The horrified scream and the distant thund Indicated the demise of whoever that disciple was. He's fellow disciples made prayers for him in their hearts. While they made their prayers for him, they heard the laughter of the disciples of the Scarlet sect.
After a few minutes, Everyone began to move again but this time, with more caution.
There would be occasional screams indicating that more people had fallen to their deaths. By sun set, the number of disciples advancing to the mountain top had reduced significantly.
"We'll rest here for tonight and move forward at dawn" Ye Shan said as they settled in a small opening that could be considered a cave on the mountain.
Both the disciples of the Ming yue sect and those of the Sage pavilion huddled together in the cave and shared their dry food rations from their space rings.
In one corner of the cave
"Those people from the Scarlet sect are suspicious" Long Chen voiced his worry.
"Exactly! Each time a person falls, there's always a Scarlet sect disciple nearby" Xiu Mei added.
"Do you also suspect them of foul play?" Someone from the Ming yue sect asked.
"Let's not judge quickly without solid evidence" Fan Jin cautioned.
"But you also suspect them of foul play!" Another countered.
"If you suspect them then let's go throw them down the mountain too!" Someone added with an expression that said that he would not be convinced otherwise.
"Don't be stupid you guys. If they really are responsible for those deaths, then they're more capable than you think" Long Chen cautioned his fellow disciples.
"Is the great disciple of the sect master afraid?" Someone Jeered.
Iris growled and flashed instantly gripping the disciple on the neck.
"Apologize" She growled.
"I.. I'm sorry!!" The disciple Apologized fearfully.
Iris dropped the disciple like a rag doll and moved back to her companions who wore a disapproving frown on their faces.
"You should learn to control yourself Sometimes" Ye Shan said still frowning.
"I don't tolerate ill against my family" Iris replied simply.
"Get some rest everyone. I'll keep watch" Ye Shan said with a small sigh after hearing Iris's nonchalant answer.
"I'll keep watch with you." Iris said before sitting crossed legged by in front of her companions.
At midnight, Iris and Ye Shan felt three Ming yue sect disciples sneak out of the cave. Ye Shan wanted to stop them but Iris held him back and shook her head. They followed at a distance.
The three disciples went in the direction of the Scarlet sect's resting area on the opposite direction of their own resting area.
Iris and Ye Shan overlooked them quietly from a distance.
"Hey you! We have come to take your lives! Your foul play has been exposed! We will appease those whom you have killed with your blood!" One out of the three disciples shouted as they began to summon their qi.
The masked female seniors laughed and then, the rest of the disciples attacked the three Ming yue sect disciples. One of the Scarlet sect disciple gripped a Ming yue sect disciple and brutally tossed him off the mountain!.
Ye Shan wanted to join the fight but Iris shook her head at him.
"Get the other two to safety" She whispered to Ye Shan.
Iris immediately rushed in and released fierce attacks at the Scarlet sect disciples and knocked one of them off the mountain.
Ye Shan immediately dragged the remaining two Ming yue sect disciples back to the cave.
Iris knocked a second one off the mountain while the last one retreated to the masked senior's side.
"Senior Ying yue that's her! The one from the prophesy" The junior said.
"Ying.....yue?" Iris asked with a frown.
"I see you know me? Afterall, you stole my spot beside Wei Ming." Ying yue said before taking off her mask.
"You betrayed the sage pavilion" Iris sneared.
"Did I?" Ying yue asked with a mock innocence.
"Our Lord sovereign has needs for you. So, will you join us willingly or by force?" Ying yue asked Proudly.
"I will never join you not willingly and certainly not by force" Iris replied.
"Oh you will don't worry" Ying yue said with strong confidence.
"Good luck on the contest" she added before acending up the mountain with the last surviving disciple.
Iris returned to the cave where her companions were now awake. She walked towards the two Ming yue sect disciples and backhanded them with such force that their heads snapped to the side and their lips bursted.
"What were you thinking sneaking off? Do you think you're untouchable with such meager cultivation of yours?" She yelled in anger.
"The only reason I saved your lives was because you are of the same sect as little Chen or I wouldn't care less about your life or death. The both of you will go down the mountain at dawn. You're not safe here anymore and the Scarlet sect may come back for you. I do not trust myself to not snap your necks if you do something stupid again." Iris said with finality giving them no room for negotiation.
"Yes" they both replied with a bowed head.
Iris filled her companions in on Ying Yue's identity but skipped the part where she talked about a prophesy as she herself didn't understand what it meant.
"Why the hell would she want you to join them," Long Chen asked with a worried frown on his face. The rest of her companions also contemplated on the information too.
"Shouldn't she hate you for stealing her spot at the sage pavilion?" Fan Jin asked perplexed.
"What would she gain by putting away her hate and joining with you? They must be planning something big" Long Chen said again.
"I don't know little Chen, but you'll have to go down the mountain too" She said as worry seeped into her voice.
"What?! No! I'm not leaving you" Long Chen argued.
"Yes you will! I cannot focus without worrying about your safety! What if something happens to you? Your master, my master and many others are down the mountain. They will protect you until I decend." Iris reasoned.
"Alright. But you better not get wounded" Long Chen warned with worry.
"I won't" Iris promised.
At dawn, Long Chen and the remaining Ming yue sect disciples decended down the mountain according to Iris's arrangements.
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