31- South

It was right about the time when one would be really deep in their slumber, snoring alongside their dreams. A clumsy figure was chasing the wind and even though his oil lamp was long gone extinguished, he had forced his eyes to scan his surrounding. It was a matter of life and death.

[No doubt. One to two more corners before I'm there!]

And came the wooden door.

Knock! Knock!

"Young master," the man whispered. He might have been too frantic to believe that his voice would actually deliver. "Young master?"

Knock! Knock! Knock!

For a moment, nothing happened. But then the door flew in his face. The servant marveled in his pain too busy to notice the livid young master that had finally risen up from bed.

"Why is a measly servant waking me up in the middle of the night? Do you want to die?!"

"No, no, no, young master! Please forgive me! I've only come to relay the urgent news!"

His eyes were dark and suspicious under the moonlight, "Spill it."

"An unknown cultivator has interrupted our shipment-"

"What!?"

The servant trembled, "An unknown cultivator-" His neck was immediately suffocated.

"I heard what you said, you bastard. Were they able to protect it!?"

"I...d-don't..."

He heard the answer while he also had finished him off. Stepping back into the room, he grabbed his sword before passing by the dead body.

-

It was one of the best restaurants they have randomly stumbled into. Wu Huan normally didn't like to eat fish. It would remind him of the time he accidentally swallowed a big bone and was traumatized for days until it got unstuck and he could speak again.

The fish here was juicy and sweet and he couldn't put his chopsticks down especially the fat of the belly.

"Just look at you, if people don't know, they will think you're touring around the city instead of searching for a runaway person."

Wan Qiang scoffed, "I don't understand. Speak clearly."

"I mean he looks too happy!" Luo Yang, for the past two weeks, had considered Wan Qiang his enemy. He had said that their personalities weren't compatible. And to be honest, Wu Huan agreed even though he was sick of being the meat in the bun.

"What's wrong with that? Give the poor guy a break. If he doesn't eat anymore, he will turn into a mushroom himself. Tsk."

"Wan Qiang..." Wu Huan groaned.

Luo Yang only shook his head.

After they had their delicious lunch, they continued their way to the South. Two weeks were already spent on searching in other cities. They had some leads nonetheless because, with such a shiny appearance like him, some people were bound to notice.

"I'm starting to see the gate," He muttered focusing on the enormous stone wall that stretched as far as his eyes could see. "Why do they built such a big wall? Even Mo city can't compare."

"You have never heard? This is a major trading city. Bandits used to occupy half the population. They could only take a break after the wall. It is hard going in, but even harder going back out. People usually come back with criminal records." Wan Qiang pulled a strand of hair out of her face, "The bandits from Mo City start to fill in the south for some reason since a few years ago. It's too suspicious to be overlooked. Their linage used to work for the demon kings."

Wu Huan turned to look at the frown on Wan Qiang's face. He also saw Luo Yang crossing his arms by her side, "So, how do we enter that place without any permission? It's our only lead so far."

"Well, if we can't enter then shixiong won't be able to enter as well. It's a possibility that he's not even here."

Wan Qiang only continued walking, "Follow me. I can get us in."

"What? How?" Luo Yang scowled.

"You two idiots forgot I've been in the South traveling back and forth."

"But, you were on duties?"

Wan Qiang fisted her hands looking too annoyed for Luo Yang's own good. "I can still get us in."

"No way. It's not like you're a special guest or..."

Wu Huan saw it. Her brush. "Wait...you are?" Dumbfounded the both of them were. Moreover, they had never seen her had such an expression before.

Even Luo Yang was curious but he held himself back as they arrived at the gate. Two young guards stopped them. "Miss Wan Qiang," they suddenly acknowledge.

She nodded to the two heads behind, "They are my junior brothers. We are coming to visit the young master."

The guards looked at each other but after that, they let them in easily.

"Nothing impressive," Luo Yang spoke looking around his surroundings. He wasn't wrong.

Instead of saying it was unimpressive, Wu Huan would choose the word 'depressing'. The Mo City wouldn't even be compared to this gloomy and suffocating energy. People stared at them with this look of doom even with clothes made of high-quality silk.

Wan Qiang seemed to have already gotten used to it. She led them into the city with eyes straight ahead without a word. However, you could almost see her anticipating look as if she was in a hurry to do something.

After they finished booking rooms, Wan Qiang looked at them awkwardly. "I have some matters I have to attend to. You two can go ahead and rest."

Luo Yang raised a brow, "Where are you going? Moreover, it's going to be night soon. Can't you just wait until tomorrow?"

"It's nothing important. I'll be back before midnight."

Wu Huan stepped forward, "I'll go with you, shijie."

"No. I can protect myself. I've here numerous times before any of you."

Luo Yang scoffed as always but nonetheless, he left for upstairs.

"Well?"

Wu Huan rubbed his nose, slowly retreating, "Shijie obviously can protect yourself. We will wait for you, hahaha."

"Don't wait. Get some rest. While I'm out, I'll try asking around about Shi Lihua."

She had already turned her back.

"Wait!" The shidi looked awkward, "I have been wanting to ask...why do you volunteer to find shixiong? From what I've seen, you two do not go along at all."

A sigh escaped her lips and she shook her head. "It's a bit too late to ask that, isn't it? Yes, I never bothered to look for that spoiled brat for all the times he ran away. But, seeing the situation now, I don't want him to get himself killed. Moreover,..."

"?"

"Nevermind." With that, she left.