Gods: Start with Goblins

.In the depths of a quiet bamboo forest, the moonlight shines through the sparse bamboo leaves, sprinkling on the ground, adding a bit of mystery to this quiet night. Elder Tianji is concentrating with his eyes closed, surrounded by a faint aura, as if he is performing some unknown ritual. Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence, and Pei Sheng appeared at the edge of the bamboo forest, his face gloomy, his eyes flashing with dissatisfaction and doubt.

"Elder Tianji, what on earth are you doing?" Pei Sheng's voice echoed in the bamboo forest, questioning and dissatisfied. "You are releasing spiritual energy here. Are you trying to find out something? I, Pei Sheng, act in an open and aboveboard manner. Why do you have to be so sneaky?"

Elder Tianji slowly opened his eyes, revealing a hint of calmness and composure. He was not afraid of Pei Sheng's questioning, but said in an almost teasing tone: "Pei Sheng, Pei Sheng, why are you so nervous? I just sensed a hint of unusual aura, so I released my spiritual energy to investigate. Luo Dan is not here, right? Where did he go? He sneaked out without telling us, could he really want to take the opportunity to escape?"

Pei Sheng's face darkened when he heard this. He felt aggrieved, but he had to suppress his anger and explained, "Luo Dan is not here. But he is definitely not a deserter. There must be something hidden. As for you, Elder Tianji, your ability is too inaccurate, isn't it? Maybe you are old and your sensitivity has deteriorated? Wait until you can be more accurate before you say this!"

Elder Tianji smiled slightly, seemingly not caring about Pei Sheng's sarcasm. He gently waved his hand and said, "Pei Sheng, don't underestimate my Tianji technique. Although I dare not say it is 100% accurate, it is probably not wrong. However, since you are so sure, I want to see if I made a wrong judgment or you were really fooled by Luo Dan."

Just as Pei Sheng was about to refute, suddenly, a familiar yet strange breath approached quietly. The two of them became alert at the same time, their eyes fixed on the depths of the bamboo forest. They saw a figure slowly walking out under the moonlight, it was Luo Dan!
Luo Dan's appearance startled Pei Sheng. He subconsciously looked at Elder Tianji, only to see that Elder Tianji was also stunned. The two auras collided inadvertently, causing waves of weak airflow fluctuations, causing the bamboo leaves in the bamboo forest to sway gently.

"Luodan? Why are you back?" Pei Sheng couldn't help but ask, with a hint of disbelief in his tone.

Luo Dan did not answer immediately, but glanced at the two of them first, and then slowly said: "I... I just went out to do something, and I didn't expect to cause such a big misunderstanding. Elder Tianji, Pei Sheng, don't misunderstand, I definitely don't mean to escape from the battlefield."

Elder Tianji frowned, looked Luo Dan up and down, and then said in a deep voice: "Luo Dan, you'd better explain the matter clearly. What is the purpose of your trip? Could it be that you really have some secret that you cannot tell others?"

Luo Dan smiled bitterly and shook his head helplessly: "Elder Tianji, Pei Sheng, you really misunderstood. I just suddenly received an urgent message and needed to deal with it. Now that the matter has been resolved, I hurried back, didn't I?"

Pei Sheng's doubts were slightly relieved after hearing this, but he still couldn't help asking, "What urgent news? Do you have to go out and deal with it at this time?"

Luo Dan hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to confess: "It's about the intelligence of the enemy we are about to face. I received news that they are secretly gathering forces and preparing to launch a surprise attack on us. I think this matter is too important and I must verify it myself."

After hearing this, Elder Tianji and Pei Sheng fell into deep thought. After a moment, Elder Tianji slowly spoke: "Luo Dan, you did the right thing this time. Facing the enemy, we cannot be careless at all. Since you have verified the intelligence, we must quickly prepare for the upcoming battle."

Pei Sheng also nodded in agreement: "That's right, Luo Dan. Although your previous behavior has caused us some misunderstandings, your starting point is good. Now, we must unite as one and fight the enemy together."

