Murim's Weakest Princess

After egging Anji on and tempting her to try some alcohol, Bai Dajin eventually won her curiosity. Mingshen wisely turned a blind eye to giving a child alcohol. He occasionally drank some when he was with Hong Nian Niang, not that his mother knew. A little alcohol would not hurt. However, Gu Ying remained concerned about the prospect of letting a minor drink alcohol. Despite her bodyguard’s discussion, Anji took on the challenge and downed a small cup of strong rice wine. The first thing she noticed was how her throat and nose burned. It was an uncomfortable feeling that made her wash it down with two more cups of herbal tea. However, when the alcohol finally kicked into her system, Anji started feeling dizzy, warm and sleepy. Finally, unable to keep her head up, her eyelids closed as she fell asleep at the table.

Sighing heavily at the obvious outcome, Gu Ying offered to carry Anji back to their room so the two men could have their private discussion. From the very start, the two men had planned this meeting for more than a leisurely escort mission.

Anji’s safety past the borders of the Celestial Dragon Sect was of utmost importance. Although they travelled incognito, the demonic cultivators strongly influenced many places the Rainbow Alliance did not reach. Up until the Eternal Night Valley, Mingshen had eyes and ears everywhere. However, the Mystical Qilin Sect was very secretive and rarely meddled with the affairs of mortals living in its territory. As a result, many different types of people settled in their neutral territory. Nobody knew if the Mystical Qilin Sect’s traitor lingered right beneath his teacher’s nose. Hence, Zhao Mingfeng sent a messenger hawk asking a favour from the most powerful bodyguard he could think of, even if it put his entire sect in Bai Dajin’s debt twice for helping his children.

"She’s finally gone," Bai Dajin dropped the dopey uncle act in front of the more intelligent older brother. "Do you have any new information?"

Snapping open his paper fan to cover his mouth, Mingshen played it cool. They have new information. However, after seeing the terrible condition Bai Dajin was in, he decided against sending the martial artist back into battle. If anything, he hoped the pugilist master could spend more time with his younger sister. Being around Anji seemed to lift the shadows in Bai Dajin’s haunted eyes, even if only a little.

"Nothing useful," he replied. "However, there is more than one reason for accompanying Anji to the Mystical Qilin Mountains. Although we cannot enter, Gu Ying can. I received a message from Sect Leader Yan about the disciples on the mountain working to develop a new type of talisman that could temporarily freeze the control of the soul-locking spell. However, they had no children to test it on until Anji arrived. It works similarly to a sleep spell, but breaking the spell requires someone with spell mastery."

Hearing that there was a method to save innocent children who had fallen under the control of demonic cults, Bai Dajin’s hopes soared. However, the new talisman was only a temporary measure to minimise the number of casualties. Nobody knew if there would be any long-lasting damage to the children under an extended period of mind control. Unless the elders and experts of the Mystical Qilin Sect were willing to assist, these unfortunate child soldiers would continue to suffer.

Mingshen understood Bai Dajin’s concern. He expressed a similar concern. Although they have done what they could to prevent kidnapping through their influence, their influence in the capital was limited. The demonic cult had many political ties, and the Gentleman Club could not afford to offend powerful figures in the mortal world without compromising the murim code. After spreading many rumours about illegal child trafficking to barbaric foreign countries to keep the kidnapping activities in check, more parents remained vigilant. Schools started hiring more security, making it difficult for the demonic cult to operate openly. However, many orphans and beggars still disappeared from the streets. There were only so many unfortunate children the Rainbow Alliance and Gentleman Club’s business could hire and protect.

"What will happen to the children we put in a sleep state? Who will break the spell?"

Shrugging, Mingshen sighed.