Chapter 380 - 375: Escape

After a short rest, the nine Foundation Establishment Cultivators came over to Du Youqian, bowing solemnly to thank him. "Thank you for intervening, Master. We will surely repay you for saving our lives!"

Du Youqian said indifferently, "There’s no need to rush your thanks. We aren’t out of danger yet."

One who looked rather quick-witted asked, "Master, you seem to have a plan? I was wondering if you could take us with you when you leave."

"I don’t have a foolproof plan, just a risky gamble," Du Youqian said. "The Red-eyed Stone Dragons probably can’t tell human faces apart. To them, we all look the same, just as they all look the same to us. You can proceed with composure. Two of you will pose as Transporters, and the rest will keep their shackles on and act like captives. However, if we’re unlucky enough to be discovered, I can guarantee my own safety, but I don’t have the ability to protect the rest of you."

The quick-witted Cultivator hurried to say, "How could we dare trouble you to act on our behalf again and again, Master! If we are discovered, it’s just our bad luck. We will not be a burden to you. The plan is excellent. Those Red-eyed Stone Dragons already know this organization’s convoy passes through their territory, so they probably won’t even bother with a careful inspection."

Du Youqian glanced at the man, then at the Mortals who were trembling in terror. "You all aren’t the problem. They are."

The Foundation Establishment Cultivators fell silent.

They all understood what Du Youqian meant.

These Mortals were supposed to have been left on this Oasis as Blood Food, to be devoured by the Red-eyed Stone Dragons.

If they continued on with these Mortals, it would definitely arouse suspicion.

But not taking them—leaving them here to be food for the Red-eyed Stone Dragons—seemed too cruel, too heartless.

Although Cultivators had a tendency to no longer see Mortals as the same species, they ultimately shared the same origin. Seeing Mortals in distress still stirred a flicker of compassion in their hearts.

The Mortals looked at the rivers of blood flowing around them and the hideous, terrifying corpses of the Red-eyed Stone Dragons. They were so frightened they wanted to cry, but they didn’t dare.

Even the mouths of crying infants were covered by their mothers to stifle any sound.

Hearing the Immortal Masters discussing their fate, they didn’t dare utter a word to interrupt, their hearts pounding in silent suspense.

It was because Du Youqian couldn’t bear to watch them become food for the Demon Race that he had abandoned his original plan, acted prematurely, and saved them.

But now, no matter how he racked his brain, he could find no way to truly save them.

In the Cultivation Realm, the immense gap in one’s Cultivation level could not be bridged by courage or wisdom.

This was an objective reality.

Du Youqian simply didn’t have the ability to escape with so many liabilities in tow, not while being hunted by several Tier Four Demon Kings, at least a dozen Tier Three Demon Kings, and countless Tier Two Demons.

With a sigh, Du Youqian said to the Mortals, "Get something to eat and try to sleep. We’ll deal with things in the morning."

Since the plan was to brazenly continue posing as the slaving organization, they had to stick to that organization’s schedule.

The slavers had planned to depart in the morning, so they had to depart in the morning as well.

Any deviation from the routine could arouse the suspicion of the Red-eyed Stone Dragons.

Trembling with apprehension, the Mortals did their best to find spots to lie down that were clear of blood and corpses, but many tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

The cold of the Oasis and their tattered clothes were partly to blame. But the main reason was the overwhelming anxiety for their future; not knowing if they would survive to see tomorrow made sleep impossible.

Du Youqian didn’t sleep either.

With his level of Cultivation, he could go for years without sleep.

Watching the Mortals toss and turn, he felt no great stirrings of emotion.

’He was a complete stranger to these people; how could he possibly feel any strong emotional attachment?’

’It’s just that, as a Cultivator of the Human Race, he felt it was his duty to stop his own people from becoming food for Demons.’

That was why he had acted without a second thought.

Only after saving them did he realize his miscalculation.

’For one, he wasn’t willing to sacrifice himself for these people.’

’And even if he were, it would be impossible to get them to safety while surrounded by powerful enemies.’

’He couldn’t see the rescue through to the end.’

’The hope he’d given these people today would only equal the despair they’d feel tomorrow.’

’What should I do?’

In his heart, Du Youqian already had an answer.

It was just...

Looking at the Mortals, he sighed softly.

’I’ll deal with it in the morning.’

「The next day, before dawn.」

Du Youqian gathered the Foundation Establishment Cultivators and got straight to the point. "Have any of you thought of a good way to get them all out of here safely?"

The Cultivators all shook their heads in silence.

"Alright, I understand. Bring them all here."

Soon, a hundred or so men, women, and children of all ages gathered before Du Youqian, their eyes filled with hope.

Du Youqian opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

For the first time, he deeply understood.

If the Human Race could not once again win divine favor and repel the Demon Race...

...tragedies like this were doomed to repeat themselves, over and over.

Du Youqian considered for a moment, then spoke. "Although I saved you last night, I can’t get all of you out of here."

Watching the hope in their eyes curdle into despair, Du Youqian felt a pang in his own heart.

He added, "All the children... and their parents, step forward. I will find a way to take you with me."

A young mother burst into tears of joy on the spot, rushing forward while clutching the infant in her arms.

The other young men and women with children followed suit, stepping out of the crowd.

The rest of the people, though unable to accept their fate, could only plead in soft whispers. No one dared to cause a scene in front of the Immortal Master.

Du Youqian counted. Including the children, a total of only eleven people had stepped forward.

This was the absolute limit he could take.

Any more, and they would arouse the strong suspicion of the Red-eyed Stone Dragons.

He had the Foundation Establishment Cultivators and the eleven Mortals board the wagons. Three of the Cultivators would join him in posing as Transporters.

Then he turned to the remaining Mortals. With a flick of his hand, a sharp blade plunged into the soil of the Oasis. "The Array I’ve set up here will automatically deactivate in two hours. After two hours, you can try to escape... but my advice is this: if you don’t want to suffer, if you don’t want to be eaten alive by those Demons, you should end your own lives."

Du Youqian’s words caused a small stir among the crowd.

He paid it no mind, turning to leave in the wagons with the eleven Mortals and the Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

’It’s not that I’m heartless,’ he thought. ’If I hesitated or showed any indecisiveness, not only would the others die, but these eleven wouldn’t survive either.’

He didn’t look back.

Soon after the convoy departed from the Oasis, it was noticed by the Red-eyed Stone Dragons.

But they only watched from a distance and did not draw near.

This made Du Youqian breathe a sigh of relief.

His guess had been correct.

Now, he was much more confident that he could get these people away safely.