Chapter 20: A Red Moon

The Manor of the Mayoress

Yuan Lianyao stood in the spacious hall, and her beautiful face only showed seriousness.

A majestic and young man wearing bright silver armor stood in front of her tall and still like a pine tree. His calm and steady breaths revealed his years of bloodied encounters from battles after battles.

“In the past ten days, many men from the Dark Moon City’s surrounding villages and towns disappeared without a warning.” One of Yuan Clan’s most capable cultivators, Li Feng, said. He was in charge of patrolling the city, and had already reached the middle stage of the Yellow Hall realm. “I tried all I could, but found no trace of why they disappeared.”

Yuan Lianyao thought about it and said, “Have there been any strangers coming in and out of the city recently? Also, is there anything unusual that happened?”

“No strangers.” Li Feng shook his head and continued, “But there have been several collapses in the Jinluo Mountain mines controlled by the Huang Clan. Many of the miners who got trapped inside are still not yet to be found.”

“Jinluo Mountain?” Yuan Lianyao frowned.

“The mountain’s minerals have mostly been depleted over the past decade or so. From what it seems, the mountain cannot sustain much longer,” Li Feng explained. “The difficulty of mining is getting harder and harder. Those ordinary miners who never cultivated faced a great danger digging so deep into the mountain, but the value of the Jin Luo ore is so low that no cultivator will be willing to come and work.”

“I see. In Huang Clan’s eyes, the lives of those poor miners are even lower than the Jin Luo ores.” Yuan Lianyao nodded and commended, “Continue to investigate about the missing men.”

“Yes, ma’am”

…

“Father!”

In the secret underground chamber, Yuan Lianyao started sadly at her father Yuan Qiufang tied up in chains, “I gave those herbs to Yu Yuan. He also promised me that as soon as the Battle of the Three Realms is over, he will help you with your poison. By the way, Lin Hanyu met with Huang Chen.”

Yuan Qiufang gave out a long sigh, and sparks of fire mixed with a flow of turbid breath flew out, “What is Lin Hanyu doing with the Huang Clan?”

“After I warned him, he probably won’t directly try to harm Yu Yuan himself, so he probably went to the Huang Clan to ask for help.” Yuan Lianyao sneered and said, “I never expected that Lin’s second son would be defeated by Yu Yuan. If it wasn’t that I was here, the Yu Clan might suffer from more casualties, and Lin’s second son and his daughter would both die from Yu Yuan’s poison.”

“Remember, do not think that Yu Yuan is an ordinary person!” Yuan Qiufang said solemnly. “Also, make sure he is safe and sound!”

“This is my city. Since I know the situation already, no matter how hard the people from the Huang Clan try, they will not succeed.” Yuan Lianyao paused for a moment, then asked politely, “There have been a few hundred people missing from surrounding villages recently. I’m wondering if… this has anything to do with you?”

She knew that after obtaining the secret method from Yu Yuan, Yuan Qiufang was able to control his body and walk around the city for a short time.

She was just afraid that when Yuan Qiufang lost his control again, he might start killing anyone in sight.

From the standpoint of a mayoress, Yuan Qiufang was one of the first people that she suspected.

“Not me.”

“Not you… who else can it be?”

…

Outside the City; Yu Clan

Swoosh!

Ning Yue freely waved his hand and clusters of focused energy rushed towards Yu Yuan.

Under the moonlight, Yu Yuan moved up and down to avoid the clusters, yet sometimes he was hit by some. As if a galloping chariot ran into him, the impact would make a deep thud, forcing him to step back ten or so steps.

Some of the stone tiles in the backyard of the Yu Clan’s old house had been cush under immense force.

Boom!

Another cluster of spiritual energy slammed into Yu Yuan’s chest. His body got knocked upwards and slammed hard onto the floor.

“Alright, that’s enough for today.”

Ning Yue stopped attacking and looked at Yu Yuan lying on the ground. He said, “Young master Yu, why is the battle so important to you?”

For the whole afternoon, he was dragged here by Yu Yuan and asked to practice attacks.

Or rather, it was him being beaten.

Yu Yuan knew that his realm was too low and had no experience at all, so what he needed the most was to find someone stronger to practice with.

After half a day of practicing, Yu Yuan still showed no sign of stopping.

Even though he could tell that Yu Yuan had an extraordinary physical advantage, he still lacked combat experience which caused him to mess up on steeping, counter-attacks, and breathing.

Despite the limitations, he was still very curious about what Yu Yuan could do.

He witnessed with his own eyes that Yu Yuan cured the poison in his old friend’s body, and he also heard about the fight that occurred in the Yu Clan’s hall.

Urged by his curiosity, he asked Yu Can to permit him to stay at Yu Clan longer.

Besides, Yu Yuan asked Ning Jue to accompany him with his practice, to help him polish his fighting skills.

“Young master Yu, how much longer do you need to rest here?” Seeing that he hadn’t spoken for a long time, Ning Yue was a little worried. He stepped forward in concern and said, “What’s the matter? Finally tired? If you are tired, we can come back tomorrow.”

“The night sky seems a little weird.”

With his body facing upwards, Yu Yuan stared straight at the crescent moon. He was confused by what he saw, “Grandpa Ning, look. Don’t you think tonight’s moon is dispersing a light red glow?”

