C20 The Red Moon

At the Keep.

Yuan Lianyao stood in the expansive hall, her striking features set in a stern expression.

A young man clad in gleaming silver armor, tall and majestic like a pine, exuded a calm aura tinged with the faint scent of blood—a clear sign of his long history in battle.

"Nearly a hundred hunters and able-bodied men have vanished without a trace around Asvetaesi in the last ten days," reported Le Feng, the Yuan family's trusted subordinate responsible for patrolling the outskirts. He was a cultivator in the middle period of the Golden Sanctum. His voice, low and raspy, carried a note of frustration, "I have yet to find any leads."

Yuan Lianyao pondered for a moment before asking, "Have there been any unusual strangers in or around the city lately? Or any peculiar events?"

"There have been no unusual strangers," Le Feng replied, shaking his head. After a pause, he added, "Mount Aureum, controlled by the Huang family, has experienced several collapses in the mines over the past fortnight. Many miners have been buried within, and their bodies have yet to be recovered."

"Mount Aureum?" Yuan Lianyao's brow furrowed.

"The mine's Aureum Stone reserves have been exploited for many years, and it seems they are nearing depletion," Le Feng explained. "The deeper the mining, the greater the risk. Mortals unversed in cultivation are prone to accidents when digging at such depths. And the Aureum Stone's value doesn't justify the involvement of cultivators."

"I see. To the Huang family, the lives of these mortal miners are worth less than the Aureum Stone," Yuan Lianyao concluded, nodding. "Continue your search for the missing persons."

"Understood."

...

"Father."

In the underground chamber, Yuan Lianyao gazed at Yuan Qiufang, bound in chains of ice, her heart heavy with remorse. "I've given those items to Yu Yuan. He's promised that once the three-realm competition concludes, he'll address the fire toxin afflicting your earthly soul. Oh, and Lin Hanyu has sought out Huang Chen."

Yuan Qiufang exhaled deeply, a stream of fiery breath scattered with sparks. "What business does Lin Hanyu have with Huang Chen?"

"After I warned him, he didn't dare to make a move against Yu Yuan in the open, so he had to resort to asking Huang Chen for assistance," Yuan Lianyao said with a sneer. "I never imagined that Lin Hanyu would be outwitted by that young man, Yu Yuan. Had I not intervened, the Yu family might have suffered additional losses. Lin Hanyu and his daughter might very well have been poisoned to death by Yu Yuan."

"Keep this in mind: Yu Yuan is not to be treated like an ordinary person!" Yuan Qiufang said gravely. "Moreover, you must ensure his safety at all costs!"

"This is Asvetaesi. Now that I'm aware of the situation, the Huang family's chances of killing him are slim," Yuan Lianyao said after a moment's hesitation. "In the last ten days, nearly a hundred hunters have disappeared outside the city. I can't help but wonder... does this have anything to do with Father?"

She was aware that Yuan Qiufang, having acquired the mystique from Yu Yuan, had the capability to move in and out of Asvetaesi with ease. Practicing the Crimson Soul Spell, Yuan Qiufang found that a brutal massacre could alleviate the horrific pressure caused by the fire toxin during moments when his mind was uncontrolled.

Thus, upon learning about the disappearance of a hundred hunters outside the city, she couldn't help but suspect Yuan Qiufang's involvement.

"It wasn't me."

"If not you, then who else could it be?"

...

In Thylethlume, outside the city:

"Huff! Huff!"

Ning Ji swung his hand with ease, sending clusters of spiritual energy in the form of air balls hurtling toward Yu Yuan. Bathed in moonlight, Yu Yuan dodged and weaved through the air balls, occasionally taking a direct hit that sent him stumbling back several steps with a muffled groan. Many of the green stone tiles laid in the Yu family's old mansion had already been shattered under his feet.

"Boom!"

Another burst of spiritual energy struck Yu Yuan's chest, sending him flying backward before he crashed to the ground.

"Alright, that's enough for today," Ning Ji said, ceasing his attack. He looked down at Yu Yuan, who lay sprawled on his back under the night sky, and remarked, "Mr. Yu, why did you take the Spirit Channel Realm duel so seriously?"

Since noon, he had been forcibly brought here by Yu Yuan and put through his paces.

Or more accurately, he had been on the receiving end of a beating.

Yu Yuan, with his limited experience and low-level skills, was clearly outmatched by him.

Hours had passed, and it was nearing midnight, yet Yu Yuan showed no signs of stopping.

He could see that Yu Yuan had an exceptional physique, but his lack of combat experience was evident. His movements, techniques, and even the regulation of his breathing were all quite unrefined, which caused him concern about the upcoming Spirit Channel Realm battle.

Nevertheless, he remained deeply curious about Yu Yuan.

Yu Yuan had resolved an old friend's poisoning issue, and he had also learned of the turmoil that had occurred in the Yu family's palace.

Driven by his many questions and curiosity, he had agreed to Yu Cen's request to extend his stay with the Yu family.

Furthermore, at Yu Yuan's request, he had accompanied him to Thylethlume, just outside the city, for some impromptu training to help Yu Yuan hone his combat skills.

"Mr. Yu, how much longer do you plan to lie there?" Ning Ji, concerned after a long silence, approached and inquired, "What's the matter? Can't handle it anymore? Are you tired? If you're too exhausted, you should rest now and return tomorrow."

"The night seems off."

Yu Yuan, lying with his limbs in the air, gazed intently at the crescent moon, his expression one of clear befuddlement. "Grandpa Ning, look closely. Doesn't the moon's halo seem faintly red?"

