This remark, delivered without confidence by the speaker, also made the listener think he had heard wrong.

Hu Yan asked in shock, "Gone? Didn't you say you've been watching them closely?"

Jin Zaogong didn't know how to explain, realizing any explanation would seem feeble, but he still had to reluctantly say, "I was indeed watching, but somehow they slipped away. The only possibility I suspect involves the Purple Cloud Sect's Lao Changtai…"

He recounted the previous encounter when Lao Changtai approached him, suspecting there was a traitor.

Hu Yan felt his scalp tingle upon hearing this. If it was true, why would Lao Changtai cooperate? He dared not think further and asked gravely, "Is Lao Changtai still around, or is he gone as well?"

Jin Zaogong answered, "I don't know, I didn't get a chance to check."

Hu Yan stomped his foot, "Then why don't you go and check?"

"Alright." Jin Zaogong hurried off at a brisk pace.

Hu Yan paced back and forth anxiously. If things were truly heading in the worst possible direction, he didn't know how he would explain it to Mulan Qingqing, nor what he would face as a result.

Although Jin Zaogong left quickly, he was late in returning, which made Hu Yan grow increasingly anxious.

After a long time, Jin Zaogong finally reappeared, his voice dry, "Senior Brother, Lao Changtai is missing, and so is everyone from the Purple Cloud Sect. I searched all over their quarters and saw no one; I fear they have also fled."

"How could you have been watching…" Hu Yan grabbed the front of his clothing, unable to control his rage for a moment.

Jin Zaogong hung his head, speechless.

Just then, a figure appeared at the cave entrance, a figure in flowing white garments—it was Mulan Qingqing in person.

Seeing her, both men immediately let go.

Mulan Qingqing, noticing the situation, asked, "What's going on?"

Jin Zaogong looked ashamed, while Hu Yan said bitterly, "Five from the Bilan Sect have escaped. Someone secretly collaborated to help them slip away right under my watch."

He was taking the blame on himself.

A look of disgust flashed in Mulan Qingqing's eyes, thinking to herself, truly despicable people!

Yet externally, she didn't pursue it and instead took a deep breath, "Wang Sheng is indeed no simple man; he has all the cards in his hands now."

Then she spoke to the two, "Go check if they spread the news among the sects before they escaped."

Hu Yan sighed, "There's no rush on that; they have already escaped, and if the news has spread, it can't be concealed anyway. Right now, the most critical thing is the person who is now in Wang Sheng's hands; my disciple has become his hostage. How is Brother Chao?"

What's going on? Jin Zaogong was shocked. He wasn't aware that those sent to eliminate Wang Sheng had met with trouble. He looked bewildered, glancing from one to the other.

Mulan Qingqing suddenly stared directly into Hu Yan's eyes, truly tired of his foolishness.

Yet she had to patiently explain, "First, we need to confirm whether the information spread. Only then can we know how to negotiate with Wang Sheng. If the informers have spread the news before fleeing, then there's no need for further discussion, and we will have to act decisively, everyone showing their true abilities. If the informers had fled quietly without spreading the news, it implies Wang Sheng still wants some leverage, meaning there is a possibility the hostages are alive, so there is still room for negotiation. Do you both understand?"

It was already so clear; how could they not understand?

Hu Yan suddenly had an epiphany, his eyes showing increasing admiration and love for this woman. He turned to his junior brother, "Junior Brother Jin, go check on this."

"No," Jin Zaogong wasn't in a hurry. He asked, "Senior Brother, what did you mean when you said Mao Zhong and the others became hostages at Wang Sheng's hands?"

Hu Yan wanted to urge him to get to work first, but Mulan Qingqing also said, "Let me, I also wanted to ask about this. How did a fully intact group end up in the enemy's hands?"

Hu Yan forced a smile, "What exactly happened there, I also can't figure it out. Brother Chao came with us, and I was planning to have four junior brothers, including Junior Brother Jin, accompany him…"

He then detailed the situation as it was then, naturally pushing the main responsibility onto Chao Zhilin.

Following that, he slightly altered the account of how Wang Sheng contacted this side to his own favor.

Jin Zaogong was shocked after hearing this. How could this be possible?

Mulan Qingqing fell into silence, not feeling that Chao Zhilin was overly arrogant. Having two more or two fewer people might have been crucial, but it wasn't just a matter of numbers. Logically, three against three shouldn't have been considered underestimating the opponent, especially when it was four against three.

Shengshen Continent's largest sect, along with the first and second largest sects of Xuan State, ganging up against an insignificant sect of Xuan State, and still outnumbering them—how could one expect to lose, and how could that be seen as arrogance?

No matter how you considered it, it didn't make sense.

A long while later, she let out a self-reproachful sigh, "It's not entirely Brother Chao and the others' fault; the greatest responsibility is on me. I dared to act without almost any knowledge of the opponent's strength and details, thinking myself above everyone from a famous sect and underestimated all the heroes of the world."

Hu Yan hurriedly comforted, "That's an overstatement. In terms of strength, Brother Chao and the others couldn't possibly be no match for those three. Who knows what lowly tricks they used."

Mulan Qingqing didn't have a close relationship with the other side and seeing that they were not willing to reflect, she couldn't be bothered to argue with them any further, returning to the pressing matter, "First, let's see if the matter has spread."

Hu Yan quickly turned to Jin Zaogong, "Junior Brother, why are you still here?"

