Chapter Twenty-Five: The Summer Retreat

To enter the Summer Resort, they could not simply force their way in.

Shen Chang’an had already gathered most of the information he needed and knew there was something strange about this mountain. If he barged in recklessly, the trouble he would encounter would be far greater than he could handle.

Not to mention that he might not even be able to break through the illusions shrouding the place, but even if he did, he would then have to face a horde of monsters. Shen Chang’an, for all his brute strength and formidable abilities, still felt uneasy at the thought of being swarmed by so many demons.

His strength gave him tremendous offensive power, but his defenses remained lacking. Previously, Li Qingqing had managed to subdue him with just a simple twist—this was exactly why. He could make others suffer, but when they struck back, it hurt him just as much.

If a hundred monsters were to throw themselves at him with no regard for their lives, how many could he possibly fight off, even if he were made of iron? His goal was to slay demons, not to throw his life away. Attacking head-on simply wasn’t rational; cunning was required here.

The Summer Resort wasn’t an isolated manor. On the contrary, it had regular contact with the outside world. Every so often, Lord Fang would send a group of people up the mountain to labor at the Resort, where they could earn a large sum of money after a period of hard work.

Truth be told, every time this opportunity arose, there would always be people scrambling for it. After returning from the Resort, these people would receive the patronage of Lord Fang. It was a great fortune—everyone was desperate to get in, fighting for their chance.

Unfortunately, the list of those sent to the Resort was determined solely by Lord Fang. No one else ever knew who would be next to go.

Shen Chang’an knew perfectly well that most of those sent in were likely being sacrificed to the resident monsters. Those who returned, he suspected, were nothing more than replaced rats. The more he thought about it, the more a nameless dread crept into his heart.

Fang City had grown under Lord Fang’s rule for years, and those going to the Resort had been replaced again and again. The city was expanding, and the population continued to grow. By now, Shen Chang’an couldn’t even guess how many demons had infiltrated the city. If this was allowed to continue, it might soon become a domain of monsters, and who could predict what horrors might follow?

The Great Qian Dynasty was drinking poison to quench its thirst, but Shen Chang’an could not stand idly by while the people here marched toward their deaths.

“Hey, priest, people are coming,” Zheng Xin suddenly reminded him. The two of them looked up to see a small group heading toward the mountain.

“When the time comes, just follow my lead. Stay close to them, and leave the rest to me.”

Zheng Xin nodded silently, hiding in the bushes beside Shen Chang’an.

As the carriage approached, both Shen Chang’an and Zheng Xin leapt out at once. Without a word, Shen Chang’an drew his blade and pressed it to the throat of the lead guard.

“Don’t move!” he barked, startling the others, who immediately reached for the hilts at their waists.

Shen Chang’an sniffed the air and caught the foul scent on these men. He knew at once and shouted, “Take us up the mountain!”

“Huh?” The guards looked at each other in surprise. The man being held hostage loosened his grip on his weapon and studied Shen Chang’an with suspicion.

Shen Chang’an’s voice trembled with desperation as he shouted, “Today, you must take me and my brother into the mountain. We… we can’t go on anymore. If you refuse, I’ll kill you all…”

His words were incoherent, his demeanor frenzied—he looked every bit the desperate refugee.

Hearing this, the guards relaxed. The one being held said, “So that’s it? Brother, don’t worry. It’s nothing to send two more up the mountain. Just get in the carriage.”

Shen Chang’an feigned astonishment. “Really? You mean it?”

“Haha, you underestimate Lord Fang. It’s just a little wealth for two more people. What’s the harm? Go on, get in. Once you’re on the mountain, we’re all family. Are you hungry? I’ve got two cakes here—take them if you are.”

Shen Chang’an thanked him profusely, tossed aside his blade, picked up the stick the man had used to carry luggage, and, following their instructions, climbed into the carriage.

Zheng Xin clung to his sleeve the whole time, head lowered, looking terrified as she slipped in unnoticed.

Truth be told, their act wasn’t all that convincing, but these guards didn’t bother to look too closely—they weren’t human, after all. They felt no need to be vigilant and let the two pass without question.

