My Years as a Menace in the Sect

At this moment, four servants of the Qi family were carrying burlap sacks toward the mass grave.

Footsteps crunched on the decaying leaves, one after another, a sound that made one's teeth ache in the silent forest.

Half a Cangxia Sect waist token, made of copper and stained with blood, dangled from the corner of the bag. It swayed with the steps of the person carrying the bag, occasionally hitting the shovel on the side of the bag and making a small metallic clanging sound.

Wei Ping'an clung to the tree trunk, his fingertips digging into the bark.

The pot on my back was hot through my shirt, the temperature rising little by little, like a branding iron just pulled out of the stove.

He didn't dare to move, even his breathing was extremely shallow, his chest only dared to rise and fall slightly, the air he inhaled was divided into several pieces in his throat, and he exhaled little by little.

He wasn't unfamiliar with dead people.

During the famine in Daliu Village, three members of Old Li's family at the village entrance starved to death, and he even helped carry their coffins.

The coffin lid was as thin as paper, so light it felt like it floated on my shoulder; the person inside was just skin and bones.

But they starved to death; it was a natural disaster, not a man-made one.

The four servants carrying the corpse were unhurried and steady, their shovels still covered in fresh dirt, clearly indicating that this wasn't their first time doing this kind of work.

Dead people aren't scary. What's scary is someone who dares to kill a sect disciple and then brazenly carries them out for burial.

Sun Yan, standing beside him, shuddered. His hand holding the Qi-Seeking Token was drenched in sweat, his knuckles white. The token itself was completely cold, like a dead rock pulled from the riverbed, devoid of any spiritual energy fluctuations.

He originally thought it was just a formality, a quick trip into the mountains to pick up some insignificant clues, and then he would go back and report back.

The credit would easily fall on his head, and his uncle would even promote him to deputy outer sect steward—a very prestigious position. Who could have imagined that he would actually run into someone who died?

He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could even utter a sound, a hand tightly covered his mouth.

Wei Ping'an's hands smelled of medicine and were very rough. The calluses on his palms were hard and prickly against his lips. The pressure was strong, almost making him faint.

Sun Yan turned his head and glared, meeting Wei Ping'an's eyes directly. Wei Ping'an's eyes were wide open, his dark pupils pressed down, staring at him without moving, his meaning clear: Don't make a sound.

There was no panic in his eyes. Only a wariness born from years of slacking off, exactly like when you encounter a weasel while squatting next to a chicken coop—still, not running, not making a sound, waiting for it to leave first. Sun Yan was furious, but he truly dared not utter a sound.

Wei Ping'an only let go of the body after the four servants had buried it, carried their shovels back, and disappeared completely behind the Qi family's courtyard wall.

Sun Yan shoved him away abruptly, panting in a low voice, "What are you doing! You're suffocating me!"

"If you miss, then shout louder." Wei Ping'an wiped the dust off his hands, squatted down, and ruffled the grass at his feet without looking up. "Zhang He was just buried. He's already cold. If the three of us go over now, we can make up the numbers."

"Nonsense!" Sun Yan's face turned pale, but his words remained defiant. "The Qi family is an affiliated family of a sect. They wouldn't dare kill a sect disciple even if they had ten lives! It must be a misunderstanding. Maybe it was the corpse of a rogue cultivator, and they just found the waist token!"

Wei Ping'an looked up at him. His gaze was calm, as calm as if he were looking at a fool.

Su Yin emerged from behind the tree. She had climbed high and crouched on a thick branch to get a general idea of ​​what was happening in the yard. A few pine needles clung to her dark green robe, which she casually brushed off. She twirled the whip halfway around in her hand and gripped it firmly, her movements swift and decisive.

"It's not a misunderstanding." Her voice was cold, as cold as the unmelting stones in a mountain stream in winter. "There's a shielding array inside the courtyard wall, and it's not low-level. There's a strong smell of blood in the backyard, and it's not just one person's."

Zhang He's presence finally disappeared here; he was most likely detained by them.

The person just carried out might not be him.

Wei Ping'an's heart skipped a beat.

Not dead? Not dead is even more troublesome. If he were dead, at most he would go back and report, and the Enforcement Hall would send someone to handle it. He, a mere servant, would just follow behind and help out.

If they weren't dead, he had to save them; to save them, he had to rush in; and rushing in meant facing mountains of knives and seas of fire. He squatted on a rock, his fingers unconsciously tapping the edge of the pot, again and again, his fingernails making a soft clinking sound as they struck the iron surface.

