Servant Quarters, South East Gate.

"What now, Senior Lu?" The young man's voice trembled as he looked at Lu Shimming, worry etched on his face. He wasn't alone; the same anxiety mirrored the expressions of most gathered there.

Jin Ho had left.

It had happened while they were away on their daily duties. Only Lei Bao, on kitchen duty, and Jin Ho, supposedly resting, had remained. Mei Ah, from the South Gate, had arrived seeking Jin Ho. The girl, his secret affectio.

A few hours after she left, Jin Ho suddenly seemed to have entered a frenzy, and rushed out of his Quarters. His destination was unknown, but definitely towards Mei Ah.

“Talking about this anymore isn’t gonna do us any good,” Lu Shimming shook his head. He was worried, but that was even more of a reason to take action as soon as possible.

“Everyone, move out in groups of two and look for Jin Ho. If you find him, drag him back.”

The people around nodded as they quickly dispersed.

“We will go look at the South Gate..” Lang Jun put his arm around Lei Bao’s neck, ready to drag him along with him.

“Lang Jun..”

“Sorry, Senior Lu..” Lang Ju cut Lu Shimming off before he could say anything else. “I respect you. But situations like this don't need that, if you can stop me with your fists, I welcome you.”

As Lang Jun faced Lu Shimming, the air between them got tense.

“There is no need for these..” Lei Bao jumped in between the two. He couldn’t see the two of them getting into the brawl. Both of them were the pillar of support for the South East Gate. This was just too hard to watch.

“Don’t worry, I won’t be the first one to raise fist. I promise you that much..” Lang Jun noticed Lu Shimming’s quivering shoulders and sighed as he made one last promise.

As Lang Jun and Lei Bao left, the place once again turned deserted with Lu Shimming and Mu Han left behind.

“Sigh!”

"Ugh!" Lu Shimming slumped onto a nearby rock, a wave of helplessness washing over him. Not only was he powerless to confront the South Gate contingent, but his impaired vision prevented him from joining the search.

As the sun got closer to the horizon, there was still no news or updates regarding the situation.

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“Do you think the two are planning to elope?” Mu Han suddenly asked as he faced Lu Shimming. He didn’t trust that girl Mei Ah at all.

“Even if they do want elop, we still need to stop them.” Lu Shimming shook his head with a sigh. They were the unorthodox faction, as easy as it was to join them, leaving wasn’t so.

One had to spend two years working in the Easter Mines of the sect as slaves before they could regain their freedom and that too only if they survived that place. Of course there was an easier way too. Just buy back your freedom which most people couldn’t afford.

A sudden whoosh sliced through the air.

"Careful!" Lu Shimming warned.

An arrow thudded into the ground a hair's breadth from them, a scrap of paper affixed to its shaft.

“Come to the Rotten Valley, if you want him…” Mu Han read the message aloud, before looking at Lu Shimming.

‘They have been keeping an eye on us..’ Lu Shimming frowned. The message came when no one was around. It was the same for the time when Jin Ho left. It was as if someone had carefully planned things through. And, it didn’t seem like something Tie Niu was capable of.

And, even if he was, there was no reason for him to be targeting them.

‘What is this bad feeling that I am getting..’ Lu Shimming couldn’t put his finger on it, but something didn’t feel right.

“Mu Han, do a thing for me..” He looked at the little kid, making a decision.

…

Precipice of Rotten Valley, South East Gate Outskirts.

True to its name, the Rotten Valley reeked of decay. Lush greenery, mostly poisonous plants and insects, carpeted the area. A deep gorge marked its end, beyond which lay their current location: a sheer cliff face. Descending was akin to a suicide attempt. Sunlight barely pierced the valley's depths, and no one had ever emerged from its abyss.

A group stood at the precipice.

“Are you sure he got the message?” Tie Niu asked with a frown looking at the lackey, who immediately felt a cold sweat rising up his back.

“Why are you doing all of this..” A weak voice suddenly entered their ears. It was Jin Ho. He was lying down on the ground, beaten and bruised up. His eyes staring at the female figure standing in the corner, it was the girl he loved, Mei Ah.

She had come to him with the idea to elope and live a peaceful life together. But knowing that it wasn’t an easy task to leave the Sect, he insisted on striving out to enter the Outer Sect instead. Once they did, they could easily get assigned to one of the Sects Businesses and slowly retire out.

However, tears began to spill out of her eyes, the next instant, Tie Niu, that brute seemed to have her eyes on her. And, she had been called to his Cottage tonight.

She didn’t have the will to live anymore, and was going to commit suicide at the Rotten Valley if Jin Ho, didn’t elope with her.

But, the moment he arrived here to stop her, he realized he wasn’t alone.

“What did I do to deserve this..” His hoarse voice, combined with those bloodshot eyes, made him look like a demon.

Mei Ah couldn’t help but take a couple of steps back in fear. This was not the Jin Ho she used to know.

“Stomp!”

A foot suddenly came stomping down on Jin Ho’s head.

“Keep it down, you are annoying me.” Tie Niu frowned in displeasure. He was already feeling like throwing up after waiting for a long time near this Rotten Valley, and had to even endure this drama now.

“Boss! He is here!” Suddenly, a voice sounded and Tie Niu’s face lit up with a smile.