"This is someone else's business. There's no need for us to wade into this mess," the Yellow-robed Woman said after some thought.
Xue Baochai nodded. "That's what I think too."
Wanyan Chongjie's eyes darted about, and she also said, "Fine. Since this is a grudge between the Heavenly Mandate Cult and someone else, it really isn't appropriate for us to interfere. Let's withdraw, then."
Everyone in the room looked at her in surprise. From their time together these past days, she had clearly seemed like the sort who feared nothing more than the world being too peaceful.
Shan Yuru was both startled and delighted. "This humble woman thanks you all." She had not expected things to go so smoothly.
Since the leaders of both Jin and Song had agreed, the group soon left the small town. Shan Yuru summoned a subordinate to guide them in searching for their missing companions, repeatedly expressing her gratitude to the group.
On the way to the small temple outside town, the Yellow-robed Woman pulled Xue Baochai aside and asked, "Miss Xue, does the Imperial City Department have any intelligence on the Heavenly Mandate Cult?"
Xue Baochai's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "We don't know much either. It seems the Heavenly Mandate Cult operated within Ming territory several decades ago, but was later suppressed by the Ming court. They could only retreat far north beyond the desert and have remained out of sight these recent years. The martial world believed the Heavenly Mandate Cult had already been destroyed, yet they have unexpectedly returned."
Song Qingshu could not help asking, "They retreated north beyond the desert. Could the Heavenly Mandate Cult be connected to the Mongol Empire?"
Xue Baochai answered as she pondered, "There are many different opinions on that. Such a claim has indeed been made,