"What I mean is to retreat first," he said, his tone as if he were calculating an account. "There are three of us, two at the second level of Qi Refining and one at the fourth level. They have formations in their homes and still dare to kill sect disciples; who knows, there might be some Foundation Establishment level old monsters hiding there."

We must hurry back and report this, and summon the elders; that would be the safest course of action.

"No way." Su Yin rejected the idea outright without hesitation. "The rules of the Enforcement Hall are that we must see the person alive or dead. If we go back without even figuring out what's going on inside, I won't be able to explain it to them."

"Is giving an explanation more important or your life?" Wei Ping'an asked anxiously, his voice rising slightly. "Senior Sister, you are a precious inner disciple. We are just menial laborers. If we die, we die. It's not worth sacrificing ourselves for you."

"If you're scared, you can leave by yourself." Su Yin glanced at him, her tone flat, as if she were talking about something that had nothing to do with her. "No one's stopping you."

Wei Ping'an choked.

He did want to leave. But if he actually ran away, and Su Yin returned alive, she could easily accuse him of desertion, and with Deacon Sun adding fuel to the fire, it would be uncertain whether he could even leave the Cangxia Sect alive, let alone stay there.

The image of Deacon Sun's dark face flashed through his mind; it was gloomy and as sharp as a poisoned knife.

Sun Yan listened from the side, his mind racing with calculations. Going back was definitely out of the question; his uncle wanted him to steal the credit, and going back empty-handed would surely get him a scolding.

Going in is dangerous too; if we get killed inside, all our achievements will be for nothing. He cleared his throat, adopting a thoughtful demeanor: "I think we can't retreat completely, nor can we force our way in."

"How about this, we'll sneak in tonight to find out where Zhang He is, whether there are any Foundation Establishment cultivators there, and then decide whether to save him or not. If it really doesn't work, we can always retreat." After saying that, he looked at Su Yin, waiting for her to nod.

Su Yin pondered for a moment, then turned to look at Wei Ping'an: "What do you think?"

Wei Ping'an rolled his eyes inwardly. What else could he say after all that?

"Alright." He jumped off the rock, dusted himself off, and said, "I'll scout ahead tonight, you two stay outside and provide backup. I know the way and I'm fast, so if anything goes wrong, you can escape too."

He had a well-thought-out plan. He'd just go in, take a quick look, and leave—it wouldn't be considered disobeying orders, nor would he have to risk his life. If things really got tough, he had his pot and medicine powder, and his ability to navigate the forest was unparalleled. He knew every animal trail and every ditch in the back mountain like the back of the mountain; he could run out with his eyes closed.

Su Yin glanced at him. It was a short glance, but it felt like she saw right through him.

But she didn't expose it, only saying, "Let's go in together. There's a formation inside, you'll easily get lost if you go alone. We'll make our move at midnight, when the defenses are at their weakest during the shift change."

Wei Ping'an pursed his lips, not refuting. He'd definitely be the first to run if anything really happened.

For the rest of the day, the three of them hid deep in the woods.

Wei Ping'an didn't sit idle. He circled the Qi family's courtyard wall twice, thoroughly familiarizing himself with the surrounding terrain. He knew which bushes were dense enough to hide someone, which rock had a hole behind it, which tree could be climbed to see the backyard, and which section of the wall had piles of miscellaneous items that could be used as stepping stones.

I memorized everything, going over it repeatedly until I knew it better than I did when I was a child, even more so than when I memorized the couplets from the village temple.

He found some more resilient vines, braided two rope hooks, tugged on them—they were sturdy—and stuffed them into his pocket. He also reorganized the powders in his pocket: sedative, lime, and chili powder, each wrapped in small packets of straw paper, and placed them in the most convenient places—his left and right sleeves and the pocket of his body—so he could reach them without looking or rummaging.

He then found the only two defensive talismans he had and stuck them to his chest, pressing them against his shirt. The talismans felt cool against his skin, making him feel a little more at ease, though only a little.

After finishing all that, he leaned against a tree trunk and ate a dry biscuit. The biscuit was so hard it hurt his teeth, and he made a crunching sound when he bit into it. He slowly swallowed it with the cool water from his water bag, his eyes never idle, staring in the direction of the Qi family, glancing at it every now and then.

Su Yin sat cross-legged not far away. She leaned against a large rock, a whip resting horizontally on her knees, her fingertips lightly touching the handle. Blood seeped from the wound on her left arm again, staining the dark green sleeve a deep brown that clung to her skin. She seemed oblivious, not even flinching.

