https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-329-A-Lifetime-of-Pain-10-000-Words-Part-1-/12980388/
Chapter 328: Bone-Chilling Cold (Part 2)
Chapter 328: Bone-Chilling Cold (Part 2)
The howling wind and flying sand filled the air, turning the entire city into a ghostly, demonic realm. The streets and alleys were empty, not a soul in sight.
Sometimes facing the wind, sometimes with the wind at their backs, the two men walked through the vast city, feeling as if they were traversing an endless desert storm.
Tang Zheng followed closely behind Fang Che, feeling the sting of the wind and sand on his body. They had arrived at the territory overseen by Hong Er Crip and his men.
At a glance, Fang Che was satisfied. He had been here before, and it was chaotic then, but now everything was in order. Despite the strong winds, there wasn't much chaos. Aside from a few shop signs being blown away, nothing else seemed amiss.
It seemed that Er Crip had been working hard lately.
Using his cultivation, Fang Che soon heard Hong Er Crip's voice.
"Are these all original residents? Where are the records? Bring them out, I want to cross-check... Hmm, not bad. No new faces have moved in recently?"
"Let me see the accommodation records for this inn, especially for those currently staying here."
"Clean this place up. It's so filthy."
"What are you doing? What are you doing? I can't accept this! Take it back! You're trying to bribe the Guardian Pavilion officials!" the innkeeper exclaimed.
The innkeeper's voice from the side: "Old Hong, let's follow the previous rules... Um, um..."
Clearly, he was being silenced by Hong Er Crip, who said anxiously, "Boss, don't say anything more! If someone else did this, they'd be scolded and fired, but if I did it, I'd be in big trouble..."
"Why would it be life-threatening?"
Amid the howling wind, Fang Che stood with his hands behind his back, smiling as he emerged from the yellow sand with Tang Zheng. He approached leisurely, "Hong, explain. What exactly is this 'thing' you mentioned?"
Hong Er Crip's eyes filled with despair, "Boss Fang... I was wrong."
"Wrong about what?"
Fang Che smiled.
"I... I..." Hong Er Crip stuttered.
"What were you trying to give him that he refused?" Fang Che asked the innkeeper.
"It's... it's..." The innkeeper's eyes darted anxiously.
"You offered him something to stop him from inspecting your inn?" Fang Che inquired.
"I... I..." The innkeeper was now completely flustered.
Fang Che's face turned cold, and he said calmly, "Tang Zheng, gather everyone and seal off this You Peng Inn. No one is allowed to enter or exit. I want to see why you're preventing inspections."
Hong Er Crip, standing nearby, trembled and said, "Boss Fang, it's my fault. This innkeeper is my fellow townsman, so I've been giving him some special treatment from time to time... I swear I haven't accepted any bribes. These are just some pickled vegetables from my hometown. But now, I won't even dare to accept these pickles..."
As he spoke, he opened the bundle in the innkeeper's hands, releasing a strong aroma.
Indeed, it was a bundle of pickled vegetables.
Fang Che took a glance and stuffed it into Hong Er Crip's hands, saying coldly, "You better pray there's no one from the Demon Sect here. Otherwise, Er Crip, you and your fellow townsman... Hehe, I don't need to spell it out, do I?"
"Understood."
Hong Er Crip broke into a cold sweat.
The clerks quickly arrived and sealed off the inn.
Fang Che personally went inside to inspect, and indeed, there were quite a few people staying there. He called them out one by one, and Fang Che quickly got a sense of the situation.
In this inn owned by Hong Er Crip's fellow townsman, there were at least seven people with a similar aura to Zhao Wu Shang and his group.
However, their identities were all normal.
Fang Che maintained his composure as he went upstairs, intentionally moving closer to the window and glancing down.
He saw Hong Er Crip standing at a distance, looking up at him with a hint of regret in his eyes.
Fang Che averted his gaze and headed downstairs.
"Not bad."
He looked at the innkeeper calmly, "But from now on, remember to report any individuals with unclear identities who come to stay."
He patted the innkeeper's shoulder, "This is a matter of life and death for the people of White Cloud Continent. Although you're merchants focused on making money, the world's peace ensures your profits. So, your responsibility is significant, and it's not easy."
