Led by Second Senior Brother Fu Ming through the maze of tangled paths, Yang An silently followed behind him while constantly observing his surroundings.
He tried his best to memorize the routes around them. That way, if anything unexpected happened, he could use his familiarity with the place to avoid danger.
Yet even so, every time they passed a desolate building, Yang An could not help but sigh inwardly.
This place was like a ghost city devoid of all life. No wonder there was not a single normal person here.
Any normal person staying here would probably become depressed.
Fu Ming broke into another violent coughing fit. As he walked, he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, yet it seemed to matter little to him; he still acted as though nothing had happened.
After walking for a while longer, he finally stopped and pointed toward a relatively intact courtyard ahead of them.
"This place can serve as Junior Brother's cultivation grounds. If you are dissatisfied, we can continue looking."
Yang An stopped as well and swept his gaze over the building before him.
It was a relatively complete courtyard, with no signs of ruin. The interior was also fairly clean, clearly having been deliberately tidied up.
But the quality of the environment was not important. Yang An cared more about privacy and safety.
This location was more or less at the very center of the Fate Crane Sect, which did not suit his wishes.
Places like this meant that if something happened, there would not even be time to run. What use was a nice environment then?
Shaking his head, he gave Fu Ming an apologetic smile.
"Second Senior Brother, I prefer being alone. Could you help me find somewhere more secluded?"
Fu Ming glanced at him, covered his mouth as if about to cough but did not, then nodded.
In the end, the two arrived near the edge of Corpse Saliva Valley, where Fu Ming specifically found Yang An another equally intact residence.
"This one will do. Many thanks, Senior Brother!"
Yang An immediately expressed his satisfaction. A straight road here led directly toward the outskirts of Corpse Saliva Valley, and one could see all the way to its end at a glance.
A good place!
Yang An settled on his cultivation grounds within the Fate Crane Sect, while Fu Ming quickly summoned several Corpse Slaves.
The Corpse Slaves wore clean, neat clothes, each dressed differently. It seemed someone had specially styled their outfits for them.
But the Corpse Slaves moved stiffly and awkwardly. Their skin was pallid and bloodless, and their eyes had turned grayish white, without pupils.
It was precisely because of this that Yang An could tell at a glance that they were corpses dead for a long time, yet their flesh remained perfectly preserved. It gave him quite a fright.
"The Corpse Slaves within the sect are all the work of your Eighth Senior Brother. He usually enjoys studying corpses most of all. Most of these were intact bodies that had luckily remained behind after dying in battle at Corpse Saliva Valley. Junior Brother may simply treat them as ordinary puppets.
"These Corpse Slaves will remain with Junior Brother to handle your daily needs. If there is anything you need, feel free to order them to do it."
Fu Ming explained to him.
Yang An forced a smile, but he still accepted his Second Senior Brother's goodwill. At the same time, he could not help growing curious about this so-called Eighth Senior Brother.
Another abnormal fellow. From the looks of it, he even seemed to be a figurine enthusiast who liked dressing up Corpse Slaves. What kind of bizarre hobby was that...
After entering this place, he increasingly felt out of place. He was like a pure little white lamb.
What should I do? Should I blend in with them, then become just as deranged as they are?
Though the Corpse Slaves' movements looked highly uncoordinated, they worked quite quickly. In only a short while, they had cleaned Yang An's chosen cultivation grounds inside and out.
"Junior Brother may move freely within Corpse Saliva Valley, but there are two places you must never enter casually."
After sending the idle Corpse Slaves to fetch some daily necessities, Fu Ming led Yang An into the residence and spoke as they walked.
"Please tell me, Senior Brother."
Yang An listened with great focus. He absolutely had to pay attention to what Fu Ming said now, lest he accidentally violate some taboo.
"First is Master's cultivation grounds. Unless you have received Master's permission or Master personally summons you, you must never approach it casually.
"Second is a shrine in the southeastern part of the valley. Those enshrined there are all Master's former fellow disciples and old friends. You likewise must not approach it casually."
Fu Ming's tone had remained calm throughout, but when he spoke of this matter, he became slightly more solemn.
Yang An could understand why the first place was off-limits.
But the second place was merely a shrine. Why could he not approach that either?
Yang An was deeply puzzled.
Fu Ming seemed to have guessed what he was thinking and explained:
"These are rules laid down by Master. They must never be violated!"
Understood! In short, if Master did not allow entry, then he could not enter. Yang An understood and asked no more questions.
"Besides that, beneath the Fate Crane Sect are many smaller sects and some mortal factions. People from these forces often come asking us to help them deal with certain matters.
"For example, eliminating demons and monsters that appear within their territories, or resolving conflicts between sects.
"Within the Fate Crane Sect, aside from cultivation, such trivial matters are also duties we must handle."
"Junior Brother, though you have only recently entered the sect and your cultivation may not be high, you cannot be exempted for that reason. Perhaps after the apprenticeship banquet, Master will send you out to handle matters. When that time comes, you must be especially careful.
"If you encounter cultivators from other unfamiliar factions, be sure to avoid them and return as quickly as possible."
At last, he had heard something humane from the mouths of these abnormal people. Yang An suddenly felt warmth in his heart, and his impression of Second Senior Brother Fu Ming improved somewhat.
Although this Second Senior Brother also looked abnormal, he seemed to be quite a good person.
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother. Is it because those cultivators are not good people?"
Fu Ming shook his head.
"No. It is because the Fate Crane Sect has offended quite a few factions in the past. Whenever we appear outside, we will be hunted down by those people."
"..."
Well, damn!
So they were the kind everyone wanted to beat to death?!
What utterly wicked deeds had the Fate Crane Sect done? And what kind of sect was this, exactly?
Yang An suddenly felt that this sect was not merely abnormal. Since arriving here, his sense of crisis had climbed higher and higher without ever dropping.
"Junior Brother, rest for now. This Senior Brother still has matters to attend to, so I will take my leave. If anything comes up, you may have the Corpse Slaves come find me."
After giving Yang An some further miscellaneous instructions, Fu Ming's coughing became incessant. Black blood continuously sprayed from his nose and mouth, as though he might collapse at any moment.
Seeing him in this state, Yang An naturally could not keep him any longer, so he escorted his Second Senior Brother out.
Looking out at the entire Corpse Saliva Valley, it was shrouded in a sea of blood mist. Almost none of the scenery outside could be seen, and even sunlight could not penetrate it.
Oppressive, desolate, dilapidated, bone-chilling...
Yang An could not help shuddering and hurried back to his residence.
Soon, the Corpse Slaves brought over a full set of daily necessities. These had all been supplied by several mortal factions under the Fate Crane Sect, and the Corpse Slaves began arranging the residence for Yang An.
Once everything had been arranged according to Yang An's preferences, he drove all the Corpse Slaves outside to guard the gate.
After all, watching several mindless corpses constantly wandering around before him made his skin crawl. It made the room feel unclean; better out of sight, out of mind.
After the Corpse Slaves obediently left, Yang An remained alone in his room, intending to first take stock of the gains he had obtained from the Communal Feast Convention.
Strength, strength... I have to increase my strength as quickly as possible.
If things truly went as Second Senior Brother had said, and he would be sent out to handle the Fate Crane Sect's affairs after the apprenticeship banquet, then his current strength truly was not enough to put his mind at ease.
Before you continue