A horn blew from the helm of the Flaiten, signalling the end of their ride. Shuren and the rest stood on the observation deck, watching the beast lower in altitude. The Dezuan Forest now spread as far as the eye could see.
In some parts of the forest, trees grew to be larger than a five-storied pagoda. A seven-petaled white flower bloomed as high as a hill. And in the northernmost corner, a skeleton of a dead snake cut across the forest, now an abode for its inhabitants.
The Dezuan Forest was classified as a Rank 1 Region, with the heart of the forest classified as a Rank 2.
Luckily, the route Shuren had learnt went nowhere near the heart of the forest. No smuggler would dare even traverse toward that region.
An old man with a pipe in his mouth walked to the deck, his grey hair tied in a bun. The helmsman that Shuren hired, he had come to drop them off. "As per the agreement, send the flare in two or three days, and I'll come pick you up. I'll be nearby either way, so it won't take long."
Shuren did a slight nod. "Good work, helmsman." And he pointed his attention to the rest of his team.
The Flaiten had dropped to around a dozen metres off the ground. The bangle in his hand hummed, and the flying nimbus extended onto a platform, enough to hold multiple people. It wouldn't be as fast, but for the job of descension, it was more than enough.
Junyu did the same in return, with the pin in his hair reforged as the cloudmulet.
"Get on and we'll follow the trail we have. Once night falls, we'll set up camp. Tez, I'm counting on you to teach the others how to do so." Shuren stepped on the cloud, waiting for the rest to follow.
Tez was the only one amongst the team to have traversed across the wildlands. He was well equipped with starting camps and hunting in the jungles. It was one of the points brought up during their discussion at the Skyfoan Pagoda.
Luo, the oldest Outer Disciple, gave a scrutinizing gaze to Tez.
With everyone on the cloud platforms, Shuren and Junyu both controlled it to descend at a gradual pace, until they stepped foot into the Dezuan Forest.
With the entire team lined up, Shuren explained the route. "We are to head to the Reverse Canyon of Reeds at the northwest of the Dezuan Forest. We'll have to pass through a grove marked on the map I have. That canyon is the chokehold where we can observe the smugglers coming through the route. The plan is to set up camp before the grove, then reach the canyon."
Junyu walked forth, holding out scrolls and various other tools for each person. "Here, with this, all of us will be linked together when nearby. If one of us is in impeding danger, the Rank 1 Life Or Death formation will activate, and either Shuren or I will cover for you. All of you have a signal flare to send. Red is for danger, and the blue one is only for use outside of the Dezuan Forest, to bring in the Flaiten Beast to pick us up."
Shuren held a large backpack holding most of the camp tools. The urge to reach Rank 2 has never gotten as worse than today. If only I had a spatial ring, I wouldn't have to lug around all of this like some menial labourer!
Since he was the strongest of the group, he could carry the most equipment. There was pretty much no point forcing one of the Outer Disciples to be a mule. It would just slow everyone down for no reason. And Shuren wanted to get this expedition over with as soon as possible. Even if he accepted it to gain a reputation amongst the Elders, it didn't mean he enjoyed doing such a job that required him to haul around the forests for multiple days.
"Before we leave, I need to spray this Beast Repelling Dust on all of you." Shuren took out a glass vial filled with blue luminescent dust, glistening even in the day. "Don't need some trash bugs to irritate us on this missive."
When Shuren went over to drop it over Luo, he put on a bright smile while clasping both his hands. "I'm honoured to be part of the team, leader. If there's anything you need, please let me know."
"Then do well. Don't disappoint me." Shuren said.
Shibai held a resolute gaze in his eye, his arms tensed, itching for battle.
"Ease up. The point of this expedition isn't for blood. It's gaining intel," Shuren advised as he poured the dust.
Shibai nodded, acknowledging Shuren's response.
He noticed Tez spent the most time huddled near Arene and Sarya the most. Somehow, I'm not so surprised.
When he poured the Beast Repelling Dust on the pair of Vulfoans, he noticed their ears shiver. Arene could barely hold back a sneeze, covering her mouth.
Shuren raised an eyebrow. "Bear with it, we need to have it sprinkled all over the body. If you still feel a strange reaction, inform me."
"Sorry. I mean, yes, leader."
A similar reaction occurred with Sarya as well. Perhaps the Beast Repelling Dust was just getting in their nose. Or…
Shuren held a stoic expression, but thought back to the origins of races such as the Vulfoans and Silvents. That their progenitor was a beast, the Beast of Valence. A creature heralded in the Testaments of the Architect as a trickster, stealing the final ring from his eyes. Gaining an aspect of the Path that gave all of humanity the strength to rule the world. One of the forgotten and lost Paths.
Though grandfather and uncle taught me different, the rest at the Liu Clan did look down on these people. Even a Supreme Elder of the Liu in the past dared to marry a peasant Silvent, and in turn was banished by the clan. I'm not so stupid as those fools to use some old folklore as a prerogative, but is there some basis for it?
Shuren thought back to the struggles of his father, rebuilding his foundations and creating a business in tandem with the Silverwoods Factions. No, it's a waste of time thinking about it.
Lastly, Shuren stopped in front of Tez, pouring some of the dust. "You said you were a proclaimed expert in traversing the wilderlands. You traveled to Cloud City all the way from the Devanthra Archipelagoes all from your own. Tez, I'll have you lead beside me."
He noticed Tez's eyes have a hazed and unfocused gaze, but ignored it.
