pjbooks Chapter 139 Ama no Kusanagi
Chapter 139 Ama no Kusanagi
The helicopter slowly landed on the Kunlun branch helipad.
The propeller stirred up air currents that swirled up fine snowflakes from the ground, creating a few swirls before they fell back to the ground.
The hatch opened, and Liu Zhenguo was the first to jump out.
After he regained his footing, he subconsciously straightened his collar and quickly walked to the cabin door, standing sideways.
Everyone present understood this gesture.
Not far from the tarmac, seven or eight people had been waiting for a long time.
The leader was a middle-aged man in his early forties, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and his skin was tanned and rough from the ultraviolet rays of the plateau.
Wei Zhixing, head of the Kunlun branch.
Behind him stood Daoist Songyun and Daoist Yuyang, and further back were the key members of several branches.
Wei Zhixing stared at the helicopter, his gaze unconsciously sweeping over Liu Zhenguo, who was the first to disembark, before continuing to look behind him.
A few more people got out of the cabin.
Shi Yong, Luo Yunshan, Lin Xiugu, Zhou Zheng, and Daoist Jingchen.
Then he saw a young man come out of the hatch.
very young.
He looks to be in his early twenties.
He was wearing a dark gray windbreaker, black cargo pants, and carrying an ordinary hiking backpack.
Half of a sword hilt wrapped in black rope peeked out from the side net pocket of the bag. It looked unremarkable, like the kind of handicrafts sold at the entrance of a scenic spot.
The young man jumped off the plane and landed safely.
He raised his head, his gaze sweeping around before landing on Wei Zhixing and the others.
There was no particular expression on his face; he simply glanced at it calmly and then looked away.
Like an ordinary tourist arriving in an unfamiliar place for the first time, instinctively taking in the surroundings.
But for some reason, Wei Zhixing had a strange feeling the moment their eyes met.
It's like standing at the foot of a snow-capped mountain, looking up at the summit.
The mountain stood there, silent, doing nothing.
But you just know it's very high.
Very, very high.
Is this the person from Qingfeng Temple?
Wei Zhixing took a deep breath, suppressing the shock and doubt in his heart.
He strode forward.
Behind them, Daoist Songyun and Daoist Yuyang exchanged a glance and quickly followed.
Seeing them approach, Liu Zhenguo stepped half a step closer to Li Jun and whispered:
"Master, this is Wei Zhixing, the head of the Kunlun branch."
Li Jun nodded, his gaze falling on the middle-aged man who was walking briskly towards him.
Wei Zhi walked closer, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and bowed slightly:
"Wei Zhixing, head of the Kunlun branch of the Night Watch, pays his respects to Master Li!"
Behind him, Daoist Songyun and Daoist Yuyang bowed with clasped hands.
The branch's key members were a beat slow to react, but seeing the demeanor of their leader, they quickly followed suit and bowed.
Li Jun slightly turned his body to avoid a direct greeting.
"Mr. Wei, there's no need for such formalities."
Wei Zhixing straightened up, his gaze involuntarily sweeping over Li Jun's face again.
too young.
So young it's hard to believe, this is the man before us, who used a Spring Festival couplet to kill more than seventy extraordinary individuals from other countries.
A complex emotion, difficult to describe, welled up within him.
It was awe-inspiring, awe-inspiring, and unbelievable.
But more often than not...
A sudden realization: "So this is what a true master is like."
The big sound is loud, the elephant is invisible.
Perhaps this is what a true strong person looks like.
Unassuming, unsharp, even inconspicuous.
But standing there, it's like an insurmountable mountain.
"You must be tired from your journey, Daoist Master." Wei Zhixing suppressed the turmoil in his heart, stepped aside and gestured for him to come in. "Please rest for a while inside and have a cup of hot tea."
Li Jun nodded.
The group walked into the building.
Jin Hao followed behind Li Jun, looking around curiously.
It was his first time visiting Kunlun, and everything was new and exciting to him.
The group entered the building.
The building was well-heated, a stark contrast to the icy, snowy landscape outside.
Wei Zhixing led everyone into the conference room.
The meeting room was small and simply furnished, with a long table and a dozen or so chairs.
Several plates of fruit and steaming hot tea were laid out on the table.
"Please sit down, Daoist Master." Wei Zhixing pulled out the chair for the head of the table.
Li Jun waved his hand and walked to a seat by the window.
"Mr. Wei, please don't stand on ceremony. I'll just sit here."
Wei Zhixing hesitated for a moment, but did not insist, and sat down opposite Li Jun.
The others also took their seats.
The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.
Everyone was looking at Li Jun.
But I don’t dare to look at it for too long. I glance at it once and then look away. After a while, I can’t help but glance at it again.
Li Jun picked up his teacup and took a sip.
He was actually used to that kind of gaze long ago.
This is how it is every time someone sees a member of the Night's Watch.
At first, they scrutinized him, then they imagined all sorts of things, and finally, they became extremely respectful.
He was used to it.
"Master Daoist."
Wei Zhixing spoke first, his tone respectful and grateful.
"Back at the Kunlun camp, if it weren't for the Spring Festival couplets and door god statues bestowed by the Taoist priest, we would probably have met with misfortune long ago."
"The entire Kunlun branch will forever remember this life-saving grace."
As he spoke, he stood up and was about to bow again.
Li Jun quickly raised his hand to stop him.
"Mr. Wei, there's no need for that."
He paused.
"...It was just a small favor."
This was said in a very plain way.
But to Wei Zhixing and others, it had a completely different meaning.
It was just a small favor?
A Spring Festival couplet can kill more than seventy extraordinary individuals from various countries. Is that what you call a simple act?
But if we get serious...
Wei Zhixing dared not think any further.
