Chapter 105: Is Firearms the Ceiling for Martial Arts?

The next day, Liao Yangsu fulfilled his promise and brought the remaining two bottles of wine to the elderly artist. With a look of satisfaction, he departed afterward. Unlike some modern individuals who might persistently cling on, trying to milk more benefits, Liao Yangsu was not greedy. Perhaps influenced by Tang Tianlu, Liao Yangsu’s actions now carried a sense of integrity, making him unwilling to engage in certain unethical practices. As such, he left content with this visit.

However, Liao Yangsu didn’t notice that as he parted from the elderly artist, an ordinary cicada perched atop a nearby tree suddenly took flight.

At Cuwei Mountain.

Tan Yibai sported a neat short haircut and dressed in attire typical of laborers from this era. With her naturally spirited appearance, she exuded a bold and energetic demeanor.

They were at the foothills of Cuwei Mountain’s main peak. In just over ten days, they had constructed a large area of temporary housing here, now firmly under their control.

The badges were predominantly scattered throughout various locations on Cuwei Mountain, with fewer found elsewhere. This was known to them; as this small world belonged to the Hermit Union, it seemed deliberate to confine the badge distribution within a limited area, likely to prevent disruption among unsuspecting civilians in other parts of the world.

Realizing this, Tan Yibai remained unperturbed.

Although still dispatching many individuals to explore and retrieve numerous books for understanding this world, the main force has indeed settled around Cuwei Mountain. This strategy minimized the impact of these modern arrivals on the broader environment.

So far, everything had progressed smoothly.

Tan Yibai’s approach was decisive and efficient, even more ruthless than some men’s dispositions. Upon arrival, she promptly asserted control over all non-official personnel.

Among them, some individuals like An Yueyu, who consistently enjoyed good fortune and gradually gained prominence, recognized the reality quickly. As their ambitions weren’t overly grand, they immediately became peripheral members of the official group.

Naturally, some individuals were unwilling to comply. In such cases, Tan Yibai had no qualms about expelling them from Cuwei Mountain’s vicinity. To ensure total control, she demanded all badges be handed over to her custody, with plans to distribute them uniformly upon returning to reality.

However, there were those who resisted and secretly searched for badges on their own. If they escaped detection by Tan Yibai, it was fine; but if caught, they faced temporary detention under the pretext of obstructing public order and harming national interests. No harm came to these individuals, as they were still provided with food and drink. There were also a few exceptions, like Liao Yangsu, who held badges himself. Despite Tan Yibai’s fiery temperament, she couldn’t easily take action against him and instead chose to turn a blind eye.

Rubbing her temples, Tan Yibai felt a headache coming on. She knew her methods might seem excessive, likely leading to criticism once back home, but it was unavoidable. Just like during the first spiritual tide, none of Xuanlan Star’s nations were adequately prepared, leaving them with no choice but to prioritize the safety of select individuals temporarily.

With a sigh, a cicada fluttered in, seemingly unafraid of humans, and landed directly near Tan Yibai’s hand.

“The tree cicada has returned,” she observed. “It appears that Tang Tianlu indeed provided additional information to Liao Yangsu.”

The name ‘tree cicada’ is also known as ‘zhi le,’ which Tan Yibai uses not merely for repetition but because these cicadas are specifically called ‘zhi le.’ It’s not just an alias; it denotes their actual species name.

In Tan Yibai’s hand was a type of ‘tree sap’. This sap was colorless and odorless, yet once gently applied to one’s body, its scent persisted despite washing - allowing tree cicadas to follow that person based on this distinctive aroma.

Naturally, such technology emerged after Hanming Country resumed research following the resurgence of profound spiritual energy. The origins of the tree cicada and the tree sap were closely guarded secrets, with even Tan Yibai unaware of their provenance. For various nations, amassing numerous peculiar items was common, and undoubtedly some had already been put into practical use.

Liao Yangsu had been marked with some of this tree sap, ensuring the constant presence of tree cicadas around him during recent times. Now, a tree cicada has returned early. Firstly, it indicates that nearly half a month has passed, as the scent of the tree sap gradually dissipates over time, taking approximately two weeks to fade completely. Secondly, something significant must have occurred near Liao Yangsu, prompting the tree cicada to report back ahead of schedule.

When initially released, the tree cicada’s abdomen felt hollow upon gentle pressure, indicating it was empty inside. However, now, upon touching its abdomen, it feels somewhat firm.

As Tan Yibai squeezed the tree cicada, it began to chirp loudly. With its calls, faint snippets of images emerged before Tan Yibai’s eyes.

He saw Liao Yangsu strolling through the streets, purchasing food from a local inn, and visiting an elderly man for a portrait… After about half a teacup time, the tree cicada’s cries gradually weakened, and its abdomen once again became hollow as it died.

Tan Yibai picked up the dead cicada and placed it in a box already containing seven or eight other deceased ones.

“Who is that elderly man?”

Tan Yibai had no knowledge of his background but guessed that this elder must hold some significant position in this world; otherwise, Liao Yangsu wouldn’t have specifically sought him out. Quickly, he summoned his men, instructing them to disguise themselves as ordinary locals and head to Eighteen-Li Town to find information.

