Black Myth: Starting from the Destined One-Chapter 33 - 29 Night Traveler Descends the Mountain

“Old Merchant Official, what’s the rush? Just wait a bit longer. My master has already gone down to Wuxing Mountain County to investigate. We can talk after she returns.”

“Ah?!”

Upon hearing this, Cen Zhen Changqing couldn’t help but scream out, his face turning pale, and then he nervously glanced at Protector Wang.

“…”

Li Ping’an, out of the corner of his eye, carefully observed Changqing and grew even more suspicious about his true identity.

“Head Chief, during the past few days I’ve been in the stronghold, I’ve witnessed the elegance of our brothers, each one a true hero, imposing and magnanimous, not only conducting themselves with integrity but also showing warm hearts, far from being ones who kill indiscriminately, or are full of evil deeds. What’s there to investigate?”

Cen Zhen Changqing urged anxiously.

“That’s not what you said before.”

Li Ping’an retorted.

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“Oh, that was a misunderstanding…”

Cen Zhen Changqing immediately took out a silver note worth 1000 taels from his sleeve and placed it in front of Li Ping’an.

“Head Chief, to be honest, my son in Chang’an has fallen seriously ill and needs a large sum of money for treatment. That’s why I’m in such a rush to pass through Five Fingers Peak. If I’m too late, my son’s life is at stake. I beg you, Head Chief, to show some mercy and let us through!”

Li Ping’an greedily glanced at the 1000-tael silver note, immediately showing a shameless face like the second-in-command before, and swiftly stuffed the money into his sleeves and firmly said:

“Old Merchant Official, there really are six demon monsters on Five Fingers Peak. I swear on the second-in-command’s life it’s no lie! The reason for keeping you here is that we’re afraid if we let you go now, those six monsters will take your life for nothing!”

“I have lived in Wuxing Mountain County for decades, and I have passed through several times before, never hearing of any demon monsters on Five Fingers Peak. Please, Head Chief, take pity on my son and let us pass quickly!”

“No, it’s truly impossible! The demons are too powerful, and you folks, with your mortal flesh, will surely die if you rashly cross!”

No matter how much Cen Zhen Changqing pleaded, Li Ping’an refused to let them leave, and they had to exit helplessly with Protector Wang and others.

“Master, when I first saw Li Ping’an, I thought he was a man of his word like us, a true man of honor. Who would have thought that he’s no different from those bandits, utterly shameless and part of the same foul nest, taking money without doing the job, with no principles at all.”

Protector Wang cursed angrily.

“Damn it, I’ve already spent one thousand and five hundred taels of silver to cross this Five Elements Mountain, it’d be better to give them all my money if this keeps on!”

Cen Zhen was absolutely furious, regretting the money he had spent in attempts to bribe Li Ping’an and the second-in-command.

“So, master, what do you plan to do now?”

Protector Wang asked.

Cen Zhen turned his head to look at the Hall of Righteousness of the mountain stronghold where Li Ping’an was, his face revealing murderous intent:

“Supreme Treasure’s master has already gone down the mountain to investigate us. Staying here is just waiting for death. No need to say more; it’s all on you tonight. As soon as it gets dark, you must protect me at all costs as we fight our way out!”

“Does this mean I have your permission to go on a killing spree, Master?”

Protector Wang’s eyes shone with a vicious light. He had a reputation in Jianghu; countless heroes and valiant wanderers had fallen beneath his staff. Wherever he went, he was met with respect, and everyone gave him some face.

However, to his chagrin, he had lost face at the modest Wuxing Mountain. He had harbored this dissatisfaction and resentment. Had it not been for Cen Zhen and Cen Changqing’s constant restraint, he would have already struck out!

“Exactly! But remember to do it before Supreme Treasure’s master arrives. Don’t forget his master is a Taoist Cultivator, and you’ve seen what she’s capable of. Be very careful!”

“As you command, Master. After nightfall, before Zixia returns, I will cover your escape from the stronghold. No matter what, we must get past Wuxing Mountain tonight!”

As night fell, Li Ping’an waited anxiously for Zixia’s return. She had been gone to Wuxing Mountain County for so long, Li Ping’an worried whether Zixia had found an excuse to leave him deliberately, never to see him again in this lifetime!

“Gang… Gang Leader!”

A flustered underling ran in from outside, knelt in front of Li Ping’an, his expression as if he had seen a ghost.

“What’s wrong? Has my master returned?”

Li Ping’an asked hastily.

“No… it’s… it’s…”

The trembling underling pointed towards Five Fingers Peak, shaking uncontrollably.

“Spit it out, damn it!”

Li Ping’an, solely concerned for Zixia, grabbed his collar and demanded:

“Has something happened to my Master?”

“No… it’s not that…”

The underling wiped the sweat from his forehead:

“There’s a rider stirring up a cloud of dust from behind the mountain. It looks like the Night Traveler has descended!”

“So it’s just a Night Traveler! Scared me to death!”

Li Ping’an finally exhaled in relief.

“Gang Leader, it’s terrible! The Night Traveler is here! We must flee quickly!”

The Second-in-command and Third-in-command, along with a few underlings, also ran in panic-stricken, shouting at the top of their lungs.

“Nonsense, it’s just a Night Traveler. We have so many people; what’s there to fear?”

Li Ping’an remained calm as ever, only caring about Zixia’s safety, and continued to reassure them:

“Didn’t you say before that the Night Traveler knows you’re good people? If he’s not going to kill you, why run away?”

“Gang Leader, you’ve forgotten already!”

The Second-in-command and Third-in-command urgently reminded him:

“Today is the day the Night Traveler comes to take someone! If we can’t produce a person, we’ll have to fill the quota and offer ourselves to the Six Demons of Five Fingers Peak!”

“So preoccupied with Zixia, I completely forgot about that!”

Li Ping’an suddenly remembered:

“No matter, since he didn’t kill you lot, the beasts, before, he must be a man of integrity, clear about justice and resentment. Wait and I will talk to him, ask him to stop abetting tyranny!”

“Gang Leader, no!”

The Second-in-command licked his lips in fear:

“It’s true the Night Traveler is a good person, but he has now been bewitched by six Demon Monsters, and talking might be futile no matter how you try!”

“Then we’ll kill him! After all, he’s turned into something neither human nor demon!”