The Path Of Least Resistance. Chapter 25 (Patreon)

The rewards from killing the Void Mantis hidden boss were also very damned good, besides just the actual physical rewards we got from the remains of the Void Mantis itself.

First was a new sword that I myself took seeing as my sword was broken from the Void Mantis, and Dao Toubi's own sword was already of a higher grade. Secondly was a tier three fire aligned herb which was something I could easily trade to get a bunch of lesser materials.

The rest of the treasure went to the sisters, and we then just collapsed as we passed through the teleportation gate.

"Was it really that bad in there?" A guard called out with a laugh at seeing our clear exhaustion, even though for the most part we didn't look too injured.

And by too injured I meant none of us were missing any limbs or bleeding profusely.

That guard's words were exactly the wrong thing to say as Dao Mengdi all but exploded upon the guards. "That dungeon was far beyond being ready to Dungeon Break! It was evolving into a Golden Core-ranked dungeon, you complete fools!"

Feeling out the guard's own cultivation, I could tell they were low level Foundation Establishment cultivators. Without any major ties to any powerful sects and not having that great of potential as they served the local 'mortal' government.

And I checked them out for good reason, as I could feel a flash of killing intent coming from the guard that Dao Mengdi and Dao Xu were cursing out. 

The fact that this dungeon was evolving to a Golden Core dungeon was something that their squad leader should have been able to easily point out.

'Got to make sure they don't try to throw their lives away to silence us as well to hide their fuck ups.' I realized as I knew that, in the timeline in which the majority of them died.

Their mother had already rushed here and killed most of the guards as her daughter's soul lamps went out... One by one.

"We already popped our emergency talisman's as Inner Sect Disciples of the Five Elements Sword Sect... I do hope you aren't thinking of doing anything stupid." I said coldly as I started to fill the ground with my qi to start producing more roots and flame canons.

The lead guard at the moment only having middle-tier Foundation Establishment strength, grimaced at my naked reminder and threat.

And with a snarl, he said. "Go then and leave. I am sure your elders will convene with my squad leader."

Dao Xu being the prickly prideful woman she was, was about to say something else. But I literally grabbed her by the arm and dragged her away as Dao Mengdi and Xuan gave me confused looks.

Dao Tuobi... Just didn't seem to care that I was dragging her sister off though for some reason.

Once we left the teleportation square to where this Insect Dungeon lied, Dao Xu ripped her arm from my grasp and all but snarled. "Jake Bariss why did you drag me away like a petulant child!?"

To which I said rather bluntly. "Because I am exhausted; my qi is low from fighting non-stop for the last day and a half. Most of us have internal injuries, and I imagine you all spent the majority of the talismans you have on hand."

"What the hell does that have to do with anything?" She demanded with a pout as she couldn't help but acknowledge my points were true at least.

And it was Dao Tuobi who spoke in a cold tone before I could. "Because sister... Those guards wanted to kill us to silence us for their failures. Being a low-level dungeon guard is one of the easiest and best-paying jobs there is. And they are going to be severely punished for failing to recognize that dungeon's evolution state."

I exhaled heavily in agreement as I took in the distant towers and mega structures of cultivation-enhanced Shanghai in the distance. 

Then I cleared my throat and said helplessly. "Alright, we got signal here. so you four should probably call your mother to report your safety and what happened... I am going to head into the city to find a place to stay for a few days."

That, and I needed to find that immortal-grade Dual Cultivation art that Dao Xu found on the street markets... Hell maybe if I was lucky I could run into some more chances as well from being around so many people?

"Jake, can I come with you as well?" Dao Xuan asked as she tottered over to pinch the edge of my sleeve and looked up at me.

I sent a helpless look at her elder sisters, who all averted their gaze. Unwilling to meet the dreadful, watery gaze that Dao Xuan had mastered.

I sighed helplessly before I waved my hand she wasn't holding onto the sleeve of, and said. "Fine, I can't say no to you I guess." 

Dao Xuan's face lit up with a wide smile with her bright blue eye's twinkling with joy as she held onto my sleeve with a slight flush entering her pale visage.

Still with that... I had to call an Uber because the city itself was several miles away, and I didn't want to be here. Or anywhere near here when a pissed-off peak Golden Core mother came over to lay hands on these poor bastards.

Climbing into the back of the car that came to pick us up with Dao Xuan, I gave the young woman next to a glance as she sighed with relaxation in the padded seat.

[Dao Xuan, do we need to head to a hotel first so we can get cleaned up and rested first?] I asked her in a qi whisper so that the driver didn't hear.

As her clothes were still messed up from the fight with the Void Mantis and she herself had the lowest cultivation of her sisters. So she was clearly utterly exhausted from the stress of the day.

Dao Xuan paused for a moment before she flushed heavily for some reason, then hurriedly nodded as she sent another qi whisper to me. [Yes senior brother. I would appreciate that very much!]

Then not even before we got a mile away, a massive thrum and rumble rang out as a pillar of ice formed in the air behind us at the dungeon portal.

'Yup... That's why I ran away. Angry mom with superpowers and zero accountability rushed over at high speed.' I thought helplessly, as I knew those guards were dead without a doubt.

Then a small thought hit my mind. 'Uhhh, is Dao Xuan's mom going to come fuck me up for taking her youngest with me before she could check on her?' 

An icy shiver ran through me at the thought but I just pushed it down as we were entering the lively more suburban area of the city. So there was no way that Dao Zian, there mother would actually attack me openly with a huge attack like that pillar.

"Oooh! Mother texted me and sent me some pocket money for our shopping!" Dao Xuan said happily before she paused and said with some uncertainty.

"Uhm Jake?" She started off with some confusion as she held out her phone to me in confusion to show me the line of test and an umbrella emoji?

"Mom said to make sure to buy an umbrella for some reason? I guess while she flew over, she realized a storm was on its way?" 

My lips twitched as I realized what she meant... She was clearly saying not to get knocked up!