Return to the Gang

Wen Wenhai was exhausted. The whip in his hand mechanically struck the horse's hindquarters, hoping it would run faster. Beside him, Xue Qing's face was once again covered by a veil, obscuring her expression. She too urged her mount forward.

Wen Wenhai occasionally glanced back at Xue Qing, sometimes offering encouragement: "Junior Sister, just a little further. We'll soon reach our territory, and then we can rest."

Xue Qing replied, "I know, Senior Brother. Let's keep moving."

After descending Stone Man Peak, they hadn't paid much attention at first. The mission was complete; they just needed to bring the items back to the sect. They were even still reveling in the joy of acquiring the medicine. It was only when they mounted their horses and saw the two finest steeds in the sect that they realized the significance of their Master having them ride such magnificent horses. At the same time, Wen Wenhai recalled his Master's seemingly insignificant instruction: "Hurry back." They also recognized their precarious situation. Setting aside any ulterior motives from the other three factions, even ordinary martial arts sects catching wind of their success or discovering what they carried – priceless treasures in the eyes of the martial world! – would put them in grave danger. "Possessing wealth invites trouble." Their lives would be at risk. The two couldn't help but feel a chill, exchanged a glance, and immediately mounted their horses, not daring to linger, whipping them into a gallop.

The two of them galloped non-stop on their horses for a day and a night. Fortunately, they were martial artists with well-honed bodies; an ordinary person would have long since collapsed.

As noon approached on this day, the two were on their way when they spotted a roadside tea stall in the distance. These tea stalls were usually simple tents or thatched roofs set up beside main roads, open on all sides, offering basic tea and food for weary travelers.

As they neared the tea stall, Xue Qing couldn't help but say to Wen Wenhai, "Senior Brother, why don't we rest for a bit? We're only about a meal's distance from our Misty Sect's territory. It should be safe here, right?"

Wen Wenhai was also tempted and slowed his horse, gradually approaching the tea stall.

However, a thought crossed Wen Wenhai's mind. He smiled and said to Xue Qing, "Junior Sister, it's only about a meal's distance. We'll be there soon. We've been traveling for so long, there's no need to worry about this little bit of road. Let's push on a bit further. We can rest once we reach our territory, how about that?"

Xue Qing said, "Alright, Senior Brother. We won't do anything that might undo our previous efforts. Let's go quickly."

With that, the two of them rallied their spirits again, quickened their pace, and sped past the tea stall in a blur, paying no mind to the sweat beading on their horses or their trembling legs.

There weren't many people in the tea stall at this time. Two men in tight-fitting clothes sat at a small table near the roadside. One had a pale complexion and a long, thin beard that swayed in the wind; he held a sword. The other had dark skin, a stout build, and large hands and feet; he carried no weapon. They were leisurely sipping tea from rough ceramic bowls on the table. They saw Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing slow down slightly as they passed the tea stall before picking up speed again.

After Wen Wenhai's horse passed, the swordsman looked at his companion, the dark-skinned man, and said with a smile, "Old Sixth, stop drinking. Let's go too. I didn't expect Ah Hai to be so cautious, not even entering this tea stall. Third Brother has raised a good disciple."

Old Sixth replied, "Yes, Fourth Brother. None of our disciples are as cautious and careful as Ah Hai. It's a shame his talent is limited, and he'll have little progress in martial arts. Otherwise, he'd be limitless. Alas, it's a pity about these two fine horses."

After speaking, the two men paid for their tea, fetched their horses, and mounted them, giving chase.

However, they were unaware that a seemingly ordinary passerby behind them, his eyes flashing with a sharp glint, muttered to himself, "What's going on that two of the Misty Six Tigers are here to meet them?"

After the two men led their horses away, he quietly paid his bill and followed them.

Meanwhile, Wen Wenhai urged his horse onward. After another meal's worth of time, the area became more populated, with more small stalls lining the road. Pingyang City was visible in the distance. Suddenly, he heard his horse whinny and its legs buckle, collapsing to the ground. Wen Wenhai felt his body sink and immediately slapped the horse's back, using the momentum to leap off. Seeing this, Xue Qing quickly reined in her horse, bringing it to a slow stop. The horse lay limply on the ground, frothing at the mouth, its eyes slowly closing. It had been worked to death. Xue Qing quickly checked her own horse. It wasn't much better; its legs trembled uncontrollably, and a bit of white foam appeared around its mouth. It seemed it could no longer be ridden.

Wen Wenhai stood by the roadside, looking at the fallen horse and the startled onlookers scattering around. He pondered for a moment, then took a signal arrow from his huái and shot it into the sky. With a sharp whistle, the arrow soared upwards, its piercing sound echoing far in the open sky.

Just as the sound of the signal arrow faded, he heard a call from behind, "Ah Hai!" Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing turned back, their faces lighting up with joy.

It was the two men in tight-fitting clothes from the tea stall.

