Zhi Guan, Liu Bao Ru, and Mu Qing left the underground palace through the arrays, intending to make their way back to the town where the rest of their sect was gathered.

Meanwhile, back in the town, the disciples of the Zhen Yan Sect finished the pills and potions that were intended to knock out the disciples in the underground palace, not knowing that the three people who could have sneaked those in had already been discovered and wouldn’t have the opportunity again.

The plan was still to deliver the things, knock out the demonic practitioners, and then lock them away somehow. Thus, the group of people from the Teng Yong Sect and the Zhen Yan Sect quietly moved out, certain that they would face a big battle tonight.

The demonic faction was busy preparing for their own plan so nobody paid this big group of people any heed even though they cut straight through the border region which should be considered more of the demonic faction’s territory than that of the righteous sects.

Still, when the group got closer to the underground palace, they slowed down and most of the disciples went into hiding. The four Elders exchanged glances and finally looked at Xi Ju Hai. The people they could contact inside were only Zhi Guan and Liu Bao Ru or Xi Ju Hai’s fiance. Considering the latter’s special situation, it seemed that letting her take the lead on this would be for the best.

Xi Ju Hai inclined her head and moved closer to the underground palace, taking up another hiding spot not too far from the main gates. She didn’t know what exactly the situation inside was and where the others were located. Yan Hong Min’s paper duck had a relatively wide range but the palace was big so it was better to get as close as possible.

From her current hiding place, she could see the main gate so if somebody walked out, she’d have time to react. Everyone else was a little further away but she should be able to protect herself until help arrived even under the worst circumstances. She still looked around carefully to make sure that she was safe for now. When she did … she couldn’t help but notice a few traces on the ground.

Xi Ju Hai furrowed her brows and looked more closely, carefully inspecting her surroundings. There weren’t too many traces left and even those that were could be considered faint. It seemed like someone had tried to get rid of them specifically. Most likely, there had been a fight and whoever was left standing at the end didn’t want others to know about it.

She stared at the ground quietly, feeling uncertain. There were only two groups in the border region that were likely to fight: the demonic and the righteous faction. Fights amongst their own group were unlikely, even though they didn’t always get along ordinarily.

As for who among the factions might fight specifically at the underground palace … It seemed that Mu Qing and the other two were the most probable ones. Maybe they had been discovered and needed to fight to make their way out of the building. Or maybe they had simply seen an opportunity and taken out a few of the disciples gathered here. Either way, another group of disciples from the righteous faction arriving and making trouble was unlikely. So now, it was doubtful whether they would be able to contact Mu Qing and the other two at all, and thus, even the plan they had originally come up with might be for naught.

Xi Ju Hai closed her eyes. Irrespective of whether the plan could still work or not, her heart squeezed at the thought that something might have happened. She had just found Mu Qing again and they had barely talked about what had happened before. How could things already be over now? She still wanted him to return to the Teng Yong Sect with her, go through whatever trial their faction deemed suitable for his case, and then face the future that was left together with her. Was all of that just a pipe dream now?

She didn’t dare to think too much and forced herself to simply take out the paper duck. Using this, she could figure out if he was still in the underground palace and doing well. Or, at the very least, if she did manage to contact him, she’d know something. If she didn’t … it could be anything.

She gulped, not wanting to even imagine that. Imbuing some spiritual energy, she silently waited for the other side to respond. As a result … a few minutes passed but nothing happened. Mu Qing … either wasn’t in the underground palace any longer or had already been killed.

Xi Ju Hai raised her gaze to the gate of the underground palace and finally sighed. She couldn’t check further. Even though she wanted to know, apart from going in there and checking every single room, she couldn’t find out where he was or what had happened to him. And right now, it was much too dangerous to do something like that.

Putting away the paper duck, Xi Ju Hai checked her surroundings again and then returned to where the Elders were waiting. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say. She opened her mouth but the words failed her and she could only sigh again.

Elder Baili looked at her expression and somehow felt that things weren’t good. “Did they … encounter some trouble?”

Xi Ju Hai shook her head and finally managed to pull herself out of her daze. “I couldn’t contact them. Over there, there are also signs of a fight. I’m afraid their identities might have been discovered and they had to flee. Our plan …” She shook her head again and looked at the Elders one after the other. “I am afraid we won’t be able to carry it out.”