Four people were walking through the forest. Ai, Ami, Maiko, and Fatty were making their way back after finishing their mission. “Do you think Yuki and the others are back yet?” Ai asked.

“Maybe. They should have finished by now.” Ami could only guess. She figured with how strong Yuki and the others were, it should have been an easy mission.

“Shhh.” Fatty stepped forward and drew the large axe from his back. “Come out, I know you are there!”

“Heh…. To think trash from the Trashy Cloud Sect could sense us.” A young man wearing black robes walked out from the trees and stood there with his sword drawn. Behind him, six others appeared as well. Four men and two girls.

“Who are you, and what do you want?” Ami drew her sword and stared coldly at the newcomers.

“Who are we? We are from the Roaring Thunder Sect, and we are here to kill trash.” The young man replied. “Kill them!”

The six youths behind the young man all took out a black pill and stuffed it into their mouths. Their auras suddenly exploded as if they had just broken through. The auras they were giving off seemed to be higher than the astral realm. 

Fatty gritted his teeth. He raised his axe and smashed the ground with it as he yelled out: “Earth Raiser!”

The ground rumbled and began to rise right in front of Fatty. It began to form a wall made of the forest floor. “You girls run! I will do my best to hold them off.”

“What, no!” Maiko yelled out. She did not wish to leave her man behind!

“Maiko, just go! Ami, drag her out of here!” Fatty yelled. He would not be a man if he let his woman get killed or worse by these people. He did not wish to see such a thing.

“Maiko, let’s go!” Ami understood Fatty well. He was trying to protect them all, and if they tried to help him now, they would only hinder him. He would have more of a chance to escape on his own after holding them back for a while. She used all her strength to pull Maiko along.

*Boom!*

The wall of dirt and mud exploded after the girls left. They had not gone far, yet the wall Fatty was trying to keep up was easily destroyed. “Damn it! Try to get past this fat bastard!”

- - -

“Delia, what is going on?” Yuki questioned Delia as soon as she walked back into the dwelling.

Delia knew she could not hide anything from Yuki, so she began to explain. “The sects in trouble. Your Master just came to ask for my help in finding out how the Roaring Thunder Sect disciples were harming and killing so many of our disciples. I sent out a few shadows to search around.” 

“What!?” Yuki stood up and stared at Delia in disbelief. “That old bastard really dares to touch my sect!?” 

Yuki did not wish to lose another home. She had come to love the Heavenly Cloud Sect. While she did have a few people she despised there, it did not mean that her love for the sect was not there. It was her home. She would protect it no matter what. “We are returning to the sect.” 

Delia nodded and watched as the other girls got up. Her eyes fell on Selene, who seemed to be at a loss for what to do. “Selene, what do you plan to do?”

“I….” Selene looked at the urgency in the eyes of the others and then looked at Yuki, who was now looking at her. Seeing the cute fox girl staring at her, she could only sigh and say: “I will help.” She decided to follow Yuki around for now. She wanted to know if she could fully trust Yuki or not. Allow herself to be fully exposed for the first time in so long. 

“Selene!” Yuki was happy. She jumped on Selene and gave her a big hug. “Thank you.”

“Your welcome. Please get off!” Selene patted Yuki on the head. “Let’s go save your sect.”

“Mm! Silvia, Nana, let’s go.” Yuki stepped forward but paused and turned to Silvia, “Can I get you to scout ahead with Nana? Try to pinpoint any ambushes.”

“Leave it to me. But Yuki, be careful.” Silvia gave Yuki a small peck on the cheek before exiting the dwelling. Nana quickly followed. “As Silvia said, please be careful.”  

“You girls worry too much….” Delia was going to say that she could easily detect everything for miles, but she decided against it. This was also considered training for the girls.

“Delia, we are just being safe. With Nana and Silvia leading the way and you taking up the rear, Selene and I can watch the sides. No matter how powerful you are, we are still in the dark about what the Roaring Thunder Sect is up to. I heard everything you and Master talked about, so I know that you do not know what is the cause for their disciples gaining strength.” Yuki had keen hearing, so she could hear every word outside the dwelling.

“If you heard me, what did you ask about it!?” Delia pouted. She felt like Yuki was testing her!

“Just because your cute, flustered face made it worth it,” Yuki replied, but even though she played a small prank, she was doing so to calm her anger. She needed a clear mind to deal with the unknown.