He nodded, "You've worked hard. I trust you."
The innkeeper was moved to tears, "Boss Fang, rest assured. I won't let you down."
Fang Che waved his hand, "That's all, everyone has worked hard!"
He walked out nonchalantly, showing no signs of concern.
Along the way, he waved to those who greeted him, his face beaming.
Hong Er Crip watched Fang Che leave, feeling anxious, and approached him, "Boss Fang, how was it?"
"Not bad."
Fang Che laughed, "It seems you've been putting in the effort lately."
Hong Er Crip chuckled, "Boss Fang is praising me."
Fang Che nodded, his expression turning serious, "But you still need to work on your loose tongue. Otherwise, I'll beat you again."
"I won't dare, I won't dare."
Fang Che laughed and turned to leave.
...
Tang Zheng followed him, sensing no abnormalities in Fang Che's behavior.
As the afternoon approached, the strong wind showed no signs of weakening; instead, it grew more intense.
Tang Zheng muttered, "The spring winds are like this, but today's is particularly strong. Fortunately, it will stop by nightfall. Many houses outside the city might have collapsed from the wind."
Fang Che looked up at the swaying debris flying overhead, crushed a rock with a wave of his hand, and shook his head, "If the wind gets stronger tonight, White Cloud Continent might have to start large-scale disaster relief tomorrow."
Tang Zheng said, "With conditions like this, disaster relief should already be underway. Even in the city, we can feel the wind's intensity. Those outside the city must be suffering even more. Many houses might have collapsed."
"It should be better," Fang Che shook his head, "Recently, there was a snow disaster and a volcanic eruption. Many people from outside the city have moved into the city, and those who remain outside have reinforced their houses."
Just in time to deal with this wind disaster."
"That's what Director Fang said."
At that moment, Fang Che suddenly sensed something.
The Five Ling Gu sent a ripple, someone was sending a message.
Fang Che, without a change in expression, took a look.
It was actually a message from Yin Shengong.
"Come to the Mountain Village in the north of the city."
The Mountain Village in the north of the city? Isn't that a small village? Why did Yin Shengong suddenly go there? Shouldn't he be at home? Fang Che's heart suddenly rose with an extremely ominous premonition.
His heart skipped a beat.
Calming himself, he turned to Tang Zhengdao, "You go back to the Guardian Pavilion first. I have something to take care of."
"You go ahead."
Tang Zhengdao said, "I'll take another round in the slums ahead. I'll return after that."
"Okay."
Fang Che felt his thoughts were in disarray. He agreed and turned to leave, soaring into the air as the howling wind seemed to carry him away.
He rushed through the wind, quickly reaching the north city wall, and then soared out of the city, carried by the wind.
Outside the city, the strong winds raged, creating a complete darkness.
In the midst of the wind and sand, Fang Che swayed.
But his mind was in a state of emergency.
What was happening at the Mountain Village? Why did Yin Shengong go there? Why did he call him over? However, he couldn't think of any clues. His heart sank, and he felt that something bad was about to happen.
...
The Mountain Village was located about a hundred li north of Baiyunzhou City, named after the mountain it backed onto.
As Fang Che approached, he saw that the Mountain Village had only seventy or eighty households, clustered together. Occasionally, smoke rose from the chimneys, only to be swept away by the raging wind.
The strong wind forced everyone to shut their doors and windows.
But it didn't seem like anything unusual was happening.
"Master, I've arrived."
Fang Che sent a message.
Yin Shengong quickly replied, "The valley in the mountains."
Fang Che went to look for it.
From a distance, he saw Mu Lin Yuan standing on a large tree, his white robe fluttering.
Fang Che flashed over and smiled, "Second Master, why are you interested in coming to a place like this?"
Mu Lin Yuan's face was somber, and he seemed reluctant to speak. He said indifferently, "Follow me."
His white robe fluttered as he led the way.
Fang Che was stunned for a moment, and his heart began to pound with anxiety.
Following Mu Lin Yuan, he saw a deep cave among the rocks. It was pitch black.
Yin Shengong stood in front of the cave with his hands behind his back.
Seeing Fang Che approach, he smiled.
