“Recently, Tongxian City has been gradually flourishing, Loose Cultivators have become affluent, and there are more merchants coming and going, with more opportunities for illicit gain. Hence, many Sin Cultivators have gathered towards Big Black Mountain. That’s why we were able to capture them all at once and obtain this clue.”
The more Zhang Lan spoke, the more serious his tone became.
If that really was the case, then the biggest problem with Big Black Mountain might not be those Sin Cultivators.
“Those covered in blood, when they find themselves with no way out, can enter Big Black Mountain…” Mo Hua repeated, asking, “Then what? What can they do after entering Big Black Mountain?”
Zhang Lan shook his head, “We don’t know that. Or should I say, perhaps those who know haven’t been captured by us yet.”
“Neither Bald Tuo nor the one-eye know?”
“Yes,” Zhang Lan nodded, “Even after we conducted interrogations, they would not speak. I estimate they truly don’t know.”
If these Sin Cultivators all didn’t know, then the only clue would be…
Mo Hua’s heart skipped a beat, “That map?”
Zhang Lan slowly said, “That’s what I was thinking. If we can find out the locations marked on the map, maybe we can uncover the truth behind this rumor.”
“What about that Bald Tuo? The map is his.”
Zhang Lan appeared somewhat disappointed, “He doesn’t know either. He indeed murdered and stole the map, but where the location is, and what it signifies, he has no clue whatsoever.”
“However, the mono-eyed one mentioned encountering something strange.”
“Strange event?” Mo Hua frowned.
Zhang Lan slightly nodded and recounted the matter to Mo Hua:
“He said that more than ten years ago, he went to Big Black Mountain to rob, but came up empty-handed. At night, wrapped in a single garment, braving the mountain wind, he slept on a large tree. He dared not sleep on the ground for fear that in a half-asleep state, he would be eaten by Monster Beasts.”
“Half in a daze, he heard people talking.”
“He wasn’t sure if it was two or three people; they were speaking in hushed voices with a coarse whisper, which in the dark of night sounded particularly strange, and also indistinct.”
“He was alone on the tree, not even daring to breathe too loudly. He listened fragmentarily for quite a while before he could make out the gist of their conversation.”
“Those Cultivators beneath the tree were also Sin Cultivators, seemed to have committed all manner of vile acts, annihilating a family of Cultivators and looting their spirit stones and assets. They were pursued by the Taoist Court and had run out of options, thus they thought of seeking refuge in Big Black Mountain.”
“They were highly cultivated, their conversation revealing ruthless methods. The mono-eyed monk felt fear in his heart as he shivered on the tree, not daring to move until dawn, when he saw no one around and finally had the courage to descend.”
“And from then on, he never saw that group of Sin Cultivators in Big Black Mountain again. Those Sin Cultivators spoke of hiding in Big Black Mountain for refuge, but it was as if they’d vanished from the face of this world, disappearing without a trace…”
Listening to this, a chill arose from the depths of Mo Hua’s heart.
If that really was the case, Big Black Mountain was a haven for filth, its waters far too deep.
Zhang Lan, seeing there were still diners around, thought for a moment and then lowered his voice to speak to Mo Hua:
“That mono-eyed one also overheard that group of Sin Cultivators saying a phrase…”
Zhang Lan’s expression grew solemn, and Mo Hua felt a chill in his heart.
“What phrase?”
Zhang Lan pondered for a moment, then slowly said:
“Mists of Black Mountain, concealing pits and dens; at midnight’s third watch, cast your name to ask the way.”