110: Return without success

“Senior Brother Liu, this is Fairy Zi Ning of the Flowing Cloud Sect. They are here to carry out a School mission and need some assistance from us.” Upon arriving in a room, the Disciple leading the way said in a somewhat fawning manner to a middle-aged man inside.

“Hmm?” The middle-aged man glanced at Yang Kai and Zi Ning with a hint of surprise. Seeing this, the leading Disciple immediately knew that this man had been away from the Flowing Cloud Sect for too long and had not heard the name Zi Ning. He quickly leaned in and whispered a brief introduction. After hearing about Young Miss Zi Ning’s background, the man’s expression changed instantly, and he approached with a fawning smile.

“So it is Fairy Zi Ning who has graced us with her presence. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner. I am Yang Tinglan, the person in charge of the Disciples here. Please tell me if you need anything at all.”

Zi Ning, experienced in dealing with such people, did not give him a pleasant look. She took out the paper slip containing the mission intelligence and handed it over, saying, “Look at this first.”

Yang Tinglan took it with both hands and quickly read it, then replied, “Fairy Zi Ning, we had previously received a message from the Sect about this matter. We also sent people to investigate and have confirmed that this incident occurred in Wusong County of the Du Pang Dynasty. All the villagers in two villages there have mysteriously disappeared, with no one found alive and no bodies found dead. We also investigated the situation of the entire County and found no signs of these villagers fleeing to other places. It is highly probable that they were massacred on the spot, but no traces of demonic cultivators were found at the scene. Currently, the method used has not been identified. We have truthfully reported everything here to the Sect and have not yet received a reply from the Sect.”

Zi Ning glanced at Yang Kai. Yang Kai was frowning slightly at this moment. He had originally hoped to obtain the full story behind this mission here, which would make it easier to handle. However, he still knew nothing about the mastermind and would have to investigate it himself.

Before Yang Kai and Zi Ning arrived, they had already decided on a course of action: to use Zi Ning's identity to gain the help of the local Disciples. The situation in the Du Pang Dynasty was unclear, and using their own people might lead to leaks, causing the mission to fail. The best candidates were these Flowing Cloud Sect Disciples stationed here. At this moment, Yang Kai nodded slightly to Zi Ning, who immediately understood his meaning. She cleared her throat and then said, “Hmph, after all that investigation, this is all you found! I am here on the Sect’s orders to thoroughly investigate this matter and to follow the clues to apprehend the mastermind. So, send a few Disciples with us; consider it making amends for your shortcomings.”

Yang Tinglan’s expression changed upon hearing this, and his face shifted, seemingly quite troubled by the matter.

“What? Could it be that you have some connection with this mastermind and find it inconvenient to act?” Zi Ning raised an eyebrow and said impolitely, seeing Yang Tinglan’s feigned reluctance.

“Fairy Zi Ning, please calm your anger. As Flowing Cloud Sect Disciples, how could we possibly have any connection with those demonic cultivators? It is simply that we, as Disciples in charge of external affairs, are under strict orders not to descend the mountain without permission. If Fairy can present the Sect’s directive, let alone a few Disciples, I can mobilize all Disciples.” Yang Tinglan said with a serious expression.

At this, it was Zi Ning’s turn to be in a predicament. She thought for a long time about how to respond but couldn't find a good reason. She could only look to Yang Kai for help again, but Yang Kai was not insistent on the matter. He smiled slightly and advised, “Since there is a Sect order, we cannot force others. If we were to delay the Sect’s affairs because of this, we would not be able to bear the responsibility. Let’s take our leave then.”

Zi Ning snorted, seemingly very displeased, and turned to leave. Yang Kai followed her discreetly, ignoring Yang Tinglan’s shouts, and they descended the mountain and departed.

“Great Master, Fairy Zi Ning’s background is quite extraordinary. To offend her like this, I’m afraid…” Seeing Zi Ning and Yang Kai disappear down the mountainside, the formerly fawning Yang Tinglan straightened his back, clapped his hands dismissively, turned and sat back in his chair, and drank his tea heartily, looking quite pleased. The leading Disciple beside him cautiously said at this moment.

“Hmph! What is there to fear? We are all discarded Disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect, servants who are summoned and dismissed at will! But we are not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry to be ordered around. Do they think they can make us risk our lives by borrowing someone else’s prestige? This little fledgling is too naive! Just watch, these two will definitely not be able to resolve this matter. When the time comes, to complete the mission, they will still have to come begging to us. We brothers don’t get up early for nothing. This time, if we don’t make this high and mighty Young Miss bleed heavily, it won’t be over!” Yang Tinglan spoke sarcastically, not as timid as the young Disciple, feeling quite confident.

At this moment, Zi Ning, slowly descending the steps, was in a state of agitation. In the past, with her status within the Sect, she might not have been able to summon the wind and rain, but she certainly had many followers and could command a hundred responses with one call. Now, she had encountered a setback here, which she found psychologically difficult to accept.

“What, are you still dwelling on this matter?” Yang Kai asked, seeing Zi Ning’s somewhat gloomy mood.

“Hmph! When I return to the Sect, I will definitely tell Father to severely punish these people!” Yang Kai’s question was like a trigger, and Zi Ning’s aggrieved emotions immediately erupted. She stopped, huffing with anger, and said.

“Actually, I never expected these Disciples to come down the mountain with us this time. Now that the mission intelligence has been reconfirmed, that is enough,” Yang Kai said comfortingly.

Seeing Zi Ning half-understand, Yang Kai said somewhat helplessly, “Within the Sect, you are under your Father’s watchful eye, so naturally everyone respects you. These Disciples here are all those who were eliminated by the Flowing Cloud Sect, Disciples with no future. They naturally harbor resentment. Even if you came with the Sect’s decree to conscript them, it’s hard to guarantee that they wouldn’t feign compliance during the operation. Even if you reported this to your Father, he wouldn’t side with you, because they are abiding by the School rules and diligently fulfilling their duties. What reason would he have to punish them?”

Zi Ning was not an unreasonable person; she just hadn’t managed to shift her mindset in time and was still acting according to the standards of her time in the Sect. Previously, in the Du Pang Dynasty’s imperial palace, she had also been highly respected. This was her first time encountering such a soft rebuff. After taking Yang Kai’s words to heart, much of her anger dissipated, but she was still sulking, walking down the mountain unhappily.

“Then did we come here for nothing?” At the foot of the mountain, the two Disciples guarding the area immediately perked up when they saw the two approaching. A series of hand seals were cast, and the Great Formation once again opened like a curtain, respectfully escorting the two out. Once the Formation re-converged, the scene within disappeared, appearing no different from an ordinary mountain from the outside. Zi Ning said with some reluctance.