"They make me come only to play hide and seek? Let's see how they like when I keep all of their supplies for myself" Finishing saying this, Bai Qi loudly snorted and with a carefree shrug began making his way back to the lake.

Even with all of his senses and aura expanded, he did not find any traces of the Gao siblings and their companion. Neither he did find any clues towards where they were hauled to.

But Bai Qi's senses had caught on something akin to a concealment talisman, just a couple thousand feet from his position. Rushing towards it could be dangerous, especially without having a sure mark. And so, Bai Qi decided to stage a small act.

He could neither disguise the fact that he arrived to look for the trio nor the one that he expanded his senses and aura to do so. Still, by voicing some remarks and giving up after just a few attempts, he could blur his actual reasons. It was up for the observer to believe Bai Qi's acting, but the observer would have to follow to confirm that Bai Qi indeed left in any case. Thus would be forced to move, giving Bai Qi a chance to pinpoint this person.

***

A man emerged from nowhere as soon as the youngster walked away from the clearing. Or at least it appeared to be so. In truth, he had been present here since the start, simply unseen and impossible to sense.

"Supplies? So that's why they were staying here? And who's that 4th level Sage youngster? A friend of theirs?" The man making no sound, only by moving his lips, asked himself while confirming that he was indeed alone.

After he did, he slowly began moving towards the north, following the traces of the young Sage's aura.

But less than a mile later, the man's serene expression suddenly changed. He quickly rushed forward while his eyes darted towards the sides. His senses and aura flared right after. "Where is he?" Even unvoiced, the question was apparent if one looked into his eyes.

Sensing that something was not right, that he probably had walked into a trap, the man's hand reached for the cloak on his shoulders, forcefully and quickly wrapping it around himself.

"Don't move" A young voice entered his ears as he felt metal at his throat. And a moment later, his consciousness grew dim as he felt himself falling under a mind spell.

***

The reason for even Bai Qi's senses to be unable to pick this man's presence before was the strange-looking cloak on the man's back. A cloak that looked as if made of grass from the outside. But beneath covered in a true cobweb of runes.

If one examined these runes closely, they would reveal that the cloak was infused with activable talismans and even passive formations. All of them to hide the wearer from being discovered by anyone but a Warrior Lord or superior realm cultivator. Outside it should not work against Bai Qi's senses, but here? The zone's main formation limited Bai Qi's senses to that of a 7th level Sage. And so, if not for the small and almost indetectable qi current from one of the talismans, Bai Qi would have not even suspected of the cloak user.

When the man moved, the qi fluctuation did so as well, allowing Bai Qi to pinpoint its location. Then, by suddenly increasing his speed on the edge of the maximum possible senses, Bai Qi opened distance. And then used a concealment talisman of his own to disappear.

The few talismans that Deng Guiying had passed through Zhuan Min's father were all of the same, Warrior Lord equivalent quality. And so, Bai Qi was sure that without a true talent for searching, coupled with time and effort, the man would not sense him. If he even tried to, as most probably his first reaction would be to fully conceal himself. And both of Bai Qi's assumptions proved right.

As soon as the man found out that Bai Qi's presence disappeared, he reached for his cloak and activated a concealment talisman inside it. Regretfully for him, it was already too late. With his position pinpointed, it wasn't a matter of seeing or sensing him but just knowing that he was there. Bai Qi did not use qi to avoid breaking the concealment, preferring to go with one of the two daggers he had been carrying inside his sleeves.

"Don't move" He said as his dagger touched the man's neck, distracting the latter enough for Bai Qi to launch the spell he had prepared even before leaving the clearing.

***

After taking his prisoner a couple of miles away from the spot, confirming that there was not a single soul around, and using his remaining illusionary and concealment talismans. Bai Qi then proceeded to examine his captive.

It was a young man, not older than 25 years of age. His cultivation was just that one of a 1st level Sage. A surprisingly low level for someone that had decided to follow a 4th level one.

But probably the man was just too sure of his concealment, Bai Qi shrugged at the thought and continued his examination.

The man's hair and clothes looked unkempt. As if he had been living in the wilderness for a long time.

His hair was dark brown and reached his shoulders while some patches of facial hair covered his mouth and cheeks.

As for the clothes, traces of mending and the originally black robes had discolored and looked grey.

The examination failed to turn in any pouches, rings, talismans, or weapons. Except for the clothes and the cloak, the man had nothing on himself.

"Hmm, this man is not from the Shuomen City participants and does not appear like one that could have been present in the Ten Families or Great Forest group either. Neither his age, looks, nor cultivation is inside the parameters that any power, not to mention overlords, would attempt to bring here" Bai Qi muttered as he finished examining the man.

The only interesting thing was the cloak, but none of the formations or talismans had any signatures, making identification impossible.

