Lan Ming, returning to the pavilion, was stopped by the guards at the main gate. Though they had seen this person leave earlier, he had come and gone in disguise—who knew whether there might be some problem? Naturally, they had to inspect him.
Leaving had been easy; getting back in this way was no longer so easy.
Someone beside them gave a "cough, cough." The two guards turned and saw Chief Steward Ban Hai, waiting off to one side, tilt his head in indication.
The two guards immediately let him through. Lan Ming strode inside, while Ban Hai, emerging from one side, hurried after him...
The door opened and two disciples entered. Once it shut, Li Zhengfa, who had been waiting inside, hurriedly asked, "Keep a close eye on anyone who comes into contact with him. Did you latch onto them?"
The disciple responsible for the surveillance shook his head. "There was no way to keep following them."
Li Zhengfa immediately asked, "Did they leave Boundless Pavilion? Could you determine where they were headed and send people ahead on flying mounts to set up positions?"
The surveillance disciple shook his head again. "Elder, the person who contacted the target did not leave. He went directly into the city residence behind us."
"What?" Li Zhengfa froze. Raising a hand to stroke his beard, uncertainty flickered across his face as he slowly said, "So they really are in collusion with Misty Pavilion. No wonder they dared hide here. It seems there is an insider within Boundless Pavilion's city residence as well."
At this, the surveillance disciple immediately added, "Elder, I saw the insider in the city residence. It was Boundless Pavilion's chief steward, Ban Hai!"
Li Zhengfa's eyes widened. "Ban Hai?"
The surveillance disciple replied, "Yes! I have seen him during my