Stop grinding, I'm really just a free spirit.

Chapter 72 No Way Out

Chen Bai opened his eyes the moment he stood up.

Seeing the smug look on Xue Zhen's face, he had a vague sense of foreboding.

Duan Heisi and Miao Wuniang were sitting not far from him. They also noticed Xue Zhen's approach and looked up alertly.

Xue Zhen stopped in front of Chen Bai, glanced down at the group, and said casually, as if ordering servants, "You three, go and explore that valley ahead and see what kind of monsters are lurking there and what their cultivation level is."

Duan Heisi's expression changed on the spot.

"Xue Zhen!" he said, barely suppressing his anger. "That valley is at least ten miles away from here, separated by a dense forest."

It's almost dark, are you telling us to go scout ahead now?

"What?" Xue Zhen raised an eyebrow at him, a half-smile playing on his lips. "You don't want to?"

Duan Heisi stood up abruptly, his burly figure towering over Xue Zhen by half a head: "Xue Zhen, although we are rogue cultivators, we are not your sect's servants!"

It's already dark, and you're telling us to sneak into the monster territory in the dark to investigate?

This isn't scouting, it's suicide!

Miao Wuniang also stood up, her hand on the short knife at her waist. Although she didn't speak, her actions said it all.

Xue Zhen remained calm and composed, only letting out a cold laugh.

He raised his hand and clapped it.

The applause was especially crisp in the quiet mountain stream.

The other seven outer disciples reacted to the sound, standing up and quietly surrounding the area.

Their positioning was very deliberate, forming a semi-encircling formation that trapped Chen Bai, Duan Heisi, Miao Wuniang, and the others inside.

Two of the outer disciples had already formed hand seals, with a faint spiritual light flowing from their fingertips. They were none other than the two who had joined forces to cast the "Ten Thousand Blades Grinding Qi Sword Curse" that day.

In terms of numbers, outer disciples have a clear advantage over independent cultivators.

In terms of cultivation, although these outer disciples are all at the early stage of the Nascent Soul stage, they are from a sect after all, and their cultivation techniques and Taoist arts are much more refined than those of independent cultivators.

Lu An and Wu Liang, who were behind him, wanted to stand up and support him, but after struggling for a while, they sat down again with red faces after seeing this scene.

They might be able to put up a fight in a one-on-one battle, but once a chaotic battle ensues, the independent cultivators have almost no chance of winning.

"What's wrong?"

Xue Zhen leisurely examined Duan Heisi's hand gripping the knife hilt, his tone flippant, "Trying to make a move?"

The veins on Duan Heisi's forehead throbbed.

Miao Wuniang gently tugged at his sleeve from behind, signaling him to calm down with her eyes.

Chen Bai's gaze shifted from Xue Zhen's face to the outer disciples, then back to Xue Zhen's face, as he quickly assessed the situation in his mind.

Taking action would be futile; there's no chance of victory.

This is what Xue Zhen was waiting for—

As long as the rogue cultivators can't help but make the first move, he will have ample reason to kill them all on the spot without bearing any responsibility.

"You guys know what's good for you."

Seeing that Duan Heisi had loosened his grip on the knife, Xue Zhen's smile deepened, but the sinister look in his eyes became even more pronounced. "Besides scouting the situation of the monster, you are also responsible for luring that monster away for at least the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, so that the main force can safely pass through that valley."

Upon hearing this, even Miao Wuniang's expression changed.

Investigating monsters is one thing, luring them away is another.

The former might be able to escape unscathed by being cautious, while the latter would have to contend with a demon beast that is at least at the mid-stage of the embryonic breathing realm.

They were risking their lives to fill the gaps!

"This is outrageous!!"

Duan Heisi finally couldn't hold back any longer, his voice almost screaming, "You're trying to kill us!"

"Why should I let you die?"

Xue Zhen shrugged, looking completely innocent. "It's just making the best use of everyone's talents."

You've been given the task, so you should do your part.

Besides, it's just about drawing away the monsters; you're not required to win. If you run fast and hide well, you might just survive.

When he said the word "perhaps," he deliberately emphasized it, and the sarcasm in his eyes was almost undisguised.

Chen Bai finally spoke.

"Let's go."

His voice was so calm, it didn't sound like he was facing death, but rather like he was agreeing to a trivial matter.

Duan Heisi and Miao Wuniang turned to look at him at the same time, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Chen Bai didn't look at them, but stared directly into Xue Zhen's eyes and repeated in a calm tone, "Please tell us the location of that valley and the general situation of the monsters, Steward Xue."

Since the goal is to lure the monsters away, we need to at least know which direction to lead them in so that the group can pass safely.

Xue Zhen clearly hadn't expected Chen Bai to agree so readily.

He squinted and scrutinized Chen Bai for a moment, seemingly trying to discern something from Chen Bai's face.

But he didn't see anything.

Chen Bai's expression was like a stagnant pool, without any ripples.

Xue Zhen finally chuckled, took out a simple map from his pocket and tossed it to Chen Bai, then casually recounted a few words of known information about the valley.

The creature entrenched there was an iron-backed bear, at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, with a violent temperament but low intelligence and an extremely strong sense of territory.

If they can provoke it and lure it out of the valley for more than half an incense stick's time, the group can bypass it from the other side.

"Remember, at least one incense stick's time."

Xue Zhen extended his index finger and waved it in front of Chen Bai, his smile meaningful. "If there's not enough time, let it go back. You know the consequences of blocking everyone's way."

After saying that, he turned and strode back to the campfire, his posture as relaxed as if he had just completed a trivial task.

The outer disciples also withdrew their gazes and dispersed.

However, two people stayed behind, standing not too far away, about five or six zhang away. They were clearly arranged by Xue Zhen to monitor the rogue cultivators.

Duan Heisi's face was ashen. After Xue Zhen had walked a distance, he lowered his voice and said to Chen Bai, "Brother Chen, are you crazy? That's a mid-stage Nascent Soul Ironback Bear! Even if all of us were tied together, it wouldn't be able to take down a single slap from it!"

Although Miao Wuniang did not speak, her brows were furrowed, clearly indicating that she also disagreed with Chen Bai's decision.

Chen Bai did not offer any further explanation.

He glanced down at the map Xue Zhen had tossed him, identified the location, then looked up, his gaze passing over the flickering flames to the distant mountain peak that stood darkly in the twilight.

After a long silence, he withdrew his gaze and said to Duan Heisi and Miao Wuniang, "I have a way... Staying here isn't a good idea. Let's go, it's getting dark, and if we don't leave now, it will really be too late."

Duan Heisi opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing more. He grabbed the long knife leaning against the rock, slammed it hard on the ground, and muttered, "I guess I'm going to die here on Tianfu Mountain."

Miao Wuniang followed silently behind the two.

The three turned and walked towards the valley. Behind them came Xue Zhen's low laughter, which was scattered by the night wind and the crackling of the campfire, making it difficult to hear clearly.

But Chen Bai caught a hidden message in that laughter.

"After they go, how many will come back alive? And once they do, they'll be at my mercy."

That's what Xue Zhen said.

Chen Bai paused for a moment, then continued walking, his expression unchanged.

But his hand, without making a sound, rested on the pouch at his waist.