Forbidden Great Emperor | Xianxia, System, Fusion

Chapter 4 — The Sound That Shook the Outpost

"Three men saw it with their own eyes!"

Old Qi slammed his wooden cup onto the tavern table.

The noise drew several glances from nearby customers. A pair of hunters stopped arguing over the price of a wolf pelt, while a merchant's servant leaned closer to hear what the old man had to say.

Old Qi lowered his voice, though the excitement in it remained.

"I'm telling you, something happened in Ghost Mist Ridge. Something that ordinary people shouldn't go looking for."

A young hunter scoffed.

"You're telling the same story again, Old Qi. Last time, it was a mountain spirit. Before that, you claimed a white fox could speak."

"This is different."

"Of course it is."

A few men laughed.

Old Qi's weathered face reddened. He pointed a crooked finger at the young hunter.

"You weren't there. You didn't see what happened to the mule."

"What happened to it?"

"It fell."

The old hunter paused for effect.

"Right onto its knees. Wouldn't move. Wouldn't even raise its head."

A merchant sitting near the window frowned.

"Because it heard a beast?"

"No beast. No roar. No footsteps. Just a sound."

Old Qi spread his hands.

"A bell."

The tavern fell quieter.

"A bell?" someone repeated.

"That's what I said. A deep bronze toll coming from somewhere inside the ridge. It rolled through the trees, and the mule collapsed as though the heavens themselves had pressed it into the dirt."

The young hunter laughed again, though less confidently.

"You expect us to believe a bell frightened a mule?"

Old Qi glared at him.

"Then go and listen for yourself."

A few customers exchanged glances.

Ghost Mist Ridge was not a place people visited for entertainment. Hunters entered its lower slopes when they needed meat, herbs, or animal parts. Those who ventured too far into the mist often returned with injuries—or did not return at all.

A strange sound from the mountain was enough to attract attention.

But it was not enough to convince everyone.

"Perhaps an old ruin collapsed," a merchant suggested. "There are abandoned structures throughout the ridge."

"Ruins don't make bells ring."

"Neither do stories."

Another round of laughter followed.

Old Qi cursed under his breath and reached for his cup.

At that moment, the tavern door opened.

A young man entered carrying a travel-worn pack. His clothes were dusty from the road, and a saber hung at his waist. He paused briefly to let his eyes adjust to the dim interior before walking toward an empty table near the wall.

The conversation continued around him.

He ordered a simple meal and a cup of water.

Then he sat quietly.

Lu Chen had returned from Ghost Mist Ridge less than an hour earlier.

He had heard the old hunter's voice before entering the tavern. The mention of a bronze bell had caught his attention, but he had shown no reaction.

He knew better than to let a passing expression reveal something valuable.

Old Qi's story was already spreading.

That was not necessarily a problem. People often turned ordinary events into extraordinary tales, especially when they lacked a proper explanation. A fallen mule could become a creature struck by heavenly pressure. A distant resonance could become the toll of an ancient bell.

Still, the story was worth listening to.

"Old Qi," the tavern keeper called, "you said three men witnessed it. Where are they?"

"One of them is my nephew. He's been sick since that night."

"Convenient."

The old hunter ignored the remark.

"The others were passing near the western trail. They heard it from farther down the ridge."

"Then how do you know it was a bell?"

Old Qi opened his mouth.

Before he could answer, another voice interrupted.

"Because people have been asking about something similar."

A courier entered the tavern, brushing dust from his sleeves. His clothes bore the insignia of a local trading caravan, and a narrow leather case hung across his chest.

He walked to the counter and requested water.

The tavern keeper recognized him.

"Back from the ridge?"

"From the northern trail."

"Anything interesting?"

The courier drank before answering.

"Two scouts found a dead man in an old ruin."

The room grew quieter.

Old Qi turned toward him.

"A dead man?"

"An armed wanderer. No one knows his name yet."

"How did he die?"

The courier frowned.

"That's the strange part. No blood. No sword wounds. No visible injuries that could explain it."

A hunter at the next table leaned forward.

"Poison?"

"Possibly. But the men who found him said his body showed no obvious signs of poisoning either."

"Then what killed him?"

The courier shrugged.

"They don't know."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Then questions began coming from every direction.

"Was he a cultivator?"

"Did he have any belongings?"

"Which ruin?"

"Was there a beast nearby?"

The courier raised one hand.

"I wasn't there. I only heard the report from the scouts. They found the body, checked the area, and brought word back. That's all."

