Chapter 18
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Chapter 18: Returning to the Sect
Wen Wenhai was exhausted, mechanically whipping the horse’s hindquarters, hoping it would run faster. Beside him, Xue Qing’s face was veiled again, concealing her expression, as she urged her own horse forward.
Occasionally, Wen Wenhai glanced back at Xue Qing, sometimes offering words of encouragement: “Junior Sister, just hold on a little longer. We’ll soon be within our sect’s territory, and then we can rest.”
Xue Qing replied: “I know, Senior Brother. Let’s keep moving.”
After descending from the Stone Man Peak, at first, they didn’t pay much attention. Their mission was completed, they just needed to bring the items back to the sect. They were even immersed in the joy of obtaining the medicinal herbs, but when they mounted the two top-tier horses from the sect, they realized the significance of their master’s decision to let them ride such exceptional horses. At the same time, Wen Wenhai recalled their master’s seemingly inconspicuous instructions to ‘hurry back’. They also became aware of their dangerous situation.
Aside from the possibility of other sects having ulterior motives, those items were priceless treasures in the eyes of the Jianghu people, even if a regular Jianghu sect caught wind of their presence or discovered what they carried, ah. Treasuring a jade ring becomes a crime, and it would be hard to preserve their life. The two of them couldn’t help but shudder, exchanging a glance before swiftly mounting their horses and galloping away without further delay.
The two of them rode tirelessly on horseback for a day and a night. Luckily, being martial artists, their bodies were well-conditioned, otherwise, ordinary people would have long since collapsed.
As noon approached that day, the two of them were hurrying along the road. In the distance, they spotted a tea shop by the roadside. These tea shops were mostly simple tents or thatched roofs erected by the roadside, providing simple tea and food for travelers to rest.
As they neared the tea shop, Xue Qing couldn’t help but say to Wenwen Hai: “Senior Brother, shall we take a break? In the time it takes for another meal, we’ll be entering the sphere of influence of our Piaomiao Sect. It should be safe here.”
Wenwen Hai was also tempted. He slowed down and gradually approached the tea shop.
However, Wenwen Hai changed his mind, and smiled at Xue Qing, saying: “Junior Sister, it’s just a meal. We’ll soon arrive. We’ve been rushing for so long, there’s no need to care about this little distance. Let’s push on a bit more and rest when we reach our territory, alright?”
Xue Qing replied: “Alright, Senior Brother, we won’t abandon our previous efforts. Let’s leave quickly.”
Afterward, the two of them regained their spirits, accelerated, and dashed past the tea shop without caring about the sweat on their horses’ bodies or their trembling legs.
At this time, there were only a few people in the tea shop. Two sturdy men sat at a small table near the roadside. One had a pale face, a long beard swaying in the wind, and held a sword in his hand. The other had dark skin, a robust figure, and large hands and feet, without any weapons. They were leisurely sipping tea from rough tea bowls on the table. When Wenwen Hai and the two horses slowed down slightly in front of the tea shop and then picked up speed again, they noticed.
After Wenwen Hai’s horse passed, the man with the sword glanced at the other man with dark skin and said with a smile: “Old Six, stop drinking. Let’s go too. I didn’t expect Little Hai to be like this. The child was so cautious that he didn’t even enter this tea shop. Old Third has trained a good disciple.”
Old Six replied: “Yes, Fourth Brother. Our disciples lack Little Hai’s caution and care. It’s a pity that his talent is limited, and his martial arts progress is slow. Otherwise, his potential would be limitless. Alas, it’s just a shame about these two good horses.”
After speaking, the two men left money for the tea, fetched their own horses, and rode after them.
However, they were unaware that a seemingly ordinary passerby behind them had a flash of insight in his eyes and muttered to himself: “What could have happened to make two of the Piaomiao Six Tigers come to the rescue?”
After the two men rode their horses away, he settled his bill quietly and discreetly followed behind them.
As Wenwen Hai rode on, another meal’s worth of time passed. He noticed that the population was gradually increasing, with more roadside stalls along the way, and Pingyang City looming in the distance. Suddenly, he heard his horse beneath him let out a mournful whine, its legs went weak, and it collapsed to the ground. Wenwen Hai felt his body sinking and immediately slapped the horse’s back, using its momentum to leap off. Xue Qing quickly reined in her own horse upon seeing this, bringing it to a slow stop. The horse lay limp on the ground, frothing at the mouth, its eyes slowly closing, seemingly exhausted to death. Xue Qing hurriedly checked her own horse, which was also in a bad state, its legs trembling uncontrollably, and a hint of froth forming at its mouth.
It seemed unfit to ride any further.
Wenwen Hai stood by the roadside, looking at the fallen horse and the panicked passersby around him. After a moment’s thought, he took out a signal arrow from his bosom, aimed it at the sky, and shot it upwards with a ‘whoosh’ the arrow flew high into the air, emitting a sharp sound that echoed far in the open sky.
Just as the sound of the signal arrow faded, they heard someone calling from behind, “Little Hai~” Wenwen Hai and Xue Qing turned around, unable to conceal their joy.
