...
"Are we still returning to the King of Medicine Valley?"
In the teahouse, the man with a feminine face turned to look at the old man behind him. "Look, someone in Rivernorth killed the Eerie King. Is there really such a fearful force in Rivernorth?"
"No, we're not. Follow the initial plan. We leave for Rivernorth tomorrow."
The old man shook his head. "The early arrival of the rainy season is a crisis for ordinary folks, but for forces with potential, it is also an opportunity. The Valley Lord has made it the main task for this trip to befriend this rising force."
"And to establish a supply channel for pills with them."
"One capable of slaying an Eerie King must be a large force of at least a thousand people, with high demands for pills. We must secure this deal before the Alchemy Sect."
"Even if we fail to establish a partnership, we must still befriend them."
"And tomorrow morning, our Valley will urgently send lavish gifts for us to offer during the visit."
"Truly formidable."
The young man sighed softly. "There aren't many forces in Riversouth capable of handling an Eerie King, yet one has popped up in Rivernorth. It feels like Rivernorth is about to rise."
...
Soon—
Dawn broke.
Many people had had a sleepless night. Everyone knew that a force at Nameless Mountain had killed the Eerie King, but no one knew exactly what force it was.
The moment they set foot on the land of Rivernorth, the blue-clad man, from a horse carriage, inspected the Rivernorth Eerie-hide map in his hand. His gaze instinctively wandered over the Rivernorth Wasteland, but all the Eerie Fires there had gone out.
Not a single Eerie Fire remained.
The Rivernorth Chen Clan's Station 37 was no exception.
Only one Eerie Fire was glowing at Nameless Mountain.
He sighed softly and shook his head, but said nothing more. The early arrival of the rainy season was the doom for all the wasteland stations. It seemed that the young man's luck was not very good—at least far short of his. He should cherish his chance even more and kill all those who deserve it.
But...
He put on a slight frown. He did not remember there was an Eerie Fire at Nameless Mountain when he crossed the Rivernorth wasteland before the rainy season.
After a long journey, they arrived at Rivernorth City just before nightfall.
The man glanced at the bustling crowd in the city, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Rivernorth City had actually survived the rainy season?
The rainy season had ended.
Representatives from various forces had descended on Rivernorth City, all with a shared plan to leave tomorrow morning for Nameless Mountain to visit that obscure force.
...
The next day, as soon as dawn broke, the Gongyang caravan, with the banner held high, left Rivernorth City, galloped across the Wasteland, and soon arrived at Nameless Mountain.
Unfamiliar with the terrain, they circled the mountain until spotting a canyon by the seaside.
At the canyon entrance, a banner with the character 'Fan' had been planted and 'Fan Sect' carved into the mountain.
"Fan Sect..."
The blue-clad man stood at the canyon entrance, looking into the pencil-straight canyon ahead, his expression growing serious. In the entire Rivernorth Wasteland, few were more powerful than him. He could faintly smell the despair in the air from the Eerie King's final moments.
The Eerie King had died here.
The canyon walls were riddled with brownish-green pits, the sign of a fierce strike of a Flesh Worm Ghost Eerie Tide.
He could gather how many crises this place had endured during the rainy season.
Faintly, he could make out people moving about below the canyon cliff, and a slight commotion carried over.
"Place it here. Let's set up a basic marketplace first, then I'll go out to solicit customers. Yes, right here. Lead the horse here."
"Young Master, a caravan has arrived outside the canyon."
"Eh? Has someone come before I even start promoting? Let's go take a look."
...
The next moment, the blue-attired man saw four people climb up Skeleton Horses and dart over.
Soon, a young man jumped off a Skeleton Horse and spoke to him in surprise,
"Sir?"
"Didn't you say you'd pass by in three months? Why are you here after just one? Last time, you said you'd lend me a true helping hand in three months. Did you refer to these people behind you..."
"This is a gift too generous, isn't it?"
"..."
From the horse carriage, the blue-clad man studied the young lad before his eyes, and suddenly laughed. He had not expected this fellow to survive the rainy season. It seemed he had good luck, joining the force that rose during the rainy season.
Just then, a young girl poked her head out of the carriage and exclaimed in surprise, "Old Demon, is this your friend?"
"We've met once."
The blue-attired man chuckled before hopping down. "I didn't expect you to survive the rainy season. On this trip, I represent the Riversouth Gongyang Clan. Please report back that the Gongyang Clan requests an audience."
"Um... Cough."
Chen Fan stood in place, clearing his throat with a light cough.
Crippled Monkey stepped forward, his expression serious, and spoke huskily. "This is the territory of the Fan Sect. The Young Master is the Sect Leader, the only authority inside the sect."
"..."
The blue-attired man froze where he was. After a long while, he forced an awkward smile, hastily wiped his hands on his clothes, took a deep breath, made a fist and palm salute alongside a bow, and said solemnly,
"It seems I failed to recognize greatness."
"Greetings, Sect Leader of the Fan Sect."
"Last night, I observed the celestial phenomenon and learned that the Fan Sect had slain an Eerie King, safeguarding the people of Rivernorth. Today, I have come specifically to pay my respects. The carriage behind carries some humble gifts as a token of admiration."
"Oh, there is no need to be so ceremonial."
With a wide beam and a wave of the hand, Chen Fan signaled Zhou Mo and the others to receive the gifts before leading the way. "Please, come in."
The blue-robed man hesitated, some words rising to his lips but eventually gone. He walked side by side with Chen Fan, half a step behind. Actually, he was dying to ask a question---before the rainy season, you were a wasteland station master, exiled by your family.
After the rainy season, you had taken the position of Sect Leader at the Fan Sect, capable of killing an Eerie King?
Recalling the words he had spoken before, he now felt so mortified that he wanted to find a hole to crawl into. If he had known this fellow would rise so swiftly, he would not have boasted so much back then.
Chen Fan chatted amiably about trivial matters while observing the Skeleton Horses in the Gongyang caravan. These people also had Skeleton Horses, though he did not know how much they had paid for them.