Chapter 103: Deployment

At Guhai Xin’s command, the first day of the grand Spirit Rising Arena finally came to an end. That night was destined to be a sleepless one for Guhai City. Not only had Guhai Xin ordered a citywide manhunt for the kidnappers of Wuluohua, but countless cultivators were also abuzz with the sensational revelations that had surfaced throughout the day.

The positions of the Yihua Sect and the Yuntian School, Guhai City’s resolve and direction, Master Yunfa’s standing against the unyielding Golden Lamp, the contest between Taoist Master Miaodao’s Jade Duster and the Four-Fingered Music Emperor, and, in the end, Mo Bai’s overwhelming effort in separating Guhai Yidao from the Red Forest Woman—all of it became fodder for conversation and brought Guhai City more attention than it had seen in years. This ancient city of a hundred years was finally beginning to recover its radiance.

The Red Forest Woman descended lightly from the Spirit Rising Arena and was at once surrounded by Huang Wan’er and Lan Ruoting.

“Big world, were you all right just now?” Huang Wan’er naturally saw how perilous things had been.

The Red Forest Woman gave a slight shake of her head. “Don’t worry, junior sister. I’m fine.”

Huang Wan’er then asked, “I heard every word that Mo Bai said just now. Are we really supposed to help him look for those missing friends of his? Eldest Senior Sister, do you really think this Mo Bai is that important?”

The Red Forest Woman’s face was a little pale. She replied, “From the situation today, this mysterious man truly possesses immeasurable strength. Perhaps gaining his help would be of great benefit to our entire Yihua Sect in facing the Spirit Rising Arena.”

Huang Wan’er asked again, “But with only the few of us, how are we supposed to contend with Guhai City?”

Just then, a laugh like the cry of a green bird sounded beside them. “Eighth Senior Sister, have you forgotten what it is that I, this old root, am best at?”

It was none other than the youngest junior sister, Lan Ruoting.

The Red Forest Woman lovingly caressed Lan Ruoting’s hand. “Yes, my little junior sister does have her special talents.”

Only then did Huang Wan’er slap her own forehead. “Oh, look at me. So many things happened today that I actually forgot the youngest junior sister is best at tracking and reconnaissance. With her here, one person is worth a whole pack of useless fools from Guhai City.” At this, she too burst into laughter.

A young voice said, “Junior Sister Wan’er’s smile is truly beautiful.”

Huang Wan’er’s face reddened at once. She had no idea who was praising her so brazenly, and when she turned, she saw the Yuntian School brother who had stood up for her the previous day: Senior Brother Jiu Ling.

Huang Wan’er immediately made a graceful bow. “Senior Brother flatters me.”

The Red Forest Woman smiled faintly. “I wonder what business the Yuntian School younger brother has with us?”

Only then did Jiu Ling come to himself from Huang Wan’er’s gentle, ladylike bearing and say, “Senior Sister Hong, after today’s battle in the Spirit Rising Arena, our Yuntian School has already made its position clear. I have been ordered by my Third Uncle-Master, Master Yunfa, to invite Senior Sister Hong to our resting quarters so we may discuss how to proceed tomorrow.”

The Red Forest Woman nodded. “Then I trouble Senior Brother to leave the address. We shall come pay our respects shortly.”

Jiu Ling immediately gave the place, then cupped his hands and took his leave. Yet even as he departed, he could not help glancing at Huang Wan’er a few more times, which made Lan Ruoting giggle endlessly. Huang Wan’er blushed again and said coquettishly, “Why don’t you go handle proper business? We can’t let the people of Guhai City get there first.”

Lan Ruoting returned a bow and laughed, “Yes, Eighth Senior Sister, whose heart is all aflutter.” And before Huang Wan’er could move against her, she flashed into a blue streak and vanished.

The Red Forest Woman then asked, “Wan’er, where is your Seventh Senior Sister?”

Huang Wan’er was stunned. She looked around, and sure enough, there was no sign of Xiao Xue. Becoming somewhat anxious, she said, “Ah, I was only thinking about the eldest senior sister’s safety just now and didn’t pay attention to where Seventh Senior Sister went. But, but just now—”

The Red Forest Woman immediately asked, “Just now what?”

She knew that while Yu Fu was fighting the Four-Fingered Music Emperor, Xiao Xue had mysteriously disappeared for a time, only to return before Mo Bai’s sudden appearance. She very much wanted to know what Xiao Xue had been up to, and so she asked urgently.

After a moment’s thought, Huang Wan’er said, “Just now, that man called Mo Bai came and said a few strange things to Seventh Senior Sister.”

The Red Forest Woman seemed to have caught on to something important. She asked at once, “What exactly did he say to that little Xue girl? Wan’er, not a single word must be left out. Tell me everything.”

Huang Wan’er had never seen her eldest senior sister care so much about anything before, and so she immediately recounted the entire exchange between Mo Bai and Xiao Xue.

After hearing it, the Red Forest Woman’s tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed again. Then her trademark smile appeared. She said, “Wan’er, I will go meet with Master Yunfa of the Yuntian School shortly. You, meanwhile, should find a place to leave our sect’s secret mark, then notify your Fourth Senior Sister, Yu Fu, and have her hurry back to Yihua Sect to report the situation here to Master. Let her old decisions guide what comes next.”

Huang Wan’er was taken aback. “With Fourth Senior Sister’s temperament, would she really return to the mountain? Better let me go report instead.”

The Red Forest Woman gently shook her head. “No, let Yu Fu do it. She should understand how important this matter is. Her movement technique is far superior to yours, and besides, even if she remained here, I fear she would not be able to exert her full strength.”

Though Huang Wan’er did not know why Senior Sister Yu Fu would be unable to fight at full force, when she thought about all that had happened today, and then remembered the angry look on the Four-Fingered Music Emperor’s face as he left, she seemed to understand something. She bowed to her eldest senior sister, and with a faint yellow blur, she too disappeared.

The Red Forest Woman lifted her gaze toward the red evening sun. Thinking of Xiao Xue, she let out a soft sigh. Then she shook herself and hurried toward the address Jiu Ling had given.

Inside Guhai Hall, Guhai Xin’s expression was not nearly as pleasant as it had been outside. He slammed a hand on the table and cursed, “I never expected the Yuntian School to have hooked up with the Yihua Sect. Hmph, I was even willing to leave them a shred of dignity, but I never imagined they would be so blind to the times.”

Jinteng Bubie, the Unextinguished Golden Lamp, smiled faintly. “Brother Guhai need not be angry. In my view, the Yuntian School is only putting on a show. Leave that old fool Yunfa to me. Whether on the arena or off it, so long as he dares to appear, I will take him on. The real priority is still dealing with the people of Yihua Sect, and then there is that Mo Bai. He is indeed no ordinary man.”

Guhai Xin nodded in agreement, then looked at his two sons and said, “Today you will account for everything. Even if one of you was the one who kidnapped Mo Bai’s friend, it matters not. Now that the door is shut, it is only the few of us speaking. There is no need to keep hiding things. This is of utmost importance to Guhai City’s future, so you need not conceal anything further.”

Guhai Xin’s experience was not something his two sons could compare with. Guhai Rong’an trembled as he stepped forward, then dropped to his knees with a thud and stammered, “Your son has been unfilial and caused Father trouble.”