Chapter 212 The Post Station Returns

It was Shen Suning who spoke; she urged her horse forward to ride alongside the group.

"Chief Banner Officer Zhang is in the Late Stage of the Heart-Awakening Realm and ranks in the top five within our Demon Hunting Division. Although the Golden Bell Guards are formidable, most do not follow the orthodox path of martial arts, so their cultivation Realm may not be very high. Their strength lies in their tracking and hunting skills, as well as those strange methods of theirs."

Ling Xiaoning shrank his neck upon hearing this and said in a low voice.

"Then... could it be that the Golden Bell Guards are not in Youxu Valley at all, and the signal was forged by something else? Or, is that golden bell fake?"

Once these words were spoken, everyone's expression changed.

Bai Junyi stared at the tracking disk in his hand. The needle was trembling slightly, pointing toward the depths of Black Rock Mountain in the southwest. He took a deep breath.

"Forging a golden bell? Who would have such ability? And what would they gain from it?"

"Luring," Chen Mu spat out the two words.

The mountain path fell silent for a moment, and everyone frowned in thought.

Shen Suning pondered for a moment before speaking.

"No, a golden bell cannot be faked."

Everyone's gaze immediately turned toward her.

Meeting their gazes, Shen Suning explained slowly.

"The Bell Guards are divided into three levels: Silver Bell, golden bell, and jade bell. The Silver Bell is the foundation; one must train in various places for three years, independently hunt at least ten Dao Entry Realm demonic creatures, or assist in slaying one Heart-Awakening Realm great demon, before becoming eligible to apply for the assessment."

Her voice was steady, as if recounting familiar family treasures.

"Only after passing the assessment can one be awarded a Silver Bell. Above the Silver Bell is the golden bell. One must serve as a Silver Bell for five full years, independently slay at least three Heart-Awakening Realm demonic creatures during that period, be recommended by at least three Golden Bell Guards, and then pass the main altar's trial before being promoted."

Feng Qing interjected from the side.

"Five years in the Heart-Awakening Realm and three Heart-Awakening Realm kills—that's just the threshold."

Lu Dachuan gasped upon hearing this.

"Goodness, is it that strict? Doesn't that mean every golden bell Guard is a ruthless character? No wonder they look down on others; they certainly have the capital to do so."

Shen Suning nodded, paused, and continued.

"Above the golden bell is the jade bell."

"The Jade Bell Guard are so rare that there are no more than ten on the surface in the entire Great Wu Dynasty. Every Jade Bell Guard is a monster capable of independently hunting existence at the Demon King level. Their strength can no longer be measured by the ordinary Heart-Awakening Realm."

"As far as I know, there are only two Jade Bell Guard within the jurisdiction of Jingzhou Prefecture, and both are Thousand-Household Liao's Personal Disciples. They are out year-round executing top-secret missions. I have only heard their names but have never seen the Immortal Masters themselves."

Immediately afterward, she looked at Chen Mu, her gaze full of seriousness.

"If the Golden Bell Guards are determined to survive, even if they fall into a desperate situation, there may still be room to maneuver. Moreover, their life-bound golden bells are connected to their vitality; as long as they are still alive, even if they only have one breath left, the signal will not be severed."

Chen Mu listened in silence, but the trace of doubt in his heart did not completely dissipate.

Even if the Golden Bell Guards have heaven-defying abilities, being able to maneuver in such a dangerous place for several days is still too unbelievable.

Seeing this, Bai Junyi said in a deep voice.

"Regardless of what abilities the Golden Bell Guards possess, our primary mission for this trip is to provide support and investigate, not to question."

"Speed up. Since the Division has sent us here, whether there is a trap or a desperate situation ahead, we must go and find out clearly."

Everyone nodded heavily, but the atmosphere was even more solemn than before.

The horse team continued forward, the mountain road becoming increasingly rugged. About an hour later, a faint light vaguely appeared ahead.

