Frank was at the guest house, waiting. He stood a half a head taller than Xiao and had a righteous air most older knights possessed. When the two parties saw each other, Bradley quickened his pace and strolled up to Frank and saluted him. Xiao followed and saluted Frank. 

"Good morning. You must be Xiao," Frank said.

"What gave it away?"

Frank smiled. "Your hair."

Xiao grinned and elbowed Bradley. "See, I am more memorable than others."

Frank laughed and Bradley scoffed. "Come in to my room," Frank said. "We have some work to do."

When they sat down, Bradley asked, "how is everything?"

Frank sighed. "I saved two maidens the past two weeks but I can't find the leader. The only way to intercept their trafficking would be to catch them before they drug the maidens and take them away."

"Have you interrogated any of the traffickers where they keep the maidens?" Xiao asked,

"Of course. They said that people of higher status in their organization wait for them in a predetermined spot. Other things, they don't know."

Xiao shared a look with Bradley. The traffickers were organized and secretive. "How do they kidnap the maidens?" Bradley asked.

"They get the location and then drug them through some type of scent."

"Lowly bastards," Xiao muttered, shaking his head. Then he raised his head and looked at Frank. "Frank-Ge, did you get the cure from them?"

"Only two doses. They didn't have an ample amount on them."

Xiao and Bradley looked at each other again, more concerned than before. What would they do if the drug was used on them?

"What if they run out? How do they avoid drugging themselves?" Xiao asked.

"I asked them that. They only have enough of the cure to give themselves when they drug the maidens. They get another dose every time they bring back the maiden."

Xiao's eyebrows raised. "They aren't too generous with their thugs, are they?" 

"Did you ever go to their meeting places?" Bradley asked. "They would have the cure."

"I did go, but those traffickers had already left by the time I got there."

Xiao nodded. Of course if they saw one man coming instead of their own men with a maiden slung over their shoulder, they would leave.

"We'll come out tonight," Bradley told Frank and Xiao nodded.

Frank smiled. "I'm glad you came."

"Frank-Ge, did you by any chance meet our older brother, John?" Xiao asked.

Frank shook his head. "Perhaps he went to another place. There are many hotspots."

Xiao and Bradley both hung their head. They - Xiao in particular - hadn't even properly chatted with John before he left.

"Well, we'll go around the city for a bit and get something to eat," Bradley told Frank. 

"Come along with us," Xiao offered.

Frank shook his head, smiling. "I have to visit a scholar today. He's got some books for me."

As they walked down the main street, Xiao looked about him carefully. Though the city was quite big and it seemed that it used to be very lively - there were many shops, flags, and banners, it appeared abandoned. Not many people were on the streets. Up ahead, a flag fluttered in the wind that said Bomeng Restaurant.

"There's a restaurant," Xiao pointed out to Bradley. "Let's go."

Bradley nodded. "We could ask around for information."

"Idiot, why else would we go."

"You pointed out the obvious so I thought I should too."

Xiao laughed long and hard. "That was actually funny! What happened to you?"

Bradley snorted. "Let's go."

As soon as their food arrived, Xiao held the waiter down. "Waiter-Ge, have some wine."

The waiter instantly backed away. "Young master, that's your wine! How can I drink it?"

Xiao smiled. "What? I'm toasting it to you. You must drink it!"

The waiter shook his head fervently. "I dare not, young master."

Bradley gave Xiao a hard look. Xiao ignored it and kept on talking smilingly to the waiter. "Alright, fine, then you must oblige my next wish."

"What is it?" The waiter sounded apprehensive.

"Tell me. What's going on in the city?" Xiao asked. "I've passed by this city when I was young and I remembered it to be lively."

Bradley snorted at the "when I was young". He knew Xiao was pretending to be all old and experienced again. The waiter found it funny too, but didn't dare to laugh as he didn't want to drink and then get scolded by the restaurant owner.

"Young masters, you don't know? Disaster struck this place! There is some monster and it is taking away maidens at night to God knows where! Most people had already ran away."

Xiao laughed inwardly at the exaggerated version of the current happenings by the waiter. "Monster? What monster? Who's seen it?" he asked.

The waiter shrugged. "Who knows? But that's the rumour, isn't it?"

Xiao smiled. "How often do these cases happen? And do you know if the maidens come from good families?"

"The monster doesn't care what type of family the maidens come from, young master! It takes at least two a week."

"What's the government doing?" Bradley asked.

The waiter leaned in. "What they do best - ignore the situation."

Xiao pursed his lips. Of course. Most mayors and premiers weren't like George. They were corrupt and laws were bent to their will when they wanted something done. Other times, they just sit around and enjoy the civilian's taxes.

"What are the civilians still in the city doing?" Bradley proceeded to ask.

"Hiding their daughters and praying. What else can we do?"

