Gods: Start with Goblins

The next morning, before the sky was completely bright, a thin mist covered the town like a veil. Luodan and Bakyun stood under the old locust tree at the entrance of the town, packing their luggage. Luodan carried a worn leather bag filled with dry food and a few simple tools, while Bakyun carried a rusty long knife, the scabbard still stained with dew from last night.

"Are you really coming?" Luo Dan frowned and looked at Shangguan the Butcher standing beside him. Shangguan the Butcher was a burly man with a face full of flesh. He held a bloody butcher knife in his hand, but his eyes were extremely firm.

"Nonsense! When have I, Shangguan the Butcher, ever been afraid of death?" He said in a rough voice, his voice like thunder that made people's ears numb. "Besides, Bowen is my nephew. If he is really caught, can I just sit there and do nothing?"

Buck Yun sighed and shook his head: "You are really... We are not going to the market. We don't know how many ambushes there are along the way. If the news is false, we will be finished."

Shangguan the Butcher waved his hand impatiently: "Stop talking nonsense! I, Shangguan the Butcher, have been in the martial arts world for so many years, what storms and waves have I not seen? Besides, if you two guys can go, why can't I?"

Luo Dan and Buck Yun looked at each other and shrugged helplessly. They knew that once Shangguan the Butcher made a decision, no one could change it.

The three of them walked along the muddy path towards the mountains. The morning air was filled with the scent of soil and grass, and occasionally birds could be heard singing in the distance. The sun gradually shone through the clouds, sprinkling on the wild flowers on the roadside, and the dewdrops sparkled.

After walking for a while, Buckyun suddenly stopped and looked up at the mountains in the distance. His brows were furrowed, and there was a hint of uneasiness in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Luo Dan asked.

Buck Yun took a deep breath and whispered, "I always feel that something is wrong. The news of Shangguan Bowen's arrest came too suddenly, and there was no news at all. Do you think someone deliberately released false news to lure us in?"

Luo Dan was silent for a moment, then nodded: "I have thought about this question as well. But now Bowen's life or death is uncertain, we can't just sit there and do nothing, right?"

Shangguan the Butcher interrupted impatiently after hearing this: "Why are you two so slow? No matter whether it's true or not, we'll know when we get there. Besides, even if there really is an ambush, are we three afraid of them?"

Buck Yun smiled bitterly: "You are really careless. But if the other side has more people and more power, we will really be trapped."

Shangguan the Butcher snorted and patted his chest: "What are you afraid of? I, Shangguan the Butcher, am not a vegetarian! Whoever dares to block my way, I will let him taste my butcher knife!"

Luo Dan shook his head helplessly and continued to move forward. He knew in his heart that this journey would never be peaceful. There were countless dangers hidden deep in the mountains, and the purpose of their trip was just a piece of news that was hard to tell whether it was true or false.

After walking for a while, the three of them came to a dense forest. The light in the forest was dim, the branches and leaves were dense, and occasionally a few strange bird calls could be heard, which made people alert.

"Be careful, there may be an ambush here." Buck Yun warned in a low voice.

Shangguan the Butcher didn't take it seriously and walked ahead with big strides: "What are you afraid of? Who dares to come when I'm here?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a rustling sound suddenly came from deep in the woods. The three of them immediately stopped and looked in the direction of the sound with caution.

"Who's there?" Luo Dan shouted in a low voice, his hand already on the dagger at his waist.

The woods were quiet, without any response. Suddenly, a hare jumped out from the bushes and ran away quickly.

"Haha, it turned out to be a rabbit!" Shangguan the Butcher laughed, "You two guys are too nervous, aren't you?"

Buck Yun didn't smile, his eyes were still alert: "Don't be careless, there's something wrong with this place."

Luo Dan nodded and whispered, "We'd better be careful and don't fall into an ambush."

The three of them continued to walk forward, and the atmosphere in the forest became increasingly oppressive. The sunlight was blocked by the dense branches and leaves, leaving only mottled light and shadows on the ground. Occasionally, the wind blew, and the leaves made a rustling sound, as if someone was whispering.

After walking for a while, Buckyun suddenly stopped and pointed ahead and said, "Look, what is that?"

Luodan and Shangguan the Butcher looked in the direction his finger pointed and saw a strange symbol carved on the tree trunk in front of them, which looked like some ancient writing.

"What does this mean?" asked Shangguan the Butcher with a frown.

