Chapter 124: Fellow Disciples
"Since you think you got out on your own, I'll save my breath. Stay back—wouldn't want you to get ambushed again." Leo's laugh was cold.
"Wait, Junior Brother Leo. We were wrong. But we're fellow disciples. Lead us to those Evil Valley bastards. We need to avenge Junior Brother Craw and Junior Sister Sass." Quiver's face was fierce.
"Right! Avenge them. Those Evil Valley scum deserve to pay."
The team's anger flared.
"Yeah, show them we're not pushovers. They only had us cornered because of the terrain. Now let's see how they like it." Angus was less concerned with avenging anyone than with getting even—and maybe snatching some loot.
"Then what are you waiting for? Let's go." Leo took a step and slid several meters forward.
"Stop right there, you Evil Valley scum!"
"Cowards! Where's all that arrogance now?"
Following Leo, they soon caught up with the fleeing cultivators. Solon and the others hurled insults.
Blade shot a vicious glare back. He'd make them pay for this.
But the Evil Valley team was quick. Already down several men, they weren't about to fight a larger group.
Unfortunately for them, luck wasn't on their side. Vera and Quiver's team could only pick off the stragglers, but another Palace team appeared ahead, blocking the retreat. Their leader was none other than Lowell of Heavenly Summit Peak. Quincy was with him.
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The Evil Valley cultivators stood no chance. Blade, Siren, and Lou escaped. The rest were cut down.
Vera's team was elated. Lowell's group had ten members. Combined, they now had twenty-five. And Lowell was ranked far above Vera among Palace disciples. Two elite fighters, plus Quincy, the granddaughter of a Golden Core elder—safety in numbers.
Of all the people... Leo hung back, cursing under his breath. He'd hoped to avoid this one. Not for long, but he'd take whatever time he could.
"Senior Brother Lowell, Senior Sister Quincy. What a relief to run into you. Thank you for your help."
Back in the Palace, Vera had never paid them much attention. But after surviving the ambush and the cave, she was drained. Running into allies was a relief.
"We're all disciples. When facing outsiders, we stand together." Lowell's response was polite.
"What's there to thank? You couldn't even stop a few Evil Valley cultivators—let three get away." Quincy pouted, annoyed.
Lowell flushed. He'd been about to say something gracious, but now he just stepped aside awkwardly.
Vera and Quiver's faces tightened. The three who escaped included an elite disciple and two others who had bolted early. Solon and an archer had been the only ones in that direction. They weren't about to die blocking a desperate escape.
Quincy's grandfather was a Golden Core elder. She had artifacts, pills, everything. Others didn't. But she had just helped them. So they swallowed their irritation.
"Someone said there was Purple Ginseng around here. Did you find any?" Quincy walked with her hands behind her back, ignoring the tension.
"We found some, but there's a huge swarm of Black-Scaled Winged Wind Serpents guarding them. The Evil Valley team ambushed us while we were fighting the snakes. If Junior Brother Leo hadn't sensed the danger and slipped out, we'd still be trapped." Quiver kept her voice level.
"Junior Brother Leo? Which one?" Quincy's eyes swept the group, curious.
"That one. The one hiding in the back. What's the matter, Junior Brother Leo? Weren't you so brave before?" Frost suppressed a smirk. She shot a look at Solon.
Solon scratched his head. The rumor was one thing—Lowell had been a top-ten disciple for years. Gossiping behind his back was fine, but to his face? He didn't have the nerve.
The disciples turned. Lowell followed their gaze to Leo, lurking at the back. His eyes went wide. Anger surged. His glare was murderous.
"You!"
He came from a good family. He had talent—a rare lightning spiritual root. His cultivation advanced faster than most. His lightning techniques hit harder. Trained by his father, he had fought his way into the top ten of the Palace's Qi Refining disciples. Those ranked above him were either older or from Golden Core families with better techniques.
He was proud. He believed no one could do better under the same conditions. Then the fight at Heavenly Summit Peak happened. Leo beat him. A nobody. A loose cultivator. And after that, Quincy looked at him differently.
He had to beat Leo. Wipe out that humiliation. He couldn't stop himself. His magic artifact spear, the Lightning Judgment, materialized. Its ferocious lightning energy sent disciples scrambling. They feared his rage, but the spear was aimed at Leo. There was nowhere to run.