Chapter Fifty: The Legend of the Shaman

"I’m not asking you to go right now, only that if you have the ability someday, you can consider it. If you don’t, then let it be. In this life, there’s no need to force anything—everyone has their own fate, and some things cannot be forced."

Sensing what was on Hu San’s mind, Black Bear continued, "You must be wondering how I’ve managed to survive under the assault of the Ox-Hair Needles. It's because I’ve cultivated an internal energy technique called the Blazing Fire Art. In my family's ancestral chamber back home, there’s a set of Bear Fist techniques handed down by my forebears. The so-called Blazing Fire Art is merely the surface of Bear Fist."

"Unfortunately, my descendants have all been unworthy, none able to fathom the true mysteries of Bear Fist. If you ever make it there, I’ll offer you Bear Fist as your reward."

"Don’t underestimate Bear Fist. It’s said that it touches upon the legendary Shamans—beings who, like the cultivators, possess extraordinary powers and can achieve immortality."

"Shamans? What are Shamans and cultivators? Are they just another kind of martial artist? Have you ever met one?"

Because of the Black Sword, Hu San was particularly interested in this.

"They’re all figures of legend—how could a fallen royal like me have ever met one? But it’s said there are several cultivators serving in the royal family of Wuzang Kingdom, their status nearly equal to the king. Enough of that, though—they’re far beyond our reach. Compared to them, even the mightiest martial artist is like a newborn child just learning to walk."

"Any more questions? I don’t have much time left."

Black Bear’s lips began to trickle with dark, clotted blood. His expression grew wan, his breaths shallow and fading.

"One last question," Hu San said, blinking and propping his chin with a hand. "This has puzzled me for a long time: you and Chen Zhou are both experts from outside kingdoms—so why would you be willing to become bandits here? Was it just for these few medicinal herbs? I find that hard to believe."

"There are countless bandits in the Qilian Mountains. In theory, there shouldn’t be any unclaimed territory, yet in reality, the mountains are filled with vacant land. It’s as if the powerful bandits disappear every so often. Even the great mountain strongholds with centuries of history only control a tiny corner of the range."

"Why is that?"

Black Bear let out a low chuckle. "Good question—very perceptive. To answer that, you have to understand the Monster Forest and the Qilian Mountains. The Qilian Mountains are vast and boundless, a barrier separating the human world from the Monster Forest. Within, there are treasures of nature and fierce beasts at every turn. Anyone living here must constantly battle heaven and earth just to survive."

"Those who grow up here become the elite warriors every kingdom desires."

"As the saying goes, 'shed more tears in peacetime, bleed less in war.' The Qilian Mountains face an invasion from the Monster Forest every year, making it the ideal training ground in outsiders’ eyes."

"Why do you think these bandit strongholds exist at all?"

Without waiting for Hu San’s reply, Black Bear continued, "They exist solely for training soldiers. Every few years, as summer turns to autumn, each kingdom sends its armies into the Qilian Mountains to fight within their spheres of influence, honing their troops."

"The lucky bandits who survive are then drafted into the armies and brought back to their kingdoms as elite soldiers. It’s the same logic as the mysterious beings in the Monster Forest launching beast tides every winter."

"The only difference among the kingdoms is how deep into the mountains they dare venture, and the intensity of their trials. The powerful kingdoms go deep, while the weak stay near the edges."

"After the trials, each kingdom leaves only the skeleton of the bandit strongholds they supported."

"Perhaps you’ve already guessed—my Black Bear Stronghold is backed by Wuzang Kingdom, and Wolfheart Stronghold by Da Wan Kingdom. Our sole purpose is to facilitate military training for those two kingdoms and supply them with fresh recruits."

"Otherwise, where do you think all the weapons and supplies in these remote strongholds come from? They're provided by the kingdoms. One of the main purposes of the trade caravans is to deliver supplies."

Hu San was stunned—he had to admit, Black Bear’s words shattered his previous beliefs.

He couldn’t help but argue, "But the Qilian Mountains are so vast. Isn’t it said that even from our borderlands to Da Wan Kingdom would take more than half a year? How could armies possibly get through?"

"You know a fair bit, but not enough. What you’re describing only applies to small trade caravans, and only when the bandits are fighting among themselves."

"When war breaks out, the whole Qilian Mountains are thrown into chaos. No stronghold dares block an army—marching speed then exceeds a hundred miles a day."

"Especially those elite units heading deep into the mountains for trials—anyone who dares challenge their authority is courting death. That’s why, before every great war, the mountains are at their most peaceful and safest for travel."

Black Bear shook his head, giving Hu San an odd glance. It seemed he’d exhausted the last of his strength. With a sigh, he said, "This year happens to be a year of trials. It won’t be long before it all begins."

