Chapter 18:

The middle-aged man continued to eye us for a long moment. Then he finally spoke.

“You expect me to believe that you know the Young Miss? And that you escaped the Marauders?” The man shook his head and crossed his arms. Then something strange happened. I felt something pass over me in a way I couldn’t quite describe. “Two Early Qi-Gatherers carrying dead weight? The Marauders might be bandit scum, but I sincerely doubt they are that inept.”

I grimaced at his disbelief. Then I froze as I realized what I’d just felt. Had that been his spirit sense? He felt very strong, so he could have one. Shit, what if—

No. I stilled myself to stop from reacting anymore. Best to not draw attention to myself. And he said two Early Qi-Gatherers. So even if that was a spirit sense, Ming Lin had been right. A cursory inspection doesn’t reveal my core. I was fine. As long as I didn’t overreact.

But damn, I’d really been hoping that I could resolve the spirit beast core issue before I encountered anyone that could sense it. Hopefully, he wouldn’t feel inclined to dig deeper. Maybe if Ming Lin could convince him of the truth.

“I don’t care what you believe,” Ming Lin said, her gaze cold. I tried not to wince at her tone. Hopefully, she knew what she was doing. “But if you think keeping two of her retainers from her—one that’s in dire need of a doctor, while the other has information on her enemies—is a good idea, then what happens in the future will be on your head. You can choose to do that if you think you can bear the weight of the Young Miss’s displeasure.”

“Her retainers?” the middle-aged man asked slowly, his eyes narrowed.

“Yes.”

The two held gazes for a long moment while I glanced back and forth between them, trying to not let my nervousness show. Come on, believe her already.

Then, finally, the older man snorted. He shook his head but backed off. “Get those two to their feet. And Shi Xian, carry the unconscious one. We’ll take them back to the camp. And if they're lying then they can explain to the Young Miss just why we had to waste our time bringing them back instead of doing our jobs.”

I almost slumped in relief at that. But before I could, the man’s subordinates moved to follow his orders with cries of, “Yes, Sir.”

We were both forced up onto our feet by rough hands. The young man in cultivator robes who hadn’t been holding a sword to Ming Lin’s throat—Shi Xian—whined about having to carry Shui Jianfeng. But a glare from the middle-aged man put an end to that and he meekly did as he was told.

However, he wasn’t very careful about it, tossing Shui Jianfeng over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Both Ming Lin and I glared at him for that, but he just scoffed and ignored us, walking on ahead.

Asshole.

After that, the ropes tying our hands were removed, but we weren’t given back our weapons. Instead, we were forced to follow the captain as he moved to leave the clearing, while two of his underlings kept a close eye on us from behind.

Then, just like that, we began traveling through the forest once more.

I felt both relieved and nervous as we started at a slow jog. On one hand, at least the spirit beast core thing didn’t end up being an issue. And we were being taken to Ming Lin’s friend—or employer? On the other hand, we were still under suspicion and might end up meeting more people with spirit senses. Not great.

Ming Lin’s reaction to everything also didn’t make me feel any better. At first, she’d been relieved. But immediately afterward, she’d been concerned about something. She still looked concerned about it now, given the frown and far-off look on her face. Something that I didn’t think was just about the careless way that Shi Xian asshole was carrying her friend.

So after we settled into a faster pace, and nothing more happened, I decided to ask her about it. “Hey, Ming Lin. Is there something we still need to worry about?”

It took me a couple of tries to get her attention. When my question registered to her, she shook her head and gave me a weak smile. “Not for you. Things will be better now. Once we reach the Young Miss, Jianfeng will be looked after and she will be able to keep us safe out here.”

I frowned. “Then why don’t you look happier?”

Her smile fell, and she let out a sigh. “Running into the Young Missus’ men was a stroke of fortune. But for her to be out here personally… She wouldn’t have come just trying to track us down herself. Which means the Marauders have earned her ire beyond just capturing us. I think one of my other friends might be in danger.”

As she said those last words, she gave Shi Xian, who was running with Shui Jianfeng over his shoulder to her right, a pointed look. Obviously, she wanted more information. But the young man just snorted and ignored her as we continued our run through the forest.

