"Why? Jiang Fan isn't at Huanghua Ridge?" Seeing Cao Ming's expression change, Xiao Hua naturally frowned as well. "He left word before, telling this Daoist and the others to come here and find him. Could he be at Yaonong Peak?"
Cao Ming looked at the displeased Xiao Hua, then at Zhang Qingxiao, whose face was as still as water, and even glanced at several disciples nearby whose gazes flickered. Gritting his teeth slightly, he bowed. "May I ask when Senior Xiao saw Deputy Sect Leader Jiang's message?"
"This..." Xiao Hua tilted his head back and thought for a moment, then smiled. "It seemed to have been last year? Or perhaps the year before? This Xiao does not remember clearly!"
"I see!" Hearing Xiao Hua say this, Cao Ming had a measure of the situation. With a conciliatory smile, he said, "Let me inform the two seniors: about eight or nine years ago, our Hundred Herbs Sect suddenly suffered some changes. Sect Leader Jiang and his entire family were struck by a grave illness. Only the Young Sect Master's wife survived, and even she was afflicted by illness. The former Hundred Herbs Sect disciples took the chance to plunder the sect's foundation and scatter in all directions. The present Hundred Herbs Sect was rebuilt from the ashes of the abandoned foundation by our Sect Leader Xiao."
"Oh? Such a thing actually happened?" Xiao Hua was greatly startled. "When this Xiao parted with Jiang Fan back then, it seemed that... he was already close to Foundation Establishment. How could cultivators like us suffer from any grave illness?"
Cao Ming smiled bitterly. "As for the precise circumstances... this junior does not know either! This junior only entered the Hundred Herbs Sect six years ago!"
"What about the former Hundred Herbs Sect disciples? Not