“The Black Tortoise Sect?” Quan Hui furrowed her brows for a moment before reluctantly clasping her fists towards them. “I am Quan Hui of the Vermilion Bird Sect. I am here leading a group of fellow disciples from my sect to arrest a sect deserter. May I ask what relationship do you have with my Junior Martial Brother Lin?”
“We met by chance last night,” Lin Xiao answered.
“I’m not asking you!” Quan Hui shouted imperiously at Lin Xiao, causing the latter to quieten down immediately.
“Brother Lin is right. We truly met by chance last night,” Zhao Yunxiao answered carefully after seeing how Quan Hui shouted at Lin Xiao.
As expected, no matter which sect or faction, most core disciples were unapproachable characters!
“With all due respect, do you really expect me to believe that?” Quan Hui sneered. “Let me guess. Are you going to continue by saying that you just happened to have a complex concealing array lying around here, so you were simply bringing Junior Martial Brother Lin in with you to let him experience it for himself?”
“The concealing array is to ensure our safety in the wilds. Who knows what kind of dangers lie around every corner? On a separate note, I’ve heard the details from Brother Lin, and I’m afraid that you might have misunderstood his intentions. Brother Lin is simply trying to explore the world for a short while before returning to the sect, and is definitely not intending to be a deserter,” Zhao Yunxiao tried to change the topic since he knew that his argument regarding the concealing array was rather weak.
After all, this concealing array belonged to an extensive network that was far too complex for it to be meant for something as simple as that.
But at the same time, it was not like he could reveal the fact that he had set up such an exquisite array because he did not want to risk exposing the Heaven’s Descent Bowl.
He could only hope that the other party had no clue just how complex this array was. That way, he could at least try to smoke his way through!
“In that case, why did you have to hide from us?” Quan Hui scoffed. “I’m afraid you are not trying to hide from just any danger. Instead, this is specifically set up to hide from us, members of the Vermilion Bird Sect!”
“That’s not it, Senior Martial Sister Quan,” Lin Xiao said. “They are not-”
“I said, I am not asking you!” Quan Hui bellowed, cutting Lin Xiao off immediately.
“Do you see the pile of carcasses there?” Gu Qiansi pointed to their haul from the previous day. “We were merely hunting in the area. Otherwise, there’s no reason for us to create such a mess if we are trying to hide.”
“
“
“Is there any way that we can prove our innocence?” Zhao Yunxiao quickly said to turn their attention away from what Lu Zhiying said.
“There is only one way,” Quan Hui said. “Follow us back to the Vermilion Bird Sect. We will leave it to our sect administrators to find out the truth from you!”
Hearing that, the expressions on Zhao Yunxiao and Lu Zhiying dimmed immediately.
On the other hand, Lu Zhiying’s eyes lit up in surprise!
“Do we really have no choice?” Lu Zhiying asked expectantly.
Zhao Yunxiao: “...”
He could see the obvious excitement in her eyes.
It would appear that this crazy junior martial sister of his would even treat something as serious as being brought back to the Vermilion Bird Sect like an exciting adventure!
“Isn’t that a little inappropriate?” Zhao Yunxiao asked in response. “We are here in the northern region of the empire. If we really want to have this looked into, shouldn’t we be heading to Purple Plum Mountain instead?”
The Black Tortoise Sect was a longstanding ally of the Vermilion Bird Sect, with neither being considered superior in comparison.
If there was a matter involving members of both sects, it was only natural to head to the nearest of the two for mediation.
“Do you think I am a fool?” Quan Hui scoffed. “If you are allowed to return to Purple Plum Mountain, would it still be possible for me to hold you accountable for your deeds?”
“You don’t have to worry about that,” Gu Qiansi retorted unhappily. “The Black Tortoise Sect is upright and honest. Even if we wanted to hide, our sect administrators would make us face the music!”
“I don’t know about your Black Tortoise Sect, but I know for sure that my Vermilion Bird Sect will be fair and just. To prevent any mishaps, I’ll have to request that all of you return with us!” Quan Hui insisted.
“I’m sorry, but this is not a convenient time since we would need to return to the sect shortly,” Zhao Yunxiao declined solemnly. “Once we have the time, we will pay your sect a visit to explain the matter.”
“I’m afraid you don’t have a choice,” Quan Hui said. “Capture them!”
“Wait, Senior Martial Sister Quan!” Lin Xiao stepped forward. “They are innocent! I truly just met them last night!”
“I’ve had enough of your blatant lies,” Quan Hui answered. “If you try to resist, we will just have to take you down by force!”
“This...” Lin Xiao looked over at Zhao Yunxiao’s group. “I’m truly sorry for implicating you.”
“It’s not your fault that you have an unreasonable senior martial sister in the sect,” Lu Zhiying answered.
“Are you intending to risk breaking the alliance between the two sects?” Zhao Yunxiao tried to caution Quan Hui.
“By helping a deserter of our sect, you are the ones who have broken the alliance, not me,” Quan Hui was unfazed. “What are you waiting for? Do it!”
“Yes, Senior Martial Sister Quan!”
The other members of the Vermilion Bird Sect answered in unison before starting to approach Zhao Yunxiao’s group.
Zhao Yunxiao, Gu Qiansi, and Lu Zhiying immediately drew their weapons and got into a defensive stance.
Zhao Yunxiao held his halberd.
Gu Qiansi pulled out her sword.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Lu Zhiying readied herself with her twin swords.
“If they resist, you have my permission to use whatever means necessary!” Quan Hui ordered, and the members of the Vermilion Bird Sect drew their weapons as well.
“Run! I’ll hold them back!” Lin Xiao suddenly stepped in front of the trio and waved his horsetail whisk.
Blazing flames were summoned forth, forming into a huge fireball that erupted towards the members of the Vermilion Bird Sect.
“I will take care of Junior Martial Brother Lin. You guys, continue with what you are doing!” Quan Hui’s figure flashed, and she appeared before the fireball in an instant.
While Quan Hui easily stopped Lin Xiao’s attempt to buy time, the other members of the Vermilion Bird Sect quickly surrounded Zhao Yunxiao’s group.
“Give it up. At this stage, any resistance will only result in unnecessary injuries for yourselves,” one of the members of the Vermilion Bird Sect advised.
“Even then, we refuse to bow down to your tyrannical ways!” Gu Qiansi was enraged now.
It was not just the fact that the other party was being unreasonable. They had also injured their fellow sect member without hesitation, and from the looks of it, the injuries were not light as well.
“
“
Two chains shot out from the ground and formed a cross in front of them.
“
At the same time, he pulled out a bamboo tube and pointed it at the sky.
Boom-!
“
“Obediently seal your meridians, or we will have to knock you out instead!” one of them pointed a sword at Zhao Yunxiao’s forehead.
“Stop wasting time and just knock them out,” Quan Hui said nonchalantly.
But right at this moment, the sudden appearance of the sound of horse hooves instantly drew everyone’s attention.
Rustle-!
Everyone simultaneously turned in the same direction, and saw a young man slowly riding into view on a white horse.
Be it his robe, his belt, his shoes, or his gloves – every single item in his attire was pure white in colour.
Even the white horse was donning white reins and wearing a white saddle, as though forced to follow the same white colour theme as its rider.
Zhao Yunxiao widened his eyes in surprise, and for two different reasons.
For one, he had not managed to detect this person entering the perimeters despite having set up an extensive network of alerts.
But that was secondary at this point.
The main reason for Zhao Yunxiao’s astonishment was because of the identity of this newcomer.
He recognised this person with a single glance.
Death Blade, Wei Yuandi – core disciple of the Black Tortoise Sect!