After egging Anji on and tempting her to try some alcohol, Bai Dajin eventually won her curiosity. Mingshen wisely turned a blind eye to giving a child alcohol. He occasionally drank some when he was with Hong Nian Niang, not that his mother knew. A little alcohol would not hurt. However, Gu Ying remained concerned about the prospect of letting a minor drink alcohol. Despite her bodyguard’s discussion, Anji took on the challenge and downed a small cup of strong rice wine. The first thing she noticed was how her throat and nose burned. It was an uncomfortable feeling that made her wash it down with two more cups of herbal tea. However, when the alcohol finally kicked into her system, Anji started feeling dizzy, warm and sleepy. Finally, unable to keep her head up, her eyelids closed as she fell asleep at the table.
Sighing heavily at the obvious outcome, Gu Ying offered to carry Anji back to their room so the two men could have their private discussion. From the very start, the two men had planned this meeting for more than a leisurely escort mission.
Anji’s safety past the borders of the Celestial Dragon Sect was of utmost importance. Although they travelled incognito, the demonic cultivators strongly influenced many places the Rainbow Alliance did not reach. Up until the Eternal Night Valley, Mingshen had eyes and ears everywhere. However, the Mystical Qilin Sect was very secretive and rarely meddled with the affairs of mortals living in its territory. As a result, many different types of people settled in their neutral territory. Nobody knew if the Mystical Qilin Sect’s traitor lingered right beneath his teacher’s nose. Hence, Zhao Mingfeng sent a messenger hawk asking a favour from the most powerful bodyguard he could think of, even if it put his entire sect in Bai Dajin’s debt twice for helping his children.
"She’s finally gone," Bai Dajin dropped the dopey uncle act in front of the more intelligent older brother. "Do you have any new information?"
Snapping open his paper fan to cover his mouth, Mingshen played it cool. They have new information. However, after seeing the terrible condition Bai Dajin was in, he decided against sending the martial artist back into battle. If anything, he hoped the pugilist master could spend more time with his younger sister. Being around Anji seemed to lift the shadows in Bai Dajin’s haunted eyes, even if only a little.
"Nothing useful," he replied. "However, there is more than one reason for accompanying Anji to the Mystical Qilin Mountains. Although we cannot enter, Gu Ying can. I received a message from Sect Leader Yan about the disciples on the mountain working to develop a new type of talisman that could temporarily freeze the control of the soul-locking spell. However, they had no children to test it on until Anji arrived. It works similarly to a sleep spell, but breaking the spell requires someone with spell mastery." Follow current novᴇls on novelꜰire.net
Hearing that there was a method to save innocent children who had fallen under the control of demonic cults, Bai Dajin’s hopes soared. However, the new talisman was only a temporary measure to minimise the number of casualties. Nobody knew if there would be any long-lasting damage to the children under an extended period of mind control. Unless the elders and experts of the Mystical Qilin Sect were willing to assist, these unfortunate child soldiers would continue to suffer.
Mingshen understood Bai Dajin’s concern. He expressed a similar concern. Although they have done what they could to prevent kidnapping through their influence, their influence in the capital was limited. The demonic cult had many political ties, and the Gentleman Club could not afford to offend powerful figures in the mortal world without compromising the murim code. After spreading many rumours about illegal child trafficking to barbaric foreign countries to keep the kidnapping activities in check, more parents remained vigilant. Schools started hiring more security, making it difficult for the demonic cult to operate openly. However, many orphans and beggars still disappeared from the streets. There were only so many unfortunate children the Rainbow Alliance and Gentleman Club’s business could hire and protect.
"What will happen to the children we put in a sleep state? Who will break the spell?"
Shrugging, Mingshen sighed.
"I sent a messenger bird back to Sect Leader Yan to inquire about this matter. However, there has not been a reply yet. Things are quite busy in the Mystical Qilin Sect. They have yet to identify the traitor’s identity, but they know regular students of the sect cannot undo the spells of this graduated senior."
The news made both men gloomy. However, sending Anji to live with her teacher was the right decision. With so many demonic cult followers on the loose, the Mystical Qilin Sect was the only safe place, untainted by the conflict between the murim and the mortal world. Cleaning up the mass of the previous war could take much longer than it took Zhao Mingfeng to kill the Demonic Sect Founder.
"I should have razed everything to the ground back then," the scarred man growled. "If we killed everyone related to the demonic sect, none of this would be happening now."
That war happened long before he was born. Mingshen had no right to judge the events of the past. However, as the next generation, he did not intend to play the bystander. His parents’ burdens were now also his to shoulder.
"My younger brother used to be a frivolous boy who wasn’t interested in cultivating even after you taught him. However, after you left the mountain, he requested permission from my father to enter seclusion to train all so he could contribute to fighting the demonic cultivators and protect my youngest sister. My oldest sister worked harder to complete her succession training ahead of time so she could take on the sect duties from my father. Even if mistakes were made in the past, this is now also our fight. If you can’t keep up with us, you should just stay hidden and watch."
Knowing how prideful Bai Dajin was, Mingshen braced himself to become a human punching bag. For a moment, the room trembled with the force of Bai Dajin’s energy overflowing like his wrath and humiliation. However, Mingshen stood his ground resolutely, staring into the white tiger’s eyes.
Eventually, Bai Dajin retracted his energy and met Mingshen’s cocky gaze with his own.
"Even if the mighty demon lord is dead, his apostles could easily snuff arrogant seedlings like you with a sneeze. If you truly want to fight in this war, at least get to the Radiant Core like your female bodyguard. She’s at least as powerful as my toenail. You? Not even a snot. You’re only talking this big because you know there’s a dragon behind you. But I’ll give you that much respect for your courage and your intelligence. If anyone should remain hidden, it’s the founder of the Gentlemen Club, don’t you think?"
Chuckling a little at the casual namedrop, Mingshen tried to hide his squirm. Even if it were true, the name was still a little embarrassing when it came out of other people’s mouths. Hong Nian Niang constantly teased him for such a cringey naming sense. He did not need Bai Dajin harping on his case too.
"It’s getting late. Sect Leader Bai should get some rest. My sister wants to tour the Eternal Night Valley tomorrow. Mingshen will take his leave now."
Hurrying to make his escape, the scholarly teen vanished without a trace. Impressed by how capable all four young dragon children were, Bai Dajin clicked his tongue in annoyance. How did children become so good at reading the hearts of adults? What was it that they taught and fed these kids in the Celestial Dragon Sect? While they inherited their father’s kindness and valour, they also had their mother’s shrewd and observant nature.