Seeing the somber looks on their faces, Qi Ping immediately guessed the general situation. Things were clearly not looking good.
"The marauders are still out there. In fact, it's even worse than it was a month ago..." Wang Shan's words sent a chill through Qi Ping.
Sister Nan took over the conversation. She didn't like small talk, but she always had her own insights regarding important matters.
"The information I have matches what Brother Shan said. The marauder situation hasn't improved; it's worsened. I know of a specific victim—the beekeeper uncle on Peak 032. He was at the third level of Qi Condensation. Half a month ago, while he was out, he was hacked into several pieces by marauders. There were no signs of resistance..."
"This suggests the marauder is likely very strong. Everything on his peak was quietly looted. The Queen Bee and all the honey were taken as well."
Sister Nan's words made Qi Ping's back turn cold. A third-level cultivator was killed without being able to put up a fight? This meant the marauder was likely at the fifth level or even higher!
This meant that if Qi Ping were ambushed, he could be cut down before he even had time to react. Even if the Golden Marrow Bees responded and engaged the enemy, there was a possibility the opponent could break through their perimeter and kill him. This was the weakness of insect-type pets; unless they could kill the enemy instantly or completely overwhelm them, a determined foe could still bypass the defense.
Moreover, Qi Ping had met that beekeeper from Peak 032 a few times. He was a friend of Old Man Zhou's. To think he had been dismembered by marauders... it left a bitter taste in Qi Ping's mouth.
Wang Shan chimed in, "I heard about that too. For a marauder to be able to find their way to Peak 032 suggests they might be very familiar with this area."
Silence fell over the group. This was an incredibly dangerous signal. If the marauders were well-acquainted with the geography and the people of the Cloud-Mist Mountains, the danger level skyrocketed. In a situation where the enemy was hidden and they were exposed, the probability of death during a targeted ambush was very high.
After a long silence, Wang Shan sighed heavily. "I really don't understand why the Qingyuan Sect has stopped maintaining order in Qingshi. I truly miss the old days."
Back then, life was hard and they didn't make much money, but at least their safety was guaranteed. They could work hard, earn a bit of coin, gather with fellow cultivators to drink wine and eat chicken, and life had a certain flavor to it. It wasn't like now, where every step out the door came with the fear of being suddenly murdered.
Times were truly hard!
Wang Shan added, "So, unless it's absolutely necessary, we should avoid going out."
Hearing this, Qi Ping and Sister Nan both shared a helpless smile. It was obvious that both of them had a pressing need to leave.
Qi Ping sighed. "I don't have enough spirit stones to pay the next installment of my rent. I have to sell some honey. Plus, I need to purchase some daily supplies and cultivation resources."
While one hive of Black Little Bee honey was barely enough to cover his and Old Man Zhou's expenses, it was no longer as comfortable as it had been when the old man lived alone. Old Man Zhou had suggested that Qi Ping stop buying Blood-Nurturing Pills for him and just buy cheap wine, but Qi Ping had refused. Without the pills, the old man's blood-vitality would decline faster, likely shaving several years off his lifespan.
The actual output of the Black Little Bees was just enough for two people to live and cultivate, provided they weren't extravagant. Qi Ping couldn't possibly take over the old man's inheritance and wealth and then let the man die years earlier than he should.
Now, Qi Ping no longer had to worry about the blood-vitality issue—the Golden Marrow Honey was far superior to Blood-Nurturing Pills—but he still needed to sell honey to accumulate enough spirit stones.
"I'm in a similar boat," Sister Nan explained. "I need to sell a batch of Spirit-Condensing Fruit and buy some materials for my Spirit Fertilizer. If the trees wither because of a shortage of fertilizer, it will be a disaster."
She and Qi Ping exchanged a look, seeing the same helplessness in each other's eyes. Wang Shan could do nothing to help; his own stones were barely enough for his own rent. As for risking a trip to escort them... in his younger days, he might have done it. But now, he had a wife and children at home. The weight of responsibility had long since moved him past the age of impulsive chivalry. He wouldn't refuse to help if it was within his power, but he could never abandon his family.
The three continued to discuss the current events in Qingshi County while waiting for other members to arrive, hoping to find someone else heading to the market. One more person meant one more layer of safety. This was especially true since all members of the Fusheng Society practiced the Breath-Concealing Art; if a marauder couldn't gauge their strength, they usually wouldn't dare act rashly.
It was worth noting that Wang Shan had gifted the Breath-Concealing Art to all members of the society for free, hoping to give everyone an extra chance at survival. This spoke volumes about his character.
Unfortunately, after waiting for a long time, no one else came. Likely, everyone was staying indoors as much as possible due to the marauders.
"It looks like it's just the two of us, Little Qi. But don't worry, Sister Nan is here! With the two of us together, an average marauder won't dare to strike. We just have to be careful and stick to the back roads for extra safety."
Sensing Qi Ping's concern, Sister Nan offered some comfort. She knew his strength was low, so for the past few years, she usually took him along whenever they were heading the same way.
"Then I'll be in your care, Sister Nan!" Qi Ping didn't decline. He knew she meant well. Even though he had the Golden Marrow Bees, having someone with Sister Nan's near-fifth-level combat power would drastically increase their safety and margin for error.
Just as they were saying their goodbyes to Wang Shan, a young man radiating sunlight and youthful energy walked into the courtyard.
"Brother Shan, Sister Nan, Brother Qi! You're all here!"
With that young face and high-spirited tone, it could be none other than Lin Chaoyang, the second youngest member of the society. Lin Chaoyang was two years younger than Qi Ping, but at the second level of Qi Condensation, his talent was significantly better. He was the young master of a wealthy mortal family. Perhaps because he had been well-cared for since childhood, he still possessed a strong sense of youthful idealism.
He had met Wang Shan while wandering aimlessly. Seeing that the boy was decent, Wang Shan had introduced him to the society. True to form, he started speaking excitedly the moment he entered.
"Let me tell you, I recently heard that at the junction of Qingshi and Baiyun Counties, a Small Secret Realm is about to open! Any cultivator at the Qi Condensation stage can enter to seek their fortune! Have you heard?"
"A Small Secret Realm for Qi Condensation cultivators?" Qi Ping, Sister Nan, and Wang Shan all shook their heads. None of them had heard anything about it.
"Then let me tell you..." Lin Chaoyang began rattling off the details. "The situation with that realm is basically this... it's estimated to open in about a month! On the path of cultivation, opportunity is everything! Without fortune, one can never become an immortal! Brother Shan, Sister Nan, Brother Qi, why don't we go together to try our luck? Maybe we can gain a massive inheritance!"