Several hundred kilometers to the north, Three Clouds City was brimming with activity. Refugees poured in through the city gates like surging rivers. The streets were packed with people who had nowhere to go. Men, women, children, all of them bandits; they felt that this was the safest place to be. With the might of the three cloud immortals, this city would never fall.
"Don't push!"
"Get out of the way!"
"My child… where is my child?"
Angry and miserable shouts filled the air. The city guards tried to maintain order but it was already a mess. People who just arrived started fights with the residents. Some stole from shops or trashed them altogether. Many locked their doors, refusing to open them for the refugees, ignoring all measures of pleading.
"Don't panic!"
"The Three Clouds Alliance will not fall!"
"Back off!"
While the city continued to devolve into chaos, the city lord's castle was as calm as calm could be. The bandit guards show no signs of nervousness. Knowing what they knew, they were all full of confidence.
Within the innermost palace, the reason for this confidence became apparent as there were not just three immortals present but four. Aside from the three cloud siblings, there was a guest, a mountain of a man who was wider than he was tall. He was so fat that it seemed impossible.
This person was none other than Immortal Dashing Mountain Liu Zhangrou, a member of the Four Evils of the Black Forest, one of the most notorious bandit gangs in the region. His arrival would have normally been met with alarm but right now, he was an honored guest of the cloud siblings.
"Lord Liu, any news?" Immortal Blue Cloud Yun Haiqiao asked anxiously.
The fat man didn't immediately reply, instead choosing to empty a plate of red braised pork. He wiped his greased-covered mouth and grinned.
"Don't worry, don't worry. We agreed to help you so big brother naturally won't let you down."
"Lord Liu… not to be rude but the southerners are already at our doorstep. Once they emerge from the Sleeping Forest, they will reach Three Clouds City within a day!" Immortal Red Cloud Yun Huoxiao couldn't hold back his temper and slammed his fist on the table.
Liu Zhangruo didn't mind and stuffed his face with a plate of roasted chickens.
"Mmm, that's why I came ahead, to help you hold the city. Our mortal army is still about ten days away. But we have one hundred thousand and seven Spirit Lords ready to fight."
"S… seven?"
"Seven!" Immortal Green Cloud Yun Duling asked, "Could it be that the Four Evils of the Black Forest recruited new members?"
Liu Zhangruo laughed, "No, it is still just three of us; Immortal Black Evil Liu Bang, Great Eagle Yu, and Immortal Tiny Flame Jin Xiaohuo. However, the one attacking you guys this time is quite an interesting character. Many people want him dead. That's why so many immortals joined us this time. So, be patient. We will completely destroy the southerners. All you have to do is follow our plans. And remember, you are not allowed to touch the spoils."
"Yes, Lord Liu, we understand!"
---
Several hundred kilometers to the south, it was now the fourth day of the bandit fighting operation. Chen Wentian, Long Yifei, and their forces were still stuck in what seemed like an endless forest. He could, of course, fly over everything and reach Three Clouds City easily but that would mean leaving the mortals on the ground to an uncertain fate.
He didn't want that and Long Yifei certainly didn't want that either. Many of those people were disciples of Glacier Palace, her former junior sisters. Thus, they could only push their way through.
Chen Wentian and Long Yifei stood atop a large wooden carriage, observing the slow progress of their troops.
"Tie Buqun, come back, rest for a while." He ordered.
Immortal Dust Scorpion Tie Buqun returned from the front after opening a fifty-kilometer-long path. Using his digging powers, he removed the trees and everything else in the way, creating a flat dirt road for everyone to pass through easily. But in doing so, he expended a lot of his spiritual energy.
Tie Buqun glanced ruefully at Chen Wentian before retiring to another carriage. Working like a mule was not something he could have imagined when he took this assignment. But he didn't dare to complain.
"Fei'er, send the Glacier Palace and Divine Blazing Mountain ahead."
"Yes, master."
Long Yifei left his side. After a short moment, she returned. Meanwhile, the disciples of Glacier Palace and Divine Blazing Mountain went to the front to lead the way.
At first, it was relatively uneventful. Tie Buqun's immortal aura had done a good job of scaring most living creatures away. However, soon, they came upon dangerous creatures that were either curious or brave or both.
One time, a giant bat flew out of the trees and tried to drag away a Glacier Palace disciple. Her companion from Divine Blazing Mountain turned the creature into roasted meat, but not before the woman suffered several deep cuts.
Another time, some kind of poisonous beast had laid an ambush, creating a deadly fog that rolled in with the breeze. The ice and fire cultivators worked together to dispel this threat. Walls of ice blocked the fog from spreading further while red flames burned the poison fog into nothingness.
Perhaps the heaviest attack that they suffered was from a crazed herd of stone horn rhinos. These massive beasts that were each the size of an elephant thundered through the forest, flattening everything except the largest trees. Each beast required a squad of cultivators to handle. A combination of ice walls, flame punches, and flying ice swords finally dispatched the herb, but not without many wounded.
"Interesting," Chen Wentian said as he observed their hard work, "Those three Glacier Palace elders don't seem to have Dao partners. Are they not interested in men?"
Long Yifei nudged him with her elbow and resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "Master, they may have a variety of reasons for not choosing a Dao companion."
"Hmm, perhaps they came along in hopes of finding a man in the Martial Brilliance Continent. I will have to apologize to them later as everyone here is from the subcontinent."
She chuckled, "Perhaps. After the month is over, they can stay for a while before going back. There is no rush. Those three are sure to turn a lot of heads if they strolled through a city together."
He studied the three women and nodded sagely. They were all beautiful like blooming flowers, mature and intelligent, competent and attractive. They were the best of the best that Glacier Palace had to offer. Although they couldn't compare to the sacred daughters of the Virtuous Order, they took second place without competition.
He already had Long Yifei so such women no longer drew his interest. But he hoped the best for them. After the bandit fighting operation was over, he planned to give each of them a large allowance so that they could explore the continent for a while and find their own happiness.
Chen Wentian turned to Long Yifei with a playful smile, "Fei'er, look at everyone working so hard on your behalf. Even your master had to burn a road through the forest. What are you going to do to repay our efforts?"
This time, Long Yifei did roll her eyes. She knew what he wanted. He was always thinking about such things. But it couldn't be helped.
She led him into the carriage and closed the doors. The wilderness disappeared, replaced by a dimly-lit, cozy setting. She pushed onto a pile of cushions and gave him a coy smile.
"Master, what did you have in mind?"
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