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The other elders nodded. As long as they could find someone that witnessed everything, they would easily be able to understand everything. Finding the truth was simple as long as they had someone who knew it at hands. The problem was now to find that person.

The third elder glanced around before he added: "It seems like there are no traces of him leaving for the forest. A lot of footsteps can be seen entering the forest all the way to here but there are few coming out. Look here, those are bird feet imprints, there might be a spiritual beast along"

The second elder gave her own opinion: "Or it was done by a sentient. If that's the truth, it might become tricky"

The fourth elder retorted: "No, it couldn't be one. Look, those are too small for a sentient in humanoid form or beast form. There are only so many bird-types sentient clans around, they would leave bigger imprints behind. It's a spiritual beast"

The first elder nodded wisely as he agreed with the fourth elder. He began to speculate: "Then, is it possible for the assailant to have flown away?"

All three other elders stayed silent as they pondered on the possibility. It wasn't completely impossible. Judging from the size of the feet, this bird might have the ability to grab something along as it flew. However, the fact that there were many going in one direction indicated that it left on foot. But was it a decoy? And, was it even related? Maybe a spiritual beast came by before or after the events.

There were too many questions but one thing remained clear. They needed to find the witness. The first elder clapped his hands, gathering everyone's attention again and spoke: "Anyways, we should prioritize searching for the witness. Second, you go check further inside the forest, if you don't spot any clues after a round, go back to the sect. Third and Fourth, you guys go back to the sect and question the guards, they must know something. As for me, I will take care of the bodies and then follow the spiritual beast's trail. All in agreement?"

They didn't bother answering and all rushed on their way. The first elder sighed as he looked back at the corpses. It might even be difficult to determine who was who later on since their heads were no longer there…He began to place the remains inside caskets respectfully and, once done, he began to walk after the trail left by the spiritual beast footprints.

They seemed to lead towards the sect?...

…

Third and Fourth rushed back to the main gates of the sect. there, they began to question the guards about a group of kids that should have gone through. Pyon Hyun-Seok was the guard they talked to as he was the one in charge. They asked him if he saw the group of kids first. Even though he had obviously seen them. If the guard dared to lie about such a thing, they would be able to get a bit more forceful. That being said, Pyon Hyun-Seok had no reasons to lie, even more so to venerable elders of the sect he served. He admitted right away that he saw them.

The two elders looked at each other and the third elder asked: "Has one of them came back already?"

It was a test to see whether or not the witness might be related to the group. It was important to differentiate whether they needed to search for the witness inside the sect or outside.

Of course, the guard didn't bother hiding anything. He sighed and began to recount the events: "Yes, fortunately, we were quick enough. I truly fear what could have happened to the poor kid if we were slower"

Of course, since he was being asked to tell the story, he would embellish it to make himself look even better. As for the two elders, it grabbed their attention easily. Unaware of why, the guard continued with great enthusiasm. He told them how the kid was being brought out forcefully and how they didn't dare act and take party. He recounted how the young man pleaded for help and they, as guards of the sect, decided to act. They couldn't do anything themselves though since they were powerless. However, it wasn't the first time it happened and someone had asked them to warn her if it happened again. They hurriedly fetched her and she rushed out. Then, some time later, the both of them came back.

The two elders were pleased. It had been easy to discover the traces of the witness and now, it would only be a matter of time before they got him. That being said, they also had mixed feelings. What the guard said…It did illustrate a big problem they had in the sect. The door wasn't well guarded and the disciples were left to themselves too much. It seemed that there were some apples that developed due to their rather bad administration. They would have to report these things to the Senior Elder too.

The fourth elder asked the guard if he knew who the kids were and where to find them. Pyon Hyun-Seok called for a colleague. He was the one who went to fetch the girl. With him, it would be easy to find the kids. Before they left to grab them both, the third elder asked: "Was there a spiritual beast tamer along those two?"

Pyon Hyun-Seok nodded and said: "Yes, there was some kind of oversized owl with them"

The two elders looked at each other and nodded. They could already see the closing of this case. The fourth elder took out two papers and began to create two bird origamis. He whispered to them while infusing his spiritual energy in his voice and then filled the two with even more energy before throwing them up. The papers began to move as if alive and flew away in two different directions. They were messenger papers and would go to the two other elders to transmit his message.

There was no longer a need for the two to search outside.

Done with this, the two elders asked the guard to lead them.

…

Jung-Su, Sun-Mi and Owl had only entered the sect for a few minutes before the elders arrived at the gates. They were still far from their own houses. Considering what happened, neither of the two kids were in the mood to go home either. They were blushing and looking around as they walked next to each other. It was obvious to Owl that their feelings are reached a new level after this ordeal. The fear of loss brought them closer than ever. Yet, as young teenagers, they were unsure about how to express all of this and were slightly embarrassed and awkward next to each other.

Owl didn't plan to intervene or do anything about it though. It wasn't something he had to care about. It did not present a risk to his own hide, nor would it benefit him in any ways. He was only angry before that the kid had been dense. Now that it was going on the right track, they could live their story themselves. He wouldn't be bothered any longer since both were now aware of things.

Instead, he was more focused on his own problem. He slaughtered a bunch of disciples a short while ago and it was very likely that Jung-Su would soon be taken in for interrogation. He could have covered their tracks, hidden the bodies and much more but honestly, it would have been useless in the end. That was because the gate guards had seen Jung-Su go with them. The elders wouldn't be stupid enough that they wouldn't ask the gate guards after seeing the mess he left back there.

Of course, there were still many ways he could get away freely from this. And the first thing he had to do was to hide the evidence on his person. Jung-Su was supposed to be poor. He couldn't be seen with his spiritual beast sporting a few spatial rings.

Owl spoke to Jung-Su as the both of them were still walking silently and slowly: "I will go to the house first and come back to fetch you later. Take her to a scenic place or something in the meantime"

Jung-Su turned around as he wanted to say something to Owl but the bird was already flying away. Sun-Mi saw him turn around and then, the spiritual beast flying off in the distance. She asked Jung-Su: "Did you ask him to go somewhere?"

Jung-Su wasn't quite sure what to say so he ended up telling her a lie: "He went home because he was tired"

Then, he offered her to go walk through the serene garden together with a lot of stuttering. She smiled sweetly as she grabbed his hand and nodded bashfully.

Everyone had their own concerns and responsibilities.