Old Qi looked toward the young hunter who had mocked him.

"Still think it was a beast?"

The young man said nothing.

The courier continued.

"Whatever happened, the scouts didn't want to remain there. They said the ruin felt wrong."

"Wrong how?"

"Too quiet."

He set his empty cup down.

"Like the place had been abandoned by the living."

The tavern keeper frowned.

"Then why were they there?"

"Looking for medicinal herbs. They found something else instead."

The courier collected his things and left.

The tavern's atmosphere had changed.

The story of the bronze bell and the discovery of a dead wanderer had begun to merge in the minds of those listening. No one could prove they were connected, but the possibility was enough to make people uneasy.

Old Qi leaned back.

"I told you."

No one laughed this time.

At the table near the wall, Lu Chen finished his meal.

He placed the empty bowl aside and drank the last of his water.

The dead wanderer had been found.

That was expected. He had not attempted to hide the corpse after killing the man in the chamber. Someone would eventually discover it.

The scouts had found no visible wounds because the bell's attack had struck the soul.

Ordinary people would struggle to understand such a death.

Lu Chen did not linger.

He paid for his meal and left the tavern.

Behind him, Old Qi had already begun telling the story again.

This time, more people listened.

The afternoon sun hung above Azure Stone Town.

The streets were crowded with merchants returning from the surrounding villages, hunters carrying bundles of hides, and laborers transporting timber toward the eastern workshops.

The town had not changed much during Lu Chen's absence.

The same narrow streets. The same weathered storefronts. The same watchmen standing near the market entrance.

Yet Lu Chen noticed more than he had before.

He could hear conversations from farther away, distinguish the movements of people approaching behind him, and sense the faint circulation of Qi in his newly opened meridians.

His cultivation had changed.

The town had not.

He adjusted the pack on his shoulder and headed toward the supply market.

He needed food, medicinal herbs, and ointment for the abrasions left by his transformation. He also wanted a few ordinary necessities before settling back into his courtyard.

A vendor was arranging dried meat outside a narrow shop.

"Fresh stock," the man called. "Mountain hare, smoked boar, and dried river fish!"

Lu Chen stopped.

"How much for the smoked boar?"

The vendor quoted a price.

Lu Chen examined the meat, rejected the first bundle, and selected another with less discoloration.

He purchased enough to last several days.

At the next stall, he bought a small packet of medicinal herbs and a jar of ointment. The shopkeeper tried to persuade him to buy a more expensive preparation, claiming it could heal internal injuries and restore depleted Qi.

Lu Chen declined.

He had no reason to spend money on exaggerated promises.

He continued through the market, purchasing cooking oil, salt, and a replacement water flask.

By the time he finished, four physical Spirit Crystals had left his pouch.

He counted what remained.

Three.

He placed them back inside.

His resources were still limited, but he had the bear materials to sell. If the merchant offered a reasonable price, he would have enough to replenish his supplies and retain something for future cultivation.

He headed toward Gu's Commercial Firm.

A bronze plaque hung above the entrance of Gu's Commercial Firm.

Its polished surface reflected the afternoon light, and two attendants stood beside the doorway. Unlike the smaller shops along the market street, the firm occupied a broad building with a courtyard behind it.

Merchants entered carrying bundles of goods. Carriers left with sealed packages, and clerks moved between the front hall and the storage rooms.

The business was not the largest in the region, but in Azure Stone Town, few traders could rival Gu Yan's influence.

Lu Chen entered.

One of the attendants recognized him.

"Young master Lu?"

Lu Chen nodded.

"I have goods to sell."

The attendant glanced at the pack on his shoulder.

"What kind?"

"Spirit beast materials."

"Please wait. I'll inform the steward."

He led Lu Chen to a side hall and offered him a seat.

The room was furnished simply but neatly. A wooden table stood near the window, and several shelves held ledgers and trade records. The smell of ink and dried medicinal herbs lingered in the air.

Lu Chen placed his pack beside the chair.

A short while later, a clerk entered.

"Please show me the goods."

Lu Chen opened the pack.

The clerk's expression changed when he saw the Iron-Claw Bear hide.

He crouched and examined its thickness, then inspected the claws and the container holding the remaining blood essence.

"An Iron-Claw Bear?"

"Yes."

"Where did you find it?"

"Ghost Mist Ridge."

The clerk looked up.

"Alive?"

"Dead when I found it."

The man nodded slowly and resumed his inspection.

