After a great struggle, the four of them finally emerged from the mountain of bat corpses, all in a wretched state. Their bodies were caked with filthy, dark blood, and the stench was almost unbearable.
These four were disciples of the Azure Ethereal Conclave, who usually kept themselves spotless. Especially Lu Xueqi from the Bamboo Peak, whose nature was cleanliness; this situation made her feel worse than if she had been slashed three times.
Without delay, they hurriedly walked away, hoping to distance themselves as much as possible from the disgusting pile of bat corpses. After walking a considerable distance, they reached a relatively flat rock. They tried to dust off their clothes, but only managed to remove some debris. The bat blood stains and the putrid smell, however, clung to them stubbornly.
Zhang Xiaofan and the other two men could endure it better, but Lu Xueqi, who normally had an icy demeanor, now looked like a frosty winter. She scrubbed her robes fiercely, determined to rid herself of these revolting contaminants.
The bloodstains seemed particularly sticky, and soon, Qi Hao, Zeng Shushu, and Zhang Xiaofan gave up. Only Lu Xueqi, her face still pale, refused to yield. The three men exchanged glances, even the most experienced Qi Hao looking somewhat awkward, unsure of what to say.
As the four stood in silence, with Lu Xueqi furrowing her brows and rubbing her clothes, a sudden whistle came from the sky. Looking up, they saw four beams of light—one yellow, one white, and two green—flashing in the sky. In a moment, these beams descended, revealing four figures.
On the left were two monks. The taller one, with thick eyebrows and a fierce appearance, was intimidating without even showing anger. If not for his monk’s robes, he might have been mistaken for a bandit.
The younger monk in front of him, a head shorter, was entirely different. His skin was fair, his eyes bright, and he wore a moon-white robe, appearing somewhat frail yet dignified.
On the right were a young man and woman, both attractive and well-matched, like celestial beings’ attendants.
These four looked at the bloodstained Azure Ethereal disciples, frowning. The young, fair monk was the first to greet, “Amitabha, may I ask if you are from the Azure Ethereal Conclave?”
The Azure Ethereal disciples exchanged glances. Qi Hao stepped forward, returning the greeting, “Indeed, I am Qi Hao. May I ask who you are…?”
The young monk smiled, “I am Fazhang from the Temple of Heavenly Sound, and this is my junior, Fahai. Beside us are Li Xun and Yan Hong, distinguished disciples of the Incense Valley.”
Fahai, the tall monk, greeted them with a deep, gravelly voice. Li Xun and Yan Hong, however, merely nodded arrogantly, barely acknowledging the courtesy.
Qi Hao frowned and ignored the Incense Valley pair, turning to Fazhang, “Ah! I have long heard of Fazhang’s great reputation, being hailed as a rare talent in the path of righteousness. It’s truly an honor to meet you!”
Fazhang smiled, “You are too kind, Qi Brother. I am but a dull-witted disciple, fortunate to be guided by Master Puhong, who taught me true Dharma to do good for the world. I dare not compare myself to the esteemed disciples of the Azure Ethereal Conclave.”
Qi Hao laughed, waving his hands, “Fazhang, you are too modest. Come, let me introduce my fellow disciples.” He introduced Zhang Xiaofan and the others. When Qi Hao introduced Zhang Xiaofan, Fazhang’s eyes seemed to light up, giving him an extra glance.
Meanwhile, Li Xun, who had been ignored, grew more displeased. As soon as Qi Hao finished, he coldly remarked, “Qi Brother, your Azure Ethereal Conclave always claims to lead the righteous path, with unrivaled Daoist Dharma. How is it that today, you all look so bedraggled?”
The faces of the Azure Ethereal disciples changed. Zhang Xiaofan, repulsed by Li Xun’s haughty attitude, glanced at Lu Xueqi, who had stopped cleaning her clothes, her face like ice, glaring at the Incense Valley pair, particularly Yan Hong.