Seemed they weren’t quite buying our story just yet. Still, despite that, I couldn’t help but feel myself relax just a bit. Sure, we were still kinda being held against our will. And another of Ming Lin’s friends being in danger was not great. But, at least now we didn’t have to worry about trying to travel through a spirit beast-filled forest with just the three of us. And Shui Jianfeng would get treated soon. Also, perhaps the map we had and our knowledge about the Marauders could help Ming Lin’s other friend.

The only thing I personally had to worry about now was my spirit beast core getting discovered. Even then, given the lack of reaction from the middle-aged man, it didn’t seem like too much of a possibility at the moment. And even if it was discovered, at least Ming Lin should be able to convince them I’m not a spirit beast in disguise.

At least, that's what I hoped. And since there was nothing more I could do to change things, I decided not to worry about it too much and just hope for the best.

It didn’t take us too long to reach our destination. We ran at a decent pace, and we weren’t bothered by any spirit beasts. It wasn’t that they didn't appear. It's just that anything that was in our way was cut down by our captors swiftly.

Armed and uninjured, the three younger men not carrying someone were able to take most things out with ease since we mainly encountered Early Rank 1 spirit beasts. The few times we encountered anything stronger, the middle-aged man took care of it himself. Much stronger than the rest, he easily overwhelmed anything the others couldn’t handle with his saber.

So not too long after we started, we arrived at a clearing where a makeshift camp was being set up. There was only a single structure, a cloth canopy tent, where I guessed the leaders of this group organized everything. It seemed rather ornate with its red and gold fabric and intricate embroidery I could make out even from afar.

Around the tent were what looked like a dozen guards. Unlike the men escorting us, though, they all wore cultivator robes that were a mix of red and black. On top of that was a variety of different arms and armor.

We’d finally made it.

Though before I could celebrate, I noticed one of the red and black-clad guards walking quickly toward us. Given the angry look on his face, it seemed that our troubles were not quite over just yet.

“Xiang Dong, what are you doing back so soon?” the angry-looking young man asked as he reached us. He was addressing the middle-aged man, and despite the age difference between them, he felt just as powerful to my Earth Sense. “And who are these two? Have you found signs of the Marauders?”

“Perhaps, Cao Da,” the now-named Xiang Dong said with a snort. “This boy,” he gestured to Ming Lin, “claims he’s a retainer of the Young Miss. Not sure I believe that, but I thought I would bring him back just in case.”

“A retainer? This scruffy-looking thing?” Cao Da asked with a scoff. He was starting to piss me off with how dismissive he was. Though I resisted glaring at him. Given his level of strength, I didn’t want any trouble from him. “I know mercenaries like yourself aren’t that bright, but do you really think that—”

“Hey, Miss Sun Xia!” Ming Lin called out loudly, interrupting the guard and making sure everyone in the clearing could hear. It made me jump a bit, given how loud she’d been. “It’s Ming Lin! Can you come here and discipline your dog? Jianfeng’s hurt and needs help. We just escaped the Marauders!”

Cao Da's face twisted in anger at Ming Lin’s shouting. He looked like he was about to reach out and throttle her. But before he could, two people appeared in a blur.

One was a gorgeous young woman—who I assumed was Young Miss Sun Xia—probably around my own age. She had long flowing black hair with complex-looking braids tying up parts of it, but with the rest of it flowing freely down her back. Her eyes were a striking green, her skin looked pristine, and she had ruby-red lipstick. Her robes were similar to the young man’s, but were even more decorated and were red and gold. And despite how armed everyone else was, she had no visible weapon or armor.

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The other person was a woman who stood right behind and to the side of Sun Xia. She had flowing black hair as well, but it was put up into a simple ponytail. Though there was a strip of white running through her hair in the front. She wore the same robes as the guards, but her armor on top of it looked a lot higher quality. It seemed to gleam even in the low light of the early evening sky. There was also a sword at her side, and she had a stern look to her as she seemed to size everyone else up.

The appearance of the two of them caught me off guard in several ways. One was the fact that they were both gorgeous. Like, they could easily be supermodels back on earth, even if the Young Miss kind of overshadowed who I assumed was her bodyguard. But the other thing I couldn't help but be taken aback by was how they felt to my Earth Sense.

Despite their obvious power, with how they could move so fast that they were a blur, they didn’t actually feel all that strong. Did that just mean they had really tight control of their Qi? I didn’t know, but considering even the middle-aged man wasn’t like that, I assumed it was a sign of being a very powerful cultivator.

Just to be safe.