He checked the hide for cuts, pressed the surface of the claws, and examined the blood essence. His movements were practiced, and he did not waste time praising the goods before evaluating them.

After several minutes, he stood.

"I'll ask the steward to assess the price."

Lu Chen nodded.

The clerk gathered the materials and left.

While waiting, Lu Chen listened to the activity beyond the room.

A merchant was arguing about the quality of a medicinal herb shipment. Somewhere in the courtyard, a carrier complained about a broken cart axle. A clerk called for a missing ledger.

The firm was busy.

It was also one of the few places in town where information traveled almost as quickly as goods.

Lu Chen had chosen the location for that reason.

He needed to know what was happening beyond the walls of his courtyard.

The clerk returned with an older man.

Gu Yan entered without haste.

He was nearing a hundred years of age, yet his posture remained straight. His hair had turned almost entirely white, and the lines across his face showed the passage of many years. His eyes, however, remained clear and alert.

He wore a dark green robe embroidered with the firm's insignia.

"Young Lu," he greeted.

Lu Chen stood.

"Steward Gu."

Gu Yan glanced at the bear materials.

"An Iron-Claw Bear. Not a bad harvest."

"It was already dead when I found it."

"Fortunate."

Gu Yan picked up one of the claws and examined its edge.

"These are in good condition. The hide is also worth something. The blood essence has lost a little vitality, but it remains useful."

He set the claw down.

"My clerk offered ten low-grade Spirit Crystals."

Lu Chen said nothing.

Gu Yan looked at him.

"Not enough?"

"The hide is intact. The claws are usable, and the blood essence still retains its value."

"True."

Gu Yan smiled faintly.

"You know the market better than some young hunters."

"I know what I brought."

The old merchant chuckled.

"Then let us settle at twelve."

Lu Chen nodded.

"Agreed."

Gu Yan turned to the clerk.

"Prepare the payment."

The clerk collected the goods and left.

While they waited, Gu Yan gestured toward the chair.

"Sit. There is something I should tell you."

Lu Chen sat.

The old merchant folded his hands over the table.

"Your name has been mentioned several times in recent days."

"Because of the bear?"

"Not entirely."

Gu Yan studied him.

"People are talking about Ghost Mist Ridge. A strange sound, a dead wanderer, and rumors of an ancient bell."

Lu Chen remained expressionless.

"I heard some of it at the tavern."

"Then you know how quickly a story grows once merchants begin repeating it."

Gu Yan leaned back.

"Two scouts discovered the dead wanderer in an old ruin. They reported that the body showed no visible wounds. Some say it was poison. Others believe a spirit beast attacked him."

"Do you believe either explanation?"

"I believe the scouts found a dead man."

Gu Yan's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Everything else is speculation."

Lu Chen appreciated the answer.

The old merchant had survived for decades by understanding the difference between information and rumor.

"Still," Gu Yan continued, "people will be cautious about the ridge for a while. Hunters may avoid the western paths, and traders could raise their prices if the supply of beast materials becomes uncertain."

"That may benefit those who already have stock."

"Exactly."

Gu Yan smiled.

"Fear is expensive. Sometimes more expensive than the danger itself."

A clerk returned with a small wooden tray.

Twelve low-grade Spirit Crystals rested upon it.

Lu Chen counted them before putting them away.

The old merchant noticed.

"Careful with your money."

"Money disappears quickly when you stop counting it."

Gu Yan laughed.

"That is a lesson many wealthy young masters never learn."

The clerk withdrew.

For a moment, the two men sat in silence.

Then Gu Yan's expression became more serious.

"There is another matter."

Lu Chen looked at him.

"Iron Hand Gao has returned."

The name meant little to an outsider.

To Lu Chen, it was immediately relevant.

Gu Yan continued.

"He returned from the regional city several days ago. He brought eight men with him, all members of the Black Iron Guards."

"Where is he now?"

"Back at his residence, though his people have been moving through the town."

Gu Yan paused.

"He is not like Sun Tie. Gao has cultivated for many years and has reached the Early Stage of Meridian Opening."

Lu Chen listened without interruption.

The old merchant watched his face.

"Sun Tie was his cousin. I doubt Gao will ignore what happened."

"Has he said anything?"

"Not directly. But his men have been asking questions."

Gu Yan's voice lowered.

"They have visited several shops and questioned people who knew Sun Tie. Someone has also been watching the northern street."

Lu Chen understood.

Gao was gathering information before acting.

That was more troublesome than a reckless attack, but not unexpected.

"How many men did he bring?"

