After the Immortal Disappeared

Chapter 144: Chapter 145: Discovered

This was also his reason for choosing to go west. The eastern road out of Xianling Village was too flat, and with their horse-drawn carts and other heavy baggage, they could never outrun the rebel army. By heading west, however, they might be able to get down the mountain without incident if they timed it right.

The words had barely left his lips when two bandit soldiers rushed over, one of them gruesomely holding a severed head. ”General, we searched the woods along West Mountain Road and found someone who’d been beheaded. He died there all alone. We brought his belongings back.”

The head was grimacing, covered in grass and mud, but as soon as Wu Shaoyi took it for a look, someone beside him cried out, ”Liu Monkey! That’s General Pei’s scout, Liu Monkey! We drank together twice back at Woling Pass, and he paid the bill both times!”

Before anyone else could speak, Hee Lingchuan immediately cut in, ”Our government soldiers don’t make a habit of taking heads. This must be the work of the Lui Thief.”

”Pei Xinyong probably sent him to gather intelligence. If he was killed by the Lui Thief, then I’m afraid the Lui Thief has gotten Old Pei’s intel as well.” Wu Shaoyi looked at the Mountain Bandit. ”What’s that in your hand?”

The man quickly held it forward. ”It looks like a Mechanical Bird. Liu Monkey was dead on the ground, and I found this in the treetop right above his head.”

Hee Lingchuan had long heard of Puppetry Art, an esoteric magic that allowed a Puppet Master to animate their creations. This, however, was the first time he’d seen it in person. The Mechanical Bird in the bandit’s hands was the size of a real pigeon and colored a dull, inconspicuous gray, which suited its function well.

”He was most likely discovered while fiddling with the Mechanical Bird up in the tree. Lui Yao cut him down but failed to notice the bird still perched in the branches overhead.”

Wu Shaoyi turned the Mechanical Bird over and over, examining it. He then opened a panel on its belly, revealing an empty, hidden compartment. A smile finally broke through his long-held serious expression. ”Heaven is on our side. This scout was trying to send intelligence, which means this Mechanical Bird can probably fly directly to Old Pei.”

Lian Deng slapped his hands together. ”That’s right! We can use the Mechanical Bird to send a message to General Pei. Then we’ll finally be in contact!”

Time was short, so the bandits brought over paper and a brush. Wu Shaoyi dashed off a message of a few dozen characters, folded the note, and stuffed it into the Mechanical Bird’s belly. He then patted its head. ”Go find Pei Xinyong.”

The Mechanical Bird lifted its head and beat its wings. With a soft WHIR, it rose into the sky like a real bird and flew west.

”Let’s go.” Hee Lingchuan stood up. ”We can’t delay any longer.” He had already wasted too much time in Xianling Village.

The group filed onto the crocodile’s back. The massive creature took a few steps and slid elegantly into the water. Despite its immense bulk, it barely made a splash.

Even fully laden with people, the Crocodile Demons possessed Infinite Strength and moved with ease, their speed barely diminished.

At first, everyone trembled with fear while riding on the backs of these ancient, ferocious beasts. After a short while, however, they realized the creatures were steadier than any boat. With their eyes closed, they could hardly even feel themselves gliding across the water. Their fears were finally put to rest.

The giant crocodiles carried the group westward. The waterway was wide and open, allowing them to travel in a straight line, unlike the winding mountain paths on land.

It was late autumn. Red maple leaves drifted along the lakeshore, and the mountains were flecked with gold. The scenery was one of indescribable, stark magnificence.

The river wind brushed his face. Standing on the crocodile’s head, Hee Lingchuan took a deep breath, the cool air filling his lungs.

’Riding a massive crocodile more than fifty feet long through the mountains and rivers, hurrying to a battlefield with a band of bandits. Six months ago, could he ever have imagined this?’

* * *

Lui Yao galloped down the Western Route, whipping his horse to go faster.

