Chapter 402: Chapter 198: Chaotic Situation (2)
Zhao Rui felt this was a bigger headache than facing ten Exotic Beasts.
"Everyone, please quiet down. Zhao Rui just got back. Whatever questions you have, just give him a moment, and he’ll tell everyone."
It was his third uncle, Zhao Jinze, who couldn’t stand it any longer. He subtly used his Inner Strength to quiet the crowd.
These relatives were all ordinary people. Even after the Spiritual Qi Revival, they were at most Level 2 or Level 3 Martial Artists.
At their age, they naturally had no real interest in the Martial Dao.
With his third uncle stepping in, no one dared to ask any more disorderly questions. After all, for the past few years, the "third brother" had become a man with a reputation "on the streets" of the county town.
Even though they were relatives, they had long heard the rumors about him.
Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Zhao Rui explained the basic situation, laying out the options of going to either Jeju or Qingcheng Mountain and letting them make a choice.
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent. Leaving one’s home and hearth was easier said than done.
"Let me get the unpleasantries out of the way," Zhao Jinze said. "Ruirui is taking you all with him for the sake of family. If any of you cause trouble for him, then I’ll be the one to play the bad guy."
Zhao Jinze snorted coldly and casually draped his arm over the back of the sofa, exuding an air of dominance.
"Third Brother, what are you talking about? We’re all family. You’re going too far."
Zhao Rui’s great-aunt couldn’t help but glare at Zhao Jinze.
"I’m just saying the hard truth upfront, Sis. It’s not like you don’t know what Rishi is like, with all the refugees."
"Do you think we’re that clueless? You’re just showing off. Of course we’ll listen to Ruirui."
Having saved some face, Zhao Rui’s great-aunt took the opportunity to back down gracefully, thus making her position clear as his aunt.
"We have no objections, of course."
Zhao Rui’s maternal uncles and aunts immediately followed suit, voicing their agreement.
During this time, Rishi had descended into chaos. Although Martial Dao masters from all over had gone there to protect it, each time the Exotic Beasts rampaged, there were numerous casualties among ordinary people.
It was already comparable to a war.
As a result, many locals began to move their families inland.
As a region neighboring Rishi, Zhao Rui’s hometown naturally bore the brunt of this, and was soon flooded with outsiders.
Although much of the footage of the tragic situation in Rishi was restricted on television and online, the stories told by the refugees could not be faked.
Everyone had naturally heard about it.
Moreover, the Exotic Beasts had now broken through the Rishi defense line and were encroaching on the mainland.
They spent every day in fear for their lives.
This was also why everyone had so readily agreed the moment Zhao Jinze offered to lead them away from their hometown.
Since everyone had reached a consensus, Zhao Rui immediately arranged for them to temporarily relocate to a city at the foot of Qingcheng Mountain.
They would wait for the Exotic Beast invasion to pass before deciding on their next steps.
Zhao Rui wasn’t a man with no attachments; he couldn’t just stand by and ignore his friends and relatives being caught in the chaos of the Exotic Beasts.
Perhaps it is in those moments of compassion that a person can truly be called human.
With the follow-up arrangements made and their worries assuaged, everyone, having not gathered like this for a long time, broke into a joyful and lively atmosphere.
「The next day.」
While Zhao Rui was still asleep, he received a call from Daoist Yu.
He said that fellow practitioners from the Dongqi Martial Arts world, including the Qingcheng Sect and the Taishan Sect, wished to pay him a visit.
Zhao Rui wasn’t surprised. After all, he had made an appearance in Lin City, so of course these guardians of Dongqi would know about him.
After hanging up, before it was even noon, Zhao Rui met with Daoist Cang Zhenzi of the Qingcheng Sect, whom he had met before. The two of them had become acquainted after a past conflict.
The representative from the Taishan Sect was no stranger either; it was Master Qingyang, who had helped surround and attack Cangwu Zi that day.
They were all old acquaintances.
Besides these two and their disciples, there were also people from other Sects in the Dongqi Martial Arts community.
Prestigious Sects like the Lao Mountain Sect and the Kunyu Sect had all sent Elders.
Speaking of the Kunyu Sect, it was the ancestral home of the old Quanzhen Sect. Its signature Martial Art, the Purple Mist Divine Skill, was said to be profoundly mysterious.
It was said that when practiced to a high enough level, one could emit an ultimate divine light of purple mist.
It lived up to its poetic description: "At dawn the sword draws purple qi; its hundred-foot gleam outshines the rosy clouds!"
Zhao Rui had long wanted to witness its power for himself, but the opportunity had never arisen.
He never expected to meet someone from the Kunyu Sect today.
"This is Master Changkong of the Kunyu Sect, and this is Mr. Shaowu of the Lao Mountain Sect..."
