Chapter 7: The Brave Man

Chapter 7: The Brave Man

The other side had the advantage in numbers, but we had the advantage of rest.

A quick glance revealed three at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, three at the Eighth Layer, but those at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer seemed to have just come through the dense forest, each lacking spiritual power and looking unwell.

In terms of strength, it was evenly matched.

In the silence, Niu Chengdian suddenly said, "Everyone, let's deal with these beasts first!"

The two factions paused their fight and focused on fighting the Shadow Foxes.

The sun finally rose, and the golden morning light filtered through the gaps in the leaves, illuminating the forest like holy light.

After two successful sneak attacks, the Shadow Foxes licked their lips and temporarily withdrew into the woods.

Everyone caught their breath. The injured quickly took pills and bandaged their wounds, while the uninjured seized the opportunity to sit in meditation and rest.

"These are all the helpers you brought?"

"You've brought quite a few people too."

"Hmph."

As soon as it was safe, the two leaders started bickering, sarcastically blaming each other for bringing too many useless people.

It seemed that this dark-bearded man was one of Niu Chengdian's friends who had discovered the Midnight Lotus.

On the other hand, the rogue cultivators brought by the dark-bearded man tentatively greeted their side.

Most of them, like themselves, had no real connection with Niu Chengdian and the other guy—they were all here for the Midnight Lotus. Although they were competitors, there was no need to make enemies before they even saw the lotus.

The three Ninth Layer Qi Refining cultivators were clearly a group. While others were meditating, they casually walked over to the Zhang siblings and Shang Yunduo.

"I am Bai Li, and these are fellow cultivator Yuqiu and Tang Huan. May I ask how you two address yourselves?"

The one dressed in white like a scholar walked in front, polite and warm, with a friendly smile. However, he directly ignored Zhang Yu at the Eighth Layer Qi Refining, Yan Jia at the seventh-layer Qi Refining, and Wang Ming.

This made Shang Yunduo initially think he was asking the Zhang siblings.

Zhang Yu snorted angrily to vent her frustration, while Zhang Yan only lifted his head coldly and glanced at them. "The Qishan Three Friends, long heard of your names. I'm not impressed."

His tone was full of disdain implying "nothing special."

Tang Huan, who carried a Giant Sword, immediately said, "Who are you? Get up, I'll fight you myself."

Bai Li and the seemingly good-tempered Daoist Yuqiu skillfully pulled him back, each on one side.

Bai Li remained unaffected, smiling as he looked at Shang Yunduo.

Shang Yunduo then realized that Bai Li's earlier "you two" had included him.

Wow, that greeting really stretched far. There was more than two meters between him and his fellow disciples and the Zhang siblings.

Shang Yunduo collected himself, casually raised his hand, and said coldly, "Shang Yunduo. I've long heard of you."

At least he managed to maintain the air of an inner disciple of a Large Sect, without appearing too angry.

"So it's Fellow Daoist Shang," Bai Li walked up to him and asked directly, "Are you here for the Midnight Lotus as well?"

Shang Yunduo looked at him, silent, thinking, "Isn't that obvious? Even if it weren't, I couldn't say so," and then replied, neither soft nor hard, "Cut to the chase."

Bai Li smiled. "That's more like it."

Shang Yunduo: "..."

Bai Li: "Would Fellow Daoist be willing to give up the Midnight Lotus?"

Shang Yunduo: "..."

What does that mean? Is this a declaration of war?

If I refuse, do I become their enemy?

Three on one?

You're overthinking, friend—I have no intention of grabbing the Midnight Lotus!

Thoughts flashed through Shang Yunduo's mind, but his face remained expressionless. Thanks to his half-year of playing the cold senior disciple, he kept his composure.

After mentally rehearsing several replies, Shang Yunduo sneered. "The Midnight Lotus doesn't belong to me."

Don't single me out just because I'm an easy mark. Even if I agreed, there's still Zhang Yan over there.

Besides, Niu Chengdian and his former "friend"—one at Ninth Layer, one at Eighth Layer—were still standing there, bickering. Even if they came to an agreement here, the other side wouldn't agree.