"A-ah yeah, basically. The landmark of the grove should have a river going past it, so we'll naturally find plenty of beasts trails heading towards it. It'll be easy to find and perfect for a campfire. Trust me on this," Tez patted his chest, showing his confidence.
Shuren patted Tez's shoulder, even rarely showing a light smile. "I'll be counting on you."
Tez could only feel goosebumps going up his neck. Watching Shuren lead the way at a high pace, he, along with the rest, sped up and jogged towards the area.
I still can't get used to it. We went from having some typical altercation like those novels to actually being fellow disciples? I really did overreact so much…
***
By the time night almost fell, they had already reached the perimeters of the first landmark. Shuren made sure to form camp around a kilometre before the river that ran across the grove, commanding the Outer Disciples to set up camp.
He and Junyu stood up a hill, observing the river.
And Junyu turned to Shuren, to strike up a topic. One related to the both of them. "What exactly were you doing with that factory back in the Industrial District? I heard some news about it from the higher ups."
Shuren crossed his arms, recounting the situation. "Nothing major. The Liu Clan wanted control of a small area of mortals in the far west and take some workers away. That was all."
"Hm. Is that so? Well, I'd have to thank you. An annoying guy wanted to do an absurd project in that area to climb up the ranks. Something about making real 'use' of the refugees."
Shuren looked towards Junyu. "Cloud City has rigid rules. If the Huang Clan wants to do something ridiculous, the Sect Leader will be heavy-handed in his punishment no matter what. You know his reputation."
Junyu could only shrug. "Nothing to do with me. There are always fools in every organisation. Doesn't matter if you're proclaimed righteous by The Great Nine." He scoffed at those words, for once having a condescending stare at the sky. A defiant gaze.
"Proclaimed righteous… There is only righteous and demonic. There'll be scumbags everywhere, but the Mandate of the Righteous, the creed and ethos of us cultivators, the shepherds of all mortals, must never change." Shuren walked down the hill to rest for the night. He had already organised a rotating night shift to watch around the area. Of course, he himself took the slot in the middle of the night.
Those words bounced around in Junyu's mind as he watched Shuren leave.
"The creed and ethos of us cultivators. I don't particularly remember taking up such a responsibility. Liu Shuren, those are cheap words to say when you yourself were chased out by your own esteemed clan."
***
Auroras danced in the night sky when Shuren left his camp. He hadn't slept, but was busy reading some of the Dan Zi Scriptures.
He could never admit that he didn't sleep out of nervousness. Nervousness of running a team with a bunch of strangers of a sect, with none of them having anything in common with him.
It was different from his role in the Liu Clan. He had to make sure to have the proper qualities of a leader. Righteous, calm, and collected. Understanding his team on a personal level, in order to make use of their greatest potential.
This is nothing. I have to do this much and succeed with ease, if I want to become a full-fledged Patriarch and lead an entire clan!
Shuren left the tent to walk up the hill, seeing Tez lying down. He held some trinket around his eyes, observing his surroundings.
"What is that contraption? Don't tell me you're sleeping, Tez."
Tez jolted, but quickly stood up in defence of himself. He held up the item with two cylindrical formations with a clear crystal lens inside. "No, I'm not! This is a binocular. It's an item that's been recently popular in the Suzaku Empire. It enhances your vision, so even a mortal could have the eyes of a powerful cultivator."
Shuren held out his hand. He said no words, but Tez could tell the obvious message, placing the binoculars in his hand. "Give it a try."
Shuren fiddled with the object for a bit until realising his eyes were to be placed near the transparent lens. With it, he gazed around the perimeters. He could even slightly enhance it by suffusing Qi to his eyesight.
"Oh, not bad. We should've bought some of these in the first place. You should've told me."
Tez scratched the back of his messy hair. "I should've thought of that. Actually, I was wondering. Has there been any rumours or legends of a cultivator's inheritance within this forest?"
"Inheritance? Oh, you mean a Legacy of an ancient cultivator. Over the course of this forest's existence, plenty of cultivators could have died. But for someone to leave this as a final place of their Legacy, a low rank region doesn't make sense. If it's something worthwhile, it'll be found in an area where only those qualified could even survive the environment. I wouldn't know any such rumours," he said, focusing on observing his surroundings.
Shuren saw the tranquil rivers running down the grove. The giant white flower in the distance swaying even without the presence of wind. The blue leaves glowing in the night, with the crimson liquid flowing down the ground.
Wait. Is that blood?!
Shuren handed the binoculars over to Tez, his voice sharp with the aura of a leader. "Go wake up everyone at the tent and get Junyu to keep at a pace behind me. I'm going to observe the situation."
Tez watched Shuren dash towards the grove, but before he could even bother asking what the situation was, he could only sweat with the blaring red screen in front of him.
"Why am I getting a Threat Level Grading of S+ in this area?! Death is likely if I stick around?!"
***
Shuren used the trees as camouflage, finding a vantage point to observe the inside of the grove. If there was any danger, since they were only a kilometre away from the grove, any enemy would've long been able to tell a presence nearby. For now, Shuren needed information to relay back to the team. Only with that information could he proceed with the next step.
That was his duty as the leader.
And when Shuren observed the centre of the hidden grove, there it was.
A carriage of unknown goods, as inconspicuous as it could be, rooted to the spot.
Surrounded by a river of blood.
Not even the horses were spared.
All the smugglers had already been killed!