Qi Hao, skilled in social graces, though slightly annoyed, quickly recovered, chuckling, “To be frank, we arrived here last night to investigate the ancient cave of myriad bats, only to encounter countless bats…”
Upon hearing this, the expressions of Fazhang and the others changed. The burly Fahai, with wide eyes, gruffly said, “Those beasts in the ancient cave are vicious and difficult to deal with.”
Qi Hao, quick-witted, realized that these four must have encountered the same problem. Suddenly, Zeng Shushu stepped forward, laughing, “Fahai Brother, so you’ve also encountered these bloodsucking bats?”
Fahai, straightforward, nodded, “Yes, there were too many, so we retreated.”
Zeng Shushu sighed, “Last night, we also faced those bats, trying to rid the people of harm. But from morning till night, no matter how hard we fought, we couldn’t kill enough. In the end, we chased them back into the cave, but we were covered in filth. Alas, it’s quite embarrassing!”
He turned to Qi Hao, and they both smiled, saying in unison, “Embarrassing indeed!”
Everyone’s faces changed. Li Xun snorted, showing disdain; Yan Hong, blushing, looked skeptical. Fazhang smiled, while Fahai showed admiration. Zhang Xiaofan, momentarily stunned, watched the two laughing heartily.
Fazhang then suggested, “We are here to gain experience. Since we are all present, why don’t the Azure Ethereal Brothers rest for a day, and we can explore the cave tomorrow morning?”
Li Xun, sneering, “Fazhang’s suggestion is wise, lest someone finds another excuse later.”
Qi Hao, Zeng Shushu, and Lu Xueqi, all from the prestigious Azure Ethereal Conclave, were accustomed to praise and pride. Qi Hao coldly retorted, “Li Xun, your point is valid. Otherwise, I might not be able to help you when you need it.”
Li Xun, unused to such arrogance, challenged, “Then, Qi Brother, you must be far superior. I would like to learn from you.”
Concerned about their sect’s honor, Qi Hao was about to step forward, but Lu Xueqi, suddenly stepping out, said, “No need for Qi Brother to trouble himself. I will test the Incense Valley’s magic.”
Li Xun, stunned by her beauty, lost his composure. Fazhang intervened, “We are here to investigate, not to fight. Let’s avoid rash actions and proceed cautiously.”
Li Xun, realizing his mistake, huffed and looked away. Qi Hao, remembering the advice of his master, agreed, “Lu Sister, Fazhang is right. Peace is best.”
Lu Xueqi, after a glance, returned, leaving Zhang Xiaofan with an odd feeling. Fazhang then said, “Let’s go down the mountain and return tomorrow morning to explore the cave.”
Agreeing, they followed Fazhang, finding a small hill thirty miles away with a clear spring. They washed, changed, and reconvened. Lu Xueqi, last to emerge, looked radiant, adding a charming touch to her beauty. All, including Yan Hong, admired her.
Discussing the bats, they learned they were remnants of the Demon Sect, thriving over time. Hearing this, Zeng Shushu asked, “How do we enter the cave?”
Fazhang hesitated, “In daylight, they hang from the ceiling, inactive. We can try entering then.”
Zhang Xiaofan, skeptical, “So, you’re not sure? What if they attack us?”
Fazhang, calmly, “True, I’m not certain, but we must try. If needed, we can retreat.”
The next morning, they arrived at the barren mountain. Following Fazhang, they found the cave. The air was chilling, and a low, eerie sound echoed. Standing a few yards from the entrance, they felt the cold and the eerie noise intensify.
Deciding to enter, they took their magical weapons, and Zhang Xiaofan, with his black stick, drew curious looks. Lu Xueqi, coldly, “Let’s go,” and led the way.
Inside, they sank into bat guano, the stench overwhelming. The bats, sensing the light, stirred but did not attack. Relieved, they continued, the bats’ presence growing, their whispers filling the air. They walked deeper, the bat guano thicker, until Qi Hao halted, exclaiming, “Look!”
They discovered a firm ground beneath, and the journey into the depths continued.
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