Peril on Both Fronts

"Before I explain the mission, I want to ask you something. You must all know a little about the situation in Chang'an City. What do you make of the battle as it stands?" Cheng Yaojin asked, looking at the five of them.

The five were taken aback. For a moment, no one answered.

"You're all fine men. Don't hold back or worry about giving offense. Say what you think," Cheng Yaojin said with a smile.

His smile eased the solemn atmosphere in the stone chamber, and the five relaxed a little as well.

"Since Your Grace puts it that way, I'll speak plainly. The ghosts in the south of the city may be running rampant, but Great Tang is strong and has no shortage of extraordinary people. With Duke Cheng leading us, we have more than enough strength to hold them off. Once reinforcements arrive, I'm sure those ghosts will crumble like a wall of loose earth," Danyangzi said after a moment's hesitation.

The others nodded to themselves. They clearly felt the same way, Shen Luo included.

"Reinforcements? You're counting on people from Huasheng Temple and Mount Putuo, aren't you?" Cheng Yaojin said.

"Huasheng Temple and Mount Putuo have always stood shoulder to shoulder with Great Tang. With Chang'an City facing such a grave ghost calamity, surely neither sect will stand by and do nothing?" Danyangzi said.

Cheng Yaojin and Huangmu Adept said nothing. Both looked grave.

"Has something changed? Has trouble struck the two sects?" Shen Luo could not help asking when he saw their expressions.

The others' expressions shifted too.

"What I'm about to tell you is of great importance. You must not breathe a word of it to anyone else." Huangmu Adept exchanged a glance with Cheng Yaojin before speaking slowly.

Seeing how solemn he was, all