The moon cast a soft glow over the yard. Multiple tables were arranged for the guests. Several lamps illuminated the tables and the dishes. The environment was pleasant and soothing.
Six people were sitting at one of the tables. They were Li Ying, Wang Huo, Xuan Ping, Tian Cheng, Jia Yun and Wei Heng. They had three seats on each side of the table.
Jia Yun, the young master of the Jia Clan, was sitting opposite Wang Huo. He smiled at him and said, "Brother Wang Huo, you should rest well tonight. We will discuss our strategy to deal with the Silent Ghost Twins tomorrow." He paused and his smile turned serious, "The Silent Ghost Twins are not easy to deal with, you have to be vigilant at night and protect your juniors. If you encounter any trouble, just call our Jia Clan guards. They will be on patrol all night long."
Wang Huo felt the gravity of the situation from his tone. He said, "Rest assured, Brother Jia Yun. We are here to assist you, not to burden you. We will do our best to cooperate with you and defeat the Silent Ghost Twins."
Jia Yun nodded, satisfied with Wang Huo's answer. He lifted his wine cup and toasted Wang Huo.
They continued to eat and drink. Soon, the yard became quiet as everyone retired to the rooms.
Jia Yun and his sister Jia Li also left the yard, followed by another person. It was Zhan Shi. She left the yard without any problem. The male disciples didn't know where she was. As for the female disciples, they did not dare to offend her.
Inside the boys' hall, disciples surrounded Wang Huo, who was sitting on his bed with a calm expression. Wei Heng was next to him, acting as his right-hand man. The others were either standing or squatting respectfully, not daring to offend Wang Huo, who was the most senior among them.
Wei Heng turned to Wang Huo and said, "Our junior brothers have something to ask you, but they are afraid to speak up."
Wang Huo looked at the crowd and said, "They can just ask me whatever they want. Do I look like a fierce beast to you?"
'Yes.' The word flashed in the minds of the disciples.
Wei Heng nodded and said, "Qiao Da, say it" He looked at a skinny disciple who was hiding behind the others, wearing a sky-blue robe.
Qiao Da trembled when he heard his name. He hesitated and looked at Wang Huo, who was fixing his eyes on him.
He stuttered, "S-senior Brother Wang Huo, I…"
"Spit it out!" Wang Huo snapped.
The inner disciple trembled even more. He clenched his fist and blurted out, "Senior Brother, I want to go out with my Junior Sister Yin Chun. This is a rare opportunity, we can't be intimate in the Sect. Please Senior Brother, let me go out. I will stay in the yard, I swear."
Wang Huo's face showed no emotion. So this was just a love-struck fool who wanted to spend some time with his sweetheart, when he had a chance like this.
Li Ying was also speechless. The Bright Moon Sect disciples had no shame. First Zhan Shi and now him. How could he make such a request? He obviously didn't just want to chat with his Junior Sister. He could do that anywhere, no one would care. He had something else in mind in the dark of the night.
A burst of laughter came from outside the hall, making all the male disciples turn their heads to the door. They sensed some female disciples standing outside, listening to their conversation.
"Junior Sister Yin Chun, your lover is really courageous. Good job." A voice teased from outside.
More laughter followed, they were really enjoying this.
The disciple named Qiao Da felt his face burning with embarrassment. Wang Huo looked at him and nodded.
"I don't enjoy blocking other people's happiness. You can go…What's your name again?" Wang Huo asked with a smile.
The disciple named Qiao Da was moved, he answered, "It's Qiao Da, Senior Brother."
"Oh, right. Qiao Da, stay within the yard." Wang Huo instructed with a wave of his hand.
Qiao Da grinned at his friends and left the hall eagerly.
The group remained there. After Qiao Da left, Wang Huo started to recall, "A girl from Mo Clan once asked me out. She was pretty and graceful. Do you have any idea how many suitors she had in the Verdure Province?"
"Surely, only a special girl would dare to ask Senior Brother Wang Huo out." A disciple said with a grin.
"Then what did you do, Senior Brother?" Another disciple asked.
"What do you think! I am a person who values strength above all. Of course, I turned her down." Wang Huo said with a proud look.
"Truly admirable…" A disciple said.
"I hope I can have such dedication, please teach us too, Senior Brother."
Wang Huo smiled as he listened to the praises.
