Headless Immortal

Chapter 72 Going down the mountain
evening.

Cheng Yan, who was seated, spoke first: "Uncle Cat, we need to go down the mountain in a few days."

The black cat's face clearly showed surprise.

As Cheng Yan packed his things, he said, "Isn't the academy planning to build a school in Meilan County? Brother Lü and I were called by the headmaster to inquire about the details in the county."

"I immediately volunteered to go to the county town with my senior brother."

"Uncle, as you know, my grandfather was the head of the gang, so he could maneuver around the big boss and thus be able to buy the land deed before Donglin Temple."

"Brother Wu should be with us too."

"He has to exchange all his gold and jewels for silver."

……

After dinner, I studied in the library until 9 PM before returning to my dormitory.

Upon returning, Cheng Yan saw that the old cat had written a single character.

'Walk.'

"I'm going out."

Without even having time to wash up and give Cheng Yan a word of advice so as not to worry his roommate, he followed the black cat out of the dormitory.

The black cat is carrying something in its mouth.

After passing through the ancient pine forest of the academy, we arrived at a flat area.

Head transplant.

The black cat instantly transformed into a red-faced ape monster.

"What's wrong, Uncle Cat?"

Although it wasn't the first time I'd seen the Five Peaks Mountain Lord, the invisible pressure and aura hadn't diminished; on the contrary, it had become even more profound and imposing.

If it was originally a violent and ferocious beast, it is now more like a towering mountain, powerful and mysterious, making people want to approach it but also hesitate to go near it.

Lu Xun took out the booklet he had brought and handed it to Cheng Yan.

Cheng Yan opened it and immediately realized that it was a martial art.

"Look."

Lu Xun demonstrated the Monkey Dance in person.

Toothless stood proudly on the treetop with its wings folded, while Grey sat swaying on the steps.

After Wutong Lu Xun finished his practice, the birds and beasts dispersed, and the ancient pine tree creaked as it stretched out its trunk and branches.

The frequent occurrence of unusual phenomena convinced Cheng Yan that it was due to a profound cultivation method.

"Understand?"

Wu Tonglu looked at Cheng Yan.

Cheng Yan nodded and then quickly shook his head.

Escorting silver has always been a tough job.

Even last-minute preparation can be effective; every bit of improvement brings greater security.

Lu Xun remained silent for a long time before slowly uttering two words: "Practice."

Besides practice, all other methods are heretical.

He returned at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM).

Silent all night.

After becoming a senior cat, I no longer have to run around the mountains with the students, and I can sleep in.

After having breakfast, we arrived at the school.

The combination of cat and mouse has attracted a lot of attention.

Many students at Yimao Academy initially looked down on it, but after reading Lao Mao's article, they were immediately impressed.

The fact that he writes beautiful characters is secondary; what truly matters is his detailed explanation of qi and blood and martial arts, and his imaginative yet grounded speculations about magical power and internal martial arts.

If you took the article out on its own, you would probably really think it was written by one of the senior students from the former college.

He truly lives up to his name, 'Cat Senior Brother'.

Old Cat is organizing the new textbooks issued by the academy: "Magic Power," "True Qi," "Righteousness," "Alchemy," etc. These are all basics.

Other works such as "Mechanical Systems", "Martial Arts", "Talismans", "Weapons and Names" are mostly supplementary. We must not neglect the books written by sages, the classics, histories, philosophical works, and the Six Arts of a Gentleman.

Reading the magic power and refining true energy actually made me busier and more tired than before.

"Uncle, you can use this book box from now on." Cheng Yan took out a new book box and helped the black cat pack its books.

The old cat looked at the large book box, which was taller than itself, and its lips twitched slightly before it lay sprawled out on the square mat.

When he was auditing classes with Cheng Yan, he was having a blast playing with mice and releasing hawks. Now that the headmaster has made him the mascot of Yi Mao Hall, how come he's acting like a human again?

I wanted to give them a glimpse into the modern world's compulsory education, but instead they were surprised by the ancient world academy.

Learn it.

We can't continue to be illiterate.

Once you've mastered it, translate the ancient martial arts techniques and sell them to modern people.

The slack lasted only a moment before the black cat sprang up.

Students arrived at the school one after another.

Whether out of genuine admiration or amusement, they would almost always stop upon entering, clasp their hands in greeting, and call out, "Senior Brother Cat."

At first, Lu Xun responded that he didn't expect a cat's voice to become hoarse.

Later, it would just wave its paws as a signal. These were the painful yet joyful days that followed.

Dusk.

The kind-looking fellow practitioner came to inform us that everything was ready and we would set off before dawn the next morning.