Xiao nodded and downed his cup of Tianmu. "Alright, alright." He turned to Bradley, "Brad-Ge, let's leave the place tonight. It's sketchy."

The waiter furrowed his eyebrows. "But surely you two young masters are here to get rid of the monster!"

Xiao laughed. "What, us? We are just travellers. What can we do?"

The waiter looked them up and down and then went away, evidently disgusted that he wasted time on two loafers.

Xiao watched him leave and smiled at Bradley. "Alright. Let's visit the temple." 

Bradley nodded. The temple would be the most crowded place in the city according to the waiter, which meant the traffickers could be present. Especially since most people would be praying for their daughters or sisters.

They quickly finished the meal and headed north towards the temple.

"So what do we think?" Xiao asked.

"We've got to get rid of this organization."

"Is it for profit, do you think?"

"What else can it be?"

Xiao sighed. "Those families with daughters being exploited must feel horrible."

Bradley nodded.

"But now that we're here, they don't need to worry anymore," Xiao said. "We'll eradicate this disaster."

"It's good you're confident. Just make sure your pride won't cloud your judgement."

Xiao snorted. "Don't you worry."

As they got closer to the temple, more and more people were seen. Clumps of people leaving and visiting the temple filled the dirt road leading up to the big temple. 

"Beautiful," Bradley commented.

The three-storied temple was small but nicely and recently furnished. The paint on the beams and poles had no flaws and the entrance was grand and wide. Despite it being a small, city-based temple that didn't have multiple yards and walls and pagodas, it was respectable. Inside, statues painted in gold stood majestically in front of the kneeling civilians.

Xiao nodded appreciatively. "This temple must be visited a lot to look this luxurious. I've never seen a temple so grand in my life."

Bradley snorted. "How many places have you been to?"

"I've travelled for two years just like you!" Xiao said defensively. 

 Bradley ignored him. "I'll go around the place and you can go inside," he said.

Xiao shook his head. "We need to go together. Not many people would approve of my looks," Xiao told Bradley. "They might even think that I'm the culprit."

"Then you've got to stick with me," Bradley said.

Xiao nodded, smiling shamelessly. "I'll count on you to say some nice words for me."

Bradley sighed and they headed inside. Both knights' eyes swivelled around as they walked, thoroughly examining every person they passed. Though, there wasn't a lot to see, just ordinary citizens praying.

They shook their heads at each other. There was nothing.

Outside, they found a bunch of people clustered around a young monk who was probably a few years older than them. Xiao went to the back of the crowd and watched. A lady was talking with tears flowing down her cheeks.

"His whole leg is purple and black," she recounted, with sniffles in between phrases. "There is pus coming out of his injuries too. And his eyes are really badly scratched. Young monk, please give me some medications!"

"This was two days ago, madame?" the monk asked.

"Yes. He got the injuries two days ago."

"What have you done so far?"

"I cleaned the injuries, but that didn't seem to help."

"I'll give you some powder right now. After I'm done helping everyone else, I'll come and visit you, madame."

The lady kneeled down in front of the monk and kowtowed. "Thank you, thank you! You are a God born into this world! My whole family is beyond thankful towards you!"

The monk instantly backed away. "Madame Toble, it's nothing. Get up now, here's your powder."

Xiao smiled and nodded as he watched. There was good people everywhere in the world, even in the accursed city of Wyatt. 

The lady wanted to give the monk money, but he didn't take any. "Madame, with your son injured, you don't have much to spare. Please go back and take care of him."

The lady nodded and went away, and the crowd parted to let her go, many uttering condolences and prayers.

Then a man about fifty went up to the monk and inquired after how to treat a bad cold. The monk, like before, asked questions and then gave out some medicine. The man gave him a big piece of gold and left, extremely thankful.

Xiao and Bradley watched for a while. Then, Xiao nudged Bradley. "We still need to look around."

Bradley nodded and they walked around the place. The temple was surrounded by forests on two sides and buildings on the other side. It had a yard in the back and some monks were seen cleaning.

"Hey, what do you think happened to the lady's son?" Xiao asked.

Bradley tsked. "It's other people's business, why do you care?"

Xiao rolled his eyes. "It might be important! Do you just walk around and suddenly one of your legs is black and purple with pus coming out?"

"He probably offended some officers," Bradley guessed. "Or there is a tyrant in this place."

"Probably. If the monk knew about the instance, then it can't be because of the traffickers."

"Why not?"

"Or else they would have talked about the monster."

"The monk probably knows it's not a monster but men," Bradley said. "He isn't stupid."

"Even if he knows, there isn't anything he can do," Xiao said. "Let's keep on looking."

Bradley hummed in agreement. However, there wasn't anything to be found, especially when they didn't have a specific target. There was nothing suspicious around.

