"Sorry for the disturbance, fellows. We are disciples of the Immortal Gate, far from here, in search of children chosen by the Immortal Destiny."
The two guards had never expected to encounter real Immortal Masters in their lives, leaving them in shock and awe for a moment.
"Immortal Masters?!" the guards exclaimed as they turned their heads to look at each other.
The term "Immortal Gate" referred to any organization or sect where Cultivators gathered to cultivate and pursue immortality. Stories often depicted Cultivators, or Immortal Masters, as almighty beings capable of erasing mountains with a mere wave of their hand. This left the guards wondering how such powerful beings could appear in such a pathetic state.
Despite their admiration, the guards, mindful of Mao Yan's teachings, remained skeptical. Their vigilance lingered as they decided to inquire more about the two strangers.
"But what happened to you two... Immortal Masters?" one of the guards asked, his gaze fixed on their bruised skin.
The man holding a clay flask laughed quietly as he began to explain the cause of their wounds, his eyes clouded.
"It so happened that we encountered a pack of Demonic Beasts while we were still in the forest. These Demonic Beasts were quite formidable, and one of us had to stay behind to let the rest of us escape their fangs and claws."
After witnessing the man's teary eyes and the other man's sobs, the guards eased their vigilance, convinced that the two strangers were not dangerous but rather two tired travelers who had wandered into their village by chance.
With a smile, one of the guards invited the two Immortal Masters to their village.
However, just as the guard was about to step into the village with the two Immortal Masters following behind him, he stopped upon spotting a group of village men approaching, all holding axes, hoes, and bows.
As the village men neared the village gate and noticed the two strangers standing beside the guard, they halted, looking at him in silent demand for details.
Just as the guard was about to explain, the Immortal Master with the clay flask stepped forward and cupped his hands, addressing the armed village men.
"Greetings, fellow villagers. I, along with my brother here, am an Immortal Master from an Immortal Gate far from here. May I ask what caused you to rush out of the village armed?" the Immortal Master asked politely, a gentle smile on his lips.
Just like the guards, the village men expressed shock and awe upon hearing the terms "Immortal Master" and "Immortal Gate."
After that, the village men and the two Immortal Masters introduced themselves and shared their circumstances with each other.
Upon hearing how a comrade of the two Immortal Masters had risked his life to let them escape, one of the village men offered his condolences with a sad smile. "How unfortunate for your comrade, Immortal Master—"
"Please, just call me Cultivator Cui," the Immortal Master holding the clay flask interrupted to correct him.
"And just call me Cultivator Chou," the other Immortal Master, who looked muscular, added from the side.
"Cultivator?" the elder brother of Li Zui, the next Village Cheif, Li Gongxian, repeated in confusion. It was the first time he had heard such a term.
Li Gongxian looked at the other village men, but they all shared the same confused expressions. He then turned to Cultivator Cui for further clarification.
"Immortal Masters is how you mortals refer to us. 'Cultivator' is the proper way to address us," Cultivator Cui explained, reading the situation and offering the clarification they needed.
The village men nodded, seemingly beginning to understand.
...
Far from the Village Gate, Mao Xuelian and the village women and children patiently watched the crowd as they continued discussing various matters.
Leaning against Aunty Pu's belly, Mao Xuelian wore a worried expression as she gazed at the crowd gathered at the Village Gate.
"It's okay, Xuelian. Aunty Mao will be fine. Sh-she must have just gotten lost while gathering mushrooms or something..." said Lou You, standing beside her in an attempt to reassure her.
Mao Xuelian could only nod in response.
"Mhn..." she mumbled.
The village women looked at her quiet demeanor with pity and concern. They were used to seeing her smile and hear her cheerful giggles, yet now she seemed so downcast and sad.
No one knew what had happened to Mao Yan, or why she suddenly disappeared. If the worst had come to pass and Mao Yan had indeed abandoned Mao Xuelian, they couldn't even begin to imagine such an unfortunate future.
As the village women and children shared worried glances toward her, Mao Xuelian remained calm inside.
Her focus was locked on the two strangers—Cultivator Cui and Cultivator Chou—who claimed to be Immortal Masters from a distant Immortal Gate. Her eyes briefly gleamed in greenish light before she closed them tightly again.
She sensed it—the same mysterious and strange energy emanated from the two strangers. It was weaker than her mother's but felt more sharp, wilder, and contained... bloodlust.
...
After the village men concluded their conversation with the two Cultivators, they immediately set out to continue searching for the mysteriously lost Mao Yan.
The two Cultivators were introduced to the village women, who watched from a distance alongside Mao Xuelian and the children. Once introductions were complete, they headed to the Li Family's house to meet the Village Chief.
The two Cultivators stated that they wouldn't stay long in the village; they would only remain until noon, allowing their wounds to heal somewhat.
The Village Chief coldly scoffed at their words before bringing the village physician, Yu Mai, to attend to the two Cultivators' injuries and to offer them the village's hospitality, all while keeping Li Zui, who had been training alone in the river since dawn, in the dark.
Noon eventually arrived, and the village men returned.
"Brother Li, where's Mom? Have you found her?" Mao Xuelian asked eagerly as her eyes spotted their figures.
But their shaking heads conveyed the answer.
Her eyes widened in sadness and disbelief; tears soaked her face once more as she clutched her chest and let out a heart-wrenching wail—similar to how Isabella had broken down after being stabbed in the back by her.
The village men could only lower their heads and clench their fists, feeling helpless and self-reprimanding.
Aunty Pu immediately pulled Mao Xuelian into her embrace, her own eyes wet with tears, sharing in the sadness.
At that very moment, the two Cultivators, who were unintentionally on their way out of the village after their wounds had healed somewhat, approached them.
"Excuse me," Cultivator Cui stepped forward, cupping his hands. He looked at Mao Xuelian, still in Aunty Pu's arms. "I've heard about the situation. How about... we take her with us?"