My Years as a Menace in the Sect

A heavy, mountain-like pressure pressed down from the direction of the Qi family, drilling into the bones along his spine. His jaw ached from clenching his teeth, and the pot on his back felt as heavy as if it were welded to his flesh. He steadied himself by holding onto a tree trunk, his fingertips digging into the bark, sawdust embedding under his nails, causing a tingling pain.

Zhang He collapsed to the ground, his face as white as paper, coughing and gasping for breath, blood and foam spilling from the corners of his mouth. "It's the Ancestor... Qi Xuan..." His voice trembled uncontrollably, "The old monster who should have passed away thirty years ago actually came back to life through blood sacrifice... The first thing he'll do after emerging from seclusion is definitely to seal off the mountain."

Su Yin stood leaning against a tree trunk, the wound on her left arm reopened, blood dripping from her fingertips and leaving small craters on the ground. She pulled out a communication talisman and held it in her hand, pouring spiritual energy into it for a long time. The talisman only lit up briefly before going dark, like a dead piece of wood. "It's sealed," she said hoarsely. "The entire Sunset Valley is shrouded in his blood aura; the communication talisman can't be sent out."

Wei Ping'an's heart sank to the bottom. The mountain was sealed off. The old monster had just awakened and immediately sealed off the mountain, clearly intending to wipe out all living things in the mountain to prevent any leaks. The three of them were now like turtles in a jar, with nowhere to run.

"There's a pass to the east." Zhang He slowly sat up, catching his breath after a long while. "It was made by hunters in the past, it's very narrow, and it's not on the Qi family's defense map. If we head that way, we might be able to break through. Once we're out of the pass, we'll reach the main road, which is close to the sect's stronghold."

"How far?" Wei Pingan asked.

"At least thirty li."

Thirty li. Normally, running at full speed would take two hours to reach that point. But now, the Qi family is chasing them, the sky is shrouded in bloody mist, and who knows what demons and monsters might be lurking by the roadside.

"Let's go." Su Yin made a decisive decision, bending down to help Zhang He up. "Run as far as you can. If we stay here and wait for him to recover, none of us will be able to escape."

Without a word, Wei Ping'an draped Zhang He's other arm over his shoulder. Zhang He looked thin, but he was surprisingly heavy under his weight. Wei Ping'an staggered before regaining his balance, the pot digging into his back and causing a dull ache.

The three dared not take the main road, choosing instead to venture into the densest ravines. Grass scraped their faces, leaving thin, sticky cuts. No one spoke, only the rapid breathing and the crunching of footsteps on decaying leaves, mingled with the occasional roars of beasts in the distance, creating a suffocating atmosphere. Wei Ping'an would run a few steps and then look back; the crimson light behind them grew thicker, like a rising tide, slowly spreading towards them.

The Qi family hadn't caught up yet, but the chilling killing intent could be felt from miles away. He knew that the old monster had just woken up and his qi and blood were unstable, so he couldn't catch up personally for a while. But he had a lot of men under his command, and if they really cast a wide net, the three of them wouldn't be able to hide.

After running for about ten miles, the forest ahead suddenly became incredibly dense. Towering ancient trees stood side by side, their branches intertwined, blocking out even the sunlight. The ground was covered with a thick layer of decaying leaves, which felt soft underfoot, like stepping on a dead body.

"Something's not right." Su Yin stopped first, leaned Zhang He against the tree trunk, and silently gripped the long whip in her hand. "It's too quiet."

Wei Ping'an also sensed something was wrong. There wasn't even the chirping of insects; it was deathly silent, except for the whistling sound of the wind whistling through the treetops, like weeping. Just as he was about to suggest taking a detour, the bushes on his left suddenly moved.

Suddenly, several dark figures darted out, their blades flashing with a cold light, heading straight for the three men's faces—they were members of the Qi family, each with their faces smeared with black ash, and the blades in their hands were poisoned, gleaming with a dark light.

"Here they are!" the leader shouted, his voice shrill and high-pitched. "Catch them, and the Ancestor will reward you!"

Su Yin flicked her whip, sending it lashing out like a black ribbon, striking the wrist of the man at the front. A sharp crack echoed as the knife fell to the ground, and the man screamed in pain, clutching his arm. Wei Ping'an pushed Zhang He behind a tree, untied the black pot, and held it in his hand, facing the two men charging towards them.

