The Red Orchid Garden was a large courtyard with three smaller courtyards within it. These three smaller courtyards surrounded a little lake that was as clear as glass, revealing the abundant sea life within.
Upon entering from the valley's entrance, one could walk along a paved road toward the small lake where there was a bridge that led to its center before splitting off into three sections that led to the three courtyards.
Along the sides of the paved road that led from the valley's entrance to the bridge, there were orchid trees that bloomed flowers that were of a striking red blood color. These red orchid trees were also abundant in the three courtyards, allowing one to understand why this place was given the name Red Orchid Garden.
Overall, stepping into this valley was akin to leaving the mortal world and entering a paradise garden.
As Xiao Mo walked along the paved road barefooted, he sensed the Spiritual Qi in his surroundings and determined it was several times greater in quantity as well as quality than what was in the outside world. He couldn't help but think that in terms of a suitable location for one to enter secluded cultivation, it was indeed a paradise.
"So? How is it Brother Xiao Mo?"
Sung-il asked with raised eyebrows and a broad smile on his face.
Xiao Mo couldn't help but nod and express his true feelings.
"It's unlike any other place I've visited before. Whether it is for cultivation or just its aesthetics."
This comment was considered high praise by Xiao Mo, considering he had visited the Martial Alliance Academy a few times. He didn't know about the other Clans and Sects in the Alliance. However, given that the Martial Alliance Academy was built to accommodate the youths from those Clans and Sects, its standards should be several times higher than theirs, right?
"Brother Xiao Mo, from my intel, today is the day the young maidens of the Red Orchid Gardens will be practicing their guqin skills in the Practice Hall. The time is close to noon, just in time for them to start."
As Sung-il said this, the three reached the bridge and began climbing up its curved paved structure.
"Brother Xiao Mo, this courtyard on the left is the practice hall."
Sung-il pointed to the courtyard on the left as they walked, and Xiao Mo looked over. There he saw that the main building's doors were wide open, allowing him to see a few indistinct figures moving about inside.
Xiao Mo's heart couldn't help but sped up from excitement. Even Mei-Mei showed an expression of slight interest.
However, as they approached the intersection of the bridge at the center of the lake, Sung-il started acting strangely.
Xiao Mo and Mei-Mei found it hard not to notice since he kept glancing around cautiously while clutching that green jade token which they had used to bypass the Formation surrounding the valley.
Xiao Mo couldn't help but look at Sung-il with suspicion rising in his heart. However, before he could voice them, they had just reached the intersection when someone abruptly appeared in front of them and blocked their path forward.
Xiao Mo was shocked by this ghost-like figure suddenly appearing, and even Mei-Mei's expression shifted as she gripped the hilt of her sword.
They were both unable to detect this person when she appeared. No, even as she stood there, they couldn't sense her.
Xiao Mo's scalp tingled thinking this person might actually be a ghost.
The person who suddenly appeared was a girl who looked to be in her late teens or early twenties. She wore an all-red robe while her hair was tied up in a ponytail with a similarly red hairpin. Her face, which was lightly powdered with makeup, was so beautiful that a mortal unknown to the cultivation world might have actually mistaken her for a Goddess from the Nine Heavens. She was too beautiful.
However, her extremely beautiful facial features were slightly dampened by the scornful expression she wore while glaring at Sung-il.
Immediately after the girl appeared, Sung-il shoved the jade slip he was clutching in his hand and loudly yelled.
"I have a jade token!"
The scene was akin to a man waving a lit torch around trying to ward of a vicious tiger while inside a dark jungle.
As Sung-il continuously waved the token around in front of the woman he would holler out about having the token. It was as if he were afraid the entire Demonic Cult wouldn't know he had the jade token in his hand.
However, Xiao Mo soon understood why he was reacting like this as he sensed the terrifying power of the Formation that surrounded the valley converging on this girl.
'No wonder I can't sense her presence even when she's standing in front of me, she's drawing on the power of the Formation around the valley.'
Xiao Mo had an idea of who this girl might be after noticing this detail. It was then confirmed by Sung-il's next words.
"President Kim, I really have a jade token! Look!"
Sung-il, sensing the continuous convergence of the Formation's power around the girl, trembled and broke into a cold sweat as he shouted.
It couldn't be helped, he had to, or else he would have to leave behind an arm or leg if he tried to escape this place. The Formation had been refined too many times, negating almost all of his methods of coming and going from this place as he pleased!
Thankfully Sung-il's incessant squealing actually worked. The girl named President Kim glanced away from his face and looked down at the jade token in his hand. When she closely scrutinized the jade token, she was visibly taken aback.
"It's real?!"
Her soft voice was heard as she exclaimed in surprise.
"Of course, it's real! How did you think I entered through the Formation otherwise? I wouldn't dare sneak into President Kim's Red Orchid Garden!"
Sung-il shouted righteously as he practically shoved the jade slip in President Kim's face.
However, her surprised expression quickly returned to coldness. Glaring at Sung-il she enunciated slowly.
"You. Stole. It."
But despite saying this, she still dissipated the Formation's power that was accumulating around her.
Sung-il sighed internally when he saw this before he retracted his hand holding the jade token and said with a smile.
"Senior Sister Kim, I didn't steal it. It was lent to me by Brother Bai Luo."
President Kim snorted at Sung-il's words before saying angrily.
"As the only special token I've given out since becoming the Red Orchid Garden President, I knew you would eventually go seeking it out, so, I specifically told Young Master Bai never to let it fall into your hands."
The smile on Sung-il's face froze when he heard that, and all the excuses he had come up with to deny he stole the jade token were tossed out the window.
President Kim snorted once again when she saw Sung-il's reaction before she finally turned her attention to Xiao Mo and Mei-Mei. Frowning at Xiao Mo, who looked like he had come here straight out of bed, she asked coldly.
"Why did you bring these people with you, who are they?"