Mythical Cultivation

"Great! Seeing you all so enthusiastically sign up to participate in this operation, this steward is extremely pleased! Since the twenty-one of you have bravely stood up, you will certainly not be shortchanged of anything that belongs to you.

Next, we would like to invite our highly respected Commander Nangong to give us some instructions." The butler said with a smile and a friendly tone.

Commander Nangong strode forward with a solemn expression and sharp eyes, scanning every guard present.

"This situation is extremely urgent and doesn't allow for any further discussion, so I'll cut to the chase. Listen carefully, all twenty-one of you! Return to your respective residences and pack your belongings. Remember, you only have one hour to prepare. After the hour, be sure to gather here promptly. At that time, I, the commander, will personally lead you to welcome back our eldest son! As for the remaining guards in the mansion, you must obey the orders and arrangements of the deputy commander."

After saying that, the commander-in-chief turned around and nodded slightly to a middle-aged man beside him, expressing his approval and trust.

At this moment, the whole place was silent, and all the palace guards held their breath and listened attentively to the commander-in-chief's instructions.

When the commander-in-chief finished speaking, the middle-aged man, the second master of Baifu, who had been silent, said:

"My brothers and sisters are all loyal guards of the Bai Mansion. Even though Big Brother is not here at the moment, nothing that happens in the mansion can escape Big Brother's eyes.

"Big Brother has seen and remembered all of your hard work and contributions. Therefore, I hope you will do your utmost to complete your mission in this matter! Do not slack off in the slightest, lest you disappoint Big Brother's expectations and trust in you!"

After saying this, the middle-aged man folded his arms across his chest and gazed at everyone with a determined look, as if he wanted to see through their eyes and directly into the faith and determination deep in everyone's heart. Although he had established a separate residence, he was still one family with the Bai Mansion and naturally did not want anything to happen to the Bai Mansion.

"I hope everyone can complete this mission successfully and return safely!"

Bai Ningzhu's clear, melodious, and concerned voice slowly echoed through the air. Her beautiful eyes scanned the crowd before her, a hint of both hope and worry in them. With that, she gently waved her hand, signaling everyone to hurry and get ready.

Wu Ming followed closely behind Commander Nangong and the other palace guards as they raced through the desolate countryside. Like an arrow shot from a bow, they darted through the desolate landscape. The clatter of horses' hooves and footsteps mingled, stirring up clouds of dust.

They rushed all the way like this, and before they knew it, three full hours had passed. Finally, Commander Nangong raised his right hand, signaling the team to stop.

He dismounted and shouted, "Rest where you are!"

Upon hearing the order, everyone pulled the reins and jumped off their horses. Some exhausted guards sat down on the ground, gasping for breath, while others quickly took out their water bags and dry food to replenish their energy.

At this time, Commander Nangong walked to a relatively flat place and sat down on the ground. He took out a piece of dry food from his pocket and started to chew it while drinking the clear stream beside him.

At this moment, a frantic palace guard, unable to suppress his doubts, quickly walked up to Commander Nangong, clasped his fists, and saluted, saying, "Great Commander, we've traveled dozens of miles non-stop, and you still haven't told us where we're going."

After hearing the guard's question, Nangong Wending slowly put down the dry food in his hand and said solemnly:

"In fact, we don't know the eldest young master's exact location; we only know the general area. According to the intelligence we received, the eldest young master was attacked near Baishui County, over 300 kilometers away from Changling County. Since then, he has disappeared without a trace, like a stone sinking into the sea.

Therefore, I hope everyone will take the time to eat and drink, and rest a little. We must race against time to reach Baishui County and do our utmost to retrieve the eldest son as soon as possible. After all, every minute or hour of delay increases the danger he faces.

After hearing Nangong Wending's words, everyone fell silent. They knew the situation was urgent, so they stopped asking too many questions and took quick action, starting to adjust their state and prepare for the long and difficult journey ahead.

After about an incense stick of time, the group of twenty or so packed up and set out again. The journey was smooth, with no unusual incidents. They continued on their journey, and before they knew it, night had quietly fallen.

It was not until late at night that everyone finally decided to find a suitable place to set up camp to restore their strength and energy.

Tonight, Wu Ming, Li Yue, and several other palace guards were on guard duty, ensuring the safety of the camp. The others gathered around the blazing bonfire, some resting with their eyes closed, some chatting quietly, waiting for dawn.

"Aqi, we're on guard duty tonight, so you have to be extremely alert! If you notice even the slightest sign of trouble, report it to me immediately," Li Yue said gravely, his voice low. He was still worried. After all, Wu Qi had lost his memory in an accident, and his judgment might not be as sharp as it once was.

Wu Ming listened quietly to Li Yue's words, without arguing. He could sense Li Yue's deep concern, so he nodded solemnly and said, "Okay, then, don't worry. If anything seems out of place, I'll report it to you immediately."

Seeing his friend agree so readily and with such seriousness, Li Yue's heart, which had been hanging in the balance for a long time, finally settled down a little. Thus, the two of them silently stood guard at their posts, vigilantly observing the movements around them. At first, everything was calm, and it seemed as if this night would pass peacefully as usual.

However, as the saying goes, the unexpected happens. Shortly after midnight, when most of the palace guards had fallen asleep, Wu Ming suddenly detected a faint, indistinct sound coming from afar. This subtle movement seemed particularly abrupt and eerie in the quiet night, instantly catching Wu Ming's attention.

He didn't dare to take it lightly, and immediately released his powerful spiritual sense to quickly sweep in the direction of the sound. He was truly shocked when he saw it—under the hazy moonlight, he saw over thirty mysterious figures in black nightgowns and masked faces stealthily stalking towards them...