Arriving at the Northwestern border of Iron Mountain Quarry Settlement, Dawn had escaped past the furthest point where the flames could reach.
'Soon, the fire will reach the Settlement's borders. While beyond the borders is untouched, safety could still be compromised. I assume that we will leave before that happens... however.'
Looking behind her, Dawn had gathered around fifty people, stragglers of could not escape, whether it be due to obstructions or panic.
There were the people Silver Extreme had sent in to aid in retrieving any stragglers, too.
'I wonder how many people Silver Extreme has gathered... If it is an amount greater than my number, say... one or two hundred, then we will have a difficult time escorting these denizens.'
Before Dawn, splayed across the dull soil, was an abundant amount of tents, big and small.
She inwardly praised this quick setup, which accommodated the denizens.
With just a quick glance over the area, Dawn could point out a few mortal warriors and guards surveilling the perimeter.
'The people are likely resting within the tents...'
Looking up, Dawn analysed the brightness of the Starlit Sky.
'It should be around the second hour of Falling Hour. It is rather late.'
With that thought, Dawn delegated the matter of finding accommodation to the people Silver Extreme sent, allowing them to find refuge for the fifty-or-so stragglers.
Sparing another look around, Dawn searched through Immersion and found where Silver Extreme was resting, thus making her way toward him.
Heart Tethering Maiden was also with him at the moment, allowing the three Cultivators to meet together.
Stepping inside, Dawn was met with the clean, warm air within the tent.
Silver Extreme was resting on a white bed, while Heart Tethering Maiden sat on a chair beside him. There was another empty chair, too.
"You have arrived, Dawn."
"It is good to see you both well, Senior, Maiden."
"How are your injuries...? It doesn't look like you have anything serious. You look mostly unharmed."
"Nothing that I can't handle. I feel as if I had it the easiest, and I have few scars to prove my efforts."
"No, no, it is fine. You have done enough. Please, take a seat. We must discuss the next steps in our situation."
Nodding, Dawn took her seat beside Heart Tethering Maiden.
With a hoarse cough, Silver Extreme cleared his throat before sharing his thoughts.
"I believe that it is best to leave immediately, to avoid the chances of a Demonic Cultivator attacking, or a Demonic Faction, and to escort the people of the Settlement to safety."
"However, I also believe that we should rest, given our dire states. I have especially overexerted myself, so I can not fight for the time being. There is also the people we must consider; letting them rest allows them to retain their vitality and morale."
"I suggest moving out by the fifth hour of Rising Hour. I can ensure that the raging fire won't reach us as long as we remain beyond the Settlment's borders."
Dawn and Maiden agreed to Silver's proposal.
During the fall of Iron Mountain Quarry Settlement, Silver Extreme detonated his Qi Core and suffered an extreme backlash because of this.
His condition worsened further as he battled the Settlement Lord.
Hearth Tethering Maiden was burned severely by one of the ambushing Demonic Cultivators, Fire-Tyrant.
Despite being protected, the fires burned deeply into her skin, and a particularly ruthless Dao Art ravaged her muscular, nervous, and organ systems.
While she has received medical treatment, the effectiveness of the Medical Experts' Dao Arts was very minute, healing superficial wounds at most.
Consequently, she was not able to move her body through normal means. Instead, she recreates the purpose of her muscular system by using her strings.
She is somewhat similar to a very intricate puppet. She is also the most heavily injured of the three.
Dawn was the least injured but suffered more from mental fatigue.
For the past few nights, whether it be the relocation of beasts from the first tide, aiding Edifice and Selene, or this current situation, Dawn had been moving non-stop.
The effects seem minimal, but she does not show them outwardly.
"Maiden and I will continue to receive treatment during our evacuation, so matters relating to the defence of this group will be in your hands, Dawn."
"Understood, but are we truly safe to just leave?"
"What do you mean?"
"Considering their goals, it is most likely that they vied to claim Iron Mountain, but considering our fierce retaliation, would they not vie for revenge?"
"That is possible... if they look at the situation superficially, they would only know that Life Taming Monarch, and three other powerful Cultivators were killed, as well as the Settlement Lord. I believe that is enough to ward off any unnecessary confrontations. If we leave, they will be able to take Iron Mountain freely."
"So, they will not prioritise revenge or chasing after us? If Iron Mountain is truly their aim, then we likely will be able to leave."
"Yes, there is also the fact that such a large and powerful force was extinguished. We can hope that they don't have an equal or greater force ready at a moment's notice."
"We must also ensure that we have a safe path that'll lead us to a Settlement."
That last voice was Heart Tethering Maiden, throwing her thoughts into the discussion. Silver Extreme responded while rubbing his chin.
"Yes, that is true. Due to the tides, the area surrounding Iron Mountain should be mostly cleared, but we can't be certain. Hold on... Dawn, that merchant caravan that visited a moment ago, you should have ventured with them for a while, yes?"
"That I have. There was a path that they had planned out, but I only followed roughly five kilometres before leaving. There were a few beast groups that we met along the way, mostly from the second tide, so I can't assure how safe it is."
"I understand. Can you tell me what Settlement they came from? I don't think I caught wind of where they were from."
"Well... They were a merchant caravan from the Immortal Settlement, Great River Bank Settlement."