It was not until Jiang Bairen, wearing a thoroughly gloomy expression, came up the mountain and called sullenly to Kong Jiao, "Junior Brother Kong, go down and rest for a while. I'll stand watch."
"Senior Brother Jiang, you've worked through the night. You should go rest instead," Kong Jiao said with a polite smile.
In truth, whether it was Jiang Bairen or Kong Jiao, at their level, going seven or eight days without sleep was no problem.
Jiang Bairen simply did not want to see that group of villagers he could neither hit nor scold. He only wanted some peace and quiet, so he waved a hand. "No need for courtesy. Go on. My head hurts whenever I see those people."
Kong Jiao laughed heartily, then swept his gaze around once more. Only after confirming there was no danger for the moment did he nod. "Then I'll trouble Senior Brother Jiang."
With that, he leaped down, using the jutting rocks on the cliff face to continue his descent.
Most of the villagers resting in the narrow crevice had traveled all night and were exhausted. They had long since fallen into deep, snoring sleep.
The eleven disciples, Xie Guang'an among them, stood guard in different directions, not daring to slacken in the slightest.
Mu Tian had cultivation, though it was not high—only the third level of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm—so he was not particularly tired. He sat on a stone ledge at the edge of the crevice with the little girl, puffing on his dry tobacco one breath at a time, his face heavy with worry.
It was not until Kong Jiao appeared before him.
"Senior Brother Mu, it has been a long time," Kong Jiao said warmly. Afraid of disturbing the villagers' rest, he kept his voice low.
Mu Tian looked