The five thousand soldiers had presumably all been selected by the emperor and the Prince. They must have been loyal and brave.
Tian Buyi marveled at his youngest disciple's good fortune.
After giving the soldiers at this outpost a few instructions, the Ghost King also left behind the Ghost King Sect disciples he had protected, telling them to wait here for his return.
The few of them traveled light, and under Zhang Xiaofan's guidance, found He Dazhi and the others. Zhang Xiaofan told He Dazhi about the decision Tian Buyi and the others had made. After giving it some thought, He Dazhi expressed his wholehearted agreement.
The soldiers, fewer than three hundred in number, felt deeply disappointed when they learned that, because of their low cultivation, they had no choice but to return to the previous outpost and wait.
Just as they were about to send them back, a soldier came before He Dazhi and dropped to one knee.
"Our strength is weak, and we should never have made such a request. But we have received the emperor and the Prince's instructions, and we have sworn to protect the Little State Preceptor with our lives. We beg the Immortal Master to honor our resolve!"
He Dazhi looked at the dozens of soldiers kneeling before him, feeling both comforted and helpless. He glanced toward his master, who was watching from the side. Seeing that the soldiers were still willing to accompany his youngest disciple and protect him, even after they had been told how perilous the road ahead was, Tian Buyi nodded in satisfaction.
He Dazhi did not want these loyal, brave soldiers to put themselves in danger. But they were soldiers, men of the army. If he forced them to return just because the road ahead was perilous, it would