Luo Dan walked closer and took a closer look. His expression suddenly became serious. "This is... a mark of bandits. It seems that we have been targeted."

Buck Yun sighed: "Sure enough, this journey will not be peaceful."

Shangguan the Butcher didn't take it seriously and waved his butcher knife: "What are you afraid of? If there's one, I'll chop one. If there's two, I'll chop a pair!"

Luo Dan shook his head: "Don't be impulsive, let's find a way to avoid them first."

At this moment, a low horn sounded suddenly from the depths of the woods, followed by the sound of dense footsteps in the surrounding grass.

"Oh no, we are surrounded!" Buck Yun whispered, his hand already clenched around his long sword.

Luo Dan quickly looked around and found that dozens of dark shadows had appeared in the woods and were slowly approaching them.

"It seems that this trip is not that simple." Luo Dan said with a wry smile, but there was a hint of determination in his eyes.

Butcher Shangguan laughed loudly and raised his butcher knife: "Come on! Let me see what you rats are capable of!"

Buckyun and Luodan stood back to back, watching the enemies around them warily. The atmosphere in the woods suddenly became tense, and a fierce battle seemed inevitable...

As soon as Luo Dan finished speaking, Baku Yun frowned, and a complicated look flashed in his eyes. He looked up at the winding mountain road ahead, and then looked at Luo Dan's relaxed appearance, and couldn't help but sighed: "You said it lightly, but the situation this time is different from the past. Although the Heavenly Saint Taoist and the Beast King are powerful, they are open enemies after all. We can still find a way to deal with them. But this time... who knows what traps those sects have set up in secret?"

Luo Dan smiled and patted Buck Yun on the shoulder: "You are too cautious. We have been through a lot along the way. Besides, Shangguan Bowen is not a pushover. If he is really caught, he will definitely find a way to spread the news. But now we only hear rumors, not even any definite news. Maybe he deliberately released a smokescreen."

Shangguan the Butcher couldn't help but interrupt him and said, "What are you two whispering about? If Bowen is really caught, we have to rescue him! If he is not caught, we have to go and check it out. What if he really thinks something happened to you two? Wouldn't it cause a bigger mess?"

Buck Yun shook his head helplessly: "Why are you always so impulsive? We will face the encirclement and suppression of the entire sect when we go there. If we are not careful, we will be doomed. Aren't you worried at all?" Shangguan the Butcher snorted and waved the butcher knife in his hand: "Worried? I, Shangguan the Butcher, have been in the martial arts world for so many years. When have I ever been afraid? Besides, Bowen is my nephew. I can't just watch him get into trouble, right?"

Luo Dan couldn't help laughing after hearing this. "Alright, alright, stop arguing. Anyway, we are already on the road now, and there is no point in saying anything. Why don't you think about how to deal with the next situation?"

Bakuyun nodded and whispered, "You're right. However, we still have to be careful. Those people from the sects are not easy to deal with. If they really set up a trap, we will be in trouble."

Luo Dan waved his hand, looking relaxed: "What are you afraid of? This is not the first time we have dealt with them. Besides, we still have a few cards in our hands that we haven't revealed yet. If we really fight, it's not certain who will win or lose."

Shangguan the Butcher couldn't help but burst into laughter after hearing this: "Well said! That's more like it! If the three of us join forces, how can we be afraid of those sects?"

The three of them continued to walk forward as they talked. The mountain road became steeper and steeper, and the surrounding scenery gradually became more desolate. In the distance, the outline of the mountain range was looming in the mist, like a sleeping giant beast, waiting for their arrival.

After walking for a while, Buckyun suddenly stopped and pointed ahead and said, "Look, there is a cave over there. Should we go in and take a look?"

Luodan looked in the direction of his finger and saw a pitch-black hole on the mountain wall. The area around the hole was overgrown with weeds and looked very hidden.

"This place is quite suitable for hiding." Luo Dan whispered, "Let's go in and take a look. Maybe we can find some clues."

Butcher Shangguan nodded and walked over with big strides: "Let's go in and take a look!"

The three of them walked into the cave carefully. The light inside was dim and the air was filled with a damp smell. Luo Dan took out a torch from his bag, lit it and held it in his hand. The flames immediately illuminated the surrounding rock walls.

"This place looks like someone has been here before," Buckyun whispered, pointing to some footprints on the ground.

