A streak of light flashed across the sky and vanished into the vast mountain range before the nearby disciples of the Devil Dao's Six Sects could get a clear look at it.
At that moment, in a secluded mountain ravine, Li Huayuan, looking battered and disheveled, rushed into a cave concealed and protected by a formation.
"Phew!"
"Thank goodness, Senior Sister. Are you all right?"
When he saw his Senior Sister Hongfu in the cave, looking much like him, with only slightly tattered clothes and no other obvious injuries, he finally let out a deep sigh of relief.
"Master!"
"Master!"
Seeing Li Huayuan return, his third disciple, Liu Jing, and his sixth disciple, Wu Xuan, hurried over at once to greet him with clasped hands.
"Master!"
"Where are Wei Niang and the others?"
"Did you still not find them?"
Then, when Li Huayuan's third disciple Liu Jing saw that he had returned alone, he asked anxiously, unable to hold back.
"..."
"No."
Li Huayuan shook his head, looking exhausted and deeply dejected. He didn't want to say anything more.
He had searched for a long time. Along the way, he had helped some stranded disciples from the other four sects escape danger and dealt with a few reckless Devil Dao brats. But he hadn't seen a single Yellow Maple Valley disciple, let alone any of his own disciples, such as Zhong Wei Niang and Song Meng.
"Senior Brother!"
"Don't worry. When we were scattered that day, I saw Fourth Senior Brother with Junior Sister Zhong. They'll be fine."
"Besides, we all have those life-saving items. Have you forgotten?"
"I think..."
"They're probably already in Xujing by now. You don't need to worry so much."
Seeing their master's tired expression and Hongfu approaching, Wu Xuan hurried over, tugged the oblivious Liu