When the two of them returned to the Zhen Yan Sect, Sect Master Mou had already gathered everyone and was about to set off, only exchanging a few last words with the younger disciples who would follow their guardian to the Teng Yong Sect. As a result, Long Shu Fen and Shang Qiang found themselves in front of an empty building.

Shang Qiang turned to look at her and raised his brows. “Weren’t you just here?”

Long Shu Fen smiled wryly. “It must be because your Sect Master is asking too many questions.” No way had she taken too much time to return because she was too slow or something.

Shang Qiang didn’t bother responding and instead scanned the sect grounds with his spiritual sense. “Seems like they’re heading out. They’ve split into two groups though.”

Long Shu Fen hummed and headed over. Anyway, this was the Zhen Yan Sect. Agreeing and getting things sorted quickly wasn’t too surprising. The one who took the longest would probably be her own sect. She could already imagine all the questions she’d get …

She sighed and didn’t think about it further. For now, they ought to talk to Yan Jian Hong to make sure everything on his side was sorted, then bring out the disciples of the Zhen Yan Sect from her dreamscape, and only after that should they even think of going to her sect to ask for reinforcements.

It didn’t take long to make their way over to the main square of the sect but when they did, the bigger group had already set out, making their way toward the west.

Long Shu Fen looked at the big group of people that was getting further and further away. She couldn’t help but stare at those backs. None of them may come back or even if some did, life would never be the same. She knew. After all, she had gone through the same. And the odds of this battle … they looked even worse than the odds from back then.

Contrary to her, Shang Qiang didn’t bother about those who had left and instead walked up to Yan Jian Hong who was doing his best to calm down the younger disciples who had stayed behind. He didn’t say anything and simply watched quietly. As he did, he realized that this smaller group was supposed to make their way to the Teng Yong Sect with Yan Jian Hong.

He glanced at his friend and quietly decided to wait before he went to the border region. Anyway, Yan Jian Hong was a good cultivator but his specialty was still refinement and medicine. He wasn’t as strong as the rest of their group. Since he knew, how could he let him travel with a bunch of small kids who could hardly swing a sword by themselves? The demonic faction might be expecting this and could have set up an ambush on the way. What would they do then?

Yan Jian Hong finally managed to soothe the young disciples and turned to Shang Qiang, glancing at Long Shu Fen by the way. “You made it back. How are things in the Li Ren Sect?”

Shang Qiang nodded. “Good. The Sect Master agreed and was gathering the Elders when we left.”

Yan Jian Hong hummed but didn’t ask further. He also knew that the others didn’t have as good of a relationship with their sects’ Sect Masters as he did with Mou Xiu Lan. In light of that, it was no wonder that the two of them had left while Sect Master Che was busy. Most likely, it could even be called sneaking out but then, he saw no issue with that. Now was really not the time for the sects to make a fuss about where the four of them were.

Either way, if Shang Qiang accompanied them, he’d also be relieved. While he was naturally stronger than the young disciples who had gathered around, his fighting prowess couldn’t be compared to Shang Qiang’s in the slightest. But then, this was normal. After all, his role had always been a supporting one, whether it was in their group of four or in the Zhen Yan Sect.

While the two of them quickly agreed, Zhi Guan had walked up to Blue Butterfly. He silently stood next to her as she gazed at the retreating backs of the other group from the Zhen Yan Sect, waiting for her to pull out of her thoughts. Anyway, the disciples couldn’t be transported through the dreamscape as they likely wouldn’t manage to reach the right stage to enter it in a suitable amount of time. Thus, they’d have to travel by sword which at their level would naturally take a long time. So even if he and Blue Butterfly waited to move the bodies until this group had set off, they’d still catch up to them in no time.

Long Shu Fen finally pulled herself out of her thoughts when she noticed the person next to her. Turning to him, she faintly raised her brows. “Seems like things went well over here.”

Zhi Guan inclined his head.

“Then let’s move …” She glanced at the group of disciples close by and swallowed the words she had been about to say. “Well, you know.”

Zhi Guan nodded again and followed her over to the building where the Red Priest was usually staying.

This was the perfect place to have the bodies be out of the way but also protected from any outside influences. Not to mention that the building was also the best-protected one in the whole sect. Even if the demonic faction came and attacked, the ones left inside would at least be protected for a little longer. It might not matter but under the current circumstances, this was the best they could do.

Thus, the two of them moved the disciples out of the dreamscape and carefully put them down. Thankfully, there weren’t many from the Zhen Yan Sect in the first place so they actually finished before the group set off. But then, there was one more task they had to take care of so in the end, they didn’t join them and instead entered the dreamscape again, making their way over to the Jian Chu Sect.