Luo Dan squatted down and looked at the footprints carefully, frowning slightly: "These footprints are very fresh, they must have been left recently. It seems that our guess is correct, there are indeed people active here."

Shangguan the Butcher couldn't help but get excited after hearing this: "What are you waiting for? Let's catch up and take a look!"

Luo Dan shook his head: "Don't worry, we have to find out where the other party came from first. If they are really from the sect, we must not alert them."

Buckyun nodded and whispered, "You are right. Let's rest here for a while and take action after dark."

Although Shangguan the Butcher was a little impatient, he knew that now was not the time to act impulsively, so he nodded: "Okay, then I'll listen to you."

The three of them found a secluded corner and sat down. Luo Dan took out some dry food from his bag and distributed it to everyone. The cave was so quiet that only the crackling of burning torches could be heard. The atmosphere seemed a bit depressing.

After a while, Buck Yun suddenly whispered, "Do you think Shangguan Bowen knows we are here?"

Luo Dan smiled and whispered back, "That guy is very smart. He might have noticed our movements a long time ago. However, we can't let our guard down. If he is really caught, we have to find a way to rescue him."

After hearing this, Shangguan the Butcher couldn't help but tighten his grip on the butcher knife in his hand, with a fierce look in his eyes: "Whoever dares to touch my nephew, I will let him taste my power!"

Luo Dan and Buck Yun looked at each other and smiled helplessly. They knew that although Shangguan the Butcher was rude, he cared for his family sincerely. Although his impulsiveness and impatience were a headache along the way, it was this loyalty that made them feel a little relieved.

The sky gradually darkened, and the wind outside the cave became louder and louder, as if foreshadowing the coming storm. Luo Dan stood up, patted the dust off his body, and whispered: "It's almost time, we should act."

Buck Yun and Shangguan the Butcher nodded, and the three of them walked out of the cave carefully and headed towards the depths of the mountains. In the night, their figures gradually disappeared in the vast mountains and forests, as if they had merged into this unknown darkness...

As night fell, a thin layer of mist filled the forest. Moonlight shone through the gaps between branches and leaves, creating patches of light and shadows on the ground. Buckyun and Luodan walked side by side at the front of the team, surrounded by their companions. The sound of their footsteps was particularly clear in the silent forest.

"I always feel that we have to be extra careful when we enter the Monster Mountain Range this time." Buck Yun frowned and said with a worried look on his face, "Although our strength is not bad, who knows what dangers there will be."

Luo Dan chuckled and patted Buck Yun on the shoulder. "Old Ba, you just think too much. There are millions of monsters in the Monster Mountain Range. If there is any danger, they are the best shield. As long as the Holy See doesn't come out, what can they do to us?"

Buck Yun was slightly stunned, then nodded after thinking for a moment, "That's right." He relaxed his brows and looked much more relaxed, "I was too cautious. With so many monsters ahead, we really don't need to worry too much."

The group continued along the winding mountain road, the sound of horse hooves clattering, and when they had traveled about thirty miles, the view ahead suddenly opened up, and a relatively flat open space appeared before them. At this moment, the scout in front of the team hurried back, looking nervous.

"Captain, there is a force ahead!" the scout reported breathlessly.

Buck Yun immediately raised his hand to signal the team to stop and asked vigilantly: "What's going on? Tell me in detail."

"There are more than a hundred of them in total, all of them are cultivators, but their realm level is not high, just ordinary super-level. Judging from their route, it seems that they are also heading to the mountains." The scout replied hurriedly.

Buckyun and Luodan exchanged a glance, and Luodan frowned slightly, "It seems that we are not the only ones who are eyeing the Monster Mountain Range."

"Let's go and take a look first, don't act rashly." Buck Yun said, leading the team slowly towards that force.

When the two sides got closer, Buckyun saw the other side clearly. He saw that the more than 100 people also stopped and looked at them vigilantly. The leader was a tall man with a rough face.

"Who are you? Why are you blocking our way?" the man shouted.

Buck Yun stepped forward and said loudly, "We are just passing by. I see you are also going to the Monster Mountain Range. Why don't we travel together? It will be easier for you to take care of us on the way."

Upon hearing this, the man whispered a few words to his companions, then said, "Why should we trust you? What if you have bad intentions?"

Luo Dan couldn't help but smile, "We are all practitioners, and we all want to go to the same place, so why should we be suspicious of each other? One more friend means one more path, you must understand this principle." (End of this chapter)