"Let's get out of here, someone's chasing us!"
The moment those words fell, Hou San darted ahead to lead the way. Everyone followed close behind. The Bai sisters guarded the rear, scattering a handful of medicinal powder before catching up with the group.
They ran nonstop for an entire hour before Hou San finally halted at the entrance of a cave. He clasped his hands toward Jian Mao and said, "Boss Mao, there's an immortal's formation here. It's a disguise array. I stumbled into it by accident once, never thought I'd make it out alive. The place inside isn't big, but it's enough for us to stay for a while. What do you think?"
"I'll go check it with you first. Junior Brother, you and the others wait here." Jian Jun nodded in response.
Hou San didn't waste time. He led Jian Mao into the cave.
Inside were scattered rocks and weeds. It was clearly once a beast's lair. Hou San carefully avoided the clutter and walked straight to the back.
The cave wasn't large, only about two hundred square meters, rectangular in shape. A few steps and they reached the end, where the brownish stone wall was covered in faint moss that was nearly impossible to notice at first glance.
Hou San crouched low, pressed against the right side of the wall at two-thirds in, and passed straight through.
Seeing this, Jian Mao followed suit. Since he was taller and sturdier than Hou San, he had to bend lower, making him feel a little cramped.
But once inside, his eyes widened. Beyond the stone wall was another world. A small pavilion-like realm unfolded before him. Gray stone tiles stretched beneath his feet, leading across clear waters to a red-lacquered, jade-roofed octagonal pavilion that floated atop a tranquil pool.
Jian Mao swept his gaze across the scene and noticed a row of small houses behind the pavilion.
"Boss Mao, when I ran in here before, I only hid inside the pavilion. I didn't dare check the houses. I was afraid of triggering formations, so after escaping, I left the same way I came."
Hou San spoke the truth. Now that he was riding the same boat as Lingyun Continent's people, he had to prove his worth. Otherwise, with so many cultivators around, why would they let him join and even share their resources?
This time, the share he got was triple what he'd managed to gather in three whole years on his own. Just for that, he was determined to stick with Boss Mao and Fairy Lu.
"You're lucky. That pavilion should be safe. But those houses… they look dangerous," Jian Mao said, his sword cultivator's instincts sharpening with unease.
"Check if there's anything different from the last time you came. I'll bring the others in."
"Yes."
Jian Mao turned back and returned the way he came. At the cave entrance, the group was waiting cautiously, eyes sharp on their surroundings, not daring to step in. "It's fine inside. We can hide here for now. Follow me."
Everyone filed in one by one, slipping through the stone wall. The Bai sisters stayed back to cover their tracks. Soon, the cave returned to silence, as if no one had ever been there.
Meanwhile, the scouting team from the Tan Song Clan arrived at the place where Lingyun Continent's cultivators had fought the Blackwhip Electric Eel.
"There was a battle here, but the traces were erased," Guard A said.
"It was the Blackwhip Electric Eel. I can still feel lingering thunder in the air," Guard B confirmed.
"But we can't be certain it's the same group of cultivators we're tracking."
"Report it to the young masters first. Let them decide."
"Alright."
One of the six immediately turned back to report to Tan Songyu and Tan Songjia.
Neither of them were sure whether the Electric Eel's rampage had been caused by the Lingyun Continent cultivators. But since the group had fled, they weren't willing to let it go. They swore they'd chase them down. Whether they lived or died afterward would depend on their mood.
If Jian Dan knew what they were plotting, she'd definitely lure another Blackwhip Electric Eel over and wipe them all out in one go.
Inside the Water Pavilion realm, everyone gathered by the octagonal pavilion, not exploring further just yet. They needed to catch their breath. From last night until now, it had been one desperate escape after another, topped off with that fight against the Electric Eel. Everyone's nerves were strung tight.
Once they recovered a bit, someone finally voiced the question on everyone's mind: how do we get out? Jian Jun smiled and looked at Jian Dan.
She chuckled, waved her sleeve, and summoned Xiao Yue.
The wolf landed gracefully, stretched his front legs in a lazy yawn, then swept his gaze over the cultivators staring at him.
The ten captives who'd been released earlier had eyes shining with excitement so intense it made Xiao Yue shiver. He staggered back a few steps and dashed into Jian Dan's arms for comfort. These people were terrifying, like they wanted to eat him alive.
Jian Xu and the others couldn't help but laugh at the sight.
While soothing Xiao Yue, Jian Dan explained, "Xiao Yue is the young chief of the Howl Moon Wolf Clan. He followed me out on his trial, and I never expected he'd end up giving us a way back."
"Everything's guided by fate," Jian Jun said amiably, folding her fan with a snap.
After that, everyone took time to exchange information. The ten cultivators who'd come with Jian Jun had no idea what had happened before, so they bombarded fellow sectmates with questions. Those without sectmates grabbed Heavenly Sword Sect disciples to ask about Lingyun Continent and everything they'd missed.
The Bai sisters, as always, stayed by Jian Dan's side. She glanced at them and said, "The Tan Song Clan won't give up. They'll keep chasing us. Your appearances are too eye-catching. Can you hide your hair color for now?"