Chapter 73: The Ape Leaps Across the Abyss

Chapter 73: The Ape Leaps Across the Abyss

“May I ask who you are?” Zhang Sanlu rose to his feet, facing the newcomer so as not to turn his back on him.

The man rubbed his untidy mustache with one hand and grinned. “This wretched Bird Mountain really gave me, old Zhang, a run around. You must be Zhang Sanlu, right? I’m Zhang Zhidao’s junior apprentice, also surnamed Zhang—Zhang Mancheng. Just call me Old Zhang. Who knows, maybe five hundred years ago we were kin, eh? Hahaha!”

Though his appearance was disheveled and his words rather coarse, the man’s open-heartedness shone through. His boisterous manner was genuine and in no way off-putting.

Zhang Sanlu immediately realized this was the reinforcements Zhang Zhidao had summoned. He smiled in response, “Zhang Sanlu at your service. Brother Zhang said you were nearby—your arrival is impressively swift.”

Zhang Mancheng waved a hand and wiped the mist from his face. “Swift? Hardly! I was worried I’d be late. Where’s Senior Brother now?”

“Last night, the cave we dug up was full of corpses. Brother Zhang, never at ease, feared something might escape, so he stayed in the cave to keep watch.”

Zhang Mancheng nodded. “That’s just like him—always worrying this or that might go wrong, afraid of mishaps, and in the end, nothing ever goes smoothly, it’s always some mishap or another.”

Zhang Sanlu couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the playful mockery.

Zhang Mancheng chuckled too. “Don’t let my brother hear you laughing at him, or he’ll start lecturing me again. Come, let’s go find him.”

He waved off the bowing villagers with practiced ease, then dragged Zhang Sanlu along by the arm. Despite his burly appearance, he moved with remarkable lightness, treading the rugged mountain path as if it were flat ground—each step unhurried, almost effortless.

Zhang Sanlu, pulled along, found himself walking just as steadily, as if the treacherous trail were no obstacle at all.

When they reached the edge of a steep cliff, Zhang Sanlu, guessing Old Zhang’s rough looks meant he wouldn’t know any refined talisman arts, was ready to rely on traditional climbing. He prepared to untie a sturdy rope from the cliff, intending to secure it around himself before ascending.

But Zhang Mancheng looked up and pointed. “Is the cave up there the one? Which one is it?”

Zhang Sanlu nodded, peering through the mist at the dark openings above, unable to make out which was which. “Yes, it’s the largest cave.”

“Alright then!”

But Zhang Mancheng seemed to have other plans. Before Zhang Sanlu could even grab the rope, Zhang Mancheng seized him by the arm with one hand and grabbed the rope with the other.

Before Zhang Sanlu could react, Zhang Mancheng gave a mighty pull, and the two of them shot upward like arrows loosed from a bowstring, soaring more than twenty feet in just a few breaths.

Looking down, Zhang Sanlu saw the swirling mist churned up below, his heart in his throat, his vision spinning.

As their upward momentum waned and they began to plummet, Zhang Mancheng released the rope, and with a light touch on a rocky outcrop, came to rest as though the stone were solid ground—a fleeting foothold.

Without pause, Zhang Mancheng leaped again, this time with even greater force, drawing a higher arc through the air. Grabbing a higher hold on the rope, he carried Zhang Sanlu aloft several more yards. Again and again, they ascended in this fashion—upward, falling, leaping—until the experience was akin to a wild ride on a mountain coaster. Even Zhang Sanlu, bold as he was, was left breathless and shaken by the vertiginous, bungee-like ascent.

At last, after several dozen breaths, they landed steadily at the mouth of a cave on the cliff face.

Standing by the yawning, bottomless blackness, Zhang Sanlu felt awestruck and full of admiration. Zhang Mancheng’s effortless display was more than a demonstration of skill—it was artistry, whether magic or martial technique. Truly, “Soars across the boundless blue, the leap contained within the self.”

“Whew—” Zhang Mancheng finally let go of Zhang Sanlu, lowered his hands, and exhaled as if releasing a great weight.

“Mancheng, I knew you’d arrive first.” Zhang Zhidao, hearing voices, emerged with a smile.

“You made me search high and low, Senior Brother! I set out as soon as I saw your messenger bird. These mountains are confusing and the mist came up suddenly—I couldn’t tell which was which. Luckily, I have sharp eyes and ears—heard someone telling that ‘Mad Mountain God’ story and met the one-armed cultivator you mentioned.”

“Still so rash,” Zhang Zhidao chided affectionately. “I left some of my energy on that bird; if you’d paid attention, you wouldn’t have blundered around so wildly.”

“Haha, I was just in a hurry! Master told us, no matter what happens, we’re to find you. This is a serious matter, after all!” Zhang Mancheng laughed.

“I’ve already sealed up the other cave entrances last night, leaving only this one. I’ve invited Sun Zhong from nearby—let’s wait for him before we begin.”

Zhang Mancheng frowned in displeasure. “Why wait for that scoundrel? He’s closer than I am and still hasn’t shown up?”

Zhang Zhidao explained, “I want this done thoroughly. Sun Zhong may be sharp-tongued, but he’s clever. He should be here soon. We’ve waited this long; what’s a bit longer?”

“Since you say so, Senior Brother, I’ll give him half an hour. If he’s not here by then, I’m going ahead. Between him and me, who do you trust more?”

Zhang Sanlu could sense there was bad blood between Zhang Mancheng and the absent Sun Zhong. Zhang Zhidao, as the eldest, always sought harmony, but Zhang Mancheng clearly had no patience for Sun Zhong.

Seeing the agreement, Zhang Sanlu kept silent. Zhang Zhidao apologized to him, looking rather vexed, then explained the situation in detail to Zhang Mancheng.

The three of them sat at the cave entrance, discussing their plan as they waited.

Half an hour passed quickly. Zhang Mancheng rose, dusted off his clothes, rolled up his sleeves, and declared, “Time’s up—let’s get started!”

Zhang Zhidao could only smile helplessly at Zhang Sanlu and also rose to his feet.

Zhang Sanlu picked up his small hoe and was about to resume digging when Zhang Mancheng clapped him on the shoulder, motioning for him to step back. With one hand, he formed a gesture and chanted softly.

Zhang Zhidao took out a talisman and pressed it to the cave mouth, explaining, “Mancheng cultivates the art of the Six Ding and Six Jia, commanding wind and thunder and subduing spirits. Just watch.”

Zhang Mancheng began to chant aloud: “Mark the earth, open the gate of heaven, enter the portal of earth, close the golden door, ride the jade chariot... Today, with the steps of Yu, I align above with the celestial order, below ward off misfortune, all malevolent spirits retreat, and none shall bring harm...”