At night, beneath a moonless sky and howling wind, the sobbing autumn gale blew through the withered branches of Misty Manor. The branches trembled violently in the lightless night. With a crack, a somewhat slender branch was snapped off by the wind and fell to the ground.
A moment later, two figures descended from the sky and landed beneath the tree. They were two Misty Sect disciples on guard duty. Long swords in hand, they vigilantly surveyed their surroundings. One of them even leaped onto the treetop and looked in all directions. Seeing nothing unusual, he finally jumped back down.
The other carefully inspected the area around the tree. Once his companion came down, he asked softly, "Did you find anything unusual?"
That man shook his head. "No. There were no unusual traces."
"Mm, there are no suspicious traces beneath the tree either. Perhaps it was just a dead branch that fell?" The disciple pointed at the branch the wind had blown aside.
"What Senior Brother says makes sense. The wind is strong tonight, so it is only natural for dead branches to be blown down!"
"Come on, let's inspect elsewhere. This is a critical time for our Misty Sect. We cannot allow disciples from other sects to slip in so easily!"
"Yes, Senior Brother..." The disciple nodded and was about to leave, but then hesitantly asked, "Senior Brother, there is something I have long wanted to ask. I know it would be improper to say it aloud, but if I do not, it will be like a fishbone stuck in my throat. It is truly unbearable."
"Junior Brother Luan, if you have something to say, just say it. I... have watched you grow up. You are practically like my own younger brother. If you will not tell me what