Chapter 1
Shen Qingqiu internally sighed again for what seemed to be like the umpteenth time as he and the healer stopped the damn brute from breaking his way into the forest they were assigned to inspect by their masters.
Seriously how did he get stuck in this mess again?
It all started a couple of weeks ago as his Shizun the Qing Jing Peak Lord tried to explain to the stupid governor how as cultivators of the immortal realm, they were technically not allowed to interfere with the matter of mortal affairs. Even if they were dealing with barbarians as the governor called it they were still technically humans and mortals at that. While they may defend themselves against them they could not direct their swords at them unless they had proven themselves to be a direct threat to the balance and stability of the three realms.
So far according to the intelligence force of the Cang Qiong Mountain Sect, these so-called barbarians were virtually harmless despite what the governor insisted otherwise. The barbarians are actually small indigenous tribal clans living in the high ranges of the mountains near the coast. They are the original natives of the land that had been long settled there since before the people of the empire had migrated over to their territory. Even so, they welcomed them with open arms and allowed them to build their homes near their territory under the agreement that they would not cross over the forest borders that they had drawn. The new settlers at the time saw no problem with their terms and agreed. Since then the two parties had peacefully coexisted with one another for centuries.
The people of the tribal clan were modest and peaceful by nature. They preferred to avoid conflict unless they had no choice but to take arms which rarely happened. Even when some of the townspeople had violated their terms and stepped over the borders they would always be safely brought back intact in one piece. Sure there were times they would go on missing for a couple of months but they would always find themself back in the town eventually. The only harm these victims suffered was a few missing or groggy memories of their time supposedly being held hostage by the tribal clan.
The townspeople had no problem with them neither did the mayor or officials who were in charge of the area. After all, the tribal clan had not once brought them any harm. There weren't any power struggles or resource monopolies between the two parties as the tribal clan had lived in the secluded ranges of a small valley in the high mountains far away from them while they lived on the coast filled with an abundance of resources and rich land.
The tribal clan was really a small group and led simple and modest lives making by with the bare minimum necessities quite a contrast to their extravagant neighbors. As a result, even the Empire had not bothered with subduing them leaving them to live in peace for the most part.
However, things changed a few decades back when rumors sprung about how the forest was filled with precious rare and magical gems and metals that would have surely put the empire and cultivation drooling on their doorsteps. A brave merchant claiming to have ventured through the forest claimed to have found a rare spiritual stardust crystal in one of the caves up the mountain range.
Very few people believed him much less took his words seriously. It was nearly impossible to step inside the forest with the tribal clan being heavily on guard over the borders. Even if he had he most likely wouldn't have remembered anything about his exciting adventures like the others who had accidentally found their paths inside.
Unfortunately, there were greedy-ass idiots who had missed this information and turned a deaf ear to the warnings of the locals like this governor over here.
They sent in dozens of search parties to investigate the supposed gold mine. However, as expected it didn't take all that long for all of them to disappear into thin air. The scatterbrained idiots immediately accused the tribal clan of kidnapping their poor innocent servants and disciples and holding them hostage so they could hog all the vast riches for themselves. Some of the bastards even went as far as to file an appeal to the imperial court on this matter.
This forced the elderly tribal chief leader to come forward to peacefully negotiate the terms of the release of the currently held hostages who were recuperating in their small village. He promised to release them in due time once they had fully recovered as they had always done with the other missing people. The mayor and townspeople had assured them that the tribal clan would definitely keep their word. As proof, they had the formerly missing people to hold testimony over their claims.
The Imperial Court not wanting to start unnecessary conflict insisted that the greedy assholes wait and that the tribal clan immediately return the hostages as soon as possible. The tribal chief was reluctant at first but under severe pressure and the threat of the empire he had no choice but to abide by its will.
As a result, all of the hostages were released and returned back to the custody of their respective masters by the end of the week. Except...
Just one glance was all it took to become apparent the reason why the tribal clan had been reluctant to return the hostages.
According to the records the servants and disciples were all covered in white spots that kept growing bigger and bigger as the day passed. Nobody knew what it was and what exactly caused it. Not even the healers who had been brought to examine them. They appeared to be fine at first and had shown virtually no signs or symptoms of health problems besides the strange growing white spots on their skin.
After a week though some of the hostages started complaining about headaches and small bouts of dizziness. The next thing they knew they were suddenly bound to their beds coughing their lungs out. By the end of the month, they had become cold white corpses and they mean literally white corpses.
