Rescue Tong Lao

"Miss Wang, are you all right?"

Duan Yu hurried forward, but Wang Yuyan was the only one in his eyes. Beside them, Ren Ze inwardly cried out in admiration.

Shaking his head, Ren Ze retreated a few steps. He could not be bothered to go up and catch up with Duan Yu, leaving him some room to perform properly.

On the other side, seeing that this clingy pest had come to pester his cousin again, Murong Fu of Gusu's eyelids twitched furiously. He showed no mercy with his sword, killing several more people in an instant and chilling the hearts of the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands members.

"Bastard! So what if you're Murong Fu of Gusu? You dare look down on us of the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands? Every one of us could spit on you and drown you!"

Although Murong Fu's strength was frightening, what mattered most in the martial world was reputation. His actions had enraged quite a few people as well, and for a time, all sorts of demons and freaks came crawling out.

"Young Master Murong, cave masters, island masters, you have neither old grudges nor recent enmities. Why fight so viciously?"

At that moment, a man leaped out. His swordsmanship was quite extraordinary, and with a single move, he knocked the weapons from dozens of hands. "It is far too regrettable for everyone to draw weapons over a misunderstanding. Why not give me, Zhuo Bufan, some face and turn enemies into friends?"

"I was merely passing through and did not know so many esteemed masters had gathered here. Please forgive my offense. I am deeply grateful to Mr. Zhuo for stepping forward to resolve this misunderstanding."

Seeing that there were more and more enemies and that this fight had begun for no apparent reason, Murong Fu was happy to stop and take the offered way out.

"The cave masters of the Thirty-Six Caves and island masters of the Seventy-Two Islands gathered here because of the Tianshan Child Elder of the Spirit Vulture Palace on Misty Peak, did they not? Since Young Master Murong is here today, why not ask him to help?"

"Young Master Murong's chivalrous name is renowned throughout the realm. Since you have suffered the Tianshan Child Elder's humiliation and wish to rise up in resistance, how could Young Master Murong, generous and righteous as he is, stand idly by?"

Leaving aside the back-and-forth between Murong Fu and Zhuo Bufan, Ren Ze had finally waited for Boss Wu to untie the sack, revealing a delicate little girl carved from jade, whom they intended to kill as a sacrifice to rally their cause.

Ren Ze no longer concealed himself and stepped out from the crowd. "Everyone, is it not somewhat inappropriate for you to kill my grand martial uncle in front of me, the sect leader of the Carefree Sect?"

"What?!"

Everyone was utterly astonished. When Ren Ze had protected Wang Yuyan earlier, they had assumed he was merely some Murong family retainer or guard. Who would have thought that someone so young was actually the sect leader of the Carefree Sect? The Tianshan Child Elder's martial nephew?

"Brother Ren! You're here too!"

Duan Yu shouted happily, nearly ruining Ren Ze's current air of a reclusive master.

This kid's ability to forget loyalty the moment he sees a pretty girl is truly unmatched. He's been here this long and only just noticed me—I'm impressed.

Ren Ze silently complained to himself.

After a moment of shock, Boss Wu and the others turned their attention to Ren Ze. Cupping their fists, they asked, "May we ask if you are Mr. Ren Ze of the Carefree Sect?"

"Indeed, I am."

Ren Ze nodded.

"So it is Mr. Ren before us. Forgive our poor eyesight. Though we gathered here intending to rebel against the Child Elder, we have not even seen her, much less dared to kill her. Why does Mr. Ren say such a thing?"

Boss Wu looked utterly bewildered, while the others around him looked at one another in confusion.

Recently, Ren Ze's reputation in the martial world had surpassed even that of "Northern Qiao Feng, Southern Murong" by several degrees. After all, he had single-handedly killed two of the Four Great Evildoers, swept through the Star-Constellation Sect alone, and slain the Star Constellation Old Freak, Ding Chunqiu. Such accomplishments were highly intimidating.

Ren Ze merely smiled at Boss Wu's words without answering. Instead, he walked before the little girl and respectfully bowed. "Ren Ze, an inner disciple under Master Wu Yazi, pays respects to Grand Martial Uncle!"

The Child Elder, who looked like a little girl, glanced at the ring on Ren Ze's hand and spoke. Her aged voice was filled with wistfulness. "Is your master... doing well?"

"The details are not suitable for outsiders' ears. This disciple should return to Misty Peak with Grand Martial Uncle first, then explain everything in detail."

There was naturally no need to reveal such secrets of the sect before a crowd.

Boss Wu and the others stared dumbfoundedly at Ren Ze and the Child Elder.

They had thought the little girl they had captured was mute, yet she could speak. Moreover, though she appeared barely over ten years old, her voice and manner carried the air of great age. The sight was far too bizarre.

"Y-you are the Child Elder?"

Though it was difficult to believe, Boss Wu was no fool and could naturally see what was happening. Both shocked and terrified, he stared at the Child Elder in disbelief.

The Child Elder!?

The moment that title was spoken, the assorted rabble who had been so aggressive moments ago all shuddered and involuntarily retreated several steps. Not a trace of their previous bravado remained.

