Sect's External Affairs: Anomaly in Xiang Shan County

Buzz, buzz, buzz!
As soon as Su Mu returned from the Ancient Battlefield, he heard the disciple token on his table vibrate violently, which surprised him somewhat.
The Ming Palace disciple token was not only a symbol of identity; besides helping the Sect locate your position, it could also be used to transmit simple messages via Divine Sense.
However, Su Mu only knew a few people in Ming Palace, and they were all in this cave abode. If they wanted to find him, they could simply come directly to his door; there was no need to use the Sect token.

With a hint of doubt, Su Mu picked up the token, and a stream of Divine Sense immediately entered his mind.
It was a message sent by Song Li.
"Come quickly."
The message was very concise, without a head or tail. Although Su Mu was puzzled, he still seized the time to rush to Song Li's room.
Song Li rarely used the disciple token to find people; it must be an urgent matter.

Very quickly, Su Mu arrived at Song Li's room, only to find Zhao Shi and Jia Yi already there.
Zhao Shi nodded slightly at Su Mu, signaling him to quickly sit down, while Jia Yi directly ignored Su Mu.
As for Song Li, who had summoned him, he was still in meditation.

Perhaps sensing Su Mu's arrival, Song Li opened his eyes and said, "The Sect has urgently issued an External Affairs mission, requiring our Scavenger Division to provide auxiliary support. Return and gather your things. In half an hour, assemble at the Mountain Gate."
"Yes!"
The three nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with doubt.
The Scavenger Division had always only been responsible for scavenging items for Ming Palace and had never undertaken External Affairs missions. Why would the Sect seek them out this time?

"Senior Brother, do you know what kind of mission it is?"
Leaving Song Li's room, Su Mu immediately approached Zhao Shi and asked curiously.
"I don't know the specifics, but I heard something seems to have happened in Xiang Shan County."

Su Mu frowned slightly, becoming even more confused.
Xiang Shan County was under the jurisdiction of Qiu Ye Commandery. If something happened, Qiu Ye Commandery should send people to deal with it. Why would they seek out Ming Palace, and even involve their Scavenger Division?

"Junior Brother Su, no need to overthink it. You'll know when we get there."
Zhao Shi patted Su Mu's shoulder and returned to his room to gather his belongings. Su Mu shrugged and asked no more questions.

***

Ming Palace Mountain Gate.
By the time Su Mu's group arrived, more than ten people were already waiting there.
Clad in black outer robes with Wu Chang motifs embroidered on their collars, these were disciples of the Life Taking Division, annually responsible for the Sect's External Affairs missions, extremely skilled in Combat Arts. Even standing still, one could feel their sharp Killing Intent.
Clad in yellow outer robes with malevolent ghost motifs embroidered on their collars, these were disciples of the Soul Bewitching Division, adept at controlling Yin Souls and Soul Secret Arts. They exuded a dense Yin Qi, appearing somewhat inhuman.
There were also a few others, disciples of another Elder from the Scavenger Division, huddled in a small corner, silent.

Seeing Su Mu's group arrive, everyone's gazes converged on them.
Disdain, contempt, mockery…
All sorts of gazes swept over Su Mu's group, none without aversion.
Although the Scavenger Division ranked among the Seventy-Two Divisions of Ming Palace, its status was the lowest, as for why…
The wise see wisdom.

Not long after, Song Li and two other Elders from the other two Divisions arrived. The disciples hastily bowed in salute.
"Elder."
One of them, with blood-red eyes, swept his gaze around, nodded slightly, and said, "Since everyone is here, let us depart."

***

Three days later, the group arrived at their destination for this journey, Xiang Shan County.
What greeted their eyes was a dark red sky, and beneath it, a dense, substantial black mist completely enveloped the entire county town.
Killing Intent!
Su Mu, having spent years in the Ancient Battlefield, had long since noticed the presence of Killing Intent, and vaguely had a premonition about this mission. The other disciples also discussed animatedly.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz…"
Just as the disciples were discussing animatedly, the tokens hanging at everyone's waists vibrated simultaneously, and a concise message entered everyone's minds.
Xiang Shan County… Killing Intent… Anomaly… Commandery Governor's entrustment… Rescue… Source…

"Everyone now knows our mission for this trip: find the source of the Anomaly in Xiang Shan County, rescue those trapped, any questions?"
The red-eyed Elder looked at the pondering disciples and asked.
"No."
The disciples of the Life Taking Division and Soul Bewitching Division immediately replied. Although the few disciples of the Scavenger Division were somewhat reluctant, they could only agree.

"Let's go. I and the other two Elders will wait for you here. In three days, if you still haven't emerged, we will take action, but…"
The red-eyed Elder narrowed his eyes, and a chilling Killing Intent swept out from his body. Everyone present shivered involuntarily, and rushed into the Killing Intent.

Zuo Zhu, the presiding Elder of the Life Taking Division, was notoriously bloodthirsty. His Yin Huai Thorn had made countless enemies tremble in fear. It was said that his eyes had turned blood-red due to his overwhelming Killing Intent.

"Junior Brother Jia, Junior Brother Su, remember to follow closely behind me; do not wander off."
Zhao Shi patted Su Mu and Jia Yi, signaling them to follow him closely, and led the way in. Jia Yi and Su Mu immediately caught up.
As for the other few disciples of the Scavenger Division, they exchanged glances, gave a bitter smile, and also followed.
Heaven knows what the Sect was thinking, to actually send them to carry out this kind of mission. Wasn't this just asking for their lives…

Zuo Zhu watched the disciples enter Xiang Shan County, his gaze suddenly changing. He turned around and saluted Song Li, who was standing silently behind him.
"Senior Brother Song, long time no see."
This respectful attitude, this sincere tone, if any disciple of the Life Taking Division were here, they would undoubtedly be astonished.

"En."
Song Li responded indifferently, acknowledging him.
Zuo Zhu saw this and was not angered. Instead, he approached with a grinning face and said, "Senior Brother Song, you've stayed in that peculiar Scavenger Division long enough, shouldn't you return?"

Song Li glanced at Zuo Zhu, did not reply, and even directly closed his eyes.
Zuo Zhu wanted to say more, but was stopped by Ming Ren, the presiding Elder of the Soul Bewitching Division, who was beside him.
"Zuo Zhu, is this your first day knowing Senior Brother Song? Even the Sect Leader Senior Brother couldn't persuade him to return; do you think you can?"

Zuo Zhu pouted upon hearing this, abandoning the idea of persuading Song Li. He glared fiercely at Ming Ren and said, "You old fox, normally you're so eloquent, but when Senior Brother Song left that year, I didn't see you utter a single fart!"

Ming Ren sneered upon hearing this, paying no attention. He looked at Xiang Shan County, which was enveloped in Killing Intent, and said in a deep voice.
"The entrance to the Ancient Battlefield suddenly appeared; I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing."

Zuo Zhu was slightly startled upon hearing this, looking thoughtfully at the surging black mist ahead, and said, "What, do you think this isn't a coincidence?"
Ming Ren nodded, then shook his head, causing veins to bulge on Zuo Zhu's forehead.

"I hope I'm overthinking."
Ming Ren sighed. Song Li, who had originally been meditating with his eyes closed, also opened his eyes, looking deeply at this city enveloped in Killing Intent.
An unusual occurrence must signify a demonic presence!