Wei Ping'an chewed on his biscuit and glanced at her, thinking to himself: This senior sister looks delicate, but she's much more assertive than that spineless Sun Yan. He took out a small paper packet and casually tossed it over. The packet arced through the air and landed near Su Yin's legs.

"I made it myself, it works better than what the sect gives me," he mumbled, chewing on a biscuit. "Apply some, otherwise it'll hurt when I do it tonight."

Su Yin picked up the paper package, opened it, and glanced inside. It contained a fine, yellowish-brown powder with a faint ginseng aroma.

She looked up at Wei Ping'an, who had already turned around and was kicking pebbles at the tree trunk, his back to her, but the tips of his ears were a little red.

She didn't say thank you. She poured some powder onto the wound; it felt cool and the stinging sensation quickly subsided. She put the remaining powder into her bosom, closed her eyes, and continued meditating.

Sun Yan hid on the other side, secretly taking out a communication talisman and fiddling with it for a long time. The talisman didn't emit any light at all; it was lifeless and he couldn't even contact his uncle.

The more he thought about it, the more panicked he became. He cursed Wei Ping'an a hundred times in his heart. If it weren't for this jinx, he wouldn't have to suffer like this. When he got back, he would definitely make his uncle throw him into the mine.

The sun slowly sank below the horizon. As dusk fell, a wind picked up, carrying mountain mist into the valley, chilly and seeping straight into one's collar.

A few dim lights lit up in the Qi family compound, appearing hazy and indistinct through the fog, like will-o'-the-wisps on a grave.

At midnight, the three of them reached the base of the back wall precisely on time. The wall wasn't high, just over ten feet, and the top was covered with sharpened shards of porcelain. The night air was heavy with dew, and water droplets condensed on the porcelain shards, giving them a cold sheen.

Wei Pingan took out a rope hook and swung it upwards. The hook caught on the edge of the wall, and he tugged at it; it was quite sturdy. "I'll go first," he said in a low voice. Stepping on the cracks in the wall, he quickly scrambled up and squatted on the top of the wall, looking down.

The backyard was deserted. A row of unidentified red-fruited trees stood there, their branches stretching long, and the ground was paved with bluestone slabs that gleamed coldly in the night. In the distant corner tower, two guards stood, swords in hand, yawning. He waved down.

Su Yin was the second to come up. She moved lightly, landing on the wall like a leaf without making a sound. Sun Yan was the last to go up. He was clumsy and almost slipped on a piece of porcelain. Wei Ping'an reached out and pulled him back to prevent any noise.

The three of them jumped into the yard one after another, landing in the grass next to the fruit tree. The dew on the grass blades dampened their trouser legs, feeling cool and clinging to their ankles.

The courtyard was eerily quiet. There wasn't even the chirping of insects, only the whistling of the wind rustling through the branches, like someone was crying. The pot on Wei Ping'an's back started to get hot again, even more so than during the day, so hot that it burned his skin even through his cloth shirt.

He tugged at Su Yin's sleeve, pointed to his back, and shook his head. Su Yin understood, nodded, and gestured for him to follow.

The three of them crept along the wall towards the main hall. As they passed the grove of red berries, a sweet, cloying fragrance wafted over, making them feel dizzy.

Wei Ping'an twitched his nose. This smell was strange; it was somewhat similar to the incense burned by the village witch during her shamanistic rituals back in the day. Smelling it for too long made him sleepy.

He quickly took out three cloths, poured some water on them, and handed them to Su Yin and Sun Yan respectively, gesturing for them to cover their mouths and noses. Sun Yan frowned, unwilling to accept the cloths because they were dirty, but after being given a cold glance by Su Yin, he reluctantly covered his mouth and nose.

After walking a few steps, Wei Pingan suddenly stopped.

He heard footsteps behind him. Very light, clattering, clattering, like wooden clogs on a flagstone. Right behind him to the left, very close, close enough to feel a cool breeze on the back of his neck. It was chilly, and the hairs on his neck stood on end.

He didn't turn around.

When I was a child, the old folks in the village used to say, "If you hear someone following you at night, don't turn around. They carry two lamps on their shoulders; if you turn around, one will go out."

He nudged Su Yin with his elbow, pointed to his ear, and then pointed behind him.

Su Yin didn't stop walking. She turned her head slightly and glanced behind her out of the corner of her eye. It was empty; there was nothing there. She shook her head at Wei Ping'an.

But Wei Ping'an heard it clearly. The footsteps followed their rhythm; they moved faster when they moved faster and slower when they moved slower, like a shadow stuck to their backs, impossible to shake off.

