After feeding the Little Fire Beast a Qi-Nourishing Pill, Mo Tiange looked up and saw several streaks of light shooting across the sky.
She pondered for a moment, released the Little Fire Beast into the small valley, and left her cave abode.
After the Mountain-Sealing Decree was issued, the entire protective formation of Taikang Mountain had been activated, leaving only one or two points of entry and exit. The disciples dispatched to exterminate the demon beasts used those points. However, apart from the initial group of over a hundred disciples who left the mountain on orders, there had been little traffic. These streaks of light were likely messengers.
With no news for so many days, and thinking of Ye Jingwen, Mo Tiange considered for a moment before heading to the Deacon Hall.
Before she even entered the Deacon Hall, two Qi Refining disciples guarding the entrance greeted her: "Uncle-Master Mo."
Mo Tiange smiled. Now that she had reached Foundation Establishment, she was also someone's 'Uncle-Master' in others' mouths. Glancing into the Deacon Hall, she asked, "Has there been any news about the demon beast rebellion?"
One of the Qi Refining disciples replied, "Are you inquiring about news, Uncle-Master?"
Mo Tiange nodded. "That's right. I have an old friend among the disciples who left the mountain. I don't know how the situation is currently."
The two Qi Refining disciples exchanged a look. One of them said, "Uncle-Master, we don't know much either. We only know the situation isn't good. Please don't spread this around; the Qi Refining disciples aren't aware yet."
"Mm, I understand. If the situation isn't good, have there been casualties?"
"It seems so. Uncle-Master, there's no need to be anxious. You'll be able to get news from Uncle-Master Luo a bit later."
Thinking these two disciples probably didn't dare reveal too much, Mo Tiange didn't press further. "Alright, thank you both."
Not long after returning from the Deacon Hall, Perfected Person Xuanyin sent a message summoning all his disciples to his cave abode.
Mo Tiange hurried over. She saw that almost all of Uncle-Master Xuanyin's disciples had gathered. Everyone stood solemnly, their faces filled with anxiety.
She quietly walked over to Luo Fengxue's side. Luo Fengxue shook her head at her and let out a soft sigh.
Seeing Luo Fengxue's exhausted expression and worried gaze, Mo Tiange's heart sank.
Once all the disciples had assembled, Perfected Person Xuanyin opened his eyes, his expression grave. "You probably already know that the situation with this demon beast rebellion is not good. I called you here to inform you about this matter. Fengxue."
Luo Fengxue looked up and stepped forward. "Yes, Master."
"Explain it to them."
Luo Fengxue acknowledged the order, turned around with a solemn expression, and said, "Senior Brothers and Sisters, today the Deacon Hall received a message from the disciples who left the mountain. Uncle-Master Hanyu of Liuyun Peak has fallen."
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone's faces changed. They all understood what the fall of a Core Formation cultivator meant. This battle must be extremely fierce. Rescue efforts would certainly follow. Could it be that this time, Master...
Luo Fengxue continued, "The Chief Elder has decided to dispatch another group of disciples for support. The number is similar to the last group: each peak will send one Core Formation cultivator, several elite disciples, and about a dozen ordinary disciples. Our Qingquan Peak has decided to send Uncle-Master Shoujing. Since Uncle-Master Shoujing has no disciples of his own, the elite disciples to be deployed will be selected from among us."
Mo Tiange was stunned. The cultivators dispatched last time were those within the Xuanqing Sect who were not the most outstanding but had solid cultivation, indicating the battle wasn't urgent. But Uncle-Master Shoujing was Patriarch Jinghe's prized disciple, and his cultivation and abilities ranked high among the Core Formation cultivators of the Xuanqing Sect. For him to be sent out so soon after the fighting began suggested the situation was extremely dire.
What she could think of, the other disciples had naturally already considered. Those familiar with each other now whispered in discussion, some anxious, some worried.
"Enough," Perfected Person Xuanyin spoke up, stopping the disciples' murmuring. "Which of you is willing to go?"
Among the dozen or so disciples present, no one responded. After a long while, someone finally stepped forward and asked, "Master, is the current situation very critical?"