We were brought here to break the formation. Did they really think Niu was doing charity and offering them the Midnight Lotus he found?

The more Shang Yunduo thought about it, the more he wanted to stay out of this mess.

He needed to keep his distance.

So he assumed a posture of "I'm meditating, don't disturb me" and closed his eyes. Only when Bai Li and the other two went to discuss the next leg of the journey with Niu Chengdian did he open his eyes, secretly watching while grumbling to himself.

These three were something else—either ignorant or deliberate, insisting on prying into the dirt of their former friends.

He fished a piece of dried fruit from his storage pouch and quickly stuffed it into his mouth. They'd probably have to travel together soon, and in this situation, it was hard to tell if more people meant more danger or less. If only there were someone with a good head for talking things out... he sighed.

Just as his thoughts were wandering, a tall, upright figure emerged from the deep forest. His silver-gray robe, covering his entire body, was bathed in the golden morning light, glowing as if it were emitting light itself.

Shang Yunduo stopped chewing, holding the dried fruit in his hand as he stared blankly at the newcomer.

Qi Refining Third Layer?

Such low cultivation!!

How did someone at the Third Layer make it here?

Also here for the Midnight Lotus?

Alone? With no higher-cultivation companions?

That takes guts!

Impossible—this person must be like him, here for other spiritual herbs near the Midnight Lotus!

Perhaps his gaze was too direct, or because cultivators are sensitive to being watched, the approaching person suddenly turned to look at Shang Yunduo.

Their eyes met, and Shang Yunduo felt a sudden pang of guilt, inexplicably reminded of the time he played the wrong note during an ensemble performance and was glared at by his teacher. He quickly averted his gaze.

From that one fleeting glance, even though the other person wore a hooded hat and a veil covering their face, only revealing eyes, eyebrows, and forehead, Shang Yunduo, who'd honed his eye for good-looking people at the academy, could tell that this person must be exceptionally good-looking.

Unfortunately, their cultivation was too low—he wasn't sure they'd make it through the road ahead.

That Qi Refining Third Layer seemed equally surprised to see so many people. After a moment's hesitation, he found a spot under a tree and rested. Shang Yunduo didn't see him take any pills; he only sat in meditation to recover spiritual energy. Maybe he had no pills, or was saving them.

He looked so pitiful—rough life.

In the novel, Xiao Chi was always cursed with bad luck—every step brought trouble—but his worst times were at the very start, when he had nothing and was short of everything. Before he learned alchemy, he had to ration every single pill.

This guy was only Qi Refining Third Layer. Even though he sat upright and relaxed, looking like some immortal, he definitely didn't have anything good.

He snuck another look—he didn't even see a storage pouch on him.

Man, he looked even worse.

After a short rest, both groups set out together.

But Niu Chengdian and his friend named Huang Gun walked one at the front and one at the back, like they couldn't stand the sight of each other.

The Qi Refining Ninth Layer guys each walked on their own. They hadn't even seen what the Midnight Lotus looked like, but were already sizing each other up as rivals.

The Zhang siblings walked in front, with the Qishan Three Friends a bit behind. Shang Yunduo didn't want to be near them, so he hung back, and that's when he noticed his real competitor—that Qi Refining Third Layer.

Once they entered the forest, everyone was after the same thing, so regardless of cultivation, they were all opponents. Pitying someone was like looking down on them—a big no-no among cultivators. But Shang Yunduo couldn't help feeling sorry for him—this guy was way too pathetic; he didn't even have a light!

The team originally didn't have any lights—the Qi Refining Sixth Layer who'd been carrying a torch had been eaten by a Shadow Fox last night. Shang Yunduo saw this Qi Refining Third Layer didn't even have a torch, and he felt like if he closed his eyes, he'd picture the guy being dragged into the woods by a Shadow Fox.

Shang Yunduo slowed down, moving a bit closer, letting his Glow Pearl light the ground at the guy's feet without getting close enough to start a conversation.

So Shang Yunduo ended up closer to Niu Chengdian, who was walking at the back.

Niu Chengdian was surprised—and flattered. “Senior Brother Shang?”