Sun Yan heard it too. His face turned pale instantly, his legs started to spin, and he instinctively wanted to run away, but Su Yin grabbed his shoulder.

Su Yin abruptly stopped, turned around, and her long whip flew from her hand. The whip, like a black snake, lashed out at the empty space behind her, striking the bluestone slab with a sharp crack, sending sparks flying. The slab remained empty, but the footsteps ceased.

The three of them had just breathed a sigh of relief when a red fruit fell with a "plop" from the nearby tree and rolled to Wei Ping'an's feet. The fruit split open, revealing not fruit flesh, but a small human face. The eyes were closed, and the corners of the mouth were turned up in a strange smile.

Then, with a series of crackling sounds, the fruit from the tree fell one after another.

They all grinned and hummed off-key tunes in childish voices, repeating the same few notes over and over, so sweet it made your scalp tingle.

They crawled up from the ground, grew tiny hands and feet, and, holding hands, circled around the three of them. They spun faster and faster, and their laughter grew increasingly shrill.

"What the hell is that!" Sun Yan exclaimed, raising his hand to unleash a wind blade.

The wind blades struck the fruit, instantly shattering it into pieces, splattering red juice all over the ground, a sweet and pungent smell. But the fragments rolled twice on the ground, then pieced themselves back together, laughing even more gleefully, and pounced on people, climbing all over them.

"It's a fruit puppet, nourished by essence and blood; its sap is poisonous." Su Yin frowned, her long whip forming a circle of black light, protecting the three of them in the middle. "Don't touch the sap!"

Wei Ping'an didn't panic. He was prepared. He raised his left hand, and two packets of lime powder slid out of his sleeve. He tore open the paper packets and scattered them around.

White powder scattered everywhere, like a light snowfall. When the fruit berries touched the lime, they hissed and emitted white smoke, wilted, rolled back to the ground, and remained motionless, turning back into ordinary fruit.

"It works." Wei Ping'an muttered to himself, patting the dust off his hands.

Su Yin glanced at him, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

"When I was a kid, I would often encounter poisonous insects when raiding bird nests. Lime powder was a cure-all." Wei Ping'an chuckled, though he was actually a little scared inside, but he didn't show it on his face.

He knew this was just an appetizer; the further he went, the more evil things he would encounter.

They passed through two more courtyard gates. The closer they got to the main hall, the stronger the stench of blood became. The sound of chains dragging on the ground grew clearer, clanging and banging, coming from the courtyard behind the main hall, each strike hitting their hearts.

The three of them crept to the window on the side of the main hall and cautiously peered inside.

White candles were lit in the main hall. The candlelight flickered in the wind blowing through the crack in the door, casting erratic shadows throughout the room. At the head of the hall sat an old man in a black robe, his hair and beard completely white, his face ashen, meditating with his eyes closed.

He was as thin as a skeleton, with high cheekbones and sunken eyes. Seven or eight members of the Qi family stood below him, their hands hanging down, not daring to utter a sound.

In the center of the hall stood a vat of blood, about half a person's height. The vat was filled with a dense mass of things, obscured by blood foam. A stench emanated from the vat, stinging the eyes.

Wei Ping'an only glanced at it before his stomach churned. He quickly turned his head away, covered his mouth, and it took him a long time to suppress the nausea.

Su Yin observed carefully. She saw several robes belonging to Cangxia Sect disciples hanging on the wooden shelf next to the blood vat, as well as several waist tokens, not just Zhang He's.

The missing servants who had gone missing in the previous six months were all connected to the Qi family.

Her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. The Qi family was a mountain-guarding family appointed by the sect. They ate the sect's offerings, but behind the scenes they were engaged in the treacherous acts of killing fellow disciples and cultivating evil arts.

Sun Yan saw it too, and shrank back in fright, his back hitting the wall with a soft "thud." The sound wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the dead of night.

"who!"

The old man in the black robe in the hall suddenly opened his eyes, and two beams of light shot straight toward the window.

"We've been discovered! Let's go!" Su Yin shouted in a low voice, then turned and retreated to the backyard.

Wei Ping'an was the fastest runner. He identified the direction of the back wall and charged forward without hesitation. Having scouted the area during the day, he remembered the route well, weaving and twisting his way out of the two servants who came chasing after him.

The gong in the courtyard rang out, clanging and grating.

Footsteps echoed from all directions, and someone shouted, "Catch the adulterer!" Torches were lit one by one, illuminating the entire courtyard in a red glow.

"Split up and run! Meet back outside the back wall!" Su Yin shouted. With a flick of her whip, she knocked down two Qi family members who were charging at her. She deliberately ran in another direction, drawing away most of the pursuers.

