Chapter 65: Mountain God Temple City
The cliffs were as sharp as blades, strange rocks leaped like tigers, and the shape of Tiger God Mountain was just like a fierce tiger leaping in the mountain stream.
Towering and perilous, with swirling mists and clouds.
Tiger God Temple was situated at the peak of Tiger God Mountain, now gradually expanded into a village, with rocks and hard wood piled into the outer walls of the village, and inside were bluestone paved roads.
There were guesthouses, mountain goods shops, and also weapon shops, pill shops, and real estate agents for auctions and consignments; although not as large in scale as Yun Cang Town, there were still quite a few guests coming and going.
Each one was a martial artist with a dragon-like gait, strong or weak, all daring to earn silver in this mountainous area.
The team entered Tiger God Temple City, and Su Yan’s gaze swept over the crowd, seeing many martial artists dressed as martial world guests.
He thought to himself: ‘Although there are many martial artists serving as guards from various families, not all of them are; the martial artists who have learned skills but have no place to join must be these scattered guests, or rather rogue cultivators.’
The passing crowd was a mix of fish and dragons, many people had already sized up the team with three to five glances, checking if it was worth targeting.
Once they entered these desolate mountains, it was a place even the Dali Dynasty could not control.
The rules here were survival of the fittest; robbing on the road, killing, and seizing treasures were just commonplace matters.
Though they covered their tracks on the surface, once in the woods, who would know who did it?
“We will only stop in Temple City for one hour; those who need to buy things, go buy them yourselves.”
Li Jinshan stopped the team in front of the Golden Ape Martial Arts School shop, then said to the group of inner disciples.
Only these inner disciples could move about freely.
They were not guards, but disciples of the martial arts school, so they naturally had their own freedom.
“Junior Brother Su, you shot and killed two tigers to protect the martial arts school’s reputation, and you were the first to discover last night’s anomaly, so that counts as a merit.”
Li Jinshan said: “Go to the accountant’s office to collect three hundred taels of silver; the other disciples who have merits from last night will all be rewarded, go claim them yourselves.”
“Thank you, Senior Brother!”
Everyone immediately showed joy and hurriedly gave thanks.
Although they knew they would definitely not get as much as Su Yan, how could they not be happy to receive silver money?
The two tigers were both recorded under his name; the intact one was killed by Li Jinshan, while the other had been split in two, so the price would at least be discounted.
Li Jinshan gave three hundred taels, and the remaining feral beast meat would be distributed to individuals or go into the martial arts school’s kitchen; this treatment was worlds apart from that of outer disciples.
The crowd dispersed, and Li Jinshan also hurriedly found the steward left here and reported last night’s events.
Although there were mutual schemes in the conflict, it seemed no one gained an advantage.
But after all, something had happened; if not reported and preparations not made, if something unexpected really occurred, they would suffer a big loss.
Su Yan still had some Poison Dragon Pills on hand for body refining; although there was demand for pills that nurtured qi and blood, there was no need to exchange for them at the martial arts school—Hundred Herbs Hall’s pills were more suitable.
So after collecting three hundred taels of silver from the accountant’s office, he left the branch hall’s gate and wanted to stroll around Tiger God Temple City.
Who knew that before he had gone far, he saw Gao Zheng and others waiting for him.
“Junior Brother, don’t rush to wander alone; Senior Brother told me to take you to Tian Feng Weapon Shop to buy something.”
Su Yan showed a surprised expression, and Gao Zheng explained: “I told him you wanted to enter the mountains alone, so he had me come over.”
Gao Zheng stood beside Su Yan and said: “Going alone is not impossible; Senior Sister Bai Yun, Senior Brother Zhao Tianwen, and Senior Brother Lu Ling all have experiences of entering the mountains alone, though mostly for experience.”
He spoke halfway; the martial arts school’s true disciples, including those like him who had one foot in true disciple status, just waiting for merits or realm advancement.
Actually all had the ability to enter the mountains alone for combat.
But experience was ultimately different from hunting feral beasts or seeking spirit herbs; the former was just honing skills, fighting and killing for practice.
