On the other side, Xiao Yifei and Ci Xin felt the tremor of the mountain and hurriedly climbed towards the hole above the pile of rocks. However, they didn’t expect that just as Ci Xin grabbed Xiao Yifei’s arm to climb up, the clansn sent by the Axen to chase them suddenly spotted them climbing the pile. The leading clansman lunged forward like an arrow and grabbed Ci Xin’s ankle.
Xiao Yifei noticed the approaching pursuers, quickly grabbed a rock, and hurled it at the clansman holding Ci Xin’s ankle.
The clansman cried out in pain and released Ci Xin, allowing the two of them to scramble up to the entrance.
"Ci Xin! Xiao Yifei!" Just as Zhang Po erged from the passage and spotted the two running ahead, he called out loudly.
The two turned their heads and saw Zhang Po covered in blood. They didn’t expect the Axen to be so strong that even Zhang Po was heavily injured. Without ti to ask more, Ci Xin shouted back to Zhang Po, "Hurry! It’s going to collapse here, it’s not safe to stay long, we’ll talk once we’re out."
Zhang Po nodded, enduring the pain as he rushed over. The two helped Zhang Po run towards the mouth of the cave, and upon exiting the passage, they were in a spacious cavern. The three of them dared not stop and ran desperately outside.
Finally, they saw the dawn’s first light ahead. Unknowingly, they had battled in the mountain all night. Just as the three ran out of the cave entrance, the mountain behind them collapsed with a loud crash, sending dust into the air, followed by a massive shockwave that sent the three flying outward.
Fortunately, Xiao Yifei used his body to shield the other two, and they landed on a haystack outside the cave without major injuries. Xiao Yifei got up first and asked Zhang Po, "Quick, tell , how did you get out? There were at least a hundred of those Han n."
Zhang Po, panting heavily, replied, "Luckily, that Axeman was too arrogant, too confident in his strength, so he didn’t overwhelm us with numbers. We faced off for a while before he sent his n after you." With that, Zhang Po recounted his battle with the Axen to Xiao Yifei and Ci Xin.
"I didn’t expect their tribe’s cultivation techniques to be so tricky. I encountered one, but he was clearly an amateur, and I tricked him to death easily," Xiao Yifei laughed, rembering the big oaf he had lured to a pile of bones and pierced his heart.
"What about you two? What took you so long to get out?" Zhang Po asked.
Xiao Yifei briefly explained the situation in the caverns below the mountain and ntioned that the Axeman might be the culprit who prevented Zhang Po’s clan from continuing their cultivation.
Zhang Po had already realized this during his fight with the Axeman and said nothing, simply nodding. Looking back at the debris-covered ground, he said to the two, "The revenge against those who plotted against my clan is now settled. Their entire tribe is buried under this rubble. It’s their retribution. There’s no point in pursuing it further. Let’s go."
Xiao Yifei nodded, and Ci Xin led them back to the small boat they ca on. After a brief rest, they rowed in the direction of Zhang Po’s clan.
Passing through the swamp where Xiao Yifei once fought a giant python, he boastfully recounted the battle to the two. When he ntioned how he cleverly subdued the python by targeting its weak spot, Zhang Po applauded repeatedly, looking eager as if he also longed for such a fight. Ci Xin, watching the two, smiled without saying a word. The atmosphere was very harmonious.
When they returned to Zhang Po’s tribe, it was almost noon. The old priest had been waiting on the bank for a long ti. Seeing the three covered in injuries, though Zhang Po was the worst hurt, with a frightening wound on his chest, they were otherwise intact, which relieved him. He welcod the three ashore and arranged for the tribal shaman to treat their injuries.
Zhang Po recounted the Axen’s cruelty towards his clan to the old priest, who imdiately wept in remorse. Blaming himself repeatedly, he apologized to Zhang Po, admitting that his own greed for the Axen’s strength led to marrying into them, unaware of their ambitions.
After speaking, he ran to the center of the square and smashed the Axeman’s statue in front of the tribesn. In his pri, the old man was a Golden Elixir Stage expert, but after the Axen poisoned the water, he lost his cultivation. Rembering how his clansn were slaughtered, his regret was palpable.
Xiao Yifei also shook his head helplessly.
Grateful to Ci Xin and Xiao Yifei, Zhang Po’s people prepared a lavish lunch for them and found a new water source for safe drinking water.
Thinking of how they hadn’t had a drop of water in days, a burning thirst spread through Xiao Yifei. He grabbed the water cup offered by a clansman and drank it down in one gulp. Wiping his lips, he said, "I was so parched I was about to smoke; finally, there’s water to drink."
Turning around, he t Ci Xin’s piercing gaze and awkwardly said, "Perhaps I should return to Beijing to test the water’s composition and see if there’s a solution."
Ci Xin rolled her eyes and replied sarcastically, "Thank you, but there’s no need to trouble you to run specifically for . I’ll be content as an ordinary person from now on. After all, with you supporting , I won’t want for food or clothing, and that’s quite relaxing."
"Well, being an ordinary person isn’t bad. All the fighting isn’t suitable for a woman."
Before he finished, Ci Xin gave him a headbutt, "I see you’ve got a death wish. Be careful, or I’ll arrange sothing for you too," she said, pointing at Xiao Yifei’s backside. Xiao Yifei instantly clenched, quickly saying, "I won’t dare again, I promise. I’ll do everything I can to cure your ailnt, sister."
Zhang Po said seriously, "Alright, enough playing around. Let’s think of a plan." Then he turned to Ci Xin and said, "Miss Ci Xin, I assu you have a strategy?"
Ci Xin nodded, about to speak, but then she paused and shook her head, "I’ve already broken through to the Golden Elixir Realm, and my Qi is very powerful. This blood clot can’t permanently block my ridians. I only need about half a month of breathing adjustnt to break through this constraint, but your clan, though strong, hasn’t reached my realm, so I’m afraid..." She didn’t continue.
Zhang Po understood her aning and sighed, "Alas, it seems the heavens wish to destroy the Zhang clan."
Ci Xin continued, "But it’s not entirely hopeless. Once I recover, I can transmit a small portion of my True Qi to your clansn, which should help them break the constraint."
"Really? That’s wonderful!" Zhang Po exclaid with joy. As the clan leader, he wasn’t adept at managent, and such a disaster in the clan had his involvent. If the Zhang clan were left without strong mbers, Zhang Po would be ashad before his ancestors. Hearing that Ci Xin could help restore his clansn’s strength made him overjoyed.
"However, during this half month, I probably can’t travel, and I’m afraid Xiao Yifei can’t handle the quest for the passwords alone. I need your help," she added.
"No problem, gladly!" Zhang Po hastily agreed.
Thus, after lunch and a brief discussion, it was decided that Ci Xin would stay to recuperate while Zhang Po would assist Xiao Yifei in collecting passwords from the remaining four families.
Early the next morning, Xiao Yifei and Zhang Po packed their bags and set off in a flurry.
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