Several days later. 0

Li Yuan used the thousand-mile thread to slip over to Yan Mu’s side, where he finally learned the news he’d been seeking.0

“It was the Red Lotus Rebels,” Yan Mu said wearily. “They’ve formed an alliance with the undying husks. Zhu Nuyang actually got off lightly compared to others. Plenty of other provinces and prefectures were hit by surprise ambushes. The Holy Tree Temple alone lost one fifth rank and seven sixth rank experts. Plenty more were wounded.”0

Li Yuan frowned. “Didn’t you people already suppress the Red Lotus Cult? How can they still wield this level of power? Is it purely because of the undying husk alliance?”0

“It’s all under investigation,” Yan Mu said. “But I don’t know what’s really been uncovered, if anything at all. I’m exhausted. I don’t want to go back to the Holy Tree Temple, or see…that person. The only reason I left Gemhill County to begin with was because the temple ordered me to Northriver Prefecture. Now I just want to return home.”0

Yan Mu’s face was etched with fatigue, as though sick of all the killing. His gaze trailed downward, but when he spoke the last sentence, a faint smile returned. He had no real home...0