Chapter 10: The First Mission Accomplished

Outside the cave, the sound grew steadily closer, at first faint and indistinct, but soon becoming clearer and clearer, as if a group of uninvited guests were steadily closing in on their hiding place.

The sensation was like a creeping shadow slowly enveloping them, causing an involuntary tightening in their chests.

The atmosphere inside the cave instantly grew tense; the previously lighthearted mood vanished completely. Everyone instinctively held their breath, wary of even the slightest sound that might reveal their presence. The tension was so thick it seemed to solidify the very air.

Deep within the cave’s hidden recesses, Su Hao and the others held their breath, ears straining to catch the conversation of the sinister cultivators outside.

They silently devised countermeasures, their brows slightly furrowed, eyes heavy with solemn caution.

“Senior Brother, I’ve found their tracks—they vanish into thin air right here, as if they used some kind of flying artifact to escape overnight,” a sharp voice whispered outside, laced with uncertainty and suspicion, sounding harsh and grating in the stillness.

“Nonsense!” another voice, deep and authoritative, immediately retorted with undeniable command. “If they truly had a flying artifact, why wait three days to use it? There must be something amiss.”

“Granted, the likelihood of them possessing such an artifact is slim, but the environment here is peculiar. Even if they did use one, it would consume tremendous energy.”

The senior brother among the sinister cultivators spoke calmly and sagely, slowly analyzing the situation.

“I deduce that even if they have such an artifact, their flight range would not exceed ten miles. We need only conduct a carpet search within that radius to capture them all—there’s no way we’ll let a cooked duck fly away.”

“Senior Brother is wise!” the voices of the sinister cultivators rose in unanimous agreement.

Soon, they split into small teams, scattering to search the area. Outside the cave, the chaotic sound of footsteps receded gradually into the distance.

Su Hao’s keen hearing enabled him to estimate that about thirty of these sinister cultivators were present, prompting him to quietly calculate their odds.

There were only ten of them in total, most local practitioners whose combat prowess paled in comparison to these sinister cultivators.

Moreover, Su Hao was uncertain whether these cultivators had reserves in place, such as summoning reinforcements.

After much thought, they resolved not to risk a direct confrontation with the sinister cultivators, for the consequences would be unimaginable.

As time passed, the noises outside gradually faded until they vanished completely, like the ebbing tide.

The cave returned to silence, as though all that had transpired was but a false alarm, never having occurred.

At this moment, Gu Yu glanced at Su Hao with eyes full of admiration, her gaze brimming with respect for her clear-headed brother. She silently imagined how dire their fate might have been had Su Hao not meticulously erased all traces beforehand. The mere thought chilled her to the bone.

Meanwhile, the elder of the Righteous Sect cast a peculiar look toward Su Hao, one tinged with contemplation.

When Su Hao was cleaning up their tracks earlier, the elder had thought the young man overly cautious, perhaps even excessive.

Yet now, the facts proved otherwise—this young man’s prudence was truly brilliant.

Without his meticulous efforts, they would likely have been trapped by now.

The elder turned to his five disciples beside him, feeling a surge of emotion.

If even one among these five had a fraction—one-tenth, one-hundredth, or even one-thousandth—of this young man’s caution, their situation might have been vastly different.

Reflecting on this, he slowly closed his eyes, reconsidering whether his usual demands of his disciples had been too stringent. Compared to this young man, he felt humbled.

The five disciples near the elder also regarded Su Hao with utmost reverence, their eyes filled with admiration and respect, truly acknowledging his abilities and approach.

Not to mention Li Mingyu and Liu Weiwei, who admired Su Hao’s caution even more, quietly grateful to be on the mission alongside him. With him present, they felt a solid assurance.

Su Hao and the others did not disturb the six local cultivators from the Righteous Sect, each retreating to a corner of the cave to silently ponder the challenges ahead and possible responses. The cave was enveloped in quiet, broken only by the occasional faint breath.

Time passed swiftly, fleeting like a galloping steed; before long, thirty-six hours had elapsed.

With the system’s cold, mechanical voice announcing the completion of the side mission, they were each awarded generous rewards, their hearts brimming with the joy of accomplishment.

This time, Su Hao received three precious Cleansing Stones. Yet, scanning around, he found no sign of the treasure chest.

He understood well that treasure chests only appeared as spoils after defeating enemies. Since no enemies had been slain, naturally no chests materialized.

Su Hao picked up his three storage pouches, intending to place them into his storage space. But after several attempts, he found it impossible to store them there.

Helpless, he had no choice but to tuck the pouches into a crevice nearby.

At that moment, Li Mingyu tossed his own loot over, evidently having tried and failed to store it as well, aware these items could not be carried away.

After another ten minutes, their main mission was also successfully completed, and the time to return quietly approached.

“Alternate Cleaner Su Hao, your main mission is complete. You may now return. You may remain here for up to half an hour. Do you choose to return immediately?” The cold voice sounded again, unwavering in its authority, echoing in their minds.

Su Hao glanced at Gu Yu, Li Mingyu, and Liu Weiwei. The four exchanged smiles, wordlessly understanding one another’s thoughts.

They quietly rose and moved out of sight of the six master and disciples, simultaneously choosing to return.

With a brilliant flash of light, their figures vanished instantly from the cave, as if they had never existed there—leaving behind only silence, as though everything had been but a fleeting dream.

Unaware of this, the six cultivators inside the cave remained immersed in their temporary peace, savoring the rare tranquility, oblivious to Su Hao and the others’ departure, unaware of what fate awaited them, or if they would ever cross paths again.

The storage pouches left behind were not deliberately concealed, simply placed in the stone crevice. Surely, if the six sought them earnestly, they would discover these items—perhaps a small token left behind by Su Hao and his companions for the master and disciples.