"Ah, alright." Jin Zaogong accepted the command and left with unease.

Mulan Qingqing glanced at Hu Yan, wanting him to go as well to expedite the results, but she held back her words at the last moment, realizing it wasn't appropriate to be too harsh since he was a leader...

In a desolate rocky hollow, having checked and found no issues, Shi Chun returned to the hostage and woke Xun Lingyin again to interrogate him.

He voiced his biggest doubt, "What's really going on with Hu Yan? You had such a good plan, meant for your Yuanjian Palace to just lay there and claim first place. Why refuse it and betray us instead? I'd like Brother Xun to enlighten me; this shouldn't be a secret, right?"

He tried to put himself in their shoes, genuinely confused, wanting to know where he fell short.

It was such a good plan originally; just wait until the end, seize the moment and run off with the prize. Yuanjian Palace wouldn't know what hit them, and they'd be left like a mute suffering the bitter taste of Coptis - unable to voice their pain.

Instead, Yuanjian Palace turned the tables and sold them out, joining forces with Su Yuan Sect against them. Had they seen through their identities?

That's why he was eager to confirm this; if they indeed realized that they were impersonating disciples from Youxia Mountain, then they couldn't continue with this charade and would have to switch tactics.

Wu Jinliang was also curious, while Xiang Laner had some guesses but wasn't sure either.

Xun Lingyin weakly smiled, "If I tell you, would you let me go?"

Shi Chun replied, "Whether I let you go isn't up to me. I'm negotiating terms with Hu Yan. Whether he decides to save you depends on what your fellow sect brothers think. However, one thing I can assure you: regardless of whether your brothers wish to save you, I'll ensure you suffer less and maintain your dignity. This shouldn't involve any secrets of your sect; I'm just curious."

For this alone, he believed the groundwork he'd laid so far was substantial.

Xun Lingyin counter-questioned, "What terms are you discussing with my brother?"

Shi Chun answered, "He should expose the wrongdoings of Su Yuan Sect. That's the price for betraying me."

"Ah," Xun Lingyin sighed softly, "he probably won't agree to that. Even if Su Yuan Sect's reputation is tainted, their strength remains intact. Brother Hu Yan wouldn't dare offend them, and neither would Yuanjian Palace. That's the reason they betrayed you."

Shi Chun still couldn't understand, "You didn't have to take the fall; that would be on us at Youxia Mountain. Su Yuan Sect would blame us, and you'd easily take first place. What's there to worry about? Afraid I'd blackmail you with what I know? Any concerns you have, we could lay them all out and resolve each one until you're satisfied. Why directly betray us?"

Xun Lingyin slowly said, "The gap between Su Yuan Sect and Yuanjian Palace isn't as simple as just first and second in Xuan State. Brother Hu Yan mentioned, before coming, the sect instructed not to compete with Su Yuan Sect for first place. That's one reason, perhaps. Another could be Mulan Qingqing's beauty and background; Brother Hu Yan might have some thoughts there."

His final words revealed how some particular nuances in male-female dynamics can't be hidden from companions.

"That's it?" Shi Chun was somewhat skeptical.

Xun Lingyin nodded slightly.

Then Shi Chun knocked him out again and woke up Mao Zhong, showing no courtesy this time, subjecting him to torture first before threatening him. Xun Lingyin despised your abandonment; he confessed everything under duress.

As a disciple of a prestigious sect, Mao Zhong's resolve was not that firm.

The confessions were mostly consistent with Xun Lingyin's.

This left Shi Chun deeply contemplative on the side, surprised that the mere intimidation from Su Yuan Sect could prevent Yuanjian Palace from even daring to accept an easy victory. That profoundly shook his notions formed in the Land of Exile.

There, as long as the stakes were high enough, everyone was ready to risk their lives for the prize.

Wu Jinliang pondered as well, finding the matter quite indigestible.

After much thought, all Shi Chun could do was sigh, having no choice but to abandon the optimal plan, as Yuanjian Palace's reservations could easily be applied to other sects too. If even Yuanjian Palace dared not, the reluctance of other sects was predictable.

He came to a deep understanding as to why Su Yuan Sect could effortlessly rally so many, whereas Bai Shuchuan, the top sect of Sheng Province, had to scramble and entice just to gather a hundred or so people. That was the disparity.

If wanting to seize that first place, he had to think of another strategy, plunging back into deep thought.

To this answer, Xiang Laner wasn't surprised; it was just a difference in perception...

Elsewhere, Jin Zaogong relayed his findings to Hu Yan and Mulan Qingqing. The sects responded normally, showing no signs of being informed.

However, he discovered another matter: not only Bilan Sect and Purple Cloud Sect had departed; a total of eleven sects had vanished. After interrogation of various guards, it was confirmed that these sects left around the same time from different directions.

"Hmph." Hu Yan grunted coldly, hitting the stone table with his fist to express his discontent.

Mulan Qingqing said nothing, walking aside. In front of them both, she took out the mother-child talisman and directly messaged Shi Chun, inquiring: Brother Wang surely desires more than just Hu Yan's head, doesn't he? Would you dare to meet me in person?

When Shi Chun received her message, he was just processing one from Chu Jingtang with a place to land.

He responded, "Got it," and glanced at Mulan Qingqing's message, considering briefly before cleanly replying: "You pick the place."

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