Chapter Ninety-Three: Forming Up for Departure

After several days of recuperation, the city gradually returned to its former calm.

Wujue prepared to leave in earnest and continue on to the next city.

According to the news Xiao Yang had gathered over the past two days, another legion of the Heaven-Slaying Clan was about to march toward the northwest of the city, where new fighting seemed to have broken out.

Wujue planned to follow them and find a chance to learn what was going on. Before leaving, he intended to go to the western outskirts and choose some volunteers from among the alien friends he had rescued to accompany him.

These survivors of various races, after being saved, had also slowly begun to feel the strain over the past few days.

Some were troubled by differences in habits; others sensed the local people’s hostility. So when Wujue came to invite them, their reactions varied widely.

Two of them, who looked much like humans but had blue skin, spoke first. “My friend Wujue, we were very grateful before when you saved our lives. If you have need of our help, we are willing to lend our strength.”

Wujue nodded. “Thank you very much. May I ask what the two of you are called?”

“Call me Pike, and him Luke. Those are the Earth names we use,” one of them said, introducing himself. “We are survivors from Mars. After our homeland was destroyed, we came to Earth in search of refuge, but we never expected the Heaven-Slaying Clan to target us too. Over the years we’ve been running and hiding, yet still couldn’t escape their pursuit. Today, helping you is also a chance to vent a little frustration.”

Then several more aliens who looked like animals stepped forward and said, “We want to join as well. We used to be scattered like loose sand, but now it is time to unite. Wujue, we will leave with you.”

Seeing this, the others also voiced their opinions one after another. Some said they no longer wanted to remain in the city; some wanted to return to their homelands, but were willing to travel with Wujue and part ways later on the road.

In the end, after tallying the rescued survivors, all but three of the twelve were willing to leave with Wujue.

Wujue asked after their names and origins, and once they had gathered, they set out.

When they departed, Xiao Yang came specially to see them off, and he and Xiao Han had even prepared a van for the group.

But the Martians, Pike and Luke, laughed and said, “That won’t be necessary. With us, we can take everyone flying.”

At once they activated their unique powers, and an anti-gravity field formed around the group, lifting more than a dozen people straight into the air.

Someone in the party exclaimed, “The Martian method of flight is indeed no ordinary thing.”

Seeing this, Xiao Han hurried up into the air and tossed several large bundles in, saying, “Here are the things we prepared for you. Don’t forget them. Safe travels!”

Inside were supplies prepared for them: food, medicine, firearms, and ammunition. One of the group, who looked like a frog, extended a long tongue and in one swift motion swallowed the bundles into his belly.

Then he grinned and said, “Don’t worry, I’ve put everything away. Unless you’re one of us, even killing me won’t make me hand it over.”

The others could not help laughing. Pike explained to Wujue, “They are warriors of the Frog People. Their bodies contain a special space where they can store a great many things. In interstellar war, it can even be used as a mobile storage space.”

Wujue nodded. He found that his team was full of exceptional talents.

Besides Martians and Frog People, there were all sorts of Dog Star and Cat Star folk. This trip was bound to be very interesting.

After bidding farewell to Xiao Yang and the others, they flew onward. Along the way, Pike and Luke spoke with him, and they exchanged many more secrets concerning the Heaven-Slaying Clan.

Pike and Luke had once been adventurers on Mars. Before Mars was destroyed, they had traveled through the galaxies of the universe, and thus knew a great deal about the various alien races. At this moment they were just right to serve as assistants, helping Wujue become familiar more quickly with his alien companions.

Wujue gradually grew closer to the two of them as well. Especially after he became acquainted with every member of the team beside him, he felt even more keenly the strength of these alien friends.

If more such gifted people could be gathered together, pooling their wisdom and strength, then defeating the Heaven-Slaying Clan would surely not be difficult.

While Wujue was lost in thought, he suddenly heard a familiar laugh beside his ear.

“What’s the matter? Daydreaming? Are you finding these aliens strange, and a little hard to accept?”

That voice was unmistakably the mischievous one of Xun’er. Wujue touched his ear. He had clearly not put on any wireless earpiece, so where was this hallucination coming from?

He asked inwardly, “Little troublemaker, what trick are you up to now? Are you hiding somewhere and playing a prank on this poor monk? Come out quickly and show yourself!”

“Why so impatient? Great monk, why don’t you guess where I am?” Xun’er continued to tease him.

Wujue smiled faintly. He was not one to be easily fooled. At once he steadied his breathing, calmed his mind, and listened to the breaths of the people around him. Very soon he noticed that a gray cat-like alien seemed highly suspicious.

He walked over and said with a smile, “Xun’er, is that you? I knew it. You disguised yourself and slipped in, didn’t you? Aren’t you going to confess?”

Yet the cat-like alien looked at him with perfect innocence, meowed once, and shook its head in confusion.

Luke came over and asked anxiously, “What’s wrong? This one is from Cat Star—”

He suddenly froze, likely realizing he did not actually recognize the other. While he was still stumped, the cat-like alien gave a sly laugh, and then revealed Xun’er’s true form. “No need to guess. I’m not some Cat Star alien at all. I’m the witch of Kawaii Star.”

Wujue could not help laughing. “Honestly, I told you not to come, and yet you insisted on sneaking in with all that mischief. What am I to do with you?”

Xun’er came over and took Wujue’s hand. “What, are you still angry about that night’s drinking? Come now, with such a big group, one more or one less makes no difference. Besides, you can’t be without someone to run errands for you. With me around, how wonderful is that? Whenever you need something, just wave your hand and call me over. I’ll wave my hand and use a little witchcraft, and everything will be handled.”

Those words made Wujue break into a sweat, and he hastily backed away. “Well then, just behave yourself. I need to see where we’re going next.”

He took out the map and went to study it with Luke and Pike. The destination still had to be decided clearly. Although Xiao Yang had provided a clue that a Heaven-Slaying Clan legion was gathering toward the northwest, there was no way to be certain what purpose they had in going there.

Judging from the previous contact with that organization called Bright, it seemed the Heaven-Slaying Clan was also beginning to compete for the treasures of the divine relics. Thus the force gathering in the northwest was very likely heading there in search of those treasures.

Using the map for reference, Luke and Pike said to Wujue, “Go a bit farther and it will soon be the next city, but it should already have been turned into ruins. Should we keep advancing, or set up camp ahead of time?”

Wujue said, “Let’s camp ahead of time. We should avoid letting them prepare for us. We ought to find a concealed place nearby early on, so we don’t end up in direct close combat with them.”

Pike added, “I remember there should be an amusement park outside the city. Why don’t we stop there first and see what the situation inside is? There are Dog Star people in our group; they can disguise themselves as dogs and enter the city to scout.”

Right then, two Dog Star people transformed before Wujue’s eyes into a pug and a husky. Wujue could not help marveling at how extraordinary this shapeshifting ability was.

Xun’er, however, was delighted. She ran up and hugged the two little dogs, laughing, “They’re so adorable! Wujue, let’s raise a couple ourselves later, shall we?”

Wujue scratched his head. “This poor monk will think it over.”

The End of Chapter Ninety-Three: Forming Up and Departing.