As they circled to the front, a commotion broke out. Xiao raced towards the commotion and found that someone had interrupted the monk's clinic. It was a young man about Xiao's age dressed in silk martial arts clothes.

"May I have your name, childe?" the monk was asking.

"Simon Williams. Monk, my sister was drugged last night. Do you have any cure for this?" He said all in one breath.

The monk's eyes widened. "Drugged? Did you try using cold water?"

"Obviously. If that worked, why would I come to Wyatt City?"

People standing around started showing their indignation for being interrupted and at the childe's rude behaviour.

"This childe, there's a line here. Regardless of you interrupting us, you shouldn't be so rude towards the life-saving monk," someone said.

The childe ignored them and looked at the monk. "I heard that Monk Olga is the God of Medicine in this region so I came here. I hope you can give me some cure for my sister."

The monk made to speak but another onlooker spoke up, again condemning the childe. More and more people were speaking up and most people lingered to look.

Just then, a priest in grey walked out of the temple. Xiao and Bradley, being observant, instantly snapped their heads towards this new addition into the crowd. The priest was about six feet with wide shoulders and a long face. He walked towards the commotion with slow but sure steps and the young monk got up from his seat and saluted the priest.

"Mentor."

"Pat, what is happening?"

Pat Olga glanced at the childe and said, "I'm just helping these civilians."

"Why is there so much noise?"

One farmer spoke up. "Monk Olga was operating his clinic but then this childe came and interrupted the process and started behaving rudely."

Pat Olga spoke to the priest. "Mentor, I'm sorry for disturbing the peace and quiet of the temple. It won't happen again."

The childe, Simon Williams, bowed to the priest. "I apologize, priest."

"What's the condition, childe?" The priest asked the childe.

Simon opened his mouth but then paused. "Priest, I will come back another time. This isn't too private." Then he saluted and left.

Xiao watched him leave. The childe had been open enough a moment ago. What was it about the priest that he did not like?

The priest watched the childe too, and then turned to Pat Olga. "Pat, is that Williams' childe?"

Pat hesitated. "There are many Williams in the area, mentor."

The priest smiled. "I see. Make sure the quiet of the temple will go undisturbed from now on." He turned and left too.

Xiao nudged Bradley. "Let's go to the childe. His sister must be a victim of the traffickers!"

Bradley nodded. "He's not far off." There was only one road one could walk if they wanted to leave the temple so it wouldn't be hard to catch up to the childe. 

They ran and soon reached Simon Williams. "Childe Williams," Bradley called.

He turned when he heard his name and seemed surprised to find two knights standing in front of him.

"Knights," he said, saluting.

Bradley saluted and Xiao nodded. "Childe Williams, did you happen to meet the trafficker yesterday?" Xiao asked without preamble.

Simon Williams' eyes widened. "You know who caused my sister to be unconscious?"

"If I did, he would be dead right now," Xiao said, which earned him half a laugh. 

Bradley didn't find it funny and was worried that Xiao would make Simon Williams not want to talk, so he hurried to speak. "I am Bradley Howell and this is my younger brother, Xiao Sa."

Simon Williams gasped. "Disciples of Grandmaster Liang!" He bowed towards them and his tone became respectful and awestruck.

Xiao raised his eyebrows and a smile appeared on his face. "You've heard of us?"

"My cousin was rescued by Knight Lowe last year. And besides, Grandmaster Liang is very famous," Simon gushed.

Xiao and Bradley both grinned at this. The Mount Huai Sect wasn't so prominent, but it was still respectable. 

"So the trafficker," Xiao said.

"Right," Simon said. "Yesterday, I was coming back late at night when I saw him carrying something over the yard of my wall. I went to stop him and I realized that he was carrying my sister. I pulled out my sword to fight him but he just ran away. But I can't wake up my sister by any means. So I came here to request the help of Monk Olga, who is quite famous around here."

"We are new to this place but we are hoping to get rid of the traffickers," Bradley told Simon. "Do you have any intelligence?"

Simon shook his head. "I've only heard of the monster rumour, which obviously is false. I live in the next city, at Williams Village."

Xiao nodded. "You know martial arts, Childe Williams?"

"Please, call me Simon. And yes."

"Make sure to take care of the people in Williams Village," Xiao said. "It seems that the tyrants have influence everywhere."

"And my sister, do you know ... "

Xiao sighed and patted Simon's shoulder. "I don't, Simon." Bradley shot him a look but Xiao ignored him. "Monk Olga. Can you tell us about him?"

Simon brightened up at the thought that he could help the knights. "Monk Olga is the healer of the region, the God of Medicine. He saves all that passes by him and sometimes free of charge."

Xiao nodded at this. He'd seen.

"He also - " Simon cut himself off and looked at Xiao and Bradley doubtfully. Xiao thought that he was suspicious of them and he searched for something comforting to say.

"He also warned me not to tell the priest about my sister," Simon finished.