I Have 10 Equipment Slots-Chapter 97 - 89: I’d Like to See Who Dares

The sapphire-blue eyes first scanned the surroundings, then turned to Gu Zheng.

"Mew?"

"I have a favor to ask you." Gu Zheng opened the portrait of Zhang Boshong, stepped into the gazebo, and placed it in front of Pang Hu. He pointed at the image for the little fatty to see. "Go to that mountain and see if you can find this man."

Gu Zheng pointed toward Golden Fate Mountain and offered, "When you get back, I’ll give you Spirit-Eating Ants. How does that sound?"

"Mew!"

Pang Hu’s sapphire-blue eyes brightened, and a happy expression appeared on its round face as it nodded eagerly.

It immediately looked down at the portrait of Zhang Boshong and let out a determined cry.

WHOOSH!

A blur of motion flashed, and it vanished.

Zhang Ning, who had watched the entire exchange, opened his mouth, wanting to ask, ’Can the Little Fatty Cat really find him?’

But then he remembered the Little Fatty Cat was a Spirit Beast and might truly possess special abilities, so he kept his mouth shut.

Gu Zheng offered no explanation.

In truth, the best way to find someone would be through his three Exotic Insects: the Mist Shadow Celestial Dragon, the Divine Leech, and the Spirit-Eating Ants.

Gu Zheng could share their sight.

However, even the most intelligent of them, the Mist Shadow Celestial Dragon, was only slightly smarter than a housecat or a dog.

It was fine for searching for a Spirit Body, but when it came to finding a person, it couldn’t comprehend Gu Zheng’s instructions at all.

Pang Hu, on the other hand, understood his meaning after just a few words. It was also incredibly fast and could scour the entire mountain, not missing a single crevice.

Pang Hu’s Instant Teleportation ability, in particular, made it extremely sensitive to all manner of hidden locations, such as underground chambers, caves deep within the mountain, and spatial rifts. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Gu Zheng had already dripped his Essence Blood on the Wooden Fish that Pang Hu had carried out of the Domain, claiming it completely and learning its function.

Concealment!

The Wooden Fish could completely hide a person’s body and aura.

In other words, Invisibility!

Not only could Gu Zheng use it himself, but he could also transfer its effect to others.

Pang Hu’s own stealth and tracking abilities were so great that even a Super Body Realm expert couldn’t detect it.

With the addition of this Marvel, the Wooden Fish, Pang Hu could ascend the mountain without a single trace, even more efficiently than Gu Zheng could himself.

And so it was.

Less than fifteen minutes later.

WHOOSH~

A blur of motion flashed, and Pang Hu appeared out of thin air, landing on the stone table.

It gestured with its short legs, its sapphire-blue eyes wide, and let out several urgent cries of "Mew! Mew!" at Gu Zheng.

Zhang Ning watched and listened, utterly bewildered.

Gu Zheng, however, understood perfectly.

"Zhang is on the mountain."

"Huh? For real?"

Zhang Ning blurted out. Realizing his mistake, he quickly added, "I mean, even if we know Zhang is on the mountain, we still don’t know his exact location."

"I already know."

Gu Zheng’s sharp brows furrowed. "It’s not just Zhang on the mountain. There are others being held captive with him."

"Captive? Others?" Zhang Ning exclaimed, half in disbelief. "Jinshan Temple dares to imprison someone from our Demon Slayer Bureau? They’ve got a death wish! Mr. Gu, I’ll go back and gather some Warriors to help seal off Golden Fate Mountain..."

"No need."

Gu Zheng raised a hand to cut him off. "I recall the Fengzhou Army has a camp nearby, correct?"

"...That’s right." Zhang Ning blinked.

"Then we’ll go to the camp."

Gu Zheng called to Pang Hu, and the two men and one Little Fatty Cat headed straight for the army encampment.

Upon arriving at the camp,

Gu Zheng took out his Hundred Households Token and tossed it to the general who received them for inspection.

Once the man confirmed his identity, he bowed with a cupped-fist salute.

Gu Zheng commanded, "General Wu, immediately muster ten thousand soldiers. Equip them with crossbows and prepare to march with me."

"Yes, my lord!"

General Wu accepted the order, bowed, and withdrew.

Soon, the sound of the Gathering General Drum echoed through the camp.

About half an hour later,

Gu Zheng took the lead with Zhang Ning following behind. The two men rode at the head of a ten-thousand-strong army, marching majestically out of the camp toward Golden Fate Mountain.

"General Wu, have your men blockade every major path leading up and down Golden Fate Mountain."

Upon reaching the foot of Golden Fate Mountain, Gu Zheng issued another command.

"Yes, sir!"

The general, Wu, accepted the command and quickly deployed his troops.

One thousand-man detachment after another swiftly broke away from the main army, circling around to the left, right, and rear of Golden Fate Mountain to complete the encirclement.

"My lord, all major routes have been blockaded," General Wu reported, hurrying back to Gu Zheng’s side.

"Excellent."

Gu Zheng nodded. With a wave of his hand toward the summit of Golden Fate Mountain, he commanded, "The rest of you, with me! Ascend the mountain and apprehend everyone you find! Leave no one behind!"

"Yes, sir!"

THUD~ THUD~

The remaining four thousand men immediately began their ascent, their heavy footsteps thundering as their Iron Armor plates scraped together, charging straight up the face of Golden Fate Mountain.

"Hey, hey! What are you doing? Somebody, help!"

"It’s a revolt! The soldiers are storming the mountain! Run!"

"Sirs, I’m just a woodcutter! Spare me, please, spare my life!"

"Halt! I am a Prefect from the State Government Office! Who gave you the authority to seal this mountain?"

...

Cries of alarm, screams, and shouts...

In an instant, chaos erupted from the foot of Golden Fate Mountain all the way up to the main gates of Jinshan Temple halfway up the slope.

Pilgrims on their way up the mountain and monks from Jinshan Temple, men and women alike, were all seized and herded to the side.

By the time Gu Zheng, clad in his Silver Moon Armor, reached the temple gates, a middle-aged man with a stern face and a naturally imposing air stood blocking the way. His back was ramrod straight and his hands were clasped behind him, barring the path of a squad of Soldiers about to enter the temple.

He showed no fear or hesitation upon seeing Gu Zheng. Instead, his face filled with rage as he berated him in a deep voice, "So you’re the one who ordered this mountain sealed? Is this how the Demon Slayer Bureau abuses its authority? The Imperial Court grants you the right to requisition troops, but is it for you to lead them on reckless campaigns, daring to seal even a thousand-year-old sacred temple like Jinshan?"

Gu Zheng glanced at him but didn’t respond. He simply waved his hand. "Go inside. Apprehend everyone you find."

"Yes, sir!"

The Soldiers, who had been momentarily intimidated by the middle-aged man’s imposing presence, immediately roared their assent and prepared to charge into the temple.

"Stop right there!"

The middle-aged man threw his arms out wide, roaring, "Who dares! I’d like to see who dares..."