Although they couldn't determine the exact cause of their death, they already knew who was at fault.
Those bastards used this to their advantage to turn public opinion against the tribal clan and go on a preemptive strike against them even going as far as to hire bloody mercenaries and demonic cultivators for their cause. This led to the near decimation of the tribal clan as well as the bloody murder of the elderly clan chief.
However, the bastards were not without casualties. In fact, they had greatly suffered under the tribal clan members who had proved themselves to be far more formidable opponents than they had originally anticipated. Not to mention many of them started suffering the same symptoms as the ones that had led to the death of some of those hostages. Later under the leadership of the new tribal chief the tribal clan managed to deal a great amount of damage to some crucial key points and figures allowing them to survive the ordeal by the bare minimum.
In the end, the Imperial Court came to personally intervene and settle the matter once and for all. The matter settled with the tribal clan removing the remaining hostages and newly affected people of their ailments in exchange for the empire exempting them from their offense.
Although it wasn't stated in the records what exactly happened to those bastards that started all this mess in the first place, there is a rather large chance that as part of the negotiation they were handed over to the tribal clan to face their retribution for the genocide of their people.
Well all Shen Jiu can say is that the bastards got what was coming to them.
They let their own greed blind them instead of using their brains to figure out the actual reason why the tribal clan was adamant about keeping people away from the forest. Had they simply gone to ask them perhaps they could have avoided all this useless bloodshed?
The townspeople seemed to have been aware of the true nature of the forest hence they rarely intervened when some of the people went missing trusting the tribal clan to cure them of their ailments and safely return them back home. They would later leave small bouts of offerings near the borders as a form of gratitude and appreciation.
However, thanks to the event the relationship between the townspeople and the tribal clan has greatly strained. The newer generation who didn't share their predecessor's wisdom and simply witnessed the massacre started sharing similar concerns as the governor over here despite their elders' attempt to persuade them otherwise.
It was only a matter of time before history repeats itself.
Truly foolishness knows no bounds.
Foolishness that the Cang Qiong Mountain Sect had no intention to intervene. They weren't going to become tools of mass genocide against innocent people just to fill these greedy ass's pits. They also weren't willing to sacrifice their disciples for what they knew was a clear suicide mission.
Even so, the governor insisted on begging them to help them.
He can see that his teacher was really on the limit of his patience as well as the sect leader whose smile was beginning to falter.
As daft as the damn governor was even he could sense the rising murderous aura in the air. He could tell the man was contemplating whether he should shut his mouth or not. However, when his mind turns back to the prospective treasure that could possibly be waiting for him he decided to muster what courage he has to achieve his dreams.
"I apologize it was wrong of me to have bothered the Cang Qiong Mountain Sect with such a mediocre request despite your busy schedules. Seeing as you currently lack the manpower or time I guess I will have to seek help elsewhere. Ah yes, that reminds me if I remember correctly the Huan Hua Palace Sect just finished a huge assignment just the other day surely they would..."
With that, the Sect Leader banged his hand on the table.
The bad blood and long-shared rivalry between the two sects were practically common knowledge both among the mortal and immortal realms. Just one sight of one another was enough to send each other at their throats. It was also one of the only rare times that the scholarly and warrior peak set their differences aside and worked together to fight against a common foe.
Literally, nothing was worse than seeing those snot-nosed arrogant pompous peacocks waving their tail around like the fucking bastards they are.
Shen Qingqiu honestly couldn't see the difference between the two since in his mind they were all just spoiled little young masters and mistresses who grew up isolated in the comforts of their respective noble households and later sects.
But he can say that the Huan Hua Palace Sect disciples were a tad bit more annoying and it was satisfying to have an excuse to throw dirt on their faces without being judged for it for once. Even the harpy would happily cheer him on encouraging him to let his venomous tongue out on them.
Anyhow thanks to the governor touching the Sect Leader's nerve by bringing up the name of their rivals they ended up taking the ridiculous job.
However, the peak lords knew better and of course, naturally, they weren't going to start a bloody massacre right away. This led to him, Mu Qingfang and Liu Qingge being sent out by their masters to investigate the forest and the so-called mysterious plague that had affected those asses decades ago.
Mu Qingfang was chosen for very obvious reasons for his medical skills and expertise as a healer.
