Pill Hunt (6)

After obtaining information from the last operation, no more attacks were planned on Emily. It would still be beneficial if they could kidnap the girl, but considering their losses and how much more it would take to succeed, it was judged more optimal to save their forces in case the enemy really did make a move when the Hornfrost clan's reinforcements appeared. The Tower of Killers still had business with the prince, but their power was lacking for another operation so they didn't argue with this decision.

The next few days passed relatively peacefully. The prince didn't go out of his way to make trouble for them, but the situation changed as a group of carriages and evolved beasts could be seen approaching the city at a steady pace. There was also one flying snake great beast among them, but the snake slithered to the ground once it was about one hundred cales away from the city. Although it could be argued that such an extravagant mode of travel was necessary for them to reach the city as quickly as they did, most thought that they were trying to show off. Major-level forces rarely waged war against each other, so they found other ways of competing like comparing wealth.

The Hornfrost clan was already informed of everything happening in the city, so they knew that trouble would arise once they arrived, but they couldn't afford to show fear. However, unknown to them, their flamboyant arrival was playing into the enemy's hands. As everyone was looking at their group, one rumour sent the city into an uproar.

'A red woman was seen heading towards the gate that the Hornfrost clan was approaching.'

Before the alliance even had time to confirm this rumour, cultivators, regardless of whether they were part of the alliance or not, hurried to catch her. The elder from the Eclair clan had placed much emphasis on keeping the alliance stable so that they would be prepared for any incident, but before personal greed it was meaningless. The upper echelon of the alliance stayed behind at their headquarters, but the rest of the alliance was out searching for the red woman.

Since all of their subordinates had run off, only the thick-skinned could stay in the same room as the elder. The elder was naturally displeased by this incident, but it did allow him to gain insight into the enemy's true intentions. He deduced that the rumour was just a trick to plunge the city into chaos so that it was easier for them to escape. Unfortunately, calling back the alliance members that were searching for the red woman would be a futile effort, but he had other methods to employ.

Although no one had any luck in capturing the red woman, the chase continued due to frequent alleged sightings of her. Furthermore, once it was known that some alliance leaders went out of the city to meet with the Hornfrost clan, everyone intensified their efforts while thinking that the alliance was trying to delay the red woman from meeting with the Hornfrost clan and so they had to find her in time. However, the elder from the Eclair clan never thought that the red woman would be captured so easily. The reason he chose to send alliance leaders to meet the Hornfrost clan a decent distance away from the city, was so that the chaos in Paraj didn't reach the gate.

No matter how confusing the situation got, as long as the commotion didn't reach the gate, the enemy wouldn't be able to slip out of the city. He stayed in the city in case of any additional problems, and that happened to be a brilliant decision. Soon after the alliance leaders met with the Hornfrost clan, the red woman was surrounded near the gate on the opposite side of the Hornfrost clan.

She stood on top of a roof, and had a distinct appearance despite the fact that nearby roofs and the ground below was packed full of her pursuers. Most only knew that she had red hair, but once they saw her sunburnt skin, mesmerizing ruby eyes and seductive vermillion lips, red was the only thing they could think of.

"My my, I've gotten used to being popular, but isn't this a bit much?"

There was no gap to escape through, and yet her composure was stronger than theirs. Her appearance alone stunned them, but her voice was soothing like a small cabin's fireplace during a deadly snowstorm. They felt as if they were children before her, and became eager to spill their troubles on her lap. With a little more time she would likely have more members in her cult, but the Masters in the crowd used the power of the natural laws to defend their minds.

"Stop your futile efforts, you vulgar vixen!"

One Master stood in midair, above the roofs, and looked down at her with as much hostility as he could muster. Following him, the other Masters here rose to the sky and denounced her just as severely. In response, the red woman tilted her head to meet their eyes with hers, and pouted.

"How rude. To abuse a delicate lady who you've just met with such scathing words, is that how you were raised?"

The Masters continued to glare at her, but some couldn't hide the blushes that appeared when they looked at her puffy cheeks. Since even they found it hard to remain unaffected, it was basically hopeless for the rest.

"That's right! And you call yourself Masters?!"

"All on the path to immortality are our brothers and sisters, have you forgotten this?"

"Where is your dignity?!"

They had been silent a few moments ago, but the crowd below rushed in defense of the charming red woman. Logically, they knew that they didn't have the right to criticize these seniors, but a blaze that was lit inside their hearts gave them courage to rebel against the Masters' overwhelming might.

"Shut up!"

Less than half of the Masters weren't overcome with guilt, but all of them had no problem taking their frustration out on the crowd below. Their fierce auras forcibly silenced them, in some cases even stopping them from breathing. As she watched this scene, the red woman shook her head and sighed.

"Why must you be so cruel to your fellow man?"

All of the Masters felt at least a prick of pain to their conscience, but one pushed through it.

"Stop wasting time and give up the pill."

"Pill? What are you talking about?"

"You-!"

"Fufufu, do you mean this?"

The red woman then dipped her hand into the valley uncovered by her dazzling red dress, but though many gulps were heard at that moment, all of their gazes were attracted to the object she pulled out. It released a wave of subtle heat that invigorated their bodies and dragged greed out of them. As their greed overwhelmed their empathy, all enamored looks were replaced by simple malice.

With the pill in hand, the red woman looked around at the crowd and showed a bright smile as she thought of her next action. Uneased by that smile, the Masters began to approach her, but then she made a shocking move.

"Since you're all so eager to have it, I'll give it to you."

She threw the pill away from the crowd and towards the centre of the city. Despite her frail limbs, the pill moved faster than a cannonball but everyone had already stopped caring about her. Watching as they chased after it, the red woman chuckled.

"What a nasty plan."