Chapter 831: Scouting the Path

Chapter 831: Chapter 831: Scouting the Path

"I did say I’d spare you. So I won’t make a move on you. But if he makes a move, that’s not my doing."

Yang Qi said indifferently.

Immediately, he turned and sprinted into the valley.

A scream of agony echoed from behind.

Yang Jushan swiftly followed.

"Thank you, young brother. If it weren’t for you, I couldn’t avenge my grudge."

Yang Jushan expressed his gratitude, "Initially, I was only helping because of the Immortal Master’s orders. But now, my life, Yang Jushan’s, is yours."

"No need to be polite; you’ve guarded the Secret Realm for me for so many years. I should help you."

Yang Qi smiled.

Immediately, the four stopped speaking and quickened their pace.

...

Deep in the valley, it became increasingly narrow.

Ahead lay a marshland.

A fragrant aroma wafted from afar.

Without asking, that scent is the Nine-section Calamus.

The ground was covered in weeds, and the marsh’s position couldn’t be seen with the eye; it required human trial.

The Bai Family had been using traitors from Yang Village to study this place for many years, so they knew it inside out.

It was precisely because of this that they were well-prepared.

The mechanisms along the way had already been opened by the children of Yang Village, using their blood.

But it had to be the blood of the living.

So these four little ones were still alive.

Otherwise, they would have likely killed them all.

Leaving the other children was just in case these four escaped or died; they could replace them.

"Hurry up, do you want us to make a move?"

The Bai Family martial artists stood around, surrounding hundreds of ordinary people and practitioners who were coerced into coming.

These people were very weak, almost without the ability to resist.

Fearful expressions appeared on their faces at this moment, anxious and uneasy.

Looking at the marshland like a giant beast’s mouth before them, they were terrified.

They all had families.

Many had elderly parents and young children.

To them, this was simply a nightmare.

"I’m begging you, I have several children waiting to be fed at home, I can’t die, I really can’t die. I can be your beast of burden, but please don’t let me go to die, I beg of you."

A humble middle-aged man kowtowed in terror, hoping to get some understanding from these Bai Family people.

Yet what he received was cruel treatment.

A sword pierced his heart; he struggled in despair for a few moments, then fell to the ground—hope was lost.

"See that? If anyone else babbles, that’s the result. I’m telling you, this marsh isn’t a guaranteed death; if you’re lucky and pass through, you can survive."

"But if you don’t do as we say, then it’s a dead end, no other possibility."

The crowd trembled with fear, not daring to retort.

What could they say?

Saying anything meant death.

Remaining silent probably wouldn’t avoid dying either; their destiny was so pitiful.

"You, hurry up. If you don’t, you’ll end up like him."

A Bai Family martial artist coldly spoke, pointing to a middle-aged man.

This man appeared to be a migrant worker, perhaps just finished working and waiting to go back to accompany his children and wife, only to be caught here.

Life was already hard enough.

Living at the bottom layer of society, still struggling to earn money.

Now, he encountered something more painful than imagined.

Such an ordeal was truly a sorrow.

The middle-aged man stood up trembling, "Can I make a phone call to my family?"

"If you want to die, go ahead."

The Bai Family martial artist was extremely indifferent; there was no emotional color in his eyes, as if these people before him weren’t even human, only they were human.

"I!"

The middle-aged man sighed, praying in his heart that the heavens would bless him with safety.

He stepped toward the marshland, for he had no other choice. If he went, he might live. If not, it was a dead end. The Bai Family martial artists were simply inhuman.

Unfortunately, the heavens did not favor this poor man either.

He walked no more than ten meters, and suddenly his body sank straight down, struggling for a few moments, instantly vanished with no trace, swallowed by the earth.

Everyone gasped in shock.

Too terrifying; the marsh’s mud seemed to have an incredibly corrosive nature, in a moment, the middle-aged man turned into a heap of bones.

Others coerced into coming were pale with fright; some even fainted.

Yet the Bai Family martial artist remained indifferent, as if witnessing the death of an ant, without any emotion.

"Did you memorize the path he took just now?"

Bai Yunxian asked.

"Don’t worry, old man, I remember it by heart."

Old Ming nodded.

"That’s good, during this time, these bottom-shelf wastes are useful for something, don’t know what use they have alive in this world."

Bai Yunxian sneered with disdain; the middle-aged man’s death seemingly didn’t touch him at all, maybe he was used to this kind of death.

Indifferent.

His gaze remained at the Nine-section Calamus across the marshland, the intoxicating aroma drifting from there.

Old Ming waved, and immediately someone came forward to sprinkle white lime on the path the middle-aged man took, making the path clearly visible.

"Next, hurry up."

The Bai Family martial artist revived the fainted woman with cold water; even fainting couldn’t escape this terrifying situation.

The woman trembled as she walked forward; she was just a newly graduated university student who hadn’t even found a suitable job yet, always reporting joy over sorrow to her family to avoid worry.

What wrong had she committed to endure this?

She was unwilling!

Yet what good was unwillingness?

She couldn’t resist!

Facing these demons, all she could do was persevere.

She hoped destiny would grant her some luck, beyond that, she really didn’t know what else she could do. She had never done bad deeds in her life.

On the contrary, she was an obedient good child.

But why this destiny?

"Let me go first then, anyway, it doesn’t matter who goes first, does it?"

An elderly man stood up and looked at the girl, "Young lady, perhaps you don’t remember this old fellow, but I won’t forget, when I lay unable to rise on the road, with cold stares just ignoring me, it was you who helped."

The old man may not possess great abilities, but he’ll go ahead for you."

Speaking, he moved toward the marshland.

The Bai Family martial artist did not stop him; in any case, it didn’t matter to them who went first or last, as long as someone crossed.

The girl cried.

Uncertain if it was because of sadness or touching emotion.

Although even if the old man helped her, she might not escape calamity, but the emotion made her realize not everyone was cold in this world.

Perhaps, there was gratitude and genuine feelings.