Another few hours later night eventually gave way to light, as the sun began rising.
Wu Zhe felt his body still, the lifeforce he had been all used up when he broke through the 9th stage, the cost of reaching the Qi foundation stage clearly needed a ascronmatical amount, as Wu Zhe thought of how to get more, he realized the mission for accompanying lady jue. He had made up his mind and eventually got up.
But before he left he spoke to Xu Shazi.
"Stay here. I'll be busy for a couple days or longer. Don't do anything rash." Wu Zhe muttered, his tone sounding serious.
"Understood master…" Xu Shazi said.
Wu Zhe, left the tavern without eating, and hurriedly off to the Sliver Claw with his horse.
Arriving at the guild entrance, he saw a lavish-looking carriage with two smaller carriages in front and behind it. and another carriage with four seats followed, and a number of horses were grouped together.
He opened the door and saw a crowd of people, counting at least twenty.
Three people stood together. One he recognized, Da Xiong. Others he didn't, there were three man wielding a sword, spear and hammer, was unfamiliar to him, and the fourth was a woman carrying a bow and a short dagger.
Nearby, a pink-haired young lady dressed in lavish clothes was surrounded by a middle-aged man in white robes, with about twenty guards huddled protectively around her.
"Welcome, Mr Huang," the receptionist said excitedly upon seeing Wu Zhe.
"Welcome, friend.." Da Xiong said without looking at Wu Zhe, making the atmosphere awkward.
"Is this mission still available for me to join?" Wu Zhe, asked noticing that he had just caught them in time before they headed out.
The receptionist eyes looked in surprise and smiled wide, "Of course Mr huang! If you'd wish to join then we—"
"Ah! Lady Jue, This is Mr Huang a tier 7 hunter who defeated a cultivated beast alone."
Lady Jue, eyebrows raised at the mention of him defeating a cultivated beast alone.
"Is that true mr huang?" She asked suspicious.
"Merely luck miss." Wu Zhe murmured looking humble.
"I see…" She muttered unable to believe whether it was true or just boasting.
"If the receptionist vouches for your reliability then I see no harm in adding u in my entrougue." She said.
"Thank you lady jue." Wu Zhe smiled, bowing slightly.
The receptionist then introduced the hunters who would join the mission.
"This is Mr. Gao Lin, this is Mr. Lian, and this is Mr. Shuang, all 6 Tier hunters. This is Miss Gao Yan, a Tier 7 hunter. And, of course, you already know Mr. Da Xiong, a Tier 8 hunter."
"Nice to meet you all," Wu Zhe said, putting his fist in his palms as a respectful gesture towards them as well.
"Nice to meet you, Mr Huang," Miss Yan and Mr. Lin replied, the others didn't have a reply, the two couple stared at him curiously.
"Well if this is all the members then my lady I think it's time we head out." the man beside her interrupted.
"I understand. Let's us go head out then."
Wu Zhe and the others stepped outside toward the carriages. The hunters exchanged glances, a brief silence passing between them.
Wu Zhe spoke first.
"Which one of us will drive?"
"Hm… my wife and I aren't very skilled with carriages…" Gao Lin admitted.
"I don't mind," Da Xiong said.
"Alright. I'll take the second carriage. We can switch if needed," Wu Zhe replied.
Da Xiong hopped onto the driver's seat, while rest got inside the carriage.
By the time they reached the gate leading out of the Blighted Wild, two carriages were already waiting, each carrying around ten people.
"Lady Jue!" they called out, bowing respectfully as she approach.
Lady Jue gave a small gesture, signaling them to rise.
"Since everyone is here, let's move."
With that, the small convoy passed through the gates. The scenery gradually shifted a ruinous plain began to stretch endlessly before them, bleak and lifeless.
A couple minutes later…
"Halt! We'll make camp here," Lady Jue ordered, bringing the wagons to a stop at the outskirts of the Blighted Woods.
The entire convoy began setting up camp, eager for some much-needed rest before the expedition ahead.
Wu Zhe surveyed the area, his gaze sweeping across the wagons. It was obvious they would have to remain here, the terrain within the Blighted Woods would be far too difficult for them to traverse.
Half a day later, everyone began to wake, one after another. Wu Zhe, however, had never slept. As a cultivator, he could remain awake for days, without any Qi to refine, he couldn't even meditate, leaving him nothing to do but remain still.
"Good morning, Mr. Huang," Gao Lin murmured, smiling brightly as he noticed him already awake.
"Good morning," Wu Zhe replied, his expression unchanged.
As the others woke, they began preparing meals. Wu Zhe stood apart, his gaze fixed on the convoy, wondering when he would be able to hunt, when he could finally slay beasts and harvest their lifeforce.
A few hours later, the convoy finally began to move. They left the wagons at the outskirts and continued on foot.
"M'lady, the first beasts we'll encounter should be the Hungry Wolf pack," the white-robed man beside her murmured.
"Okay," she replied, her tone sounding impatient.
As the group pressed forward, distant howls began to echo from all directions low at first, then multiplying, while simultaneously closing in.
"Shield wall!" Lady Jue shouted, ordering everyone into formation.
The other guild men quickly locked shields, forming a solid line. All eyes turned toward the approaching sounds, heavy steps and low, guttural growls closing in.
Soon, the beasts revealed themselves, a pack of at least forty wolves, their eyes filled with hunger.
They crashed into the shield wall but the formation held.
"Now—attack!" Lady Jue commanded, unsheathing her sword as she surged forward, twenty men following closely behind her.
Wu Zhe also noticed three cultivators by her.
So he stepped forward with the rest, joining the charge.
He didn't need to use Qi. His sword alone was enough, each swing fatal. Wolves that lunged at him were cut down without any problem, their bodies being pierced before they could even react.
Within minutes, the pack was wiped out. Even the leader of them laid among the corpses.
Wu Zhe stood unharmed, his gaze shifting across the convoy. There were losses, at least three dead from the fighting, but none from the Silver Claw.
"Gather the bodies. We're returning to the carriages," Lady Jue ordered.
With that, they began hauling the corpses back, preparing to dispose of them before continuing the expedition.
After the convoy returned, they began preparing to rest, only for Lady Jue to halt them.
"What are you all doing?" she snapped. "We continue. No rest until the expedition is complete."
The group fell silent, exchanging uneasy glances. It was clear they were exhausted, but no one dared to object. The employer's word was absolute.
So, to everyone's disappointment, they pressed on, continuing forward after dropping off the bodies.