“Take me to where these strange incidents occurred so I can have a look,” Lu Sheng said, cutting straight to the point. These supernatural disturbances continued to stir trouble despite how chaotic the situation already was.
If the Scarlet District were responsible, the matter would never have been confined to such a minor event—only a handful of mortal fishermen gone missing. To the Zhen Family, that was utterly insignificant, and meddling in such petty affairs might even draw the royal family’s ire. The cost far outweighed any possible benefit.
“It’s by the harbor outside the city,” Ning San answered.
They mounted their horses and set off at once. Upon hearing the news, Xu Chui rallied a few men and followed swiftly behind.
Riding at full speed, they circled Mountain-Edge City for nearly an hour before Ning San reined in his horse at a small, quiet harbor near a patch of wilderness. He swung himself down from the saddle.
Lu Sheng dismounted as well, his gaze sweeping across the scene.
The lake lay still, broken only by faint white ripples drifting across the surface in the distance. Sunlight glimmered off the clear water, flashing like scattered shards of glass.
Long fishing boats floated lazily along the shore. Fishermen cast their nets, their movements practiced and unhurried. It was noon, the air warm. Coolies worked with sleeves rolled high, hauling crates and sacks onto waiting ships. Not far away, merchant groups stood watching as goods were steadily transferred aboard.
“Where did the incidents occur?” Lu Sheng asked, frowning. A peaceful place like this hardly resembled the site of strange disappearances.
“Just to the right of this harbor. People often see a sedan chair being carried across the bridge—without making a single sound,” Ning San replied.
They walked along the right side of the shore, continuing their quiet discussion.
Yet all the while, Lu Sheng sensed not even the faintest trace of Yin Qi. With not a single clue to latch onto, pinpointing the problem remained impossible.
“We’ll wait here tonight. I want to see for myself what’s going on with this sedan chair,” he said, eyes narrowing.
Even amid the fierce struggle between the Scarlet District and the Zhen Family, someone still had the audacity to stir up trouble—right under the nose of a powerhouse like the Crimson Whale Sect. Whoever it was, their actions amounted to an unmistakable provocation against both the Zhen Family and the sect.
Lu Sheng fell silent, gazing toward the bustling harbor. He stood by the shore without moving.
Since he remained still, Ning San didn’t dare take a single step. Before long, Xu Chui arrived with the dozen men he had brought. Following Lu Sheng’s orders, they surveyed the layout around the harbor and checked in with the yamen constable, Zheng Xinzhong, who was still stationed nearby.
Lu Sheng then made his way to a small fishing village to find a place to rest. Along the way, he met with Constable Zheng once more.
“Jade Lotus?” Zheng straightened respectfully before Lu Sheng, confusion flickering across his face. “A few days ago, he went out with our yamen’s Constable Wang to investigate this midnight ghost-sedan case. They likely haven’t returned since,” he explained.
With no swift means of communication, it was normal for those who ventured out to drop off the map for three to five days.
“Since the time they left, has the sedan reappeared?” Lu Sheng asked.
“It showed up again last night…” Zheng admitted with a bitter smile.
“So it was useless?”
“Not completely—at least it seems to last a much shorter time now,” Zheng replied quickly.
“A much shorter duration…” Lu Sheng murmured, deep in thought as he dismissed the constable.
He summoned a subordinate to bring writing tools, then personally wrote a letter. After sealing it with wax, he handed it over, instructing a man to deliver it to the sect master aboard the Crimson Whale.
He wanted to find out whether the Zhen Family had issued any response regarding this case. Although relations between them had been peaceful before, the current conflict with the Scarlet District made it impossible for the Zhen Family to sit idle while turmoil brewed right beside their city—especially in a place of such importance.
Afterward, he followed Ning San into the nearby village, where they secured lodging with a discreet tip. Lu Sheng kept only Ning San and Xu Chui at his side; the rest of the men were sent back.