"Take care of yourself. Da Wan and Wuzang aren’t especially powerful kingdoms—soon these hills will become a battleground for armies. Wolf Fang Stronghold will be the prime target for other kingdoms’ trials. I hope you survive."

With that, Black Bear laboriously took out a jet-black token engraved with a great bear, tossed it beside him, and said, "This is my family’s keepsake. Take it to Dragon Town in Sky Bear City, Wuzang Kingdom, and ask for the Wu Family Estate. Tell them you’re a friend of mine—the secret chamber is beneath the old home."

He didn’t wait for Hu San’s reply. Instead, he lay back on the ground, breathed a long sigh, as if finally unburdened, and his breathing gradually faded until he was dead.

"Bear Fist, Shamans, cultivators, kingdom trials—what a tangled mess," Hu San muttered, his face shifting through several expressions before he finally sighed helplessly. After mumbling a few words, he picked up Black Bear’s ghost-headed saber, pulled his own long blade from the back of the Second Chief, and stabbed the ghost-headed saber into the body.

He staged the scene to look as if the two had killed each other, then picked up the token and left quickly.

He knew that the missing iron fan from the Second Chief was a huge flaw, and Black Bear’s saber sticking out of the man’s back was another. But there was nothing he could do about it.

After all, the Ox-Hair Needles hidden in the iron fan were a deadly weapon—Hu San couldn’t bear to part with it. As for the ghost-headed saber, there was nothing to be done.

Still, he wasn’t too worried. If he guessed right, Chi Zhen would soon come to meet Black Bear and would tidy up the scene to report to the Chief. None of that would have anything to do with him.

Sure enough, three days later, early in the morning, Lin Hu burst into his room, face flushed with excitement, and whispered, "Third Brother, something major happened today. A bandit captain was hunting outside and accidentally wandered into a perilous peak. Guess what he found?"

"What? A monster?" Hu San feigned ignorance, looking curious.

"Monsters are nothing, Third Brother! He found the body of Second Chief Chen Zhou, and not just him—he found the corpse of Black Bear, the chief of Black Bear Stronghold, who’d escaped earlier!"

"I heard they died horribly, their bodies gnawed clean by wild beasts. Only two long sabers remained at the scene. According to the Third Chief, who arrived later, the two died in fierce combat, and any other traces were already unrecognizable due to the passage of time."

Lin Hu was flushed with excitement. To him, the Second Chief had always been a mountain on his shoulders—after all, they’d killed the man’s son.

Now, with this news, he could finally breathe easy.

"That’s wonderful news. Go tell the brothers—we’ll have a feast today, a little celebration. But keep it quiet," Hu San ordered. Inwardly, he thought, "That Chi Zhen is quite the talent—thorough indeed. He even had wild beasts clean up the bodies, and surely removed the Ox-Hair Needles beforehand. Now there’s truly no evidence left."

For Hu San, the matter was settled. He could relax and cultivate in peace, at least for now. But not everyone could rest so easily.

In the main hall of Wolfheart Stronghold, the mysterious Chief and the Third Chief, Mo Ke, sat across from each other. On the table lay Black Bear’s ghost-headed saber and a fine ordinary long saber.

Neither spoke, each lost in thought.

At last, Mo Ke broke the silence. "Big Brother, do you think it was Black Bear who killed the Second Chief? Black Bear was formidable, but when I fought him, he didn’t seem capable of defeating the Second Chief."

"That’s hard to say," the Chief replied, his tone flat and emotionless, his voice steady and unchanging. "I’ve never seen Black Bear fight, so I can’t judge his strength."

"But I know Chen Zhou’s skill. An ordinary fourth-rank martial artist is no match for him, and the Chen family wields considerable influence in Da Wan Kingdom. He would never be caught off-guard. If you told me he killed Black Bear, I’d believe it. The other way around—that’s truly puzzling."

"So you think a third party was involved?" Mo Ke pressed his lips together.

"Definitely. The iron fan Chen Zhou always carried isn’t among these weapons. Do you think he’d fight with only an ordinary saber?" The Chief nodded, then asked, a bit puzzled, "Why would Chen Zhou cross paths with Black Bear? That spot isn’t near any main road—he must have been tracking something."

"Well, it’s said that after Second Chief returned from Wolf Fang Stronghold, he summoned Hu San, but Hu San was out training. After that, the Second Chief vanished."

Mo Ke hesitated, biting his lip. "Big Brother, do you think this might have something to do with Hu San?"

"Hu San? Did he have a grudge with Chen Zhou?" The Chief was clearly unaware.