Wei Ping'an didn't care about splitting up; saving his life was the priority. He stayed close to the wall, deliberately choosing dark, secluded paths, and relying on his agility, he quickly shook off his pursuers.

As I was running, a figure suddenly darted out from the side.

It was the young man in the blue robe who had led the way during the day. His face was devoid of any politeness; he smiled sinisterly and held two short knives in his hands. The blades gleamed with a blue light, clearly poisoned.

"Little mouse, where are you going?"

Before the young man could finish speaking, the dagger lunged straight at Wei Ping'an's heart. Wei Ping'an had no time to dodge, and instinctively arched his back. With a muffled thud, the dagger struck the black pot solidly, sparks flying everywhere.

The young man was taken aback. Although his knife wasn't some kind of magical weapon, it was still made of fine iron, capable of easily piercing an ordinary wooden shield, yet it couldn't penetrate a black iron pot?

In that moment of hesitation, Wei Ping'an raised his right hand and smeared a packet of chili powder on the young man's face.

"Ah!" The young man screamed, clutching his eyes and jumping up and down in pain. Wei Ping'an kicked him, striking him squarely in the stomach and sending him flying a considerable distance. He didn't linger, turning and continuing to run, muttering to himself: What a pity, I didn't bring enough chili powder.

He ran to the back wall, where the rope hook was still hanging properly. He climbed up quickly, vaulted to the top, and glanced down. Sun Yan was being chased by two members of the Qi family, running frantically towards the side courtyard, getting further and further away from the back wall.

Wei Pingan squatted on the wall and hesitated for two seconds.

Can't save?

Sun Yan had given him a hard time the whole way, clearly indicating that he was sent by Steward Sun to mess with him.

It would be better if this kind of person died. But if we just watch him die, it would be a bit troublesome if the sect investigated back at the sect.

In those two seconds of hesitation, three more people rushed out from the side courtyard, each wielding a knife, and surrounded Sun Yan. Sun Yan was so frightened that his legs went weak, and he could barely hold his sword, shouting, "Don't come any closer! My uncle is a steward!" Wei Ping'an frowned upon hearing this.

Useless stuff.

Just as he was thinking of waiting to see if there would be a change in the situation, someone below suddenly shouted, "There's someone on the wall!" Several darts flew straight towards him.

Wei Ping'an quickly shrank his neck, and the dart grazed his scalp before embedding itself in the wall and buzzing.

"Damn it, I can't even save myself, who cares if he lives or dies?" he cursed, then turned and jumped down. His feet had barely touched the ground when he heard a piercing scream from the courtyard, then silence.

Wei Ping'an's heart skipped a beat. Dead?

He didn't dare linger, and plunged into the woods, running towards the agreed-upon meeting point. He ran for about fifteen minutes before slowing down, leaning against a tree trunk, panting. The woods were pitch black, the wind rustling through the leaves.

The meeting point was behind a large rock. Su Yin was already there, her face smeared with blood, it was unclear whether it was hers or someone else's.

The wound on her left arm reopened, and blood dripped from her fingertips. Seeing Wei Ping'an return alone, she frowned: "Where's Sun Yan?"

"We're surrounded, we couldn't get out." Wei Ping'an gasped for breath. "I heard a scream... I think we're doomed."

Su Yin fell silent. Sun Yan was a member of the Hall of Deacons, and the nephew of Deacon Sun. To die like this in the Qi family would be unbearable to explain back home.

"Does he have a communication talisman?" Wei Pingan asked.

"Yes, but it's blocked by the formation and can't get out." Su Yin leaned against the rock and closed her eyes. "You'd have to run at least fifty miles to get out of the formation's range."

As they were talking, footsteps and shouts came from the woods.

The torchlight shone through the gaps in the trees, flickering back and forth.

"Let's go!" Su Yin grabbed Wei Ping'an, and the two ran into the depths of the forest.

They ran for almost half an hour before the footsteps behind them gradually faded into the distance. The two found a secluded cave and went inside to rest.

The cave was damp and had a musty smell. Wei Ping'an took out a tinderbox and lit a small pile of dry grass. The firelight flickered, casting intermittent light on the two men's faces.

"Zhang He is still alive," Su Yin suddenly said. Wei Ping'an looked up at her.

"When I was being chased, I went around to the backyard and saw the dungeon." Su Yin's voice was a little hoarse, as if her throat had been smoked. "Zhang He was locked in a cage, and he was still breathing."

