Mage And Wolf
Chapter 166

Chapter 166: Chapter 166

I move quietly down the halls in the back of the warehouse, looking for the stairs that should lead to the basement prison, mindful of any remaining cultivators.

There’s a thick streak of blood from where I fought the second Immortal, leading to a window where they jumped out to escape. I make sure to be cautious of their return, a single Regeneration Pill and they’ll be at full form and not so easily taken by surprise this time.

I find no others left alive in the building before coming across the stairs. even the wailing of the Boss has ended, he opted to end his life instead of living without his cultivation.

They’re a standard set of basement stairs, creaky wood into a concrete looking underground room. I light the torches as I descend, wishing I would have brought a magical light. Lycan eyes don’t need much light, and can pick up basic thermal signatures as part of our night vision, but it’s better if I can properly see.

There’s ten so called rooms here. Round holes dug into the floor with heavy grates on top. Is this where they wanted to put me? I could jump up that high, and my claws would make short work of the gate. Maybe they had more drugs, to limit my energy usage?

Two of the ten have people in them. One young adult barely into the Fortification Realm and one child, about ten years old going by size alone, that is at the third stage of the Foundation Realm.

"You guys want out? The idiotic Sect is gone for the moment." I call.

"If you would, please. A young man’s ragged voice calls, while the other only makes a squeaking noise. I’ll take that as two yes answers.

I free them both, lifting the man up and jumping in to lift the girl out. She looks awful, like she’s been in here a while. And smells worse, but that can wait until we’re at least somewhere safe.

The man follows as I carry her up the stairs and out of the building.

"Elder Song? I know you’re nearby somewhere. I misplaced a pair of Immortals." I raise my voice to be sure I’m heard and Elder Song laughs from a building away.

"Two? I found one and a half." He answers.

"Close enough for me. I found these two locked in their prison. The young fellow here should be good to return home, but this one might need additional recovery time."

I feed the rescued cultivator a low grade healing pill and hand him a canteen of water before returning my attention to the girl in my arms.

"I have no idea how to thank you Miss." He says, returning the canteen empty.

"No need, this was personal, rescuing you was incidental. Do you have a Sect nearby?" I question him, feeding a Regeneration Pill to the unconscious girl.

"We’re in town for the competition, there should be twenty more of us." He confirms.

"Excellent, town center is that way, let them know the problem has been taken care of by the Shadowed Blade. Your Elders will understand." Elder Song tells him and the man waves before taking off running.

"Here, hold her." I tell him, passing the girl over so I can check her vitals and condition properly.

"Looks like there’s no lingering damage after the regeneration pill, I just need to feed and water her and we can see how her mind is."

"I know you like kids, but stealing them from Sects you kill is a bit iffy." Elder Song jokes.

"As I said, this one was in the prison. That’s totally fair game." I answer, sticking out my tongue. "She’s been unconscious the whole time, and she looked pretty bad, so she might be in shock."

"Take her to the hotel and I’ll catch up to you later. I finished up the escaping Elders and the greasy looking second kidnapper guy for you." Elder Song says turning towards the competition.

"Go, watch your disciple compete, I’ll take care of her." I assure Elder Song, who promptly disappears.

I bring the girl back to our hotel suite and begin washing her up when she suddenly awakens with a start. "No, please don’t. Just leave me alone!"

"Calm down little one." I tell her. "You’re not in that cell anymore and the bad men are gone."

"They’re gone? Really gone or will they be back for me?"

"They’re exceptionally dead. Not coming back. Ever." I reassure her and she lets out a deep sigh. "Now, can you tell me why they were keeping you there?"

"My parents run a herbalist shop in town. They banned the Kuroki Sect, the ones who live in the building where I was kept, from the premises. So the sect took me prisoner to force them to turn over alchemy materials. They said they would capture a master alchemist in the tournament next month and they needed the herbs. But my parents wouldn’t budge. They don’t really value me more than their money you see, I’ve got 4 older brothers and they never wanted a daughter."

"The competition is today. Well, today is the second day of competition. Inner Sect Disciples are doing Inscription right now, and I was the winner of the alchemy competition for the Inner Sect Disciples yesterday. They kidnapped me, just like you, but I’m not defenseless." I explain softly.

"So I’ve been in there for six weeks?" She says sadly.

"Maybe? I don’t live here, so I don’t know when you were taken. I can bring you home after dinner. But you shouldn’t move about before you eat."

"Or I could stay with you? I’m a good assistant, and you’re an alchemist." She says hopefully.

"Well, I’m here with two more people, how about we all talk it over when they get back tonight? But first. Food."

I dig out a selection of dishes from the Cooking test Elder Song had me do and lay them out on the table before gathering the girl from the bath and dressing her in one of my Taoist robes. It hangs to the floor on her, and I have to roll up the sleeves, but with a sash around the waist it’s not going anywhere.