The mind of Young Master Nan was filled with whispers and worries, similar to the concerns of Miao Dingyi.
It wasn't that he couldn't afford the cost to see Shi Chun's current state, but he didn't want others to misunderstand his family's relationship with Shi Chun.
It's fine to keep an eye on things privately; there's no need to make it public.
His daughter, after all, would still need to get married.
As for Young Master Nan's actions, should they be thanked or not?
Miao Yilan wasn't sure whether or not to express gratitude, and she simply waved her hand to indicate it wasn't necessary.
Then she stood up to make room for the elders, obediently moving to her mother's side.
Regardless of everything else, at Young Master Nan's place, cutting in line among the various sects that spent money to queue wasn't an issue.
The mirror image soon appeared on the projection screen.
However, neither Young Master Nan nor those with him took immediate notice.
The image showed a barren valley with no one in sight.
No one knew whose request this image fulfilled.
The unexpected image created an awkward atmosphere, with everyone fixated on the screen, unsure of what was being shown.
Once the unremarkable valley scene ended and other images were shown, no one paid it much mind.
Young Master Nan, growing impatient from waiting, was soon approached by the person in charge who asked, "Young Master Nan, did you see it?"
Infuriated, Young Master Nan retorted, "What was there to watch? Are you saying I'm blind?"
Understanding the misunderstanding, the person in charge quickly explained, "No, Young Master Nan, that valley you saw just now is where Shi Chun is located."
At these words, Miao Dingyi and others turned to look, all with puzzled expressions.
Young Master Nan was also curious, "Where is he?"
The person in charge hesitated.
"I've asked. It's estimated that he's either hiding underground or... it's become a tomb... They mentioned that if no one moves for a while, someone from the Western Extremes will go check."
Not knowing Shi Chun's exact relationship with Young Master Nan, he worried about delivering bad news.
When Miao Dingyi heard it might be a tomb, he seemed unaffected, merely touched.
However, Lan Qiaoyan and Miao Yilan were visibly moved, glancing at each other, words unspoken.
Young Master Nan immediately turned to see the reactions of the family of three, feeling a bit unsettled.
This might be the family's son-in-law, and hearing bad news like this could be distressing.
Had he done a good deed that led to bad consequences?
With this thought, he ordered, "Go, cut the line again. Both the location on the Mountain and River Map and the mirror image need to be checked, quickly."
Now causing such a stir, he needed to give them an answer; otherwise, it wouldn't be right.
"Okay."
The person in charge quickly left.
Soon, people in the martial arena saw the barren valley appear again on the mirror image.
"What’s going on, why is it that again?"
"Do you think there's something wrong with the projection?"
"Who would want to see a barren ditch?"
Murmurs began to arise among those gathered, some of whom had paid and queued a long time without seeing their own sect's images.
Young Master Nan and Miao Dingyi turned their attention to the "Ultimate Mountain and River Map" where a red dot marked "Wukang Mountain Four", which wasn’t blinking, suggesting related personnel were inactive there.
Coupled with the lack of any signs of life in the valley, Young Master Nan felt a bit embarrassed, questioning if he was announcing a death.
Beneath her cloak, Feng Chi, having seen the Mountain and River Map’s mark, knew to whom "Wukang Mountain Four" referred.
She suspected Young Master Nan’s interest, and looked toward the mountain behind, but could see nothing in the dim night.
Elder Ke and others looked around, seemingly seeking out someone’s reaction.
"Look, someone from the Heavenly Court," a voice suddenly pointed out.
Young Master Nan and Miao Dingyi, on the mountain, also saw it: five armored soldiers from the Heavenly Court descended into the valley and disappeared, as the mirror wasn’t focused on these Heavenly Court personnel.
As previously stated, if no movement was detected for a long time, Heavenly Court people were sent to confirm the situation.
Alive or dead would be confirmed now, and Young Master Nan quickly reacted, knowing the image time might be insufficient, he turned and instructed, "Go. Money is no issue. We need to see the outcome of this image, quickly, fly over."
The person in charge, standing nearby, watching the valley with them, understood and swiftly departed.
Miao Dingyi, Lan Qiaoyan, and Miao Yilan anxiously watched for any signs in the valley.
Soon, Miao Dingyi realized his own tension.
What was he stressed about? He didn’t even know the person.
Was it the ten thousand gold stake that made him nervous? Amused at himself, for a moment, he wondered if he truly expected the person to win first place.
Seeing Young Master Nan’s tense situation, Miao Dingyi was puzzled; why was he so nervous?
"Wukang Mountain No. 4, No. 5, Falling Moon Valley No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, are you there?" A voice echoed in the valley.
Shi Chun, amidst refining the demonic flame within him, opened his eyes, climbed to his feet, gripping the knife naturally, and cautiously peered outside the cave.
