Volume 2, Chapter 122 – Airdropping Supplies

He Yong sat on the ground, panting heavily. After over ten days of relentless travel, he was utterly exhausted. Even his concern for the villagers back home couldn’t push his legs forward anymore. The only reason he had made it this far was the ethereally beautiful fairy in the group.

Yes, He Yong had no strength left—but he still had his pride as a man. He refused to be looked down upon by that celestial beauty, and that was his sole motivation now.

After resting for a while, He Yong stole another glance at the fairy. But this time, to his shock, he found her staring back at him—her piercing gaze as sharp as a blade, sending a chill down his spine.

‘Oh no! She caught me peeking!’

He immediately averted his eyes, assuming the fairy was displeased by his staring.

But Cheng Hongling wasn’t that petty. Having grown up under countless admiring gazes, she was used to attention. The reason for her sharp look was suspicion—she believed this boy might be a traitor.

She had observed him before, but after her doppelgänger’s report, she decided to scan him again with her divine sense. If anything seemed off, she wouldn’t hesitate to strike.

Yet, the more she scrutinized him, the more her brows furrowed. The boy’s soul was weak, no different from an ordinary person’s. He showed no signs of being a cultivator or martial artist—both of whom would have stronger souls as their power grew.

Puzzled, Cheng Hongling contacted her doppelgänger to discuss the situation.

“If you can’t find anything suspicious, then just stay put for now. Keep observing. If He Yong really is a spy, the Heyi Sect disciples will eventually reveal themselves.”

Qi Huang pondered for a moment before responding.

“You’ve gotten smarter.”

Cheng Hongling sounded surprised.

“What do you mean ‘gotten smarter’? Did I seem stupid before?”

Qi Huang retorted indignantly.

“Not just a little—very stupid.”

Cheng Hongling didn’t hold back.

‘Ah! So that’s how she sees me!’

Qi Huang was filled with resentment.

“Also, stop addressing me so casually with ‘you, you, you’. It’s disrespectful, understand?”

Reaⅾ oո ΚαtRеаⅾіոgСаfе

Cheng Hongling added sternly.

“Then what should I call you?”

Qi Huang ventured cautiously.

“Mother and Father treat you as their youngest daughter, so you should call me ‘elder sister’.”

Cheng Hongling reminded her impatiently.

“Yes! Elder Sister! Should I add ‘Your Highness’ too?”

Qi Huang replied sarcastically, deciding she might as well go all out.

“That sounds perfect! Let’s settle on that.”

Cheng Hongling was thoroughly pleased. This rebellious doppelgänger was finally showing some obedience, and she relished the small victory.

“Understood, Your Highness Elder Sister!”

Qi Huang responded half-heartedly, thinking to herself, ‘Like hell I’ll call you that. ‘Elder Sister’ is already my limit.’

With that settled, the Honghua Sect disciples began setting up camp. They took out sulfur powder and garlic from their packs, scattering them around the perimeter to ward off venomous snakes.

Meanwhile, Cheng Hongling continuously scanned the surroundings with her divine sense. No matter how well-hidden the snakes were, they couldn’t escape her detection.

Qin Quan, though not as strong as Cheng Hongling, was no slouch either and did the same.

On the other side, Qi Huang quietly descended, positioning herself about a hundred zhang away to monitor the Heyi Sect’s movements. At this distance, she could observe them without being detected.

Outside Panshan Village, about eighty Heyi Sect disciples were divided into four squads, ambushing the village from all directions. Having maintained this position for days, many of the weaker ones were on the verge of collapse.

“Feel like sleeping? If I catch anyone closing their eyes, I’ll make sure they never open them again.”

Guardian Guo warned in a low voice.

The disciples shuddered, recalling how he had executed the rebellious disciple days prior.

Rеаⅾ οո ΚаtRеaⅾіոɡСаfе

Two more days passed.

By now, Qi Huang had thoroughly scouted the Heyi Sect’s forces:

103 disciples in total.

Led by one Guardian and three Elders—four Unity Realm experts in total.

‘Four Unity Realm experts… If we clash head-on, it’ll be a brutal fight.’

