They had almost made it across the camp when Cain heard the voice that meant things had taken a turn for the worse and that injuries were not going to be avoided.
"Where the hell do you think you're touching? Oath Breaker, deal with this pervert." Luna shouted, and then the sounds of battle turned to the sounds of screaming.
Cain grabbed the flying sword he had made and flew over the camp in an instant, stopping over top of where Luna was standing between two copies of Oath Breaker with a blade in either hand, facing off against an Elder of the Red Scorpion Sect.
The age disparity was comical, but the man was clearly not on the winning side, and while Luna had a rapidly fading bruise on her face, being healed by Penny, the man had multiple cuts in his robes, and one of his legs looked to be crippled.
The Red Scorpion Sect was not taking it well, and a wave of men was running through the clearing between Sects to join the battle.
"Elder, I suggest you keep your hands off my Disciples and return to your camp, or I cannot guarantee your safety," Cain called out, drawing all attention to himself.
"We have four Immortals in our ranks. What does a Wandering Cultivator at your level think you can do to stop us?" The man sneered back, heedless of the injuries that he had taken while trying to grab Luna.
It was a tradition with many sects to grab the Disciples that they wanted and then use various means to convince them to stay, each a bit more despicable than the last.
"I don't think you want to find that out, do you? From the looks of it, you aren't a match for my Disciple that you tried to snatch, so what makes you think you are a match for me?" Cain replied evenly.
That brought a chuckle from the Lotus Blossom Sect, who had fallen into defensive positions behind Luna as the fight stopped so the Elders could hold their negotiations.
As they argued, the four Immortals arrived, along with the old Dwarf and the Pipe Smoking Immortal from the manuscript lecture.
"Gentlemen, there are rules to such things. You have failed to snatch the Disciple, and not only that, your Elder joined the battle against an Outer Sect Disciple and lost. Haven't you embarrassed yourselves enough without breaking the peace to declare war on another Sect here at the meeting?" The old Dwarf asked, taking out a tobacco pipe of his own and sitting down on his flying sword as if he expected to be here for a while.
"The Red Scorpion Sect cannot allow this insult to stand. A mere Outer Sect Disciple viciously attacked our Elder." An Immortal from the Red Scorpion's group complained with a smirk.
Cain didn't actually know the rules of this engagement, but since they didn't take the 90 percent reduced damage that higher awakenings did in his world, he assumed that he had at least some chance of winning the fight.
The problem was that if he went all out, it would draw a lot of unwanted attention to the fact that he clearly wasn't a human, using human skills. That could be far worse than running away and being branded a coward everywhere that they went after this.
"What do you have to say to that, Elder Cain?" The old Dwarf asked.
"The Red Scorpion Sect owes me an Elder's hand for placing it on my Disciple. If they kindly turn it over and leave, I will consider us even." Cain told him with a smile.
"It seems that there are conflicting insults to be settled. As per the agreement, this must be moved to the open fields on the north side of the city, where the aggrieved party may request a war between sect contingents or a duel between Elders to settle matters. As they complained first, the Red Scorpion Sect has priority of choice." The old Dwarf sighed.
"Then a war between Sect Contingents it is. In fifteen minutes at the battleground." The Red Scorpion Immortal demanded, flying off to the north.
"I really hope that you know what you're doing, Elder Cain. Turning over the Disciple and then stealing them back later would have been the prudent call." The old Dwarf explained.
"I think it would be better today to have a show of force, or I will spend the rest of my time here recovering my Disciples from other Sects, and it will disturb the peace of the Lotus Blossom Sect." Cain sighed.
"Just try not to die. Even if you have to surrender and agree to a penance of time serving their sect, it would be a shame to lose your knowledge." The pipe-smoking Immortal told him with a sly wink.
As they left, Elder Ling flew up to meet Cain, tears in her eyes. "This is all our fault. Your daughter was studying in an empty tent not far from where the fight broke out, and when she came to see what the commotion was, they tried to snatch her."
Cain patted her on the shoulder in consolation. "Don't think like that. Luna did what she thought was right, I do what I think is right, and today the Red Scorpion Sect is going to become an example of why you don't pick fights with strangers."
"The gap between an Immortal and a Spirit Rank Cultivator isn't a small one. You might have been strong in the past, but right now, that is the extent of your strength isn't it? Four-on-one, when each is twice your power, is a huge disadvantage, and the Red Scorpions are a Blade Cultivation Sect. That's why they wanted Luna, for her combat skills."
"I told you, relax. This fight isn't going to go as badly for me as you might think. I've still got a few tricks up my sleeves."
With that, Cain called his Disciples to fly up to meet him and headed for the combat area, where hundreds of thousands of Cultivators had already gathered along the perimeter to watch the fight. Most assumed that it was going to be one-sided bullying of a Wandering Cultivator and his disciples by a large Sect, but they still wanted to see the outcome, as the Red Scorpions were registered to fight in the Inner Court Competition beginning in just a few days.
"When we get there, standard defensive formation. Luna, call your entire force. Everyone else, hold back and only defend. I will take charge of the offensive force, and it will get very messy, very fast, once I do." Cain instructed them.
"What are you thinking?" Luna asked so she could prepare.
"I am going to call the Heavenly Host to war. They can't complain if the combatants are on the same level as the enemy Sect, and they only have five hundred or so fighters." Cain replied grimly.
It would be a mess, but it would work. He was certain of it.
They arrived with five minutes to spare, looking at the orderly ranks of the Red Scorpions. Many of the robes looked freshly made, and there were many more of them than Cain had expected, nearly a thousand, and Cain caught the smile on the face of the Immortals, now six in number, as he arrived.
They had convinced another Sect to join them under their colors for the battle, intending to intimidate Cain into turning over everything he had and begging for an apology.
"I see you found some new friends," Cain called out as the Disciples took their position below him.
"I see you didn't. Now, are you prepared to grovel, or will you go down swinging while we claim those lovely ladies as our own?" The leader of the Red Scorpion Sect asked.
The dwarf and the other Immortal arrived, landing between the two sides before Cain could reply, but he decided to get the last barb in anyhow.
"I don't think that mere words could settle the insult you have given any more. You will become an object lesson in minding your own business." Cain informed the Red Scorpion Sect Master coldly.
"Well, that makes things easy on us. The two sides have confirmed the necessity of this battle to settle the insult to the honor of their respective Sects. Before the battle, each side must name its terms. Red Scorpion Sect, what say you?" The old Dwarf asked.
"Everything. We will take the Sect Master's life and claim his disciples as our own." The Sect Master declared.
"The terms must be equal. Should you lose, the Red Scorpion Sect will be forced to disband by the Alliance of Light Sects, is that understood?" The Dwarf asked in a calm and emotionless monotone.
"Of course. It's not like they stand a chance anyhow. We are more than capable of crushing a handful of ants underfoot."
"In that case, the battle will begin on my mark. All combatants, take your position, and everyone not involved in the match, please clear the area."