"Brother Wang, what was the name of the Mo Clan girl?" Wei Heng, who was sitting next to him asked.
"Did I never share this story with you before, Brother Wei? How could I forget something so significant? Anyway, her name was Mo Lan." Wang Huo answered.
Wang Huo had actually repeated that story many times. Wei Heng just wanted him to confirm it to the Junior disciples.
When they heard the name, contempt rose in the disciples' mind, but they kept it hidden.
Mo Lan was a plain looking girl with nothing remarkable about her. In the disciples' mind, it was irrelevant if someone like her proposed to anyone. They were young cultivators and average was the most boring thing to their mind.
They still kept smiling as they listened to Wang Huo talk. This was why Li Ying disliked most of these disciples. They had lower morals than the mortals.
Some disciples were standing at the door, watching the lovers walking in the yard with their hands intertwined. They chuckled and wished they were in Qiao Da's shoes.
Wang Huo noticed them and shouted, "Get back here you perverts. Train hard and girls will flock to you."
The disciples scrambled back to their beds, feeling guilty. Wang Huo looked at them and asked, "What are they up to anyway?"
The disciples grinned and one of them answered, "The atmosphere is not right yet. It will take a while for the real show to begin."
Wang Huo scowled at the flippant way the disciple spoke, he yelled, "Go to sleep! Shameless." He paused and nodded with a smile.
Time passed quickly as they talked. One by one, the disciples fell asleep.
Li Ying was lying on his bed, still listening to Wang Huo and the others' conversation with his eyes shut. Only five guys were still awake and chatting out of the fourteen male disciples in the hall. Li Ying knew Wang Huo wasn't a bad person. Even though some of his views were questionable, he still only stayed up at night to defend his juniors in case something happened. He had no other motive. He was also tired and wanted to sleep.
Li Ying suddenly felt a pang of unease. He opened his eyes. Something was not right, his intuition warned him to be alert. He had reached the golden core realm. The human body was a mystery, and it became more mysterious after cultivating. Even though he could not consciously detect anything wrong, but subconsciously he sensed it.
He got up from his bed. Wang Huo and the others looked at him curiously.
"Is something bothering you, Li Ying?" Wang Huo asked.
Li Ying looked at him and smiled faintly, "It's nothing serious, Senior Brother, I just want some fresh air."
"Is that so? You can go but stay close." Wang Huo didn't want Li Ying to find Qiao Da in an awkward position.
Li Ying smiled and walked towards the exit.
He opened the door.
Horror! He witnessed a terrifying scene.
A small figure in black robe stood in the yard. Its hair was long and covered its entire short body. It was holding the throats of Qiao Da, who was kneeling on the ground, gasping for air, and Yin Chun, who was lifted in the air, choking.
The dreadful figure twisted its head to face Li Ying. Its small face was wrinkled, its eyes were black and lifeless. Its skin was so thin that the bones protrude out. Its shoulders were narrow, Li Ying could tell it was a female.
She stared at Li Ying with her cold and frightening eyes.
Rip! Blood spurted out, as she tore Qiao Da's throat apart. She let go of him. Qiao Da clutched his bleeding neck as he fell to the ground. His legs twitched violently.
The Silent Ghost twin kept looking at the horrified Li Ying.
Li Ying couldn't close his mouth as his whole body was focused on the actions of this monstrous creature. He still screamed, "W-wang Huo…COME HERE."
His voice reverberated in the yard. Wang Huo and the others furrowed their brows as they ran to the door.
They were also shocked when they saw the gruesome scene before them.
The Silent Ghost twin cocked its head and its lips curled. She leaped and her figure vanished with the female disciple.
She disappeared as if she had never been there. This was the reason the Jia Clan couldn't capture the twins. Apart from their formidable cultivation, they could also disappear like ghosts at night.
Li Ying sprinted to Qiao Da, who was still holding his neck. His leg movements were slowing down.
Wang Huo infused his qi to help him stop the bleeding.
Li Ying backed away and used his divine sense. He couldn't sense any evil cultivator. His divine sense was useless against the Silent Ghost Twins, who were in the same realm as him. It was some kind of martial art.
Li Ying was about to activate the Jade token to enhance his divine sense. But he was interrupted by a loud uproar coming from outside the yard.
"Young Miss Jia Li has gone missing. Spread out, find her or the Jia Clan will never be the same."