114 An Important Clue (2/2)

”We wondered if this kind of trace could be spread over several distinct marks in the border region. As I said, this one was found in something like an abandoned city. In our previous group under Gongsun Chen, we found some kind of stone desert where the array was located. Maybe there's also one of those murals.”

”I see.” Elder Xing turned to Elder Baili again. ”What do you think about this?”

”It looks important. It's hard to say with just this one painting though. We'd need more than one. That way, we could make sure if they are deliberately targeting the Jian Chu Sect or if there is some other plan behind this.”

The Elders looked at each other for a moment longer before Elder Xing nodded again. He could imagine what Elder Baili was thinking of. There were four great sects on the righteous side. While the Teng Yong Sect was one of them, the Jian Chu Sect was another one. If there was more than one mural and one of them corresponded to the Jian Chu Sect already, then there might be others that were somehow targeted at the other three great sects, including their own Teng Yong Sect. If that was the case … They didn't even want to think about what that would mean.

Elder Baili cleared his throat but kept quiet on what he had thought of so as to not scare the disciples. ”Well, this is definitely an important piece of information. Just like with the array, this might lead to finding other important clues. We should definitely investigate this as soon as possible. How about one of us goes to see that stone desert with them? After all, the other disciples will need time to return. We could call them back with the flutes but if we do, they might panic after what happened the other time.”

Elder Xing nodded. ”Then I'll go with them. You can wait here and inform the other disciples of what has happened should they return early as well. Maybe some of them have already noticed something similar.”

Elder Baili nodded and then returned to his own house while Elder Xing got up and motioned for Mei Chao Bing to lead the way. ”You and Yuan Lei have been in the area with that stone desert. Please, you go first then.”

Mei Chao Bing nodded and led the way, Yuan Lei close behind him. The other disciples fell into the places they had occupied before with Yun Bei Fen being more or less next to Mei Chao Bing, Yi Ju keeping to Yuan Lei's side and the two martial sisters and two martial brothers each staying together while Song Mu brought up the rear.

Elder Xing raised his brows in surprise. Back when he and Baili Chao had discussed whom to put into Mei Chao Bing's group, they had worried that things might go out of hand if the disciples didn't listen to him. On a mission taking place on enemy territory, that kind of thing could cost lives.

While he had argued that they should be more cautious because of that and at least change a few of the members of this team, Elder Baili had sworn up and down that Mei Chao Bing would be able to make them listen to him. Maybe not immediately but soon enough that it wouldn't lead to any injuries.

He had been skeptical but now … Even if the members of his team were not completely listening to him without any doubts yet, everyone had at least found their place. That was much more than he had ever thought possible. It seemed that Elder Baili still knew this young man best.