After hearing what Yun Xi said, both Hua Xuánzǐ and Senior Brother Zhao twitched at the corner of their eyes. Why did it feel like Junior Sister Wei's smile was... a little indecent?
Zong Hao couldn't help but ask,"Little Sister Yun Xi, what made you think to stuff the talisman there of all places?"
Yun Xi replied breezily, "That second-tier Sand Mouse had thick hide. The talismans only left superficial burns. I didn't believe its heart, liver, and lungs were just as tough. And right when it lashed its tail at me, I saw its little ass. I just acted on instinct and struck."
This time, Senior Brother Zhao cracked a smile and said, "Good thing you were quick-witted. Otherwise, we would've been dragged into a brutal fight, and who knows who might've benefitted in the end."
Hua Xuánzǐ let out a sigh, "Senior Brother Zhao is right. This time, Junior Sister Wei deserves the greatest credit. If it weren't for the betrayal from Senior Sister Zhang and the others earlier, we might've been able to wear down the second-tier Sand Mouse even with some injuries. But fighting them first, then getting swarmed by spirit beasts... we really didn't have much of a chance. We owe you both our lives."
With that, she clasped her hands solemnly toward Yun Xi and Zong Hao in formal thanks. It was her way of acknowledging a life-saving debt.
Yun Xi smiled softly and returned the salute. She accepted the gesture without protest. After all, the others had risked their lives too. If she hadn't noticed the ambush in time, she might've become another casualty of infighting.
"Senior Sister Hua, aside from that Senior Sister Zhang, the other three in the team are dead. We'd better come up with a proper explanation. Otherwise, we'll have a hard time reporting to the Mission Hall when we return."
Yun Xi brought the post-battle cleanup out into the open.
Hua Xuánzǐ and Senior Brother Zhao exchanged a glance. It was Zhao who spoke first:
"Let's just say that while we were harvesting Jinsha Grass, we accidentally disturbed a second-tier Sand Mouse in the middle of evolving. Then the team got caught in a fierce fight, and those three were swallowed by the beast."
It was a simple, straightforward, and plausible explanation.
Wei Yunxi nodded in agreement. They had the Sand Mouse's corpse as proof, and no one present was likely to snitch. There shouldn't be any issues.
With their stories aligned, it was time to discuss the reward split. Once again, Senior Brother Zhao took the lead:
"We'll turn in the harvested Jinsha Grass and the first-tier Sand Mice. The sect contribution points will be split evenly among the four of us. As for the second-tier Sand Mouse, we'll sell it to the Mission Hall. Since its front teeth are intact, it should fetch about six mid-grade spirit stones. Hua Xuánzǐ and I will each take one, and you two siblings will take two each."
Yun Xi immediately waved her hand, "Senior Brother Zhao, that's not right. We didn't kill the second-tier Sand Mouse by ourselves."
Before she could finish, Senior Brother Zhao cut her off, "It's settled. If not for you and Junior Brother Wei stepping in, the two of us would've been ambushed and probably killed. Sure, you acted to protect yourselves, but for us, it was still a lifesaving intervention. Hua Xuánzǐ was right to trust you. You're worthy of that trust.
"And without your formation disk shielding us, we might've won against those traitors only to be surrounded by the Sand Mouse pack. That would've been the end of us. So those two mid-grade spirit stones are well deserved.
"Hua Xuánzǐ and I are only taking one each to save up for Foundation Establishment Pills. You really don't need to feel guilty."
Yun Xi grinned and clasped her hands again, "If you put it like that, Senior Brother Zhao, then my brother and I will respectfully accept."
As for the storage pouches they had taken from the enemies they personally defeated, those were considered individual gains and didn't need to be split. That was the unspoken rule.
With the matter settled, the four of them sat down and began to cultivate and recover.
Yun Xi had previously taken a top-grade Nourishing Spirit Pill, and the medicine hadn't been fully absorbed. After circulating her qi in meditation, her meridians absorbed the remaining effects, refilling her dantian.
The night passed without further incident. The four used meditation in place of rest, and once the morning sun rose, Hua Xuánzǐ dispelled the formation at the cave entrance. It was time to return to the sect.
No one objected. They had suffered heavy losses, and there was always the risk that the three slain disciples had left behind some kind of trap. If they got caught off guard again, it wouldn't end well.
That said, Yun Xi and Zong Hao weren't badly affected. Along the way, they still paused to pick a few low-grade spirit herbs, saving themselves some spirit stones in the future.
Their pace wasn't slow. They made steady progress, even slaying a few Snow-Eared Rabbits and Scarlet Chicklets on the way. This was mostly because Zong Hao was craving Yun Xi's cooking and couldn't stop thinking about her spirit beast stew.
Before sunset, they reached the exit. All four adjusted their expressions to match, and none of them changed their outer robes. The torn and burnt edges made them look like they had barely escaped with their lives.
The disciples stationed at the entrance checked their identity jade plates and let them pass.
Without a word, the group headed straight for the Mission Hall. They turned in the quest, had the contribution points added to their jade plates, then left, leaving Senior Brother Zhao behind to handle the sale of the second-tier Sand Mouse.
They didn't wait long. Soon, he came out and divided the spirit stones. Then, the four of them went their separate ways in pairs.
Yun Xi and Zong Hao returned together to the outer peak disciple courtyard. On the way, they didn't say much, only remarking on how dangerous the mission had been.
"It was risky, yeah. But it really pushed us. I can feel my spiritual energy getting more refined," Yun Xi said.
"I just broke through, and I already feel my foundation becoming more solid," Zong Hao nodded in agreement.
"Seems like we should take on more missions like this in the future. Can't always stick to the safe, low-reward sect tasks. They're stable, sure, but they don't help much," Yun Xi said objectively.
Zong Hao agreed, "You're right, Little Sister Yun Xi We just need to be careful with who we team up with. If you hadn't been alert, we might've become collateral damage in their betrayal. No way they would've given us a share otherwise."
"Well, I wouldn't say they gave us anything. We only took what we were owed. Don't forget, they looted their former teammates' storage pouches. I'm guessing they found something valuable. So they probably didn't lose out in the end."
This was a realization Wei Yunxi had come to on the way back. Sure, the mid-grade spirit stones used in the formation disk had been pooled together, and they had all searched the traitors' pouches, but only those who took them knew exactly how many stones were inside. Just like she hadn't revealed the full contents of the pouches she'd obtained.
What she said earlier was mostly to create the impression that Zhao and Hua Xuánzǐ weren't greedy. Of course, if those two had turned on her and her brother, she wouldn't have minded taking everything they had in return.
But Senior Brother Zhao wasn't greedy and had a good grasp of the situation. He'd likely injured himself while operating the talisman treasure and didn't dare openly turn against them. Whether he could win or not was another question. Without the siblings, what would happen if another ambush came?
Zong Hao nodded rapidly, "You're absolutely right, Junior Sister Yun Xi Let me tell you a secret. I still have two mid-grade spirit stones in the pouch I took. I didn't mention them!"
He gave her a smug look, clearly expecting praise.
Yun Xi laughed, her dimples showing, "Brother is amazing."
Zong Hao beamed, so pleased that his eyes practically vanished.
Just as the two were about to enter their courtyards, someone called out to them from behind.