'Is that Hong Luan?!'
No one could believe that the mangled, mud-like figure with a completely destroyed face before them was the same spirited, androgynous Hong Luan—the strongest of the Vermilion Bird Sect's younger generation.
"What in the world happened? Is that really Hong Luan?"
Wakatsuki Kei asked the Vermilion Bird Sect Elder beside him in a low voice.
"From what I can see, and in my judgment, it's highly likely Young Master Hong."
The Vermilion Bird Sect Elder's grim words made everyone frown slightly.
'Has the entire operation in the backyard really failed?'
"Hong Luan's defeat doesn't necessarily mean anything. Perhaps this is just a ploy. The others might be succeeding. They're trying to trick us into retreating."
The Beidou Sect Elder said, his expression calm.
"Indeed, that's possible. You're only making a judgment based on experience. This person's face is completely ruined, so their true identity is hard to confirm."