The knife clanged against the pot, sparks flying all over his face. Using the recoil, he slammed forward, the edge of the pot striking the man squarely in the chest. The man groaned and fell backward, unable to get up for a long time. They were all disciples at the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refining, not too difficult to deal with, but their numbers were overwhelming. A dozen more appeared from all sides, surrounding the three, their blades flashing like a dense net, raining down on them. Su Yin gritted her teeth and endured, her whip lashing out relentlessly, but the wound on her left arm was widening, her movements gradually slowing. A member of the Qi family seized an opening and slashed her arm, adding another deep gash.

"Senior Sister!" Wei Ping'an called out, trying to go help, but he was held back by two people. Anxious, he became ruthless, swinging the pot around and smashing it down, aiming specifically at people's heads, stunning them instantly. He then pulled out two packets of sleeping powder, aiming for the wind and scattering them. The white powder drifted with the wind, and those who touched it clutched their faces, rolling on the ground in pain. Chaos erupted instantly.

"Let's go!" Wei Ping'an shouted, picked up the pot again, helped Zhang He up, and Su Yin brought up the rear. The three of them rushed into the depths of the forest.

She hadn't run far when Su Yin swayed and almost fell over.

"How are you?" Wei Pingan helped her up.

"It's alright," she said, her face pale and her lips bloodless. "The knife was poisoned... but it wasn't serious, I can manage."

Wei Ping'an looked down at her arm. The area around the wound had turned black and was swollen badly. It was serious; if she endured it for another half an hour, her entire arm would be ruined. He gritted his teeth and pulled out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket. It contained three antidote pills given to him by Old Man Zheng. He poured one out and gave it to Su Yin: "Take this first to calm it down."

Su Yin accepted the pill without hesitation and swallowed it. The pill melted instantly in her mouth, and a cool sensation went down her throat, slightly reducing the numbness in her arm. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." Wei Ping'an waved his hand, but his heart was heavy. "Running like this isn't going to work. The Qi family is gathering more and more people, and we'll be worn down before we even reach the pass."

Zhang He coughed twice, his breathing even weaker: "Ahead... there's a fork in the road. To the left is a small path leading to the pass, to the right is Black Pine Slope. The path is treacherous, the forest dense, and it's easy to hide there. They must be guessing we're heading towards the pass..." Wei Ping'an immediately understood—a feint. But someone had to distract the pursuers. He looked at Su Yin, then at the nearly unconscious Zhang He. Su Yin was injured and had to take care of Zhang He; she couldn't distract anyone, only he could.

He had a pot, could carry heavy loads, and was good at running and navigating through the woods. When the thought popped into his head, he was startled. Was he crazy? Leading away the pursuers was like pushing himself into a fire pit; he might even perish there. But looking at Su Yin's pale face and Zhang He's unsteady gait, his feet felt like they were nailed to the ground. He couldn't just abandon them and run away. It wasn't some grand sense of righteousness; it just felt wrong. That girl had just taken a knife for him, and Zhang He hadn't offended him. To just abandon them like that would keep him up at night.

"Okay." Wei Ping'an took a deep breath and lifted the black pot higher. "When we get to the fork in the road, you go left to the pass. I'll go right and lead the people to Black Pine Slope. Once I shake them off, I'll go around and meet up with you."

"No way," Su Yin immediately objected. "It's too dangerous. There are Foundation Establishment stage elders in the Qi family. You're only at the second level of Qi Refining. If you encounter them, you won't be able to escape."

"What should we do then?" Wei Ping'an looked at her. "The three of us will go together, and none of us can escape. I have a pot, which can hold them off for a while, and I can get through the woods quickly; they won't be able to catch me. You take Zhang He and hurry to the pass. Once you're out, send a signal for reinforcements. I'll hold out until the sect arrives." He spoke casually, but inside he was incredibly anxious. Hold out until the sect arrives? Who knew when the sect would arrive? He might be dead by then, and reinforcements might still be on their way. But there was no other way. Su Yin wanted to say something, but footsteps came from behind, growing louder and louder, and someone shouted, "They're running that way!" There was no time to hesitate.

"It's settled then!" Wei Ping'an pushed her and stuffed the remaining antidote pills and dry rations into her hands. "Hurry up and go! Remember to burn some paper money for me when you get out... no, remember to call for reinforcements!" Before Su Yin could reply, he deliberately shouted, "Listen up, Qi family! Your grandpa's right here! Come and catch me if you dare!" After shouting, he grabbed the black pot and ran off towards the black pine slope on the right, throwing stones behind him as he ran, making a huge commotion.

