After that ordeal, who still had the mood to rest? Every one of them stood watch at the various windows, trembling with fear.
Xiao Wu hesitated before asking, "Qing Ge'er, what exactly happened just now?"
Ren Qing took the Great Miao Saber from his back and said, "Wang Wen was carried off by a pack of mountain wolves, so I rescued him."
"Mm, and I killed a few mountain wolves while I was at it."
Everyone looked at Ren Qing, their expressions filled with astonishment.
Zhu Ding swallowed hard. He had noticed that Ren Qing's clothes were indeed stained with blood. Could it really have happened like that?
Guo Qing muttered to himself, "How could there be mountain wolves..."
Ren Qing sighed. His head hurt just thinking about how to explain it, so he simply said, "Just kidding. Wang Wen actually fainted outside the thatched hut. He probably hit his head."
Xiao Wu said in relief, "So that was it."
Only Xiao Wu believed him. The others could not help looking at the Great Miao Saber in Ren Qing's hand, feeling that its edge was somewhat dazzling.
With unspoken understanding, they did not ask any further questions and honestly kept watch through the night.
A long while later, Wang Wen woke up clutching his head. The scene of being hunted by the wolf pack remained vivid in his mind, leaving him with an overwhelming sense of unreality.
Just as he was about to ask what had happened, he saw Ren Qing in the distance using Blade Oil to maintain the Great Miao Saber.
The gleaming blade reflected the firelight.
"You're awake, Brother Wang."
Xiao Wu hurriedly brought over a bowl of hot water boiled in the iron pot they had brought with them. As for the porcelain bowl, there had already been one in the thatched hut.
Only then did Wang Wen take the hot water and sip a few mouthfuls, gradually regaining feeling in his body.
"Brother Wang, it was thanks to Qing Ge'er rescuing you in time. Otherwise, you would've been dragged away by wild beasts."
"I..."
"By the way, Brother Wang, why did you suddenly faint?"
Wang Wen opened his mouth, unsure how to answer for a moment.
With over a decade of experience as a Constable, he had more or less come into contact with Forbidden Guards. He knew how unfathomable their abilities were, and that they even wielded immortal Arts beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
Ren Qing had effortlessly slaughtered a pack of mountain wolves in such darkness. He would likely become one of the Forbidden Guards soon enough.
Wang Wen felt deep admiration for Ren Qing and almost wanted to kneel and kowtow in thanks for saving his life.
But when he saw Ren Qing put away the Great Miao Saber, then fold his arms and close his eyes to rest, he naturally did not dare disturb him.
Ren Qing kept pondering that strange Bèi beast. The extra eyeball clearly meant it had been possessed by Song Rong's Art.
However, since there was no trace of Song Rong, perhaps Song Rong had not deliberately commanded the wolf pack to attack them. It might have been indiscriminate violence.
Could Song Rong be trying to muddy the waters and use that chance to enter the Disaster Aversion Forbidden Zone?
Ren Qing did not dwell on it any longer. Half asleep and half awake, he cultivated the Eye-less Method, and before he knew it, the sky had begun to brighten.
The Bats that slept by day and emerged by night flew back into their caves, while crisp birdsong rang through the mountains.
After packing their belongings, everyone hurried onward.
When they saw large patches of blood in the distant forest that had not yet dried, they became even more convinced that Ren Qing was deeply hidden and unfathomable.
Only Xiao Wu remained carefree and thoughtless, carrying the large iron pot on his back as he walked in the middle of the group.
Ren Qing paid no attention to the strange looks others gave him. Instead, he focused on finding the way and observing every rustle in the wind and grass.
After long periods of honing, his Double Pupils had improved significantly. Even a butterfly disguised as a leaf could be spotted clearly.
As they ventured deeper into the mountain range, Ren Qing could sense the chaos all around them.
The cries of wild beasts rose and fell without end. From time to time, they even saw mangled animal corpses, though it was unknown whether they had anything to do with Song Rong.
Faced with such circumstances, the other Fire Workers might not necessarily make it there safely. More than half of them might even end up dead or injured.
Amid everyone's apprehension, they arrived at the meeting place marked on the map.
It lay at the foot of an unnamed mountain, where two hills rose like a camel's humps. In the northwest corner, they could see a deep, shadowy Karst Cave.
Military tents had been set up at the cave entrance, forming what was clearly a temporary camp.
Ren Qing could distinctly feel the Blood Heart in his arms beating much faster, indicating that the other holders of Blood Hearts were nearby.
He examined the Karst Cave from top to bottom. Why did the entrance look as though it had been forcibly widened with explosives, with shattered stones scattered everywhere?
The Stone Walls inside were riddled with pits and hollows, definitely not naturally formed. No one knew why the Forbidden Guards had gone to such pains.
Wang Wen and the others could not help sighing in relief. Seeing the camp meant the Forbidden Guards were nearby, so things would surely be much safer from here on.
They had just wanted to enter the Karst Cave when Ren Qing stopped them.
"We should wait at the camp instead. There might be some danger inside the cave."
Ren Qing could hear faint noises from deep within the Karst Cave, seemingly the sounds of stone being excavated. Song Zongwu and the others should be inside.
He felt that if Wang Wen and the others barged in recklessly, they might be frightened by the horrifying appearances caused by the Forbidden Guards' Aberration.
Wait, what did mining have to do with sealing off the Forbidden Zone?
The others all echoed his agreement. Ren Qing had now become the backbone of the group.
Following Ren Qing's instructions, they began gathering wood and setting up tents, while Wang Wen and Guo Qing prepared to hunt wild beasts nearby.
Seeing everyone busy with their own tasks, Ren Qing found the camp had become rather quiet.
He took out the brush and paper he carried with him and recorded his general speculations about Song Rong's actions, intending to hand them to Song Zongwu when he had the chance.
After finishing, Ren Qing went to the entrance of the Karst Cave and called out, "I am Yamen Runner Ren Qing, here to report to the esteemed Forbidden Guards."
His voice echoed through the cave, then calm returned after a moment.
Ren Qing waited for a while without seeing any movement. Assuming Song Zongwu was not inside, he prepared to help Xiao Wu and the others tidy up the camp first.
Just then, abrupt frog croaks came from the depths, each one louder than the last.
The source of the sound seemed to be moving rapidly.
Before Ren Qing could react, he had only just placed his hand on the saber hilt when a black shadow shot straight out from the shadows at the cave entrance.
Ren Qing instinctively wanted to draw his saber, but sensing no hostility from the other party, he forcibly returned the Great Miao Saber to its sheath.
A rope-like object swept past him, smashing a deep pit into the hard rock.
He focused his gaze and saw a purple-blue Frogman clinging to the Stone Wall overhead. The so-called rope was actually its tongue.
"Hehehe, you came fast."
"Don't mind it. Digging stone for days has been unbearably dull, so I came out to stretch my limbs."
The Frogman crawled into the Karst Cave with all four limbs moving as if on level ground, quickly vanishing from sight.
Ren Qing was somewhat speechless. Anyone else would probably have been scared out of their wits, but fortunately, none of them had noticed anything unusual.
Not long afterward, footsteps approached again. This time, Song Zongwu walked out.
Song Zongwu's four arms gripped iron picks, and his clothes were covered in dust, making him look rather bedraggled.
The two did not exchange many words. After Ren Qing handed the paper to Song Zongwu, he went to inspect the area around the camp.
Song Zongwu patiently read through the paper, then tossed it into the burning campfire.
He then turned and returned to the Karst Cave, intending to discuss countermeasures with the other Forbidden Guards.
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