Chapter 72: The Chen Family Caravan
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation.
The next day, at the gates of the Five Elements Sect, Fang Cheng Lang stood silently, observing the group before him. All the disciples of Lone Moon Peak were present, except for Quan Ye, who was still reflecting on his mistakes, and Yu Zhao, whose whereabouts remained unknown.
Even Cui Jue seemed surprised by the turnout. He had only agreed to accompany his junior sister without notifying Lan Zi Yu and Su Ming. How did they find out?
Sensing the tension, Ye Cong Xin stepped forward to break the silence. “Senior Brother, don’t blame Fourth Senior Brother. I was the one who informed Second and Third Senior Brothers. I thought finding Sixth Senior Sister concerned all of Lone Moon Peak, and we should all be involved.”
In truth, Ye Cong Xin wanted to maintain good relations with her senior brothers. If she hadn’t informed Lan Zi Yu and Su Ming, she wouldn’t have had any interactions with them for a while. If something unexpected happened and they became estranged, she would be left in a precarious position.
Fang Cheng Lang looked at Lan Zi Yu and Su Ming. “Zi Yu, Su Ming, do you also want to bring back Little Six?”
The two hesitated briefly before nodding in agreement.
Fang Cheng Lang thought for a moment. Since everyone was on the same page, it wouldn’t hurt to have more people involved. “We don’t know how long Little Six has been gone from the sect, so we’ll start by checking the nearby cities for any clues. If that doesn’t work, we’ll ask the people at the Treasure Pavilion for help.”
The group nodded in agreement, and they set off towards the nearest cultivation city.
Meanwhile, Yu Zhao exited the Dark Pavilion and returned to the inn, contemplating the new information she had acquired. The Dark Pavilion’s reputation as the largest intelligence network in the cultivation world seemed well-deserved. She had once thought their claim of knowing everything was an exaggeration, but now she suspected they might have spies in every sect.
Yu Zhao wanted to identify the woman in the painting, but all she had were the words “Water Cloud” on a stone slab. She wasn’t even sure if the scene was real or imagined. Nonetheless, she provided the clue to the Dark Pavilion, not expecting much. To her surprise, they delivered a significant lead—albeit at a steep price, which made her wallet ache.
According to the Dark Pavilion, there had been a sect called Water Cloud Palace, led by a mid-Golden Core stage female cultivator named Shui Qing Yue. She had a distinctive cinnabar mole at the corner of her eye. However, twenty years ago, the sect was attacked by a Nascent Soul-stage cultivator, resulting in heavy casualties. Shui Qing Yue was severely injured and fled, her current whereabouts unknown, and the sect was dissolved.
While Yu Zhao had identified the sect and the woman, it didn’t provide a clear path forward since Shui Qing Yue was missing. Yu Zhao decided to visit the ruins of Water Cloud Palace, hoping to find some clues. However, with less than two months until the auction in Blackwater City, she decided to secure the True Water first and then consider her next move, either to the ruins or to find the Celestial Orchid.
The next morning, Yu Zhao headed to the bustling street filled with guilds, inquiring about any caravans heading to Blackwater City or nearby towns. She found one led by a middle-aged man named Chen Tiandong. Like Yu Zhao, he was at the late Foundation Establishment stage. The caravan had eighteen guards, most at the late Foundation Establishment stage, with a few at the mid-stage. The guards were all members of Chen Tiandong’s family, making it a family-run business.
Yu Zhao paid a medium-grade spirit stone for a spot in the caravan, which comprised six carriages, each seating four people. Her carriage companions were two other cultivators: one with a bulbous nose and thick lips, exuding a comical air, and the other with protruding ears and narrow eyes, giving off an unfriendly vibe.
As Yu Zhao boarded, she had a feeling this journey might not be peaceful. The two men remained silent, acting as if they were strangers. Yu Zhao decided not to engage them, closing her eyes and pretending to rest.
The caravan was pulled by a breed of low-level demonic beasts known as Supreme Khan Horses, known for their endurance and speed. Despite the rough terrain, the ride was surprisingly smooth.
Two days later, the caravan stopped beside a narrow mountain path.
“We’ll rest here for an hour before moving on,” Chen Tiandong announced from the front.
Most of the guards disembarked to stretch their legs, while a few stayed behind to guard the carriages. Yu Zhao noticed the two men in her carriage remained still, like meditating monks. She approached Chen Tiandong, curious.
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation.
“Chief Chen, why are we stopping here?” she asked. From her experience, caravans rarely stopped in narrow, waterless places, especially since it had only been three hours since their last break.
Chen Tiandong’s expression was serious. “Miss Yu, up ahead is the infamous Bottomless Gorge. The path is narrow, flanked by steep cliffs, and it’s a common spot for ambushes on caravans. It’s standard practice to rest and prepare before passing through, just in case.”
Yu Zhao understood immediately. She glanced back at her carriage, realizing if the two men had ill intentions, this would be the perfect spot for an ambush.
She took out a lotus incense burner from her bracelet and tied it to her waist as a precaution.
An hour later, Yu Zhao returned to her carriage, and the caravan resumed its journey. The pace slowed as they approached the gorge. Yu Zhao peeked out the window and saw the path narrowing, the forest thinning, and steep, barren cliffs coming into view.