Perfected Person Xuanyin nodded slightly. "There's no need to hide this from you. News from outside says casualties among our first dispatched group have reached thirty percent. If you go now, it will naturally be very dangerous." After saying this, his gaze swept over the assembled disciples. He added, "Those of you in the early Foundation Establishment stage need not go."
Mo Tiange quickly glanced around and noticed everyone was taken aback. For Master to explicitly state that early Foundation Establishment disciples need not go showed the extreme danger. These elite disciples, while superior in combat skills to ordinary disciples, also valued their lives more. Asking them to volunteer was asking too much.
A long time passed, and still no one stepped forward. Perfected Person Xuanyin frowned slightly, displeased. "No one is willing?"
"Master." A clear female voice rang out. "I'll go."
Mo Tiange looked up and was startled. It was actually Second Senior Martial Sister Wei Jiasi! To be honest, her feelings towards this Senior Martial Sister Wei weren't great. Probably due to her exceptional aptitude, she carried herself with arrogance in everything, rarely looking at people directly. Mo Tiange had also keenly sensed that this Senior Martial Sister Wei looked down on her.
But she truly hadn't expected this Senior Martial Sister Wei to have some backbone, willing to go on a mission that was clearly very dangerous.
Looking at Wei Jiasi, Perfected Person Xuanyin finally showed a smile. "Jiasi, very good. Who else is willing to go?"
Mo Tiange glanced over. Wei Jiasi's expression remained calm, but there seemed to be a resolute glint in her eyes—did she have some unavoidable reason to go?
"Master, I... I am also willing."
"And me."
After a moment, two more disciples stepped forward. Perfected Person Xuanyin revealed a gratified smile. "Good, very good. I am pleased that you are willing to fight for the sect. The rest of you may disperse. You three, stay."
"Yes, Master."
"Tiange, let's go." After paying their respects, Luo Fengxue quietly grabbed Mo Tiange's hand and pulled her out of the cave abode together.
Once they had left Perfected Person Xuanyin's cave abode, the two walked for a while. Mo Tiange asked, "Senior Martial Sister Luo, is the situation really that critical?"
Luo Fengxue wiped her reddened eyes and nodded. "If it weren't dangerous, the Patriarch wouldn't have sent Uncle-Master Shoujing. Sigh, I hope both Uncle-Master Shoujing and Uncle-Master Qingyuan can return safely—what are you thinking about?"
Mo Tiange thought for a moment and replied, "I'm thinking about Senior Martial Sister Wei."
Luo Fengxue let out a "Ha!" and patted her shoulder. "You think it's remarkable that Second Senior Martial Sister is willing to risk her life?"
"Not exactly... but it is quite rare." Most cultivators were selfish. Even in renowned righteous sects that cultivated mind and nature, there weren't many who would willingly go knowing the danger.
Luo Fengxue chuckled, putting an arm around her shoulder and speaking earnestly. "Don't be too easily moved. The reason Second Senior Martial Sister volunteered isn't because—" She stopped mid-sentence, looked around to make sure no one was there, then lowered her voice and continued, "—isn't because of Uncle-Master Shoujing."
"Huh?" Mo Tiange didn't understand.
Luo Fengxue couldn't help but pat her head. "Silly! Just wait and see. There will definitely be other female disciples on our Qingquan Peak willing to volunteer."
"Ah?" Mo Tiange thought about it and seemed to understand a little. "You mean..."
"Hmph," Luo Fengxue rolled her eyes and muttered quietly, "In my opinion, they're not thinking clearly! What kind of person is Uncle-Master Shoujing? If their cultivation can't keep up, what's the use of thinking about it? Our cultivators' lifespans far exceed mortals'. Without matching lifespans, how many years can they actually be together? Sigh..." By the end, it was a lament. Who said the distance between cultivators and mortals was vast? The distance between cultivators was the same. Between Foundation Establishment and Core Formation, the lifespan difference was at least three hundred years. Even if they were as loving as honey, they ultimately couldn't love until the end.
Mo Tiange asked curiously, "There are so many Core Formation cultivators. Why do they only like Uncle-Master Shoujing? We're not mortal women. Do we still judge by appearance?"
