“Guan Nian?!”
The two elders rose at once and hurried to open the door.
Guan Nian stood outside with four members of his Green Squad. Behind them loomed a tall, middle-aged swordsman whose presence cut through the air like a drawn blade.
“You are…?” Zhang Wuya’s brows tightened. He had served in Martial League for more than a decade and knew every face within its walls. This man was a stranger.
“I’m Xu Chui, right hand to Crimson Whale Sect Master Lord Lu Sheng.” Xu Chui bowed with measured respect, his tone neither proud nor humble.
Without relying on it, he knew he would be inferior to an elder of Zhang Wuya’s caliber. His cultivation was not earned through years of toil but granted directly by his Sect Master. The gap in experience deserved reverence, and he offered it sincerely.
“Sect Master Lu Sheng!?” Zhang Wuya’s eyes brightened. “Why has he sent you here?”
“Let’s talk inside,” Xu Chui murmured.
“Yes, yes, yes!” Zhang Wuya ushered them in hurriedly.
Guan Nian entered with his men, leaving one stationed outside to stand guard.
Once seated, Xu Chui wasted no time and conveyed Lu Sheng’s intentions.
Martial League had fallen far from its former glory. The League Master remained locked in solitary confinement, indifferent to the chaos. Innocent members were being slandered or slain. The organization was rotting from within.
Zhang Wuya and the older generation had been waiting—hoping—the League Master would emerge to restore order. But days became weeks, weeks became months, and he remained absent. Many had fled; many more had died.
Disappointment had settled deep in Zhang Wuya’s bones.
“Why the heck should we stay?!” Guan Nian burst out. “I’ve no idea what’s gotten into that witch Zhong Yunxiu. She’s hunting down every so-called spy in the League. If she even suspects you a little, you’re done for! Isn’t that just killing innocent people for nothing!? Damn this Martial League. I’m not staying anymore!”
“And so you’ve brought him here to see us?” Zhang Wuya asked quietly.
Guan Nian swallowed, throat tightening.
“What’s wrong? Can’t I? The mole in my squad was an exception, but Zhong Yunxiu detained two of my men without even telling me! What’s she trying to do, tear us apart?!” His neck flushed with anger.
“It may be wise to take refuge outside the League for now. We can trust Sect Master Lu… but Ashoka Manor…” Zhang Wuya hesitated, uncertainty clouding his voice.
“Ashoka Manor just lost two Officiators. They barely have time to breathe—how would they have time to bother with us?” Guan Nian replied dismissively.
Zhang Wuya exchanged a long, heavy look with Zhang Minggu. Both sighed inwardly.
‘Precisely because Ashoka Manor suffered such heavy losses, their suspicion would sharpen, not fade. The situation could worsen at any moment…’
After a moment of reflection, Zhang Wuya spoke again.
“But if it’s Sect Master Lu, then there shouldn’t be any issue. Taking refuge in Crimson Whale Sect may indeed be the best choice.”
Lu Sheng had killed four Ashoka Manor Emissaries—his feud with them was already carved in blood. On top of that, he was Li Shunxi’s friend. The enemy of their enemy was the safest ally they could hope for.
“My Sect Master originally came to trade for martial arts manuals,” Xu Chui explained. “But we didn’t expect to stumble into this turmoil. Since Elder Zhang and Captain Guan are familiar with us, it may be best for you to leave with us and wait out the chaos.”
“Give us a moment to reconsider…” Zhang Wuya’s brows tightened. He was no stranger to the ways of the world. The idea that Lu Sheng had sent someone solely to offer them refuge felt unlikely. More probable was that Lu Sheng had his eye on Martial League’s hidden manuals and accumulated resources. They weren’t grain, but they were certainly valuable.
“Reconsider my balls! Let’s just go already!” Guan Nian snapped, impatience flaring. He knew better than anyone how fractured Martial League had become. Loyalty was crumbling, and the gap between mortal Divine Prime experts and the Noblemen grew wider by the day. If things continued, disaster was inevitable.
“What about the others if we leave?” Zhang Wuya asked in a grave tone.
“Our Sect Master says the more who come with us, the better,” Xu Chui answered sincerely. “But of course, we’ll need Captain Guan to identify which Noblemen can be trusted.”
Zhang Wuya and Guan Nian froze, jaws slack.
‘This was practically stripping Martial League to its bones.’
…………
Lu Sheng stepped lightly into the solitary confinement sanctuary.
Outside the open window, a waterfall plunged into the lake below, its mist drifting into the room in fine, cool breaths. The sanctuary itself was barren: a single gray round mat, a low table, and an incense pot resting atop it. A few dishes and a bowl of water sat nearby, long spoiled.
Lu Sheng examined the mold-covered food. It hadn’t been touched in ages.
The room was empty. The League Master, supposedly locked away in solitary confinement, was nowhere in sight.
“Qin Wumian?” Lu Sheng murmured, eyes narrowing as he swept the chamber again. Beneath the mildew and dampness, a faint metallic scent lingered—the raw smell of blood.
But none of this concerned him. He had come only to meet Martial League’s elusive master and gauge whether the man was worth recruiting. Instead, he found nothing but dust and absence.
‘This League Master is more mysterious than expected…’
With nothing more to uncover, Lu Sheng turned and left.
Once outside the tower, he moved like a shadow, slipping through blind spots with impossible speed. When evasion failed, he simply tapped the sentries unconscious with a single blow each.
