Chapter 11: The Demonic Ridge at Jingyang Pass (Please Add to Favorites)

Reading the side quest’s description, Wang Liang was momentarily dazed. Then, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes as he strode toward the merchant, seized him with one hand, and lifted him off the ground. Despite his nearly two-hundred-pound bulk, the merchant was easily hoisted into the air by Wang Liang, who gripped his throat tightly, cutting off his breath.

“Speak. What’s going on here?”

Watching the merchant’s fat face turn crimson, Wang Liang finally loosened his grip, letting the man crash to the ground.

The merchant shouted and was just about to lunge at Wang Liang when a cold, gleaming saber was suddenly pressed against his neck.

Holding the Saber of Life and Death against the merchant’s throat, Wang Liang said coldly, “You can talk now.”

The murderous aura from the saber made the merchant wet himself on the spot. He cried out, “Don’t kill me! My brother-in-law is the county magistrate—please, don’t kill me!”

Faced with Wang Liang’s deadly gaze, the merchant finally spilled everything.

It turned out that around five years ago, a vicious tiger appeared on Jingyang Ridge. The beast was so powerful that within a single year, it had killed nearly a hundred hunters and even descended upon villages at the foot of the mountain.

When the nearby Yanggu County learned of this, they swiftly dispatched troops into the mountains to slay the tiger. Unexpectedly, the tiger resisted fiercely. After a bloody battle, it attained demonic power, drove away the mountain god, and claimed Jingyang Ridge as its own domain, proclaiming itself the Lord of Jingyang Mountain.

Since then, the ferocious tiger became a demon, and Jingyang Ridge turned into a Demon Ridge. The road leading there was nearly abandoned.

Eventually, a celestial master and local troops came to suppress the demon tiger, preventing it from wreaking havoc in Yanggu County. However, they reached an agreement with the tiger: only at noon each day could travelers pass through the Demon Ridge, and only by using a special method could they do so safely. At all other times, anyone on the road would be considered prey.

This special method concerned the gong that the servant had snatched away.

There were only three such gongs in total, each held by a different caravan.

These were called command gongs. Originally, they were used to clear the way for government officials, but after being refined by a master, the three command gongs allowed the caravans following behind to appear as if they were ghostly soldiers on the march.

As long as no one strayed from the group, even the demons lurking in the mountains would assume these were the dead passing by and wouldn’t see them as living humans.

Only in this way could they pass safely through Demon Ridge and Jingyang Ridge.

Because of his brother-in-law’s influence, the merchant had obtained one of these command gongs and had been taking this road from Jingyang Ridge to Yanggu County for the past few years. As only three caravans could travel safely, he had made a considerable profit.

But now that the gong had been stolen, they were outcasts—no longer under the protection of the group. For the moment, they were safe, but someone had just provoked the demon tiger. No one could predict when the beast might appear and slaughter them all.

At this point, the fat merchant broke down in tears. “I wasn’t even supposed to lead the caravan today. I just wanted to visit my sister. Why must life be so hard for me?”

“Get up. Is there anywhere else we can hide?”

Having heard the whole story, Wang Liang asked another question. He wasn’t confident he could defeat a demon, especially without knowing its strength.

“The only place left is the Mountain God Temple. It still holds traces of the mountain god’s presence, and my brother-in-law’s magistrate seal suppresses it. As long as we’re not attacked directly, we can stay there safely. If the Lord of Jingyang attacks, we can probably last three days at most.”

“The Mountain God Temple, is it?” Wang Liang glanced at the gathered commoners, then shook his head. “If there’s no other choice, we’ll have to go there. But I’d rather leave today.”

“Hero, there’s no other way. Without the command gong, we won’t survive ten miles on the mountain before the monsters find us. All we can do is wait for the next caravan tomorrow and leave with them.”

Hearing this, the other travelers nodded fervently. They all knew the power of the Lord of Jingyang and, though they risked their lives for profit, they were not eager to die. Now, they only wished for a safe place to hide and wait for tomorrow’s caravan.

But Wang Liang did not share their optimism. If that voice earlier truly belonged to the Lord of Jingyang, then the road was already cut off. There would be no caravan tomorrow, or for a long time after. In the end, they would only become the tiger’s reserve food.

“Throw away all the goods on the carts. We’ll take the carriages and chase after your servant. As long as we recover the command gong, we can leave the mountain.”

No sooner had Wang Liang spoken than everyone opposed him.

Abandoning their goods was unthinkable; these were their families’ livelihoods. To simply toss their wares aside and flee was the most unreasonable choice.

Thus, everyone stood together, surrounding Wang Liang as if to force him to change his mind.

Wang Liang glanced at them and sneered in disdain.

“If you’re unwilling, so be it. I’ll leave the mountain myself. As long as I follow this road, will I reach the end of Jingyang Ridge?”

The fat merchant’s eyes widened. “Hero, you’re not going to protect us?”

“I owe you nothing. Why should I protect you?” Wang Liang found the merchant’s logic utterly baffling. Where did he get the idea that Wang Liang was obligated to help him?

Only now did the merchant realize Wang Liang was not the self-sacrificing type. No matter how much he boasted about his brother-in-law being the county magistrate, Wang Liang showed no hint of envy.

Finally, the fat merchant said, “I have a precious treasure. If you’ll protect us on the way to the Mountain God Temple and stay with us until tomorrow’s caravan, I will give it to you.”

As soon as the merchant spoke, a notification chimed before Wang Liang’s eyes.

[Would you like to accept the temporary quest: Demon Ridge Mountain God Temple?]

[Quest Requirements: Protect the merchant Wang Yi and 33 commoners as they travel to the Mountain God Temple and guard them until noon the next day. For each survivor, the quest rating will increase by one point. If the merchant Wang Yi survives, additional rewards will be granted.]

This unforeseen development left Wang Liang speechless; he hadn’t expected such a benefit from the fat merchant.

At that moment, as if sensing Wang Liang’s hesitation, the merchant Wang Yi hurriedly added, “Hero, trust me—this is a true treasure. If you keep me safe through the night, it will be yours.”