Renlu was not too far down south and warranted only a few days of travel. It was a city just outside the cusps of the Virtuous Phoenix Sect's territory and instead fell under the jurisdiction of the Benevolent Song Sect.
Though they weren't considered a prominent sect, the Benevolent Song sent many people to the front lines to quell the threat of demons encroaching on protected lands. Their efforts wore their numbers and strengths down thin. Although their territory might have been only a fraction of the Virtuous Phoenix Sect's, from the last that Zhang Wang had heard, they were struggling to maintain safety.
This was evident in their travels.
The woods were littered with evil beings, from ghouls to vampires and other foul creatures that lurked about. Though they were mostly low-leveled beasts that their little ragtag group didn't have any issues dispatching, their sheer numbers slowed down their pace.
