With virtue

Finally, after calling Zhang Wang to wake up, Zhang Wang desperately lay back down, and the young Taoist priest was truly at his wit's end.

What could he do? Wake them up one by one, then knock them unconscious and drag them away? That would only result in dragging away a few walking corpses, a futile effort.

As long as that dream has existed, these people will not be able to wake up no matter what, unless they come out of it themselves. The only way to cure it is to find the root of the dream.

But what the root cause is, or even where this place is, is completely a mystery. There's no clue, so we need to go and look around first.

Seeing that he didn't speak, the youngest girl beside him cautiously asked, "Master Dao? You ate candy too? Are you worried you won't get any? Then you..."

Zhao Yunshu was pulled back from her thoughts by her words, shook her head, and said, "I didn't eat it, don't worry."

"Oh," the younger sister said, then walked over cautiously, seemingly still a little wary, but she also knew that she couldn't stay here forever.

No matter what, we have to try to go out into the world.

Zhao Yunshu looked at her younger sister walking over and was about to say something to her when she heard a rustling sound outside, as if something was rubbing against something.

The sound wasn't quiet, but if you weren't paying attention, you might mistake it for the wind rustling through grass. However, Zhao Yunshu was absolutely certain that it was the sound of clothing fabric rubbing together during movement.

The younger sister heard it too, and she also showed a frightened expression, becoming somewhat nervous.

Zhao Yunshu gestured for her to be quiet and find a place to hide. Then, he made a talisman in his palm, gripped his longsword behind his head with his other hand, and crouched down as he walked towards the cave entrance.

The little girl was also very clever. Although she was nervous, she didn't cry or make a fuss. She shrank back into the ditch, slowed her breathing, and curled up into a ball. If you didn't look closely, you wouldn't even know there was someone inside.

Zhao Yunshu was very satisfied with this, and then carefully went out of the cave to find the source of the sound.

It was already dusk outside, with only a sliver of sunset glow on the horizon. The sun had already set, leaving only its last rays illuminating the sky. The moon had risen, and soon it would be completely dark.

He held his breath, concealed himself against the rocks outside, and walked around a small circle before discovering the footprints.

With the footprints in his hand, he became even more cautious. At this critical juncture, at this time, anyone appearing in this peculiar place must be no ordinary person.

He caught up with the footsteps, his movements a little more forceful, and he darted out from behind the rock that was concealing his body. At the same time, a face appeared right in front of him.

The two faces collided head-on, and both were clearly startled!

Zhao Yunshu leaped backward! In that split second, he had already noticed that his opponent was holding a weapon, so he drew his own sword, leaped backward, and assumed a fighting stance.

The opponent's movements were almost identical to Zhao Yunshu's. He also did a somersault, flipping back onto a rock and drawing his sword the instant he flipped over. With one hand, he pointed the sword at the little Taoist priest!

The two men, each holding a sword, stood locked in a stalemate on the rocks at the cave entrance, neither making the first move.

The other person sized up the young Taoist priest, and the young Taoist priest sized up the other person in return. The person in front of them was actually a woman!

She appeared to be young, perhaps a little older than the young Taoist priest, probably in her early twenties. She was dressed as a martial arts practitioner, with her hair tied up tightly with a handkerchief to prevent it from getting in her way and affecting her vision and movement. She wore a short, fitted outfit and thick-soled boots. Her face was slightly pale, and there was some cold sweat on her forehead, clearly indicating that she had been frightened.

The two stood facing each other, neither speaking. A gentle breeze blew by, stirring up some dust and a few withered leaves. The scene remained completely still, as if a crow was about to fly in and caw out a string of ellipses.

However, the woman opposite him was clearly less courageous than the young Taoist priest. She seemed quite frightened by the place, and immediately stared at him, asking, "Who are you? Are you a human or a ghost? What kind of place is this?!"

Zhao Yunshu did not reply. At this moment, he and the woman were about ten feet apart, their eyes meeting.

"I also want to ask you, are you a human or a ghost?" Zhao Yunshu said.

The woman snorted coldly, thrusting her longsword forward again. The tip of the sword danced in the twilight as she twirled it: "You Taoist priest, if I were a ghost, you'd be lying on the ground right now."

Seeing this, Zhao Yunshu immediately stepped forward!

The woman panicked, but her eyes remained focused, and she immediately accepted the attack! The two clashed, their swords intertwining, exchanging blows in the air for a few moments. Zhao Yunshu's swordsmanship was unleashed, instantly forcing her opponent to pale in comparison!