"It is the Black Rock Post Station, the place we passed by during the last mission in Shi Town."

Lu Dachuan squinted to identify it.

Bai Junyi looked at the sky, then lowered his head to look at the tracking disk in his hand. On the palm-sized bronze disk, the needle was spinning randomly without any pattern, sometimes pointing southwest, sometimes suddenly turning northeast, having completely lost its direction.

"The tracking disk has malfunctioned. There might be an issue with the Demonic Qi or geomagnetism here."

Feng Qing nocked an arrow on his bow, scanning the surroundings vigilantly.

"Should we go in?"

Bai Junyi hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.

"The men and horses are exhausted, and the tracking disk has failed. It is too dangerous to blindly enter the mountain. Let us rest at the post station for the night and make plans after daybreak tomorrow."

The nine people led their horses and slowly approached the post station standing in the desolate mountain wilderness.

The post station was the same as before: a two-courtyard compound with stables in the front courtyard and guest rooms in the back. The only difference was that tonight, the post station was brightly lit, as if they had been prepared long ago.

The wooden door creaked open, and Lin Xiuer stood at the entrance holding a lantern. She was still wearing the same coarse cloth dress, with a timid smile on her face.

"Greetings, Officers... Eh? It is you all again."

Her gaze swept over everyone, lingering on Chen Mu's face for an extra moment, before she lowered her head.

"I will go prepare hot water and food immediately; please come in, Officers."

Bai Junyi cupped his hands and said.

"Sorry to trouble you, Miss. We are under orders to head to Black Rock Mountain to perform official duties. Passing through here, we need to ask for lodging for the night."

"You are too polite, Officers. Please come in quickly."

Lin Xiuer stepped aside to let them pass. Her manners were proper, yet she always gave people an indescribable sense of strangeness.

Everyone filed in, tied their horses in the stables, and checked their equipment. Lin Xiuer quickly and efficiently boiled water and cooked food, soon serving hot soup and coarse flour cakes.

Lu Dachuan plopped down onto the bench by the fire pit and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Finally, we can rest our feet. This road to Black Rock Mountain is getting more and more sinister, damn it."

Ling Xiaoning mumbled quietly while gnawing on a cake.

"How could this tracking disk suddenly malfunction? The Division's Magical Artifacts are always reliable..."

Lu Dachuan gulped down some hot soup and lowered his voice.

"This place is very sinister. Thirty years ago, there was a demonic infestation. Although it was quelled later, who knows what kind of ghost things are still hiding deep in the mountains? The tracking disk relies on sensing special fluctuations; if it encounters a stronger interference source, it is not strange for it to malfunction."

Chen Mu ate his cake silently, but his gaze remained fixed on Lin Xiuer, who was busy behind the counter.

This girl is not right.

When they came last time, although her manners were proper, the fear and sadness in her eyes were real. But this time, her gaze was too calm—too calm for a young girl left alone in a desolate mountain post station with a missing father.

More importantly, she seemed to have anticipated that they would come.

The night grew deeper, and everyone returned to their rooms to rest. Bai Junyi arranged for them to work in pairs, taking turns keeping watch. Chen Mu and Lu Dachuan were on the first shift.

Chen Mu sat on the steps of the front courtyard, and Lu Dachuan leaned against the doorpost, clutching his blade, speaking in low, disjointed tones.

"Brother Chen, how many of us do you think will make it back this time?"

Chen Mu glanced at him but did not speak.

Lu Dachuan laughed at himself.

"I've been a Demon Suppressing Soldier for so many years, I've seen too much life and death. Every time before going on a mission like this, I think about this question. The Tian Di Xuan Three Teams—that is the most elite force under Chief Banner Officer Zhang."

Chen Mu remained silent for a long while before finally speaking.

"We will come back."

Lu Dachuan was stunned for a moment, then grinned.

"Alright, with those words from you, I feel much more at ease."