The pursuers were indeed drawn over, and a large group of them followed his voice towards Black Pine Slope. Su Yin stood at the fork in the road, watching Wei Ping'an's figure disappear into the woods, her fingers clenched until they turned white.

"Senior Sister Su...we..." Zhang He said weakly.

"Let's go," Su Yin gritted her teeth, her eyes a little red, "hurry to the pass, send a signal, and call for help to rescue him." She helped Zhang He turn around and walk quickly down the path to the left without looking back.

Wei Ping'an ran wildly through the woods. The shadows of the trees swept past him, and the pine needles stung his face. He dared not look back, only hearing the footsteps behind him growing closer and closer, and someone shouting, "Don't let him get away!" The trees on Black Pine Slope were tall and dense, and the ground was covered with slippery pine needles. As he ran, he deliberately avoided the tall trees, choosing to run through the low branches. The people behind him, being taller, were often scraped by the branches, slowing them down considerably.

After running for about half an incense stick's time, he seized an opportunity and darted into the bushes beside him, holding his breath and crouching low. The pursuers rushed past him without noticing him.

Wei Ping'an breathed a sigh of relief and was just about to change direction when a cold snort suddenly came from above: "Little mouse, still trying to hide?" A dark figure fell from the tree. The figure was thin with a goatee and wore a black robe. He held a dragon-headed cane in his hand, and his eyes were sinister. His cultivation level was so high that it was hard to breathe. It was Qi Kun, the second elder of the Qi family, with the cultivation level of the early Foundation Establishment stage.

Wei Ping'an's heart leaped into his throat. Just as he feared, his worst nightmare came true. Without a word, he turned and ran. Qi Kun sneered and slammed his cane on the ground. A splinter shot out from the ground, heading straight for Wei Ping'an's foot. Wei Ping'an lunged forward, falling and rolling to avoid it. The splinter grazed his back, tearing his clothes, and left a white mark on the edge of the pot.

"Run? Let's see where you run." Qi Kun walked forward slowly, his cane tapping on the ground like a death knell. "Hand over the Xuanwen Pot, and I'll give you a quick death. Otherwise, I'll break your bones one by one."

Wei Ping'an got up and leaned against a large pine tree, holding the pot in front of him. His palms were sweaty and slippery, and his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of his throat.

He's only at the Foundation Establishment stage, not even at the third level of Qi Refining. Fighting someone at the Foundation Establishment stage is like an egg hitting a rock. He could only dodge that attack, but he wouldn't be able to dodge a few more.

"Want the pot?" Wei Ping'an shouted deliberately, panting. "Come and get it yourself if you dare! That's all the Qi family is capable of, bullying the weak. What kind of people are you!" He shouted as he quickly scanned the surrounding terrain.

Behind him was a steep slope, the bottom of which was pitch black and he didn't know how deep it was. Beside him stood a crooked pine tree with its branches stretching out long. There were many loose stones on the ground, as well as the half-packet of lime powder he had just hidden. He definitely couldn't win a direct confrontation, so he had to resort to underhanded tactics.

Qi Kun's face darkened as he was scolded, and he swung his cane, sending a gust of wind blade through the air. Wei Ping'an was prepared and ducked to the side. The wind blade struck the pine tree, and the tree, as thick as a bowl, was cut in half and fell down with a loud crash.

Taking advantage of the swirling dust, Wei Ping'an grabbed some lime powder from the ground and threw it at Qi Kun's face, the white powder scattering everywhere. "A mere trick." Qi Kun sneered, flicking his sleeve and sending a gust of wind sweeping away the lime powder, which all bounced back and headed straight for Wei Ping'an.

Wei Ping'an quickly held the pot in front of his face, the lime powder falling from its surface. In the blink of an eye, Qi Kun was already there, his cane slamming into the pot with a powerful thud. The loud bang made Wei Ping'an's ears ring, and he was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into a tree trunk. His back ached as if it were splitting open, and a mouthful of blood spurted from his throat, splashing onto the rim of the pot. The blood seeped into the grooves, disappearing in the blink of an eye, just like last time, and the tadpole-shaped grooves on the rim of the pot began to glow faintly again.

Qi Kun walked over and looked down at him, his eyes greedily fixed on the black pot: "It really is a Xuanwen pot... It's a pity it's in the hands of a good-for-nothing like you, what a waste." He reached out to grab the pot.

