After returning to the Treasure-Seeking Pavilion and explaining the situation to Song Luyuan, Song Changsheng set off the next day at the agreed time to meet up with Zhu Yiqun.
"You're here. Put on this black robe first," Zhu Yiqun said immediately upon seeing Song Changsheng, handing him a black robe.
"What's this?" Song Changsheng asked, puzzled.
"Heh, you're practically a celebrity in this market. If we don't stay hidden, our movements will be exposed. This is a concealment robe it blends with the surroundings and hides your presence," Zhu Yiqun said in a low voice, glancing sideways at a distant bamboo building.
Song Changsheng instantly understood what Zhu Yiqun was implying. He wasn't a fool he had often felt someone watching him from the shadows lately. It seemed Zhu Yiqun had noticed too.
The two of them slipped into a hidden corner together. A spy lurking in the dark followed them, but when he arrived at the spot, he found it empty.
"Damn, I lost them," the spy muttered as he realized he had lost his targets. He quickly turned back toward the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
Moments after he left, the shadows in the corner began to stir. Soon, two figures in black robes emerged from the darkness.
Zhu Yiqun chuckled. "This trick is called 'hiding in plain sight.' Now that we've shaken off any unwanted eyes, let's go meet our companions."
Song Changsheng gave a slight nod, but the air of mystery surrounding Zhu Yiqun only thickened in his heart. Even when standing right before him, the man was difficult to see clearly, like a figure in a fog.
The two moved swiftly and eventually arrived at an inn.
They ascended to the third floor and entered a room, where over a dozen individuals of various appearances came into view.
"You're finally back. Are we going or not?" a burly man barked impatiently as soon as the door closed.
Zhu Yiqun pulled down his hood and replied with a reassuring smile, "Calm down Daoist Li. I was out recruiting a formation master. We'll be departing shortly."
With that, he turned to Song Changsheng and introduced him. "Fellow Daoists, allow me to introduce this gentleman Song Changsheng. He's a top-tier, first-grade formation master, and he'll be joining us on this trip."
Song Changsheng also removed his hood and cupped his hands in greeting. "Greetings, fellow Daoists."
"No wonder Zhu Daoist insisted on adding someone last-minute. So it's you, Song Daoist. With your expertise in formation arts, we'll have a much better chance at success," said a gray-robed cultivator carrying a long sword on his back, smiling warmly.
The others also looked at Song Changsheng with friendly expressions. After all, he did have a bit of a reputation in Liuyun Market.
"Changsheng, let me introduce you. This is Daoist Li Hu, a ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivator, and a rare body cultivator.
"The one who just spoke is Daoist Xu Yunhe, at the peak of Qi Refining. He's a sword cultivator."
...
"…This last one is Fellow Daoist Xu Yun. She's at the seventh layer of Qi Refining and also a top-tier first-grade formation master."
Zhu Yiqun introduced everyone to Song Changsheng one by one, giving the group a chance to get acquainted. Altogether, there were thirteen people, all cultivators in the later stages of Qi Refining a formidable lineup.
Only then did Song Changsheng realize that there was already a top-tier first-grade formation master in the team besides himself.
Based on what Xu Yunhe had said earlier, it wasn't hard to guess that Zhu Yiqun had insisted on adding him to the group. That thought stirred a small sense of warmth in Song Changsheng's heart.
"Hey, has Fellow Daoist Zhuang not arrived yet?" Zhu Yiqun glanced around and finally turned to ask Xu Yunhe.
Xu Yunhe shrugged. "Fellow Daoist Zhuang has always kept to herself. None of us ever really know her whereabouts, but since she said she'd come, I doubt she'll break her word."
"We'll wait another hour then. If she still hasn't arrived, we'll head out without her," Zhu Yiqun said with a nod.
The room fell silent again. Some sat while others stood, all closing their eyes to rest.
Creak.
The tightly shut door was pushed open.
Everyone's eyes turned toward the sound, only to see a tall woman stepping inside. She wore a pale blue, waist-length dress. Her skin was white as jade, her figure graceful with soft curves in all the right places.
A sheer white veil covered her face, barely revealing the delicate outline beneath. Only her bright, lively eyes were visible.
"Apologies, fellow Daoists. I, Yuechan, am late," she said with a hint of apology in her tone.
"You're not too late. Fellow Daoist Zhuang, this is the Song I mentioned earlier," Zhu Yiqun said with a cheerful smile as he stood up.
"Song…" A flicker of emotion passed through Zhuang Yuechan's eyes, but she gave no greeting to Song Changsheng.
Song Changsheng frowned slightly. Though her reaction wasn't overt, he still keenly picked up on the shift in her attitude.
It seemed that the moment she heard his name, her demeanor turned cold.
"Do I have some sort of grudge with her?" Song Changsheng searched his memory but couldn't recall a single thing. That only left him feeling more confused.
Zhu Yiqun also noticed the subtle tension between them and quickly spoke up, "Since everyone is here now, let's get ready to move out.
Same as always we'll leave the market in separate groups to avoid drawing attention. Keep yourselves hidden. We'll regroup in the forest outside the market."
Everyone voiced their agreement in unison and began descending the stairs in groups, leaving the market from different directions…
Meanwhile, inside the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, a spy was kneeling on the floor before Elder Cheng, trembling with fear.
"Elder… I… I lost them…" he stammered.
"Lost them?" Cheng Yufei's tiger-like eyes glinted with killing intent as his oppressive aura exploded out like a furious lion, nearly suffocating the trembling spy.
"Please spare me, Elder!" the spy begged, throwing himself prostrate and shivering uncontrollably.
"Useless. What's the point of the sect raising you people if you can't do something this simple? Get out there and find him. I don't care if he's crawled into a crack in the ground drag him back to me!" Cheng Yufei roared, slamming his palm down on the table.
"Y-Yes, sir!" the spy scrambled to his feet and fled as fast as he could.
Very soon, all of Earthfire Sect's agents both in the open and in the shadows were activated throughout Liuyun Market, scouring for any trace of Song Changsheng…
What they didn't know was that Song Changsheng had already left the market from the east with Zhu Yiqun, both concealed in special black robes that masked their presence.
On the road, Zhu Yiqun kept casting curious glances at Song Changsheng, clearly holding back something he wanted to say.
Song Changsheng finally sighed and said dryly, "Just ask already. Don't bottle it up."
"Heh heh… what's going on between you and Fellow Daoist Zhuang? Did you do something to her?" Zhu Yiqun asked, grinning mischievously.
Song Changsheng stopped in his tracks and looked at him with exasperation. "Cut it out. I've never even met her before, let alone done anything."
Zhu Yiqun's eyes gleamed with a scheming light as he wagged his finger. "No no no, something's off. I've known Fellow Daoist Zhuang for nearly two years. Sure, she's not exactly sociable, but she's always polite and well-mannered. She would never treat someone so coldly for no reason.
You have history. Don't tell me… you seduced her and then abandoned her?"
Song Changsheng's face instantly darkened like the bottom of a burnt pot.
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