The scroll felt heavier than it looked.
Kael stood just outside the Azure Pavilion, his eyes scanning the contents once more.
Escort Mission — Tier Two
Transport a sealed cargo caravan from Azure City to Black Ridge Outpost.
Route passes through unstable territory.
Possible bandit and rogue cultivator activity.
Reward: High.
Kael rolled the scroll back up.
"Straightforward," he muttered.
Lin Yue crossed her arms beside him.
"Straightforward usually means dangerous."
Kael glanced at her.
"That's fine."
She smiled faintly.
"I thought you'd say that."
⸻
An hour later—
Kael arrived at the northern gate of the city.
Several figures were already gathered there.
A caravan of three heavy wagons stood ready, each reinforced with metal plating and faint protective inscriptions. Large beasts were chained to the front, their bodies radiating low-level energy.
Not ordinary animals.
Trained transport beasts.
Around the caravan stood a group of cultivators.
Some calm.
Some clearly impatient.
And some…
Watching others with quiet arrogance.
Kael stepped forward.
Immediately, a few gazes shifted toward him.
One of them—a tall man with a scar across his cheek—spoke first.
"You're late."
Kael looked at him calmly.
"I'm on time."
The man frowned slightly, but didn't argue further.
Another figure laughed softly.
A woman leaning against one of the wagons pushed herself upright. She had sharp eyes and a confident posture.
"Relax, Daren," she said. "As long as he's here, it doesn't matter."
She looked at Kael.
"New?"
Kael nodded.
"Yes."
She smiled slightly.
"Good. We needed fresh blood."
Daren scoffed but said nothing more.
Lin Yue stepped forward briefly.
"I'll be returning to the city," she said. "Good luck."
Kael gave a small nod.
"Thanks."
She turned and left without another word.
⸻
The group gathered around the caravan.
There were seven of them in total now, including Kael.
Daren spoke again, clearly taking the lead.
"We move now. Stay alert. This route isn't safe."
No one argued.
The caravan began moving.
⸻
Hours passed.
The city walls disappeared behind them.
The road grew rougher.
Narrower.
The terrain shifted from open land to scattered hills and rocky paths.
Kael walked alongside the caravan, silent, observant.
His Origin Sense remained active, stretching outward constantly.
The others talked occasionally, but he didn't join in.
Instead—
He listened.
Watched.
Learned.
Daren was experienced.
The sharp-eyed woman—named Sera—was fast and perceptive.
The others varied in skill, but none were weak.
This wasn't a random group.
They were chosen.
And that meant one thing.
The mission was more dangerous than it appeared.
⸻
As the sun began to set—
Kael stopped walking.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Stop."
The word came out calm.
But firm.
The caravan slowed.
Daren turned immediately.
"What is it?"
Kael didn't answer right away.
His gaze remained fixed on the surrounding hills.
Then he spoke.
"We're not alone."
Silence fell instantly.
Sera's expression sharpened.
"You're sure?"
Kael nodded.
"They've been following us for a while."
Daren's face darkened.
"Positions."
The group spread out immediately, forming a defensive formation around the caravan.
Weapons were drawn.
Energy began to gather.
The air grew tense.
Still.
Quiet.
Then—
A voice echoed from the rocks ahead.
"Well… looks like we've been noticed."
Figures began to appear.
One after another.
From behind rocks.
From the hills.
From the shadows.
More than ten of them.
Each carrying weapons.
Each radiating killing intent.
Bandits.
Or worse—
Rogue cultivators.
Their leader stepped forward, a grin spreading across his face.
"Hand over the cargo…"
His gaze swept across the group.
"…and we might let you leave alive."
Daren stepped forward, his aura rising.
"Try it."
The leader laughed.
"Gladly."
Energy exploded across the battlefield.
The ambush had begun.