C20 The Moon Was Crimson Red

City Lord's Mansion.

Yuan Lianyao stood in the grand hall, her striking features etched with gravity.

A young man in gleaming silver armor, tall and imposing like a pine, exuded a calm presence tinged with the faint scent of blood—a clear sign of his constant battles.

"Nearly a hundred hunters and able-bodied men have vanished without a trace around Darkmoon City in the last ten days," reported Li Feng, the Yuan family's trusted officer responsible for city patrols, a practitioner at the Middle Period of the Yellow Court Stage. His voice was low and raspy, "I've yet to uncover any leads."

Yuan Lianyao pondered before asking, "Have there been any unfamiliar faces in or around the city lately? Or any unusual events?"

"No strangers out of the ordinary," Li Feng replied, shaking his head. After a pause, he added, "The Huang family-controlled Jewelry Mount has experienced several collapses this past fortnight. Numerous miners have been entombed within, their bodies yet to be recovered."

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

"The Jewelry Stone reserves in the mine have been exploited for years; they're likely nearing depletion," Li Feng clarified, "The deeper mining becomes increasingly treacherous, especially for mortals unversed in cultivation. And the stone's value doesn't justify the involvement of cultivators."

"I see. To the Huang family, the lives of these mortal miners are less valuable than the Jewelry Stone," Yuan Lianyao acknowledged with a nod. "Continue your search for the missing."

"Understood."

...

"Father."

In the subterranean chamber, Yuan Lianyao gazed at Yuan Qiufang, bound in icy chains, her heart heavy with remorse. "I've delivered those items to Yu Yuan. He has assured me that once the tri-realm competition concludes, he will address the fire toxin afflicting your soul. Oh, and Lim Hanyu has sought out Huang Chen."

Yuan Qiufang exhaled deeply, a stream of fiery breath flecked with sparks, "What business does Lim 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 enlist Huang Chen's help," Yuan Lianyao said with a scoff. "I never imagined that Lim Hanyu would be bested by that kid, Yu Yuan. Had I not intervened, the Yu family might have suffered additional losses. Lim Hanyu and his daughter would likely have been poisoned to death by Yu Yuan."

"Keep this in mind: Yu Yuan is not to be treated as an ordinary person!" Yuan Qiufang said gravely. "And ensure his safety at all costs!"

"We're in Darkmoon City. Now that I'm aware of the situation, the Huang family's chances of killing him are slim," Yuan Lianyao said after a pause. "In the last ten days, nearly a hundred hunters have disappeared outside the city. Could this be related to Father?"

She was aware that since acquiring the secret technique from Yu Yuan, Yuan Qiufang could swiftly come and go from Darkmoon City.

Yuan Qiufang's mental breakdowns, followed by bloody rampages, were a way to alleviate the horrific stress caused by the fire toxin.

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

"It wasn't me."

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

...

On the outskirts, in Elfview Town.

"Huff! Huff!"

Ning Ji swung his hand with ease, sending clusters of spiritual energy that formed into orbs of Qi hurtling towards Yu Yuan.

Bathed in moonlight, Yu Yuan weaved through the orbs of Qi. At times, a direct hit would elicit a groan from him as he stumbled back several paces.

Many of the blue stone slabs of the Yu family estate had been shattered under his feet.

"Boom!"

Another orb of Qi struck Yu Yuan squarely in the chest, sending him flying backward to crash to the ground.

"That's enough for today," Ning Ji said, ceasing his attack. He looked down at Yu Yuan, sprawled on his back and gazing up at the sky, and remarked, "Young Master Yu, why did you take the Pulse Opening Stage duel so seriously?"

Since noon, Yu Yuan had dragged him here, insisting on a sparring session.

Or more accurately, it was a beating.

Yu Yuan, with his modest cultivation level and lack of combat experience, was clearly outmatched.

Hours passed, and as late night approached, Yu Yuan showed no signs of stopping.

He recognized Yu Yuan's exceptional physical strength, yet his inexperience was evident. His footwork, techniques, and even his breathing were all unrefined, which concerned him greatly as he thought about the upcoming Pulse Opening Stage battle.

Yet, his curiosity about Yu Yuan remained piqued.

After all, Yu Yuan had resolved his old friend's poisoning issue, and he was aware of the turmoil that had taken place in the Yu family's hall.

His heart was full of questions and curiosity, which is why, at Yu Cann's request, he continued his stay with the Yu family.

Furthermore, he had agreed to accompany Yu Yuan to Elfview Town just outside the city to help him hone his combat skills.

"Young Master Yu, how much longer will you be lying there?" Ning Ji, growing worried after a long silence, moved closer and asked with concern, "What's the matter? Can't handle it anymore? If you're too exhausted, it's best to rest now and resume tomorrow."

"The night feels off."

Yu Yuan, lying with his limbs upturned, gazed intently at the crescent moon, his face etched with confusion. "Grandpa Ning, look closely. Doesn't the moon's glow seem tinged with a faint red?"

