Chapter 53 Ambushing That Pig
"Senior Brother, are you alone?"
The young girl in pink jogged over to Lu Li and asked.
A faint fragrance drifted over. Lu Li could not help but take a closer look at the girl before him. She appeared to be only fourteen or fifteen, with a slightly round face and a pair of large, bright eyes that gave him a strange sense of familiarity.
Yet, no matter how he thought about it, he could not figure out why she seemed so familiar.
He glanced at the blue-robed man and the girl in white in the distance, asking thoughtfully, "Is something the matter?"
"It is like this. Last time, we discovered..."
"Junior Sister Ling!"
Before the girl in pink could finish, the blue-robed man walked over. He glanced at Lu Li and said, "Junior Brother, we intend to enter the mountain to gather herbs, and we happen to be short one person. It is dangerous for you to enter the mountain alone at the third level of Qi Condensation. Why not come with us? That way, we can look out for each other."
At first glance, these words seemed well-intentioned, but Lu Li felt there was something strange about them.
"Senior Brother, you..."
"Junior Sister, when traveling outside, have you forgotten the Elder's instructions?"
"Alright." The girl in pink pouted and fell silent.
"How about it, Junior Brother? I am at the fifth level of Qi Condensation. Traveling with us will undoubtedly be much safer for you," the blue-robed man prompted again.
Lu Li thought for a moment. Since he did not know the whereabouts of the Lightning Fire Orchid anyway, he might as well follow this group into the mountains and see if he could pry some information from them. He nodded in agreement and feigned a pleased expression. "In that case, I thank Senior Brother for his care."
Seeing Lu Li agree, the blue-robed man visibly relaxed. "When traveling outside, it is only right."
Saying this, he called out to the girl in white, "Junior Sister Fu, let us go."
Soon, the group arrived at the edge of Water Cloud Mountain. Red tree trunks filled their vision, and even the sandy soil underfoot was a purplish-red. Perhaps because too many people had traveled through here, the weeds in the forest were quite sparse.
The three walked ahead. Junior Sister Fu would occasionally try to strike up a conversation with the blue-robed man, but he only replied with a few words here and there. Instead, he constantly boasted to Junior Sister Ling about his past exploits in the Thunder Fire Mountain Range.
He bragged about things like how even the chief of Water Cloud Stronghold had to take a detour upon seeing him.
But Junior Sister Ling seemed completely uninterested, not offering a single word in response.
The relationship between the three seemed rather subtle.
Perhaps feeling bored, Junior Sister Ling suddenly slowed her pace to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with Lu Li. "Senior Brother, why are you not speaking?"
Lu Li's eyes lit up, thinking his chance had finally come. He quickly asked, "Miss Ling, I heard... that the Thunder Fire Mountain Range is rich in Lightning Fire Orchids. Is this true?"
The blue-robed man seemed displeased. He gave a cold snort. "Hmph, Lightning Fire Orchids? It is true, but they only grow on the main ridge. That area has long been controlled by the six great strongholds. How could a lowly third-level Qi Condensation cultivator like you possibly go there?"
"Senior Brother Zhong, he was only asking. There is no need to speak like that," Junior Sister Ling said, furrowing her brows.
"I am only doing this for his own good. I would not want him overestimating himself and losing his life on the main ridge." The blue-robed man then turned to Junior Sister Ling. "Junior Sister, you must keep your wits about you when traveling. Some people have a dark appearance, but their hearts are even darker."
Lu Li was instantly displeased upon hearing this. Was he not obviously talking about him? What was wrong with having dark skin? Did I eat your family's white rice?
Displeasure aside, Lu Li did not immediately turn hostile. He had never been fond of pointless disputes over face.
Although the Senior Brother's words were harsh, Lu Li had gleaned two useful pieces of information. First, Lightning Fire Orchids only grew on the main ridge, meaning there were none on this branch ridge. He needed to find an opportunity to ditch them and head straight for the main ridge.
Second, the main ridge was occupied by the so-called six great strongholds. He would have to tread carefully once he got up there, or his life would be at risk.
The group continued forward. Senior Brother Zhong seemed to have a specific destination in mind as he led them weaving through the forest.
What they did not know was that a hundred zhang behind them, the fat Dharma Protector Wang was following with five or six men. One of them, a man at the second level of Qi Condensation, said, "Dharma Protector, that brat actually found helpers. Should we..."
The fat Wang pondered for a moment before nodding. "That blue-robed fellow has an extraordinary aura; he is most likely a Sect disciple as well. Moreover, they are clearly walking with a purpose. They might have discovered some treasure. Go back and notify the chief. Ask him to personally lead our men here."
"Understood."
The man nodded and slowly retreated.
About two hours later.
Lu Li's group had ventured deep into the forest. Aside from the massive red tree trunks, the weeds and small trees on the ground had grown denser. It was obvious that few people traveled this far.
Rustle, rustle...
Suddenly, the sound of rapid, rushing footsteps came from the brush ahead.
Senior Brother Zhong, walking at the front, hardened his expression and raised his right hand, signaling them to stop.
Junior Sister Fu in white nervously edged closer to Senior Brother Zhong. "Senior Brother, is it a Demon Beast?"
Roar-!
Before Senior Brother Zhong could answer, a massive gray creature leapt high from the shrubs, charging headlong toward the two of them.
"Dodge!"
Senior Brother Zhong's expression changed. As he dodged, he lashed out with a kick, sending Junior Sister Fu flying sideways out of the way.
Ah!
With the two of them dodging aside, Lu Li and Junior Sister Ling in the back were completely exposed. Terrified, Junior Sister Ling shrieked, actually covering her eyes and freezing foolishly in place.
Lu Li had already sidestepped half a zhang before the front two even moved. Seeing her freeze, he furrowed his brows and hurriedly executed Gale Steps to dart back. He wrapped an arm around her waist, narrowly pulling her away from the lethal strike.
Only then did Zhong Ping react. He sprinted over and asked, "Junior Sister, are you alright?" After speaking, he glared fiercely at Lu Li. "Release her!"
Lu Li gave Zhong Ping a flat glance before letting go of Junior Sister Ling.
Returning to her senses, Junior Sister Ling ignored Zhong Ping entirely. She looked at Lu Li and shyly whispered, "Thank you!" Zhong Ping's face instantly turned an ugly shade of iron-green.
Unable to halt its momentum after rushing past, the massive gray creature skidded forward for four or five zhang. Recovering, it let out another roar and charged back toward Lu Li and the other two.
"A mere early-stage Rank One beast dares to act so audaciously? Watch me slay you!" Zhong Ping seemed intent on showing off. Seeing the creature charge, he held his ground. With a wave of both hands, five sharpened wooden stakes materialized out of thin air. He thrust his palms forward.
The sharp stakes instantly shot straight at the gray beast.
Thud, thud, thud.
Several dull sounds rang out before the charging monster finally collapsed three chi in front of Zhong Ping.
Lu Li, who had dodged to the side out of concern that Zhong Ping might not be able to handle it, finally realized that the monster was actually a large, tusked wild boar.
"Junior Sister, you were not frightened, were you?" Zhong Ping dusted his hands off with a smug look and walked back. When he spotted Lu Li hiding off to the side, a mocking sneer immediately appeared on his face. "Junior Brother, what exactly are you doing?"
Lu Li offered a dry, awkward smile. "I was just looking for a suitable position to launch an ambush."
"An ambush? Ambush who?!"
"Uh... that pig, of course."