“Ming Lin,” Sun Xia said with a slightly admonishing tone to her voice, like a mother chiding her child. It was then that I remembered the immortal part of immortal cultivators. This young woman might actually be older than she appeared. Or was just really good at chiding people that way. “It's good to see that you are well. However, please do not antagonize the Alchemist Guards I’ve brought with me. Even if they are being discourteous. It is unbecoming of someone I’m investing in.“

Cao Da stiffened at her words and looked like he had eaten something sour. But he kept his mouth shut and his eyes down. I would have almost felt bad if he hadn’t been so rude just now.

“My apologies, Young Miss,” Ming Lin said, sounding far more formal now as she bowed. “I was in a rush. Jianfeng breathed in some poison during our escape, and I wanted to get him help as soon as possible. I managed to feed him a Lesser Vital Essence Pill, but he still might die if he isn’t treated soon.”

Sun Xia’s expression softened at that before she turned an unimpressed gaze over to Shi Xian. The young man was still holding Shui Jianfeng over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He now looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Even when she turned her gaze away from him, he was still as a statue. Served the bastard right for how carelessly he carried our friend.

“Xiang Dong, correct?” Sun Xia asked, turning her attention to the middle-aged man.

Xiang Dong nodded at that, a small grimace on his face. “Yes, Young Miss. How might we be of service?”

“It seems your subordinate does not know how to take care of the injured,” she said coldly. “But surely someone as experienced as yourself would be better trained than that? So personally escort my retainer over to the tent to be treated.”

“Of course, Young Miss,” Xiang Dong said deferentially, bowing low. “I will make sure he is treated with the most care. Forgive me for my failure to train my subordinates correctly. I will make sure to correct such failures for the future.”

Sun Xia just nodded minutely at that before dismissing the man.

Xiang Dong turned to glare at Shi Xian who winced and slowly gave Shui Jianfeng over to the middle-aged man. With Shui Jianfeng in his arms, held very carefully, he started heading over to the tent in the center of the camp. Following him were the rest of his subordinates, each one looking sheepish or grimacing.

The two who’d been guarding us from behind also gave us back our weapons, apologizing and bowing as they did before rushing off.

I resisted the urge to grin at them smugly. Mainly to not look childish in front of two very beautiful—and, more importantly, very influential—women. We hadn’t really been introduced yet, and I didn’t want their first impression of me to be soured.

“Thank you for taking care of that, Young Miss,” Ming Lin said as she tied her axe back to the sash at her waist. I did the same with my sword.

“You don’t have to thank me for that,” Sun Xia said, a soft smile on her face. “You and Shui Jianfeng are both my people. And you know I look after my own.”

“Of course,” Ming Lin said, though she still bowed once more. Very formally.

It started to make me feel a bit nervous. Despite how friendly Sun Xia acted, Ming Lin was still so respectful. And I was still very much new to the culture here. What if I said or did something super disrespectful by accident? Normally, that might just cause embarrassment. But here, in this cultivator world? It could be a much bigger problem.

“Now, you said that you’d escaped the Marauders? As in the Black Wind Marauders?” Sun Xia asked, her tone just a tad more urgent now. “Is that where you and Jianfeng have been until now?”

“Yes,” Ming Lin said, nodding solemnly. “We only just escaped today. But we managed to get a map off one of them, and have some troubling news about their practices. Given that you are out here now… Have they done something else to draw you out here personally?”

Sun Xia nodded slowly. “Yun… She was… over-eager in her search for you two and decided to act impulsively before I could gather the forces necessary to keep her safe. She joined a convoy that was attacked by the Marauders.”

Ming Lin grimaced and bowed again. “I’m sorry Youn—”

Or at least she tried to. Before she could finish her bow, Sun Xia moved closer and grabbed her gently by the shoulders. “There’s no need for that. You are not at fault for my little sister’s impatience.”

“Still, if we hadn’t—”

“There’s nothing to be gained from blaming yourself,” Sun Xia interrupted again. “It’s not like you were captured on purpose, and you were not in charge of the Stomping Bulls. Now, show me this map and tell me what you can of the Marauders.”

Ming Lin looked like she wanted to argue some more. She seemed to really want to blame herself for her friend's trouble. But at Sun Xia’s insistence, she slumped and pulled out the map. Then she explained what we knew about the Marauders and what we’d seen. What we were forced to witness.