The Qi family is performing a blood sacrifice, using the essence and blood of cultivators to nourish their ancestor's body. Zhang He is the last sacrifice; the blood sacrifice will be complete in one hour.

Wei Ping'an's heart sank. The words "blood sacrifice to the ancestor" were clearly not something they could get involved in.

"Then we have to go even more." He pushed the dry firewood into the fire. "Hurry up and go out to report the news, and call the sect's elders. If we stay any longer, once their patriarch wakes up, we won't be able to leave even if we want to."

"No." Su Yin raised her head, her eyes resolute and unwavering. "Going back now to bring more people would take at least a day and a night. By then, Zhang He would already be a sacrifice. The disciples of the Enforcement Hall cannot stand by and watch their fellow disciples die."

Wei Ping'an looked at her, somewhat confused. She was about to lose her life; what did it matter if they were from the same sect or not?

"Senior sister, don't be foolish." His tone was sincere, without the slightest hint of falsehood. "The two of us combined are no match for that old man in black robes, who could take us down with one hand. Going in would be like offering ourselves up as food; we wouldn't be able to save anyone, and we'd only end up getting ourselves killed."

"If you want to leave, then leave yourself." Su Yin stood up, whip in her hand. "I'll go save them myself."

She then walked towards the cave entrance.

Wei Ping'an watched her retreating figure, his teeth itching with anger. How could this woman be so stubborn? He squatted on the ground, scratching his head, his mind in turmoil.

Leave? Leaving now will definitely save your life. Just say you got separated from Su Yin, that she went to rescue people herself, and that you barely managed to escape and deliver the message. No one can find fault with that.

Is he really gone like this?

Although Su Yin was cold-hearted, she had never harmed him. She had even given him a bottle of antidote pills during the day, and she had drawn away most of the pursuers when they were being chased. To just leave her here like this was no different from feeding wolves.

Wei Ping'an had always valued his life. He would hide whenever he could, run whenever he could, and never willingly jump into a fire pit. But this time, it felt like his feet were nailed to the ground.

He sighed, cursed "What a fucking bad luck," grabbed the cauldron, and chased after them.

"etc!"

Su Yin stopped at the cave entrance and looked back at him.

"We can go if we want, but we can't just barge in." Wei Ping'an ran over, panting. "We need to think of a way. Isn't the Qi family short of offerings? Let's send them a 'offering' to lure them away from their predicament."

Su Yin looked at him: "What do you want to do?"

Wei Pingan leaned closer, lowered his voice, and explained his idea. Su Yin's brows relaxed more and more as she listened. At the end, she glanced at Wei Pingan with a complicated look in her eyes, as if she were meeting him for the first time.

"You've got a good brain."

"That's right, I have plenty of ways to save my life." Wei Ping'an chuckled, then his face fell. "It's just a bit risky, whether it will succeed or not is another matter. If we really fail, we'll both have to feed their ancestor."

"It's better than watching him die," Su Yin said.

The two rested for half an hour, recovering some of their spiritual energy. Wei Ping'an checked all the medicinal powder and talismans on his person again, putting whatever he could use into a convenient place. He then picked up the black pot, tapped the surface with his fingers, and it made a dull sound.

"It's all up to you tonight," he muttered to himself.

The black pot remained silent, showing no reaction.

Wei Ping'an pursed his lips and put the pot back on his shoulder.

Under the cover of night, the two sneaked back to the vicinity of the Qi family's residence. According to the plan, Wei Ping'an was responsible for drawing people away.

He went around to the front door of the Qi family's house, found an upwind spot, piled up the sulfur, hay, and wolf dung he had prepared beforehand, and set it on fire.

Thick smoke billowed, carrying a pungent stench, and drifted into the courtyard with the wind.

"Fire! Fire at the front gate!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, then quickly hid behind a large rock nearby.

Chaos erupted in the courtyard. The guards at the front gate shouted for help to put out the fire, and many people ran towards the gate carrying buckets of water, their footsteps making a commotion. Taking advantage of the chaos, Su Yin climbed over the back wall and headed straight for the dungeon in the backyard.

Two guards stood at the dungeon entrance, craning their necks to look towards the front door. Su Yin crept over silently, and with a swift flick of her whip, knocked them unconscious in two strokes.

The dungeon was dark and filled with a musty smell mixed with the stench of blood.

"Zhang He!" she called in a low voice.

"...Senior Sister Su?" A faint voice came from the cage in the corner. Zhang He was chained up, her face covered in blood, her eyes unfocused, and her breath barely a whisper.

