However, he quickly shook his head. This was not the time to consider such things.

The last three men in black from Dragon Emperor Hall were also dead. This mission was finally over.

Still, the group searched the cave one last time. After confirming that nothing had been overlooked, they took the Human-faced Ghost and headed back to Yuqing Pavilion.

Although they hadn’t found Xu Wenwan or the Vermilion Bird Hall Master on this trip, they had learned that Dragon Emperor Hall and the Hundred Ghosts Hall were joining forces to besiege Yuqing Pavilion. That in itself was a considerable gain.

’Zhai Xing and Lan Yue went to see Yu Yaoguang today. I wonder if the Grand Sect Leader, so famous in the Jianghu, has come out of her seclusion?’

They needed to make preparations early to avoid losing the upper hand.

...

...

On the way there, Miao Feichan had carried Fang Shuwen and Xiang Nuan. Now, with more people on the return trip, she couldn’t possibly carry everyone.

Thus, they each used their Lightweight Technique.

Miao Feichan showed no impatience, despite being much faster than the others. She had gotten to see quite a spectacle and was rather content.

Traveling at a leisurely pace, the group took some time before finally returning to Yuqing Pavilion.

But as soon as they met up with Zhai Xing and Lan Yue, they could see the grim expressions on their faces.

Upon inquiring, they learned that the two had sought an audience with Yu Yaoguang but had received no response.

Being impatient by nature, Zhai Xing had forced her way directly into the cave residence.

But upon opening the door, she was dumbfounded.

Yu Yaoguang was not in her seclusion chamber...

Fang Shuwen’s expression remained unchanged as he listened.

"Even someone in seclusion has to eat and drink. What about the food that’s delivered every day?"

"We don’t know."

Lan Yue replied helplessly,

"The food that was delivered was always eaten, so the disciples who brought the meals never knew the Sect Leader wasn’t there."

Fang Shuwen nodded.

"That makes things simple. Tonight, we’ll stake out the area outside Sect Leader Yu’s seclusion chamber and see who’s been taking the food.

"This person must know Sect Leader Yu isn’t there, which is why they’re so bold. They might know something."

Lan Yue nodded.

"I was thinking the same thing."

Zhai Xing then asked,

"What did you find on your trip?"

Fang Shuwen held up the Human-faced Ghost.

"Here. Our prize."

"The Human-faced Ghost of the Sang Mountain Seven Face?"

Zhai Xing recognized him at a glance, and a ferocious look immediately appeared on her face.

"Young Hero Fang, could you entrust this person to me?"

The Yuqing Pavilion disciple from last night had likely died to this man’s [Ghost Gate]. Now that Fang Shuwen had captured him, Zhai Xing had no intention of letting him go.

"Of course."

Fang Shuwen handed his prize over to Zhai Xing.

Overjoyed, Zhai Xing thanked Fang Shuwen, then dragged the Human-faced Ghost away. She returned in less than an hour.

"I didn’t get much out of him. It was basically all things we already knew.

"Dragon Emperor Hall and the Hundred Ghosts Hall are working together. The Bone King, one of the Hundred Ghosts Hall’s Four Great Ghost Kings, is currently at the foot of Qingyang Mountain.

"But the Human-faced Ghost doesn’t know the specific location.

"He was sent to the cave with the Dragon Emperor Hall group before they even made camp."

"What about the disciple they took last night?"

Fang Shuwen asked softly.

Zhai Xing’s expression darkened slightly.

"He fell into the hands of the Hundred Ghosts Hall. He’s most likely gone."

Although the Seven Great Sects didn’t know much about the Hundred Ghosts Hall, they had gotten a sense of the Four Great Ghost Kings’ methods from Flesh King Cao Jiuyin.

Since the disciple had been gone for so long, his chances of survival were slim to none.

Zhai Xing snorted coldly.

"I’ll issue the order right away. We will search the entire Qingyang Mountain area and drag out the Hundred Ghosts Hall and Dragon Emperor Hall!"

This time, Lan Yue didn’t object, merely saying,

"Tell the disciples to be cautious and not act recklessly.

"Also, since we know they plan to attack us, we need to make our own arrangements.

"Yuqing Pavilion has stood proudly in the Jianghu for many years. We have never feared any challenge!"

Zhai Xing nodded and turned to consult with the Elders.

Fang Shuwen and Miao Feichan had been out for most of the day, so Lan Yue took them to have a meal.

After the meal, Fang Shuwen didn’t rest. He asked Lan Yue to take him to Yu Yaoguang’s seclusion cave, hoping to find some clues.

He had a feeling that if they could find Sect Leader Yu, many of their problems would be solved with ease.

Seeing his determination, Lan Yue entrusted the matter entirely to Fang Shuwen.

With the imminent threat from the Hundred Ghosts Hall and Dragon Emperor Hall, finding Yu Yaoguang was important, but arranging the Sect’s defenses was even more urgent.

Fang Shuwen was highly skilled and of upstanding character. Lan Yue trusted him implicitly. With him handling the investigation, she felt a breakthrough might come quickly.

Therefore, after leaving Fang Shuwen in charge of the situation here, she returned to attend to other matters.

Fang Shuwen himself was surprised that Lan Yue had completely handed the matter over to him; she had simply dropped the responsibility in his lap. He was speechless for a moment. ’Does she trust me a little *too* much?’

Nevertheless, he dutifully hid himself in the shadows and waited quietly.

There were some things he had to figure out.

This matter was directly related to his mission.

And so he waited... until the middle of the night.

The faint sound of footsteps instantly caught Fang Shuwen’s attention.

He looked up to see a masked woman dressed in black arrive before the cave. Her eyes swept the area, and after confirming it was clear, she pushed open the door with practiced ease and shut it behind her.

Fang Shuwen froze. ’I thought she would just grab the food and leave.’

’She closed the door?’

He waited outside for about the time it takes to eat a meal before the door opened again. The masked woman in black walked out, letting out a burp as she went.