Chapter 9: The Triggered Quest

Su Hao’s ears echoed with the voice of the unfamiliar visitor, a tone strikingly different from the sinister and piercing cadence he remembered from the heretical cultivators—a stark contrast beyond compare.

This stirred a deep suspicion within him. Could it be that this was the voice of orthodox cultivators on this planet?

In a world ravaged by malevolent cultivators relentlessly hunting down their targets, perhaps these people, like himself, were fleeing in desperation, harboring a fervent hope to find a sanctuary for peaceful cultivation—a hidden refuge to temporarily evade danger.

At this moment, the cave before them was undeniably an excellent place to hide away from the world. It had already been firmly occupied by Su Hao and his companions, with the entrance sealed tightly by a massive stone that blended seamlessly with the surrounding terrain. Without deliberate search, it was nearly impossible to discover, resembling a secluded paradise isolated from the world.

Yet those people had not departed; instead, they lingered nearby, seemingly determined to find the cave, unwavering in their resolve as if they would not rest until they succeeded.

By the faint light, Su Hao caught a glimpse of their teal robes.

Unlike the cold, eerie aura that usually clung to heretical cultivators, their attire exuded a calm and solemn dignity unique to the righteous sects, instilling a sense of noble integrity.

Su Hao observed them quietly and carefully; the more he looked, the more convinced he became—they were certainly not heretics.

After a moment’s reflection, he parted his lips softly, condensing his inner power into sound and silently transmitting it into the old man’s ear:

“The cave remains, but it is now occupied by us, and the entrance is sealed.”

His voice was like a gentle breeze, softly brushing past yet clearly reaching the old man’s ears.

Upon hearing this, the old man instantly understood, realizing it was a signal from the cave’s occupants.

He slowly turned to the anxious disciples beside him and spoke calmly and steadily:

“The cave has already been claimed by someone else. Should we look elsewhere?”

The old man’s words acted like an anchor in turbulent seas, further confirming Su Hao’s earlier judgment—they were indeed righteous cultivators, not heretical ones.

Just then, an icy, mechanical voice suddenly rang in Su Hao’s mind without warning:

[Candidate Cleaner, you have triggered a side quest—assist six master and disciples in overcoming their difficulties. For the next thirty-six hours, you must aid the local cultivators outside the cave through their most challenging time. Rewards will be based on your performance and the difficulty of the main quest.]

Almost simultaneously, Gu Yu, Li Mingyu, and Liu Weiwei also heard the announcement of the side quest echoing in their minds.

Since the task had been assigned, they naturally had no reason to retreat.

After all, they firmly believed that the system was rigorous and never erred without cause. Triggering this side quest proved that the people outside the cave were friends, not foes, and deserved their help.

No sooner had the old man informed his disciples of this decision than a tremendous rumbling arose, resembling rolling boulders—deep and powerful, breaking the silence abruptly.

The disciples tensed instantly, eyes wide and scanning anxiously, fearing the terrifying heretics had finally caught up with them, their hearts pounding in their throats.

Yet when their gaze settled on the source of the noise, they were astonished to find it came from the entrance of a cave.

As the sound gradually faded, the entrance, once concealed by a massive stone, slowly revealed itself.

At the same time, they saw four people busily moving stones, piece by piece shifting away the boulder sealing the cave. Their movements, though somewhat laborious, were methodical and orderly.

The master and his five disciples witnessed this sudden development together. Except for the disciple who had visited before, the others wore expressions of disbelief, their eyes filled with surprise and astonishment.

Only now did they finally believe there truly was a cave here—one that had already been taken by others.

The old man sighed helplessly, realizing that since the cave was already occupied, it was inappropriate to insist. He let go of his intentions.

He looked up at the four before him—two men and two women, all dressed uniformly. From their clothing’s style and details, it was clear they belonged to the same sect.

Judging by their overall demeanor and attire, it was evident they were not locals but had come from afar.

The old man then clasped his fists in greeting, his manners impeccable and attitude respectful as he spoke:

“Strangers, we apologize for disturbing your peace. My five disciples and I have been fleeing from heretical cultivators and have wandered here. My eldest disciple told me there was a cave to take shelter in, so we hoped to use it to hide temporarily. Unexpectedly, you have already claimed it, so we must seek another refuge. We are truly sorry for the intrusion.”

His words were laden with apology and resignation, revealing his courteous nature.

Seeing this, Su Hao quickly returned the gesture, a gentle smile on his face, and spoke sincerely:

“Since you have been pursued by heretics as well, we are likewise sworn enemies of such fiends. We are comrades on the same path. This cave is quite spacious—you are welcome to join us. It would be better to watch out for each other together.”

Upon hearing Su Hao’s words, the old man’s face clouded with hesitation, as if a shadow passed over him. He seemed to be weighing many unknown pros and cons, caught in indecision.

Seeing this, Su Hao’s tone grew even more earnest:

“Please come in. We do not intend to be an obstacle. Our stay here is merely a temporary refuge, no more than two days, after which we will leave quietly. We only shelter here to escape the heretics’ pursuit. You can come without worry or hesitation.”

At these words, the old man’s gloomy expression instantly gave way to joy, which spread from his eyes across his entire face.

He exchanged a glance with his disciples, a look full of tacit understanding and agreement. Clearly, they were all willing to accept this offer and take shelter together in the hidden cave, away from the relentless, haunting pursuit of the heretics.

Thus, the six master and disciples entered the cave one by one, appearing like travelers who had endured a long storm and finally found a safe harbor. Though weary, their faces now bore a hint of relief.

Su Hao remained outside the cave, carefully erasing any traces left by the six. His focused and meticulous demeanor resembled that of a skilled artisan crafting a masterpiece, or someone erasing all clues that might reveal their whereabouts. His movements were gentle and precise.

Once everything was arranged, he slowly retreated to the cave entrance and joined the others in sealing the entrance once more with heavy stones.

Their cooperation was remarkably smooth and practiced, as if rehearsed countless times. Before long, the cave entrance was disguised perfectly to blend with the surrounding rocks, leaving no hint of its existence. Anyone passing by outside would hardly suspect a cave concealed there.

Inside the cave, Su Hao and his companions generously offered abundant food, water, and other essentials from their storage space to the local cultivators.

The old man’s face first showed deep gratitude, emotions plainly visible, eyes filled with heartfelt appreciation.

Yet soon, he hesitated to accept, feeling uneasy about receiving without merit.

However, seeing his disciples’ eager eyes fixed on the food and the sincere kindness reflected in the eyes of these four strangers, his concerns gradually melted away like mist.

Reluctantly, he accepted the precious provisions, his heart swelling with gratitude and respect toward Su Hao and the others. In this perilous time, such kindness was especially precious.

The disciples, upon seeing the food and water, devoured it ravenously as if starved wolves. The cave quickly filled with laughter and lively chatter, and the supplies diminished rapidly amid the cheerful atmosphere.

The old man hastily instructed his eldest disciple to gather the remaining food and water and store them carefully.

Though the remainder was not abundant, in this crisis where resources were scarce, these supplies were invaluable, enough to sustain them for the coming days—a crucial lifeline for survival.

Su Hao and his companions understood clearly that they could only remain for another day and a half. Within this brief time, they had to assist these local cultivators as much as possible, enhancing their ability to face the looming crisis.

Fortunately, in thirty-six hours, they would return to the embrace of the Cosmic Environmental Agency, and then the source of food and supplies would no longer be a troublesome concern.

However, less than an hour after the six had finished their meal, a sudden commotion of voices erupted outside the cave.