In another cave, Wu Jinliang sneakily peered out, and upon recognizing the Heavenly Court soldiers, he hesitated to hide his head further, until someone pointed him out, "You, which sect do you belong to? Come out!"
Left with no choice, Wu Jinliang dragged his broadsword and sluggishly approached.
Seeing this, Shi Chun hurriedly slipped out of his cave.
The two brothers, standing before the five Heavenly Court soldiers, held their knives, alert.
With Shi Chun revealed, the outside Heaven-Gazing Mirror in the martial arena cut into the valley, focusing closely on him and naturally on Wu Jinliang as well.
"Hey, doesn’t that large knife look familiar to you all?"
Someone in the martial arena questioned.
"It does look familiar."
"Oh, I remember now. Aren’t these the two guys from the second scene after the Primordial Origin Sect in the mirror image?"
"Yes, it’s them, black as if they’ve crawled out from a coal pit."
"Earlier, that bigger guy needed support as if he were gravely ill. Now he seems quite spirited. Has he fully recovered?"
"I say, don’t you all think the screen time for this scene is a bit too long?"
Watching Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, who seemed to have separated from the team and hidden in the valley, Elder Ke of Wukang Mountain felt both surprised and puzzled.
What happened? Why had they separated from the Wukang Mountain team?
Underneath her cloak, Feng Chi was shocked.
What had happened? What was going on? The more she thought about it, the more confused she became.
In the stands, Lan Qiaoyan and Miao Yilan exchanged glances, relieved to see the two were still alive.
Young Master Nan laughed and joyfully remarked to Miao Dingyi, "Brother Miao, nothing to worry about. I knew nothing would happen. Fortune favors the good!"
Almost as if implying he knew the son-in-law would be fine.
Miao Dingyi glared at him, eyes sparkling with the urge to curse.
He wanted to ask, do you know what you’re saying?
Feeling certain the other knew, but lacking the evidence.
In the valley, the leading soldier glanced at his magical tool and questioned Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, "Which sect do you belong to?"
Shi Chun replied, "Wukang Mountain."
The leader demanded, "Show your identification bracelets."
Both complied, revealing their identities accordingly.
“Alright, alive is good. I have to say, you two are pretty well hidden, the most hidden we’ve encountered so far. Without a barrier, you might have sneaked out of bounds. Planning to stay hidden until the end?" the leader jested.
Seeing no malice, Shi Chun responded with a forced smile, "What brings you here?"
Another soldier replied, "You stayed put for so long that we thought you were dead, preparing to collect your bodies for your sect. Good thing you’re alive; it saves us trouble."
Understanding now, Shi Chun and his companion relaxed.
Yet their relief was short-lived.
"Is anyone from Falling Moon Valley here?" the leader called out again, scanning his tool, then questioning the two, "Have you seen anyone from Falling Moon Valley?"
Wu Jinliang shook his head, Shi Chun said no.
"That’s odd. They should be here..." the leader mumbled, suddenly eyeing the duo suspiciously and ordering, "Check the caves."
Immediately, two soldiers slipped into the two caves.
Wu Jinliang's face changed, and Shi Chun’s glance confirmed trouble: live captives hadn't been dealt with yet.
Quickly, shouts came from Wu Jinliang’s cave, "Here they are."
Soon, five people were dragged out, tossed before them.
The people from Falling Moon Valley lay in tattered clothes, bloodied, and tortured beyond recognition, yet clearly alive.
In the martial arena, Feng Chi recognized Sun Shigang immediately, nearly jumping up in shock, eyes widened, not understanding the situation.
She suspected Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang’s disappearance might have to do with Sun Shigang, but the situation seemed reversed.
Was Sun Shigang in Shi Chun’s and Wu Jinliang’s hands? Were they pretending to be weaker than they were?
She wondered about the Immobilization Talisman's effectiveness but thought, how could it be this successful? Wouldn’t Sun Shigang have been cautious? How did five end up captured?
In the arena, the sight prompted three Falling Moon Valley spectators to stand, led by a stern woman, eyes fixed on the screen's events.
Seated, Elder Ke couldn’t remain composed, his heart anxious.
Falling Moon Valley ranked highly in Sheng Prefecture, and he thought, these two new disciples couldn’t cause such a powerful enemy, right?
The leader among the soldiers, advancing to inspect, was suddenly halted by Shi Chun stepping into his path, calmly asking, “Didn’t the Royal Court say monitor personnel wouldn’t intervene in various sect contests? Would you interfere?”
The leader frowned, “No intention of interference, just checking if they’re dead so we can take care of the bodies.”
Shi Chun promptly approached Sun Shigang, lifted the barely conscious person swiftly, and with a swift stroke, beheaded him, then tossed the blood-spraying body aside, "No need to worry about wasted trips!"
(Chapter End)