Chapter 00168: The Chef and the Elder's Disagreement
# The Chef and the Elder's Disagreement
Chapter 168
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 168: The Chef and the Elder's Disagreement
Due to Ding Huan's status and position, he could not propose an alternative route at this moment, nor could he suggest leaving the group alone.
Even if he had the weakest excuse, he would have to wait until they set up camp to bring up the idea of searching for food.
In the current situation, suggesting to look for food would clearly defy common sense, so that excuse wouldn’t work.
As he anxiously pondered how to leave the main group, a disordered patch of ground emerged before everyone.
Scattered clothing and tents lay abandoned everywhere, along with various weapons strewn about.
"This is where the incident happened," Han Wicheng said, his voice trembling.
Ding Huan could also see that this place had undergone extreme chaos and that everyone had split apart.
But he was well aware that Han Wicheng and his group had not encountered trouble here; they had passed the real site of the incident just over ten minutes earlier.
This was merely a staged scene.
At first, Ding Huan thought the clothing and weapons were just illusions, but after observing closely with his mind's eye, he confirmed that they were real.
This indicated that whoever had schemed against the Tianqi Sect and the Great Sword Sect was quite powerful and had set up a false scene.
What puzzled Ding Huan was that this fake scene served no real purpose.
Just moments ago, he noticed that they were in the forest, and now they were back on a road again.
Ding Huan closed his eyes and took a deep breath, manipulating his perception through his spiritual energy, and then opened his eyes to observe his surroundings once more.
Finally, everything returned to normal; without using his mind's eye, he could clearly see that this was not a road.
After several attempts, Ding Huan dimly grasped what was happening.
This was definitely toxic fog, similar to the poison from the previous night.
Everyone had been affected, but he possessed a toxin-clearing gene.
As his cultivation progressed, this gene had transformed into an instinct.
Because of this, even if the illusionary poison impacted him, he would soon revert to normal.
Of course, there was another possibility: his fused Wild Eye was able to see through some of the illusions.
Regardless of how it was, continuing this way was not an option.
If they pressed further, wouldn’t they fall into a dead end?
Ding Huan calculated his odds again, but the results were more ambiguous than before, shrouded in a veil of uncertainty.
The rules here were far more complex than in the mortal realm, making his calculations exceedingly challenging; however, he could still reference his own circumstances.
He absolutely could not move forward.
"Deacon Qiong," Ding Huan called out loudly, disregarding anything else.
There were many people in this group, and due to the strange events earlier, everyone traveled in silence.
Ding Huan's shout shattered the quiet atmosphere, causing nearly everyone to jump in surprise.
What happened now? This was the only thought on everyone's mind.
Without Deacon Qiong needing to relay the message, everyone unwittingly halted.
"What’s going on?" Deacon Qiong hurried over to ask upon seeing it was Ding Huan calling out.
Not only Deacon Qiong, but Elder Gu and two other sect elders, as well as Han Wicheng, approached as well.
Ding Huan clasped his fists and said, "Elder Gu, Deacon Qiong, I have great confidence in my sixth sense. I feel that if we continue walking this way, things won't end well."
"What do you mean?" Elder Gu still had some appreciation for Ding Huan.
A chef had found the Star Condensing Bamboo and had saved a disciple of the Tianqi Sect last night.
Elder Qu from the Twin Souls Sect and Elder Liu from the Zixia Valley didn’t know about Ding Huan’s background, and upon hearing Elder Gu's inquiry, they stood to the side to listen to Ding Huan.
Ding Huan pointed to the side and said, "I sense we must go this way through the forest to turn this situation around."
"You want us to walk into the jungle?" Elder Qu from the Twin Souls Sect's expression changed.
Not just Elder Qu and Elder Liu, even Elder Gu frowned at Ding Huan.
In the Great Ravine, where was the most danger? Naturally, it was in the forest.
Entering the forest not only meant facing various demon beasts but also countless traps.
These traps existed naturally; for instance, one might accidentally fall into a bottomless pit while walking, a death trap indeed.
Or you could suddenly be whisked away by a plant monster, leaving only bones behind.
Falling into a swamp was perhaps the most dignified way to die.
"Ding Huan, what nonsense are you spouting? This is a path leading into the jungle," Deacon Qiong said, frowning.
Ding Huan silently scoffed; didn’t they see that they were already in a forest? They only mistook it for a road because they were affected by the illusionary poison.
The direction he indicated led to the real path.
"Are you a deacon of the Yan Yue Sect?" Elder Liu suddenly asked.
Deacon Qiong quickly replied, "No, he's a temporary chef brought here by one of our disciples. He will leave once we reach the sect."
Upon hearing that Ding Huan was just a chef brought here by a disciple, Elder Qu from the Twin Souls Sect was furious and coldly stared at Ding Huan, "You, a mere chef, dare to speak so boldly? Get lost! If you utter another word, I’ll kill you with a single slap."
Ding Huan felt a surge of anger but was helpless.
He said to Deacon Qiong, "Since that's the case, please allow me to leave the group."