Sun Xia’s beautiful face was soon marred by a deep frown. And then I felt something through my Earth Sense. Power. Well, Qi actually. But powerful Qi. Far stronger than anything I’d felt before. It was only for a split second, but I felt it all the same, and cold sweat started to run down my back.

Then, as if it had never happened, the feeling went away. But the expression on her face did not.

“Cao Da,” Sun Xia said quietly as she held up the map. “Where were the last traces of the Marauders spotted?”

The previously quiet young man jolted at the question, and he hurried to answer. “About here,” he said, pointing at a spot on the map.

Sun Xia studied the map for another moment before she nodded. “Then let Captain Mo know that he is to recall all the men. We know where the camp is and where they will likely pass to reach there.” She pointed to a spot on the map that might have been between two hills. “If we rush over there now, we can set up an ambush here before they arrive. They will be slowed transporting all their captives. We’ll leave a single person at our camp here to redirect everyone who can’t return in time.”

Cao Da’s eyes widened at that. “But Young Miss, Master Fang Hong has not arrived yet. If the map is to be believed, then we might end up close enough that the Black Wind himself will appear. Especially if the battle drags out, which is quite possible given their reported numbers. If that happens without Master Fang Hong, then our chances of just escaping will be abysmal.”

Sun Xia turned her head slowly to the guard, her gaze cold. “I will not let my sister fall into the hands of these scum. It was bad enough before when they were just bandits. But you heard Ming Lin, they practice demonic arts! And do you have so little faith in your fellow guards that you cannot overcome a simple numbers advantage in an ambush against bandits?”

Cao Da flinched slightly at Sun Xia’s cold words. But to his credit, he did not back down. “I can understand your urgency, Young Miss. But the Black Wind Marauders are no simple bandits. Some of their elite members are likely disgraced descendants of the three great clans. There have also been reports of Eagle-Eyed Jin being part of the group we are hunting. Any attempts using an ambush against him will likely fail.”

Sun Xia scowled at that, and her hands clenched hard at her sides. “So what do you expect me to do, then, Cao Da? Wait for Master Hong while who knows what happens to my sister? Let the Black Wind use her as a hostage? If that happens then our options will be incredibly limited.”

“I do not know, Young Miss,” Cao Da said, sounding genuinely regretful. “Perhaps we can ask Captain Mo his opinions on this. But given what we know, all I can do is advise that an ambush would be incredibly risky for us all. If you wish us to proceed, I will do my duty, as will the Captain. But I urge you to consider all the risks.”

Sun Xia was silent for a long moment after that, scowling and looking off to the side. Weighing her options, probably.

I, on the other hand, couldn’t help wondering one thing. If the problem with an ambush was this eagle-eyed guy, would an ambush from underground work? Given the name, I’m assuming he just had really good eyes.

I could see it working if my assumptions were correct. The reason they weren’t considering it was probably a time issue. There wasn’t much time to set up an ambush, and they likely couldn’t dig that fast.

I might be able to depending on how long we had.

But a couple of things held me back from voicing this and volunteering my services. One was that I was still not all that clear on proper etiquette. Would Sun Xia take offense to a random person speaking up? I wouldn’t care that much back home, but here offending people could be a big problem. Her attitude so far made me think this wasn’t an issue with her, but Ming Lin had still acted super deferentially.

Then there was the issue of revealing what I could do if I volunteered to help. Though giving it more thought, it probably wasn’t that big of a deal. I was just showing that I had earth techniques. Not that I could harvest them from other things.

But there was still another issue. And that was spirit sense. Such a trap might not even work if the enemy had that. However, I couldn’t know for sure if it was a problem unless I asked. After all, I had no idea how much people with spirit sense used it or what limitations there might be.

So really, I should just try and suggest it. At worst, I get shot down and look dumb. Maybe even offended Sun Xia a bit, but she didn’t seem like the kind of person to go overboard when it came to that kind of thing. And if things did work out, I wouldn’t just be helping save some people from a gruesome fate—something that I already really wanted to do. But, I would also be finally striking back at those damned Marauders.

Not directly. But if we saved this girl and denied them the hostage, then we’d be making it easier for Sun Xia and, hopefully, this Master Fang Hong guy to end these bandits for good. Which I really wanted to happen. Those bastards could not be allowed to continue any longer than necessary. And there were all the other slaves back at the mine to think about as well.

So, with all that in mind, I took a deep breath and broke the silence.