The Magus Era

Three days later, Ji Xia and Qing Fu woke up. Although they had almost healed completely, they still felt very weak.

Ji Xia told everyone that Qing Fu had used up all the power of the ‘Thorns of Life and Death’ to counterbalance the Shamisen Fire in order to save Ji Xia and herself.

In the meeting dome, the leaders and elders of the Fire Crow Clan were sitting around a bonfire. Ji Shu held the ‘Fire Crow Axe Cane’ in his hands. Besides Ji Hao, everyone else was looking glooming at the ‘Fire Crow Axe Cane’. Ji Hao was sitting behind Ji Xia, and was staring at Jiang Yao, who was sitting next to Ji Shu wearing a grim face.

“We, the Fire Crow Clan, have the best warriors in the South Wasteland. However, we don’t have good weapons and equipment which are equivalent to their abilities,” said Ji Shu, who looked down at the ‘Fire Crow Axe Cane’ in his hands.

“But those nice equipment are not for free. We need a large amount of gold, jade, and valuable minerals to trade for those weapons and equipment.” Ji Shu looked around at the people surrounding him and continued coldly. “Before the worship ceremony, I had been hunting in the Cold Stream Valley. I found a rich lode of both gold and jade there.”

“Cold Stream Valley? I know that place, it’s less than two hundred miles away from the Mountain of Springs. We have a mine in the Mountain of Springs, which produced eight-thousand pieces of gold last year,” said Ji Xiao, after Ji Shu had finished talking. Ji Xiao was Ji Hu’s father, and was also an influential person in the clan.

Ji Shu nodded and said: “I’ve sent people to investigate the Cold Stream Valley. We discovered that the mine in the Mountain of Springs is just a small branch lode of the central lode in the Cold Stream Valley. As long as we have enough slaves to work in there, we will get at least two-hundred-thousand pieces of gold, and thirty-thousand pieces of jade, out of that Valley.”

Ji Kui took a deep breath and said to Ji Shu: “Ji Shu, what do you have in mind?”

Ji Shu raised the ‘Fire Crow Axe Cane’, looked at Ji Xia, who seemed tired and pale, and said: “My brother, you are the most powerful man among all these people; you’re also extremely responsible. Such an important property must be guarded by you. So, I will send you to guard the Cold Stream Valley.”

“That great lode means a lot to our clan, you’re the only one who can take this responsibility. I know that the Cold Stream Valley is a bit far from the Gold Black Mountain. My brother, you should take your family with you.” Ji Shu continued before Ji Xia had responded.

Ji Xia took a glance at the shining ‘Fire Crow Axe Cane’ then bowed to Ji Shu and said: “Sure. I will be on my way with my people. Please send slaves to open up the mine, as soon as possible.”

Ji Shu smiled and said softly: “Sure. We won’t delay to open up that mine. After all, we’re talking about a big profit.”

Ji Xia stood up, stayed silent for a while, then said: “Three days ago, Senior Magi of the Black Water Serpent showed up near our Holy land. Ji Hu, Ji Feng and Ji Shui are missing...This...”

“I will look into this. My brother, you’re no longer the leader. You don’t have to worry about this kind of things anymore. Just focus on guarding the Cold Stream Valley,” said Ji Shu coldly, with a frown.

Ji Hao stood up, and dragged Ji Xia’s arm.

Ji Shu, Ji Xiao, Jiang Yao, the father of Ji Feng, and Ji Shui simultaneously threw a glance at Ji Hao. Especially Jiang Yao, her beautiful face was as twisted as that of a ghost; if she hadn’t been trying so hard to control her rage, she probably would already have exploded.

Ji Hao looked at her twisted face and intentionally said: “Ji Shu, my uncle, according to the rule of the Southern Wasteland, if a man dies, all of his properties can be inherited by his brothers. I’ve met Jiang Xue a couple of days ago, and I found her really pretty. I’d like to have her. Uncle Ji Shu, why don’t you just give her to me?”

Ji Hao then wiped his own nose, showed a simple and honest face, and continued: “Although Ji Wu died before he had married Jiang Xue, it was a bit...unlucky. But, she’s really pretty, so I wouldn’t mind.”

Jiang Yao’s face turned even darker in rage. She clenched her own fists so hard that her nails had dug into her flesh. Her arms were trembling; she even broke one of her fingers off.

Ji Shu stayed silent for a while, then smiled grudgingly, and said: “Hao, you’re right about that rule...But, although Wu’s dead, he still had a few more cousins...You’re just a distant cousin of his...I think...it’s not yet your turn to have Jiang Xue.”

Ji Hao sighed, threw up his hands, and said: “Ah...yes, yes, I forgot about those kids. I understand, I do. But...Jiang Xue’s really pretty, I really fancy her. So...please do give her to me after those kids too have died.”

Ji Mu, who was sitting behind Ji Shu, almost jerked himself up when he heard what Ji Hao had said. Ji Mu was one of the blood-related brothers of Ji Shu; his sons were those cousins they were talking about. In his eyes, Ji Hao had just cursed his sons to die.

Ji Shu put his hand on Ji Mu’s shoulder, and pressed Ji Mu back in his seat.

Ji Shu then said harshly to Ji Xia: “Alright. Things are all settled! Ji Xia, my brother, you should make your trip to the Cold Stream Valley now. You only have two months to get everything ready in the Cold Stream Valley. That lode is highly important to the development of our clan. You can't let that lode fall into the hands of the Black Water Serpent Clan!”

Ji Xia tapped his own chest, and said in a low voice: “As long as I’m alive, the Cold Stream Valley will be ours.”

Ji Xia then walked out of the meeting dome. Ji Hao was following Ji Xia and also walked out.

When they trod through the mulberry woods, Ji Hao laughed out loud and said: “Abba! Have you seen the faces of Ji Shu and his family? Haha!”

Ji Xia sighed, patted Ji Hao on his head, then said: “Ji Xiao and I... We had been close when we were young. But now...He has gotten something else in his mind. To work with the Bi Fang Clan might bring profit to them...But have they ever thought about our clan?”

Ji Xia remained silent for a little while, then murmured: “Hu, Feng, and Shui...Those three kids were quite talented. But they ganged up with outsiders and attempted to hurt their own people...They deserved to die...Such a sham...”

Ji Hao didn’t say anything. Ji Shu and his people had seemed very calm during the past three days. Ji Hao knew that they were planning something big.

Two hours later, Ji Xia’s troops left the Gold Black Mountain and headed into the Northern jungle, accompanied by low and deep roars of beasts.

Cold Stream Valley was ten-thousand miles away from the Gold Black Mountain. It wasn’t easy for them to reach the valley within two months.