Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Stolen Treasure
Talini Leopard gathered his men and descended the mountain to challenge the camp, seeking vengeance for his junior, Wolf Osmanthus.
Unfortunately, Murong Yan and Ye Feng paid no heed to Talini Leopard’s curses and taunts, treating them as if they were never uttered.
The sign for “No Battle” hung high, the camp remained shut, and none among the generals took the matter seriously—save for the Little Spirit Monkey, Li Yiqing, whose heart seethed with indignation.
Striding forward, Li Yiqing halted beneath the hall, clasped his fists, and stammered, “Two... two... two marshals, Ta... Ta... Talini Leopard flaunts... flaunts a few magic treasures, and... and dares to be so arrogant before our army, it’s... it’s truly hateful and infuriating! I... I... I wish to receive a command, to... to sneak up Falling Wild Goose Ridge tonight, steal... steal the treasures, and... and present them to you both!”
Ye Feng cautioned him, “General Li, since our last night raid on Juxiong Pass, Talini Leopard suffered a setback. I fear he’s already prepared this time—you must be careful.”
Li Yiqing shook his little head, stammering, “Not... not... not afraid! Only... only... only fear that no one alive can... can... can catch me!”
Murong Yan frowned deeply, rebuking, “Nonsense! You truly do not know your own limits! Such underestimation of the enemy—how can I trust you to go? Stand down, and speak no further of this!”
Li Yiqing shrank his neck, retreating in dejection.
That night, sleep eluded Li Yiqing as he tossed and turned in bed. The vile words Talini Leopard hurled during the day gnawed at his mind.
Old villain! Tonight, even if I break military discipline, I’ll make sure you don’t sleep easy!
With this thought, Li Yiqing sprang up, bounding back and forth as he gathered his gear, stretching arms and legs. In less than a moment, he was fully clad in night attire.
A rope fastened at his waist, a Golden Dragon Claw slotted behind him, along with Thunder-Wind-Fire Darts—all at the ready.
After a final check, bouncing thrice and jumping thrice to ensure nothing hindered him, he gently lifted the tent flap.
He slowly extended his head, peered outside—no one noticed.
With a soft “whoosh,” he leapt out, his form darting more than ten yards away in an instant, cloaked in the night’s cover, sneaking out of camp undetected, heading straight for Falling Wild Goose Ridge.
Soon, he arrived at the foot of the ridge; barren and devoid of even a crack in the stone, the moonlight reflecting a cold, eerie glow.
Looking upward, not a blade of grass grew, the cliffs even steeper than Juxiong Pass days before!
A mountain wind swept by, and Li Yiqing shivered uncontrollably—the chill seeped into his very bones, his hair standing on end.
He was here; retreat was impossible.
Li Yiqing made a last inspection of his gear, affixed the climbing claw to the rope, and finished his preparations.
He didn’t need the rope or Golden Dragon Claw just yet.
With a leap, he soared over a yard high, landing with a smack against the cliff wall.
He began to climb, exerting his spiritual power, scaling like a gecko.
After more than half an hour, Li Yiqing was sweating profusely; this was no feat for humans—not even monkeys could manage such endurance!
He glanced toward the mountaintop. Fortunately, he wasn’t far, maybe five or six yards left to go.
There was a small tree, just over a foot tall, its roots wedged in a crack in the stone.
Li Yiqing rejoiced silently. He tested his footing, found it secure, and reached for his rope at his waist.
He slipped the climbing claw onto it, swung it gently, aimed, and threw with a soft sound—the rope sailed out.
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A crisp “smack” echoed—the claw caught firmly onto the tree trunk.
“Brother, what was that sound?”
Suddenly, voices from the summit pierced the still night, startling Li Yiqing, who froze, not daring to move.
“Nonsense! Don’t scare me! Not even ghosts would come here!”
Another voice retorted, followed by snores, teeth grinding, and dream mutterings.
Li Yiqing was secretly delighted, admiring Talini Leopard’s vigilance for stationing guards even here. But his demon soldiers were so foolish, sleeping on duty and giving him an opening!
Li Yiqing judged the guards were sound asleep, tugged the rope to ensure it was secure, then, hands and feet working together, climbed as swiftly as a monkey to the summit.
At the top, he saw two demon soldiers sleeping back to back. Li Yiqing reached out and, with a crack, snapped one’s neck.
The other awoke with a start, about to yell, but Li Yiqing clamped his mouth shut.
“Don’t... don’t... don’t shout! One... one shout, and... and you’ll end up like him!”
Li Yiqing whispered fiercely, terrifying the demon soldier, whose eyes widened and body trembled.