Doubting that the man would honestly go and reveal anything, Bai Qi sighed while beginning to weave a mind-searching spell.

Looking into someone's memories had always been considered something of the evil path. And rightfully so, as it was not only a painful process but one that could kill a cultivator as well. Still, even the righteous powers resorted to it when required, although behind closed doors and with at least a couple of reasonable reasons. Or excuses as Bai Qi had always believed.

Indeed, if an enemy had information you needed, there should be no such divisions into righteous and evil. It did not mean that Bai Qi liked to resort to such means, but when there was no other option? He would not wash his hands of the matter either. Even though he usually did it only to an unconscious target, saving them from the pain. And if he had the option, then Bai Qi would use only the lightest mind-searching spells. They would only provide a few glimpses into the target's memory but carried far less danger or side effects.

"Heavens! Who would be so insane to send even one person inside here with such..." Bai Qi could only murmur as a shocked expression crossed his face.

The lightest of the spells he knew only allowed him to check two or three days of the target's life, but when stopping there, the target would neither remember nor be affected by the process.

Bai Qi had no idea of when, for how long, or why this man had entered and remained inside the zone. And so he had decided to first watch the last day events in the man's memory, and from there try to acquire some date for the next instance.

But who could have expected that actually during this last day, one that had not even finished, the man had recalled what Bai Qi's needed?

It could be said to be a lucky thing, except that it was so stunning that even Bai Qi felt shocked and horrified. Shock because the man and his four companions were practically dead people. And a bit of horror that there was someone capable of ordering all of them to such a fate.

___________________________________________________________________

Ke Xiang's thoughts had been in turmoil since morning. It was already the tenth day of the new 'Underground Land of the River' opening. As expected, this time nobody from their enemy clans arrived. Or at least it was so until they received a notice on the previous day, a son of Sheng Huangye's was among the participants!

Hearing that name always made Ke Xiang tremble with hate while recalling the reason for their years of hardships.

Born into the Ke Clan of Shuomen City twenty-one years ago. And since fifteen years ago, along with all the remaining survivors of his clan, considered missing or dead.

After Sheng Huangye became city lord, nothing could stop the Ke Clan from falling from their position as one of the strongest clans of the city.

And fifteen years ago, the City Lord's declaration their Ke clan was not welcome in the city anymore was announced.

The reason, one that could not be more fake? That the Ke clan had conspired with the 'Underworld Lotus' and were responsible for the failed plot to assassinate the Sheng and Shou clans main characters.

Not given even a chance to defend himself, the patriarch of the Ke clans, Ke Huo was executed, while his clan was banished from the City. Or at least it was supposed to be so. But Sheng Huangye would not allow a clan that he had fought against for dozens of years to leave just like that, oh no.

Just fifty miles from the city, the 84 exiles were ambushed by a group of cloaked and hooded cultivators. Half of the Clan's remnants were killed as the rest dispersed and escaped. They would probably all be hunted and killed later, if not for the help of a mysterious Warrior Emperor expert. Not only did this mysterious benefactor help them survive but moved all of the survivors to the border of the region.

Settled in a small unclaimed territory in the Ten Families region, half a year later the new head of the clan, just a shell of the previous Ke clan, learned the truth. The attackers were no one else than experts from the Sheng and Shou clans. And so, the plan for revenge was born.

Five children of the Ke clan were smuggled back to Shuomen. With a previously unknown elder of the clan acting as their guardian and master, they wormed their way into the Shou clan. And because of the master's great service, all of the five were allowed to enter the training zone five years ago.

Inside, by using a blood searching orb infused with a drop of each of the two hated clans' bloodline, they located and killed every one of their participants.

But they could not leave after doing it. If they did, everything would be revealed. But how could they stay if the main formation kicked all the participants 15 days after it opened?

___________________________________________________________________

"And so they used a forbidden art to bind themselves to the formation part that guards the 'Underground Forest', becoming undetectable for the main formation". Bai Qi could only shake his head as he learned through the recalled memories how the five youngsters had remained inside.

Never able to leave, and not even able to cultivate further. And indeed, how could they with their souls attached to the formation?

Bai Qi could not defend either side as he was unaware of the details. Still, a clan that knew such a method, and worse, that made youngsters between 13 and 17 years use it? They were definitively not clean or righteous.

***

In any case, the memories were enough to reveal to him who was behind this kidnapping incident. As well as the reason for it, one that turned out to be another surprise for Bai Qi. He had suspected that Xue Zhou wasn't simple, but an actual relative of both the Sheng and the Shou clans? That was something indeed unexpected.

Still, after five years in absolute isolation, the Ke clan cultivators weren't planning to kill even a Sheng or the people with him right away. In turn, they planned to interrogate them and find out about the outside world.

"Still, what should I do about this... Ke Xiang?"