In this way, a dispute caused by misunderstanding was resolved with Luo Dan's explanation. The three of them reunited to discuss how to deal with the upcoming challenges. And the quiet bamboo forest once again returned to its former tranquility, as if nothing had ever happened.

In the quiet courtyard at night, the moonlight was like water, gently sprinkled on the bluestone road, covering the ancient courtyard with a layer of silver gauze. Elder Tianji stood in a corner of the courtyard, frowning slightly, with a thoughtful look in his eyes. At this time, a breeze blew by, bringing Pei Sheng's hurried and slightly nervous voice.

"Elder Tianji, I have been guarding here the whole time. The spiritual energy detection you just did must have been wrong, right?" Pei Sheng's tone was a little uncertain, but he tried to stay calm. He stared at Elder Tianji, trying to catch a trace of something strange on his face.

Elder Tianji turned around slowly after hearing this. Under the moonlight, his face looked a little pale, and there was a hint of fatigue in his eyes. "Of course I'm not mistaken, I'm just... a little curious." He coughed lightly, as if trying to hide something. "You look different than before, Pei Sheng, are you hiding something from me?"

Pei Sheng's heart tightened, but he still pretended to be calm on the surface: "There is nothing different. I just practiced for a long time today and I am a little tired. Elder Tianji, you worry too much."

Just when the atmosphere between the two was a little subtle, a burst of brisk footsteps broke the silence. Luo Dan appeared at the gate of the courtyard. His clothes were a little messy, and his expression was a little tired and solemn, but his eyes were shining with determination.

"Elder Tianji, Pei Sheng, I'm back." Although Luo Dan's voice was soft, it was like a spring breeze blowing across the lake, instantly easing the originally tense atmosphere a lot.

Pei Sheng was relieved to see Luo Dan return safely, and a long-lost smile appeared on his face: "You are finally back, you have been waiting for so long! I thought..." He swallowed the words back when they came to his lips, obviously not wanting to make Luo Dan worry.

Elder Tianji also nodded slightly, with a hint of relief in his eyes: "Since you are sure now, then... you can go, right?" There was some reluctance in his tone, as if he regretted not being able to find out more information.

Luo Dan nodded gently and bowed to Elder Tianji: "Thank you for your concern, Elder. I have confirmed that everything is normal. You should also go to bed early, as there are still many things to do tomorrow."

Elder Tianji shook his head helplessly, turned around and left, his back stretched out in the moonlight, looking a little lonely. After Elder Tianji's figure completely disappeared from sight, Luo Dan turned to Pei Sheng, with a bitter smile on his face: "You have been waiting for me for a long time, right? This time I went to the City Lord's Mansion to investigate the news, and I did encounter some troubles."

Pei Sheng raised his eyebrows when he heard this: "Oh? What do you mean? You look like you had a fight with someone outside!"

Luo Dan sighed, sat down slowly, and began to recount his experience in the City Lord's Mansion: "After I sneaked into the City Lord's Mansion, I found that they were plotting a big event, which seemed to be related to our plan. But when I tried to get more information, I was accidentally discovered. Although I finally escaped, I also suffered some minor injuries."

Pei Sheng's expression became serious after hearing this: "It seems that our opponent is more cunning than we thought. Luo Dan, I'm glad that you can come back safely this time. Next time, we have to be more cautious."

The two looked at each other, with a determined light in their eyes. On this quiet night, they seemed to be ready to face the challenges of the future. No matter how difficult the road ahead is, they will go hand in hand.

On that night of bright lights and bustling crowds, Luo Dan was standing in the crowd, his eyes fixed on the grand ceremony taking place in front of him. During the ceremony, the flames shot up to the sky, the music was melodious, and people's faces were filled with laughter and admiration, as if at this moment, all their troubles were thrown behind them. However, Luo Dan's heart was filled with ripples, and an inexplicable sense of crisis quietly rose.