The three waited by the lake until nightfall, yet no sedan appeared. Instead, they spotted Jade Lotus returning along the lakeshore, his steps unsteady, his expression weary.
Lu Sheng led the way to the water’s edge, watching as Jade Lotus paused in the dark, scanning the surroundings as though searching for something.
“Come, let’s go take a look,” he said, stepping forward.
Xu Chui and Ning San exchanged a glance before quickly following.
As they drew closer, the fatigue etched into Jade Lotus’s face became unmistakable—he looked both drained and dispirited.
“External Head Lu!? Why have you come?” Jade Lotus called out, startled to see them approach.
“How was it? Is the matter settled?” Lu Sheng asked.
“It’s a real headache. Constable Wang and I were separated, and I haven’t been able to find him. External Head, things have been… strange lately,” Jade Lotus said, his tone darkening.
“Strange?” Lu Sheng’s brows rose. “In what way?”
“I’ll be frank,” Jade Lotus said quietly. “When Constable Wang and I caught up with them, we realized someone even faster than us had already gone after them.”
“Someone else? Did you get a clear look?” Lu Sheng’s frown deepened. Ordinary people would have fled from such a situation, not raced toward it—let alone outpace Jade Lotus, who possessed respectable martial skill. Whoever this was, their involvement made the matter far more curious.
“That’s not all. Recently, Mountain-Edge City has seen far fewer strange occurrences. With everything that’s been happening, supernatural incidents have become almost routine—especially in a vast city like this, with such a large surrounding population. Yet now, this is the first case to appear in nearly half a month. Moreover, your subordinate suspects that after today, that ghost sedan will not show up again,” Jade Lotus said quietly.
“Oh? And why do you say that?” Lu Sheng asked.
“Although I couldn’t catch up to them, halfway through the chase I heard miserable shrieks ahead of me, as if a fight had broken out. But when I arrived, there wasn’t a single trace left behind,” Jade Lotus replied solemnly. “So it’s very likely that someone reached them before we did—and resolved the matter.”
Lu Sheng remained silent for a moment.
This development was certainly unusual. He had rushed here hoping to settle a few cases and earn contribution points for the sect, only for the matter to twist unexpectedly out of his grasp.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner when it first happened?”
“Your subordinate thought everything was progressing smoothly, and so… did not inform External Head,” Jade Lotus said with a bitter smile.
“Let’s go. We’ll discuss this again once we’re back,” Lu Sheng said, glancing around. A cold wind drifted off the lake, cloaking the area in damp chill. It was hardly the place for a proper conversation.
“Yes!”
They left the lakeside and rode through the night toward the Golden Jade Greenhouse.
The night was dark and heavy. As they traveled, Lu Sheng felt a growing weight pressing over him—like oppressive clouds gathering before a downpour.
He could not yet pinpoint the source. But for him to feel this way, something was undoubtedly amiss.
“External Head… the road ahead is too dark. Why don’t we continue tomorrow? Should we rest at the fishing village for the night?” Jade Lotus asked, puzzled.
Riding along the main road, the four of them moved under the dim silver wash of moonlight. It was barely enough to see by. Their horses wandered off the path from time to time, forcing the riders to tug them back on course. The journey was slow and wearying.
“I naturally have my reasons,” Lu Sheng replied in a low voice. He couldn’t exactly tell them he simply felt something was wrong. “By the way, aside from us, have any strange incidents occurred in the other sects recently?”
Jade Lotus, who was relatively well-informed, answered promptly.
“No supernatural incidents. But the She Lin Society has announced its disbandment—it has been in progress for some time. Also, the senior members of the Transformation Clan have all gone to tour the Central Plains together. Aside from that, there’s been nothing noteworthy.”
“Is that so…” Lu Sheng murmured. His unease remained. He had never felt such a premonition before, and it was wiser to heed instinct than ignore it and face consequences later.
They continued on until Lu Sheng suddenly pulled his reins, bringing his horse to a halt. He stared ahead.