Luo Fengxue patted her head again, but this time in approval. "Exactly! That's why I say they're not thinking clearly. Having embarked on the path of cultivation, they still act like mortal women! But, don't get me wrong, it's not strange that Uncle-Master Shoujing is popular. He has excellent aptitude, high cultivation, is handsome, and very young. Among the Foundation Establishment senior brothers in our sect, none can compare."
"Really?" Mo Tiange was curious. "I haven't met Uncle-Master Shoujing yet. What's he like?"
"..." Luo Fengxue wanted to say something but didn't dare. She said helplessly, "He looks quite a bit like Senior Brother Qin."
"Oh..."
"Think about it. Uncle-Master Shoujing is... well, only about a hundred and forty years old this year. At that age, he's already at the Core Formation mid-stage. If he's lucky, forming his Nascent Soul before two hundred isn't impossible. Also, Uncle-Master Shoujing has a good temper. Although he doesn't talk much and is a cultivation fanatic, that's precisely why he's so popular. Sometimes women are like men—the colder and prouder the man, the more they want to conquer him, right?"
Mo Tiange looked up at the sky and thought, then shook her head. "...I don't think so." In other words, this Uncle-Master Shoujing was quite like Senior Brother Qin. But to be honest, if it weren't for the months of companionship that made her feel dependent, she didn't find Senior Brother Qin particularly likable. Most cultivators weren't ugly; many were quite handsome, and most were cultivation fanatics. It didn't sound particularly special.
Luo Fengxue looked at her with an expression of defeat. "I give up on you!"
"I just don't have that inclination, forget it." Mo Tiange smiled and asked again, "Senior Martial Sister Luo, are you saying Senior Martial Sister Wei likes Uncle-Master Shoujing?"
"Heh heh, others might not know, but I do." Luo Fengxue said with some disdain, "Whenever Uncle-Master Shoujing occasionally comes out to lecture on the Dao, Second Senior Martial Sister always attends. Also, as you know, Uncle-Master Shoujing has no disciples, so we entry-level disciples often get assigned tasks to handle some chores at his cave abode. Second Senior Martial Sister goes every time. There was this one time..."
Luo Fengxue glanced left and right, saw no one, then lowered her voice and continued, "...Regarding this matter, I have to tell you about someone first. We once had an Uncle-Master Qingyuan, the Patriarch's second disciple, but he died unexpectedly. His descendant, one of our senior martial sisters, was brought to Qingquan Peak by the Patriarch. This happened over a hundred years ago. At that time, Uncle-Master Shoujing had also just been brought to Taikang Mountain by the Patriarch. The two of them were close in age, so the Patriarch taught them together."
"As for this senior martial sister of ours, her natural talent was a bit lacking, but it was still okay. With the Patriarch personally teaching her, how bad could it be? So, like Uncle-Master Shoujing, she also reached Foundation Establishment by the age of twenty. But this senior martial sister, probably because she grew up with Uncle-Master Shoujing, developed feelings for him. And because she was taught personally by the Patriarch, she became arrogant and complacent, always regarding Uncle-Master Shoujing as that, you know..." She glossed over the details vaguely, but Mo Tiange could guess the meaning. Luo Fengxue went on, "Later, when Uncle-Master Shoujing's cultivation surpassed this senior martial sister's, the Patriarch granted him his own separate cave abode, after which he had little contact with her. As you know, Uncle-Master Shoujing is a cultivation fanatic; besides cultivation, he doesn't care for anything else. Of course, this senior martial sister's wish went unfulfilled. But she had a bad temper and always made things difficult for the female disciples working at Uncle-Master's cave abode..."
"So Senior Martial Sister Wei was bullied?"
"Exactly," Luo Fengxue pouted. "At that time, Second Senior Martial Sister was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, and that senior martial sister was at the mid Foundation Establishment stage. For some crazy reason, she actually beat Second Senior Martial Sister until she suffered internal injuries and vomited blood. Because of this incident, the Patriarch sent that senior martial sister away to an external branch. Who knows which branch she's at now!"
Listening to this drama of jealousy made Mo Tiange speechless. Even in an immortal mountain sect, a renowned righteous school, there was such gossip.
"Don't tell anyone about this. I'll tell you the details slowly when I have time. I'm exhausted; I need to go rest."