Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 389 - 26 Gold Flag Brand; Red Flag Brand

Chapter 389: Chapter 26: Gold Flag Brand; Red Flag Brand

Chapter 389: Chapter 26: Gold Flag Brand; Red Flag Brand

Jiangxi, Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Heavenly Gate Peak was steep and magnificent, like a scroll of golden scripture stretching between heaven and earth. Countless one-horned paper cranes blanketed the sky, swirling above the mountain peak like dark clouds, creating a spectacular scene.

Sitting cross-legged on a huge stone that resembled a grinding wheel, Lady Dan was surrounded by a scattering of blue mountain fires, with an enormous black moon behind her. The mountain and the moon shone interlaced with each other, displaying ineffable beauty.

She reached out her hand, attempting to touch the black paper cranes at the edge of the cliff. The moment her fingertips made contact, the previously tranquil Heavenly Gate Peak erupted with the sound of millions of Taoist incantations. Golden light pierced heaven and earth, and the gentle flock of one-horned paper cranes stirred like a fierce storm. The sight was terrifying.

Lady Dan hastily withdrew her finger, blinked her eyes, and then sighed, “Lord Heavenly Master, there’s no need to be anxious. I was simply bored and wanted to fold a paper crane to pass the time.”

From the sky came a thunderous voice, “Enough idle talk, you might as well wait to be struck back into an unfeeling rock!”

Lady Dan wasn’t angry; she just tilted her head with a smile, “I was originally a strand of spiritual consciousness entrusted to She Mountain, nurtured by the local tales passed on by word of mouth and only then did I accumulate into a physical form. Ever since I severed ties with She Mountain seven years ago, I’ve been nothing but a rootless, shapeless cluster of spiritual energy. Even if the orthodox path strikes me down, I won’t turn into stone.”

“Hmpf!”

The voice echoed like thunder but said no more.

Nevertheless, Lady Dan planned to end the conversation, “Lord Heavenly Master? Lord Heavenly Master?”

“What more do you have to say?!”

The voice from the sky sounded irritable.

Lady Dan lowered her gaze, “The Mountain Spirit knows it should not meddle in the internal affairs of Dragon Tiger Mountain, but I was confused by the enticement of the Nine-Winged Bird. Now that it has come to this, the Mountain Spirit does not expect Dragon Tiger Mountain’s forgiveness. However, mortals are given a final meal before their execution in autumn. Having been accustomed to the mortal world, I only ask that before Dragon Tiger Mountain disposes of me, I be provided with a few vegetarian meals and a volume of Daoist scripture to relieve my boredom. I hope the Heavenly Master will grant this request.”

Below the mountain, many Taoists seated on meditation cushions whispered among themselves.

“It must be a scheme!”

“There’s deceit! There must be deceit!”

Atop the dais, Heavenly Master Zhang Yichu, with his sword-like eyebrows and white hair, sat amidst the crowd. He waited for the buzz of discussion to quiet down before casting his gaze on one of the Master Gaogongs who was silent and looking down.

“Shouzheng, what do you think?”

Yi Yu, dressed in a grand purple Daoist robe, looked up upon hearing this.

In four generations of disciples from Dragon Tiger Mountain following the “Righteousness, Integrity, Loyalty, Knowledge” tradition, Yi Yu belonged to the second generation, and “Shouzheng” was his Daoist name.

Seven years ago, Yi Yu was already able to represent Heavenly Master Tao and took part in the campaigns against Japan, which showed his esteemed position. Now, among the many high-ranking Master Gaogongs of Heavenly Master Tao, he was the sole supervisor of external affairs.

In all of Dragon Tiger Mountain, with its over three thousand Taoists, his status was second only to his master, the ninety-fifth Heavenly Master Zhang Yichu.

“The disciple thinks…”

Yi Yu swallowed hard, bracing himself before saying, “The conditions set by the Mountain Spirit are not excessive. Besides, between us and her, there were originally no grievances…”

As soon as Zhang Yichu’s eyes narrowed, Yi Yu quickly held back.

“Hmph.” Zhang Yichu scoffed coldly, “Dissatisfied with my decision to recall the Dragon Tiger Banners, you even seize this trivial matter to be contentious?”

