Fangcun Mountain
Elder Yin stood at the peak and gazed at the night sky. Another star that had been dim and lifeless suddenly regained its brilliance. It pulsed with its own light again. He stroked his long beard and nodded in satisfaction, the smile lines at his eyes softening.
"They're finally back!"
Jian Dan didn't care about how bedraggled she looked. With a flick of her fingers, she cast a Dust-Cleansing Spell and tidied herself up in an instant. The superficial cuts she'd suffered were already healing fast as she circulated the Primordial Chaos Art. Her skin returned to its clear, soft glow as if nothing had ever happened.
"Jian Lu!"
Everyone from the Heavenly Sword Sect rushed over. Nobody knew what Jian Lu had gone through, but the injuries she'd taken were definitely severe. Sure, the external wounds looked healed, but the damage inside wasn't something she could recover from in just a short time.
"Sorry to make everyone worry. I tangled with that Tan Song pair for a bit, so it took me longer to return."
She cupped her fists as she explained. Of course she didn't dare mention she'd killed both of them. Even if she did rely on Liu Chuan and the Mó Yuè Zhǎn, the result still counted as her accomplishment. But killing immortals was no small thing. Even hinting at it would sound terrifying, so she kept things low-key.
"Did they try to destroy the spatial passage?"
Jian Jun didn't even need to guess. Otherwise Jian Lu wouldn't have been hurt. Just like she'd said before, she could always escape a fight she couldn't win. She only confronted them head-on because everyone's safe return depended on her.
Jian Dan smiled. She knew she couldn't fool Jian Jun, so she nodded.
"That Tan Songjia was vicious. She tossed a thunder blast and tried to blow apart the passage inside Greenfield Lake. I had to face it or the tunnel would've collapsed and I wouldn't have made it back."
Hearing that, Jian Jun's eyes briefly darkened before calming again.
"Senior Sister, don't worry. I'll recover after I shut myself in for a bit. I'm not stupid. You think I'd just stand there and let her hit me? Besides, they didn't get any advantage either."
"Fine. When we return, I'll exchange some top-grade healing pills for you."
While they spoke, the group of twenty-one landed by the lakeside. Everyone bowed respectfully to Nine Tails and Ancestor Xuanwu.
Jian Jun stepped forward and said politely, "Thank you, Beast King, for allowing us to pass through your territory and for helping us return from the secret realm."
"Alright. You all look half-dead, so take a day to rest first. No need to rush."
Nine Tails' purple eyes flashed with brilliant light. She waved her hand, and everyone, along with Xiao Yue, vanished from the lakeside and reappeared in the center of the beast clan's territory.
A heartbeat later, they all materialized inside Nine Tails' cavern. She was already giving instructions to Bai Jue.
"Arrange lodging for our human guests. Since they've come into my beast clan's domain, they're our guests. Don't neglect them."
"Yes, Beast Lord. I've already sent people to prepare everything."
"Beast Lord, Beast Lord!"
A loud wolf howl echoed from outside the cavern. Everyone turned to look.
Turns out Lang Xiao had rushed straight toward the central territory, which was a forbidden area. He wasn't qualified to enter, so Ancestor Xuanwu had flicked him back out and told him to find Nine Tails instead. He'd then sprinted all the way here.
"What are you yelling about? Can't you see I have guests?"
Nine Tails rolled her eyes and glared at Lang Xiao as he barged inside.
But Lang Xiao didn't care about her scolding at all. His eyes were fixed on the young Xiao Yue standing beside Jian Dan.
As a fellow Moon Howl Wolf, he immediately sensed the bloodline pressure coming off his own child. And when he took in Xiao Yue's tall and powerful form, the crescent mark on his brow, and the aura that was nearly at sixth rank, Lang Xiao's eyes lit up.
"Go on. Your training turned out pretty well. Go talk to your father beast properly."
Jian Dan grinned and rubbed Xiao Yue's head.
Xiao Yue nodded and walked toward Lang Xiao. His body shrank with every step until he became a small wolf pup again and leaped into Lang Xiao's arms.
Lang Xiao was practically glowing with pride. He bowed, scooped up his kid, and ran off as if afraid Nine Tails would change her mind and keep the pup here.
"Everyone, please come with me."
Bai Jue gestured respectfully and led the group out of Nine Tails' cavern. It took him a quarter of an hour to arrange lodging for over twenty people. Only after he finished did he return to report.
"Beast Lord, everyone's settled. What do you plan to do?"
"Their auras aren't weak. They clearly gained something in the secret realm. And since Xiao Yue's bloodline rose because of this, and they even used my beast clan's land to return, they should at least pay some benefits."
Nine Tails shook her purple fan lightly, already calculating what she could gain from this.
Bai Jue's handsome face didn't change at all. He replied, "Understood. I'll discuss it with them tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Xiao Yue was being interrogated by his father beast. As for the human cultivators, once they entered the enormous cavern that could hold twenty people, they all took out their message talismans and jade slips to inform their sects and masters that they were safe.
Jian Dan, however, was surrounded by everyone from the Heavenly Sword Sect. After dropping a soundproof barrier, they finally began asking her about everything that happened after they'd left.
She told them everything except for one thing, the fact that she'd killed the Tan Song siblings.
"It's already lucky that everyone made it back. I've contacted the Heavenly Sword Sect's Law Enforcement Hall."
Before Jian Mao finished his sentence, Jian Dan cut him off with a smile.
"Senior Brother, just tell the Law Enforcement Hall that we returned safely. Don't ask them to send a team to pick us up. We'll probably be staying here for several days."
"This…"
"Listen to Jian Lu. Beast Lord Nine Tails isn't someone we can fool."
Jian Jun fanned her folding fan lightly as she smiled.