The battle quickly commenced. Li Xuan's carriage was rather simple and positioned at the very end of the convoy. For a time, no one paid any heed to it.
Li Xuan glanced around and noticed that these individuals seemed to lack spiritual energy. Both warring factions relied solely on their physical strength, one could barely call it body cultivation.
However, what surprised Li Xuan was that these people could momentarily levitate without circulating spiritual energy. Such a feat was quite unexpected.
"Xiao Bi, what do you think this is?" Li Xuan asked in his mind.
"Little Master, I can't quite say. But they don't seem like spirit masters. They're more like martial artists from the secular world," the Heavenly Dao Brush replied.
Li Xuan nodded slightly. Indeed, spirit masters were merely cultivators of spiritual energy. There were also martial artists who followed a different path. However, the path of spiritual cultivation far surpassed that of martial arts.
On the vast continent, Li Xuan had barely heard of the existence of martial artists. Looking at the current situation, these people before him genuinely seemed to be martial artists.
"Little Master, the people who saved you in this convoy seem to be struggling," the Heavenly Dao Brush's voice echoed.
Li Xuan nodded with a hint of helplessness. With his eyesight, how could he not see it? But if he were to act now, he would likely have to remain in a coma for some time afterward. Yet, if he didn't act, this entire convoy would likely be annihilated.
After all, the difference in numbers was nearly thirty people.
"Little Master, what are you worried about? These are just martial artists. What waves can they make in front of you?" the Heavenly Dao Brush asked.
Li Xuan was taken aback. The Heavenly Dao Brush was right. In his subconscious, Li Xuan had been treating them as spirit masters. But these individuals were just ordinary martial artists, nothing more. Even a spirit master at the Martial King realm would be enough to annihilate them.
With this thought, Li Xuan's heart felt at ease.
"Scram!"
Just as Xiao Qi and the others were struggling to fend them off, a voice like a muffled thunderclap suddenly boomed. The next moment, everyone's bodies trembled. This single utterance struck the very depths of their souls. Both sides of the fighting forces halted.
However, at this moment, both parties exchanged suspicious glances, clearly unsure of who had spoken.
"You have ten breaths' time. If you do not leave, do not blame me for my ruthlessness!"
The same voice echoed again. The crowd, upon hearing this, looked upwards in shock. This voice was coming from above.
"Retreat!"
A man glanced at Xiao Qi and the others, then waved his hand, leading his large group of men to disappear quickly into the night.
Xiao Qi and the others breathed a sigh of relief at this sight, but confusion etched on each of their faces. The one who had spoken had not revealed themselves even until now.
"Little Master, why didn't you annihilate those fellows?" the Heavenly Dao Brush asked.
Li Xuan let out a wry smile. "Although the people in this convoy saved me, I don't actually know who they are. Furthermore, I don't know what grudges they have with the group that just attacked. I can't possibly discern who is right and who is wrong. In such a situation, it's not good to kill rashly."
"Little Master's considerations are indeed thorough," the Heavenly Dao Brush replied.
Li Xuan smiled faintly and then continued to lie on his side, closing his eyes.
"Xiao Qi, did you find out who saved us?" The woman who had been in the carriage was now stained with blood. Seeing Xiao Qi approaching quickly, she immediately asked.
Xiao Qi shook his head slightly. "Miss, I haven't found them. It seems to be a powerful individual who happened to pass by. However, since the other party has not shown themselves, we shouldn't force it. Miss, this place is not suitable for lingering. We should leave now."
The woman nodded slightly, then clasped her hands in a gesture of respect towards the void. "Thank you, benefactor, for speaking out and driving away the bandits. Murong Yue offers her gratitude."
After speaking, Murong Yue bowed towards the void, then stood up and looked at Xiao Qi. "Xiao Qi, take stock of the casualties. Discard any cargo that is not essential."
"Yes!" Xiao Qi nodded and then turned to leave quickly.
Murong Yue frowned slightly, her gaze fixed on the carriage at the very end of the convoy. But ultimately, she shook her head and turned to board her own carriage.
"You fellow, sleeping so comfortably. You were unharmed during the skirmish just now." Xiao Qi approached Li Xuan's carriage and looked inside, his expression filled with surprise upon finding no knife wounds on Li Xuan.
Li Xuan had already sensed Xiao Qi's arrival. However, at this moment, Li Xuan would not respond. Absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth to recover his strength was the most important thing.
"I suppose so. You've already given up, so those bandits probably wouldn't bother killing someone who's almost dead. We'll be reaching Fengya Ridge soon. I hope no more accidents happen." Xiao Qi pouted, fed Li Xuan a few mouthfuls of water, and then jumped down from the carriage.
Soon, Xiao Qi returned to Murong Yue's carriage and led the way forward.
An hour later, the convoy stopped.
"Xiao Qi, arrange for everyone to rest," Murong Yue said as she alighted from her carriage and looked at Xiao Qi.
Xiao Qi nodded, but before he could leave, Murong Yue called him back. "That person we picked up on the way, is he still alive?"
Xiao Qi nodded. "Miss, that person is still alive. I fed him some water on the road, and he seems to have recovered quite a bit."
"Good, go and attend to your duties," Murong Yue replied with a nod, then walked towards the inn ahead.
Fengya Ridge Inn.
Li Xuan's eyes were slightly narrowed as he observed his surroundings. He quickly sensed Xiao Qi's arrival.
"Cough, cough..." Li Xuan feigned a cough, then slowly opened his eyes.
"Oh, you're awake?" Xiao Qi was about to check on Li Xuan's condition when he unexpectedly heard Li Xuan cough and then open his eyes. Although he still looked very weak, it was certainly better than lying there half-dead.
"Cough, cough... Did... did the young lady save me?" Li Xuan asked weakly, feigning his condition.
Xiao Qi nodded, but then quickly shook his head. "It's true that I brought you back, but if Miss hadn't been so kind-hearted as to let me bring you along, you might have been eaten by the wolves and tigers in this wilderness."
Li Xuan gave a wry smile. The resilience of his body would likely shatter the teeth of those fierce beasts. However, he held Xiao Qi in higher regard.
"Thank you, young lady," Li Xuan said.
Xiao Qi waved his hand. "It's just a small effort, no need for thanks. When you're out and about, it's natural to help if you can. By the way, what's your name? And why were you injured and unconscious at Black Wind Cliff?"
Li Xuan thought for a moment. "I am a scholar. I was traveling to Black Wind Cliff and accidentally fell."
"So that's how it was." Xiao Qi nodded, then looked back. "Can you walk? If you can, you should go into the inn and rest. It's safer inside."
"I... I should be able to walk, I think," Li Xuan replied hesitantly.
Seeing this, Xiao Qi immediately stepped forward to support Li Xuan. "Never mind, I'll help you inside. It's not good to leave you in this carriage so late at night."
"Little Master, this girl has a good heart," the Heavenly Dao Brush's voice echoed in Li Xuan's mind.
Li Xuan nodded slightly and, with Xiao Qi's support, soon entered the inn.