Shen Qingqiu was chosen for his knowledge and expertise regarding the beastuary, botany, and landscapes. Also just in case negotiation and tactician skills might come in handy should they come in contact with the tribal clan members.
As for Liu Qingge well he was their bodyguard so as to speak in case things went west.
However, Liu Qingge was a bit too overzealous with his role and insisted on eliminating the threat beforehand.
Shen Qingqiu's vein popped a vessel "How many times do I have to tell you you damn brute!? We're here on an investigation mission, not an attack mission!"
"It doesn't change the fact that they're dangerous! You heard the governor and townspeople! It's obvious that they're behind all this mess!" The idiot brainless brute retaliates.
The young scholar really wanted to roll his eyes "If you had read the damn report you would realize that the forest is the problem, not them! Also, those townspeople they're damn foolish teenagers and young people who've been brainwashed by those foolish idiot's propaganda! The adults and elders all know that the forest is dangerous and that the tribal clan had been protecting them from it!"
"Lier! I didn't hear them say anything like that!" The damn brute kept on insisting.
"Of course, you didn't! You were too busy trying to charge your way into the forest which I had to stop at the last damn freaking second!"
The healer who has had enough of the two disciples arguing behind them intervenes "That's enough! I've had it with both of you! Either you both shut your mouths up or I'll make you!" he brings out his needle which Shen Qingqiu is aware is fully coated with poison for extra measure.
"But Mu Shixiong!" Liu Qingge whines like a 6-year-old child.
The healer doesn't move a bit and keeps his feet firm on the ground "No Buts! I've had enough of you both arguing the entire time we've been on this mission."
Although Shen Qingqiu wanted to state the fact that they wouldn't have been arguing if the brute had a brain cell, he knew exactly when to keep his mouth shut especially in the face of an opponent who could potentially paralyze him at any given time. Never underestimate a very angry overworked tired healer.
The healer continues talking to the meathead "Liu Shidi while I am on the same mind as you regarding Shen Shixiong's rather explicit endeavors" he strongly emphasizes the words showing his utter disgust and disapproval for the Qing Jing Peak Head Disciple's supposedly infamous lecherous behavior unfitting a disciple of the scholarly peak. Although Mu Qingfang may not be as obvious as the others, it was clear that he did not respect nor acknowledge Shen Qingqiu as his older martial brother and future position as the second in command. In fact, he pretty much hated the man's guts like any one of the other head disciples.
If Mu Qingfang had a choice no doubt he would have loved to leave him for dead on numerous occasions when Shen Qingqiu had been terribly injured during missions and required treatment. Unfortunately, his pride and honor wouldn't allow him to violate the sacred code that his master had taught him. That and mainly because he was frightened of the Qing Jing Peak Lord.
Even then the healer did what he could retaliate by using roundabouts methods to make every one of his treatment sessions less than pleasant.
He would always be last on the list of priorities despite having serious life-threatening injuries that required immediate treatment.
He would be handed low-grade low-quality healing balms that weren't even half full and also as an added bonus full of nasty side effects.
He would be forced to drink broths that were brewed to the point of burning giving it a bad aftertaste than the usual ones that the other disciples get. Not to mention there weren't nearly enough medicinal herbs contained inside the concoction on account that they were currently in supply shortage as per usual.
Shen Qingqiu knows it's all bullshit. But he didn't care much to be honest. All his life it's been like this. He was an ugly hateful scum that really was worth no one's attention let alone time. Even when someone had shown him kindness all he had done was drag them down into the deep dark abyss. Even Qi-Ge wasn't spared and as a result, suffered greatly during their time together.
He knew it was wrong to take advantage of Qi-Ge's kindness and hog it all to himself even when he had no right. But he was scum and couldn't let go of the small bright light in his life. He knew that he was nothing but a burden to his shining brother. However, no matter how hard he tried he simply couldn't bring himself to tear himself off of his brother. So when he was sold to the Qiu Manor he knew it was his one and only chance to set his brother free from his madness before it swallowed him whole as it did with San-Jie and Wu-Ge.
To be entirely honest, he never expected that the young boy would be able to fulfill his promise. The promise was merely an excuse that Xiao Jiu had used to get Qi-Ge to leave the Qiu Manor before they caught him and did who knows what to him.
Yet his foolish naive childish self desperately clung to the silly promise he knew very well Qi-Ge had no way of fulfilling. It was his last lifeline that barely kept him from the borders of insanity. Every time he felt like dying he would remember their silly promise and do his best to pull through the day even when all he wanted to do was lie on the cold bare ground of the old creaky woodshed and simply close his eyes so hopefully they would never awake again.