Just as he was about to step forward to stop it and try to uncover the secrets behind this ceremony, a subtle but extremely clear sound of wind suddenly sounded in his ears. The sound of wind carried an indescribable pressure, as if countless pairs of eyes were watching him in the dark. Luo Dan's heart trembled, and he immediately realized that someone was using spiritual energy to explore, and the other party's strength was by no means ordinary.

"It's not advisable to stay here for long." Luo Dan thought to himself. He knew that if he continued to stay here, his identity would be exposed and even cause unnecessary trouble. So he made a quick decision and turned to walk towards the city lord with an apologetic smile on his face.

"My Lord City Lord, I'm so sorry." Luo Dan said softly, with a bit of fatigue in his tone, "I need to recuperate today, so I won't stay here to watch the fun with you for the time being. You guys continue to enjoy this beautiful night, I'll go ahead."

The city lord was a little surprised when he heard this, but seeing that Luo Dan really looked unhappy, he didn't say much, just nodded to show his understanding. And those who were originally around Luo Dan, when they heard him say this, actually believed it, and no one raised any objections or tried to stop him. In this way, Luo Dan slowly left the lively occasion under the gaze of everyone, but secretly felt lucky that he had managed to escape.

After leaving the ceremony, Luo Dan quickly quickened his pace, passed through the bustling crowd, and finally came to a remote corner, where he met his companions who were waiting for him.

"You're back!" The companion was obviously surprised by Luo Dan's return, "What are we going to do next?"

Luo Dan took a deep breath and said solemnly, "I may not be here for the next few nights. We need to stay here for a few days to observe the situation. As for those big families, I can send them over first to ensure their safety."

However, Luo Dan's words made his companions look worried. They knew that Luo Dan wanted to leave at this moment, which was undoubtedly a risk. After all, the matter here had not been completely resolved. As a key figure, Luo Dan's departure would undoubtedly bring uncertainty to the entire plan.

"Luo Dan, you want to leave now, aren't you dreaming?" A companion couldn't help but said, with a bit of anxiety in his tone, "We still need you, you can't just abandon us like this."

Luo Dan was struggling when he heard this. He knew that he had a heavy responsibility, but he also knew that only by protecting himself first could he complete the mission better. So, he said in a deep voice: "I understand your concerns, but I also have my own considerations. Don't worry, I will act carefully and will not put myself in danger. Moreover, only if I explore the way first can I better plan the next action."

Under Luo Dan's insistence, his companions finally agreed to his decision. They knew that Luo Dan was a man of his own ideas and acted cautiously, and his decisions were often made after careful consideration. So, under the cover of night, Luo Dan quietly left the place full of unknowns and dangers and embarked on his own journey. His determined back looked particularly lonely and resolute under the moonlight.

On that slightly gloomy afternoon, the sun was blocked by thick clouds, and only a few rays of light occasionally penetrated the clouds and sprinkled on Luo Dan's frowning brows. He was standing in an ancient courtyard, surrounded by lush trees. Occasionally, a few birds chirped, adding a bit of silence. In front of him, several envoys from different sects were surrounding him, persuading him in a flurry of words.

“Brother Luodan, if those sects heard that you were not going to accompany them to explore that secret place, they would have probably made a scene!” An envoy in a gorgeous robe said anxiously, his face full of anxiety and uneasiness, “I advise you to go with them! Otherwise, you will really regret it! If you miss this opportunity, it will be extremely difficult to find such a pure bloodline again!”

Luo Dan had a headache. He rubbed his temples, trying to relieve the irritability in his heart. Who knows? He muttered to himself, what exactly is hidden in the secret realm? Even he himself can't tell clearly. What's more, he always has a hunch that this matter is not as simple as it seems on the surface.

"Everyone, I understand how you feel." Luo Dan took a deep breath and tried to make his tone sound calm. "But I have my considerations. The secret realm is full of dangers. If I go there rashly, I'm afraid I will implicate everyone. Besides, I do have some personal matters to deal with recently, so I really can't spare time."

However, Luo Dan's words did not convince the messengers. They continued to persuade Luo Dan to change his mind. At this moment, a burst of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard, interrupting the quarrel. (End of this chapter)