Chapter 17: Venturing Out with the Disciples

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Upon witnessing the scene, Su Hao respectfully presented the storage pouches containing the spoils of war that he had been unable to take away previously due to various reasons to Elder Yuchi Yuanhang of the Justice Sect. He spoke sincerely, “Elder, these are the spoils from a few days ago. Please have a look; I believe there may be something useful for your sect within.”

“Thank you very much, fellow cultivator,” Elder Yuchi replied. This time, he did not refuse. He vaguely sensed that this young friend seemed to have a request but had not yet spoken, and he felt it inappropriate to inquire proactively.

Su Hao pondered silently, thinking that it would be ideal to explore the outside world alongside disciples of the Justice Sect. After all, encountering disciples from other sects on the outside would greatly benefit him in completing his mission.

With this in mind, a gleam of expectation flickered in his eyes as he spoke, “Elder, if they intend to go out, may I accompany them?”

Yuchi Yuanhang nodded slightly, his eyes filled with trust as he responded, “If we remain confined here, it would be tantamount to awaiting death. Venturing out to seek food and understand the current situation has become imperative.

If you are willing to go with them, all the better. Your strength is exceptional, and they are more familiar with the surrounding terrain. Such a combination would put my mind at ease.

Here is what we will do: you take Wu Zhen, Lao San, and Lao Wu—the two disciples—and we will split into two teams. I, bearing an injury, must remain here.”

Having said this, Yuchi Yuanhang began to eat, devouring the food with such urgency that it clearly revealed his prolonged hunger.

Su Hao hastened to nod in agreement, “Thank you, Elder. Then I shall consider this place our base.”

After distributing the food, Situ Wuzhen eagerly joined the meal, his appearance showing obvious signs of extreme hunger.

Su Hao quietly watched the six of them, master and disciples alike, devouring their food ravenously. A complicated mixture of sorrow and sympathy welled within him. He silently stood aside, patiently waiting for them to finish their meal.

Once they had eaten, Su Hao stepped out of the cave with two disciples—a young man and a young woman—whose strength was relatively modest.

They carefully sealed the cave entrance outside, taking measures to conceal their trail.

Su Hao habitually walked last, slowly retreating while meticulously erasing any traces they had left behind to prevent any evil cultivators from detecting their presence.

After retreating more than ten meters, they officially began to move forward.

At this moment, Situ Wuzhen cupped his fist in salute and respectfully asked, “Senior Brother, my name is Situ Wuzhen. May I ask your name?”

“Senior Brother Wuzhen, my name is Qingming,” Su Hao replied calmly, returning the salute.

“Qingming Senior Brother, we intend to head in that direction, while Junior Brother Wen Xiaochuan and the others will go this way,” Situ Wuzhen said, gesturing toward the opposite direction from Su Hao’s group.

“No problem,” Su Hao nodded in agreement, then watched as Situ Wuzhen led the two disciples gradually away.

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“Let us go,” Su Hao took the lead, steadily advancing in the other direction.

The female disciple from the Justice Sect accompanying him, Yi Binglan, hurried to keep up, her clear, melodious voice ringing out, “Senior Brother Qingming, which sect do you belong to? What about the three who were traveling with you before? Weren’t there four of you in total?”

Su Hao pondered inwardly how to answer in a way that would neither reveal his identity nor arouse suspicion. After a moment’s thought, he responded, “We parted ways with them two days ago. I did travel with them initially, but I returned alone later. As for where they went after, I am not quite sure.”

Noticing that Su Hao did not disclose his sect, Yi Binglan tactfully refrained from pressing further, as if she had sensed that he might have some hidden difficulties.

“We didn’t notice you leave. How did you come back then?” Her curiosity remained undiminished, and she asked again.

“I have a teleportation talisman, but unfortunately, I’ve already used it up,” Su Hao said with a benevolent lie, always mindful of the warnings issued by the Galactic Environmental Authority, never daring to slacken his vigilance.

Su Hao observed that the two disciples from the Justice Sect walking with him were exceptionally cautious, constantly alert to any sounds around them.

They looked like startled birds, clearly bearing the trauma of prolonged pursuit by evil cultivators.

“Why did only six disciples from your sect come here?” Su Hao inquired as they walked, attempting to steer the conversation and ease the somewhat heavy atmosphere.

