Chapter 150: Total Annihilation

The enemy across from us still believed victory was assured, but suddenly a squad charged in from the distance.

The two Spirit Lotus masters on the elder’s side were no pushovers; each was skilled, currently holding their ground evenly against the elder.

I exchanged a glance with Second Uncle, and together we surged forward.

Naturally, the elder noticed us and deliberately slowed his attacks, luring the two Spirit Lotus experts into a trap.

Leaping through the air, I landed directly behind one of them and swung my blade.

The man was swift; even upon spotting me, he sidestepped just in time.

Second Uncle arrived nearby, and the three of us formed a triangle, surrounding the two men.

“Who are you? We belong to the Demonic Mist Sect. If you kill us, then...”

I had no time for his rambling and struck with a blade.

Seeing me take the initiative, Second Uncle and the elder no longer held back, both raising their weapons to strike.

By the way, the elder and Second Uncle’s footwork and swordsmanship were remarkably similar—one might think they were brothers.

Their strength was evenly matched, and with my aid, the two from the Demonic Mist Sect were quickly overwhelmed, each suffering multiple sword wounds.

“Wait... I, from the Demonic...”

The man at the front tried to say something else but lost his head to my blade.

The other was swiftly subdued by the elder and Second Uncle; after a brief interrogation, his throat was cut mercilessly.

At that moment, someone rushed out from the crowd—it was Nangong Xi.

She performed admirably tonight, decisive and ruthless in battle, hardly resembling a young girl.

“How are you? Injured?”

She had stayed at the rear all along, so I hadn’t paid much attention until now.

“No, Second Uncle protected me well.”

I nodded in approval. That was enough. It seemed we had successfully survived this ordeal.

The remaining enemies were all slaughtered to the last.

“Thank you all for your hard work. I, Lin Yao, express my gratitude.”

With that, I respectfully cupped my fists toward the disciples.

“Oh, nonsense. It’s what we should do...”

“You’re the leader of the disciples at Tianyang Mountain, it’s only natural...”

“No need to thank me. Ha ha ha...”

I smiled gratefully. It’s truly a blessing to have friends.

Chen Chen and Li Zijian led the charge all night, suffering only minor injuries; Old Li was no different.

No one died, which was exactly what I wanted to see.

“Alright, alright, we’re leaving now.”

The elder sheathed his longsword back into his ring and dusted off his clothes.

“It’s quite late. Stay the night, why don’t you?”

I tried to persuade him, but to no avail. The elder waved me off, turning to gather his disciples to prepare for departure.

“Be careful on the road!”

I shouted from behind. The disciples waved back.

They came and went in a hurry, fighting and then retreating swiftly. I felt a bit guilty toward them.

“Alright, let’s go too.”

Chen Chen patted my shoulder and whispered.

“You guys should stay.”

“Forget it. Our strength is close enough here. We’ll meet again when we have time.”

Li Zijian didn’t want to stay the night either, so he, Old Li, and Chen Chen headed off toward a distant spot.

Their carriage was parked in a far-off grassy area, so they still had some walking to do.

“Alright, kid, this time we won a great victory. Let’s clean up the battlefield.”

I nodded and gathered the corpses into piles, setting them ablaze until nothing remained.

Then I hurried to two other nearby roads, burning the bodies there as well, before finally returning to the mountain with Second Uncle and Nangong Xi.

“Second Uncle, you must be tired. Go inside and rest.”

Upon returning, I wanted him to rest, but he seemed energized rather than weary.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve fought so heartily. Ha ha ha...”

Second Uncle sat on a stone bench, gazing up at the sky as if reminiscing precious memories.

“Nangong Xi, go back to your room and rest. Lin Yao and I need to talk.”

This time, Second Uncle sent Nangong Xi away, and she obediently retreated to her room.

Now only Second Uncle and I remained in the courtyard, with just a single oil lamp burning.

“You’re a once-in-a-century prodigy, kid. You must live well.”

I wasn’t sure what he meant but smiled in response.

“You know, I was once a guardian Taoist of a region, known alongside the elder as Master Fu Yuan.”

I hadn’t known that. It seemed Second Uncle had been formidable in his youth.

“We wandered from city to city, righting wrongs, robbing the rich to help the poor. Now we’re old and can’t keep up.”

Though he said this, I felt no decline in his strength.

“Nonsense, you’re still very strong.”

Second Uncle smiled faintly but said no more. The older one gets, the more nostalgic they become. He was no exception.

His eyes flickered with melancholy, anger, and hope—perhaps dreams of the future.

“Enough, kid. Go get some sleep.”

After a moment, he wiped his eyes discreetly and returned inside.

I sat outside a while longer, lighting cigarette after cigarette, zoning out.

Only after finishing a whole pack did I prepare to go to bed.

The Dong family had been nearly crushed by me; they shouldn’t bother me again.

But it seemed I had made a new enemy—the Demonic Mist Sect. From what Second Uncle said, they were a thoroughly villainous clan.

Villainous sects all shared the same traits: killing, arson, deceit, theft, debauchery, gambling, and vice. No doubt they would remember this grudge.

“Sigh... Enemies come and go. You’re just one among many.”

I changed my clothes and lay quietly in bed, soon falling asleep.

...

That night, I dreamed again, plunged into a fierce battlefield.

The fighting was brutal; my body was covered in wounds. I noticed I still wore the white brocade robe Second Uncle had given me.

As far as the eye could see, countless cultivators stood before me, while behind me were many others, though their garments were unfamiliar.

As I rose once more, the army behind me surged forward.

I wanted to see what happened next, but the scene twisted, and I snapped back to reality.

I bolted upright, breathing deeply of the fresh air.

It was just past three in the morning. Because of the early autumn chill, it was still pitch black outside.

But I had no mood to sleep, so I sat up and closed my eyes to cultivate.

Gradually, more spiritual energy seeped from my fingertips into my body.

I sensed the energy swelling slightly inside me—by my experience, a sign of an impending breakthrough.

I cultivated with renewed vigor, my progress in the Dan Zi Lu accelerating.

Yet I understood well the principle that haste makes waste, so after each burst of rapid absorption, I slowed down to rest.