Zan moved stealthily toward the cart where the grain boxes were stored. The guards were scattered around, their eyes scanning the area nervously. Each of them wore the uniform of the Silver Cloud Sect, with silver embroidery reflecting the moonlight. They looked like statues on high alert, but their words betrayed their humanity.
Zan motioned to Lian, who walked behind him, wearing his mask, and whispered:
"Stay close, but don't rush. These guards are from different levels of Qi condensation, ranging from the third to the sixth. They might seem like just soldiers, but don't underestimate them."
The two approached a vantage point. A conversation between two nearby guards reached their ears:
First Guard (in a low voice):
"Did you hear what the elder said? Apparently, this shipment will change the entire sect. They say that whoever consumes these grains becomes stronger, but the price is becoming a slave."
Second Guard (with sarcasm):
"Stronger? What's the point of strength if I can't use it freely? I see it as nothing but destruction. I don't understand why he's allied with the demonic sects."
First Guard (with worry):
"Shh! If the commander hears us talking like this, we'll be executed. Our job is to guard, not to think."
The second guard nodded, then added mockingly:
"Blind obedience is always the answer, isn't it? But I've seen what happens to others who consumed something similar. I don't want to end up as a puppet for the demonic sects."
Lian, who had been listening, felt unease creeping into his chest. He whispered to Zan:
"Lian: Did you hear them? It seems these grains really do turn you into a slave to the demonic sects."
Zan glanced at the guards thoughtfully, then responded softly:
"Yes, that confirms what the mysterious agent told us. But don't let them distract you. Our mission is to destroy the grains."
As they moved closer to the boxes, Lian accidentally stepped on a dry twig. The sharp sound immediately caught the attention of the guards.
Commander Guard (in a stern voice):
"Who's there? Show yourself now, or we'll consider you an enemy of the sect!"
Zan pulled Lian into the shadows, but he knew the time for stealth was over. He whispered quickly:
"Get ready for battle."
The guards charged toward the source of the sound, their weapons glowing with energy. The commander, a strong man at the sixth level of Qi condensation, shouted:
"Masks? Do you think you can fool the Silver Cloud Sect? You will pay dearly!"
Jian was the first to leap into the fight, drawing his long sword. He said to the commander sarcastically:
"Pay? I think we'll be taking these grains for free!"
Chen, who joined the fight with two small swords, couldn't resist making sarcastic remarks:
"For a sect that claims purity, you sure seem to hide your secrets at night. What are you afraid of?"
Second Guard (angrily):
"We're protecting our families! You don't understand the sacrifices we make."
While the others fought, Mei approached Lian, who seemed hesitant at first. She looked at him with stern eyes and said:
"Lian, you're part of this group. Every step you take here will determine your future. Don't let your doubts stop you from fighting. We need you!"
Lian took a deep breath and then drew his sword. He joined the battle but avoided the stronger guards, trying to assist his teammates with quick and focused strikes.
Third Guard (smiling):
"You're a rookie, aren't you? You won't last long!"
But Lian remembered Zan's advice about thinking one step ahead, and he took advantage of the guard's overconfidence to parry a strike with his sword and then attack him from the side.
As the battle progressed, the group began to feel the pressure from the number and strength of the guards. Mei, fighting with a long spear, shouted:
"We don't have time! Chen, Jian, cover us while Lian and Zan destroy the boxes!"
While Zan and Lian approached the boxes, the commander tried to stop them, but he collided with Jian, who engaged him in a fierce battle.
In the end, Zan and Lian managed to destroy the boxes, enraging the remaining guards. As the guards fell back to regroup, the commander shouted:
"You've made enemies of the Silver Cloud Sect. You'll pay dearly!"
The group withdrew with difficulty, badly injured, but relieved that their mission had succeeded. Lian, gasping for breath, looked at Zan and asked:
"Lian: Zan... were we right? They were talking about defending their families. I think the traitor elder is threatening them with their families."
Zan, wiping the blood from his forehead, answered calmly:
"The truth is always murky, Lian. But we did what we believed was right, and we saved the lives of thousands from slavery. That's enough for now."