Chapter 26: "Urgent Needs"

Not long after, Wu Xingyun finished setting up the formations. Her face was etched with distress—clearly, the materials required for the formations had cost her dearly. However, considering the safety of the group, she hadn't hesitated. Even if she didn't fear death herself, she couldn't let the Sect Master or Fan Jianqiang fall into danger.

Though she didn't know what other talents Fan Jianqiang might possess beyond alchemy and divination, as long as he was a member of the sect, she would do her utmost to protect him.

After finishing her work and wiping the sweat from her brow, Wu Xingyun looked around and noticed that only Lin Fan was standing nearby. She frowned slightly. "Huh? Hasn't Fan Jianqiang returned yet?"

While cultivators could use their spiritual senses to observe their surroundings, there were still boundaries of propriety between men and women. Since Fan Jianqiang had excused himself to "relieve himself," Wu Xingyun hadn't kept her spiritual sense trained on him. She had no idea what he was up to.

Lin Fan, meanwhile, decided to play along. He felt a certain lyric suited him perfectly at this moment: I turned a blind eye when it was time to cooperate with your performance.

Pretending to know nothing, he turned a blind eye to Fan Jianqiang's antics.

"He should be back soon, right?" Lin Fan said, feigning concern as he peered into the dense forest.

"Let's wait," Wu Xingyun said, her spiritual sense spreading out to monitor their surroundings.

Fortunately, after a few moments, Fan Jianqiang emerged from the forest, rustling through the underbrush. He wore a simple, innocent smile and scratched the back of his head apologetically. "Sorry about that. I drank too much earlier, and it took a while to… drain the water."

"Second Elder, are we done here? Should we get going?"

"Let's move," Wu Xingyun said without hesitation, taking the two of them into the air and flying low to the ground as they sped toward the Moon Embracing Sect.

However, Fan Jianqiang's expression remained tense. Not long into their flight, his face suddenly twisted in discomfort. "Oh no, my stomach is killing me! I really can't hold it in anymore."

Wu Xingyun frowned. "You're a Condensing Yuan Realm cultivator. Your control over your body should far surpasses that of an ordinary person. How can you not control such basic instincts?"

"Well…" Fan Jianqiang stammered, "I've only just entered the Condensing Yuan Realm, so I'm not very proficient yet. Plus, I tried some experimental medicines on myself last night and ate a lot of spiritual ingredients. I guess even cultivators have their limits when it comes to… you know, bodily functions."

"Ouch, I'm about to—!"

Wu Xingyun had no choice but to look at Lin Fan for guidance. Lin Fan, struggling to keep a straight face, nodded slightly. Reluctantly, Wu Xingyun landed again.

As soon as they touched down, Fan Jianqiang bolted into the forest, clutching his stomach and shouting, "It's coming out! It's coming out! Hold it in, hold it in~!"

Wu Xingyun was alarmed. "This is ridiculous," she muttered under her breath. "It's not that I enjoy gossiping or speaking ill of others, but this person is full of red flags. Could it be…"

She clearly had her doubts. What Condensing Yuan Realm cultivator acted like this? The saying went, A lazy donkey makes more excuses, but who had ever heard of a cultivator needing to relieve themselves so frequently?

Lin Fan, however, wasn't surprised at all. In fact, he would have been more surprised if Wu Xingyun hadn't been suspicious. After all, while Fan Jianqiang's cautious nature was admirable, the excuses he came up with were… well, let's just say they left much to be desired.

"He's an alchemist," Lin Fan said with a smile. "It's normal for him to have some minor issues after experimenting on himself. Second Elder, you might be overthinking this."

"I hope I am," Wu Xingyun sighed.

No sooner had she spoken than a deafening explosion echoed from the direction they'd just come from. The ground shook, followed by the sounds of cultivators casting spells, roaring, and slashing with their swords.

Though the commotion was distant, it was impossible to miss.

"That's where we were just now," Wu Xingyun said, her face paling. "The formations I set up have been triggered!"

Lin Fan's eyes narrowed.

Before they could discuss further, more roars erupted.

"Ahhhh! Which bastard set up these formations?!"

"Don't let me catch you, or you'll wish you were dead!"

"Break it! Break it!!!"

"Destroy it!!!"

The voices were furious, cursing and roaring as they struggled to dismantle the formations. The sounds of explosions and collapsing formations echoed through the forest.

…..

Meanwhile, within the formations Wu Xingyun had set up, a group of five or six cultivators found themselves in a dire situation. Surrounded by multiple layers of formations, they were battered and bruised. Two of them had already perished, their bodies torn apart.

"Damn it!!!"

"This is a trap!"

"They were prepared for us. They laid these formations here in advance…"

"How dare the Moon Embracing Sect do this? They're digging their own graves!"

"Hurry up and break the formations! We can't let them escape!"

…..

Wu Xingyun's expression darkened. "We need to leave immediately. They must have more than one Cave Heaven Realm cultivator, and there might even be a Mystic Finger Realm expert among them."

"Ahhhh! So scary!" Fan Jianqiang came running out of the forest, still adjusting his pants. "Second Elder, let's get out of here! They're catching up!"

Exasperated, she lightly shook her head. But she didn't have time to argue. Grabbing Lin Fan and Fan Jianqiang, she took to the skies once more, fleeing at top speed.

As they flew, she whispered urgently, "Sect Master, even though I set up multiple formations, judging by the sounds and the time it's taken, they've probably broken through by now. They'll be chasing us soon."

"If they catch up, I'll stay behind to hold them off. You take Fan Jianqiang and return to the sect as quickly as possible. Don't stop for anything!"

Lin Fan shook his head slightly but said nothing.

He wasn't a saint or a selfless hero, but he wasn't a heartless villain either. This entire situation was the result of his decisions. If he hadn't established those sect rules, none of this would have happened. Abandoning Wu Xingyun to save himself? That was something he couldn't do.

Moreover, he had a strong feeling that things weren't as dire as they seemed. Before this, he hadn't been entirely sure if Fan Jianqiang fit the "cautious protagonist" template. But now, he was 90% certain.

And it all came down to those two "urgent needs."

…..

Meanwhile, the group of pursuers finally broke through the last of the formations, their spirits high as they gave chase.

"Is that all?!"

"It's just the Moon Embracing Sect. How much of their legacy could they possibly have left?!"

"They caught us off guard once, but do they really think they can escape? Dream on!"

But just as they were gaining momentum, a sense of unease washed over them.

"Wait… something's wrong."

"Why do I feel so uneasy?!" one of them exclaimed.

Before they could react, a formation far more powerful than the previous ones erupted, engulfing them in an instant.