……

"Brother Cheng, how's your martial arts?" Wu Agui asked Cheng Yan casually.

"My rudimentary skills are enough to deal with ordinary petty thieves and bandits."

"what!"

Wu Agui said with a worried look, "What should we do?"

“Brother Wu, you don’t have to leave the academy. As long as you leave the academy, you won’t encounter any monsters.”

Upon hearing Cheng Yan's words, Wu Agui quickly shook his head: "No. There are few places on the mountain where silver is needed, so we can't exchange it for so much jewelry."

He frowned and sighed, "People in the martial arts world know the principle of not harming one's family, but monsters don't think so. If I take its gold and jewels and don't return them, what if the monster finds my family? Then I'll regret it."

Cheng Yan and Lü He were immediately impressed. They hadn't expected that Wu Agui was thinking of his family, which was why he risked his life.

Lu He instructed, "Brother Wu, if you encounter a monster, just give it the silver and don't ask or look at it."

Wu Agui clasped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you very much."

"Alas, why bother with this?" Lü He looked at Cheng Yan and sighed, seemingly helpless. "It's a pity I'm not skilled in martial arts. Brother Cheng, you must be careful out there."

"Don't worry, the one escorting the silver is a senior disciple from the Otsukodo sect; I'm just a guide."

Cheng Yan nodded and glanced at the black cat lying in its little nest.

Even if Senior Brother Yizitang is unreliable, there's still Uncle Cat.

If even a great monster like Uncle Cat can't handle it, then it's just his fate, and he can't blame anyone else.

Wu Agui felt somewhat relieved after hearing Cheng Yan's words.

However, unable to confide in anyone about the tension and anxiety in my heart, I drifted off to sleep in a daze.

Startled awake by the rustling sound, I saw Cheng Yan lighting an oil lamp and tidying up his things.

Cheng Yan made a shushing gesture, picked up the hard leather pouch, and went out the door.

Wu Agui quickly got up.

Just wash up briefly.

Cheng Yan, carrying a treasure bag, arrived at the academy gate under the guidance of his senior brother.

The black cat was perched on top of the pouch.

Hui Bao stood on Cheng Yan's shoulder, its big black bean eyes darting around.

It sniffed around for a moment, then its beady eyes lit up as it looked at the carriage not far away, eager to give it a try.

Behind the three tall horses running side by side was a carriage with a distinctive academy style. The servants were feeding the horses, while two senior students sat cross-legged on the carriage frame and leaned against the wheels, inspecting the carriage.

Upon seeing Cheng Yan carrying the treasure bag, the senior brother beside the wheel smiled and crossed his arms, saying, "Junior Brother Cheng."

"Senior Brother Yang, Senior Brother Ma."

Cheng Yan clasped his hands in greeting, first bowing to the kind-looking Senior Brother Yang, and then bowing to Senior Brother Ma who had risen from the carriage frame.

"Junior brother."

Yang Shen was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit with soft armor underneath, carrying a small box on his back and two short swords tucked diagonally behind his waist. His turban was tied up meticulously, his dark eyebrows framed a pair of amber eyes, and his large face looked quite kind, always smiling.

It was this senior brother who ran back and forth to inform them, which suggests that he was highly trusted by the headmaster.

Senior Brother Yang looked past Cheng Yan, clasped his hands in a salute, and greeted him with a smile, "Senior Brother Cat."

"Meow."

The black cat couldn't hide any longer, so it waved its paw in greeting.

Brother Ma, true to his name, had a horse-like face. He simply bowed and did not address him as "Brother Ma".

He became even more serious.

Wu Agui followed closely behind, quickly bowed to his two senior brothers, and then seemed to want to confirm whether his silver was still in the carriage, peeking around and hesitating to speak.

"Junior brother, don't worry, your silver is here."

The understanding senior brother Yang invited Wu Agui to get on the bus for a look.

"We'll still need to rely on our senior brother on the road."

Wu Agui was completely convinced.

The usually stern-faced Senior Brother Ma said in a deep voice, "Let's set off now and try to reach Meilan County before dusk."

Board the vehicle.

The carriage is large enough to comfortably seat four more people.

Three large boxes were piled up under the seat.

Yang Shen checked it again before locking it with peace of mind.

The money-grubbing Gray Treasure lay on top of the box, his eyes narrowed and a wide grin on his face, clearly enjoying himself.

The old cat then built a nest in the magic bag and continued to catch up on its sleep.

Sleeping is just as important as eating.

Even if studies and martial arts skills take up time, you must learn to squeeze out fragments of time from the gaps.

(End of this chapter)