To be honest, this woman's swordsmanship was not bad. Although her strength was insufficient and seemed weak, she actually seemed to have a hidden trick up her sleeve.

However, the young Taoist priest did not show off his moves, did not crave clever tricks, and did not pursue weaknesses. He simply overwhelmed people with his strength, as solid as earth and stone, landing steadily and accurately. Every sword strike was just right to overwhelm the opponent.

Please visit [website address] to see the latest chapter! Address: dEqixs.oRg In just two or three rounds, the winner was decided.

The woman was caught in a dilemma. She couldn't advance, and if she retreated, she would be struck by a sword. She could only stand there, holding the sword with both hands and struggling to support herself. But after four or five blows, she felt her wrists were sore and her hands were numb. Her arms were no longer usable.

In her predicament, a flash of anger crossed the woman's eyes. She gritted her teeth, as if she was about to unleash her ultimate move!

Just then, Zhao Yunshu jumped back, sheathed his longsword with a crisp sound, and the sword light vanished instantly, along with the oppressive feeling, as if the world had become clear and quiet after a storm.

"If I were a ghost, you'd be lying on the ground right now," Zhao Yunshu said with a laugh.

The woman glared, but dared not retort, knowing she had already lost. Although she still had a backup plan, she wasn't one to renege on a defeat. She sheathed her sword, adopting a more masculine demeanor, and said, "Well done, Taoist! But I am an upright and honest man, my name is Bai Qian!"

"Zhao Yunshu." The young Taoist priest cupped his hands in greeting.

After he finished speaking, he looked the woman up and down again.

The other person was dressed as a man, not in the kind of "woman dressed as a man" who deliberately accentuates her waist and wears makeup and eyeshadow, but in the proper attire of a江湖人 (jianghu person, a person from the martial arts world). Her hair was tied up tightly and her clothes were ordinary. With this outfit, even if she had ten points of color, it would cover up seven or eight points.

Moreover, she kept calling herself "young master," which was a bit funny. However, he knew that the world was not peaceful these days, and it was common for women to disguise themselves as men when they went out to travel. He didn't find it particularly strange, but he couldn't help but find it amusing to hear her arrogant tone.

Moreover... when they looked at each other, they both saw the same thought in each other's eyes.

We've already exchanged blows and confirmed that the other party is human, and they don't seem to have any ill intentions. Since this place is so eerie, anyone who can stay awake here must be extraordinary. In that case... "Bai Qian?" Zhao Yunshu read it once, then laughed, "The name is quite nice, but there's really no need to keep calling me 'Master.' We've all come to this godforsaken place, so we're all in the same boat. Let's talk this out."

Bai Qian sheathed her sword and was about to reach out, clearly intending to give a proper reply. However, she seemed to remember something and withdrew her hand, crossing it to her chest. "Hmph, who's on your side? I prefer to be alone and have no patience for teaming up with others. But since things have come to this point, and you've given your name, I won't stoop to your level. Let me ask you first: did you also wake up inexplicably? When you woke up, did you see anything else?"

To be honest, the other party's attitude wasn't very good, and Zhao Yunshu was actually a little impatient, but since things had come to this point, she decided to reluctantly team up with them. It would be better to have a helper at this time.

"I didn't see anything else. If those sleeping people don't count, how did you get here?" Zhao Yunshu asked.

Bai Qian thought for a moment, then said, "I fell asleep in an inn. My memory is definitely not bad, but that part of the story is a bit blurry... I can't remember it. It's probably because I drank alcohol."

"Drinking?" Zhao Yunshu asked back.

"Well, on my way here, I met two admirers and we drank together. When I woke up, I found myself here. When I got up, I saw that there were living dead everywhere, and I couldn't wake any of them. I was wondering how to get out of here when I wandered around for a bit and then I bumped into you," Bai Qian said.

Zhao Yunshu nodded, glanced back at the cave entrance, and looked around. Seeing the desolate surroundings and the approaching darkness, he said, "It's getting dark. This isn't a safe place. Let's not make a move yet and wait until we've investigated the situation."

"Okay." Bai Qian nodded.

Zhao Yunshu then clapped his hands and shouted, "Little sister! It's alright! Come out."

After he finished speaking, a little girl carefully and tiptoed out of the cave.