"It's me." Su Yin walked over and drew her short sword to slash at the chains. The chains were thick, and it took several strikes to break them. She helped Zhang He up. "Can you walk?"

"Yes..." Zhang He stood up, supporting himself on her arm, his steps unsteady. "Quick...hurry...the Ancestor...is about to wake up..."

"Let's go outside first." Su Yin helped him walk out.

Just as they reached the dungeon entrance, a sinister voice came from the corridor: "Where do you think you're going?"

An old man in black robes stood not far away, followed by more than a dozen members of the Qi family, holding torches and completely blocking the road. The torchlight illuminated the old man's ashen face, making him look like a living ghost.

"Su Yin, a disciple of the Cangxia Sect's Enforcement Hall." The old man licked his lips, his eyes greedy. "Her skin is delicate and tender; her essence and blood must be much purer than those of the servants. Perfect, the last sacrificial offering delivered to our door."

Su Yin's expression changed. She shielded Zhang He behind her, holding her long whip horizontally in front of her: "Qi Kui, you betrayed your sect to cultivate evil arts. Aren't you afraid that the Cangxia Sect's army will press in and wipe out your entire clan?"

"Exterminate my entire clan?" The old man laughed loudly, his laughter grating. "Once I complete my blood sacrifice and reach the late Foundation Establishment stage, what can those elders of your sect do to me?"

With a wave of his hand, the Qi family members swarmed forward.

Su Yin gritted her teeth and charged forward, her long whip lashing out relentlessly. But the enemy outnumbered her, and with Qi Kui providing cover, she gradually lost her grip. The wound on her left arm tore wider and wider, blood streaming down her arm and dripping onto the ground.

Wei Ping'an waited for a long time at the front gate but no one came out, and he had a bad feeling. He went around to the back wall and listened inside. He heard fighting and shouting all around.

Oh no, it's blocked.

He crouched on the wall, his mind racing. Should he run? He could definitely escape now; Su Yin and Zhang He dying inside had nothing to do with him.

But his feet seemed glued to the wall. He remembered Su Yin receiving the medicine powder during the day, and the image of her shielding him from the pursuers.

"Damn it, I've really gone mad."

He cursed, pulled out all the explosive talismans and medicinal powder from his pocket, and took the black pot off and held it in his hand. He took a deep breath, jumped off the wall, and landed right at the edge of the fighting circle.

"Old Qi! Your grandfather is here!"

He yelled at the top of his lungs and threw all the explosive talismans in his hand at once.

Several loud explosions rang out, and flames shot into the sky. The Qi family members were thrown about, their formation instantly disrupted. Taking advantage of the chaos, Su Yin pulled Zhang He back.

"Why are you back again!" she exclaimed, both surprised and angry.

"I can't just leave you here," Wei Ping'an said, holding the pot in front of her, his back soaked with sweat. "Besides, if you die, the Enforcement Hall will come after me, and I'll be even more unlucky."

He spoke casually, but his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to jump out of his throat.

Qi Kui was jolted by the blast, his black robe torn, and his face turned ashen with rage. "You little bastard, you're asking for death!" He raised his hand and slammed it down, the palm wind carrying a metallic scent, heading straight for Wei Ping'an's heart. The pressure of a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator pressed down, and Wei Ping'an couldn't even breathe.

Without a second thought, he pushed the scapegoat forward to block the flame.

With a deafening bang, everyone's ears rang. Wei Ping'an was sent flying several meters backward, crashing heavily to the ground. His back slammed against the stone steps, the pain nearly knocking him unconscious. But the pot in his hand remained perfectly intact, without even a crack.

Qi Kui stood there, stunned, staring at the black pot in Wei Ping'an's hand. His eyes first showed doubt, then turned into undisguised greed.

"The Mystic Pattern Pot...it's actually an ancient Mystic Pattern Pot!" His voice trembled. "No wonder it could withstand my palm strike! You little bastard, how did you manage to possess such a treasure!"

Wei Ping'an lay on the ground, coughed twice, and coughed up some blood. A Xuanwen pot? What's that?

He slowly stood up, supporting himself with the pot, and shielded Su Yin and Zhang He behind him. Holding the pot in his hand, it was warm and cozy, and a warm current flowed from his palm into his body, making his internal organs, which had been injured by the shock, less painful.

"Enough with the nonsense!" he said, feigning confidence. "Come any closer, and I'll raze this dilapidated yard of yours to the ground!"

Qi Kui stared at the pot in his hand, his eyes filled with malice. He knew the Xuanwen Pot was powerful, but he didn't believe that a mere child at the second level of Qi Refining could activate even a fraction of its power.