He simply lowered his head, his tone becoming increasingly respectful.
"It was just a small favor for the Taoist priest, but it was a life-saving grace for us."
"If the Daoist Master ever needs our assistance, the entire Kunlun branch will go through fire and water without hesitation!"
Li Jun nodded and said nothing more.
He was actually quite helpless inside.
When the Spring Festival couplets and door god images were sent out, he genuinely thought they were just ordinary red paper and pictures.
Who would have thought it would cause such a big commotion?
But given the current situation, he has no way of explaining it.
We have no choice but to keep pretending.
The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.
"Manager Wei."
Li Jun took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and said, "I came to Kunlun this time for the cenotaph of my advisor."
You should already know the specifics.
Wei Zhixing nodded quickly: "President Qin has already given instructions, so please rest assured, Daoist Master, the Kunlun branch will do its utmost to cooperate."
"We've checked the weather forecast for Yuzhu Peak. It's sunny for the next three days, which is perfect for hiking."
As he spoke, Wei Zhixing opened a document, pointed to the markings on the map, and began to report on the situation of Yuzhu Peak.
"Yuzhu Peak, with an altitude of 6178 meters, is the highest peak in the eastern section of the Kunlun Mountains."
"The terrain on the southeast side is relatively flat, but the snow is deep and there are many crevasses, so extra caution is needed."
"Following your instructions, we retrieved satellite imagery and historical data, and there are several possible locations in this area..."
He pointed to several red circles marked on the map.
"These places have topographical features that match the description of 'leeward mountain valleys,' and there are traces of human activity in them throughout history."
"However, due to its age and the fact that it is covered by snow, its exact location cannot be determined."
As Wei Zhixing spoke, he looked at Li Jun.
"Master, look..."
Li Jun looked at the map and nodded slightly.
"We'll see when we get there."
"Daoist Master," Jingchen said at this moment.
He took a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Li Jun.
"These are the times when it is auspicious to break ground, which I calculated last night based on the map and the stars."
Li Jun took the paper and glanced at it.
It was written in great detail on the paper.
The ninth day, from 3:45 AM to early 1:00 PM, is auspicious.
The tenth day, from the hour of Chen (7-9 AM) to the beginning of the hour of Si (9-11 AM),
eleven……
"Thank you for your hard work, Daoist Master." Li Jun put the paper away.
Jingchen quickly waved her hand: "No, no, it's my duty."
As Wei Zhixing watched this scene, his understanding of Master Li deepened.
Not only is his own cultivation unfathomable, but he can also make these experts who are well-versed in feng shui and burial methods serve him willingly and follow his lead.
This is the true demeanor of a master.
As he was thinking, Liu Zhenguo spoke up.
"Old Wei, how long will the helicopter resupply check take?"
"About an hour," Wei Zhixing said. "The fuel and supplies have already been prepared."
"Alright." Liu Zhenguo nodded, then looked at Li Jun, "Daoist Master, shall we rest for an hour and then fly directly to Jade Pearl Peak?"
Li Jun nodded.
He turned to look out the window.
The sun was shining brightly outside, casting a dazzling light on the distant snow-capped mountains.
An hour later.
The helicopter took off again.
Outside the porthole, the buildings of the Kunlun branch grew smaller and smaller, soon becoming just a few inconspicuous gray dots on the snowfield.
The helicopter changed direction and flew towards Yuzhu Peak.
The snow-capped mountains stretch endlessly, gleaming silver in the sunlight.
……
And this moment.
Yuzhu Peak, due east.
Deep within a crevice covered in ice and snow.
Ding!Ding!Ding!
The sound of metal striking ice echoed in the narrow space.
Hattori Senzan gripped his katana with both hands, slashing at the ice wall with each strike.
Each cut can slice off a block of ice the size of a washbasin.
The shards of ice fell softly, piling up into a small mountain at his feet.
Behind him, four Japanese ninjas dressed in white camouflage uniforms were taking turns carrying the shards of ice away.
Ding!
Another stab.
A deep crack appeared on the ice wall, spreading out along the knife mark.
Hattori Senzan took a half step back and took a breath.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead, his eyes gleaming with barely suppressed excitement.
almost.
Soon.
He could feel that the aura belonging to the Kusanagi Sword was becoming clearer and clearer.
Right at the bottom of this fissure!
We can reach the seal in about an hour more!
"Hattori-kun, thank you for your hard work."
A soft voice sounded behind me.
Hattori Senzan turned his head.
The shrine maiden Ruri stood not far behind him, wearing a thick white winter coat. Her face was a little pale, but her eyes were bright.
She held a small magatama in her hand, which was faintly glowing.
"Lady Ruri," Hattori Senzaki nodded, "Did you feel it?"
"Hmm." Ruri looked at the magatama, her voice trembling slightly, "The aura of the Kusanagi Sword is getting stronger and stronger."
She looked up and gazed into the depths of the ice wall.
There, a faint, extremely weak golden light flickered deep within the ice.
"Right there."
She murmured.
Hattori Senzan followed her gaze.
The golden light was as faint as a candle flame in the wind, but in everyone's eyes, it was more dazzling than the sun.
Kusanagi no Tsurugi (Sword of the Clouds).
The top of the three sacred treasures of Sakura Country.
According to legend, Susanoo took the divine sword from the tail of the Yamata no Orochi after slaying it.
It contains supreme divine power, capable of slaying demons and monsters, and also suppressing the fate of a nation.
Eighty years ago, the elite of the extraordinary world of the Sakura Kingdom launched an expedition to Kunlun while the Great Xia was at its weakest, hoping to defy fate.
As a result, the entire army was wiped out.
The Kusanagi Sword was also lost in this vast snow-covered mountain.
now……
This divine sword is right before my eyes!