Duàn Yì hurried down the mountain with a bundle on his back, deliberately choosing rugged, deserted paths. What he feared most was running into Golden Cauldron Sect disciples who might question him and give rise to unforeseen complications.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly. Before long, he reached a long stone stairway that led straight to the Golden Cauldron Sect's main gate. Two mountain-guarding disciples stood below.
Duàn Yì considered things for a moment, adjusted his mindset, and walked steadily down from the top of the steps until he arrived beside the two disciples.
Both men were personal disciples of Golden Cauldron Sect elders, and their martial arts were quite good. They had also witnessed Duàn Yì's Myriad Peaks Paying Homage sword strike in the Golden Cauldron Hall, and admired him greatly.
Yet, seeing that Duàn Yì seemed to be setting out on a long journey, the young disciple with larger eyes spoke up.
"Junior Brother Duàn, it has been over a month since we last met, and your bearing surpasses even what it was before. May I ask where you are headed?"
"Oh, greetings, Senior Brother. I have been waiting on the mountain for Brother Bái to return, but there has been no word from him. I fear something may have happened to him, so I wish to descend the mountain and search for him. I ask that you two senior brothers let me pass."
Duàn Yì knew very well that Bái Xī Wén stood behind him. Thus, even if Pang Shichong and Qū Dōng Liú wanted to deal with him, they would not dare make a big show of it. Only a handful of people knew.
These two mountain-guarding disciples likely knew nothing about it. Rather than charging blindly down the mountain, he might as well have them let him