36 Chapter 36 – Leaving the Stronghold

Wang siblings were shocked to hear that possibility.

They had found some records in the clan that this world was invaded in the past and the invaders were defeated and retreated back to their own world, but they didn't even think of a possibility the bandits in this forest would be related to those techniques from another world.

Zhu Xuan turned towards Wang Qinyang and asked "What you practiced also similar to the other technique?"

Wang Qinyang replied with a plain voice "No, they didn't teach us any technique. They gave us pills and some odd white stones and asked us to absorb the energy inside. After absorbing the energies my mind become clear and was able to think and solve issues quicker. But, it was quite dangerous the moment we started absorbing the energy, I felt like having a boundless energy is pressuring me to try to collapse my mind. I and few others overcame it in the end, but most of the women wasn't able to handle it and went mad."

She paused and continued "After absorbing the energy few times, there was an energy born in our mind. Then they gave us these iron balls for practice to control the balls using the energy."

Zhu Xuan felt this Spirit energy is very peculiar and interesting.

Zhu Xuan wanted to ask them more details, but he found it is already sunrise on the next day. He stopped asking any more questions and calmed himself down. This is the last day and he will have to return to Qinglu city by tonight, but he didn't want to leave the people who were imprisoned here and at least escort them to a village for their safety.

He got up and told the Wang siblings "Let's stop our discussion here. We need to release those people and leave out of this stronghold first. We will discuss further once we are out of this place."

He paused and said "I do need both of your help with few things first."

He walked to the cell in the centre where the people were practising previously and found these prison cells where different. He figured they might be special materials just like the metals that imprisoned the Wang siblings.

He looked at the people inside the cells and spoke slowly "I will to release you all if you are willing to do what I ask without question just for today. You don't have to worry, I won't ask you to to do anything immoral. After that, you can leave or stay with the group."

He needed all their help if he needs to transport all the people away from here, especially the injured ones.

One of the young men inside the cell came in front and said "If you are willing to release us from this place, we are willing to follow your orders wholeheartedly, not just for today. We only practiced because we didn't have a choice, not because we want to follow those bandits and the people behind them."

Everyone else in the cell behind this young man nodded their head agreeing with the young man.

Zhu Xuan was shocked to hear that and asked "What do you mean people behind the bandits? These bandits are following others orders?"

This time it was Wang Shuang standing behind Zhu Xuan who answered "Yes, few days after we were brought here, three people came to check on the progress on the practice of these techniques of the people imprisoned before us. We also heard them discussing that they will be visiting a month later."

Zhu Xuan urgently asked "And when did they last visit?"

Wang Shuang calmly replied "You don't need to worry. They came twenty days ago and it will take another ten days for them to come here again."

"Shit" Zhu Xuan cursed loudly. He moved fast and broke the lock on the cell with his sword and moved fast towards the prison where the recently imprisoned people are and released them as well without a question, leaving a bewildered Wang Shuang behind.

As soon as everyone was out, he relayed his instructions while opening the map and showing certain locations in the map.

He looked at Wang Qinyang "Lady Qinyang, you take all the women, go to this kitchen and collect all the fruits and vegetables you can find, and bring everyone to this location at the bottom of the mountain in an hour. And don't take any prepared food, they are all poisoned. Take only fruits and vegetables" He marked a position in the bottom of the mountain for them to assemble after completing their work.

Then he looked at Wang Shuang and asked "You take ten people who practiced the techniques and fifty men from the rest and go to the bottom of the mountain to the stables in this location. I have learnt there are five carriages with these bandits. You have to get the carriages ready along with horses and reach the same location I asked your sister's party to reach in an hour. And you have to ask the other men to send the remaining horses apart from the horses used for carriages to get here outside the prison as soon as possible."

Wang Shuang couldn't understand why Zhu Xuan was freaking out and asked "Young master Xuan, why are you in such a hurry? Do you think they will come earlier?"

Zhu Xuan have to take care of other things so replied in an urgent tone "I will explain in detail once we leave, but we might be in danger. So please move fast and assemble in the base of the mountain."

Once he said that, he turned and started giving instructions to the other group. Wang siblings looked at each other and then they moved along with others to complete the task Zhu Xuan gave them.

Zhu Xuan looked at the rest of the people and instructed them "All of you have half hour. I mainly need you to find Ropes and horses available within the stronghold, and if you come across any dead bandits, take their belongings. It will help us once we leave this place. Remember, you have half an hour to complete this task. Whatever you do, return here in half an hour."

Once he finished saying all he needed to say, everyone moved to all directions in the stronghold and Zhu Xuan moved fast towards the direction of the living place of the four leaders.

Half an hour later, everyone assembled back at the prison. The men who went with Wang Shuang also came back with some horses. There were more than seventy horses in total.

Zhu Xuan looked at everyone, pointed his hands at the third side of the prison where the men who were crippled and women that went mad were still imprisoned.

He looked at the men and said with a resolute tone "Horses are for the men whose legs were crippled, tie two men in each horse and each of you guide a horse to the appointed location in the bottom of the mountain immediately."

He turned towards the women and said "You use the ropes to tie these women so that they can't run around freely and only able to walk. I know it's severe to tie them up but I don't want them to run around in their unstable mind state when we are tight on time. If we have remaining horses after moving the people with their legs crippled, use it to transport these women and the rest of you move to the bottom of the mountain in foot."

After saying this, he also started helping them. It took them little more than an hour to assemble with everyone at the bottom of the mountain. As soon as they reached, Zhu Xuan instructed the men and women to get the injured men and women to the horse carriages.

Once everything is done and every injured person were settled, he marked the village where they are moving to, and showed the others the map.

This is the same village called Great Tree village, he fought and killed Wolf claw after starting the mission. He didn't know about other villages in the forest and how they would treat these men and women, but he was confident when the villagers in Great tree village hear his name, they will definitely help these people.

He first called the young men and women who practiced with physical and spirit energy and asked them "I told you all of you only need to follow my instructions for only a day and I abide by that. But I do have a request not. I hope you can escort these people to the Great Tree village and stay there for ten days to protect them and the village. I will ask Young master Shuang to take you to the Feng Wu city and continue your cultivation once he comes back. You can either choose to go with him or back to your own village."

They readily agreed to Zhu Xuan's request, and then he split them in two groups, one in the front and one in the back to act against any danger in the forest.

"Once we start our journey, I will meet you at the front." He said to the Wang siblings and they nodded in understanding.

He checked once more whether everyone is ready and everything prepared. He walked to the front of the group, looked at all the people and shouted "Let's set out."