A group of people stared at one another, but no one actually went to inform Master Hu.
It wasn't that no one had thought of it. They simply didn't have the courage. Everyone knew Master Hu was busy doing his utmost to attack the castle's surviving forces. He'd been at it all night, and plenty of them were still putting up a desperate fight.
Master Hu hadn't slept all night, so his mood was surely terrible. If they went to tell him now that the spiritual fields had been destroyed, who knew how he would react?
These guards weren't important people, and they had no standing in front of Master Hu. If he flew into a rage and did something irrational, none of them could bear the consequences.
Old Ba saw them hemming and hawing and understood what was going on.
He snapped, "No one is to leave before I get back. I'm going to report this to Master Hu. You blind idiots couldn't even keep an eye on the spirit herbs, and now you're trying to pin the blame on me. I'll ask Master Hu to investigate this thoroughly. Whoever's behind this, I guarantee they'll pay."
As he spoke, Old Ba angrily prepared to lead his men back toward the castle.
Master Qian sneered. "What? You make a mess and then expect to walk away just like that? How do I know you aren't running away because you're guilty?"
Old Ba's chest heaved with anger. He cursed, "Qian, I know you can't stand me. Don't worry, I can't stand you either. Let me make this clear: if I did it, I'll own up to it. But no one's going to frame me for something I didn't do. You say I'm behind this? Then I say you're putting on a