When he had finally escaped the manor all he could think about was finding Qi-Ge. If he was stuck in an unfortunate situation then he would come and save him from it. If he was dead then the least he could do was give his bones a proper burial.
Never once in his mind did betrayal cross his mind.
No, it did, and not only once or twice. He knew he wasn't the type of person worth keeping their promises to. He had been nothing but a burden to his Qi-Ge their entire life together. When they were on the street, every day he was scared of being abandoned by him and that was why he did everything he could to keep him by his side despite the older boy's obvious annoyance towards his actions. He tried what he could to make up for it but... In the end, scum is scum and there really wasn't much he could do about it. He couldn't act kind even if it killed him. So, all he could do was offer what little things he had in exchange for the older boy's kindness and warmth which he now looks back on only served to annoy the boy even further.
But his fragile mind couldn't bear the reality and instead turned a blind eye towards it hoping he would never reunite with his brother again just so he could be spared of the truth.
However, he did and what little was left of Xiao Jiu broke right then and there. Since then he had become an empty shell of himself. He was nothing but a pretty doll fulfilling his master's every need. This mask he built Shen Qingqiu was something he desperately worked hard to craft just to fulfill that single purpose. The person that had once existed under the mask had been broken a long time ago and vanished without a trace to be seen.
If only the brute and everyone else knew... He could count how many people would glower over his pathetic form. Some people like Liu Qingge would most likely feel disgusted wondering why he ever wasted his time with such a piece of trash when he could have invested his time doing more useful things.
It was sad but true. Sometimes he wondered himself what he was doing as he stared deep into the river that looked alluring by the minute for reasons that would undoubtedly make many people happy. Unfortunately, he had sworn all of his loyalty to his former brother which the man made certain to remind him of every waking second of the day.
The young scholar was so lost in his thoughts that he doesn't notice the concerned gaze of the Bai Zhan disciple kept giving him his way as the healer continued to lecture him.
Liu Qingge has never liked the look in his martial brother's eyes. It was always like he was looking elsewhere. Even when people were right in front of him he always had this cold standoffish aloof look in his eyes as though his existence and anyone else's wasn't worth any importance to the man. It was as if he was above all of it.
As a scholar pursuing the spiritual arts, it was only natural.
However, the man was everything but. Forget about being a scholar the man wasn't even a decent human being.
He was a lecherous scum who drowned himself in the pleasure of the fleshly body.
He was a predator who preyed on the innocent not caring for anything but his own pleasure and greed.
He was an arrogant man who mocked his fellow martial brothers for their clear lack of abilities taking pleasure in kicking them down into the ground even when they have had their pride utterly crushed.
He was a two-faced teacher's pet ass-kissing bastard who knew how to make himself look good while making the others look incompetent to boost not only his social status but also his freaking huge ego.
As if that wasn't enough the man was a backstabber who attempted to take his life during the well mission a few months back.
This man doesn't deserve to be a part of their martial family much less to be the next peak lord of Qing Jing Peak. No matter what Liu Qingge and the rest of the Cang Qiong Mountain Sect Head disciples refuse to acknowledge him. All of them have sworn that they would one day drive the scum off their peak. If they couldn't then they would continue to retaliate in whatever way they could to the end of their life.
So for everything, man was it was only natural for the Bai Zhan War God to keep a close eye on the scholar to prevent him from trying to do anything funny. One would expect him to be glaring at the man 24/7 with hateful resentful eyes.
Yet for some weird reason, Liu Qingge couldn't help but feel this weird feeling of concern for the way the man kept emptily staring at the small river next to them.
Weirdly Shen Qingqiu has always had this strange fascination and attraction to places filled with water especially rivers. This is something he had noticed since their earlier disciple years around the time when Shen Qingqiu had been brought to the sect through the connection of their dear future Sect Leader.
At first, he thought it was simply due to his wind and water roots. But the more he observed over the years he noticed that his initial assumption had been wrong. Shen Qingqiu was interested in water for other reasons that so far no one had been able to place. It would always people give people shivers before they look the other way to escape all the awkwardness and uncomfortable atmosphere roaming through the air.
"OW!" The Bai Zhan War God yelps.
"Are you listening to me Liu Shixiong?" The healer lets out a huge wide dark smile as he pulls harshly on the warrior peak disciple's ears.