"Just a facade, nothing more." He sneered. "I'd like to see how much you can hold your own!"

As he spoke, he struck again with even more force than before.

Wei Ping'an gritted his teeth and held up the pot to block the attack.

Just then, the tadpole-like patterns on the edge of the pot suddenly lit up one by one. Dark light spilled out from the patterns, drilling into his body along his arm.

The energy in his dantian seemed to be ignited, spinning wildly, and a powerful force surged out of the pot, rushing forward along his arm.

With a loud "boom," a black beam of light shot out from the surface of the pot and struck Qi Kui's palm.

Qi Kui let out a scream, flying backward and crashing heavily to the ground. A section of his chest caved in, and he spat out a mouthful of black blood. He propped himself up on the ground, looking at the pot in Wei Ping'an's hand in disbelief, his eyes filled with terror.

"Impossible... This is impossible... How could you possibly activate the Mystic Pattern Cauldron...?"

Wei Ping'an was dumbfounded. He stood there, holding the pot, stunned. Could this pot really set off firecrackers on its own?

The Qi family members standing nearby were also terrified, and no one dared to step forward. Su Yin was also stunned, staring at Wei Ping'an's back with a complex expression.

Wei Ping'an realized what was happening and was overjoyed. Good heavens, Dad, this isn't a pot for self-defense, it's a portable cannon!

He held the pot, deliberately took a step forward, and put on a mysterious look: "Now you know how powerful I am, right? Come any closer, and I'll blast you all to smithereens!"

The Qi family members were so frightened that they all retreated, and no one dared to step forward.

Qi Kui lay on the ground, coughing up blood, staring at him menacingly: "Don't be so smug... The Mystic Pattern Pot consumes a lot of energy, you won't last much longer... Once my ancestor fully awakens, none of you will escape..."

Ancestor?

Wei Ping'an's heart skipped a beat. There's another ancestor?

That last burst was just the pot acting up on its own; he had no idea how to activate it. Trying it again might not work. We can't afford to waste any more time.

"Walk!"

He turned and called out, pulling Su Yin along. Su Yin, supporting Zhang He, and the three of them turned and rushed outside. None of the Qi family members dared to stop them, and they could only watch helplessly as they ran out the gate.

The three of them ran for their lives, for an unknown amount of time, until dawn broke before they dared to stop and catch their breath.

Zhang He was badly injured, leaning against a tree coughing incessantly, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Su Yin fed him a healing pill, and his complexion improved slightly.

Wei Ping'an sat to one side, examining the blackened pot from all angles. The pot had returned to its original state, dark and dull, its patterns no longer shiny, no different from any ordinary iron pot forged at the village blacksmith's shop. That moment just now felt like a dream.

"Thank you for earlier." Su Yin walked over and sat down next to him, her voice a little softer than before. "If it weren't for you, we would all be dead in there."

"Hey, it's nothing." Wei Ping'an waved his hand, put the pot back on his back, and was still feeling scared. "It's just that Sun Yan didn't come out... It'll be hard to explain to your uncle when we get back."

He looked at Zhang He.

Zhang He gave a bitter smile: "Sun Yan... I saw him. He's not dead, he was captured by the Qi family. Qi Kui said he'd be a good sacrifice to make up the numbers."

Wei Pingan and Su Yin exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

He's not dead? Should we save him or not?

Wei Ping'an immediately had the answer: Save him my ass, it would be better if Sun Yan died.

Su Yin frowned, clearly hesitant.

"Don't think about that now." Wei Ping'an stood up, brushed the dirt off his pants, and said, "Let's get out of the formation's range and send a message to the sect. If the Qi family patriarch really wakes up, the three of us combined won't even be enough to fill a tooth gap. If we go another twenty miles, we should be able to get out."

Su Yin nodded.

The three continued on their way. The further they went, the sparser the trees became, and the daylight grew brighter. The outlines of distant mountain peaks were clearly visible, and even the birdsong increased. They were about to leave the array's range.

Just then, the earth suddenly shook.

Immediately afterwards, a deafening roar came from the direction of the Qi family. The voice was old and hoarse, filled with boundless resentment and bloodlust, causing the leaves on the trees to fall in a rustling sound and even the ground to tremble.

Wei Ping'an's face turned pale. He looked back and saw that the sky in the direction of the Qi family had turned blood red.

A surge of blood energy shot straight into the sky like a pillar, dyeing half the sky red.

"This is bad!" Su Yin's expression changed drastically, her voice tightening, "The Qi family patriarch has woken up..."