Elite Lin Family Guards

Ye Zhi nodded in agreement. "But how? We can't just leave the camp. What if more assassins come after us?"

Ye Ning grumbled, "Even voice transmission talismans are ineffective here."

Chujiu added, "Unfortunately we could not find other teams."

Bai Xinyu said calmly, "they must have either been unconscious or dead."

Ye Simming nodded, "The flying machine was fast and we have covered almost half the entire hunting grounds. But we did not see any of the teams. Something might have happened to them."

Chujiu lost in thoughts, she has tried every means and her flying machine cannot be stealth anymore, energy for just a few minutes is left. If they were not fast, they would have been detected.

There is no other way, she has to get stronger. That Song Ling is at emperor level and she had seen many experts while traveling on the air. She could not see their level. There are several of them. The people right now in their team are young masters who are just growing like her. She is at Spirit Cultivator Realm Stage 9, while others at 3, 4 and 6.

Plus there are unconscious people, its not easy to escape with them.

She slowly said, "For now, we are safe here. Let us have rest tonight and plan about what to do tomorrow morning. We have already eliminated 7 teams which are searching for us. They may not find us for now."

Ye Yuan nodded in understanding, "Yes, except for Song Ling, it is not easy for others to detect the presence of this array. Even for him, it may take a while. We did not leave any traces that could lead them here. So all of you should not stress out. We will be fine."

Ye Yuan could sense that some of his brothers are worried about their safety. They are still young and are surrounded by so many powerful assassins, so it is obvious that they have some fears.

Chujiu also assured them and said, "Okay, let us form 2 teams and keep watch for the night."

Ye Yuan said, "You three should sleep, we will form teams and keep the watch. We have done nothing since morning while you three fought assassins and got injured. Take rest."

A heavy silence descended upon the group. Chujiu, Ye Simming, and Bai Xianyu exchanged weary nods, the exhaustion of the day etched on their faces. It was time for some much-needed rest.

For Xianyu, the night held a different kind of weight. Sharing a tent with Chujiu for two nights in a row felt strange, almost like a silent acknowledgment of her growing dependence on the younger girl. Yet, the warmth of the shared shelter and Chujiu's unwavering support offered a much-needed comfort after the day's ordeal.

Two hours crawled by, punctuated by the crackling of the campfire outside and the hushed murmurs of the Ye siblings. Chujiu, despite the exhaustion of the day, found sleep elusive. The weight of their situation, the mystery of the assassins, and the growing worry for the remaining participants at the festival gnawed at her.

Finally, with a sigh, she threw off her blanket. Xinyu is sleeping sounded, she is injured and exhausted, she may not wake up like before. 

Cautiously, she sat up, glancing at Xianyu again. 

With a silent decision made, Chujiu activated the invisibility function of her space ring. The familiar tingling sensation spread throughout her body, followed by the unsettling yet fascinating feeling of seeing only faint shimmering outlines where her hands used to be. She was invisible, a phantom in the stillness of the night.

Moving with practiced grace, she slipped out of the tent. The camp lay bathed in the soft glow of a crescent moon, casting long shadows from the trees. The distant murmur of conversation had given way to the soft chirping of crickets and the mournful hoot of an owl.

Eldest Uncle Lin and her grandfather had informed her about these shadow guards. Elite Lin guards trained to move in the shadows, protecting her from unseen threats. They were a failsafe, a silent safety net Chujiu hadn't known existed. They were also her secret weapon. Now, the time had come to use them.

The array field surrounding the camp shimmered faintly, a protective barrier against any external threats. Chujiu snuck past it with ease, the invisibility keeping her presence concealed. Once on the other side, she deactivated it, revealing herself in a clearing bathed in moonlight.

Taking a deep breath, she called out, her voice low and clear. "Come out."

A moment of tense silence followed, then a dark figure materialised from the shadows before her. The shadow guard, tall and imposing, bowed his head slightly. "Young miss," he greeted respectfully.

Chujiu studied him. "How many of you are there and what are your cultivation levels?"

"Eleven," he replied, his voice devoid of any emotion. "Myself and ten others, all within the Spirit Sage realm stages 1 to 5."

Relief washed over Chujiu. Eleven highly trained warriors would be enough to handle the remaining assassins. They had to be dealt with swiftly, before the assassins discovered the protective array. If Song Ling, the Emperor level cultivator, and his elite forces found out about the array and attacked in full force, the consequences would be disastrous. Song Ling, a man known for his ruthlessness, wouldn't hesitate to bypass the hunting festival rules and unleash his power.

Chujiu outlined her plan. "There are three remaining assassin teams. I need you and your men to eliminate them. Quickly and efficiently."

The shadow guard leader hesitated. "Young Miss," he said, his voice filled with concern. "Our instructions are to stay by your side and protect you at all costs. Leaving you alone…"

Before he could finish, a gruff voice interrupted the conversation. "Don't worry. I'll stay with with young miss."

Shen Zhijin, the Old Master Lin's trusted aid, emerged from the shadows, his usually stoic face etched with a hint of worry. He gave the shadow guard leader a look that left no room for argument. The leader bowed again.