First four, last tenth

Xuan Ping and the first four core disciples left for their mission. Since they didn't have much intel on the Shadowmon sect, the best place to gather information would be an inn or a tavern.

The first four disciples were still wondering why the sect master had chosen Xuan Ping to accompany them, considering the importance of the mission.

They ordered food, and Xuan Ping didn't care about anything else except his favorite dish. However, it wasn't on the menu, so he settled for something else.

Sitting at a table, Xuan Ping observed his surroundings, his ears attentively listening to every conversation in the inn.

"Damn, it's so noisy. And they call themselves core disciples," he thought to himself.

"Did you hear about it?"

"What?" the other disciple asked.

Immediately, Xuan Ping's ears picked up a conversation that seemed like it could provide a clue.

"It's about the Shadow Moon sect. They have deployed their four supreme beings just to guard a little kid," he replied.

"How did you find out about that?" the other disciple asked.

"I have a junior brother in the sect," he replied.

"You allowed your junior brother to join a cult?" the other disciple exclaimed.

"Who said it was a cult?"

"How can you classify the Shadow Moon sect as a cult? In this region, they are the only ones with close to ten cultivators at the supreme realm," he said.

"What? Close to ten supreme realm cultivators!" Xuan Ping exclaimed inwardly.

"And in the end, they use them for their evil deeds. As a friend, all I can say is tell your brother to leave if he's still an outer disciple. Otherwise, when he becomes really strong, there's no way he won't be involved in their schemes."

"That's your problem. You're just jealous of my little brother,"

"Forget about it. There's no need to tell you anything. It will prove futile. Well, let's have our drink," he said, showing his teeth.

Xuan Ping began to feel the uselessness of the four disciples he had brought. Right now, he was regretting his decision. "Look at them indulging in their meals and wines, caring less about what we're about to face."

The sound of a deep, rumbling belch echoed through their table, accompanied by an escaping rush of air from the mouth.

"Damn!" Xuan Ping closed his nose. "Older brother," he called smiling. "Only Xiao Feng is my true older brother, so don't let it get to your head," he thought as Xiao Long began to swell.

"I would love to relieve myself," Xuan Ping concluded.

"Why don't you do it here?" the third person said.

"Huh!" Xuan Ping exclaimed, surprise etched on his face.

"Come on, get out of here before I smack you," he shouted, drawing attention to their table. "I still can't fathom why the sect master asked us to bring you along."

Xuan Ping hurriedly ran out, feeling irritated. He almost smacked the third person, but it went unnoticed.

The two friends stumbled out of the tavern, intoxicated, as they staggered down the road.

"What took you so long?" they heard someone hanging onto themselves, sounding frightened.

"Who are you?"

"What do you want?"

"You don't have to worry about that. What I want won't claim your lives. Just answer a few of my questions, and you're free to go," said Xuan Ping.

The two friends couldn't see well since it was pretty dark. "Is what you guys said about the Shadow Moon Sect true?" he asked.

"Yes, yes," the trembling person answered after Xuan Ping released a bit of his qi.

"Good. I just have one more question, and I need you to answer quickly," Xuan Ping said, pointing towards the person who claimed to have a junior brother as an outer disciple in the Shadow Moon Sect.

"I could have just kept my mouth shut and drunk silently," the person thought, struggling to stand.

"Where is the Shadow Moon Sect located?"

[Back at the tavern]

“Where did this guy go to relieve himself? Doesn't he realize he's taking too long? Useless brat!” he spouted.

“Just leave him be. It's not as if he has anything he could do to increase the progress of this mission. The most important thing is to get back our sect masters' grandson safe and sound.”

“Yes, I trust only the eldest brother for the mission,” Liu Yun said chuckling.

The eldest brother, Jang Tianhua, blushed at the statement.

Xuan Ping saw this as he got closer. “F***, this is so annoying. I still can't believe I'm doing this, useless folks.”

“There he comes.”

As Xuan Ping walked towards them, all he honestly wanted to do was knock them each on their head.

“What took you so long? Don't you know we have to sleep very early and wake very early so we can go out looking for clues?”

“Hey, little brother, we were asked to look after you. But if you go around and end up lost, we won't have the chance to look for you. So behave yourself,” Liu Yun said.

“Now I think it is clear what our missions are,” Xuan Ping thought. “Mine is to save Lan Wei, while theirs is to spout about how I saved their asses on this mission… he-he.”

“Having weird dreams, huh?”

“No, senior sister, nothing like that,” he scratched his head.

They all stood up, paid their bills, and headed towards their assigned rooms. Xuan Ping entered his room, spreading his Qi sense, observing each of their rooms with care since part of his mission is to protect the four.

“Nevertheless, I still believe they will change, and it will happen when the person they belittle becomes their helper,” he smiled.

“They've got potential, I'd say. Just so childish and arrogant.”

[Next morning]

Xuan Ping had been awake all through the night cultivating. He expected much from the core disciples, but he was disappointed when he discovered no movement in their rooms. They were still passed out due to overdrinking.

After an hour, they began to stir on their beds as they each woke up, took their baths, freshened up, and got dressed before heading down the stairs.

“That naughty and lazy boy is still not awake from his slumber?” Liu Yun said.

Xuan Ping heard this, and his anger started to rise. Veins popped on the side of his head, and he gritted his teeth together.

Chen Wei, the fourth core disciple, went back and started brutally knocking on Xuan Ping's door.

"Hold on for a while. I may be the youngest, but I'm still a core disciple. Why do I feel like I'm being treated like their slave just because they think I'm weak?"