Ch 62: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

When had they ever offended opponents like these?

The siblings secretly thought they had miscalculated.

By rights, as disciples favored by their master, they each carried several life-preserving treasures; even if they ran into one or two enemies above their realm, they shouldn’t suffer too great a loss.

But that was precisely the problem here.

These mysterious rogue cultivators seemed extremely familiar with the two of them—even with their magic tools—and were practically suppressing them completely.

They were definitely prepared.

“What rotten luck.” Xu Jiao wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and said in a low voice, “Brother, in a moment I’ll self-detonate a magic tool. You run as fast as you can—get as far as you can.”

Xu Ce chuckled: “Girl, I’m the elder brother. If someone’s staying behind to cover the retreat, it should be me.”

Xu Jiao’s nose stung: “Brother…”

She gritted her teeth and said no more. Spiritual power flowed to her hands and she was just about to act.

Suddenly something dropped from the sky, interrupting both sides’ duel.

Naturally, it also stopped Xu Jiao’s action.

She stared blankly at their recently acquainted teammate, Mu Xing.

The seven rogue cultivators also paused for a beat. Surprise flashed across two faces—they clearly hadn’t expected Mu Xing to appear here.

Mu Xing, who had been watching them, noticed.

So they did know him after all.

He had more or less guessed a bit of the truth.

But he didn’t show it on his face; instead he put on a look of surprise, stepped before the Xu siblings, and stared warily at the seven opposite them.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

Xu Jiao finally got a moment to breathe. She coughed up a mouthful of blood, popped a pill into her mouth, and slowly said, “We don’t know them. These people’s methods are unfathomable. The moment they appeared before my brother and me, they went straight for the kill.”

They never spoke, and their techniques showed no clear origin.

Xu Ce was more philosophical: “We’ve offended plenty over the years. Maybe it’s one of them, taking the chance in this secret realm to take our lives.”

He looked at Mu Xing and gave a wry smile: “Immortal friend Mu, your timing couldn’t be worse. These people are very strong, and they also use a formidable formation. Even together, Ah Jiao and I aren’t their match.”

He didn’t think Mu Xing could take on these people either. He lowered his voice: “In a moment I’ll hold them off. You take Ah Jiao and go.”

He had noticed that Mu Xing probably had some spatial artifact—that’s how he’d arrived here without a ripple.

Protecting his sister even now—Mu Xing thought a little better of him.

He shook his head and said, “Don’t worry. I’m very strong.”

So he meant to take them head-on.

Xu Ce stared at him woodenly.

Sixteen years old, early-stage Golden Core—no matter how strong, so what?

The seven opposite them were at least mid-stage Golden Core.

Not to mention their ruthless and bizarre methods, far more troublesome than ordinary Golden Core cultivators.

Mu Xing also felt he’d boasted too much. He thought for a moment and amended, “No—I mean, my master is very strong.”

The seven seemed impatient. The leader gave a slight nod, and they charged the Xu siblings again.

Since coming to this world, Mu Xing hadn’t had a real fight yet.

Like a happy fawn, he plunged straight into the midst of the seven encircling them.

Not the least bit afraid.

The Xu siblings: “…”

Xu Jiao muttered in confusion: “Why do I feel… he seems rather excited?”

Xu Ce raised a hand to block a silent, stabbing hidden sword and said evenly, “Probably just a newborn calf unafraid of tigers.”

With Mu Xing shouldering much of the pressure, the siblings could finally breathe a little. While handling the remaining foes, they had enough attention to spare a glance at the opposite side.

One look, and they were: (⊙_⊙)?!!

Shocked and bewildered.

They saw Mu Xing’s footwork was exquisite, his figure wreathed in phantom shadows as he flitted gracefully among the three encircling him—actually looking completely at ease.

He lifted a hand—white as jade—fingers delicately pinching, looking soft and beautiful, yet easily catching a rogue’s sword edge.

In the next instant, he flicked his fingers; his palm turned jet black, and with overwhelming force he struck at the nearest opponent.

Both were disciples of great demonic sects and had seen much.

Xu Jiao said uncertainly, “If I didn’t see wrong just now, Brother Mu used the Ghost-Shadow Maze Steps of the Ten-Thousand Ghosts Sect, and that palm should be Lord Wuchang’s Severing Palm, right? As for that finger technique…”

She hesitated, seeming unsure.

Xu Ce added, “It’s the Buddhist Flower-Pinching finger technique.”

As the siblings spoke of techniques, Mu Xing switched to another movement art—no longer as eerie as before, but light as a startled swan, his speed astonishing.

The Xu siblings: “…”

Before they could spiral into self-doubt, they heard Mu Xing shout, “Forget it, forget it—we can’t beat them!”

The two: “?”

They saw Mu Xing lift his hand and toss out that exquisite folding fan. Three streaks of black light flashed from the fan’s ribs and shot into the bodies of three enemies.

The trio’s movements stalled; all three spat blood in unison.

Mu Xing ran to the Xu siblings’ side and made as if to sweep the fan. The four surrounding the siblings recoiled in fright.

Mu Xing grinned, “No more of that this time—I was tricking you.”