Upon seeing the little girl and then the Taoist priest Zhao Yunshu, Bai Qian's expression clearly showed wariness. Bai Qian gestured towards the direction of his younger sister, and asked Zhao Yunshu with some apprehension, "Who is this little girl? Is she also from the cave? Did you kidnap her?"

Zhao Yunshu said, "We met here too. She was awake just like us. Are you afraid of a little girl?"

Bai Qian scoffed and waved his hand: "When you're in the martial world, there are three types of people you shouldn't mess with. I'm just being a little wary."

As she spoke, she pointed at Zhao Yunshu, then at Yaomei, and then at herself, looking every bit the seasoned veteran.

Zhao Yunshu was naturally aware of the saying "three people you shouldn't mess with".

The so-called "three people you shouldn't mess with" are monks and Taoists, the disabled, and children.

Traveling alone in the martial world is extremely dangerous, so everyone has their own means of self-defense. It would be one thing if an adult were to carry a weapon for self-defense.

If you encounter these three types of people, and they dare to travel alone in the martial arts world, then they are most likely to possess extraordinary skills and cannot be judged by their appearance.

He and his younger sister, a Taoist priest and a child, perfectly embodied both. He couldn't help but laugh out loud: "You seem to have a lot of experience traveling the world?"

The reason it was considered minor was because these things were just rumors and misinformation, and Zhao Yunshu knew they shouldn't be taken seriously.

A capable person is capable no matter what, regardless of their appearance. In fact, there are more skilled people among middle-aged people, such as Anhe.

Upon hearing this question, Bai Qian immediately puffed out her chest proudly and said, "Of course! My name, 'A Gust of Wind' Bai Qian, is not just for show! Didn't I just say that I met some admirers, and on a whim, I drank a couple of cups of wine with them, and only after getting drunk did I end up in this godforsaken place? Otherwise, who could have caught me?" She spoke with great confidence, showing no trace of her previous wariness and worry.

The little girl, for reasons unknown, looked up with surprise and admiration, clapping her hands and exclaiming, "So it's a hero! We're saved!"

Bai Qian was extremely pleased and said, "Of course."

She stepped forward and tugged at Bai Qian, saying, "Hero, hero, I'm so scared! Do you know the way out?"

Bai Qian's expression froze, her previous expression stuck on her face.

However, she didn't stay stunned for long. She coughed, patted her younger sister's head, looked around at the vast wilderness, looked back at the cave full of people, and forced herself to say, "Hehe... we don't know now, but we'll find out once we look for it, won't we? With me here, I won't let you two weaklings die in this desolate wilderness."

As she spoke, she patted her younger sister's head and then stole a glance at Zhao Yunshu.

Zhao Yunshu simply smiled and nodded without saying anything more, saying, "Then please lead the way, Hero Bai."

Bai Qian glared at him, raised his nose, and said, "Hmph, just follow me. I have my own way of finding the way."

After saying that, she took her younger sister's hand, tossed her head, and took the lead, starting to descend the mountain path.

The younger sister was led by her, stumbling along behind. Zhao Yunshu followed as well, but as he walked, he looked back at the cave.

Hmm... that's fine then. The three of them followed the mountain path down in the dark. To Zhao Yunshu's surprise, Bai Qian really did have a knack for finding his way. Sometimes he would look at the stars, sometimes he would look for blades of grass. He was quite the expert.

And just like that, she actually figured out a path! And it was obvious that someone had been there before. The three of them followed the path down the mountain, and after walking for about two miles, they used their lightness skills to jump down several cliffs, saving a lot of distance.

Then we reached the foot of the mountain, and after turning a corner, we saw a lone courtyard in a sheltered spot at the foot of the mountain, which looked like there was only one family living there.

The courtyard wasn't large; it consisted of a main hall and two side rooms, which together formed a courtyard. A wall was used to block out the gaps, and the houses inside were nothing more than mud walls and thatched roofs, with all the doors and windows tightly closed and no lights on.

Zhao Yunshu stopped when she saw the house, turned to Bai Qian, and asked in a low voice, "What do you mean?"

Bai Qian gripped the hilt of his sword, squinted, and cautiously peered at the house. He said, "In this desolate wilderness, there's only one house, and so many people sleeping on the mountain. There must be something fishy going on. But, knowing there are tigers in the mountains, I still venture into the tiger's den. I want to see who's causing trouble here."

She spoke with great confidence and showed no fear as she walked towards the house, sword in hand.