That day, Ren Ye left at nightfall and did not return to the guest room until dawn.
He did not tell anyone what he had gone to do. He simply returned to his room, washed up briefly, and fell into a deep sleep.
Following his instructions, everyone waited another full day before preparing to enter the Gutan Sect Secret Realm at the You Hour the following evening.
Inside the guest room.
"Brother Prince Huai, you... you won't let me go?" Ning Bo asked Ren Ye, sounding rather agitated.
"That's right. You'd better sit this one out." Ren Ye considered his words for a long moment. "It's better for you to wait outside."
Hearing this, Ning Bo thought Ren Ye looked down on him, so he insisted solemnly, "Brother Prince Huai, I know you all possess great Supernatural Abilities and are the best of the best, but Brother Ming Quan and the others are my friends and brothers, too. Rest assured, once we enter the Secret Realm, I absolutely won't hold anyone back."
"You've misunderstood. That's not what I meant." Ren Ye explained patiently, "There are two main reasons I don't want you going in. First, the Myriad Phenomena Sect has all but monopolized the Gutan Sect Secret Realm, and Ming Quan and the others have been missing for days without any word. We have to prepare for the worst. If something has already happened to them, and you go in and get caught in danger, then if you die... there might not even be anyone left in your squad to go home and deliver the news. Brother Hong is my friend. No matter what, someone has to go back and tell his wife and children what happened here."
Ning Bo froze at his words, his eyes reddening again.
"Second,