My sister broke off her engagement to marry someone richer? My older sister married me and became in

Lu Qingshan took the scroll wrapped in oilcloth with both hands.

It feels heavy in your hand, as if you are not holding a roll of yellowed paper, but the weight of a mountain, the sedimentation of hundreds of years.

He knew what this thing meant.

It is a legacy, but also a responsibility.

Without the slightest hesitation, Lu Qingshan's knees buckled, and he knelt down firmly before Zou Yuan in front of him.

"Thump!"

"Thump!"

"Thump!"

He kowtowed three times in a row, his forehead striking the hard rock with a dull thud, yet he felt no pain whatsoever.

"Master."

He spoke those two words with utmost solemnity, from the bottom of his heart.

Zou Yuan accepted the three bows without hesitation and did not help him up.

He looked at the young man kneeling before him, a hint of relief flashing in his cloudy eyes.

Get up.

"My lineage doesn't value these formalities."

"Having this mountain in your heart is more effective than kowtowing ten thousand times."

Lu Qingshan stood up, his gaze resolute.

Zou Yuan pointed to the scroll in his hand: "Open it and take a look."

Lu Qingshan carefully unwrapped the oilcloth, revealing a scroll made of some kind of animal hide.

The scroll is divided into two parts.

On the left is a densely packed collection of tiny characters, which are the core principles and mantras of the "Guardian of the Mountain" technique.

On the right is a hand-drawn, incredibly detailed map of the Changbai Mountains.

"The Mountain Guardian Technique doesn't train your Qi, it trains your 'listening'," Zou Yuan's voice carried on the night breeze.

"Listen?" Lu Qingshan asked, puzzled.

Yes, listen.

Zou Yuan walked to the edge of the cliff and pointed to the endless dark forest below.

"Listen to how the wind blows through the pine needles, listen to how the stream flows around the rocks, listen to how the tree roots grow underground, listen to the heartbeat of the beasts, listen to the breath of all things."

"Let your own breath, your heartbeat, blend into the breath of this mountain forest."

"When you cease to be yourself and become part of the mountain, the mountain also becomes part of you. You can then borrow some of its power."

These words were profound and mysterious, completely overturning Lu Qingshan's understanding of martial arts in both his past and present lives.

Following Zou Yuan's instructions, he sat cross-legged, placed the scroll on his knees, closed his eyes, and began to adjust his breathing according to the "Guarding the Mountain Technique".

At first, he was restless and agitated, and all he could hear was the sound of the wind and the chirping of insects, a chaotic jumble of noises.

He forced himself to calm down.

One breath in, one breath out.

Gradually, his breathing became long and deep, and his heartbeat slowed down.

After an unknown amount of time, a strange feeling appeared.

He seemed to have "heard" it.

A hundred meters away, a withered leaf drifted down from the treetop, its slight trajectory clearly imprinted in his mind.

Below the mountain stream, the water washed over the pebbles, and he could "see" the direction of the water and the outline of the stones clearly.

His senses seemed to transform into countless invisible tentacles, extending infinitely in all directions, following the wind, the water, and the veins of the earth.

The entire Tiger King Ridge seemed to have transformed into a giant living organism, and he was a cell within that organism, able to clearly feel its every pulse.

"You felt it?" Zou Yuan's voice rang out at the right time.

Lu Qingshan suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with shock.

"Master, this..."

"This is just the beginning," Zou Yuan said calmly. "You have excellent aptitude and a natural affinity for the mountains and forests. With diligent cultivation, you will discover even more wonders."

"Now, demonstrate your boxing technique again."

Lu Qingshan took a deep breath, stood up, and resumed the "White Ape Guarding the Mountain Fist" stance.

This time, it felt completely different.

If we say that he used to rely on the explosive power of his muscles and bones to throw punches, then he used the explosive power of his muscles and bones to throw punches.

Now, with each punch and kick, he could clearly feel the energy of the surrounding mountains and forests surging with his movements.

Where the wind from his punch passed, the fallen leaves on the ground were no longer violently torn apart, but gently swirled, as if dancing with him.

With his move "White Ape Probes the Way," he no longer extends his claws to kill, but rather his antennae to sense the wind direction.

With his move "Mad Ape Smashes Nest," he no longer unleashed a deadly iron fist, but instead drew upon the immense power of the earth, making it as steady as a mountain.

After finishing the entire set of boxing techniques, Lu Qingshan stood up, feeling his blood and energy were at peace and his whole body felt comfortable. He was not tired at all, but rather full of energy.

He seemed to have merged with the mountain beneath his feet, and every breath he took exuded boundless power.

"The form and intent are well integrated, not bad." Zou Yuan nodded in satisfaction. "This fist technique has finally come alive."

Lu Qingshan calmed his excited emotions and turned his gaze to the right half of the rolled-up animal skin picture.

"Master, is this the secret map for gathering herbs?"

"Um."

Lu Qingshan leaned closer to take a closer look.

Upon seeing this, he gasped again.

This is more than just a map.