By noon, Tan Yibai found himself relatively unoccupied. Overall, their journey had been quite smooth. The bandits within Cuwei Mountain posed initial challenges, but they lacked true experts. Combined with Tan Yibai’s swift consolidation of all the Chosen, their main force consisted of modern soldiers equipped with contemporary weaponry. Within just two or three days, they effectively cleared most of the bandits - impressive progress indeed!

The only trouble lay with certain peculiarities of Cuwei Mountain. Some animals exhibited exceptional intelligence, while other plants possessed remarkably vigorous life force, posing deadly threats invisibly and causing significant challenges in their quest for badges.

The nearby mountains now appeared barren, thanks to Tan Yibai’s efforts.

With animals elusive like ghosts and plants emitting unusual toxins and spores, he opted to systematically burn or cut down everything in response.

Their current encampment at the foot of the main peak was strategic due to its unique characteristics. The dense vegetation below formed a fortress-like barrier, resistant even to ordinary fire. Since most badges had been collected, experts accompanying them wished to study these plants, leading the main forces to establish camp here.

“Captain.”

As Tan Yibai pondered, a knock sounded at the door.

Shortly after, a man dressed in short attire typical of the era, sporting a close-cropped haircut, entered carrying lunch. His rigid demeanor immediately indicated military training. “Captain, it’s lunchtime.”

Indeed, Tan Yibai was feeling quite hungry. Midway through his meal, there was a sudden commotion as the soldier who had delivered the food returned, “Captain, someone has arrived.”

“Who?” Tan Yibai asked, taking a sip of water.

“A kindly-looking old man.”

Tan Yibai’s expression remained unchanged; appearances could be deceiving. He recalled seeing photos and videos of Gongsun Wulong before, where one might assume he was a warm and benevolent elder. Yet, despite his exceptional martial skills, Gongsun Wulong proved to be ruthlessly vicious. As for Gongsun Wulong himself, it remains uncertain whether he is dead or alive, trapped within the Deathly Silent Yellow Springs.

For another elderly person to dare approach now must mean they are no ordinary individual.

Upon their arrival, Tan Yibai’s forces had aggressively dealt with local bandits, leaving some dead, others fleeing, and even certain martial experts from nearby mountains avoiding confrontation altogether.

Rumors outside painted this group as more ferocious than the bandits themselves, reputed for killing without hesitation. Despite being close to the main road, locals from neighboring towns now preferred to take longer routes just to avoid this area.

“Let’s go see.” Tan Yibai stopped eating, setting down his wooden chopsticks and heading out immediately.

Upon stepping outside, Tan Yibai spotted an elderly man with a round face, his eyes squinted cheerfully. He appeared disheveled, with messy white hair tied back in a knot at the nape of his neck and two wine gourds in hand. The sight of him seemed familiar to Tan Yibai, and upon recalling, she immediately recognized him as the same old man Liao Yangsu had met yesterday.

“You must be the outsiders from beyond the heavens,” the elder said, recognizing Tan Yibai as the one in charge from just a glance.

“Are you aware of us? May I ask for your esteemed name, sir?”

“My parents passed away long ago, and I’ve forgotten my own name. However, Mr. Gu once recited a verse: ‘Drunk, I recline across imperial roads; Sword in hand, lying amidst the capital.’ There were more lines, but I can’t remember them all. If you need a title, call me Sword Gentleman. As for how I know about you, Mr. Gu was aware of your arrival on the very first day.”

Tan Yibai’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Initially, this mission seemed quite straightforward to her, but now it appeared that the real challenge was about to unfold. Yet deep down, Tan Yibai remained undaunted.

If they were facing those extraordinary events in the real world where conventional weaponry became ineffective, she might have been concerned. However, even at its pinnacle, Tan Yibai firmly believed that martial arts could not surpass firearms.

“Sword Gentleman, would you care to come inside and sit awhile? We do have some fine wines here, guaranteed not to disappoint.”

However, the Sword Gentleman shook his head with a smile. “Young lady, your temperament is too stubborn and lacks sincerity, unlike that lad who visited me yesterday. He possessed a noble and awe-inspiring aura, which you do not. I shall not enter.”

With those words, the Sword Gentleman unexpectedly darted past the crowd, heading directly towards the main peak.

Tan Yibai frowned; checkpoints were set up at all major entrances to the main peak, explicitly preventing outsiders from entering. Despite being surrounded by seven or eight people blocking his path tightly, the elderly man effortlessly evaded them without anyone reacting in time!

Strengthening her resolve, Tan Yibai shouted, “Access to the upper areas is prohibited.”

“Haha, young lady, your say doesn’t hold weight here.”

Subconsciously reaching for her gun at her waist, she then let go and swiftly ordered a small team to follow the old man. She wanted to see what exactly brought him here.

To Tan Yibai’s surprise, the elder did not object to their pursuit but rather seemed to intentionally lead the way, strolling leisurely. Strikingly, even the troublesome branches and vines parted aside as if making way for them, contrary to their usual obstructive nature.