Wei Ping'an gritted his teeth and used all his strength to push the pot forward. Just then, a warm current surged from the pot, spreading from his arm throughout his body. His internal organs, which had been injured by the shock, no longer hurt so much. A heavy force surged from the bottom of the pot and gathered at the rim, emitting a bright black light. Qi Kun's expression changed, and he tried to stop, but it was too late. With a loud bang, the black light struck his chest.

Qi Kun let out a muffled groan and flew backward, crashing heavily to the ground. His crutch flew a considerable distance. He clutched his chest, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth; several of his ribs were broken. "Impossible..." he stared at Wei Ping'an in disbelief, "How could you, a mere Qi Refining Stage Two cultivator, possibly activate the Mystic Pattern Cauldron..."

Wei Ping'an was also in bad shape. That sudden movement felt like it had drained all his spiritual energy, leaving his dantian empty and so weak he didn't even have the strength to lift his hand. He slowly stood up, supporting himself with the pot, his legs trembling. The pot had moved on its own, not him; he didn't have that ability. But he couldn't say that.

He deliberately took a step forward while holding the pot, pretending that he still had plenty of energy left: "Now you know how powerful your grandpa is, right? If you come any closer, I'll blast you to smithereens."

Qi Kun clutched his chest, his eyes filled with malice. He could tell that the kid was at his last gasp; that last blow had completely drained him.

"Playing tricks," he gritted his teeth and slowly stood up. "I'll see how long you can last." He said, about to make another move.

Wei Ping'an's heart skipped a beat; he was done for. He instinctively backed away, but his heel slipped, and behind him was a steep slope. Gravel cascaded down, but the sound of it hitting the ground was barely audible. Qi Kun approached step by step, a sinister smile on his face: "Run, why aren't you running anymore? Leave the pot behind, and I'll leave you a whole corpse."

Wei Ping'an looked at him, then glanced down at the abyss behind him. Going down there was a nine-out-of-ten chance of death; falling into Qi Kun's hands meant certain death. He gritted his teeth, "Damn it, I'll gamble."

"Want the pot?" Wei Ping'an chuckled, blood still dripping from the corner of his mouth, his smile somewhat eerie. "Come down and get it yourself!" He leaned back, clutching the black pot, and plummeted straight down. The wind howled past his ears, stinging his face.

Qi Kun rushed to the edge of the cliff, only to see nothing below, shrouded in mist. He reached out and grabbed a handful of pine needles. "Damn it!" He kicked a rock hard, his chest aching with anger, his broken ribs bleeding again. He stood on the edge for a long time, but there was no movement below. At such a high cliff, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would be smashed to pieces if they fell, let alone someone at the second level of Qi Refining. What a pity for that Xuanwen Pot.

Qi Kun hesitated for a while with a gloomy face, but ultimately dared not go down to search. The bottom of the cliff was a notorious mass grave, full of miasma and poisonous insects; once inside, it was difficult to get out. "Hmph, you're lucky, you died a quick death." He spat, clutched his chest, and slowly turned back.

At the bottom of the cliff. Wei Ping'an was awakened by the pain. His bones felt like they were shattered, and even the slightest movement caused excruciating pain. He lay sprawled on a thick layer of decaying leaves, the black pot resting on his chest, preventing him from falling directly onto the rocks. The pot had saved his life.

He tried to get up, but his arms were as weak as noodles. He tried to push himself up twice but failed and fell back down heavily. His vision blurred and he felt extremely dizzy. He turned his head to the side and pressed his face against the damp soil. He could smell the decaying leaves, mold, and a faint smell of blood.

It was pitch black all around except for a sliver of sky overhead, and the mist drifted around him, feeling cool and refreshing. He didn't know if Su Yin and Zhang He had escaped, when the sect would send someone, or if there was anything else at the bottom of the cliff. He tried to reach out and touch the pot, but his hand gave way halfway, and his eyelids grew heavier and heavier, as if weighed down by lead.

Just as he was about to faint, he heard rustling sounds coming from the bushes not far away. It was slow and soft, inching closer, as if something had smelled blood and was slowly approaching. Wei Ping'an tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids were too heavy to lift. He could only rely on his sense of touch to reach for the remaining half-packet of chili powder in his pocket and hold it in his palm.

The footsteps stopped beside him, a shadow fell over him, blocking out the only light overhead, and a cold hand gently rested on his wrist.