The next morning, brilliant sunlight filtered through the elaborately carved windows of the Outer Affairs Hall, dappling the ground like scattered gold.
Zhang Tie stood silently, holding a thick task announcement booklet, examining it carefully.
On the directory of the booklet, dense numbers were scattered like stars, and the detailed information attached to each task, including time, location, and rewards, was clear and concise.
Zhang Tie looked closely and found that the tasks Outer Sect Disciples could undertake were few and far between.
Among the outdoor tasks, such as escorting precious goods, one had to be constantly on edge, guarding against bandit attacks, with the risk of dying in a foreign land if careless.
Tasks involving investigating confidential information required venturing alone into danger, where a slight misstep could lead to a desperate situation.
Tasks to capture certain fugitives or specific individuals often meant facing ruthless and desperate characters, where life and death hung in the balance.
There were also tasks to collect protection fees, which inevitably led to clashes with those who were uncooperative, fighting to the death for money.
And the tasks within the Sect were not easy either.
For example, tasks requiring the submission of specified rare medicinal herbs, which were often hidden in extremely perilous places, making them as difficult to find as ascending to heaven, or requiring large sums of money that one did not possess.
There were also tasks to work diligently for some Elders, where a slight oversight could lead to severe reprimands or even huge compensation losses.
There were even tasks to assist certain Elders in testing poisons, which was like walking on the edge of life and death; if the antidote was wrong, one would ascend to heaven prematurely.
Of course, there were also seemingly risk-free tasks, such as the six-month task of mining copper, which, though involving heavy labor, was safe.
There was also the six-month task of working in the logistics department, which, though tedious and boring, offered some private income.
And some eight-month tasks of maintaining public order in designated towns, which, though tiring, were safe within the city and offered much better living conditions than the Gang.
In summary, these tasks all shared a common characteristic: while safe and easy, they were time-consuming and laborious; once accepted, there would be little leisure time left for Cultivation.
Zhang Tie felt that the path of Cultivation was inherently rugged and difficult; how could one achieve success easily without paying a price? If one always feared risks and coveted comfort, how could one stand out in this Jianghu and achieve great renown?
He frowned, flipping through the announcement booklet for a long time. His gaze slowly swept over each task, constantly weighing the pros and cons.
Eventually, a task to escort a batch of valuable goods to Phoenix Crown City, the capital of Black Phoenix Country, stirred his heart.
On one hand, this task carried a certain degree of risk, as the journey was long and various unknown dangers might be encountered.
But on the other hand, with the lead of a master from the Sky Eagle Sect, the foremost power in the Great Capital Country, and the collaboration of an Elder from his own Gang's Black Bear Hall, accompanied by five deacons, such a lineup somewhat reassured him. As Outer Sect Disciples, their role was merely to handle logistics and run errands, so the danger should not be great. If the sky fell, there would be tall people to hold it up.
Moreover, this task only required about a month's time, which, compared to tasks lasting half a year or more, would not overly delay Cultivation.
At the same time, the reward of fifty taels of silver could greatly improve his current financial situation, as he was eager to exchange for a new Cultivation Technique, and five points of contribution could be exchanged for many valuable Cultivation resources.
Finally, his gaze settled firmly on this task.
Zhang Tie, holding his identity token, found Senior Brother Liu, who was on duty in the Outer Affairs Hall. Senior Brother Liu was sitting at his desk, meticulously organizing a pile of complex documents.
"Senior Brother Liu, Junior Brother has chosen this task. Please help me register it," Zhang Tie said, pointing to a task.
Senior Brother Liu looked up at the sound, his gaze lingering on Zhang Tie for a moment, then he took his identity token and meticulously recorded the information.
After the registration was complete, Zhang Tie cupped his fists and bowed deeply to Senior Brother Liu: "Thank you, Senior Brother Liu. Junior Brother will take his leave now."
Senior Brother Liu nodded slightly: "Be sure to be careful on this trip. I hope Junior Brother returns soon."
Zhang Tie nodded solemnly in agreement, turned, and hurried out of the Outer Affairs Hall towards his stone house.
Days passed like a fleeting white steed, and the day of departure arrived.
Zhang Tie, carrying his pack, arrived early at the gathering point.
At this time, other personnel participating in the task were also arriving one after another. Half an hour later, everyone was present. A burly man with a broad back walked from a distance and stood at the front of the team.
"I am Zhou Zhenye of the Black Bear Hall. You can call me Elder Zhou," he said, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his voice like a great bell. "This mission concerns the illustrious reputation of my Iron Bear Gang. All of you must do your utmost and not show the slightest slackness or negligence."