It was the two sturdy men who had rested in the tea shop earlier.
When the two men rode up, Wenwen Hai and Xue Qing bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Fourth Senior Uncle, Sixth Senior Uncle.”
The two men dismounted and said with a smile: “No need for formalities, we are here to greet you on orders of our Eldest Senior Brother. Please wait a moment, they will be here soon.”
Wenwen Hai and Xue Qing nodded in agreement and stood quietly beside the two senior uncles, waiting patiently.
At this moment, the tension in their hearts finally eased completely.
Sure enough, not long after, a group of people on horseback dashed from the distance. Leading them was a scholar wearing a square scarf, about forty years old, with a fair complexion, and wearing white clothes that made him look young. Following closely behind was a beautiful woman emitting a mature aura from her features, dressed plainly. Both rode white horses, with about a dozen well-dressed individuals behind them, each armed with a sword. Their eyes gleamed with sharpness, and some had bulging temples, indicating their martial prowess. As they urged their horses forward, their eyes scanned the surroundings vigilantly.
When the two arrived, they dismounted. Wenwen Hai and Xue Qing stepped forward to pay their respects, saying: “Greetings, Master.”
The scholar turned out to be the head of the Piaomiao Sect, Ou Peng!
He looked very inconspicuous.
They then greeted the beautiful lady, “Greetings, Master’s Wife.”
The beautiful lady smiled at them without speaking, while Ou Peng said: “Alright, Little Hai, Qing’er, you’ve worked hard. No need for formalities. As you know, your master’s wife seldom concerns herself with the affairs of the sect. Today can be considered an outing.”
The two behind Wenwen Hai also stepped forward to pay their respects. “Greetings, Sect Leader Senior Brother, Sister-in-law.”
Ou Peng helped them up, saying: “You’ve also worked hard.”
The Fourth Senior Brother stood up, saying: “Not at all. We were just enjoying tea. Your disciple, however, is overly cautious, not even entering a tea shop.”
Wenwen Hai finally understood and quickly said: “Disciple didn’t know Senior Uncle was here, otherwise, we would have left together.”
Then, he said to his Master: “Disciple fulfilled the mission, and both disciple and junior sister came back safely, but these horses…”
Ou Peng laughed heartily, saying: “It’s okay. Horses, no matter how splendid, are not as important as your safety. As long as you come back unharmed, that’s all that matters.”
Then, he said to the people behind him: “Leave a horse for Qing’er and take care of things here.”
With that, he rode back with Wenwen Hai, Xue Qing, and the others, leaving only two people to deal with the dead horses. Surprisingly, he didn’t mention anything about the items on Wenwen Hai’s person.
The ordinary passerby who had been following them witnessed the entire process, feeling even more astonished. Without much thought, he mounted his horse and rode swiftly in another direction. Surely, he was hurrying back to report this significant event to his sect. Whatever warranted Ou Peng’s personal reception must be significant.
Wenwen Hai and the others followed the large group towards Pingyang City. Upon reaching the city, they didn’t enter but instead circumvented the gates and headed in another direction. After a short while, they arrived at a mountain villa outside the city.
The villa was built against the mountain, with scattered residences in front. The houses, of various heights, were arranged in a picturesque manner. Many people were busy with their tasks. Seeing the large group approaching, they cleared the way and respectfully greeted Ou Peng on horseback.
Further inside was a straight road lined with massive trees. At the end of the road stood a magnificent archway with the bold characters “Piao Miao” engraved on it, similar to the characters on the token Xue Qing gave to the Zhang family, but these characters appeared even more elegantly refined.
After passing through the archway, they reached a high platform with several steps leading up to an open gate. Dozens of disciples from the sect were already waiting there, respectfully lined up on the steps. In front stood a young man with fair skin and a gentle demeanor, nearly the same age as Wenwen Hai. He was the eldest senior brother of the sect, Zhang Chengyue. When Ou Peng and the others reached the steps and dismounted, Zhang Chengyue led the disciples in unison, saying: “Respectfully welcoming the Sect Master.”
After dismounting, someone took their reins, and Ou Peng said: “Well done, everyone. You may all disperse now. Those disciples participating in the advancement competition, focus on your training. You don’t have much time left.”
The disciples replied: “Yes, we will follow the Sect Master’s guidance.”
Then, Zhang Chengyue followed Ou Peng and the others through the gate. The rest of the disciples went about their own tasks. Since they had been summoned by the Sect Master a few days ago and had been on high alert day and night, they had expected a major event to occur. However, today, the Sect Master’s announcement of canceling the vigilance left them confused. Nonetheless, the advancement competition, which affected their future prospects, remained important. If they could advance, their status and treatment within the sect would change, and they might even learn more advanced martial arts. That was their priority. As for other matters, the disciples wouldn’t inquire further.
Ou Peng led the group to the meeting hall. Ou Peng’s wife excused herself upon seeing they had sect matters to discuss, while the others followed Ou Peng into the hall.
