directions, and none of them had found him.

The entire army grew quiet, and everyone’s face turned solemn.

How had a living and breathing person just disappeared?

That was too bizarre!

Even if he had sneakily deserted the army and had run off, his trail wouldn’t disappear so quickly.

Xiao Lie was silent for a moment, before saying, “Let’s wait for another half an hour. If he still doesn’t return, we’ll continue ahead!”

“Yes, sir!”

The soldiers were no longer as relaxed as before, and all of them wore a heavy expression on their faces. They looked around uneasily, unable to shake off the feeling that imminent danger was slowly approaching.

What was it that could make a person disappear without even putting up a struggle?

No one knew the answer, and no one had ever encountered such a thing before.

Everyone shuddered at the recollection of the legends and rumors surrounding Coiling Dragon Ridge. As they observed the surrounding woods and strangely-shaped rocks, a chill ran down their spines, and a layer of goosebumps appeared on their skin.

Even the thought of facing tens of thousands of enemy soldiers did not strike such trepidation in their hearts.

Nangong Bi clutched the corner of Su Jiu’s clothing in terror, her eyes red. “Su Jiu…” she muttered, “Do you think my brother and his men disappeared the same way?”

Su Jiu held her by her shoulders reassuringly. “No! Your brother has faced more dangers than any normal person. Have faith in him!”

Su Jiu swallowed nervously and nodded her head lightly.

Half an hour had passed in a flash, and still, that soldier had yet to return!

Panicking, Luo Sheng said, “Your Highness, Coiling Dragon Ridge is forbidden ground. We’ve already offended the deities. This is a warning to us not to go any further!”

The moment his voice rang out, everyone shuddered.

Xiao Lie looked at Luo Sheng coldly. “What nonsense are you spouting about deities? Someone tried to escape down the mountain by himself last night, but was captured and brought back! General Luo, are you telling me you had no idea about that?”

All color drained from Luo Sheng’s face, and he didn’t dare to meet Xiao Lie’s discerning eye. With his head lowered, he shrank back.

The soldiers at the back looked at Luo Sheng with disdain when they realized that he had tried to desert before this!

“There’s nothing strange about this! That soldier was unwilling to go further into the mountain and ran away on his own. There’s no need to wait any longer, so we’ll continue. General Nangong is still waiting for us! All of you are soldiers under General Nangong. Are you telling me you’re going to run away in the face of danger?”

Xiao Lie’s demeanor was steady, and his tone was composed. With just a few words, he had managed to calm the uneasy troops.

He was, after all, a prince, and royal blood flowed in his veins. No deity would dare to offend him.

Everyone knelt on one knee immediately and declared in unison, “We will follow Your Highness to the death! We won’t turn back till we’ve found the general!”

“If I were to hear any more foolish talk that disturbs the army’s morale, the culprit will be dealt with as a traitor according to martial law!” Xiao Lie’s voice rang out coldly.

“Yes, sir!” the soldiers’ voices echoed together.

Xiao Lie glanced at Luo Sheng before turning around and striding off.

“Continue ahead into the mountain!”

Upon hearing Xiao Lie’s words, everyone assumed that the missing soldier had deserted the army and had run off on his own. Additionally, Xiao Lie’s calm disposition had effectively reassured everyone as well.

However, this time around, no more laughter could be heard among the troops.

Luo Sheng followed behind Ah Shu and the gang with his head lowered. A glint flashed across his beady eyes, and his expression turned dark.