He pushed his mount so hard that it nearly missed its footing on several turns, sending rocks skittering over the cliff’s edge. The sound of them hitting the bottom only echoed back after a long delay.

He wasn’t afraid, but his bandits were. ’Galloping at full speed on such a treacherous, winding road? Is he trying to get us all killed?’ But no one dared to utter a peep.

Earlier, upon passing Whistle Rock, Lui Yao had taken a detour to inspect the area.

The ground was a total wreck, covered in signs of a recent battle. Bloodstains spattered the tree bark and blades of grass.

Dozens of corpses lay on the ground, some pierced by arrows, others cut down by blades.

These were all his men! The more Lui Yao saw, the more twisted his face became, until he finally threw his head back and roared at the sky.

”Pei Xinyong, you damned fool!”

The men he had just absorbed from Wu Shaoyi’s ranks had already explained on the road why Wu and Pei had suddenly turned on him.

’So it really was a scheme from that bastard official, Hee!’

’No wonder he was so friendly last night, inviting me to drink, eat fish, and chat. He wanted Wu and Pei’s scouts to catch me in the act!’

’Those two idiots. They jumped right into that bastard Hee’s trap without a moment’s hesitation.’

A perfectly good three-way alliance, ruined just like that.

By the time he looked again at the corpses of his men lining the road, he had actually calmed down. A vicious grin spread across his face.

”Doesn’t that dog of an official, Hee Chunhua, like grilled fish? When I get my hands on him, I’ll execute his family right in front of him—death by a thousand cuts! I’ll take the pieces I carve off, grill them up nice, and stuff them down his throat! Heh heh, I’ll feed him until he literally bursts!” After saying this, he gulped, swallowing his own spit.

Just then, a sharp cry echoed from the sky.

Lui Yao raised his arm, and a red-tailed falcon landed on it. It spoke in a human voice, ”The official’s convoy is thirty li ahead, but the road is treacherous. It may take you longer than expected to catch them!”

”And Pei Xinyong?”

”He’s stopped at Zhumapo and hasn’t made a move,” the Red Falcon added. ”Our men have already bypassed Zhumapo and are retreating to Desheng Town.”

”Useless fools!” Lui Yao snorted. He said to the Red Falcon, ”In a moment, I want you to make another trip. Tell everyone in Desheng Town to head here immediately.”

”They’re afraid of Pei Xinyong.”

”With Wu Shaoyi dead, Old Pei won’t have the guts to oppose me!” Lui Yao laughed. ”He’ll turn tail sooner or later.”

He fed the Red Falcon a few scraps of meat and was about to send it on its way.

The Red Falcon suddenly lowered its voice and whispered in his ear, ”By the way, on my flight back, I passed over the lake and saw something strange at Twin Fjords. Those Crocodile Demons were carrying a full load of people on their backs, heading west.”

”Crocodile Demons? Carrying people?” Lui Yao was stunned. He knew the Crocodile God’s temperament—cold and merciless. Despite having cooperated a few times, if he went to the Crocodile God now without sufficient payment, the beast wouldn’t think twice about eating him. ”Who is the Crocodile God carrying?”

’Who could make the Crocodile God condescend to act as a transport and obediently carry people?’

”Wu Shaoyi,” the Red Falcon’s voice dropped even lower.

Lui Yao immediately waved his bandits back, spurred his horse forward a few paces, and stared at the Red Falcon. ”What’s going on? How is he still alive?” ’Wasn’t Wu injured by the crocodiles? How can he be riding one now?’

His mind in turmoil, he still remembered to put some distance between himself and his men. Many of the bandits here had defected from Wu Shaoyi’s ranks. If they heard their former master was still alive, who knew what sort of trouble it might stir up.

If Wu Shaoyi was alive, he was a massive liability. Lui Yao was worried.

”I’m not sure, but he has over two hundred of his men with him. Some are on the crocodiles, others are in boats.”