Everyone shouted in unison, their passionate voices echoing long in the valley.
Subsequently, led by the Elder, the group rode on horseback, majestically setting off towards the border. Zhang Tie followed closely behind the team, feeling both anticipation and a little nervousness.
Along the way, everyone was cautious and dared not be complacent in the slightest. Zhang Tie now held the standard long saber weapon newly issued by the Gang for this mission, following behind the team.
After several days of travel, they safely reached the border and successfully rendezvoused with the Sky Eagle Sect's team.
Leading the Sky Eagle Sect was an Elderly white-haired man, whose white hair was like snow, yet meticulously combed and extremely neat. As a gentle breeze blew, his snow-like hair gently swayed, exuding a unique aura of being ethereal and untainted by worldly Qi.
The Elderly white-haired man's face was thin, with crisscrossing wrinkles like deep ravines, as if silently narrating the past vicissitudes of the Jianghu. His eyes were deep like an abyss, and the occasional flash of brilliance indicated his profound Internal Energy at a glance.
On the Elderly white-haired man's back, an ancient long sword was slung diagonally, with a blue gem inlaid on its hilt.
Though slightly worn, it still emitted faint glimmers of cold light. The Elderly white-haired man sat steadily on horseback, his figure seemingly thin and frail, yet possessing a sense of power. No matter how the spirited horse beneath him jolted or leaped, it could not cause his figure to sway or shift in the slightest.
Zhang Tie watched from the side, secretly marveling, "This is truly the demeanor of a master. I wonder when I will be able to possess such heroic bearing and extraordinary temperament."
After the two teams merged, they simply made brief introductions. Then, the Sky Eagle Sect's team led the way, with the Iron Bear Gang following closely behind. The remarkable Elderly white-haired man accompanied the carriage carrying the goods, slowly advancing with the team.
A few days later, one afternoon, the group reached a deep valley and stopped their hurried steps.
At this time, the sky gradually darkened. Black clouds, like heavy ink masses, piled up layer upon layer, as if about to press down, making one's chest feel heavy and almost breathless.
The trees in the valley trembled in the raging wind, their branches and leaves swaying wildly, emitting mournful wailing sounds, as if narrating their fear of the impending storm.
The distant mountains, shrouded in the dim sky, gradually became hazy with rising mist, slowly blurring their outlines, quietly drawing the curtain for the impending drama of wind and rain.
As the team advanced, the wind grew even fiercer, roaring like a mad beast through the valley, sweeping up fallen leaves and dust from the ground, forming rapidly rotating small whirlwinds. The air was filled with a strong damp scent, a clear sign that heavy rain was about to pour down.
Seeing this, everyone moved quickly, donning their straw cloaks and standing ready to face the sudden storm.
Suddenly, a dazzling bolt of lightning, like a sharp sword, abruptly sliced through the sky, instantly tearing apart the dark firmament. The intense light instantly illuminated the entire valley, making everything as clear as day.
Immediately after, a figure on horseback galloped from a distance. In the blink of an eye, the figure swiftly arrived near the Elderly white-haired man, then dismounted and hurried over, stopping beside the Elderly white-haired man and whispering something.
Then, the Elderly white-haired man's deep voice was heard: "A heavy rain is coming. There is a black bear's cave ahead, and the black bear has already been killed. We will rest there temporarily until the heavy rain stops before continuing our journey." The Elderly white-haired man's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears like a great bell.
Soon after, as the heavy rain began, everyone arrived at the location of the cave. The Elderly white-haired man and Elder Zhou, along with a few others, were the first to enter the cave. A few people carrying several boxes of important goods followed closely behind the Elderly white-haired man into the cave. Zhang Tie and a few others, however, received orders to search the surroundings for dry firewood and clean water.
Upon receiving the order, Zhang Tie and a few companions stepped into the increasingly heavy rain in the valley. The wind roared like an enraged beast, and the rain shot down like silver arrows, stinging their bodies. Zhang Tie tightened his straw cloak, hoping to quickly gather the dry firewood and return.
They searched with difficulty in the valley, and the ground beneath their feet became muddy and slippery. Zhang Tie's eyes constantly scanned the surroundings, hoping to find usable dry firewood quickly before the heavy rain soaked all the branches.
But just then, a loud bang suddenly came from the direction of the cave, as if the mountain had exploded, followed by shouts of killing. Zhang Tie immediately felt a bad premonition.