"Master, you called me?" Fang Che stepped forward.
Yin Shengong smiled faintly, took a few steps with his hands behind his back, turned around, and stood side by side with Fang Che, facing the cave. He said indifferently, "Take a look at this cave. Do you feel anything special?"
A cave?
He called me all the way here just to look at this cave? Fang Che was completely baffled.
As he approached the cave with a confused look, he felt a strange sensation. It seemed as if a sharp aura was emanating from within.
This was a sharpness that could split the heavens and sever mortal attachments!
Although the years had passed, this aura remained.
The cave was perfectly round, with a width and height of about three zhang. It was pitch black, and its depth was unknown.
Fang Che took a closer look and was shocked to see that the cave wall was incredibly smooth.
Yin Shengong couldn't help but smile at Fang Che's astonished expression. He said, "Do you know how deep this cave is?"
Fang Che estimated, "Several dozen zhang?"
"Several dozen zhang?"
Yin Shengong smiled faintly, "The entire cave is two thousand three hundred zhang long! It passes through this mountain and the adjacent one. At the end of the cave, there's only a three-chi-thick wall before it breaks through the mountain!"
"Wow, it's so long!" Fang Che was amazed.
"Is there anything else unusual?" Yin Shengong asked.
"This cave is round, and the walls are so smooth, as if they were specially polished," Fang Che said, looking inside the cave.
There wasn't a single rough stone, as they were all smooth and even, reflecting light.
It was as if the walls had been painted, but painting wouldn't have this effect.
It was as if someone had polished the cave walls, making them perfectly smooth, even, and extremely glossy. There was even a layer of patina.
"How was this done?"
Fang Che was stunned, "Why go through so much trouble for just a cave?"
"This wasn't created through cultivation."
Yin Shengong looked at Fang Che and smiled faintly, "This is a famous site in the Jianghu."
"A famous site in the Jianghu?"
Fang Che was stunned.
"This cave has existed for at least tens of thousands of years. In those tens of thousands of years, countless Jianghu people have come here. Not to mention others, but even our own sect's Guardian, the White Bone Dream-Shattering Gun's Duan Xiyang, lived here for ten years when he was young!"
Yin Shengong explained.
"Duan Xiyang lived here for ten years?"
Fang Che was shocked.
A famous site in the Jianghu.
Duan Xiyang lived here for ten years!
What was so special about this cave? Fang Che's mind stirred as he recalled the sharpness he had felt earlier. He suddenly took three steps back, his eyes wide with disbelief, "This... was this created by a single gun strike?"
"Indeed."
Yin Shengong said, "Have you heard of the Cave Gun Demon?"
Fang Che did know, and he had just learned about it.
"I've heard of this person, but I don't know what he did. It was too long ago."
Fang Che replied.
"The Cave Gun Demon belongs to the ancient era..."
Yin Shengong said, "It's impressive that you still remember his name. But do you know how the Cave Gun Demon got his name?"
"Is it because of this cave?"
Fang Che asked.
"Indeed," replied Yin Shengong. "His name back then was the Dark Gold Gun Demon. It is said that during a battle with his opponent, he fired a shot into the void. The enemy dodged, but the gun's energy was like a dragon, and the intent of the gun surged forward relentlessly, creating this very cave!"
"So, from then on, he was known as the One-Cave Gun Demon."
"The gun intent was so concentrated that... after countless years of change, many places have undergone drastic transformations, losing their original terrain. But these two mountains remain unmoved."
"And this cave has existed ever since. It was only when Duan Xiyang achieved mastery in his gun techniques that he returned here and reinforced this mountain once more."
"That's why, on these two mountains, no matter what plants grow, they do so abnormally slowly. Because the mountain's shape has become one with the earth, making it extremely difficult for roots to penetrate."
Yin Shengong looked at Fang Che and smiled, "Tell me, what do you think this mountain will become after many, many years?"
Fang Che replied without hesitation, "A mineral vein! And it must be a jade mine."
"Yes," Yin Shengong nodded. "After this battle, the Dark Gold Gun Demon went into seclusion. When he emerged, he had complete control over his gun intent, and such incidents of uncontrolled spirit energy, like a single shot piercing a mountain to create a cave, would never happen again. So, this cave became a remnant left behind by the One-Cave Gun Demon in the mortal world."
