Chapter 322: Call Your People to Lend a Hand, Young Master

They were just trying to do a good deed, escorting the Demon Cultivators home. If they were unlucky enough to be killed by the "parents" right at the doorstep, that would be some truly rotten luck!

Luo Linlang had been worried sick ever since she’d eavesdropped on that conversation. The moment she saw Lu Sangjiu, she immediately spilled everything, as if she’d finally found her pillar of support.

Lu Sangjiu thought for a moment before addressing the group. "All the Cultivators we’ve met on this journey have had cultivation at the Golden Core Stage at a minimum. If any Demon Cultivators are reckless enough to attack, they’ll surely be masters at the Golden Core level or higher."

"Demon Cultivators have a certain natural advantage over Immortal Cultivators. Even if we’re all at the Golden Core Stage, we can’t guarantee an easy victory."

"So, let’s all squeeze into one room tonight."

She paused and looked at Ah Ming. "Your people are your responsibility to protect."

They were Demon Cultivators, after all. Even if they weren’t good people themselves, it was unlikely they’d attack fellow Demon Cultivators in a place like this.

Conversely, Immortal Cultivators like Lu Sangjiu and her group were in greater danger. It was better for them to stick together.

This was exactly what Luo Linlang wanted to hear. She nodded repeatedly. "That’s the best idea!"

So, after dinner, no one dared to wander around. They canceled a few of their rooms with the inn’s waiter, and the whole group split between two rooms to rest for the night.

Once back in their room with a Barrier set up, it was easier for them to talk freely. It was too crowded to even think about sleeping anyway, so they just gathered to discuss their next move.

"There are too many of us, making us a large target. I’m afraid it’ll be hard to get past the Immortal Cultivators guarding the border safely."

As Luo Linlang spoke, an idea formed in her mind. "What if... what if we wait for a dark and stormy night, undo their seals, and just let them all storm back across?"

Unfortunately, Lu Sangjiu shot down her idea as soon as she said it. "Charging in directly is out of the question. The highest cultivation among them is only the Golden Core Stage, not to mention the five or six who are only at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Trying to storm the border with that level of cultivation is no different from a suicide mission."

"Then... then we could try to lure them away."

This time, Lu Sangjiu didn’t even need to respond. Li Qiancheng immediately quashed her suggestion. "We’re Immortal Cultivators, and this place is already a melting pot with all sorts of people. They’re probably used to troublemakers by now."

"They would never abandon their posts just to chase after a few suspicious-looking Immortal Cultivators. Your method won’t work."

Just then, Ye Zhiyao, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, suddenly spoke up. "Actually, I can help you. My master is here. If I ask him, I’m sure he’d be willing to lend a hand."

Although the Cultivators guarding the border came from various sects, someone at the Divinity Transformation Stage would undoubtedly be the highest-ranking among them. Higher cultivation always commanded a certain authority.

If Bai Heng were to give an order, the others would certainly obey.

This was also the reason Lu Sangjiu had chosen to bring Ye Zhiyao along.

But Lu Sangjiu wasn’t an idiot. She sneered, "Let you go see your master? So he can fly into a rage and swat us all dead?"

Ye Zhiyao shook her head frantically, her expression sincere. "Of course not! I won’t tattle on you to my master, so he definitely won’t take his anger out on you."

’Heh, easy for you to say.’ Lu Sangjiu would have to be a fool to believe her.

Ignoring her, Lu Sangjiu simply said to the others, "Actually, I’ve pretty much figured it out on our way here. We can do this..."

After Lu Sangjiu finished explaining her plan to everyone via voice transmission, they all agreed it was feasible.

Then, Lu Sangjiu turned to Ye Zhiyao. "Now, Senior Sister Ye, I’ll have to trouble you to make a Heart Demon Oath that you won’t tell anyone about us. How about it?"

’Not good at all!’ A million objections screamed in Ye Zhiyao’s mind, but she had no choice but to begrudgingly comply.

When it was done, she looked at Lu Sangjiu with a mix of curiosity and vigilance. "What... what exactly are you planning?"

Lu Sangjiu gave her a gentle smile. "You’ll find out when the time comes."

Next, she went to Ah Ming’s room. She got straight to the point. "I’m going to need your people to help in a bit. Why don’t you call them over?"

Ah Ming froze, looking bewildered. "What do you mean, my people...?"

Before he could finish, Lu Sangjiu cut him off. "There’s no point in pretending now that we’re here... Young Master."

She didn’t mention the Divine Tomb Sect by name, only hinting at it.

Ah Ming’s expression changed instantly. "You... You’ve known all along?"

Lu Sangjiu smiled faintly and patted his head. "Kid, you’re still too young, aren’t you?"

Ah Ming: "..."

The color drained from his face, then returned in a fascinating, chaotic swirl.

He felt all his prior smugness turn into a stinging slap across the face.

Ah Ming felt awful, but there was nothing he could say. In the end, he just resigned himself to it with a grunt. "I understand... I’ll send a message now. They can be here in about an hour. What do you want to do?"

Lu Sangjiu then explained her plan to him again, telling him to just cooperate with her fully.

Late that night, a few screams suddenly pierced the silence of the town, coming from different directions.

Those who had been here a long time were used to it. They knew it was just more Demon Cultivators launching a sneak attack in the night.

The bold and hot-blooded ones, startled from their sleep, immediately pushed open their doors and rushed out, clearly intending to help.

Of course, there were also the timid ones who only cared about self-preservation, pretending they heard nothing and staying safely in their rooms until dawn.

Such commotions could be heard outside from time to time, proving what Luo Linlang had said: things had not been peaceful lately.

Lu Sangjiu’s group lay low, not making a move. Not until a loud BANG, as someone burst through the window. With Demonic Qi surging around them, they lunged straight for Ye Zhiyao!

Lu Sangjiu and the others immediately let out terrified screams, but not a single one of them moved to stop the attacker. Their shouts were all for show.

"Gods, it’s a Demon Cultivator!"

"Ah, the Demon Cultivator has taken Senior Sister Ye!"

Immediately after, a commotion erupted from the next room, and someone else shouted, "Help! Fellow Daoist Ah Ming has been taken too!"

People in the inn, awakened by the noise, came out to see what was happening. They were met with the sight of ten or twenty Demon Cultivators, their Demonic Qi flaring, leaping from the inn’s windows. Two of them were carrying a Cultivator over their shoulders—none other than Ye Zhiyao and Ah Ming.

Right after, Lu Sangjiu and her group chased after them, periodically launching a few Spells, putting on a show of wanting to fight.

However, if anyone had looked closely, they would have noticed that none of the Spells they cast ever hit their targets.

Their large, boisterous group gave chase. Along the way, a few kind-hearted Cultivators occasionally tried to help, but most people took one look at the sheer number of Demon Cultivators and chose to pretend they hadn’t seen a thing.

As it happened, the previous sneak attacks had already drawn away most of the powerful combatants. Now, even those willing to help had mediocre cultivation and posed no real threat.

Playing this game of cat and mouse, the group reached the vicinity of the border. The overwhelming Demonic Qi in the area immediately caught the attention of the border guards.

"It’s Demon Cultivators! Stop them! Don’t let them get back to the Western Demon Realm alive!"