As Elder Qu seemed poised to erupt again, Elder Gu of the Yan Yue Sect suddenly spoke, "I recognize Ding Daoyou’s intuition. Let’s follow Ding Huan and take the side route."
Elder Gu did have a modicum of appreciation for Ding Huan, but it was merely a slight regard.
His decision to heed Ding Huan's advice was based not only on the star condensing bamboo but also on Ding Huan's calm demeanor upon entering the Great Ravine.
More importantly, he had a vague sense of unease.
This feeling was minor, almost imperceptible until Ding Huan mentioned it.
That unease swiftly faded again.
Because of this, he chose to trust Ding Huan.
"Elder Gu, Ding Huan is still… entering the jungle in the Great Ravine increases the danger tremendously. Records show that very few have survived," Deacon Qiong interjected.
Elder Gu frowned, fully aware the jungle was perilous.
However, Ding Huan’s words coupled with his nagging intuition caused him to hesitate.
“Though Ding Daoyou’s intuition is commendable, we still lost two disciples last night,” Deacon Qiong spoke again.
"What happened last night?" Elder Qu from the Twin Souls Sect asked.
"When we set up camp last night, Ding Daoyou sensed that our campsite was safe, and thankfully it was, but we still lost two disciples," Deacon Qiong replied.
Elder Qu glared at Ding Huan and scoffed, "If I had a chef from the Twin Souls Sect making such mistakes repeatedly, he’d have been dead by now."
Ding Huan’s internal rage stirred.
Just wait until I grow stronger; I’ll make sure to stomp your sect down!
Elder Gu interjected: "Here’s what we’ll do: those who trust Ding Daoyou will follow him. Those who don’t can continue on the original path."
Elder Gu understood that if he didn’t help Ding Huan, the latter would surely be killed by Elder Qu.
Ding Huan, along with Old Liu, was the first to step out from the main group.
Regardless of whether others believed him or not, he had to leave this place.
He was thankful for Elder Gu speaking up for him; otherwise, in front of these people, he would be worth less than an ant.
"Elder Gu, what about you?" asked a newly recruited disciple from the Yan Yue Sect, unable to contain his curiosity.
Elder Gu’s expression was grave, "I do trust Ding Daoyou. However, this situation is extraordinary. I cannot make decisions for everyone; thus, each person must choose their own fate."
After saying this, Elder Gu also stood with Ding Huan.
"Miss, we cannot go," Qing Yu pulled back Guan Lou, who was about to venture forth.
Seeing Guan Lou glance at her, Qing Yu whispered, "Ding Huan cooks well, but he has no status. He is just a chef; how can we trust his premonitions? Furthermore, he wants us to enter the jungle. Isn’t that courting death?"
Guan Lou frowned.
She did not trust Ding Huan, but she trusted Elder Gu.
Elder Gu’s strength guaranteed him as the most formidable here.
As long as she stayed by Elder Gu’s side, she would be safe.
If they stayed behind and something happened, the other sect elders definitely wouldn’t help her; each sect had its own disciples.
As for Deacon Qiong, he was merely a peak Foundation Building cultivator, far too weak to protect her.
"Elder Gu said we can decide for ourselves. Although you are my maid, you can choose for yourself. I will stay by Elder Gu's side," Guan Lou declared, stepping forward.
Qing Yu felt helpless.
She didn’t want to go, but as a maid, if her master wished for her death, she could not resist.
"Fairy Guan, why don't you just follow us?" Deacon Qiong, seeing Guan Lou leave the main group, grew suddenly anxious.
Elder Gu's rank and strength surpassed his, and he could do nothing to stop them.
Guan Lou was his responsibility; if anything happened, how would he explain it to the young master?
"No need. I can find my own way without guidance," Guan Lou said coldly.
“Let’s go.”
Elder Qu from the Twin Souls Sect looked down on Elder Gu’s decision.
Losing patience, he simply strode ahead.
Deacon Qiong had no choice but to add, "Those willing to follow me, stay with me. Those wishing to accompany Elder Gu, go with him."
The twenty-three newly recruited disciples exchanged glances.
Ultimately, they split into two groups, with twelve deciding that Elder Gu was stronger, siding with him for safety.
Their thoughts mirrored Guan Lou's; despite the presence of two sect elders here, should anything happen, they absolutely would not assist Yan Yue Sect disciples.
Han Wicheng hesitated for quite a while but ultimately decided to stick with the main group.
It was not that he didn’t trust Elder Gu, but he couldn’t believe entering the jungle in the Great Ravine could lead to anything good.
More than a hundred people were divided into two teams, one led by Elder Qu from the Twin Souls Sect and Elder Liu from the Zixia Valley.
The other team had only a handful of people, led by Ding Huan and Elder Gu.
In reality, it was Ding Huan guiding the way.
Once they separated, Elder Gu quietly said to him, "Lead the way and quicken your pace."
Without needing Elder Gu's prompting, Ding Huan was picking up speed.
He had to exit the jungle of the Great Ravine as fast as possible, for if they stayed, there would be no difference from traveling separately.
(End of Chapter)