About the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, Huashan Sect Leader Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze, who had been taking an afternoon nap, finally came out of their room.
At once, they spotted Yue Lingshan, Tao Jun, Lao Denuo, Gao Genming, Lin Pingzhi, Hengshan Sect's Yilin, and a certain troublemaking little girl who was eagerly waiting for a show, all chattering and arguing noisily in the courtyard. No one could tell what they were arguing about.
Most importantly, their sixth disciple, Lu Dayou, was surrounded by a group of fellow disciples and seemed to be facing an interrogation.
"Ahem!"
"Settle down!"
"What kind of behavior is this, making such a racket?!"
His reprimand quieted all the disciples and sent them obediently to the side. Only then did Yue Buqun look somewhat satisfied.
Without paying any heed to what the others might be thinking, he walked over to Lu Dayou, who seemed to have just returned, and asked, his expression intent:
"Dayou, why are you the only one back?"
"What was it you said just now?"
"Tell me!"
Though he had still been resting when the noise first woke him, Yue Buqun had heard Lu Dayou shouting as he ran over while getting dressed: "Something's wrong!" and "Senior Brother was taken by a goblin!" or words to that effect.
Now he could see that only his sixth disciple, Lu Dayou, had returned. His eldest disciple, Linghu Chong, was nowhere to be seen. Yue Buqun was certain he hadn't misheard.
"Dayou!" Ning Zhongze urged anxiously from beside him.
"Tell us!"
"Just start with the important part!"
Linghu Chong had been raised by the couple from childhood. He was practically their son, so there was no way Ning Zhongze wasn't worried when only their sixth disciple had returned.
"Yes!"