Ning Ji looked up, observing carefully, and indeed, as Yu Yuan had described, there was a subtle reddish tint to the moon's glow. "The moonlight changes subtly with the seasons. That's normal, isn't it?"

"No, this is abnormal," Yu Yuan countered, shaking his head and sitting up slowly. "For some reason, I feel a sense of oppression."

Ning Ji fell silent.

He had long been aware that Yu Yuan, who had returned from the dead, harbored many secrets.

His willingness to remain with the Yu family was not without personal motives.

Now, witnessing Yu Yuan's odd behavior, Ning Ji began to ponder deeply.

"I have a feeling something might happen tonight," Yu Yuan said, his gaze lingering on the moonlight, his expression growing increasingly grave. "Grandfather Ning, please stay close to me throughout the evening."

"Alright!" Ning Ji responded.

Seconds and minutes ticked away.

Yu Yuan and Ning Ji were at the Yu family's old residence, in the very courtyard where Ning Ji had once arranged the Invocation Circle for him.

Ning Ji was bursting with questions, yet he chose to remain silent, simply waiting alongside Yu Yuan.

In the dead of night, a shrill cry pierced the air from the surrounding villages of Thylethlume.

"Grandfather Ning, come with me to investigate!" Yu Yuan sprang to his feet.

Ning Ji's face took on a hint of concern, and a shadow seemed to pass over his heart. He grew anxious, "Could it be Winter's Bite hasn't given up and is concocting some dark scheme?"

Winter's Bite had twice sent Yin Jue, a malevolent servant of the Lin family, to assassinate Yu Yuan, but both attempts had failed. With Lin Hanyu and his daughter suffering yet another setback, they might resort to desperate measures.

Here, on the outskirts of Asvetaesi, Yuan Lianyao could no longer intervene, compelling Ning Ji to be extra vigilant regarding Yu Yuan's safety.

"If there is indeed something amiss, it's unlikely to be Winter's Bite," Yu Yuan said with narrowed eyes, casting another intense glance at the moon. "The crimson hue has deepened a shade."

...

Le Feng, clad in gleaming silver armor and wielding a matching short spear, stood at the center of the village, scanning his surroundings.

A group of Asvetaesi's guards moved in and out of the village, each one wearing a somber expression, none speaking a word.

The atmosphere was suffocating.

"Sir, we've completed our search, and there's not a soul in sight."

A guard approached Le Feng with a grim look, "I was here this morning, and there were over ten families, dozens of villagers, all hunters—a group we had identified as a target. I heard the scream and immediately sent a signal to report it, and we arrived here without delay."

"But..." His mouth twitched as he fought back the sorrow and panic welling up inside him. "By the time we got here, it was deserted. The children I saw this morning, and the aunts and sisters-in-law I had warned to be cautious, they've all vanished. How can so many, including able-bodied men, just disappear in such a short time?"

His voice cracked, and his eyes grew moist.

Many of Asvetaesi's guards hailed from the four great families, but a significant number were also selected from the surrounding villages.

Anyone with a talent for cultivation, after undergoing rigorous selection, could join the ranks of Asvetaesi's guards. They would be taught lower-tier spells and set forth on the path of cultivation.

Yet, for most of these city guards, their cultivation realms would remain within Spirit Channel, Soul Awakening, and Golden Sanctum for their entire lives, with little hope of ever reaching Veil Breaking.

The guard reporting to Le Feng was from a nearby village. Though not the man before him, he had relatives living there.

The thought of the once vibrant village now eerily empty overnight left him with a heavy heart, struggling to imagine a positive outcome.

"Huff! Huff!"

The sound of something slicing through the air abruptly filled the silence.

"Who goes there?" Le Feng called out.

The village guards instantly activated their spiritual energy, readying themselves for battle.

Emerald glows, bright yellows, and deep blues emanated from the guards and their weapons, casting the small village in a maelstrom of erratic spiritual energy waves.

"I am Yu Yuan, from Thylethlume."

To avoid any misunderstandings, Yu Yuan announced himself while still some distance away.

"Yu Yuan!"

Le Feng, along with the anxious guards, looked on in astonishment.

Recently, that name had become incredibly well-known.

"It's all right." Le Feng gestured for everyone to relax. Once Yu Yuan and Ning Ji had entered the village, he scrutinized Yu Yuan and asked, "Mr. Yu, what brings you here in the dead of night?"

"I came after hearing an odd noise." Yu Yuan surveyed the village and inquired, "Has everyone truly disappeared?"

Le Feng's expression shifted subtly. "How did you come to know this?"

Yu Yuan's countenance grew grim. "Besides this village, have there been any other disappearances recently?"

Taking a deep breath, Le Feng's eyes turned icy, as sharp as a cold blade. "There have been several similar cases of disappearances. Over a hundred hunters have vanished without a trace. But an entire village—men, women, the elderly, and children—disappearing all at once like today? This is unprecedented."

Ning Ji, who had accompanied Yu Yuan, also noticed Le Feng's unfriendly demeanor and suspected that he might be harboring doubts.

"I am Ning Ji, an elder who has been graciously invited by the head of the Yu family to stay in Thylethlume," Ning Ji explained, seeking to dispel any association with the current situation. "Mr. Yu has been living quietly at the family residence, only arriving in Thylethlume today at noon."

"And what is it that you know?" Le Feng asked, his voice heavy with concern.

Gazing at the blood-red moon overhead, Yu Yuan spoke solemnly, "A great calamity looms over Asvetaesi."

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