“The disciple wouldn’t dare.”

Yi Yu hastily bowed his head.

Though he said nothing, deep down Yi Yu actually disagreed with his master’s methods.

The early ancestors of Heavenly Master Tao had united the nation’s strength to forge the Dragon Tiger Banners, suppressing the spirit of the land, and with such formidable deeds, the entire Heavenly Master Tao enjoyed generous treatment. But now, to eradicate one Mountain Spirit, they were causing upheaval throughout the Two Capitals and Thirteen Provinces. Was it really worth it?

It was said that the Divine Emperor had twice refused the requests to return the Dragon Tiger Banners to Heavenly Master Tao, and ministers and generals alike had unanimously submitted remonstrations. Snowflake-like petitions ascended, all criticizing Dragon Tiger Mountain for disregarding imperial grace, and local commanders were deeply resentful.

Yet Zhang Yichu remained unmoved, insisting on using the threat of removal of seal and banishment to coerce the Divine Emperor into issuing an edict for the return of the Dragon Tiger Banners.

Yi Yu saw the situation clearly. Dragon Tiger Mountain was flourishing, and it could afford to offend the entire court, but it absolutely could not afford to offend the Divine Emperor. Even the Divine Emperor was very displeased this time, and yet his master persisted stubbornly. In his opinion, this was undoubtedly a foolish and mistaken approach.

Zhang Yichu glared at Yi Yu as if frustrated at his inability to meet expectations, then turned his gaze to the soft-spoken Shouyi on the other side, his face lit up with a kind expression:

“Shouyi, what do you think?”

“I also think we should agree,”

Shouyi answered obediently.

Zhang Yichu still wore a smile, which was completely different from his demeanor when facing Yi Yu, “Oh? Why is that?”

“Because I think you, master, are not angry at all,”

Heard this, Zhang Yichu’s smile promptly vanished, his face becoming as somber as still water.

The entire ritual ground fell into a silence as deep as death.

After a long while, Shouyi reached out to tug on Yi Yu’s robe, whispering, “Senior brother, did I say something wrong?”

Yi Yu didn’t dare to respond, thinking to himself, “My little junior brother, you think master isn’t angry, but he’s only not angry with you. Even Master Zhao, who was guarding the merit seal, was hung up in the hall and lashed three hundred times by the master, and he still wasn’t angry?”

But Heavenly Master Zhang sighed, “Enough, you will be the one to deliver the meals and scriptures.”

He looked at Feifei.

Feifei stood up and performed a bow, “Disciple obeys.”

At dawn, paper cranes black as the mountain watched as a rosy-cheeked, pearly-toothed little Taoist boy, carrying vegetarian food, bounced merrily towards the top of Heavenly Gate Peak.

…

“We’ll be entering the port soon, find a ship to cross the sea to Jiaodong Gold Mouth, then follow a large fleet southward from there.”

Cao, Cha, and Li had been walking for three to four days, now close to the Bohai Sea.

Hu San had originally thought Li Yan would take the land route through Shanhaiguan, but unexpectedly, Li Yan decided to cross the sea to Shandong, then take the long way to Jiangxi, ensuring most of the journey was spent at sea where he could make use of his “Quanlang Sea Ghost” abilities.

Once in Jiaozhou, the forty-eight heretics from outside of the Pass could only sigh in envy.

After all, according to Zhang Shouhan’s words, the Demon Immortal had a strong sense of territory and would seldom cross boundaries.

As Li Yan thought about these things, he again spoke to Cha Xiaodao, “Although the sea route takes us out of our way, a month and a half is enough. Hey, I’m talking to you.”

“I’m listening, I’m listening.”

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The curtain of the carriage was lifted, revealing a stone platform heated red-hot. On top sizzled oily game meat, with Cha Xiaodao tying jars of oil, salt, and seasonings to his waist, his hand holding a brush applying sauce to the meat, utterly absorbed and responding to Li Yan in a half-hearted manner.

This also illustrated the different interests of the two men.

