However, she couldn't help but be disappointed when she became the sect master. At least, she didn't discover any secret passageway. In fact, it was her idea to hoard the sect's most valuable cultivation techniques and artifacts inside her personal chamber, to at least make some use of such a powerful formation.
However, unbeknownst to her, the decision she took has greatly helped the sect. Otherwise, the sect's most valuable techniques, especially the only Earth grade Divine seal sword art, could've long been robbed off from them.
Still, the people of the Iron Palm sect are only a step away from getting their hands on what they want.... once the sect master Han Mingxia and Yuan wenyan become official Dao couple!
"Master Yuan, Could you please excuse me for a moment. I feel something is not quite right and I... I need to verify some things personally" the sect master said as she tried to excuse herself while trying her best to hide the urgency she was feeling inside.
"Ming'er, I know what you are worrying about. But, you are already well aware. That person is already in the core formation realm! You will be in grave danger if that person really has any ulterior motives, which I am sure is the case... Sigh* Why don't you let us follow you? You know that I already promised to not step foot into your personal chamber until we become Dao partners... If that is what you are worried about" Yuan wenyan said deliberately in a tone laced with deep concern.
Hearing him, the sect master's forehead scrunched a bit in guilt and she pondered to herself for a moment.
"Sigh* you are right, Master yuan. I was a bit too nervous just now" she said and turned towards the four elders and said in a solemn tone, "Elders, follow behind Master Yuan and me. We will search for this person, starting from my personal chamber. Whatever happens, do not let your guard down."
"Sect Master, should we bring her with us too?" Elder Gao hurriedly asked as he pointed at disguised burly Huang.
Hearing that, the sect master pursued her lips for a moment and said, "Bring her along... But you need to take care of her safety too."
"Sure, sect master, We will do our best to ensure her safety." elder Gao said confidently, oblivious to the complicated emotions on the faces of the three elders beside him.
And with that, with the sect master and yuan wenyan at the lead, all of them strode towards the Sect master's personal chamber.
"I am going too," Drake said to the maid standing beside him, and without waiting for her response, took a quick jog and disappeared from her sight.
He did not approach them directly. Instead, he maintained a certain distance from the elder's group as he tailed them silently with softened footsteps. But still, before long, he was caught by elder Gao.
After signaling his fellow elders to keep moving forward without him, Elder Gao turned around and confronted Drake, who at the moment took the appearance of the diligent personal maid of sect master.
"Why are you following us? It can be very dangerous if you come with us any further. Go back and just wait for us." elder Gao reprimanded sternly.
"I... I am scared, elder Gao. Please let me stay with you." drake said while trying his best to act pitiful.
Looking at the maid's expression, elder Gao couldn't help but recall the incident of the demon vine almost swallowing her up.
𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦 he thought inwardly as he instructed, "Okay, but you have to stay behind us elders and must not make any trouble."
"Thank you, elder Gao" drake thanked feigning deep relief on his face. Elder Gao, then signaled with his hand as the two of them quickly joined back the group of elders who were advancing cautiously.
Meanwhile, the sect master and yuan wenyan were already ahead of the elder's group by quite some distance and coupled with the fact that they were highly focused, in order to defend themselves from any sudden attacks, especially from the front, since the four elders were supposed to watch their back; they did not notice the small commotion which happened behind them as they continued forward.
As the group continued forward, Drake, who is walking beside the disguised burly Huang, refrained from hinting at him to avoid any unnecessary suspicions at this moment.
Before long, the sect master and yuan wenyan were facing the two burly, armored guards who are guarding the corridor, leading to the sect master's personal chamber.
"Greetings sect master!!! Greetings master yuan!!!" both the guards immediately greeted the moment they noticed their arrival.
The sect master Han mingxia gave a nod to that and turned to Yuan wenyan. She then said, "Master yuan, I will go inside now, please wait here for a moment."
"Un, Go ahead" Yuan wenyan gave a nod.
Immediately the sect master strode past the two guards and walked ahead through the silent corridor.
However, she only took a few steps before she suddenly came to a halt. Her sword-like eyebrows furrowed together as she felt something amiss. As she carefully felt her surroundings it didn't take long to confirm that she couldn't feel the presence of the illusion formation!
Though the formation wouldn't affect her since she is the sect master, there has always been a feeling of being watched whenever she was in this corridor, and at the moment she couldn't feel that gaze. Suddenly feeling a bad premonition, the sect master slowly lifted her head and looked at the place where the eye of the supposed grade four magical beast should be.
Seeing only the smooth empty wall in place of the bewitching gold pupil eye, the sect master's hands shook in her sleeves. Immediately an intense foreboding assaulted her as she rushed towards her personal chamber with an agitated look on her face.
As she slammed open the doors to her chamber and looked around anxiously; she found herself alone with only the sound of her heavy breathing lingering in the otherwise silent room.
She quickly turned her head to look towards the large bookrack. Her eyes darted through the large number of books arranged neatly in their respective shelves and suddenly, her sight halted on the only Earth grade battle manual as she released a long relieved sigh.
Slowly a puzzled expression appeared on her face as she found that all the sect's most valuable cultivation and battle technique manuals remained untouched.
As she looked around confused, suddenly, in the corner of her vision she noticed something placed on the round canopy bed. Looking through the veiled curtain she was unable to determine what the object is. Perplexed, she slowly approached the bed, and the moment she could see the thing clearly, without any obstruction, she couldn't help but become completely stunned.
Reflected in her clear but slightly blank eyes is a red-colored exotic flower placed neatly on the bed along with a piece of paper. As her hands picked up the letter placed beside the flower, almost mechanically, her sight landed on the text written on it in beautiful handwriting.
"Your Secret Santa Society" the letter read.
Her hand shook suddenly as she was barely able to avoid the letter from slipping from her hand. Gradually, as she looked at the flower and the letter which accompanied it, the sect master's face became distorted with anger and she yelled loudly, "How dare you try to humiliate me !?"
The shout reverberated in the large room; it traveled through the long corridor and reached the ears of Yuan Wenyan and other elders who are nervously waiting for the sect master to come out. Startled, yuan wenyan immediately tried to rush through the corridor.
Seeing that, the two armored guards took a step forward and tried to block his path.
"Master yuan, please stop." one of the guards urged.
"Why are you blocking me? Didn't you hear that yourself? Your sect master might be in danger!" he yelled.
Hearing that, the two guards felt pressed. Though they didn't see anyone entering through the corridor other than the sect master, they knew that everyone is suspecting the mysterious person who appeared earlier to have snuck in secretly.
However, it has always been their sole duty to block anyone other than the sect master and her personal servants from entering this path. Unless the sect master herself intervenes there is no way they would allow any other person. But, seeing as how the situation is developing, they couldn't help but become fazed.
"Are you allowing me or should I beat you up and go ahead !?" Yuan wenyan thundered as she looked at the guards menacingly.
"We..." just as the guards were about to speak up, suddenly they noticed Yuan wenyan's eyes widen as he looked past them.
Immediately the two guards turned around to look.
Walking through the corridor is sect master with a chilling countenance mixed with a bit of shame which couldn't be hidden in her eyes. Her hands held on to a red-colored flower along with a piece of paper, while her body trembled incessantly with rage.
Meanwhile, as the person who was responsible for bringing out such a terrifying reaction from the sect master, Drake, couldn't help but swallow hard.