"Eight."

"All cultivators?"

"Body Forging cultivators, according to what I have heard. Gao himself is the only one who has opened his meridians."

Lu Chen considered the information.

Gao was at the same major realm as him, though his experience and cultivation might be greater. The eight men would be weaker individually, but numbers could still complicate a fight.

He had already learned that the Chaos Great Bell could suppress those below his realm.

The question was how much he could rely on it.

Gu Yan leaned forward.

"Young Lu, I would advise you to leave town for a while."

Lu Chen looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because Gao is not a man who enjoys losing face. If he decides to avenge his cousin, he will not care whether the matter began with a protection f*e."

The old merchant's expression was sincere.

He had no reason to wish Lu Chen harm. The young cultivator had brought him valuable goods and had shown that he could negotiate without becoming unreasonable.

But Gu Yan also understood the danger of confronting the Black Iron Guards.

"I appreciate the warning," Lu Chen said.

Gu Yan nodded.

"Then you will leave?"

"Not immediately."

The old merchant frowned.

"Young Lu—"

"I will be in my courtyard tomorrow afternoon."

Gu Yan stopped.

He studied Lu Chen carefully, searching for signs of bravado or reckless confidence.

There were none.

The young man spoke as though he had already considered the matter and made his decision.

"Tomorrow?" Gu Yan asked.

"Yes."

"Then you should know that Gao may come looking for you."

"I know."

Gu Yan remained silent.

He had dealt with cultivators for most of his life. Some were arrogant, others cautious, and a few were so confident in their strength that they mistook every warning for an insult.

Lu Chen did not resemble the last kind.

There was something measured in his manner.

He did not boast about his cultivation. He did not threaten Gao, nor did he ask Gu Yan to intervene.

He simply stated where he would be.

The old merchant finally sighed.

"Very well. I won't try to persuade you again."

He turned toward the doorway.

"However, I would prefer not to hear that you were killed because you refused a sensible warning."

Lu Chen stood.

"Then I will try not to disappoint you."

Gu Yan gave a quiet laugh.

"That is a strange promise."

"It is the only one I can make."

Lu Chen left Gu's Commercial Firm shortly before evening.

The street outside was beginning to change.

Shopkeepers were drawing their shutters closed, merchants were counting the day's earnings, and the smell of cooked food drifted from the nearby stalls.

He walked toward his courtyard without hurrying.

The pouch at his waist now contained fifteen physical Spirit Crystals: the three he had retained earlier, plus the twelve received from selling the bear materials.

He had spent four on supplies and replenished his resources through the sale.

For the moment, his finances were no longer as desperate as they had been when he left town.

But the matter with Gao remained.

Lu Chen had no intention of running merely because someone stronger had decided to seek revenge.

He had entered this world with little more than a worn saber and an incomplete cultivation method. He had survived by observing, adapting, and taking opportunities when they appeared.

Now he possessed six opened meridians, the Primordial Chaos Scripture's memory thread, and an ancient bell whose power he had only begun to understand.

Gao was a threat.

But he was not an insurmountable one.

Lu Chen reached his courtyard and opened the gate.

Inside, everything remained as he had left it.

He placed his pack on the table, stored the medicinal supplies, and checked the remaining food. Then he sat beneath the courtyard's old tree and allowed his Qi to circulate.

Tomorrow would bring trouble.

He would not waste the evening worrying about it.

At Gu's Commercial Firm, Gu Yan stood beside the window overlooking the street.

The last of the day's customers had departed, and the courtyard had grown quiet.

A young attendant approached.

"Steward, do you need anything?"

Gu Yan looked toward him.

"Send someone to watch the courtyard on the northern street."

The attendant hesitated.

"Young Lu's residence?"

"Yes."

"Should we inform the town guards?"

Gu Yan shook his head.

"No. I only want to know who comes and goes. Do not interfere."

The attendant bowed.

"Understood."

He turned to leave.

"Wait."

Gu Yan's voice stopped him.

"If Gao's men approach the residence, report it immediately."

"Yes, Steward."

The attendant hurried away.

Gu Yan remained beside the window.

He had seen many young cultivators rise and fall. Some were destroyed by stronger opponents, others by their own arrogance. A rare few possessed the composure to survive beyond their current realm.

He wondered which kind Lu Chen would become.

Outside, the final light of day disappeared behind the rooftops.

In another part of Azure Stone Town, Iron Hand Gao was preparing to settle an old debt.

And tomorrow, the two men would finally meet.