As the two men rode up on their horses, Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing stepped forward to bow, "Greetings, Fourth Uncle-Master and Sixth Uncle-Master."

The two dismounted, laughing, "Nephew and Niece, no need for such formalities. We are here to welcome you on behalf of the Sect Leader Brother. Wait a moment, and they will be here."

Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing nodded in agreement and stood beside their two Uncle-Masters, waiting quietly.

At this moment, the tension that had been taut in their hearts finally completely relaxed.

Indeed, not long after, a group of people approached at a gallop from the distance. Leading them was a scholar wearing a square scarf, around forty years old, with a fair, clean-shaven face and dressed in white, looking very young, like someone engrossed in study. Closely following him was a beautiful woman radiating mature charm, also dressed simply. Both rode white horses. Behind them were about a dozen people in tight-fitting clothes, each equipped with swords or sabers, their eyes sharp. Some had prominently bulging temples, clearly indicating they were martial arts experts. As they urged their horses forward, their eyes scanned their surroundings vigilantly.

As the two reached them and dismounted, Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing stepped forward to bow, "We pay our respects to Master."

This scholar was none other than the Sect Leader of the Misty Sect, Ou Peng!

He was so unassuming.

They then bowed to the beautiful woman, "We pay our respects to Master's Wife."

The beautiful woman smiled at them, saying nothing. Ou Peng said, "Alright, Ah Hai, Qing'er, you've worked hard. No need for formalities. As you know, your Master's Wife rarely gets involved in sect affairs. Today is more like an outing."

The two behind Wen Wenhai also stepped forward to bow, "Greetings, Sect Leader Brother, Sister-in-law."

Ou Peng reached out to help them up and said, "You've worked hard too."

Old Fourth stood up and said, "It was no hardship. We were merely enjoying some tea. Your disciple here wouldn't even enter a tea stall; he's so cautious."

Wen Wenhai finally understood. He quickly said, "Disciple didn't know Uncle-Master was here. Otherwise, I would have left with Uncle-Master long ago."

Then he said to his Master, "Disciple has fulfilled his mission, returning safely with Junior Sister. However, the horses..."

Ou Peng laughed heartily, "It's fine. Horses, no matter how magnificent, are not as important as you are. As long as you return safely, that's all that matters."

He then said to those behind him, "Leave one horse for Qing'er, and then handle things here."

Afterward, he led Wen Wenhai, Xue Qing, and the other two away on horseback, leaving two people to deal with the dead horses. They didn't mention the items Wen Wenhai carried at all.

The ordinary passerby who had followed them witnessed the entire process, becoming even more astonished. Without further thought, he mounted his horse and galloped off in another direction. He likely intended to report back to the sect. Anything that required Ou Peng himself to come out to greet must be significant.

Wen Wenhai and the others followed the large group towards Pingyang City. Upon reaching Pingyang City, they didn't enter it but skirted around the city gates and headed in another direction. After about fifteen minutes, they arrived at a mountain villa outside the city.

This villa was built against the mountainside. In front of the villa were scattered residences, with houses of varying heights arranged picturesquely. Many people were busy with their own affairs. Upon seeing the approaching group, they quickly cleared the main path and bowed respectfully to Ou Peng on horseback.

Further in was a straight road lined with large trees. After passing the road, they were met by a magnificent archway. The two large characters on the archway, "Misty," were the same as those on the token Xue Qing had given the Zhang family, but these characters appeared even more ethereal.

Beyond the archway was a raised platform. Ten or so steps led up to an open gateway. Dozens of people, appearing to be sect disciples, were already waiting at the entrance and on the steps. At the front of this group was a young man with a fair complexion and a gentle, refined demeanor, around the same age as Wen Wenhai. This was the sect's Senior Disciple Brother, Zhang Chengyue. As Ou Peng and the others dismounted at the foot of the steps, Zhang Chengyue led everyone in a unified greeting, "Welcome, Sect Leader."

Ou Peng and the others dismounted, and someone took their reins. Ou Peng said, "Good, everyone has worked hard. You are dismissed. Disciples participating in the Advancement Competition, hurry up and train. Time is running out."

The disciples replied, "Yes, we will follow the Sect Leader's instructions."

Then Zhang Chengyue followed Ou Peng and the others through the gate, while the rest went about their own business. These disciples, having been ordered by the Sect Leader to gather days ago and maintain vigilance day and night, had expected a major event. To their surprise, the Sect Leader had gone out and then announced the cancellation of this anticlimactic alert, leaving the disciples somewhat confused. However, this was the Sect Leader's business. The Advancement Competition, which concerned their own future, was more important. If they could advance, their status and treatment within the sect would change, and they might even learn more profound martial arts. This was their own concern. The disciples wouldn't inquire further.

Ou Peng led the group to the assembly hall. Ou Peng's wife excused herself, seeing that they had sect matters to attend to. The others followed Ou Peng into the assembly hall.