The map not only marks the growing locations of various rare medicinal herbs with cinnabar, but also uses a special symbol to densely record countless pieces of information.

Next to a "Eight Treasures Rejuvenating Grass", it is labeled that its companion plant is "Gentian Flower", and the wild beast guarding it is a nest of "Golden Ringed Snakes".

The best time to pick the fruit is "the third rainy day after the autumnal equinox," and even the type of tools needed for picking is clearly stated.

This is not a map, it is clearly an encyclopedia written over hundreds of years and with the lives of countless herb gatherers!

Its value is immeasurable in monetary terms.

Just as Lu Qingshan was shocked by the contents of the picture, his gaze suddenly froze on the lower right corner of the secret map.

There, a special mark was drawn.

A lifelike eagle head.

Below the mark, there is a line of smaller text: "Outsider, greedy by nature, skilled in using iron tools, whose tools are extremely sharp."

Lu Qingshan would never mistake this mark.

The animal trap that almost crippled one of the tiger cubs had an identical eagle head branded on it!

"Master, this eagle head mark..." Lu Qingshan's voice turned somber.

Zou Yuan's expression also instantly turned serious.

"You ran into them?"

"One of my... friends was hurt by their things." Lu Qingshan did not mention the tiger cubs.

"Hmph." Zou Yuan snorted coldly, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes.

"This group, which calls itself the 'Eagle Head Gang,' has only appeared in this forest in the last five or six years."

"Of unknown origin, ruthless in their actions, they specialize in stealing medicinal herbs that are over a hundred years old, and they will do anything for medicinal herbs."

"Many sentient beings in the mountains have fallen victim to their cruelty. Animal traps are just their most common methods; poisoned blowguns and silent crossbows are their true killing moves."

Zou Yuan's words made Lu Qingshan's heart sink.

An unknown outside force, equipped with sophisticated weaponry and employing ruthless tactics, is coveting the treasures hidden in these mountains and forests.

"They outnumber us and use unorthodox methods. Even the tiger king in the mountains has suffered at their hands," Zou Yuan sighed.

"These old bones of mine can only guard this valley of herbs; there's nothing I can do about them."

At this point, he added something as if it were unintentional.

"Moreover, I heard from younger generations who came from outside the mountains to collect herbs that this group of people seems to have some unclear and ambiguous connection with a pharmacy called 'Huichuntang' in the provincial capital."

Rejuvenation Hall!

These three words, like a thunderclap, exploded in Lu Qingshan's mind.

The Thunder Gang's channels for selling stolen goods!

The letter found on Lei Dong pointed to Huichuntang in the provincial capital as the place to sell the stolen goods!

Now, this mysterious "Eagle Head Gang" is actually connected to Huichuntang!

Two seemingly unrelated lines suddenly intersected at this moment!

A massive smuggling and illegal mining network spanning both the legitimate and criminal worlds slowly emerged in Lu Qingshan's mind.

It turns out that Lei Dong and his gang were just one link in this huge network responsible for violent looting.

These "Eagle Head Gangs" are another link in the chain responsible for illegally mining resources deep in the mountains.

Huichuntang was their common platform for selling stolen goods!

Lu Qingshan's hand, gripping the animal hide scroll, tightened unconsciously, his knuckles turning white.

He finally realized that what he was facing was not one or two ruthless bandits, nor a group of poachers, but a well-organized and vicious criminal gang!

He put away the secret map and bowed deeply to Zou Yuan.

"Master, I understand."

"Rest assured, as long as I, Lu Qingshan, remain in these mountains, I will never allow these outsiders to harm the forests and vegetation in the slightest!"

Zou Yuan looked at him, and a genuine smile finally appeared on his aged face.

"it is good."

"I've guarded this mountain my whole life, waited my whole life, just waiting for someone like you."

"He has the skill to kill bears, the kindness to save tigers, and most importantly, he can stay true to himself."

"This mountain is now in your hands."

After the old man finished speaking, he turned and walked back to his thatched hut, leaving Lu Qingshan alone under the moonlight.

Just as Lu Qingshan was processing all of this and preparing to cultivate with his master on the mountain for a few more days to thoroughly solidify the "Mountain Guardian Technique,"

A series of hurried and frantic footsteps came quickly up from the mountain path he had come from.

"team leader!"

"Captain! Where are you?!"

It's Liu Dong's voice!

Lu Qingshan frowned, and in a flash, he appeared at the entrance of the mountain path.

Liu Dong was soaked with dew, sweating profusely, his face filled with anxiety and panic, and he was clutching a thin piece of paper in his hand.

"What happened?"

"Captain, something bad has happened!" Liu Dong saw Lu Qingshan and seemed to have found his pillar of support. He rushed over in three steps, handed him the paper in his hand, and said breathlessly.

"A telegram just arrived from the provincial capital... from the provincial capital!"

Lu Qingshan took the telegram, unfolded it, and the printed words on it made his pupils suddenly contract.

"Sister-in-law...something's happened!"