A prelude to disaster

Mo Dao changed into county guard uniform and left for prison.

As Mo entered reception he felt the atmosphere was off. The faces of masters were serious but Mo Dao decided to mind his own business. Even a deaf guy could have felt the rumbling from ground at night so it was only natural that all of them were serious. Fight between grandmasters rarely happened but two such incidents took place in just one week.

Mo Dao also gossiped a bit, it turned out death of Jong Xi wasn't widespread. Even lower members of wuming gang weren't aware about death of their leader only upper management along with three families and county government was aware of it.

Mo Dao also heard about the freeze at county gates. No one without proper check and documents was allowed to leave county. The most inconvenienced were those merchants whose schedule was being disturbed but they dared not complain.

Mo Dao took his post and left for level 2. His post was for cells 70 to 80. Mo Dao went and did the usual work.

"Hey kid did something happened last night."

"I wasn't even able to sleep cause of vibrations."

"Hehe good days are coming."

".."

Mo Dao didn't answered them and just kept his post. In afternoon he distributed food and later in evening his shift ended.

Mo Dao came to reception and applied for leave.

Leaving the city at such an intense moment would make one a suspect but Mo Dao just needs permission from prison and as a perfectly normal guy he isn't aware of the gravity of situation since Jong xi's death hasn't been made public. Mo Dao gave it a try since he wants to break through Grandmaster so he'll have to leave the city. But to Mo Dao's surprise it was approved. Zan Bejo was a hard working man and rarely took any leaves and the reason Mo Dao gave was his grandmother's sickness.

After reaching home Mo Dao unearthed the silver bracelet. He took out Jong xi's cultivation technique and supernatural power and devoured them. Since he was heading towards county gate there's a chance that Grandmaster might be guarding it. A grandmaster's Divine sense can easily pass through his clothes so the most secure place is his stomach. The techniques are printed on bronze plates and there'll be no harm to them.

This time Mo Dao properly checked Jong Xi's bracelet and all the items were priceless other than cosmetics and clothes. Mo Dao took them out and burned them, the space inside was limited thus waste wasn't needed. As he searched more a medallion and a uniform caught his eye. He took them out, infusing Vital energy in the medallion, information surged in Mo Dao's head.

[Yin Shea outer sect disciple of Sun-Moon valley, she was admitted at the age of 12 and broke through Master at 20. Unable to breakthrough Grandmaster under 50 she wasn't allowed to join inner sect. Instead of joining a branch of Sun-Moon sect she decided to leave. Her relationship with Sun-Moon sect was thus terminated.]

Mo Dao looked at the uniform in his hand it had a logo of Sun above and moon just below it, like a cup holding the Sun.

As far as Mo Dao knows Sun-Moon sect's influence ends in Jin Empire. Long Empire and Dacun comes under the influence of Martial soul sect. Dacun Empire separates Long empire and Jin empire, for Jong Xi to travel this far on her own. Mo Dao took a deep breathe, no one can be underestimated. Even her name was false.

Mo Dao buried the bracelet under his bed, packed up a few things and left for county gate.

Looking at the long queue before him Mo Dao approached a guard.

"Brother I've special permit from county prison, can I pass?"

"Huh you see that queue over there go join them."

Mo Dao looked and about 5 people were lined up. Many of them were dressed luxuriously and some of them were from three families. Carriages were leaving time to time.

Mo Dao also joined the queue. After a while his turn came. Mo Dao passed the sealed document to guard who opened and read it. Mo Dao was allowed to leave after some inquiry.

While Mo Dao was moving towards Zan Bejo's village, a storm was brewing in Minghe which would also subside without any conclusion.

In Mo Familly Manor

Mo Fang was sitting on patriarch's seat and all the elders of Mo Family were present along with some competent uncles of Mo Dao.

Before them was Pe Wuxian narrating the whole incidents.

"You can take your leave gang leader you'll be informed as soon as a decision is made."

Pe wuxian left

"What does elders think about it?"

"I checked it and the supernatural power was Blazing Sun Fire." An elder in goatee spoke

"From his accomplishment he should've cultivated for a few decades, it won't be surprising if we can't find the thief who leaked it."

"I advice to search all the households in Minghe."

"All three families needs to work together."

"The loss of prestige is one thing but a possible grandmaster was hidden from our eyes for so long is another failure."

Mo Fang nodded after listening to all their suggestions. Many Masters of Giant whale gang died and some of them had swore allegiance to Mo Family as well, their loss is a direct hit to family

"Patriarch a messenger from Luo family has come." A guard reported

"Send him in."

The messenger came in and saluted

"Our patriarch has requested for cooperation of Mo family in catching the perpetrator, the expanses will be shared between Mo family and Luo family but all three families will deploy their masters."

"What does elders think about the proposal?" Mo Fang spoke

"Reasonable"

"We approve."

Since the losses were manly done to Giant whale gang and Wuming gang which comes under Mo and Luo family respectively thus all the expanses during search and curfew will be shared between two. As for cooperation between three families, it was due to pact made between Mo, Luo and Wei families.

Mo Fang also replied positively.

"We accept, did your patriarch send one to Wei as well?"

"Yes, their reply was positive."

The messenger left after salute and meeting came to an end.

******

Mo Dao was moving at full speed. He passed like a blur leaving deep footprints. In the mid of his journey he stopped since he saw a carriage approaching. The reason wasn't the carriage but the emblem printed on it. It was emblem of royal army and Jun was written just below it. Mo Dao recognised, the carriage belonged to Jun family of General Jun from Capital.

But why would someone from capital come to Minghe?

Mo Dao waved the useless thoughts and jumped in the jungle. He has nothing to do with General Jun but just in case he diverted his path.

Inside the carriage a young man was lying down enjoying sweet fruits. A maids was peeling the fruit while another one was massaging his toes. This man was none other than Jun Xiao, Lin Que's childhood friend. He came to Minghe since Lin Que still hadn't arrived at capital, she was a week late so he decided to come over and end all the entanglement about fiancée and marriage. He also took his personal guard who is stage 5 Grandmaster, anymore force isn't needed since his father's name carries enough weight to shake a single Minghe county.

But Jun Xiao had no idea his childhood friend had already turned into fly ash and the perpetrator just crossed paths with him.

*******

After 10 minutes Mo Dao saw a small village before him. This was where Zan Bejo grew up and his grandmother also resides here.

As Mo Dao entered the house many people saw him. They pointed at him and talked with hushed voices. In the village being an Innate Martial Artist was already a bigshot but an official position as well was cherry on cake.

"Zan, Zan hey did you forgot me." A man came running towards Mo Dao

"How could I forget you brother, I missed grandma so decided to meet her." Mo Dao smiled and answered, of course he had no idea who this man is.

"Hey the whole village respects her but she's mostly lost while thinking about you. Why don't you take her with you?"

Mo Dao just shook his head without answering. He didn't even knew the way to house it was his 'friend' who took him there. Mo Dao didn't talk much, most of time it was Zan Bejo's friend asking about county and his job.

After Mo Dao reached the house he bid his 'friend' goodbye.

As Mo Dao entered a old women on clutches came towards him and hugged Mo Dao. Her face was filled with a wide smile. Mo Dao hugged back but he also infused slight vital energy into her head which destroyed her brain instantly killing her.

Unlike his 'friend' she'll discover instantly that this Zan Bejo is a fake and her grandson is already dead so Mo Dao send her to afterlife in a happy mood.

Mo Dao took the corpse inside and started meditating. After an hour Mo Dao came outside and the sad news spread all around the village. While Zan Bejo's neighbours started preparing for funeral Mo Dao left to breakthrough.