Yi Binglan’s voice echoed softly across the desolate plains, tinged with a barely perceptible tremor and boundless sorrow as she slowly recounted, “Now, the few of us barely clinging to life are the only remaining witnesses of the Justice Sect.

In the past, our sect was splendid and magnificent. From the moment I joined, the territory from the mountain gate to the back mountains stretched boundlessly for over a thousand miles.

The inner disciples were elites numbering more than a hundred; elders, hall leaders, and administrators were countless, in the hundreds; outer disciples numbered over five thousand; and the servant disciples were as many as six thousand. All told, the sect had over ten thousand people, making it a leading mid-sized sect.

Who could have imagined, now only a handful remain? It is truly heartbreaking.”

Su Hao listened silently, feeling more determined with each step he took, his every footfall seeming to bear the weight of a thousand pounds, deeply moved by the plight of the Justice Sect.

“Three years ago, that sudden disaster was like a dreadful nightmare, mercilessly destroying our mountain gate completely.

None of the servant disciples survived; all were captured by the enemy.

The outer disciples and the more capable inner disciples were nearly all slaughtered in that horrific massacre. Three thousand heroic spirits stained the land with their blood.

We, the prime inner disciples nurtured by the sect, numbered over a hundred when we broke through, but three years have swiftly passed, and now only six of us remain struggling in this world.

We have witnessed dozens perish; dozens more remain missing, their fates unknown.

We are like lost dogs hunted relentlessly by evil cultivators, with nowhere to hide.”

As Yi Binglan spoke, her words brimmed with grief and fury. Her face was clouded with sorrow, as if even the sky itself had dimmed in response to her sadness.

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“Resources are scarce and consumption immense. In the past, within the sect, we had fasting pills and cultivation elixirs aplenty, but now, even the most basic food has become a luxury.

Life within the sect was once so comfortable and secure. Who would have thought we would face such hardship and distress?”

Recalling those bygone days, a complex expression of nostalgia and pride flashed across Yi Binglan’s eyes. Those were the most splendid years of her life; alas, now all that remains is a resigned sigh.

Hearing this, Su Hao gained a deeper understanding of the Justice Sect’s past and present. He asked further, “Where exactly is your sect’s mountain gate located?”

Yi Binglan slowly raised her hand and pointed in the direction the senior brother had gone, her eyes flickering with complicated emotions as she spoke, “We have always lingered within the lands that once belonged to us, skirmishing with the evil cultivators within a radius of one to two hundred miles.

Our master still harbors a dream of returning to the mountain gate, for there lies the hope of restoring our sect’s honor and a treasure trove of cultivation resources.

The mountain gate is in that direction, about two hundred miles from here.”

Su Hao gazed toward the direction Yi Binglan indicated, an inexplicable urge swelling in his heart to witness that once magnificent land—to see the place bearing the countless glories and memories of the Justice Sect.

“Why don’t you infiltrate under cover of night to reclaim the mountain gate?” Su Hao asked, curiosity brimming.

A bitter smile touched Yi Binglan’s lips, her eyes full of helplessness as she replied, “Once the mountain gate fell, it came under the control of the evil cultivators. They repurposed our original defensive array to turn the thousands of servant disciples into slaves for their use.

Moreover, they tampered with the array, making it impossible for us to enter. The strong barrier that once protected us has now become an insurmountable chasm.”

“Then, who remains inside the mountain gate now?” Su Hao pressed on, seeking to piece together the full picture of the Justice Sect’s current plight.

“Only some mediocre alchemists and talisman masters are left, all captured and enslaved by the evil cultivators.

Those elders, uncles, and senior brothers we once revered now live like beasts, enduring endless humiliation and suffering.”

Yi Binglan’s narration was like a razor-sharp blade, cutting deeply into the hearts of all who heard, filling them with sorrow and grief.

At that moment, the wind on the wasteland seemed to blow even colder, its howling seeming to mourn the tragic fate of the Justice Sect, casting an ever heavier, oppressive atmosphere.

Within Su Hao, an indescribable sense of responsibility quietly blossomed. He deeply understood that he might be the key to changing this tragic state of affairs.

Just then, he faintly heard the sound of a struggle ahead.

Following the source, Su Hao sensed that evil cultivators were besieging someone.

He vaguely perceived that one of the people being attacked wore the robe of a Justice Sect disciple.