Chapter Twenty-One: Safe Return

Before the group could return to camp, a sudden blur flashed before their eyes, and five figures appeared out of thin air, blocking the way ahead. Alarmed, everyone immediately unleashed their flying swords and magical treasures, launching them forward one after another.

Having traversed this treacherous path, everyone had been on high alert, their nerves taut as bowstrings. Now, confronted by these strangers, they assumed some eminent figure from the Angel Legion had come in pursuit, and so released their most powerful attacks.

But before their assaults could reach the five newcomers, the leader merely waved a hand, and the flying swords obediently retreated, returning to their owners’ grasp.

It was Boss Li who first caught sight of the beautiful female ancestor standing behind the group. Their eyes met, and in her gaze, he saw both worry and relief.

Seeing her nod to him, Li Chengzhu stepped forward and called out softly, “Ancestor!”

She approached, comforting him as one would a frightened child. “It’s all right. With me here, no one will dare harm you.” Then she cast a fierce glare at the leader clad in a golden silk battle robe.

Ye Zhiqiu turned and gave a bitter smile to the other three, saying nothing more.

Gu Linglong, now recovered, stepped forward and saluted one of the men, addressing him, “Envoy, sir!”

At the mention of an envoy, the group's eyes blazed with fury, staring at him as if they wished to strip him naked and throw him to the Angel Legion.

Boss Li seized the chance to scrutinize the three unfamiliar faces. The leader seemed to possess the deepest cultivation, yet oddly, he appeared somewhat afraid of the female ancestor. Another man stared fixedly at Li, with a gaze he recognized as familiar—so familiar, in fact, it reminded him of his own master, the Ascending Immortal Envoy, with that same inscrutable look.

This man’s power was equally unfathomable, Li thought to himself.

Then, as a flash of light caught his eye, Li nearly bulged his eyes out. The man who stared so intently at him wore a storage ring of pure crimson—brighter even than the blood-red sandstorms, dazzling to the point it hurt the eyes.

Comparing the red ring to all his own storage rings, whether the flawed ones gifted by his master or the high-end goods he’d pilfered, none matched this one’s brilliance or quality.

Boss Li suddenly found this man rather ostentatious—wearing two red storage rings, one on each hand.

Before Li Chengzhu could continue his observations, the last of the five casually tossed a humanoid object to the ground with a crisp smack.

Everyone’s curiosity was piqued, and their gaze fell upon the object.

Li Chengzhu plucked up his courage, straightened it, and saw with a laugh that it was the nervous sentry who had rushed to report the military situation.

Gu Linglong frowned, looking at the envoy with confusion. “Sir, what is this?”

The envoy, acting imperiously, turned his head with a cold snort, ignoring her.

Ye Zhiqiu laughed, stepping forward to smooth things over. “Lady Gu, permit me to introduce myself. I am Ye Zhiqiu, a third-rank war commander among the cultivators leading this conflict.”

Everyone gasped in astonishment. A third-rank war commander, Ye Zhiqiu, whose cultivation had already reached the mid-stage of Golden Immortal—how could he treat a handful of minor figures with such courtesy?

Nevertheless, none dared be disrespectful now, and quickly bowed in greeting.

Ye Zhiqiu then said awkwardly, “This raid was truly an accident.”

Boss Li’s anger flared instantly, heedless of Ye Zhiqiu’s status or cultivation. He shouted, “Accident? You call this an accident? Sending ten thousand to raid an army of two hundred thousand, led by a mere hundred immortals, without a proper plan—this was sending us to die, and you dare say it was an accident?”

Ye Zhiqiu could only spread his hands helplessly. “Well, didn’t I come to rescue you?”

Gu Linglong stepped forward, blocking Li Chengzhu from speaking further. “Sir, I have only been in the Immortal Realm for just over two years and know little of its ways. War goes against the path of cultivation, but the rise and fall of the world is everyone’s responsibility. I willingly joined this conflict. However, sir, to send us ten thousand to raid the Angel Legion without a foolproof strategy betrays the trust we placed in your decisions. Moreover… if you only came to rescue us, it is already too late—now only a handful of us remain.”

Her words drew a heavy sigh from Ye Zhiqiu.

Li Chengzhu rolled his eyes skyward. Why so polite? Women!

The female ancestor shot Li a glare and took over. “This raid was not Commander Ye’s idea.” She then glanced dismissively at the envoy, who looked up at the sky. “It was entirely the envoy’s own decision!”

“Rushing to report military news!” Boss Li, worried the flames weren’t fierce enough, added fuel.

Ye Zhiqiu gave the female ancestor a grateful smile, then spoke. “The one who wrongly reported the military situation has had his cultivation abolished. Since you are all safe now, shall we let the matter rest?”

Though these words should have been directed at Gu Linglong and the wounded, Ye Zhiqiu’s face turned toward the last, indistinct figure.

Before he could reply, the female ancestor interjected, “How can that be? Look at them—their clothes are torn…”

Boss Li quickly hid behind Xiao Ying, mussed up his gentle hair, then poked his head out.

“They’re all injured. Shouldn’t there be some compensation?” The female ancestor flashed Li Chengzhu a knowing smile.

Ye Zhiqiu nodded hurriedly. “No problem.” He dreaded these few would refuse to let the matter go. The situation was bad, but fortunately, those whom they sought were unharmed.

Li Chengzhu thought to himself that Ye Zhiqiu’s strategy of sacrificing pawns to save the army was expertly played, but he could appreciate his feelings—after all, the envoy was an Immortal Emperor’s envoy, akin to an imperial commissioner, and a third-rank commander likely lacked the authority to intervene.

This humiliating affair would probably end here.

Ye Zhiqiu pondered for a moment. “How about this: each of you will be rewarded with two hundred top-grade stones, and you may withdraw from this war.”

“No!” The survivors protested in unison.

Gu Linglong, recalling her followers who had self-destructed, was furious, gritting her teeth. “No matter what, I must avenge those comrades who fell in battle!”

Li Chengzhu grinned at Ye Zhiqiu. “Sir, isn’t two hundred top-grade stones a bit stingy?”

Both the female ancestor and the ostentatious man nearly burst out laughing at this—this disciple dared to extort a third-rank war commander? How amusing!