Fang Che couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.
Apparently, when the One-Cave Gun Demon pierced through these two mountains with a single shot, his cultivation was not even at its peak.
If he wasn't at his peak and could already do this...
What would he be like at his peak?
Fang Che stared at the cave, his eyes wide with awe.
His heart was filled with awe...
"You mentioned wanting to practice with a gun the other day, and it reminded me of this place. It is said that this shot came from the heavens, piercing through the sun and moon's light, capable of changing the heavens and earth, and even startling ghosts and gods. So, from then on... slowly, the White Cloud Continent came into existence."
Yin Shengong explained, "The gun intent pierced through time, remaining ever-present. Although countless years have passed, and much of that sharp gun intent has been eroded, even now, you can still sense it."
"Yes!" Fang Che exclaimed, his heart filled with admiration.
Recalling the Dark Gold Gun Demon soaring into the skies, summoning the power of wind and clouds, and thrusting out a shot that could alter the landscape, he couldn't help but shudder all over.
So badass!
Slowly, he walked into the cave, caressing the smooth cave walls, imagining the formidable power of the gun intent piercing through the heavens and earth.
Fang Che's heart was filled with yearning.
If I...
Yin Shengong also entered the cave, with Mu Lin Yuan and Hou Fang following silently behind their master and teacher, their faces grave.
They even felt a hint of worry, but they tried their best to hide it from Fang Che.
"Usually, with a cave this big, the wind blowing in would create a tempest inside. But in this cave, the wind can't enter at all."
"After so many years, the gun intent has been battling the wind, frost, snow, and rain. It has weakened over time, and perhaps in a few thousand years... snow will cover the cave entrance. But as long as the gun intent remains, it won't happen."
Yin Shengong spoke calmly, "This is the path we martial artists strive for."
"Master, at this level of cultivation, what rank would it be?" Fang Che asked.
Yin Shengong paused before replying, "I'm not sure, but it should be close to the rank of Martial God."
He sighed deeply, "In this lifetime, it's unlikely for me. It's up to you to reach this step. You said you wanted to become the sect leader of the main sect, haha..."
Yin Shengong chuckled, "Currently, Duan Xiyang, the head of the Battle Hall, has already surpassed the cultivation of this shot."
Fang Che's face turned black with embarrassment.
He felt that the boasting he did that day was a bit too much.
...
Yin Shengong led Fang Che further into the cave.
As Fang Che walked, he couldn't help but keep his eyes on the cave walls.
He felt like he was walking inside a giant pipe.
Even now, standing inside the cave, it was hard to imagine that it was created by a single shot.
The deeper they ventured, the darker it became, a pitch-black tunnel.
Hearing the echoes of their footsteps, Fang Che was puzzled, wondering why they were heading this way.
Yin Shengong continued forward, and Fang Che silently followed, deep in thought.
He might as well analyze the gun intent of that shot along the way.
Although the shot was from long ago, he could still sense its sharpness.
As Fang Che felt the gun intent, he communicated with the little sprite in his spiritual consciousness space.
The little sprite was working hard to transform the divine metal into a long spear.
The sharp gun intent entered, and the little sprite immediately understood.
It began to capture the gun intent, attaching it to the divine metal...
As they continued forward.
Fang Che's nose twitched, and he suddenly stopped, astonished, "Is there someone ahead?"
"There is," Yin Shengong replied nonchalantly, continuing forward with his hands behind his back.
"Who is it?" Fang Che asked, his heart inexplicably racing.
"It's someone you know," Yin Shengong said with a faint smile, and with a wave of his palm, a flame ignited, lighting the candles that had been placed earlier.
Suddenly, the cave was illuminated.
In front of them, several people lay unconscious.
Fang Che's eyes widened in shock, and his entire body went cold. A thunderclap seemed to sound in his mind, and he felt dizzy and blacked out for a moment.
In the candlelight, the person at the front, with his eyes tightly shut, was none other than the Chief Overseer of the Guardian Pavilion of the White Cloud Continent, Zuo Guanglie!
Fang Che felt his blood run cold.
(End of Chapter)
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