In the distance, flames surged into the night sky. The blaze seemed to be rising from the base of Eastern Mountain, somewhere in the forest beyond the city.
“There’s a fire over there. Do you know what’s in that direction?” Lu Sheng asked.
But no reply came. Turning around, he saw Jade Lotus frozen in place, his face drained of color as he stared at the distant flames.
“Th-there’s nothing else in that direction except Wanqing Tower—the headquarters of the Transformation Clan! That fire… it’s not a wildfire… it’s Wanqing Tower’s beacon fire calling for aid!” Jade Lotus stammered, his voice trembling.
“A signal for help? Is the situation that serious? And what does that have to do with us, the Crimson Whale Sect?” Lu Sheng asked, genuinely puzzled. Jade Lotus was normally calm and collected; he wouldn’t be rattled by something happening to another sect.
Yet the terror on his face made it clear—there was more to this than Lu Sheng realized.
All color drained from Jade Lotus’ face as he stared at the blazing sky. When he finally spoke, his voice was slow and heavy.
“External Head… the beacon fire is only lit when the Transformation Clan faces a disaster so severe it threatens their complete annihilation. The last time it burned was during the great war of the sects—when their headquarters stood on the brink of destruction. They lit it then to summon every branch for reinforcement.”
“That still has nothing to do with us, right?” Ning San asked, equally baffled by Jade Lotus’ terror.
“No… that’s not true…” Jade Lotus gritted his teeth. He stepped closer to Lu Sheng and whispered softly into his ear.
“The Chief of the Transformation Clan… is the old Sect Master’s eldest son—Hong Xingrong. The entire Transformation Clan is one of the old Sect Master’s greatest hidden forces. The Transformation Clan is the Crimson Whale Sect.”
In that instant, everything clicked for Lu Sheng. He had long wondered why he had never met any of his senior apprentice brother’s sons. He never expected the truth to be concealed this deeply.
The Transformation Clan was being eradicated. That meant Hong Xingrong—his senior brother’s eldest son—might already be…
Lu Sheng’s expression hardened. The gravity of the situation settled heavily on him.
“Let’s go! To the headquarters!”
They spurred their horses into a full gallop, racing through the night toward the Crimson Whale.
Battered by the rough terrain, they pressed on without rest. By the time dawn finally broke, they reached the Crimson Whale after an exhausting night-long ride.
The entire place was ablaze with activity. Lamps shone everywhere; countless carts and carriages were rushing in and out. Disciples hauled buckets of water, pouring them into large tanks mounted on the carts before sending them racing toward the Transformation Clan. Fortunately, the distance was short—aid would reach them soon.
Lu Sheng’s striking appearance was well known among the disciples. The moment he and his men dismounted, someone immediately rushed forward to greet them and take hold of their horses.
“Where is the Sect Master?” Lu Sheng asked, urgency tightening his tone.
“External Head, he is resting in the garden,” one of the disciples replied respectfully.
Without another word, Lu Sheng motioned for Jade Lotus to follow. The others stayed behind while he strode briskly toward the small garden.
His expression was dark, and even the guard who meant to stop him—intending to remind him that the Sect Master was resting—didn’t dare step forward. No one wished to bar his path.
Lu Sheng was the third-in-command of the sect, terrifying in strength and infamous for his temper. Not long ago, he had beaten the Deputy Sect Master’s daughter to death before a crowd. The tale had spread through the sect like wildfire, and no one was willing to test his patience again.
He pushed open the iron gate to the small garden, not bothering to slow his steps. His gaze immediately found Hong Mingzi standing beneath the dim glow of several yellow lanterns.
The current Sect Master of the Crimson Whale Sect—and the Chief of the Crimson Sun Sect—turned slowly toward him. His eyes were unfocused, his face pale. He looked as though he had aged years in a single night.
The first words out of his mouth drained the blood from Lu Sheng’s face.
“Junior Apprentice Brother… the Zhen Family has fled…”
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