Chapter 1274: Chapter 841: Death (Part 2)
"Understood."
After responding, Yang Xiao retreated the way he came, as if nothing had happened.
The group continued to search around the courtyard, only to find that it had been completely enclosed, with many experts stationed all around.
A certain elder looked familiar to Yang Xiao. With Sheng Yanlin’s reminder, he recalled that this person had appeared at the Martial Training Field during the fight with the Mirror Ghost, among the numerous elders.
This person had extraordinary strength, with spiritual power reaching the Peak of Ghost Level, more than enough to handle them.
"This is bad..." Even Sui Chengguo couldn’t sit still now. The situation was clear; they were being imprisoned.
Realizing this, the atmosphere in the courtyard became oppressively tense. To prevent Tai Wenqin from doing something rash, Professor Cui advised him to hand over several magic artifacts, placing them on the table.
Time slowly ticked by until noon, when the courtyard door opened. An elder, accompanied by several guards, walked in, with the guards carrying food boxes.
The atmosphere was strange. Yang Xiao and the others stared at this unfamiliar elder in silence, while Tai Wenqin secretly tightened his grip on his weapon.
After leaving the food boxes, the guards departed, leaving only the elder facing Yang Xiao’s group.
"Honored guests, my apologies." The elder cupped his fists, apologizing: "The High Priest asked me to convey that today, several families from the Yin Temple are here at the Esoteric Sect for a meeting to discuss cooperation. It happened suddenly, and to avoid causing you all concern, we did not notify you in advance."
"Many eyes are watching outside now, so please rest assured and stay here for the time being. Once night falls, arrangements will be made to escort you back to your accommodations."
After speaking, the elder prepared to leave, but was stopped by Professor Cui, "Elder, please wait a moment. May I ask why the families have gathered?"
In response, the tall and thin elder turned back, shaking his head with a serious expression and said resolutely, "That’s beyond what I can know, but please rest assured, it doesn’t concern you."
Hearing this reply, Yang Xiao and the other four had varied expressions. At such a critical moment, the Dharma Sect people came to discuss things, claiming it had nothing to do with them. Then what could it be about?
But the tall, thin elder obviously had no intention of continuing and turned to leave.
They waited for more than half a day until late at night, when the courtyard door was reopened. Just as the elder had said, special guards escorted them back.
The group was on edge during the journey, but nothing happened after they returned to their rooms and lay in bed.
Yang Xiao lay on the soft bed, exhaling deeply. It seemed he was right; this matter indeed had nothing to do with them, and the Cannibal Buddha had no intention of targeting them.
But the ensuing question was why, at this critical juncture, the Four Major Families of the Yin Temple, especially the irreconcilable Esoteric and Dharma Sects, could sit down to discuss cooperation. How important must this matter be?
The Dharma Sect wasn’t easy to deal with either. Yang Xiao couldn’t imagine what was behind the fact that they could swallow the anger of a City Lord and hundreds of disciples being killed.
Calming down, he guessed it might be related to the domestic three major forces. People only cease internal strife and unite against an external threat when faced with a greater threat.
What first came to mind was his own backing, the Patrol Defense Office. Could it be because both his uncle and himself had gone missing, and the rest of his team were killed? Was it that this news reached the Patrol Defense Office, who then came looking for trouble with the Yin Temple?
This sounded reasonable, but upon thinking it over, Yang Xiao found it unlikely. Their business on the Dharma Sect’s territory was a private action of the Provincial Office, unbeknownst to the General Bureau, and their Patrol Defense Office identities were not used.
In other words, even if they were unlawfully conducting illicit trade, even if the whole team got killed, the Patrol Defense Office had no reason to find fault with the others, as the affair itself was against the rules.
Besides, the elder who came to report clearly stated that this matter had nothing to do with them.
Tossing and turning in bed, thinking and rethinking, he still couldn’t figure it out. After all, being within the Esoteric Sect camp severely limited their access to outside information. Perhaps something significant had happened outside, unbeknownst to them.
Unable to make sense of it, he decided not to ponder further. After all, his life wasn’t in immediate danger. Yang Xiao sat up, motioned to two girls who were waiting nearby to come over.
He tossed them a blanket, suggesting they rest on the nearby mat.
The night was unusually cold for some reason. Even inside the room, one would feel chilled without a blanket.
Exhausted from the day’s events, Yang Xiao soon drifted into a hazy sleep.
After an uncertain amount of time, he shivered awake, eyes snapping open to a silent room, with the night lamp casting a pale light.
Feeling weary, Yang Xiao turned to return to sleep, but a glance caught something odd about the screen; only a blanket remained.
In that instant, Yang Xiao was fully awake. He sat up and looked around, but the two girls were nowhere in sight; they had disappeared.
The Esoteric Sect had strict rules, and Yang Xiao knew the girls wouldn’t dare sneak away without orders; something must have happened.
In such an event, going to find his capable elders was the first course of action. Yang Xiao turned aside, reaching out, but was surprised to grasp nothing.
