Chapter Thirty-One: Yi Zhaung

Chapter Thirty-One: Yi Zhaung

The journey from Sunset City to Yuqing Mountain was not short. After Su Mo returned home recently with over four hundred taels of silver, he had Uncle Fu purchase two fine horses in the city.

Even with day and night travel at full speed, this journey would take no less than half a month.

If they traveled during the day and rested at night, and encountered delays along the way, it would take at least a month.

After several days of travel, everything was calm.

Apart from occasionally encountering a few highwaymen, nothing significant happened.

As for those highwaymen...

They fled at the sight of Yang Xiaoyun's bright silver spear.

Some even came over to greet her, curious as to why she wasn't leading the escort agency's flag.

Upon learning that this trip was merely accompanying the Ziyang Escort Agency, their expressions toward Su Mo became peculiar.

However, with Yang Xiaoyun's reputation, they did not cause any trouble and let them pass smoothly.

As for any hidden dangers lurking in the shadows, there was not a trace to be found.

...

One day, the two arrived near Funiu Mountain.

This area was desolate and rarely visited, yet it was a necessary route to Yuqing Mountain.

Detouring around would only add to the journey.

They intended to quickly pass through Funiu Mountain, but unexpectedly, a heavy rainstorm struck.

While they didn't mind the rain, the slippery roads posed a risk to the horses, which would be a real concern if they fell.

With no choice, they sought shelter.

This area had previously seen numerous battles and conflicts, resulting in many deaths.

Local residents, fearing involvement, had scattered and fled.

Rumors spread that the area was haunted by restless spirits due to the high number of deaths.

Whether these rumors were true or not, they deterred people from returning to live here.

Due to years of neglect, most buildings were in ruins, making it difficult to find shelter.

Fortunately, they spotted a relatively intact building hidden among the trees.

However, upon approaching, Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun paused.

"Yi Zhaung?"

Such places were typically used to store coffins.

For those who died far from home and wished to return to their roots, a message would be sent back to their hometown before death, asking relatives to retrieve the body for burial.

During this interim period, the body could not be buried elsewhere and needed temporary storage.

Yi Zhaungs served this purpose.

Some died too suddenly to send a message, and their bodies would also be stored here temporarily. If unclaimed for long periods, they would be buried in mass graves.

Unexpectedly, despite the area being abandoned, this Yi Zhaung remained relatively intact.

Nevertheless, it still evoked unease.

However, both Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun were skilled martial artists who did not believe in ghosts or spirits.

Thus, while surprised, they did not dwell on it.

They led their horses into the Yi Zhaung.

The Yi Zhaung was spacious, with a partially collapsed porch at the entrance.

Beyond the porch was a courtyard overgrown with weeds, swaying in the rain.

It was evident that the place had been neglected for a long time.

There were two side rooms on either side of the courtyard, but they were empty and leaking, making them unsuitable for shelter. The horses could manage, though.

The main hall, originally a shrine with an altar and memorial tablets, was now in disrepair, with broken tables and dusty tablets scattered about.

Several coffins were placed in one corner, giving the place a gloomy and vast atmosphere.

Yang Xiaoyun checked the backyard and found all the buildings collapsed. They gathered some scrap wood and set up a fire in the main hall, heating up the food they had bought earlier in town.

After eating, the sky darkened.

Su Mo stretched and stepped out into the main hall. "How long will this rain last?"

"The rain came suddenly; it won't last long. It should stop tonight... But we should wait until tomorrow to continue our journey.

"Traveling at night is already inconvenient, especially with wet and slippery roads."

"It looks like we'll have to spend the night here in Yi Zhaung."

Su Mo smiled lightly. "As usual, you rest first, and take over in the second half of the night."

"Alright."

Yang Xiaoyun did not hesitate for a moment.

When traveling outside, one must be cautious in unfamiliar environments. This secluded Yi Zhaung was rather reassuring, but there were still dangerous adversaries lurking in the shadows, ready to wreak havoc at any moment.

Therefore, they traveled during the day and took turns resting at night.

Whether in the wild or in an inn in town, it was always the same.

Yang Xiaoyun knew how to rest when she needed to, having gained experience from her years of travel.

Time waits for no one, especially for people like them who cannot afford to linger on sleepiness. In critical moments, even a brief moment can pass quickly if one cannot fall asleep.

Thus, now that she closed her eyes, she fell asleep almost instantly.

A faint snore soon echoed, intertwining with the rain outside in the silent Yi Zhaung.

Su Mo sat cross-legged, silently cultivating his inner energy.

He had obtained the Dragon Elephant Prajna Art in its perfected state and had already integrated all the internal energy into his own, making it as responsive as his limbs.

At this moment, he was practicing the Purple Sun Sect's inner energy cultivation technique known as "Radiant Sun Heart Sutra."

This technique, while not the pinnacle within the Purple Sun Sect, was far from ordinary.

It could not compare to the sect’s supreme technique, the "Nine Purple Fiery Sun Heaven-Burning Sutra," but it had its unique merits.

With the Dragon Elephant Prajna Art, Su Mo’s meridians and acupoints were almost entirely unblocked, allowing him to cultivate the Radiant Sun Heart Sutra at an accelerated pace.

Originally at the third level, he was now just a step away from the ninth level’s perfection.

His ears twitched slightly, and Su Mo suddenly opened his eyes.

The night was deep, and a fierce wind was howling outside the window.

The horses stabled in the room also emitted nervous neighs.

There seemed to be a faint sound in the air...

Listening closely, it was intermittent crying.

The sound was tragic, layering upon itself, forming a curtain.

At first, it seemed distant, but in an instant, it was right by his ear, penetrating his mind relentlessly.

Su Mo’s gaze flickered slightly, but he remained calm, speaking softly:

"I wonder which expert is playing tricks here, joking with us two newcomers in the martial world?"

Though his voice was low, it was amplified by his inner energy, silencing the surrounding ghostly cries momentarily.