The Xu siblings: “…”

The assassins: “…”

But then Mu Xing pulled out a handful of bean-sized beads from his storage ring and tossed them to the ground.

As soon as they landed, the beads grew to human size.

Looking closely, these “people” had wooden expressions—clearly puppets.

Dozens of puppets swarmed toward the seven rogue cultivators.

Their combat strength wasn’t particularly high, but their bodies were extremely durable, and they could even form formations, locking the seven firmly in the center with no way out.

“Alright.” Mu Xing let out a breath of relief. “By the time they wear these puppets down, it’ll take at least a few hours.”

Xu Jiao couldn’t help but say: “These puppets are so precious—they can save your life at a critical moment, and you just used them up like this?”

Didn’t it hurt to waste them?

“Used up?” Mu Xing was surprised. “Not at all.”

He pulled out a small embroidered pouch from his sleeve, opened it, and showed her—it was filled with puppet beads.

The most frightening part was that this pouch was actually a small storage bag!

Mu Xing said: “My master refined plenty for me. At least a thousand, I’d guess. It’s fine.”

A thousand…

Forget a Golden Core secret realm—even a Nascent Soul cultivator could be dragged to exhaustion with that many.

Xu Ce’s mouth twitched. He couldn’t help but feel envious: “Lord Lianhua truly dotes on you.”

Mu Xing nodded, responding naturally: “I’m my master’s only disciple. Of course he spoils me.”

The Xu siblings fell silent.

Their master valued them too, but they had over a dozen fellow disciples, and their sect held tens of thousands more. Resources had to be fought for.

How unlike Lord Lianhua—who’d roamed carefree for centuries, accumulating untold treasures, only to now take in a little disciple. Naturally, he’d pour everything onto him.

The Xu siblings, who had always considered themselves Heaven’s favored children, for the first time tasted what it meant to feel envy, jealousy, and resentment.

But setting that aside, Xu Ce said solemnly: “Thank you, Brother Mu, for saving our lives.”

Mu Xing waved it off: “We’re teammates, after all—we should look out for one another.”

Xu Jiao, however, was curious: “How did you even find us? The signal talisman Senior Brother Meng gave us didn’t work at all.”

Mu Xing smoothly pushed it onto Lianhua again: “My master gave me a spatial artifact, and it just happened to bring me to your side. Call it fate.”

The Xu siblings were clearly skeptical about his so-called “just happened,” but since Mu Xing had just saved them, even if he had secrets to keep, they weren’t in a position to press.

Mu Xing asked them: “And how did you two manage to find each other?”

The siblings exchanged a glance, then said: “We each have magic tools bestowed by our master, and our cultivation method is special—it allows us to sense one another.”

Mu Xing didn’t quite believe it.

That was likely their own secret. Still, they had a special way to communicate, known only between them, not even shared with Meng Ge or Mu Xing.

And now Mu Xing understood what Meng Ge meant by “never let your guard down.” In the end, they weren’t close enough to bare their hearts, and everyone kept a card hidden.

But since he wasn’t close to the siblings anyway, he didn’t mind.

He was thinking this when Xu Ce suddenly asked: “Brother Mu, during your fight just now, your techniques… I think I saw several different kinds.”

Mu Xing nodded: “That’s right.”

Xu Jiao hesitated: “I think I saw Buddhist and Daoist techniques?”

Mu Xing nodded again: “You didn’t see wrong.”

The Xu siblings: “……”

They asked in unison: “You mean you can actually cultivate both demonic and Daoist techniques at the same time?”

Mu Xing looked blank: “Why not?”

His expression was puzzled, his gaze clear—it was obvious he truly didn’t understand the problem.

The Xu siblings couldn’t help but think: What kind of freak have we run into?!

Xu Jiao said: “But the philosophy of our demonic path is completely opposed to that of the Daoist path. To release desire versus to suppress desire—how can they be cultivated together?”

Others had tried before.

But none had succeeded. To suffer damage to the Dao Heart was the lightest consequence—more often, they didn’t even live to tell the tale.

Yet Mu Xing not only looked perfectly fine, he had even successfully formed a Golden Core.

Under their burning stares, Mu Xing chose to tell the truth: “I just… cultivate normally.”

He added his own reflection: “Not only do I not go astray, I cultivate very quickly.”

The Xu siblings: “……”

“Cough!” Xu Jiao coughed again, spitting blood.

Xu Ce hurried to support her. Xu Jiao waved him off: “It’s fine. Not my injuries flaring up—just got a little provoked.”

Xu Ce: ……

He understood. When he’d heard Mu Xing just now, he too had felt a tightness in his chest, unbearably stifled.

He asked again: “Brother Mu, will you act with us from now on?”

He and his sister were both injured. To follow a capable and treasure-laden companion like Mu Xing would, of course, be best.

Mu Xing was just about to agree when he suddenly remembered something. He lowered his head and looked at the mirror in his hands.

In the swirling mist appeared the image of Ying Shu, fleeing in disarray.

Ying Shu.

Mu Xing’s gaze chilled. He had only just thought of him—but seeing this, there was no need to investigate further. He already knew who those rogue cultivators were.

Who else but that person could know about the connection between him and Ying Shu?

❣╰(⸝⸝⸝꒳⸝⸝⸝)╯❣