Island Master Zheng stood beneath the wooden awning, his face grave. The table on the ground had been overturned, the register and brushes scattered everywhere, and the two guards sat to the side, both of them injured.
"Where are they?"
"They retreated toward the Abandoned Mine Pit. I just sent people to take a look, but they didn't find anyone. Those pits are too numerous and too deep. Hiding a few people there is far too easy."
Lin Taichu stood at the landing entrance and glanced toward the island. The Abandoned Mine Pit was on the western side of Immortal Soldier Island, near the foot of the mountain. In the past, ore had been mined out there, leaving behind deep pits and tunnels of all sizes.
Pit connected to pit, all pitch-black inside. Forget finding a few people—even if an entire squad were thrown in, they might not be dug back out.
"Island Master Zheng, how many other exits are there on the island?"
"Only three landing entrances. I've had them all sealed. As long as they don't take the proper routes, they can't leave the island."
"What if they force their way through?"
Island Master Zheng fell silent for a moment.
"If they force their way through, those three have too high a cultivation level. The people on my island won't be able to stop them."
Lin Taichu nodded, then turned to glance at Su Yao. Su Yao was looking at him too.
"What do we do now?" Su Yao asked.
"Find them first. They can't get the goods out, and if they stay on the island, they're just waiting for an opportunity. We have to dig them out before they find one."
"Dig? The island's this big. How are we supposed to dig?"
Lin Taichu thought for a