Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Temporary Squad

Early the next morning, Yun Xi and Zong Hao went together to the entrance of the Mission Hall, hoping to learn more about the task Senior Sister Hua had mentioned.

When Hua Xuan Zi saw them, she waved. “Junior Sister Yun Xi, over here.”

They quickened their steps, went up to greet her with cupped fists, and exchanged pleasantries before getting straight to the point.

“Senior Sister Hua, what is the task you mentioned in the back mountain? Would it be convenient to let my clan brother come along? He’s already at Qi Refining layer seven.”

Hua Xuan Zi had noticed Zong Hao’s cultivation long ago. Smiling, she said, “Of course. Welcome, Junior Brother Wei. I invited you to join this task mainly to pick Gold Sand Grass.”

Wei Yun Xi immediately nodded in understanding. Gold Sand Grass was quite picky. Only girls under twenty could pick it and keep its medicinal properties. Otherwise, it would turn into a handful of golden sand, which was how it got its name.

Seeing Yun Xi’s look of understanding, Hua Xuan Zi knew she was familiar with the plant’s habits, so she continued. “Originally, a Junior Sister Zhang was on our team, but she recently went into a short retreat. That left us one person short. The captain worried I couldn’t finish the Gold Sand Grass task alone, so he told me to find a fellow disciple to help. And of course, I thought of you!”

Yun Xi exchanged a glance with Zong Hao. They both understood what the other meant, and she nodded. “Senior Sister Hua, thank you for looking after me. We’ll take this task. When do we leave?”

“Junior Sister Yun Xi, you’re always decisive.” Hua Xuan Zi smiled. “If the two of you are fine with it, we’ll leave in an hour. I’ll add you and Junior Brother Wei to our temporary squad first, register it, and accept the mission. You’ll still have time to prepare.”

The two of them didn’t put on airs. They agreed and went into the Mission Hall with Hua Xuan Zi.

Hua Xuan Zi found a familiar senior brother, cut in line, added their names to the temporary squad, and accepted the squad mission. Only then did she return their identity jade tokens.

“Go prepare first. I’ll let the other teammates know. We’ll meet at the back mountain entrance in a bit.”

“Okay.”

With everything settled, Hua Xuan Zi went to notify the remaining teammates.

Yun Xi and Zong Hao returned to the disciple courtyard once, left Yun Ying and Zong Yu a message about where they were going, then checked their storage pouches. After confirming nothing was missing, they headed for the back mountain.

On the way, Zong Hao asked uneasily, “Yun Xi, you’re familiar with Senior Sister Hua, but you don’t know her teammates. When we’re doing the mission, we still need to be careful. Don’t let them treat us like cannon fodder.”

“I understand.” Yun Xi nodded. “But chances like this are rare. We can’t just cultivate all the time. We also need to improve our real combat ability, learn to handle sudden situations, and treat this as practice. Brother Zong Hao, did you read the mission details?”

“I did. Besides picking Gold Sand Grass, their squad also accepted a mission to capture sand mice. Sand mice are companion beasts to Gold Sand Grass. Their hides and teeth are all materials for refining artifacts.”

He continued, “And sand mice reproduce fast. They’re only first-rank, but they’re experts at gnawing spirit plants. That’s why this kind of mission gets posted regularly. It’s the kind of mission where fast hands get it and slow hands lose it.”

“Mm.” Yun Xi said, “I’m guessing they’ll also pick some low-rank spirit plants along the way. You want to try planting spirit medicine, so we can look for spirit herb seeds while we’re at it.”

“Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

As they talked, they reached the back mountain entrance. Many sect disciples were going in and out, and there were even inner disciples. It seemed they must have accepted missions that required entering the inner area.

The two of them knew their limits. They stood somewhere out of the way and waited for Senior Sister Hua.

They didn’t wait long before Hua Xuan Zi arrived with three male disciples.

“Senior Sister Hua, over here!”

Hua Xuan Zi followed the voice, waved, and hurried over. After both sides met up, she acted as the introducer so everyone could get acquainted first.

“Junior Sister Yun Xi, Junior Brother Wei, these are the members of our squad. This is Senior Brother Zhao, this is Senior Brother Qian, and this is Senior Brother Li.”

“Everyone, this is the Junior Sister Wei Yun Xi I often talk about. The other is her clan brother, Wei Zong Hao. The two of them are the people I found to replace Junior Sister Zhang.”

Wei Yun Xi swept the three men with her spiritual sense and confirmed their cultivation. Two were at Qi Refining layer eight, and Senior Brother Zhao was at Qi Refining layer nine, the same as Hua Xuan Zi. Judging by that, the Wei Family siblings had the lowest cultivation on the surface, though that was only what showed.

Senior Brother Zhao welcomed the Wei Family siblings with a smile. “I’ve heard Xuan Zi mention Junior Sister Wei a long time ago. A lot of the talismans you drew got used up inside our own squad!”

Wei Yun Xi smiled as well and cupped her fists. “That’s only because Senior Sister Hua takes care of me. If my talismans can help the senior brothers, it’s my honor.”

Zong Hao didn’t say anything. He just stood beside Yun Xi with a polite smile.

Senior Brother Qian laughed. “Junior Sister, you’re being too courteous!”

The six of them chatted a little more, then Senior Brother Zhao led the group through the back mountain entrance.

There were disciples stationed at the entrance. After checking their identity jade tokens and the missions they had accepted, they let the six of them in.

After entering the back mountain, they put away their joking mood and focused on traveling.

Yun Xi and Zong Hao were kept in the middle of the formation. Senior Brother Zhao and Hua Xuan Zi led in front, while Senior Brother Qian and Senior Brother Li brought up the rear. It looked like they were protecting the two lowest-cultivation members in the center, but it also didn’t rule out the possibility that they were keeping an eye on them.

Yun Xi and Zong Hao exchanged a subtle glance and both raised their guard. Better safe than sorry. They didn’t want something to happen inside their own sect.

Yun Xi secretly signaled Zong Hao to watch the two in front, while she released her spiritual sense to observe the two behind. That single check made her spot something wrong.

Senior Brother Li, walking at the back, took advantage of a moment when Senior Brother Qian wasn’t paying attention and left a mark along the path they had walked. From the time they set out until they separated from most of the other people, Senior Brother Li had already left two marks. If she hadn’t released her spiritual sense, it wouldn’t have been easy to notice.

Yun Xi frowned, unease flashing through her heart. Her mind raced. Was Senior Sister Hua trying to scheme against the Wei Family siblings? If that were the case, once they reached a deserted place, they could strike when they were unprepared. There was no need to summon more helpers.

After all, the Wei Family siblings were at Qi Refining layer five and layer seven. With the four of them, it would be a crushing advantage. They didn’t need help at all.

If it wasn’t aimed at the Wei Family siblings, then it was aimed at the whole squad. That meant Senior Brother Li, at the very least, had his own agenda. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be leaving marks along the way. Did the other members of the squad know? Were they involved? She couldn’t tell yet.

“Yun Xi, are you tired?” Zong Hao noticed the change in her expression and asked with concern.

“No.” Yun Xi immediately blamed it on her first time here. “It’s just… everything feels new. This is my first time coming to the Hao Ran Sect’s back mountain. After joining for more than a year, I had no idea the sect’s back mountain was this big!”