Ning Ji looked up, scrutinizing the sky, and indeed, as Yu Yuan had described, the moon's halo bore a subtle reddish hue. "The moonlight shifts with the seasons. Isn't that normal?"

"No, this is abnormal," Yu Yuan countered, shaking his head as he slowly sat up. "For some reason, I feel an oppressive sense."

Ning Ji lapsed into silence.

He had long known that Yu Yuan, resurrected from death, harbored many secrets.

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

Now, Yu Yuan's peculiar behavior prompted him to ponder deeply.

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

"Alright," Ning Ji agreed.

Seconds and minutes slipped away.

Yu Yuan and Ning Ji were in the Yu family's old mansion, in the very courtyard where Ning Ji had once set up the Soul Summoning Formation for him.

Despite being full of questions, Ning Ji chose to remain silent, simply keeping Yu Yuan company as they waited.

In the dead of night, a shrill cry shattered the silence, emanating from the surrounding villages of Elfview.

"Grandfather Ning, come with me to investigate!" Yu Yuan rose abruptly.

Ning Ji's face took on a worried look as a dark premonition clouded his mind. "Could this be the Cold Yin Sect's relentless scheming?"

The Cold Yin Sect had twice sent Yinn Jue, a malevolent servant of the Lim family, to assassinate Yu Yuan and failed. With the Lim family suffering another setback, it was highly plausible they'd resort to desperate measures.

Outside the walls of Darkmoon City, Yuan Lianyao could no longer intervene, compelling Ning Ji to prioritize Yu Yuan's safety.

"If there's truly something amiss, it wouldn't be the Cold Yin Sect," Yu Yuan said, squinting at the moonlight, his voice laden with gravity. "The scarlet hue in the sky has deepened."

...

Clad in gleaming silver armor and wielding a spear of the same hue, Lih Feng stood watch in the village, scanning his surroundings.

Over a dozen Darkmoon City guards moved in and out of the villages, each with a somber face, none uttering a word. The mood was stifling.

"Sir, we've searched everywhere. Not a soul to be found."

One of the guards approached Lih Feng, his face etched with distress. "I was here this morning. There were over ten families, dozens of people. They're hunters, part of my assigned targets. I sent the alert the moment I heard the scream, and we came as fast as we could."

"But..."

His mouth quivered as he fought back the surge of sorrow and fear. "By the time we arrived, everyone had vanished. The children I saw this morning, the women I'd cautioned to be vigilant—all gone. How could so many, including able-bodied men, just disappear without a trace?"

As he spoke, his eyes began to glisten with moisture.

Many of Darkmoon City's guards hailed from the four great families, yet a significant number were also selected from the villages beyond the city walls. Anyone with a talent for cultivation who passed the rigorous selection process could join the ranks of Darkmoon City's guards. They would be taught low-level cultivation techniques, setting them on the path of spiritual development.

However, the majority of these city guards would spend their lives within the realms of Pulse Opening, Spirit Accumulating, and Yellow Court Stage, with little to no chance of advancing to the Profound Break Stage.

The guard who had reported to Lih Feng was from a nearby village—not the one currently before him, but a relative who lived there. The thought of the once vibrant village now deserted come nightfall weighed heavily on his heart.

He struggled to harbor any optimism.

"Huff! Huff!" A whooshing sound suddenly pierced the silence.

"Who goes there?" Lih Feng called out.

The village guards sprang into action, channeling their spiritual energy, ready for combat. Hues of green, yellow, and blue glowed, emanating from their weapons, filling the small village with a tumult of chaotic spiritual energy.

"I am Yu Yuan, from Elfview," came a voice, preemptively declaring identity to avoid any misapprehension from a distance.

"Yu Yuan!" Both Lih Feng and the anxious guards were taken aback. The name resonated with them like a clap of thunder.

"All is well," Lih Feng gestured, signaling the guards to ease their tension. As Yu Yuan and Ning Ji stepped into the village, Lih Feng scrutinized the newcomer. "Young Master Yu, what brings you here at this late hour?"

"I came following a strange sound," Yu Yuan replied, surveying the village. "Has everyone vanished?"

Lih Feng's expression shifted subtly. "How did you know?"

Yu Yuan's expression grew somber. "Beyond this village, have there been other disappearances recently?"

Taking a deep breath, Lih Feng's eyes turned steely. "There have been several similar cases—over a hundred hunters gone without a trace. But an entire village disappearing so swiftly, young and old alike, this is unprecedented."

Ning Ji, who had arrived alongside Yu Yuan, also picked up on Lih Feng's unfriendly demeanor, likely arousing his suspicions.

"I'm Ning Ji, graciously invited by the head of the Yu family to be their guest for some time," Ning Ji volunteered, distancing himself from Yu Yuan. "Young Master Yu has been living quietly within the Yu family's residence these past days, only venturing to Elfview Town this very afternoon."

"And what is it that you're aware of?" Lih Feng asked, his voice heavy with gravity.

Gazing up at the blood-red moon, Yu Yuan's expression turned solemn as he murmured, "A great calamity looms over Darkmoon City."

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