He was no fool; he had already sensed that something was wrong. Just then, someone nearby observed, "There must be a Ninth Rank expert guarding this planet!" The words made the man called Shadow shudder. He turned and saw that he was far from alone: fear showed in everyone's eyes. A Ninth Rank expert was more than a mere rank above them. They were all experts themselves, and after a moment's thought, they understood: only someone of the Ninth Rank could withstand so many bombardments in succession and remain unscathed.
"Let's withdraw. This expert clearly only wants to frighten us off. If we don't take the hint, I'm afraid that once he makes a move, not one of us will escape!" someone said. Everyone immediately agreed. Shadow was caught in a bind: he knew Bai Ru's temperament. If he slunk back like this, Bai Ru would not spare him. But ahead of them stood a Ninth Rank expert, someone even more terrifying than Bai Ru! Death waited whether he advanced or retreated, and Shadow wavered.
"If you won't leave, we will. Don't blame us for lacking professional ethics. That's a Ninth Rank monster over there, and I'm leaving. Here's the commission from the job. Goodbye to you." With that, the man tossed Shadow a Saint Stone Card and left without looking back. The others promptly followed his example. Saint Stones were all well and good, but with their lives at stake, the choice was obvious: run.
The hired experts were gone, but those from the Lineage itself could not leave. They watched Shadow, who was just as troubled as they were. A dozen or so people hung motionless in the starry sky, silent.
At last, someone could no longer bear the oppressive silence. "We should go back. The head of