She felt the weight of the situation.

During her surveillance, she had also witnessed the horrors in Panshan Village—conditions so dire they could only be described as hell on earth. She had been tempted to intervene countless times but held back for the sake of the mission.

Eventually, even Guardian Guo grew impatient. He left his post to consult with one of the elders.

“Elder Lu, based on the Honghua Sect’s speed, they should have arrived by now, right?”

“Indeed, Guardian Guo.”

Elder Lu replied respectfully. In most sects, Guardians outrank Elders.

“Then what’s the hold-up?”

Guardian Guo pressed.

“Well…”

Elder Lu stammered, unsure how to respond.

“Are you certain you escorted that boy, He Yong, to the Honghua Sect?”

“Without a doubt.”

“And he didn’t notice anything?”

“Guardian Guo, I may not be as strong as you, but I’m still a Unity Realm cultivator. How could a mere peasant boy detect me?”

Rеαԁ оո ΚαtReadiոgCafе

Elder Lu sounded slightly offended.

“Then why haven’t they come? Did the Honghua Sect actually chicken out?”

Guardian Guo stroked his chin.

“Impossible! When those villagers from Bajiao Village were in trouble, Qin Quan personally stormed in to demand justice. They clearly care about their reputation. They have to save these villagers, or the Honghua Sect will lose all standing in Huangtian County!”

“Unless… they’re not coming at all. If that’s the case, we’ve wasted our time—and worse, we let a Panshan brat escape. If other sects find out about the Blue Scale Stones here…”

Guardian Guo’s expression darkened.

“Let’s wait two more days. If the Honghua Sect still doesn’t show, I’ll hunt that brat down myself.”

Elder Lu’s eyes gleamed with malice.

“Killing him won’t solve our real problem. We need the Ghost Tomatoes. If we can’t seize them back from the Honghua Sect, all this was for nothing.”

Guardian Guo shook his head.

Qi Huang listened to every word.

The pieces finally fell into place.

He Yong had been deliberately released by the Heyi Sect, with an elder secretly escorting him to the Honghua Sect. Their goal? To lure the Honghua Sect into a trap and reclaim the Ghost Tomatoes.

‘They must not know we’re also after the Blue Scale Stones. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have bothered with this scheme.’

She sighed in relief.

‘Good thing I didn’t act rashly. I almost wronged He Yong.’

Now that she understood the situation, she immediately reported everything to her main body.

“If there’s no traitor, then we have nothing to worry about.”

Cheng Hongling sounded eager, as if fear was a foreign concept to her.

“True, but with four Unity Realm experts, a direct fight won’t be easy.”

Reaⅾ оո KatRеаⅾіոgCаfе

Qi Huang hesitated. She could always flee if things went south, but the others wouldn’t be so lucky.

“Then we’ll stall. The longer we wait, the more the Heyi Sect will let their guard down. Once their formation weakens, we’ll strike.”

“That’s a good plan, but while we can wait, the villagers can’t. You haven’t seen how bad it is—they’re starving to the point of eating their own children.”

Qi Huang’s voice was heavy.

“Then airdrop supplies to them.”

Cheng Hongling suggested after a moment’s thought.

“How? If the Heyi Sect notices, we’ll tip them off!”

“Are you stupid? You can fly. Go high enough, and they won’t see you. Just drop the supplies from above.”

Qi Huang’s eyes lit up.

“Good idea! I’ll go get the supplies now.”

“What supplies? The mountains are full of game. Figure it out yourself. Don’t make me think you’re a useless doppelgänger.”

Scolded, Qi Huang awkwardly abandoned the idea. Instead, she spread her divine sense, locking onto every bird and beast hidden in the forest. Then, her hair lashed out like lightning.

Meanwhile, inside Panshan Village, silence reigned.

The twenty-odd surviving villagers—mostly the elderly, sick, and weak—were on the brink of death, too starved to even step outside. All they could do was lie in bed, praying for divine intervention.

Little did they know, this time, their prayers would be answered.

Thud!

Suddenly, objects began falling into every household’s courtyard.