In Li Yan’s Seal Space were fire-starting materials, cutlery, needles, and thread, alcohol, tents, searchlights, and food was all compressed rations, vegetables, fruits, at most things like milk and eggs. For entertainment, he had a hefty pirated copy of a fantasy novel.

When acting alone, since his Military Skill was sufficient, and with a cautious mindset, Li Yan would hardly ever use tools and food unless it affected his survival. He’d carry a canvas bundle and a gourd filled with flatbreads and fresh water, indistinguishable from travelers of this era.

Cha Xiaodao was different.

He carried more than ten kinds of sauces, various ingredients and spices that Li Yan had never heard of, along with steamers, large ladles, frying pans, and so on. Upon returning from the county town, he replenished supplies of oil, salt, rice, flour—all raw, cooked and eaten on the spot.

At first, he suggested to Li Yan that they should have hotpot in the carriage, but later said it was bad luck and switched to stone-grilled meat instead.

It could be said that along the way, Cha Xiaodao and Cao Yongchang truly lived off the land.

Displaying travel permits, smoothing things over at checkpoints, and checking into inns—Li Yan mostly took care of these matters, while Cha Xiaodao had only one job: dealing with wild beasts that charged at the carriage. He treated each as game meat, scalding it with hot water, plucking and deboning in one fell swoop.

As for sources of fire and water, that was naturally not a concern for the two of them.

“I say, you really have a big heart,”

Li Yan picked up a piece of stone-grilled game with a bamboo skewer and put it in his mouth.

Though he complained, ever since he started traveling with Cha Xiaodao, he no longer had the heart to gnaw on flatbreads or compressed biscuits.

After Cha Xiaodao finished with his task, he picked up a leather bag filled with wine and glanced at Cao Yongchang, who was next to the dipping sauce, and said, “That thing, Yongchang, in the jar at the back of the canopy, there’s a leg of pork soaking, bring a piece.”

Cao Yongchang put down his sea bowl and acknowledged with an “Oh.” He then stood up, opened the rear window, and reached out most of his body to get the clay jar hanging at the back of the carriage.

With Cao Yongchang dispatched, Cha Xiaodao spoke softly to Li Yan, “Dragon Tiger Mountain is using this banner to target your beloved, so I say, let’s just take it easy on the way and not rush, anyway, when we reach Dragon Tiger Mountain we’re bound to have a showdown, so let’s drag it out for now.”

Li Yan glanced at Cao Yongchang, who only had his legs visible inside the carriage, and shook his head, “I keep thinking that Lady Dan told me to minimize killing, which might be related to the draining of the Dragon Tiger Qi within the fruit.”

“What do you mean?”

Li Yan took off the crimson Sword Box from his back, opened it, and pulled out a golden-red Dragon Tiger Banner.

Cha Xiaodao stared at the banner, its gold and red colors swirling, puzzled by Li Yan’s implication.

“These past few days, we’ve killed quite a few sentient beasts and birds attracted by the banner. The gold on this piece has obviously become richer since the beginning.”

Cha Xiaodao was stunned, “I hadn’t noticed that.”

“Now look at this one.”

Li Yan took out another banner, three-quarters of which was already saturated with blood red, appearing disturbing.

“The night I killed Supervisor Guo, this banner turned red.”

Killing heretics turned the banner gold, killing the righteous turned it red…

Cha Xiaodao pondered for a while before saying, “Are you suggesting there’s a hidden agenda in escorting the Dragon Tiger Banner? Could this fruit possibly involve some kind of karmic retribution?

Li Yan shook his head, “I’m not too sure myself, but from what Lady Dan said, it’s best not to let any piece of the banner become completely gold or completely red. Whatever the issue is, it seems only people from Dragon Tiger Mountain know the reason.”

As the two were exchanging ideas, up ahead the road was blocked by a large group of onlookers gathered around a makeshift stage where it seemed a troupe was performing arts. The crowd had grown so large that it was blocking the path.

Li Yan squinted at the stage, where three or five young women with exposed navels, wearing light veils on their heads and silver bells on their wrists and ankles, were performing enchanting dances.

“What should we do, clear the crowd?”

Cha Xiaodao asked.

Li Yan crossed his arms, “No rush, let’s watch the show.”