Red Cards

Chujiu and Ye Simming emerged from the trees, approaching the Ye brothers gathered around a large, ornately decorated tent. The atmosphere was heavy with worry.

"Any change in their condition?" Chujiu asked, her brow furrowed as she looked towards the tent. Inside lay the unconscious Bai brothers.

Ye Zhi shook her head grimly. "No, Chujiu. No matter what we try, they remain unconscious. We haven't found any wounds or injuries, it's like they're… asleep."

Yesterday's events hung thick in the air. After the assassination attempt on the Bai Family team, the Ye brothers had scrambled to set up a secure campsite. They activated a powerful protective array surrounding the tents and arranged a separate tent for unconscious boys. They took turns watching over the unconscious people throughout the night.

"What about the hunting festival?" Ye Ning, voiced the question gnawing at them all. "Do we continue?"

Ye Yuan sighed. "Frankly, I don't think so. Things aren't as they were before. Facing Song Ling, who's at the Emperor level, is suicide." Emperor level cultivators were beings of immense power, far exceeding anyone present.

And there seems to be other experts as well.

One by one, the other Ye brothers voiced their concerns. They worried about the persistent danger, the mysterious black-clad attackers, and the possibility of further attacks while traveling with the unconscious people.

Chujiu listened patiently, her mind racing. She had an idea, but it wouldn't be simple. Her flying machine, powered by a black stone, if it could be reduced in size to fit one or two people at most, and the stone's energy could last for another two hours. However, she also possessed a storage ring with a stealth function. Combining it with her own speed, she could potentially move undetected for short distances.

"You all make valid points," Chujiu spoke up, her voice firm despite her young age. "Travel with them unconscious is risky. It's safer for you to remain within the array's protection. I will go and scout the surroundings, we need to know what is happening outside this protected area. What if Song Ling and other experts can jointly break the array?"

But the Ye brothers weren't convinced.

Ye Yuan tried to persuade,"Little Jiu, we appreciate your courage, but this is too dangerous. You're just a little girl. We can't let you face this alone while we hide here."

A small smile played on Chujiu's lips. "I can take care of myself. Besides, staying here blindly isn't a solution either. We need information about who's targeting us and why. Gathering information and taking precautions is vital."

Their protests continued. "No! You're too young for this!" they exclaimed. "There could be more assassins or worse! Who are we to let a child shoulder such risk?"

Chujiu held their gaze, her eyes resolute. "Look, I understand your concern, but I'm not helpless. I have my skills and tools. I treasure my life, why would I loose it foolishly. I am confident that I can do it, I can go out undetected for a short while. I'll be back before evening."

Silence descended upon the group. The Ye brothers exchanged worried glances. They admired Chujiu's spirit but worried about her safety.

"You're serious about this?" Ye Zhi finally asked.

Chujiu nodded. "Yes. We can't just sit here, waiting for something else to happen."

A long pause ensued. The Ye brothers weighed her words. The risk was undeniable, but her reasoning held merit. They needed information, and Chujiu offered a potential, albeit unconventional, solution.

"I'll go with you.", Ye Simming who is calmly standing beside Chujiu made the decision. 

"Alright, Chujiu," Ye Yuan conceded finally. "But promise us you'll be cautious. Stay hidden and prioritise your safety. If things turn bad, come back immediately. We can figure something else out."

Since Ye Simming is accompanying her and Chujiu possessed tools that can protect her, he agreed to let her go.

Relief washed over Chujiu. "Thank you, Ye Yuan. I promise I'll be careful."

 After much debate, the Ye brothers reluctantly agreed. They spent the next hour preparing them: packing provisions, reviewing maps, and outlining potential areas for investigation.

As the sun dipped towards the horizon, casting long shadows, Chujiu shrank her flying machine to the size of a large birdcage.

"Stay safe, Little Jiu, Brother Simming," Ye Ning said, her voice thick with worry. "And come back soon."

Chujiu gave her a reassuring nod. "We will." With a final wave, she and Ye Simming climbed into the small flying machine and took off with a whirring sound.

But just before that take off, a figure flashed as fast as flight and climbed in to the flying machine.

Nobody had thought at the last second Bai Xinyu would jump on the flying machine. Bai Xue want to stop her but before she could react, the flying machine pulled off and the array protected area. It soon became invisible too.

Chujiu and Ye Simming were shocked at first but Chujiu let her be. She smiled and pulled her into a hug and kissed her on the cheek.

Bai Xinyu was stunned but did not reject. A small smile crept on her face.

They flew at low altitude, skimming the tops of trees.

"There!" she exclaimed, pointing towards a clearing. Peering down, they saw a group of black-clad figures, their faces hidden behind masks, meticulously searching the area.

"Assassins," Ye Simming muttered, his voice grim. "And judging by their movements, they're all stronger than Spirit Cultivator Realm 5."

A frown creased Chujiu's brow. "That's strange. The hunting festival grounds have an array surrounding them. It should only allow cultivators under Spirit Realm 5 to enter."

Ye Simming's eyes widened in realisation. "Red cards!" he exclaimed. "The Emperor recently issued special cards that bypass the array's restriction. They're designed for cultivators above Spirit Realm 5 but younger than 20 who want to participate in the festival."

Chujiu's frown deepened. "But the festival is meant for younger generations, right? Why would they need such cards?"