"Greetings, Senior Sister Li!" the disciples called out in unison, their voices ringing clear and respectful. Most were young men donning crisp white martial robes with dark blue stripes neatly pressed into the fabric, signifying their status as Official Disciples.
As Li Rong approached, they stood , each straightening their posture before cupping their hands in a formalized gesture of respect.
Though slightly taken aback by the sudden greeting from so many disciples at once, Li Rong managed to compose herself, blinking her eyes briefly before responding with a polite nod, "Greetings, Juniors."
Unlike the numerous Official Disciples, whose numbers exceeded 500, the elite Inner Disciples were far fewer, roughly under 50. Yet each of these figures was a genius, their skills and power far surpassing that of the Official Disciples.
"Was Senior Sister also sent here to check and clear the surrounding area?" inquired one of the younger disciples.
Unlike the Official Disciples who mostly busied themselves with menial tasks like running errands and patrolling, the missions assigned to the Inner Disciples were far more perilous and of greater importance.
They did not receive their orders from Hall of Order and Discipline, but directly from their Masters. The exact details of their tasks remained an enigma to the ranks of Official Disciples, but to witness an Inner Disciple's presence meant something of grave significance required their undivided attention.
Meanwhile, a hint of confusion flitted across Li Rong's delicate features as she heard the disciple's query. Her piercing gaze swept over each of her Junior Brothers' expressions for a lingering moment, noting their open curiosity and lack of jest. 'Could it be...' she wondered, a slight crease forming between her brows.
"There were reports from the local villagers of a pack of gigantic wolves roaming the main road near Tianmu Village," one of the older disciples interjected, raising a hand to caress his chin as his brows furrowed in contemplation.
"We were tasked with slaying the beasts, but for some inexplicable reason, no matter how thoroughly we've searched, we cannot seem to find any trace of them wandering about."
A pang of unease pricked at Li Rong's heart, an unfamiliar flicker of guilt lancing through her usual indifference as she noticed the Official Disciples fixing her with surprise-laden stares. "Then are you all about to depart for Tianmu Village?" she asked.
"How did Senior Sister Li know?" one disciple wondered aloud, eyebrows raised in surprise. "Perhaps..."
"Has Senior Sister been there already?" another piped up, eyes widening speculatively.
"The wandering martial artist mentioned they seemed to be coming from the forest near Tianmu Village..."
One by one, the disciples began murmuring amongst themselves, voices rising and falling in a tide of hushed theorization as they discussed the possibility of Li Rong's presence being linked to the missing beast pack.
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Nods of contemplative agreement rippled through the group, as if solidifying their assumption that she had indeed arrived to aid their hunt.
All the while, Li Rong remained an inscrutable statue of silence, her lips firmly pressed into a taut line as the words of her Junior Brother Ji echoed hauntingly through her mind.
Casting a sidelong glance, she found his figure had already melted away, leaving her standing alone amidst the sea of confused Official Disciples.
'Then the missing disciples...' The unvoiced thought drifted formlessly through her mind, heavy with unspoken implications.
…
Meanwhile, Ji Wuye strode leisurely along the wide paved brick path where warm sunlight filtered through the gently swaying branches overhead, dappling the ground with ever-shifting patterns of light and shadow.
The vast herb fields stretching out on either side of the road released an earthy, aromatic bouquet into the air with each zephyr of wind. Having left Li Rong behind, his steps led him unhurriedly towards the imposing Town Hall edifice.
The three-story building cut an impressive figure, its overhanging dark slate roof seeming to preside regally over the warm earthy tones of the walls below. Dark wooden window frames stood in neat rows, lending an air of simple elegance.
Two thick pillars flanked the entrance, their tops capped with slate and leading towards an intricately carved jade dragon statue that appeared to keep watchful guard.
Ji Wuye passed through this threshold unhesitatingly, pushing open the sturdy wooden door.
No guards or disciples were posted outside, but the interior revealed a handful of Outer Disciples busying themselves with various tasks - arranging bulging leather sacks, meticulously sorting through piles of herbs.
The entire first floor seemed saturated with the mingled aromas of a thousand different plants, an olfactory tapestry that enveloped Ji Wuye as he stepped inside.
Beneath his feet, the simple patterned wooden floors gleamed with a well-tended polish, while candlelight flickered from sconces lining the walls.
"Hmm? Here to collect the herbs?" A male disciple squatting amidst the precisely arranged sacks glanced up, slowly raising his head as he noticed Ji Wuye's martial robe.
"Brother, you—" The disciple's words hung suspended in the air as his gaze fully took in Ji Wuye's figure. His eyes narrowed to slits, expression souring into one of undisguised displeasure.
"So, it's Junior Brother Ji." The words carried a derisive edge as the Outer Disciple, seeming to deem Ji Wuye unworthy of further acknowledgment, abruptly turned away with a dismissive sniff.
Unruffled by the obvious slight, Ji Wuye strode directly towards the wooden counter reminiscent of the one in the Hall of Order and Discipline.
"Greetings, Brother. I'm here to collect the herbs," he stated evenly, cupping his hands in a perfunctory greeting towards another male Outer Disciple watching him with thinly-veiled disdain.
The disciple behind the counter made no return gesture, merely crossing his arms as a stony silence descended between them. Ji Wuye swiftly produced a rolled parchment, placing it squarely on the polished wooden surface.
The two figures locked in a tense tableau - Ji Wuye's crimson gaze steady and impassive, the rude disciple glaring balefully as he snatched up the scroll to scrutinize its contents, all the while darting furtive glances towards Ji Wuye.
"Hmph!" The disdainful snort shattered the quiet as the Outer Disciple seemed to find whatever he was searching for in the document unsatisfactory.
Flinging the parchment back at Ji Wuye with clear disgruntlement, he leaned back in his chair, a deliberate shirking of service as he turned his back pointedly. "Number one sack, near the door," he bit out curtly, the implication clear that Ji Wuye could retrieve it himself.
Inured to such dismissive treatment, Ji Wuye simply inclined his head and moved to collect the indicated sack resting by the entrance. However, as his hands closed around the tattered burlap, he paused, eyes narrowing slightly at the diminished weight and rattling sounds issuing from within.
"You sure this is the one?" he called out, voice edged with an unmistakable chill that sliced through the heavy silence. Neither Outer Disciple so much as twitched a muscle, resolutely staring ahead.
The sack's many holes and scant herbaceous contents clearly marking it as the wrong sack. Nevertheless, he simply hoisted it up and pushed open the door to depart.
Pausing on the threshold, he cast one final measured look over his shoulder. "Just a kind reminder, Brothers. If things go awry, you will be the first ones blamed."
Ji Wuye's crimson eyes bored into the two obstinate Outer Disciples - the one behind the counter who had so brazenly turned his back, and the one who had initially addressed him only to abruptly withdraw into stony silence upon recognizing his identity.
This was meant to be an official sect order, and yet they openly allowed personal animus to color their conduct, disregarding professionalism and duty.
'Perfect, let's use this plan instead.' There were reasons why Ji Wuye didn't insist on correcting or taking the right sack.
However, as he exited the Town Hall, the sight of Li Rong standing before him briefly gave him pause. Her gaze was unreadable, a complicated tapestry of emotions flickering across her delicate features.
Yet before she could give voice to whatever thoughts had her brow furrowing, her eyes snagged upon the dubious sack clutched in Ji Wuye's grip.
A crease etched itself between her brows as she seemed to reach some internal conclusion.
"Ah, Seni-" Realizing what Li Rong was thinking, Ji Wuye was about to stop her, yet she was already brushing past him without a word to push through the doors he'd just exited.