Ning Yue looked up and examined the moon carefully. He found that just like what Yu Yuan said, the light reflected from the moon did have a light feel of red, “With the change of seasons and weathers, the moonlight will change as well. This is perfectly normal.”

“No, this is not normal.” Yu Yuan shook his head and sat up, “I can’t tell why, but by looking at the moon I felt a sense of pressure.”

Ning Yue fell silent.

He had long known that Yu Yuan, ever since waking up from the coma, had too many unknown secrets hidden in him.

To uncover these secrets, of course, was one of the main reasons he chose to stay at the Yu Clan.

At this moment, Yu Yuan’s weird appearance made him reflect upon what is happening.

“I think something might happen tonight.” Yu Yuan observed the moonlight again, and his expression became more and more solemn, “Grandpa Ning, you must stay beside me tonight.”

“Certainly!” Ning Ji answered.

Time passed by fast.

Yu Yuan and Ning Yue both quietly started in the old house of the Yu Clan, where Ning Yue once set up the flags to bring back Yu Yuan’s souls.

Ning Yue had a mind full of questions, but he decided that it was still not the right time to ask those. So, he remained silent with Yu Yuan.

Just after midnight, a sudden scratchy shout pierced through the air from the villages around the Yu Clan’s old house.

“Grandpa Ning, come with me to see what’s going on!” Yu Yuan suddenly started.

Ning Yue’s face changed slightly as if a shadow had cast on him, “Could it be the Cold Shadows Sect seeking their revenge from last time?”

The Cold Shadows Sect had repeatedly instructed the Lin Clan’s follower Yin Jue to kill Yu Yuan, yet in the end, Yin Jue was killed, and Lin Hanyu and his daughter were both wounded. This time they might be more determined to eliminate him.

This house was outside of the Dark Moon City, where Yuan Lianyao didn’t have any control over, so Ning Yue had to consider more to ensure Yu Yuan’s safety.

“Even if there are people here, they won’t be anyone from the Cold Shadows Sect.” Yu Yuan looked up again and squinted his eyes. With a heavy tone, he said, “The crimson color is more prevalent now.”

…

A man stood in the middle of the village, looking around, wearing shining silver armor and carrying a short spear.

More than a dozen guards of the city went in and out of those houses in the villages in silence.

The atmosphere was terrifying.

“Sir, we’ve checked everywhere and no one is here.”

A guard finally stood in front of Li Feng and said, “I visited this village in the morning and at least a dozen families are living here. Most of them living here are hunters, which have been the main target. When I heard the loud scream, I signaled for help, and guards came here immediately.”

“But still…”

The corners of his mouth twitched, resisting the grief and panic in his heart, and said, “When we arrived, there was no one. The children I saw this morning, and some elderly women I talked to are all gone. In such a short period of time, with plenty of strong men, how come they just disappeared?”

Towards the end, his eyes turned moist.

Some of the city guards came from the four large clans, but there were also many rigorously selected men from nearby villages and towns.

Anyone who could pass the strict cultivation tests could be selected to become a guard of the city. The guards would be compensated with low-rank cultivation methods, which allowed them to step on to the road of cultivation.

However, most of the guards could only reach the Meridian Breakthrough, Contained Spirit, or Yellow Room realms. The Dark Burst realm for them was almost impossible.

The guard who reported to Li Feng came from a nearby village. Although he was not from this village, he still knew relatives and friends who lived here.

Who knew that a vibrant village just hours ago would turn into a no man’s land.

It was hard for him to think more on the bright side.

Swoosh!

A loud air breaking sound suddenly came across.

“Who’s there?” Li Feng shouted.

The guards in the village immediately mobilized their spiritual power, preparing for battle.

Halos of blue, yellow, and green released from the guards’ bodies and their weapons, making the small village filled with abnormal chaos of spiritual energy waves.

“I am Yu Yuan from the Yu Clan!”

In order to avoid misunderstandings, Yu Yuan called out his name while still far from the village.

“Yu Yuan!”

The nervous guards, as well as Li Feng, all looked astonished.

Recently, this name has become a legend.

“We’re safe.” Li Feng waved his hand to signal the others not to be too alerted. When Yu Yuan and Ning Yue entered the village, he took a closer look at Yu Yuan and said, “Yang master Yu, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?”

“I heard a strange sound.” Yu Yuan looked around the village and said, “Are all of them missing?”

Li Feng’s face changed slightly, “How do you know?”

Yu Yuan also became worried, “Aside from this village, are there any other incidents missing men recently?”

Li Feng took a deep breath, his eyes as cold as a sword, and said, “There have been several similar disappearances, and more than a hundred men disappeared. However, none have been like today’s, where everyone, including women and children, disappeared at the same time.”

Ning Yue, who came with Yu Yuan, also saw Li Feng’s doubtful attitude. He knew that Li Feng probably felt that Yu Yuan was suspicious as well.

“My name is Ning Yue. I’m invited by the Yu Clans master to help out.” Ning Yue took the initiative to clarify the relationship for Yu Yuan, “During this time, Yu Yuan and I haven’t come out much at all.”

“Then what do you know?” Li Feng asked in a deep voice.

Yu Yuan looked at the crimson moonlight in the sky. With a solemn expression, he said, “A disaster is coming to the Dark Moon City.”