Whiz! Whiz!
Mo Xuan blew air into the whistle for a few seconds.
Then, Chirp! Chirp! A beautiful blue sparrow flew over from a distance under everyone’s gaze.
The bird gently landed on Elder Mo’s palm. Mo Xuan softly patted the sparrow’s feathers.
"Calling for help?" Si Yin tilted his head. "So simple?"
Mo Xuan glanced over silently. His disciple Si Yin and his followers had the same doubtful expression, their brows knitted.
"Idiot disciple, watch and learn." He scolded him in a raspy voice.
He took out a piece of white paper from his storage ring. It was about as long as two adult hands. The paper was of rough quality, with an old, yellowish colour. He then took out a brown quill. It was ten inches long and made of high-quality wood, though it had small cracks from repeated use and wear.
Elder Mo used a nearby tree trunk to support the paper. He began to write as the sparrow moved to his shoulder and scanned its surroundings.
Si Yin peeked at the paper. Noticing this, a few other men also followed curiously.
[ Elder Go!
This is Elder Mo. I recently found a sect that possesses a powerful treasure, and its disciples have very tasty blood. However, I also noticed that its members aren’t weak! They have certain plans.
I request your help! Lend me a hand, and we’ll divide the spoils in a 30:70 ratio, with 30% for me and the rest for you. The location is the entrance to Green Jade Mountain Forest!
Once again, thank you.
Ninth Elder Go! ]
"For real?" Si Yin murmured.
Elder Mo folded the written letter like a scroll and tied it with a grey thread. Then, he placed it inside a small, old, black bottle about the size of a finger, which he attached to the bird’s leg.
Chirp! Chirp!
The sparrow took off into the sky and flew away.
"Will Elder Go really help us?" Si Yin asked, still glancing in the direction the bird had departed. "Master, didn’t you say we shouldn’t depend on others and should never trust anyone?"
"Fool!" Mo Xuan smacked Si Yin on the head.
Si Yin winced and moved his face away, dodging another hit.
Elder Mo explained, "We’re using him to test that sect." He grinned with a cunning glint in his eyes. "Elder Go is someone who likes to take small risks."
"Ninth Elder is at the Great Perfection of Blood Qi. What if he tries to use us as cannon fodder?" Si Yin’s tone turned sharp. He, too, was careful about his own life.
Meanwhile, the Blood Fiend Sect members remained silent, pricking up their ears to listen to his answer without missing a word.
Mo Xuan felt everyone’s attention on him.
"Only if he finds us." His lips curved up.
Two days later, at the edge of Green Jade Mountain Forest.
A thin man clad in black robes, with a scarf covering his face and a hood over his head, led a gang of more than fifty men dressed in the same style as him.
"Elder Go, we’ve arrived," a medium-built young man standing behind the leader said, pointing towards the towering trees and mountain peaks nearby.
"Check for any marks they left behind," the leading man commanded in a hoarse voice. "Elder Mo is slippery and never takes risks." He paused, his old, cloudy pupils filled with killing intent. "He wants us to be cannon fodder. I won’t fall into his plan."
"Yes, Elder Go!"
"How dare those puny weaklings try to use us!"
"Elder, let’s drink the blood of those fifteen division members!"
"They’re a newly established division in the sect, but they have crafty plans."
Ninth Elder Go nodded to himself. ’Good. No betrayal in my division. We’re all of one mind.’
He turned around and barked, "Search the trees, grass, and everything within sight!" He raised his voice. "That Mo guy will definitely leave some marks so we can find the sect he has targeted!"
"Yes, Elder Go!" his men shouted, cupping their fists.
"This should be it." Elder Go glanced at the mark, a water drop roughly carved next to the cave entrance.
"First, throw a few pebbles in," he hissed, "and then check each area before moving forward."
He picked up a small rock and threw it in. The others followed him. At once, more than fifty rocks were hurled into the cave.
Mo Xuan had left the sign of the Blood Fiend Sect on trees to show the path to the Ninth Elder and his gang. It wasn’t unique to him; everyone from their sect used it.
"Be silent." Bai Ruo spoke softly, gesturing towards the entrance of the cave with her eyes.
Jia Xin cursed, "Trash from a demonic sect came back."
’Don’t focus only on me.’ Lei Feng mused, sitting on the edge. His body hadn’t recovered, and his bones were still clearly visible. His cheeks were sunken, and his skin seemed to be nothing more than a layer.
"If only Senior Brother had managed to untie us," Li Ming lamented, his lips turning down bitterly.
Lei Feng stood up and took two steps forward, then hit a rock with his toe!
Thud!
He held his foot, wincing.
"Damn it," he cursed.
"What’s going on, Master?" Jia Xin muttered, frowning. "Why hasn’t he recovered his normal strength?"
"That Blood Recovery Pill might be low-grade, and..." Bai Ruo sighed. "One isn’t enough after losing almost all his blood."
Lei Feng had managed to stay alive due to the pill given by the Blood Fiend Sect. Had he taken more of them, he might have gotten back into shape.
"When are you going to break out?" Jia Xin bit her dry lip. "It’s already been two days or so."
Grr!
The sound echoed from her stomach. Li Ming and Lei Feng were mortals, and without food and water, they were tired and hungry.
"A few more days," Bai Ruo scowled.
"Are sealing talismans this powerful?" Jia Xin almost yelled.
"Yes, this is why sealing talismans are popular." Bai Ruo pursed her lips.
Lei Feng wasn’t able to hear them. He just struggled to sit upright in a corner of the cave, using the wall for leverage.
"Then, once caught, does it mean one can only wait for death?" Li Ming’s face paled. He had been listening. "There must be a way, right?"
"There is! A seal-breaking technique," Bai Ruo replied bluntly. "I’m currently using one to break free." She shook her head. "Also, a sealing talisman of the same level wouldn’t be this tough to break."
Her mastery of Basic Unseal Technique was poor, hence she couldn’t break free quickly. A level 1 Top Grade Bronze Binding Talisman used on her was at the same level as the Blood Qi Perfection realm, one minor realm above her. Had it been a level 1 High Grade talisman equivalent to Blood Qi Great Perfection realm, she would have broken free in just a few seconds.
’I need to focus on training this Basic Unseal Technique,’ she decided. ’I shouldn’t be caught again like this.’
Jia Xin and Li Ming didn’t feel much joy.
"But it’s no use now." Jia Xin gritted her teeth as the sounds of rocks began to stop. "Since it takes a few more days."
"Put your plan to use now," Bai Ruo ordered, while she racked her brain. ’Are there any other ways to break out?’
Thud! Thud!
Elder Go finally appeared in their vision. He then waved his hand. "You! Step over here." He pointed towards the raised edge.
"Yes, Elder."
A towering six-foot-tall man in a hood stepped onto the rugged stone.
"Now, jump." Ninth Elder narrowed his brows.
The towering man followed his words.
Bang! Bang!
"Everyone, check," Elder Go commanded.
His followers carefully placed their feet and scrutinised the area. If it seemed fine, they bounced around to check for faults.
Meanwhile, the Myriad Dao Sect group blankly watched them, as humans were bouncing around like kangaroos all around the cave.
"What are you doing?" Li Ming couldn’t understand them.
They were checking for traps and sealing talismans.
"So, you’re them." Elder Go held his chin. He then turned to Lei Feng and clicked his tongue. "Elder Mo, one defective product."
"Master, the cave is safe." The towering man cupped his hands. "And, Master, if you don’t mind, can I...?" He licked his lips, glancing at Bai Ruo’s nape. "Her blood would definitely taste like honey."