The Child Elder cast Boss Wu and the others an indifferent glance. People like them were not worthy of speaking with her. She then said to Ren Ze, "Martial nephew, Misty Peak can no longer be stayed at. That Li Qiushui..."

"Grand Martial Uncle need not worry. With me here, Li Qiushui will not be able to harm you."

Ren Ze spoke with considerable confidence. After all his recent tempering, he did not dare claim he could defeat Li Qiushui, but protecting the Child Elder at the Spirit Vulture Palace on its home ground should not be too difficult.

"Everyone says that a Ren Ze of the Carefree Sect has emerged in the martial world, possessing exceptional martial arts and hating evil as his enemy. I had wondered when our Carefree Sect, having remained hidden for decades, had produced such a person. I never expected you to be Junior Brother Wu Yazi's inner disciple. Good. At last, our Carefree Sect lineage has a worthy successor."

The Child Elder was quite pleased upon learning Ren Ze's identity.

As for those of the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands? Though they did not wish to let the Child Elder leave so easily, Ren Ze's fearsome reputation came first, and Murong Fu, who had arrived alongside him, was no weakling either. For the moment, they were truly intimidated.

"Young Master Murong, Brother Duan, I had originally hoped to travel the martial world with you, upholding justice and chivalry. But today, I encountered my sect's grand martial uncle. Fortunately, Young Master Murong lent his aid, allowing me to rescue her from danger. Please allow me to escort Grand Martial Uncle back to the Spirit Vulture Palace first. Another day, I shall seek out Young Master Murong and Brother Duan, and we can drink and make merry in the martial world."

After leaving the valley, Ren Ze bade farewell to Murong Fu and the others.

"Brother Ren is too courteous. Matters of one's sect are important. Go on, and when you have time, come stay at Swallow Dock in Gusu for a few days."

Murong Fu cupped his fists.

"Brother Ren, I still have not had the chance to thank you for saving my father and the others last time. I didn't expect us to part again so soon. We must have a proper gathering next time."

Duan Yu scratched his head, still feeling that being with Miss Wang was more appealing.

With a wave of his hand, Ren Ze left with the Child Elder, leaving Murong Fu and Duan Yu staring wide-eyed at each other.

Heading west.

After traveling for less than two days, they had yet to reach the borders of Heavenly Mountain when they saw dozens of swift horses galloping toward them. The riders were all cloaked in black, and from afar they looked like a dark cloud sweeping in. When the dozens of riders drew near, however, it became clear that they were all women, with an eagle-vulture embroidered upon the chest of each cloak.

"Honored Mistress, your subordinates came too late to follow you. We deserve ten thousand deaths!"

All the women leapt from their horses, hurried forward, and knelt in unison before Tong Lao.

Ren Ze saw that the leader of the women was an old lady of fifty or sixty. The rest ranged from over forty to merely seventeen or eighteen. Every one of them stood in utmost awe of Tong Lao, prostrating themselves without daring to raise their eyes. Being the Carefree Sect's leader doesn't seem too bad. It's pretty nice, actually.

Tong Lao snorted and snapped, "You all thought I was dead, didn't you? None of you cared about this old woman anymore."

The old woman repeatedly kowtowed, crying that she would never dare.

"If you still cared about me, why did it take you so long to find me? And why did only so few of you come?"

Perhaps because her nephew-disciple had seen her in such a bedraggled state earlier, Tong Lao was especially concerned with saving face now.

"Ever since the night Your Excellency left the palace, every one of your subordinates has been frantic with worry. The Nine Heavens and Nine Divisions immediately descended the mountain and set out separately to search for you. The Haotian Division went east, the Yangtian Division southeast, the Chitian Division south, the Zhutian Division southwest, the Chengtian Division west, the Youtian Division northwest, the Xuantian Division north, the Luantian Division northeast, while the Juntian Division remained behind to guard the palace. Your subordinates are incompetent. We came too late. We deserve death, deserve death!"

As she spoke, she knocked her head against the ground again and again.

"My cultivation was incomplete when I was suddenly abducted by villains. I nearly lost my life, but fortunately my nephew-disciple Ren Ze rescued me. The dangers I faced along the way are beyond words."

Perhaps seeing how haggard and weary they all looked, and realizing they must have suffered greatly while searching for her, Tong Lao no longer vented her anger.

All the women turned toward Ren Ze and kowtowed in thanks. "Sir, your great kindness and virtue can never be repaid, even if this little woman were ground to dust and her bones shattered."

"You flatter me, you flatter me!"

Ren Ze hurried forward to help them up. He was still unaccustomed to so many people paying him such solemn respects.

"Come here, Ren Ze. They are all my servants. How can you lower yourself like this? You are the leader of the Carefree Sect. From this day onward, you are the master of Misty Peak's Spirit Vulture Palace. The lives and deaths of the servants of the Spirit Vulture Palace's Nine Heavens and Nine Divisions are yours to command as you please."

Tong Lao said this proudly.

Ren Ze was somewhat dazed. Ever since taking over as leader of the Carefree Sect, the sect had consisted only of his eldest senior brother and his junior nephew Xue, two middle-aged or elderly men. He had never truly grasped what it meant to be the Carefree Sect's leader. Only now did he realize that as the leader of the Carefree Sect, he carried a heavy responsibility indeed...