“Tell me, where... where... where does Talini Leopard hide his... his magic treasures?” Li Yiqing pressed.
The demon blinked rapidly; seeing he wanted to speak, Li Yiqing released his hand.
“Hero!...” The demon gasped for breath, then replied, “Old... old master’s treasures are all kept in his bedroom; he never stores them in the armory. I’ve told you everything—please spare me!”
He pleaded with pitiful eyes.
Li Yiqing smiled, nodded in satisfaction, and asked, “Where... where... where’s the old... old master’s bedroom? Tell... tell me, and Li... Li Yiqing will let... let you go.”
The demon pointed to a tall building in the stronghold, saying, “Hero, it’s there. His bedroom is on the first floor; he never allows anyone to disturb him. No guards inside, only two at the door.”
Li Yiqing nodded, and while the demon was distracted, struck him on the neck to knock him out.
“Good... good, you... you rest here.”
With that, he leapt a yard away, and with two flickers, vanished like a phantom.
Soon, Li Yiqing avoided patrolling demon soldiers, arriving beneath the tall building.
Seeing guards at the door, he didn’t enter through the main entrance, but circled to the back, used the Golden Dragon Claw to pry open a window, and slipped in silently.
Inside, it was pitch dark.
Li Yiqing channeled his spiritual power into his eyes, finally seeing the room clearly.
The chamber was lavishly furnished, every item made of fine materials and exquisite craftsmanship.
Li Yiqing tiptoed through the hall, heading straight for the bedroom.
Outside the bedroom, he used the Golden Dragon Claw to gently pry open the door, peering inside.
Talini Leopard snored loudly, limbs splayed in a star shape on the bed.
Beside him, a weapon rack held the Divine Whip, Soul-Settling Brick, Dragon-Binding Rope, Steel-Tipped Spear, Heaven-Earth Sword, and Decapitating Flying Knife.
Another wooden rack displayed a suit of armor, gleaming brightly—the Moonlight Treasure Armor he wore daily.
Li Yiqing rejoiced inwardly.
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He pushed open the bedroom door, tiptoeing inside, and carefully took the Divine Whip, Soul-Settling Brick, Dragon-Binding Rope, Steel-Tipped Spear, Heaven-Earth Bow, and Decapitating Flying Knife from the rack.
With weapons hanging all about him, he knew he couldn’t carry the Moonlight Treasure Armor, so he regretfully retreated from the bedroom.
He passed through the hall, returned to the window.
Looking around, he saw no one had noticed.
He sprang onto the windowsill with a “whoosh,” and with a somersault, landed on the ground!
But his nimbleness was foiled by the Steel-Tipped Spear, which was too long and heavy. As he landed, the spearhead struck the ground, shattering a tile with a loud clang.
“Who’s there?!”
A guard shouted, spinning toward the noise. He saw Li Yiqing, just like a mouse dragging a shovel, hauling a pile of treasures in escape.
He shouted, “Thief!” and lunged at Li Yiqing with his spear.
Li Yiqing dodged the thrust, then tossed the Divine Whip, smashing it onto the guard’s head!
There was a sharp crack, as if striking a watermelon—blood splattered, brains, flesh, and shattered bone flew everywhere.
The corpse fell with a thud.
The other demon soldier, witnessing this, turned pale, crying out, “Th... th... thief! So... so fierce a thief, he’s killed a demon!”
In his panic, he began to cry.
“Who dares steal my treasures?! I’ll have your life!”
A loud shout rang from inside as a hunched, disheveled old demon—the Talini Leopard himself—ran out, snatching the spear from the guard’s hand and lunging at Li Yiqing.
Li Yiqing, having suffered at this old demon’s hands before, knew he was no match. He hastily abandoned his pile of treasures, leapt several times, and disappeared in a blink!
Talini Leopard cursed furiously.
Li Yiqing escaped, filled with regret!
He blamed his own greed, for taking too many treasures at once, not even leaving the Steel-Tipped Spear behind—thus making noise and ruining his plan.
To try again would be difficult, as the demon soldiers were now alert, like startled birds.
Yet returning empty-handed would invite ridicule from the generals.
Ah! Tonight, even if I risk my life, I must steal a few treasures!
At worst, I’ll be caught alive—but as long as there’s a chance, can Talini Leopard really trap this Little Spirit Monkey?
With this resolve, Li Yiqing turned back, preparing for a second attempt at Falling Wild Goose Ridge, to steal treasures from the dragon’s den and tiger’s lair.
This is what it means to be skilled and bold—the bolder, the greater the skill.
Will Li Yiqing succeed in stealing the treasures? See the next chapter!
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