Such things happened often during their deliveries; people would sometimes burst out of nowhere, demanding to be taken to the Resort by force. The guards, indifferent to one or two extra passengers, always let them in.

There was no need for elaborate disguise or performance—a simple ruse was enough. To these guards, a carriage full of people was nothing but a moving larder. When you’re eating, do you mind if there’s suddenly an extra piece of meat in your bowl?

Shen Chang’an and Zheng Xin entered the carriage. It was quite spacious, easily seating a dozen people or more. As soon as he looked up, Shen Chang’an recognized a familiar face.

Wang Yue!

Wang Yue’s face lit up when he saw Shen Chang’an, and he was about to greet him, but Shen Chang’an shot him a fierce glare, silencing him at once.

Shen Chang’an breathed a sigh of relief. If the boy had blurted out “Priest Shen,” their entire charade would have been exposed, forcing Shen Chang’an to fight his way out and attempt a direct assault on the Resort.

Luckily, Wang Yue kept quiet. Shen Chang’an simply sat with Zheng Xin, meditating quietly.

Wang Yue, understanding this was no time for conversation, kept his head down as well.

After a while, the carriage stopped, and the passengers were called to disembark. Shen Chang’an lingered a moment, then moved to Wang Yue’s side.

“How did you get in here?” he asked in a low voice.

Wang Yue smiled. “I told Fang Siyin I wanted to see the mountain for myself. He didn’t dare refuse.”

Damn that corrupt official!

Suppressing a curse, Shen Chang’an asked, “Why did you come?”

“To kill demons and save lives!” Wang Yue replied with conviction.

Shen Chang’an sized him up and nodded. “Fine, stick with me and don’t wander off.”

“Priest, do you have a plan?” asked Wang Yue.

Shen Chang’an recalled the things Li Qingqing had told him that night and nodded reluctantly. “More or less.”

“Good. I’ll do as you say,” Wang Yue said with a grin.

Shen Chang’an sighed. With his past experiences, he doubted this round of monsters would be so easy to handle.

The first time, the yaksha nearly killed him. The second time, he’d only won by exploiting the terrain and the ghost’s lack of intelligence.

This time, though, Shen Chang’an felt certain that his opponent would be the most formidable yet.

This one was cunning, and clearly not lacking in intelligence.

The creature had turned Fang Siyin into a puppet, secretly expanding Fang City and plotting with great ambition. This was no mindless beast to be taken lightly.

As soon as they entered the Resort, Shen Chang’an became extremely cautious.

He secretly took out the Dragon Jade Amulet and dabbed it under his nose. His expression changed instantly.

“Ugh!”

A mouthful of foul bile spewed from his lips; Shen Chang’an’s stomach churned violently, and he nearly vomited up yesterday’s dinner.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you?” The guard he’d held hostage earlier frowned and doubled back, seeing Shen Chang’an retching.

“You ask me? Was there something wrong with that cake you gave me? Ugh!” Shen Chang’an retched again, his face deathly pale.

Seeing this, the man’s mouth twitched. He’d eaten those cakes himself and never felt sick—oh, right, he never got sick from filthy food. Well, never mind.

He lost interest and said, “Clean yourself up and get inside. We need to assign you beds.”

Shen Chang’an nodded, rubbed his nose, and winced at the pain. Damn it—this place was a nest of rats. No, not just rats; snakes, bugs, vermin of all kinds—every foul thing gathered here, the stench enough to kill a man.

Just that one whiff nearly made him vomit his entrails. Thankfully, he shut the Dragon Jade Amulet just in time, or the consequences would have been dire.

Though he felt better, there was no way he could use the amulet again. The smell alone was unbearable, and even if he could endure it, everything here reeked the same—there was no way to pick out the monster he was searching for.

When he had finally finished vomiting, Shen Chang’an followed the others into the Resort.

As soon as they entered, startled gasps rose all around.

This little mountain retreat was decorated in dazzling splendor—everywhere gold and jade gleamed, dragons and phoenixes were carved on every surface, ethereal towers and pavilions rose on all sides. Such opulence would amaze even a seasoned noble like Wang Yue, let alone these country folk.

Only Shen Chang’an, after a glance at the place, found his expression growing subtly strange.

Was this really just a mountain retreat?