Chapter Six: Entering the Stone Cave Once Again

What are you rummaging through? None of this belongs to us, and we're only temporary guests here. Seeing this fellow turning things over, Dao Sansheng couldn't help but grow angry.

The chubby boy was startled, accidentally shattering a porcelain bottle. He stared at the fragments at his feet, not daring to turn around.

"Enough, this place is safe enough. We'll take turns resting; we still have a long journey tomorrow." Dao Sansheng tidied up the things at his feet and then sat down cross-legged.

The chubby boy also found a spot, pulled over some dry grass from within the cave, and sat down cross-legged as well. They had started meditating and cultivating since they entered the Daoist institution at the age of three, and by now, they were used to this practice and this posture.

Da Niu found a concealed gap at the mouth of the valley and slipped into a small cave nearby. He didn't notice that someone was following him; a flash of white also slipped in through the entrance.

Da Niu crept forward, and soon the space inside the cave widened until it was at least two hundred square meters. There were stone tables, stone stools, and even some books. It seemed people had once lived here.

"Sansheng, Fatty, come out! It's me, Da Niu. I'm here to save you..." He called out several times, but no one replied. Not willing to give up, Da Niu pressed deeper into the cave. At the far end, he struck the firestone that was left there and lit it. Suddenly, seeing a shadow fall behind him, he turned around joyfully.

But his smile froze on his face. The tall figure in white was unmistakable—everyone knew who he was: the Chief Steward.

Da Niu's face went ashen. He dropped to his knees, banging his forehead on the ground in terror. "Chief Steward, I was wrong! I'm sorry! I won't do it again!"

Thud, thud, thud…

Da Niu's voice echoed through the cave, and soon spots of blood appeared on the ground.

Yet the man remained silent, his horrifying smile fixed in place as he searched the cave. Only after a long while, when Da Niu's voice had gone hoarse from crying, did the man finally approach.

"Thank you, you little brats. Thanks to you, I found this cave. But you must die now. Don't worry, it won't hurt." As he spoke, a ball of light shot from his hand and struck Da Niu like lightning.

Da Niu's body turned black, entirely unrecognizable—like a piece of charred coal.

"Over forty years. I've cultivated for over forty years, stuck at the second stage of Qi Refining. Perhaps Heaven finally took pity on me. I thought I'd never progress, but now, in this cave, I've found a mid-grade Yellow-tier Qi Refining technique. At last, I can take another step forward."

The middle-aged man burst out laughing. Techniques of the Yellow tier and above required spiritual power to activate. These kids couldn't even sense Qi, so all they saw was a blank piece of paper. The discovery fell to the middle-aged man by sheer luck.

Unable to conceal his delight, the man considered the trip worthwhile. Now, all he wanted was to hurry back and study his new technique; he had no mind to continue searching the mountains.

He flipped through the manual again, then tucked it close against his body. "No more need to endure that old fox's face. Even the techniques Daoist sects obtained from the Violet Immortal Palace were only low-grade Yellow tier. I asked to borrow them several times and was always refused."

Fireworks burst again in the mountains, and everyone hurried to the rendezvous point. They all assumed Dao Sansheng had been captured, whispering anxiously along the way. A sense of sorrow pervaded—after all, they'd lived together at the Daoist institution for nearly six years.

When everyone arrived at the meeting point, no one spoke. They all stared at the ground in silence, as if by prior agreement.

"Alright, it looks like everyone is here," the middle-aged man in white brocade began, but someone immediately interrupted.

"Da Niu isn't here yet. Let's wait a bit longer," a nine-year-old child said, his eyes wide as he looked at the man in white.

Everyone turned to look; a cacophony of voices rose as they chimed in—indeed, only Da Niu was missing.

The man in white suddenly flew into a rage. "I said everyone is here, so everyone is here! Anyone who disagrees can stay behind—no need to go back!"

After his outburst, silence reigned. All lowered their heads, exchanging glances.

Uncle Dao stepped forward, bowing and smiling obsequiously. "Chief Steward, please calm down. We all listen to you."

A smile returned to the man's face. "Good, very good. Everyone should be as sensible as you. Now do as I say: everyone, go home and sleep. Those two must have run deep into the mountains. With spirit beasts hunting at night, they won't survive."

Some had wanted to stay behind and search for Da Niu, but hearing that spirit beasts roamed at night, they lost heart. Every year, a dozen villagers died to spirit beasts—survival was not easy.

Everyone followed the man in white back, with Uncle Dao making sure to shepherd a few boys, afraid they might sneak off to look for Da Niu.

Before dawn, Dao Sansheng had already sneaked out to scout the area. Seeing no one around, he guessed the others had dispersed during the night, though he remained vigilant.

When the chubby boy woke to find Dao Sansheng already dressed and ready, he was confused. This guy was never up so early—he'd never seen him rise before dawn, not even when they were herding horses at the Daoist house.

The chubby boy hurried to pack up, but immediately reached out his hand.

"Dried meat, dried meat—give me some, quick!" His look made it clear that he'd snatch it if refused.

"You glutton. All you know is eating. Here," Dao Sansheng handed him some dried meat, rolling his eyes.

After eating, the chubby boy finally asked, "Where are we going?"

"To the town. The most dangerous place is often the safest. But before we go, we'll need to disguise ourselves. Otherwise, we'll be caught before we even reach the town."

One after another, glancing nervously left and right like a pair of thieves, they left the forest and the mountain range behind.

"Hey, Fatty, do you know where there are lots of young wives? The kind without their clothes?" Dao Sansheng asked the chubby boy urgently.

"You little rascal. What goes on in your head all day? Look at you, still wearing split pants, and already thinking about that?" With a mischievous grin, the chubby boy tugged at Dao Sansheng’s trousers and sneaked a look at his little 'bird.'

"Hey, Fatty, that's not it! I just want to steal a couple of dresses—that way, we can get into Daoist Town more easily. I swear, I have no interest in peeking at women bathing."

"As if! Shameless—you're barely a little kid, and those women are fully grown. Their clothes would never fit you. You might fool someone else, but you think I'd believe such nonsense? What am I, a seven-year-old?" He turned away with a huff, his face full of smugness.

"Alright, I know you're not seven anymore. You’re nine now—a grown-up! Hahaha..." Dao Sansheng burst out laughing, what a fool.

Furious, the chubby boy kicked Dao Sansheng, who was bent double with laughter, into a muddy puddle. Dao Sansheng struggled to get up, slipped, and fell back in.

Covered head to toe in black mud, with only his eyes showing, Dao Sansheng looked ridiculous. The chubby boy ran off, laughing all the while.

"Don’t blame me—really! You brought this on yourself, ha ha ha... I couldn't help it!"

"Fatty, just you wait! If I catch you, you'll be sorry!"