Moments later, he returned to the courtyard where he had been earlier.
Zhong Yunxiu and two other women stood waiting. Relief burst across their faces the instant they saw him.
“Sect Master Lu! What’s going on in there?!” Zhong Yunxiu asked urgently.
Lu Sheng shook his head. “The League Master isn’t in the sanctuary at all.”
“I knew it!” Zhong Yunxiu’s expression tightened. Unlike the reckless Guan Nian, she had long suspected that the League Master was no longer here. Ever since Li Shunxi’s disappearance, doubt had gnawed at her.
All her clashes with Guan Nian had been nothing more than a façade—to conceal her true intentions.
“Since Sect Master has invited us, it’s unwise to remain in the League any longer, especially with the situation as it is. But… if we join Crimson Whale Sect, won’t that draw Ashoka Manor’s attention to you?” Zhong Yunxiu asked, brows knitting. She was far more cautious and meticulous than Guan Nian.
“No need to worry. I’ve stored ample grain in another location. You can hide there for now instead of returning to Crimson Whale Sect with me,” Lu Sheng replied calmly.
“In that case, we’ll trouble you, Sect Master.” Zhong Yunxiu bowed her head after brief consideration.
“How many do you intend to bring?” Lu Sheng asked in a hushed voice.
“Just my two sisters and me. No one else can be trusted.” Zhong Yunxiu shook her head. “I’ve found that aside from Ashoka Manor’s mole, another hidden force has infiltrated the League. At this point, we can’t tell who is loyal and who isn’t.”
“A while ago, someone spotted the droppings of a Red Letter Pidgeon—the type used for sending messages—outside the valley. Someone is communicating with the outside,” one of the women cut in anxiously.
Lu Sheng didn’t mind bringing more people; the stronger they were, the better. Yin Crane Web could resolve nearly anything. But time was tight. If Scarlet District Mistress arrived before he departed, complications would multiply. He needed to extract those in the know and disappear quickly.
“Alright. I’ve already sent my man to contact Guan Nian and Zhang Wuya. We’ll leave together shortly.”
“We’ll comply with all your arrangements, Sect Master.” Zhong Yunxiu cupped her fists.
“Thank you,” Lu Sheng said with a faint smile. “But before that, I need to perform a personal check. I have a way to determine whether any traitors or moles are among us.”
“Oh?!” Zhong Yunxiu and the others were taken aback.
“Time is short, and the method consumes my inner force. I can only use it on a few people,” Lu Sheng added.
“And are you certain of the results, Sect Master?!” Zhong Yunxiu’s expression turned solemn.
“Eighty percent certain.”
“That’s sufficient!” Zhong Yunxiu clapped once. “If possible, please check us now.”
“Of course.” Lu Sheng offered a warm smile as a strand of Yin Yang Jade Crane Aquarius Qi coiled toward his fingertip.
“Just one touch is all I need.” He extended his finger toward Zhong Yunxiu’s forehead.
A Double-Vein Noblewoman—ideal for testing whether Aquarius Qi could weave a Yin Crane Web inside her. If it succeeded, the web would remain dormant unless she betrayed him. If anything went wrong, it would serve as his safeguard.
A soft thud sounded as his fingertip made contact. A faint thread of Aquarius Qi shot into her body.
Szzzz…
Her black membrane flared at once, clashing with the invading Qi. Both forces burst apart and vanished.
Zhong Yunxiu staggered back, face tightening as she stared at Lu Sheng.
“This thing is harmful to me! What is the meaning of this, Sect Master Lu!?”
“Oh… seems it can’t pierce black membrane after all…” A hint of disappointment flashed in Lu Sheng’s eyes. “It’s merely a method of testing loyalty. Surely a trace of aura wouldn’t endanger you?”
Zhong Yunxiu hesitated. Just moments ago, she had felt a sharp, instinctive threat and had withdrawn reflexively.
“Regardless, Sect Master should keep this method for yourself. When do we depart?”
“Anytime now.” Lu Sheng lowered his hand, regret flickering briefly across his face.
Under Zhong Yunxiu’s guidance, they regrouped with Guan Nian and Zhang Wuya that same night. Nearly two dozen people, laden with manuals and luggage, slipped out of Martial League in silence—leaving behind those whose loyalties could no longer be trusted.
…………
Deep in the night, a towering silhouette emerged from the shadows outside Martial League.
Scarlet District Mistress stood upon the cliff’s edge, gaze fixed on the silver tower gleaming beneath her. Umbrella girl hovered quietly at her side, several wandering ghosts drifting around them like pale mist.
“So this is Martial League? Quite a pretty place, I must say.”
“How… do we… investigate?” umbrella girl asked in a faint voice.
“Charge straight in. Kill anyone who refuses to speak.” Scarlet District Mistress answered without pause.
Before umbrella girl could respond, she stepped off the cliff. Her figure arced through the air like a hunting hawk, descending toward the tower below.
“Who’s there!? How dare you trespass into Martial League!”
Several green-clad figures burst out from the compound, weapons raised—steel forks, sabers, and long swords glinting under the moonlight. They were Noblemen on sentry duty.
But the moment they recognized her, their expressions shattered into terror. Their weapons clattered to the ground as they spun around and fled for their lives.
They knew exactly who she was.
BOOM!!!
The earth erupted. A crater several meters wide split open at the tower’s entrance.
From its depths, Scarlet District Mistress slowly rose, untouched and utterly composed.
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