This time, Tao Chengfeng didn't look surprised. Since this Shan Zhēnrén dared to speak so openly, she would surely follow through. He was only wondering which Yunhai Sect member she had set her sights on.
"No need to guess. If you're free tomorrow, come watch a good show with me."
As she spoke, she took out a communication jade slip and murmured into it:
"Nephew Han, it's been some time since we last met, and I've missed your company. Let us meet at the 'Feast of Gluttony' tomorrow, third quarter past noon."
With a flick of her spiritual power, the message was sent.
"Isn't this a bit rushed? Is everything ready?" Tao Chengfeng wasn't even trying to dissuade her. His thoughts had drifted, already calculating the odds of success.
"Heh, we were brought directly into Yunling City by the Zhūnzhǔ. We didn't interact with anyone else, so for now, nobody knows that this little group of Jīndān cultivators was at the center of the incident. We might have two days of peace left. After that, who knows?"
Tao Chengfeng nodded solemnly and asked, "Is there anything else we need to prepare?"
"Have a recording stone ready. We'll need clear proof that our killing was justified."
"Understood."
"Come, let's go check on the remaining disciples from the Heavenly Sword Sect. I'm worried about the casualties."
"Shan Zhēnrén, wait a moment."
He flipped his palm, and a white brocade box appeared. He handed it to Jian Dan.
She looked at him briefly, said nothing, and accepted it. Opening the box, she found the silver bell bracelet she had seen at the west market earlier.
"This is?"
"I saw you liked it, so I bought it on our way out of the city. I meant to give it to you earlier, but things kept happening. I hope you'll accept it."
"Is this your thank-you gift?"
"If it were, then my life would be far too cheap. This is just a small token of appreciation for helping me untangle my thoughts. I hope you won't refuse it."
This time, Jian Dan didn't say anything. She calmly accepted the gift.
Together, they made their way to the back courtyard, where the survivors of the Chilang Secret Realm were temporarily resting.
Zhang Zhang was speaking with a few Foundation Establishment disciples. When he saw the two Zhēnrén enter, he immediately bowed and led the others in greeting.
"Greetings to Tao Zhēnrén, Shan Zhēnrén!"
Hearing voices outside, more disciples emerged from the nearby rooms. In no time, the small courtyard was filled. Jian Dan swept her gaze across them. There were only around a hundred disciples left. The rest, it seemed, hadn't made it out of the secret realm.
She exchanged a glance with Tao Chengfeng. Both were silent.
A young male cultivator at late Foundation Establishment stepped forward. His eyes were red, his voice hoarse.
"Zhēnrén... was the monster killed?"
Jian Dan gave a solemn nod. Zhang Zhang picked up the thread.
"We followed your orders and retreated toward Yunling City. As we flew out of the monster's range, the entire Lingyun Mountain Range began to quake. We watched as one of the mountains collapsed…"
"We thought all the Zhēnrén had fallen. We didn't dare linger and rushed back to the city."
The mood shifted. No longer bound by formality, the disciples all began recounting what had happened inside the secret realm and in the days since they had escaped.
When they were randomly sent into the Chilang Secret Realm, it had been similar to past missions. Most still remembered Shan Zhēnrén's warnings and acted cautiously. Those who landed nearby gathered quickly and explored together. At first, all went smoothly.
Then, while discussing a joint venture with other sect disciples to explore a palace, the change came.
A black rift suddenly split open across the palace. From within emerged the black-armored insect monster. It began devouring cultivators on sight. At first, everyone tried to organize a counterattack, but their spells and weapons barely tickled the creature.
Eventually, a disciple from the Heavenly Demon Palace produced a magic sphere containing a technique from his ancestor—a Divine Transformation stage spell. It severely wounded the monster, but the backlash from using such a spell inside a secret realm caused a spatial collapse.
Between the spell and the monster's rampage, the secret realm neared destruction. To preserve itself, it forcibly ejected all cultivators.
The realm had tried to trap the monster inside, but its structure had been too damaged. The black insect broke through the spatial barrier and escaped, leading to the battle where the Jīndān Zhēnrén joined forces.
"Even though the Zhēnrén came to our rescue in time, many of our fellow disciples still fell to that monster."
The Foundation Establishment cultivator who had spoken earlier lowered his voice. The courtyard fell into silence. Jian Dan looked around at their grieving faces. Then she stood tall and addressed them.
"This is the world of cultivation. This is the thorny path you chose. Rather than mourn the past, look to the future. This time, you were the ones rescued. Who's to say that next time, it won't be you doing the rescuing?"
"I look forward to seeing all of us grow together, to reverse our fates, and forge our own path toward immortality. The Dao is fifty. Heaven leaves one path for man. If we seize that one, then the great Dao lies ahead for us all."
"Yes!"
The unified cry echoed through the courtyard, breaking through the haze of gloom that had hung over them for days. Seeing their spirits rekindled, Jian Dan and Tao Chengfeng finally turned to leave.
In the main hall, Jian Jun Zhūnzhǔ lightly tapped his folding fan against his palm and chuckled.
"Heaven leaves one. The Dao remains."