The latter two required tracking, scouting, identification, and various abilities, and also needed to carry out all the hunted feral beasts and found spirit herbs—a single person would inevitably be stretched thin.
So even if Li Jinshan and the others went hunting in the mountains, they would actively choose to bring a team.
But after traveling this road with Gao Zheng and Li Jinshan, they had already understood that Su Yan was a freak.
He was originally from a mountain hunter background, and among mountain hunters he was one of the best; seeking herbs and treasures in the mountains—even if slightly unfamiliar after entering the desolate mountains—would certainly not be too bad.
As for hunting, with that archery skill, even some blood moving or spirit nurturing realm martial artists did not have such exquisite archery.
With such hunting skills, searching for feral beasts and tracking in the mountains would surely also be top-notch.
Su Yan, who possessed multiple skills, did not need more people to assist him, unless he found too many things to carry back.
But, finding too many things—is that a problem?
So, after some back and forth, Li Jinshan tacitly approved Su Yan going alone.
Su Yan looked at Gao Zheng and asked: “Senior Brother Gao, what are we buying at Tian Feng Weapon Shop?”
Su Yan’s weapon, the fine steel longbow, had just been replaced, so there was no need to change it again for now.
Gao Zheng however played coy: “You’ll know when we get there.”
The two followed the street straight to the Tian Feng Weapon Shop, entering to the same hot furnace fire, incessant clanging of ironworking.
Gao Zheng led Su Yan to a counter; the shop assistant was sharp-eyed, recognized Gao Zheng, and quickly called for the steward.
Then a skinny sallow-faced steward walked over, cupped his hands slightly: “Brother Gao, honored guest today; are you looking to buy a handy weapon?”
“Shopkeeper Huang, my junior brother wants a soft armor; go get some to look at, good stuff.”
The shopkeeper’s eyes lit up, showing a gleam of making money: “Bring out the soft armor, let Brother Gao choose.”
The shop assistant immediately brought out the soft armor, a total of four sets, placing them one by one on the counter.
“Quasi-ranked cowhide soft armor, made from desolate mountain stone cowhide, soaked in medicinal solution and metal liquid, can withstand blades and spears, fifty taels.”
“Say first-order soft armor, not these quasi-ranked ones.”
One set of armor was worth several weapons; though exaggerated, it was enough to show the preciousness of these armor pieces.
For example, this quasi-ranked soft armor that could withstand blades and spears—even at skin refining great accomplishment, most people could not train such skin; if worn, it allowed unloading force against enemies and gaining the upper hand.
But for his own junior brother, who was not short of money, how could he use this kind of armor?
The steward was not angry at all, but even happier.
“For first-order soft armor, there is fine metal soft armor, woven from metal soft threads, impervious to blade cuts, top-notch at unloading force. And this blue scale armor, made from early first-order python beast scale skin, infused with metal by special methods, slightly stronger than fine metal soft armor; the former 120 taels of silver, the latter 150 taels of silver.”
The steward introduced from the second soft armor to the third in one breath, then said: “The last one is the most expensive, an upper-grade first-order soft armor, tiger demon soft armor, refined from rock tiger demon skin, assisted with fine metal and red gold, not only tough but also reduces true essence intrusion, 270 taels of silver.”
Seeing Su Yan had not shown any intent after he finished, Gao Zheng lowered his voice: “Most of us brothers prepare some soft armor for self-defense; the fine metal soft armor is good for ordinary use, but the blue scale armor is more comfortable and breathable; if Junior Brother wants it, blue scale armor is also good.”
Su Yan nodded, and Gao Zheng said to the steward: “Let my junior brother try the blue scale armor; adjust it to his size.”
“Senior Brother, not this one; I’ll pay extra, get the tiger demon soft armor.”
Gao Zheng looked at his junior brother, eyes full of surprise: you only have three hundred taels of silver, and you’re really willing.
Su Yan smiled: “Better safe than sorry; right, if anyone asks, just say I bought the blue scale armor.”
Gao Zheng: “……”
