Chapter 24: The Plan to Attack the Demon Ridge

“So, is there anything you desire?” After putting away the three charred hands, Lord Lu glanced up at his sworn friend, his tone rather stiff as he asked the question.

Then he seemed to make some kind of gesture, as if unfurling a scroll before the sworn friend, though Wang Liang could not make out the details.

Wang Liang understood that this must be the moment when the sworn friend, having completed his task, was choosing his reward.

Perhaps this would take some time. As he pondered this, he picked up the cup of tea from the table.

He was now aware that the tea in this era was just like this; it wasn’t that they were offering him inferior tea on purpose.

Hence, he decided to try this style of tea, at least so that in the future, when others invited him for tea, he wouldn’t embarrass himself by not knowing how to drink it.

Just as Wang Liang brought the bowl to his lips, the sworn friend suddenly spoke.

“Lord Lu, I want none of these things. I’ve heard some news—something has happened at Jingyang Ridge in the Demon Mountains.”

“Yes, the news just came in. The tiger demon of the Demon Mountains has broken its agreement with us and sealed off the passage through the ridge.” Because the sworn friend was highly regarded and Wang Liang was seen by Lord Lu as a person of great ability, he did not hide this matter.

“I suppose you’re already planning to attack Jingyang Ridge. If you’ll allow it, I would like to join the campaign against the tiger demon.”

As soon as the sworn friend spoke, Lord Lu fell silent.

He was fully aware of the strength of the sworn friend and his companions, but the assault on Jingyang Ridge was nowhere near as simple as it sounded.

This was not merely the concern of a single City God; it involved the coordination of Yanggu County and neighboring towns.

At the very least, he could not disregard the county magistrate and dispatch troops from the underworld on his own.

Moreover, his forces were not as formidable as they appeared. Though he commanded a fair number of underworld soldiers and bailiffs, the number truly available was limited—nightly patrols in Yanggu and the extermination of errant spirits and monsters already consumed eighty percent of his strength.

If he were to send all his forces to battle the tiger demon in the mountains, chaos would surely erupt in Yanggu.

So even if he was willing, he could not act so rashly.

Lord Lu shook his head with helpless resignation. “I do have the intention, but it’s not something I can decide alone. My friend, you’d best choose one of these rewards.”

But the sworn friend shook his head. “It’s not that I mean any disrespect, Lord Lu. Frankly, my brothers and I did not come to Yanggu County and spend every night hunting vengeful spirits and monsters merely for some paltry rewards. Our real aim is to take part in the assault on Jingyang Ridge.

We made this decision when we arrived here three years ago.

These past three years, we have studied the terrain and circumstances of Jingyang Ridge closely. We believe we have a chance of success.”

“Yes, there is a chance—but only fifty percent,” Lord Lu replied. He, too, had spent these years pondering strategies for dealing with Jingyang Ridge, as had the other great figures of Yanggu County.

But what good were intentions alone? If the tiger demon commanded only lesser ghosts and small demons, their chances might rise to eighty percent.

However, with a group of conscripted soldiers turned underworld warriors under its command, and after transforming the ridge into a realm of ghosts, the balance had shifted entirely.

To attack Jingyang Ridge now was tantamount to storming a fortress; by the standards of warfare in this era, besieging a fortified position required five times the attackers’ strength. They simply did not have sufficient troops.

Even if the City God mobilized every underworld soldier and bailiff, even if the county magistrate called out every constable and hunter, even if the great families summoned all their retainers, even if the nearby militia camps dispatched their full forces, their chances would only be half.

Not to mention, they would have to face formidable monsters as well.

Thus, over the years, all those great figures had calculated their odds but lacked the courage to give the order.

Having spent three years in Yanggu County, the sworn friend naturally understood Lord Lu’s considerations.

He said with certainty, “Please do not worry, Lord Lu. My brothers and I have not been idle. One of my brothers works at the nearby Dragon King Temple—the patron deity there has agreed to lend us three thousand soldiers.”

The Yellow River winds past the southeast of Yanggu County, while the ancient Grand Canal cuts north to south through its heart.

It was largely thanks to these two rivers that, despite the blockade at Jingyang Ridge, Yanggu County had not fallen.

Where there is a river, there is sure to be a Dragon King, and this place boasted both the Yellow River and the Grand Canal.

At the mouth of the Yellow River in Yanggu County stood a Dragon King Temple, unassuming in appearance but blessed with excellent geomancy.

Most importantly, this temple was guarded by two aquatic generals and six thousand water soldiers—a major military stronghold.

However, as the Yellow River Dragon King’s domain was in the water and had little connection with the land, the people of Yanggu, apart from making offerings on the second day of the second lunar month, rarely interacted with the temple except to pray for rain.

Even the City God had seldom thought of this garrison within his own territory.

Unexpectedly, the sworn friend’s companion had managed to secure the promise of three thousand soldiers from the Dragon King Temple—an excellent development.

Even if their strength was halved on land, that still amounted to fifteen hundred troops, and most importantly, they possessed magical powers.

This would allow them to match the patrolling demon troops on Jingyang Ridge.

At this, Lord Lu’s thoughts began to stir.

Seeing his expression, the sworn friend understood that this was the pivotal moment.

He continued, “Another of my brothers has gone to the nearby Yuanshan Monastery and become well acquainted with the abbot. If we launch an assault on Jingyang Ridge, the abbot has agreed to send fifteen disciples to accompany us.”

Now, Lord Lu had no further objections.

Yuanshan Monastery was a nearby Daoist temple. Though the Daoists there were not particularly powerful, their talismans were effective.

They also had some medical skill, so with their presence, the final link in the chain of battle would be complete.

At this, Lord Lu said, “I will discuss this with the county magistrate. For now, you may withdraw.”

Hearing this, the sworn friend’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

More than three years of effort here were finally about to pay off.

Their work in Yanggu these three years had not been in vain.

In his excitement, the sworn friend glanced at Wang Liang, who was sipping tea nearby.

For some reason, he felt that this unexpected newcomer might yet prove to be an unnecessary complication for their plans.

With that thought, he withdrew, planning to investigate Wang Liang’s background as soon as he left.