Unlike before, Shi Chun was easy to find now. Li Hongjiu knew where his group was hiding. They were not far away, waiting for him where they had parted earlier.
Still, he did not head straight there, afraid someone might discover Shi Chun. He had no intention of sharing Shi Chun with the other sects yet. Like a thief with a guilty conscience, he circled around several times before making his way to their hiding place.
The masked Shi Chun made no attempt to hide. He sat brazenly on the mountaintop, waiting for him. Even when people passed nearby earlier and spotted him, he had not hidden.
Li Hongjiu, on the other hand, refused to show himself on the summit. He stayed in the valley, making hushing sounds, tossing stones, and waving insistently for Shi Chun to come down.
Seeing it was him, Shi Chun flew down into the valley and asked, "Brother Hongjiu, how did it go?"
Li Hongjiu said, "I did as you said. The Fengluo Cult's people headed for the Icefield, and Gong Shixi's group went to the Iron Forest."
"How many people went with Gong Shixi?" Shi Chun pressed him for details.
Li Hongjiu answered each question.
Once he confirmed the situation, Shi Chun immediately gathered everyone and headed back, making haste toward the Iron Forest.
They raced along the whole way. Just before reaching the Iron Forest, Shi Chun called another halt. He gestured up and down at Li Hongjiu, who stuck close to his side. "Brother Hongjiu, change into something like ours. Cover yourself from head to toe."
Li Hongjiu found that amusing. "It's not as though I can't show my face. There's no need to dress up like a masked bandit."
Shi Chun stared at him. "My dear older brother, if you show