Perils on Every Side

The next morning, when Zhang Xiaohua woke and walked out of the cave, he was startled to find that the other eight had already readied the horses and carriages. They all sat atop the carriages, waiting for him.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua emerge, Lu Chaoxian, who had been anxiously pacing back and forth, hurried over and pointed to the distant sky. "Junior Brother Ren, look. Before dawn today, the inner sect disciples sent out another signal just like the last one. We're too far away, though, and can't make out what it says."

Zhang Xiaohua glanced over. Sure enough, last night's signal still hung in midair, only much dimmer now. The newly released signal was quite some distance away from it.

"What's going on?" Zhang Xiaohua asked in confusion. "Did two different groups send them? Were they both attacked by ferocious beasts?"

Senior Brother Wang stepped forward as well. "Senior Brother Lu and I discussed it just now. It could also have been sent by the same person—perhaps to mark her route of travel!"

"Huh? Telling others the route so they can lure ferocious beasts over to attack?" Zhang Xiaohua did not understand at first, but then realization struck him. He nodded. "Perhaps it's the latter. That way, disciples nearby can also rush over. But it has nothing to do with us. Let's go, brothers. We set out now!"

The disciples had long been waiting to hear those words. The moment Zhang Xiaohua spoke, they were overjoyed. Under Lu Chaoxian's lead, the four carriages sped down from the hillside. Zhang Xiaohua stood straight at the front, and the seven disciples behind him all felt their hearts fill with security.

The campsite in Qi Hua Forest lay along their necessary route. As they passed it, Lu Chaoxian could not help turning back