"Yes, yes! I'm sorry! I'm listening!" Liu Qingge yelps again when the healer strengthens his grip.
Unfortunately for him the healer refuses to let him go until he fully finishes his lecture "As I said while I understand your feelings that does not give you the right to allow them to affect this mission. What Shen Shixiong said is correct. The tribal clan had nothing to do with the plague outbreak. In fact, numerous evidence and witness accounts until now suggest that they were actually trying to protect people from it. If anything it is those merchants, nobles, and cultivators' fault for ignoring the warnings of the townspeople. The tribal clan is the actual victim over here. Anyhow though something inside the forest caused them to develop the disease. The only problem is we're not certain if this caused by a natural phenom or curse which is why Shen Shixiong was also brought over to assess the situation due to his high affinity for spiritual cultivation."
It was then the scholarly peak disciple snaps back to attention and continues with the explanation "Also seeing how the matter was handled it is clear that the imperial court knows something about the forest that the others including the townspeople don't. If we don't tread carefully we could possibly end up getting embroiled in some power struggle between them and the aristocratic faction."
As much as it annoyed them they had to agree that the scholar had a point. Coming from noble families themselves they were far too aware of the constant tug-of-war between the imperial royal family and aristocratic families. Each faction fought for more influence over the glorious empire that its ancestors had built and cultivated.
Even in their own family the power struggle between family members never ceased.
Mu Qingfang had left his family in hopes of escaping his parents and the branch clan's nefarious schemes to have him take over his uncle's position as the head of the Mu Clan. Then they would do as they please while he continued to stand as their perfect little puppet obeying their every command.
Liu Qingge's family on the other hand was relatively normal.
His father was an honorable righteous general of the grand imperial army.
His mother was an elegant proud powerful former Xian Shu Peak disciple who had been dubbed as the mystical and whimsical fairy of Cang Qiong Peak whom his cousin looks up to and admires so much.
His eldest brother was a hardworking, responsible well educated, respected young man who undoubtedly will be a wonderful future Duke of the Liu Dukedom in the future.
His second brother was a good man with a kind heart. He genuinely wished to help the people from the bottom of his heart. So he entered the imperial court as a civil official in hopes of improving the lives of the common folk.
His youngest baby sister who everyone doted on constantly as she was the youngest and probably last child in the family as well as the only girl in the main family.
While his family members were normal though not everyone in his clan was righteous as his father and brothers.
Liu Qingge has lost count of the times his father had to hold him back from beating the living daylights out of those damn geezers.
Shen Qingqiu well he didn't really have to say anything. His life experience told all that it needed to show just how rotten to the core human beings can be.
"We can also infer that the tribal clan has some connection with the imperial court. Although whether it is truly a master and vassal relationship is yet to remain to be seen." The scholar adds.
"What do you mean?" The brute asks as expected his brain incapable of interpreting literally anything other than fighting.
Shen Qingqiu doesn't want to explain himself but seeing as how the healer was seriously on the limits of his patience he decides to entertain the man. "Don't you think it is strange how the empire has been rather quite generous to these tribal clans since it had taken over their territory? All the other clans were mostly enslaved or driven out of their homelands. Those who had submitted indoctrinated themselves into the empire so they would be able to survive. Some managed to maintain their identities and territories but that was mostly due to the fact that their lands were barely habitable."
"The same could be said for the tribal clan but I can see your point." Mu Qingfang nods agreeing to his martial brother's reasoning for once "If any other clan had attempted a similar act then the empire would have come to crush them right away."
"It is weird. Why would the imperial court let them go?" The brute finally catches on "I can't imagine those snotty nobles letting the matter go even if it was their fault"
Shen Qingqiu is mildly surprised at how the brute manages to bring up a good point. But he keeps an aloof expression so as to not inflate the brute's ego more than it already has. "If we were to go by the reports it is clear that the tribal clan has something on the imperial court. That something has been what's keeping them safe all these years. Now the problem is whether the nobles are aware of it or not. If they were..."
"That would give them a viable reason to attack the tribal clan to grab their secrets and threaten the absolute power of the emperor." The healer interrupts and finishes his sentence.
"So you mean they used those innocent people as baits to lure them out just so they could blackmail the imperial court!? Absolutely Disgusting!" Liu Qingge roars with righteous anger for the poor innocent souls that had been sacrificed in the process just so the aristocratic faction could gain the advantage.