Master Qingyang made the introductions for both sides.
"Greetings, Zhao Zhenren!"
"Blessed Infinite Celestial Venerable!"
Zhao Rui, this fake Daoist, found that as his Power deepened, his identity grew ever more mysterious.
He had gone from being Elder Zhao to Zhao Zhenren.
There was no helping it; he was too young. They couldn’t very well call him Student Zhao, could they?
His fellow practitioners in the Martial Arts world simply chose to ignore his identity as a Dongqi University student.
They only tacitly acknowledged him as an Elder of the Qingcheng Sword Sect.
After exchanging greetings, the group sat down in the reception hall of the Martial Arts Hall and began their conversation.
"Zhao Zhenren, your safe return is truly a blessing for the Central Plains Martial Arts, and an even greater blessing for our Dongqi Province."
Master Qingyang said with a smile.
"You flatter me. I was just lucky to survive, but I suppose it was an eye-opening experience."
Zhao Rui replied with a faint smile.
"Yes, the Land of Return is far vaster and more complex than the Central Plains. We spent many years in Gui Xu, but never once ventured into the depths of the Manghuang wilderness to explore..."
Master Qingyang paused for a moment before continuing, "You must have witnessed the power of the Returning Ruins Beasts, Zhenren. They are now pouring out endlessly through the Two Realms Passage. It is truly worrying."
"I’ve only just arrived and have only heard rumors of this matter. Master Qingyang, please explain in detail."
Zhao Rui asked, his brow furrowed.
"Ever since you were swept away by the Two Realms Passage, Zhenren, the passage has been completely open. At first, only a few scattered Exotic Beasts came through, and they were all eliminated by the people of East Japan..."
"Later, the lands of East Japan fell completely, and the Exotic Beasts began to disperse and migrate in all directions..."
"Although the number of Exotic Beasts that have entered the Dongqi Peninsula is limited, most of them are extremely powerful and incredibly destructive."
Master Qingyang shook his head and continued, "For now, we can only rush around putting out fires, but we’re stretched thin."
"Hasn’t the Court arranged for other masters to come and help?"
Zhao Rui asked curiously.
"Arrangements have been made. As soon as the population of Rishi is evacuated, the area will be turned into a front line, and the army will be stationed there."
Master Qingyang explained the situation.
Zhao Rui now had a general understanding of the situation.
For now, the Exotic Beasts were only making landfall sporadically, but their individual strength was impressive. Because of the dense population, the army couldn’t use heavy firepower.
They could only rely on the True Dharma Masters from the various Sects to drive them away.
This was the situation in Dongqi, and things weren’t much better in Fuguo. Although there weren’t as many there, traces of Exotic Beasts had already been found.
"However, we did not come here today about the matter of the Exotic Beasts."
Cang Zhenzi spoke in a solemn voice after Master Qingyang finished.
"Not about the Exotic Beasts?"
Zhao Rui was taken aback. He frowned and asked in return, "Could it be that there’s another powerful enemy?"
"Indeed!"
Cang Zhenzi glanced at the others, his expression grave. "According to a message sent back by a certain Sect senior who is traveling, there seems to be a strange development deep within Gui Xu. This is what caused the Returning Ruins Beasts to rampage and the conflict between the Great Shang and Great Zhou..."
"..."
Zhao Rui was visibly startled. No matter how terrifying an open threat was, one could always find a way to deal with it.
But it was the unknown threats, lurking in the shadows, that were the most terrifying.
"What a troubled time. Is there any way to seal all the passages?"
Zhao Rui asked, frowning.
"We do not know."
Everyone shook their heads. They weren’t among the top-tier Sects of the Central Plains Dynasty; they likely weren’t qualified to know such secrets.
"However, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. We just wanted to inform you in advance, Zhenren, so you can prepare."
"Mm."
Zhao Rui nodded.
The group then chatted idly about the local customs and interesting tales of Gui Xu, as well as recent events in the Central Plains Martial Arts.
They chatted like this for an hour. Finally satisfied, the group prepared to leave.
But before they could even rise, Master Qingyang received a phone call.
"What’s wrong?"
"It’s a beast tide! There are at least five of them."
Master Qingyang said in a grim voice.
Everyone was stunned.
"To think a beast tide would break out the moment we were away! Those sons of bitches!" Mr. Shaowu of the Lao Mountain Sect roared, his face crimson with anger.
"In that case, Zhao Zhenren, we’ll have to get together another day."
Qingyang and the others all rose to their feet, bowed, and quickly left the Martial Arts Hall.
"Let’s hurry on foot. The cars probably won’t make it in time."
"It’s the only way."
The True Dharma Masters leaped into the air. In a flash of movement, they had already vanished into the distance.
Only a few disciples who were unable to fly were left behind. They got into their cars and sped hurriedly back.