Shang Yunduo: “…Sigh…”

Niu Chengdian thought he understood Shang Yunduo’s worried expression—others had helpers, but Shang Yunduo was alone. Niu Chengdian's two junior brothers were only at the seventh layer Qi Refining, barely enough to take on Zhang Yu together, while the Qishan Three Friends were all at the ninth layer Qi Refining.

Niu Chengdian lowered his voice and asked, “Senior Brother Shang, are you aiming for the Midnight Lotus?”

Shang Yunduo: “…No, I’m not.”

Niu Chengdian: “I can help you achieve your goal.”

Huh? Shang Yunduo looked at him in surprise, thinking, Are you really trying to be a Good Samaritan?

Niu Chengdian explained, “Senior Brother Shang, you might not know this, but even though the Midnight Lotus is precious, I just want to reach Foundation Establishment. If you can help me get into the inner sect…”

Shang Yunduo said bluntly, “I can’t.”

Niu Chengdian: “…”

He thought for a moment. “Or just entering the sect…”

Shang Yunduo: “You can sign up yourself.”

Niu Chengdian: “If the recruiting master thinks I'm too old, could you put in a good word for me…”

Shang Yunduo shook his head. “I don't know the recruiting master for disciples.”

Niu Chengdian: “…”

He looked at Shang Yunduo, lost in thought.

Did he look that useless?

Shang Yunduo was at Qi Refining Peak, sure, but so was he!

Shang Yunduo had a single-fire Heavenly Spirit Root. His own dual spirit roots weren't that bad, were they?

Just a single word—why wouldn't he help?

Whatever, it didn't matter. As long as Shang Yunduo knew how badly he wanted to join the Taiyuan Sect.

He didn't want to offend Shang Yunduo for now, so he said, “If I help you get the Midnight Lotus, could you compensate me with some spirit stones or pills?”

“Oh?” Shang Yunduo was actually tempted for a second.

How could he not be tempted by spirit herbs that helped cultivation?

If Niu Chengdian was willing to give it to him, he'd be willing to trade. But then he thought again—besides him and Niu Chengdian, there were the Qishan Three Friends, the Zhang siblings, and several eighth-layer Qi Refining cultivators. He immediately calmed down.

From what he saw, there were that many. He remembered Niu Chengdian saying that among the friends who discovered the Midnight Lotus with him, there was also a ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivator. Huang Gun was clearly not that one—he was an eighth-layer Qi Refining.

That meant at least one more ninth-layer Qi Refining would come. If that person also brought a few more ninth-layer Qi Refining… hmm…

Shang Yunduo thought that just picking some herbs would be fine.

If he could also catch a few Fire Toads while the chaos lasted, even better.

At that thought, he suddenly felt that Niu Chengdian could be a useful helper. Whether Niu Chengdian was telling the truth or not, he only wanted Fire Toads, so he could definitely trade with Niu Chengdian!

Shang Yunduo put on a deep expression. “Never mind the Midnight Lotus—I want the Fire Toad.”

Niu Chengdian: “?”

Even the Qi Refining Third Layer walking silently on Shang Yunduo’s other side couldn't help glancing at him.

Shang Yunduo: “If you catch Fire Toads, I'll trade with you.”

Niu Chengdian: “…Okay.”

He was momentarily puzzled. The Midnight Lotus was useful for both water and fire spirit root cultivation—why didn't Shang Yunduo want it?

Even if he didn't need it, he could trade it for useful pills or artifacts back at the sect.

Wait… no… could it be that Shang Yunduo didn't believe he was willing to give up the Midnight Lotus, so he deliberately said that to lull him?

So that was it!

Niu Chengdian curled his lips. He knew it—how could someone so young with such cultivation be simple!

Author’s note:

Leader Niu: That was close—I almost got fooled!

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Yes, that Qi Refining Third Layer is Pei Jie.

Yunduo's first impression of Pei Jie: Beautiful, weak, pitiful, but brave.

In the entire team, only this Qi Refining Third Layer was firmly weaker than him, and they shared the same goal. He couldn't help feeling pity and quietly looked out for him.

Pei Jie: ?