36 If she were to disappear again...

Over the city side, a petite figure in black was busily keeping unknown enemies at bay while escorting the young females to the safe area. Her ponytail danced to the rhythm of the fake sword but unlike the young ladies who performed with it, she resiliently fight on against enemies with the real ones.

Master had guessed right - the girls were being targeted.

The young ladies who had participated in the annual talents performance, most of them were of noble birth. Therefore, Master and General Yanchen had ordered a plan - all of the performers should be wearing face veils. As wearing it to preserve their nobility image was almost a custom in Springwater City, no one except for few who was bent to flaunt their beautiful faces disagreed. Then right after performing, fakes would replace them.

The fakes were the secret army of the Springwater Women's Academy, alumnus of the Martial Arts class, summoned back urgently from their missions.

They would be sitting down back at the participants' seats, pretending and behaving like spoilt rich kids... as they were specifically told.

The 'real' ladies, on the other hand, would be directed to a different venue, to be temporarily gathered for a post performance 'ceremonial gathering' they were told. Sweet bakery products from foreign lands were introduced and they happily complied.

The plan was supposed to lure out the perpetrators - perhaps there could be interactions or clues albeit small ones. Yet the skies idled by and the final performance for the day was coming to an end.

It was when checking over the girls, Meng Xun had sniffed out a weird scent in their waiting room. There was an exquisite looking incense being burnt at the corner of the room. The design looked alien to her. "From where does this incense come from? Do you know?"

A girl wearing a marmalade dress was just smiling back at Meng Xun. "My master has given it to me, it smells wonderful, don't you think so?"

Meng Xun could have sworn she was seeing things but numerous black shadows had appeared from behind the lady!

At the same time, a loud bang boomed outside. Meng Xun decisively popped up a pill into her mouth and whistled loud!

***

The ladies had been safely transferred to the underground base of Springwater City with the help of the alumnus. Unfortunately, the marmalade dressed girl had successfully gotten away unscathed. Leaving only the weird looking incense which Meng Xun had confiscated earlier as the only hint left behind.

Things were so fast tracked and chaotic Meng Xun barely had time to catch her breath. But the image of a certain someone who needed her protection most kept on flashing in her mind.

Last time she disappeared, no matter how far and wide she looked for her, not even a strand of her hair could be found. This time, if Zhi were to get disappeared again-!

Unwilling to imagine the consequences, Meng Xun shook her head. She ran out of the hideout as fast as she could, to head back to where she had left her before.

Her heart almost fell out from her chest when she found no single soul on the tree branch or the other tree branches. Or even the ground and every where else!

"Meng Xun!" but the voice made her heart stay in place. It sounded near yet Meng Xun could see her a few hundred meters away. Standing near a cliff behind the area where Meng Xun was, was Zhi in her white robe. Seemingly accompanying another lady besides her...

Much horror crept up to her like a lingering snake, no words came up from her throat no matter how much she had wanted to warn her! 'Go away from that girl-!'

She sprinted recklessly instead.

Meng Xun saw that Zhi was watching her with concern from afar - unaware that a sword was raised behind her. The other lady impaled her with the sword, seemingly whispering something before pushing Zhi off to the cliff and disappeared into thin air, again.

Meng Xun's pair of eyes reddened. Her tears immediately filled to the brim and fell like beads falling off to the earth.

The hand she was reaching out grasped the air- the figure she desperately tried to reach out just got swallowed whole by the dark valley!

"ZHI!!!"

***

The forest was damp with moisture as evident as a drop of sweat had trickled down the handsome temple of a man.

General Yanchen was scanning the surrounding area when a voice screamed.

"You are a really irresponsible husband! You dare to leave me alone back there!"

He looked back at the source of the sound - a young lady was breathless as she were chasing him with her injured body. Her veil had long broke; revealing a rosebud coral lips.

Yue always had a youthful appearance; if the player wanted to describe how, it would be like an actress coming out from a youth drama - everyone's first love.

With how Yue was acting feeling unjust, it brought forth a heart-breaking emotion to those who looked at her. Certainly the General would also feel more tender towards her with this?

A leave rustling sound could be faintly heard from accross. General Yanchen glanced towards the source and within the blink of an eye, appeared at the source.

His sword sharply turned towards the unknown animal. An inch apart, the sword could have cut the figure's head!

Fine wooden mask was staring up at him. The figure was as dusky as charcoal as it was pressed against the tree trunk. His long feathery extensions created an illusion of a huge raven from afar but kneeling in front of the general now was just a small built human.

The only thing that stopped the sword from piercing its neck was the sense of familiarity the General was feeling towards this figure...