Shitai Jueyuan, already furious over these human traffickers, immediately darkened her expression. "What is it?"
Facing Shitai Jueyuan's question, an Emei disciple hurriedly bowed. "Reporting to Elder, there is a group outside claiming to be from the Yang Family Escort Agency. Having heard that we captured some human traffickers, they wish to see you."
"The Yang Family Escort Agency?" Shitai Jueyuan's voice was low, her brows knitting into a deep furrow.
Her first thought was that the visitors were accomplices of the human traffickers.
After considering it, Shitai Jueyuan still said, "Bring them in."
A moment later, hurried yet restrained footsteps sounded out. Gu Shao'an looked up.
He saw a burly middle-aged man in russet martial attire, his anxious face carrying a trace of fierce resolve. Accompanied by several escorts dressed similarly, he jogged up to the woodshed door.
As they drew near, the intermittent cries of pain from within the woodshed and the faint scent of blood hanging in the air made Chief Escort Yang's pupils contract.
He took a deep breath, then fiercely clasped his fists and bowed to Shitai Jueyuan outside the door. His voice was filled with indescribable urgency and a hint of hoarseness.
"I am Yang Tie, chief escort of the Yang Family Escort Agency in Baijiang Prefecture! Forgive this presumptuous interruption of the Emei heroines' quiet cultivation, but I truly had no other choice!"
He raised his head, his eyes full of pleading and anxiety. "I heard your sect captured a group of human traffickers. May I ask, Shitai, have you seen a girl named Yang Yan, around fourteen years old, wearing a light yellow ru skirt?"
"Hmm?"
Seeing Yang Tie's anxious expression and bloodshot eyes, Shitai Jueyuan seemed to understand something, and the wariness in her gaze rapidly faded.
Then, from Yang Tie's