Under the cover of the night, three figures sneaked out of Birch city from the western gates. As soon as they left the City, they sped towards the dark forest.


    Only when they were hidden by the densely packed trees, did theye to a halt.


    "Were we discovered? Did either of you feel like we were being watched?"


    Feng Yan asked, checking his surroundings to find the source of his unease. Lu Shao and Gu Dan looked at each other and shook their heads.


    "Our n was perfect. We mixed in with the dispersing guests of the banquet. I don''t think any of our enemies would have seen us."


    Lu Shao assuaged Feng Yan. Even as they conversed, they had resumed their journey. The thick foliage of the trees hid the starry sky from their view. Except for a few rays of moonlight shining through the gaps, they were surrounded by darkness.


    After walking for some time, they lost their sense of direction. It became harder to distinguish the correct path. At this moment, Lu Shao climbed on the nearest tree and the two other Sense Trainers followed his example.


    "There! Do you see that tall cliff? The Monstrous me Sect is located on that cliff."


    Lu Shao pointed out their destination to the other two. Then he pointed to the two nearby mountains.


    "My troops have already set up a camp at the base of those two mountains. As soon as we signal them, they willunch an all-out attack to exterminate the Sect."


    Feng Yan and Gu Dan looked at the detailed arrangements with satisfaction. They memorized the locations and came down. With a general direction in mind, they proceeded to their destination with haste.


    —---


    "n Master, the first regiment of the City Guards is missing. My man saw them leave through the northern gate this noon."


    "n Master, the third regiment has also not returned after leaving through the South Gate this afternoon."


    n Master Qing listened to the reports in a somber mood. The mouse had entered the trap they hadid. His only point of concern as this could be a decoy.


    "Where are the Sense Trainers I asked you to keep an eye on?"


    "Ikasa went back to his Manor in a carriage after the Banquet. We did not see Feng Yan or Gu Dan apany him. Lu Shao was also present at the banquet."


    "Did you see them leave the Banquet?"


    The man shook his head and stood subserviently before the two Masters and one Path Finder. n Master Qing looked at Sect Master Yan and Path Finder Zhi with a smirk.


    "They fell for it. Our n seeded."


    His smile bordered on the verge of insanity as he looked at a few people scattered in the room. A maid, a guard, and also one of his Seats. His vicious look caused their heartbeats to fasten.


    With a twisted smile, he ordered. "Kill the traitors!"


    Hu Bei''s de shed at the neck of the Fifth Seat of the Hu n. Even as he bled to death, he could not believe he would be killed without a chance to exin.


    Others took care of the rest of the suspects. Those not in the know looked at their leaders with disbelief and fear. Especially those close to the Fifth Seat; They feared for their life looking at the crazed expression on n Master Qing''s face.


    "These traitors betrayed us and chose to side with the City Lord while eating our bread. If anything they died too easily."


    n Master Qing exined after regaining hisposure.


    "Hu Bei, bring a few men and take down that bastard who killed our Second Seat. Take no hostages."


    Qing Mo whispered his instructions to Hu Bei. He let the Sect Master Yan exin the further ns to the rest of the men.


    In a few short minutes, Sect Master Yan pointed out the ces where his disciples were hiding and the best spots tounch their attacks. He had no delusions ofmanding this rowdy bunch of mercenaries who operated ording to their own methods.


    After giving them the necessary information, he let n Master Qing handle them.


    "Don''t you alwaysin that there are too many ipetent fools in this City? Let''s reduce their number to zero today!"


    His deration was met withughter and cheers. With their morale lifted up, the Mercenary Captains and Adventurer party''s leaders exited the hall. They would join their party members and harass the City Guards in their own way.


    Sect Master Yan was feeling the jitters. This night will conclude the Battle of Rights. If he wins, he will be the ruler of this City. If he loses, his Sect will be annihted.


    n Master Qing noticed his apprehension. He called out to him.


    "Sect Master Yan, we should also leave if we want to catch the flies intruding your Sect."


    As the hall emptied, nobody noticed the dark look in Yin Ying''s eyes nor did anyone pay attention to her sweaty palms. She quickly wiped her palms and schooled her emotions before following Zhi Yang outside.<novelnext></novelnext>


    —----


    In the middle of the night, a little furball sat on the window sill, watching the moon. The emotions in his eyes were strange and even the little fox could not tell why he liked the Moon.


    On the night of the new moon, he would be sad and grumpy. But his energy would be at its peak on a full moon''s night.


    The very first full moon''s night at the Vi, he had kept the entire Manor awake by jumping on every being that slept. This had prompted Hei Ying to name the little fox ''Moony'' because his moods depended on the moon.


    Tonight, the little fox discovered something other than the moon shining outside the window. Naturally, his red eyes were drawn to the source.


    Tens of men were approaching the Vi from the open grounds.


    "Shhh! Surround the Vi from the right. He sleeps in the right wing of the Vi."


    Hu Bei instructed his men as he unsheathed his de. Shining in the light of the waxing moon, it had attracted the attention of a mischievous being.


    Moony jumped down the window sill and followed the movements of the men by jumping from one ledge to another. When he jumped on the ledge near Ikasa''s window, he saw the men stop.


    The man in the lead took out a rope and jumped on the ledge near Moony. He noticed the little fox but ignored it in favor of breaking into Ikasa''s room.


    He entered Ikasa''s room ready to kill Ikasa. But he did not find anyone in the bed.


    ''Wrong room?''


    Hu Bei wondered as he found a perch to tie the rope to. Using the rope, others began to climb inside.


    Moony looked curiously at the activities of these men. Suddenly he smelled the scent of blood from the man climbing up. He went near the rope and bared his fangs at the man.


    "Get lost, you little critter!"


    Fearless of the unknown, he kicked, aiming at Moony.


    (This is a bad man!)


    Moony decided. He jumped onto Ikasa''s window and shed the rope directly above the man. Then he sat on the window sill, his tail and nose raised high as if looking down on the world.


    Caught unawares, the man fell from a height of nearly ten feet on his back. He could silence his shouts of fear, but he couldn''t stop his scream of pain.


    "Aaahh!"


    His shout reverberated in the silent night waking up the inhabitants of the nearby rooms. The dark vi was immediately lit up as people ignited candles and uncovered the moon pearls.


    Ikasa, who was reading reports in the study, also heard it. He looked out from the window and saw a few men gathered in the grounds. When he located their position, he realized they were standing directly below his window.


    "Fuck!"


    He threw the report in his hand down and rushed to his room. He met kids and Xin Ruo,ing out from their bedrooms.


    He rushed past them, whispering them a warning.


    "Stay alert. There are intruders in the Vi!"


    ----


    Hu Bei heard the scream of the man and turned his attention to the window. He saw the foxzily basking in the moonlight. Beside him, the rope had been cleanly cut.


    Who else could it be but the little critter before him?


    He angrily shed his de at the fox, aiming to kill it in one strike. To his astonishment, he heard a ng; Like his saber had struck a stone.


    His eyes could see the de strike the fox and yet he felt like he had shed at the wall. When he focused, the fox was nowhere to be seen but the de had indeed struck the wall.


    He searched the inside and outside of the room to find traces of the fox. Hu Bei still couldn''t find it anywhere. Suddenly he had a bad premonition. He hurriedly jumped away from the window.


    The fox shed the air before his face before falling to the floor. His instinct had saved him from the little fox''s w. Recovering from his shock, Hu Bei swung his saber at the fox.


    The saber chopped a small tuft of hair from Moony''s tail and scratched it. Moony yelped in pain and was angeredpletely. He disappeared and the room began to darken.


    At this moment, Ikasa entered the room.