One Hundred and Twenty-Eight.

Xun Lian nodded, keeping her expression neutral.

Captain Shen Mei smirked. "Sect Daughter Mei Hua is already leading the search for him with great fervor."

Then, as if suddenly recalling something amusing, she chuckled. "It will be very interesting when she finds out the Senior she's been looking for is a man."

A scoff came from behind us.

"Tch… that man-hating fool irritates me to the core."

Everyone turned to look at the speaker—one of the guards. Even Captain Shen Mei raised an eyebrow.

The woman crossed her arms and huffed. "Now she'll finally understand just how valuable a man is to a woman."

Silence.

Then—every gaze in the room locked onto me.

The most valuable thing in this fortress of women.

Even Captain Shen Mei.

I had no idea how to respond to that.

"Do you all want to join the search?" she finally broke the silence.

Ru Xian shook her head. "No, we promised the Senior. We should honor it."