"Indeed" The healer furiously nods fully agreeing with the war god.
Well in Shen Qingqiu's mind, the tribal clan had also been foolish. Clearly, they had let their own arrogance get ahead of them. They had allowed themselves to be spoiled by centuries of peace assured to them by the vital thing kept in their hand instead of keeping a constant vigilant guard against the enemies who would easily become interested in the secret they hid.
However, if he were to voice his opinion here then no doubt the war god and healer would instantly come bashing at him which he really wasn't in a mood to retaliate against as he usually would. He was tired as it was from having to deal with this idiot meathead 24/7 of the day for the past few weeks. He really just wanted everything to get done and over with so he could go back to his usual busy routine.
"Still before we even try anything we have to investigate the forest first. The only problem is how?" The healer ponders for a moment. Just as the brute was about to open his mouth the irritated annoyed man gives him a good glare and instantly shuts him down "And I mean besides crashing our way inside."
"I wasn't going to say that!" The brute loudly whines as if he were some wronged maiden. (Hey blame the face for being too pretty)
"As if" Shen Qingqiu snorts mockingly.
The brute looked as if he wanted to say something but he was quickly stopped by the healer who silently urges him to ignore their martial brother. Mu Qingfang gently encourages the man to state his suggestion which in the end turns out to be utterly ridiculous. "I was going to suggest we try negotiating with the Tribal Clan Chief to help us."
Really would it be wrong for him to laugh at this point? "And in what heaven's mind do you think that the tribal clan would be willing to talk with us after everything they've been through? Do you honestly expect the tribal clan to warmly welcome us just like that without any viable reason to trust us especially when everyone else has proved otherwise?"
"But we're not like those bastards. We're not going there to hurt them." says the man who had been utterly brainwashed by the rumors and had attempted to storm into their home "We're here to do what's right by showing the world the truth. That way they'll be able to clear their name and bring justice to their wronged brethren and restore their honor."
The scholar rolled his eyes "And in what world's good would any of that do them now? They lost everything you bonehead. Not just their name and honor. They lost their children, wives, husbands, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and who knows how many other people dear to them. They had their village raided to the ground. No amount of justice or honor is going to bring back what they lost. Unlike a brainless moron like you, they understand that very well which is why they haven't done anything stupid and laid low until now. The fact that they only stopped after shedding those bastards' blood."
When the healer moves to speak up Shen Qingqiu feels a sense of relief thinking at least there was one reasonable person. However, his expectations are quickly betrayed when the healer spouts even more nonsense "Perhaps not back then but we do not know now. It's been over a decade. Perhaps there will be those who would be willing to negotiate. So far by the reports they seem to be rather reasonable people. If we can somehow get them to see our sincerity for their cause they would no doubt cooperate with us."
Ok, Shen Qingqiu really wanted to cry. Seriously this idiot spoiled pampered nobles. It's only when facing their own kind they bother to use any of their brains. When it comes to others especially those of lower social status than them... It's like they have this special blind over their eyes that prevent them from facing the harsh reality before them viewing everything in a flowery idealistic perspective.
In their mind, the common folks are such simple-minded people completely different from their complicated sophisticated aristocratic counterparts. It was as if they were completely different species. In the case of the common folk those who were good were naturally all good while those who were bad were naturally all bad. The word grey didn't exist in their dictionary and that was all they were.
Humans in general were complex beings. Social Status didn't matter. Everyone is full of emotions and thoughts that often conflict with or contradict each other.
The tribal clan would naturally want blood and revenge for all the things they have lost. However, thinking of the consequences ahead of them should they act on their resentment they decided to grit their teeth and call for a truce for the sake of their clan's survival. By no means did they forgive those bastards. If anything their feelings of resentment only grew stronger as they were forced to suppress their rage in favor of the few remaining survivor's survival.
Trying to negotiate anything with them at this point was a suicide mission of its own.
Just as he was about to point this out the two idiots already disappeared from the range of his eyesight.
"Just great" Shen Qingqiu facepalmed.
It was times like these he regretted ever becoming the head disciple. If he was just a regular disciple then he could have turned a blind eye and gone running back home to report the peak lords about those missing idiots. Unfortunately, he was the damn head disciple and future peak lord of the Qing Jing Peak which meant it was his responsibility to haul his martial brothers out of whatever mess they made.
The scholar lets out another deep long sigh before he heads up the mountain roads leading to the forest.