The three Guozhao Hunters met Fang Yaoting, Lee Dachin, and their two disciples, Guozhao Zhiqiang and Yang Bao at the front door of Peach Blossom Valley.
"Baiyu, what's the matter?" Fang Yaoting asked with concern, noticing the serious expressions.
"I don't know," Guo Baiyu replied. "Let's go in and see who the uninvited guest who came to visit us is."
The group walked into Peach Blossom Valley, and there, standing by the pool, was Yuping.
Ping'an excitedly smiled and shouted, "Yuping!"
Yuping turned around and walked towards the group of people, his unique form captivating.
Yang Bao was startled. "I have never seen a centaur!" he exclaimed.
Fang Yaoting reminded Yang Bao, "Mind your manners. We've never seen one before either, but we didn't act like you."
"I'm sorry, Third Master, I'm just so excited," Yang Bao apologized, chastened.
Zhao Renshu laughed happily. "Kid, I didn't recognize you at all. You've grown up! How old are you now? Twenty years old?"
Yuping smiled and said, "I am twelve years old."
"I didn't know you were here?" Guo Baiyu asked, surprised by his presence.
Zhao Renshu chuckled and said, "I thought it was the Xiao sisters who came to see us. I'm relieved it's not them."
At Zhao Renshu's lighthearted remarks, Yuping did not smile, but said, his voice grim, "My father sent me."
Guo Baiyu, Zhao Renshu, Ping'an's faces darkened immediately, sensing ill tidings.
Yuping stood in front of Ping'an. "Sister Ping'an, the Northern Fortress is failing. Right now, the small gap is as big as a door. We exhausted our last resources and temporarily blocked the Demon Gate from collapsing. Aishu believes that it can only hold the demons at bay for another three months or less. If the Northern Fortress completely collapses, you know what will happen."
"I know," Ping'an replied, her voice somber. "Aishu once told me that if the Northern Fortress fails, Horsemen Land will be wiped out first. Then Waterfall City and the rest of the land will be destroyed one city at a time."
"My father sent me to call for help," Yuping confirmed. "Our soldiers alone will not hold the front line. My father said, if we must fight the demons, let us fight them in Horsemen Land."
"When I called for King Shammek, he answered me," Guo Baiyu stated, his resolve clear. "Now, he is asking for my help, and I will answer his call. Tell King Shammek that I will convene as many people as possible, and we will go up north within a month. I hope we will be there before the Northern Fortress fails."
Yuping smiled. "Doctor Guozhao, I will tell my father. We will be waiting for you in Horsemen Land." The young centaur then turned and walked into the waterfall, disappearing from sight.
Zhao Renshu sighed. "We knew that this day would come, but it might have come too soon."
"Ah Bao," Guo Baiyu commanded, turning to his disciple, "gather all your juniors to collect as much pain-relief herbal medicine as possible."
"I will have them start today," Yang Bao replied, understanding the urgency.
"Zhiqiang," Guo Baiyu continued, "I want you to go to Peace Town and tell Longtong to move his family and Boss Xiong's family here. Tell him, no matter what the circumstance is, they have to be in Cloud City before we leave."
"Zhiqiang, tell Longtong to bring my uncle's family too," Lee Dachin added.
"I will," Guozhao Zhiqiang affirmed.
"You leave today," Zhao Renshu instructed.
"Yaoting, go to Capital City and bring your family here," Guo Baiyu said to Fang Yaoting. "Please try to persuade Master Guo to come."
"I will go to my grandfather and ask for his help," Fang Yaoting replied, "but the army belongs to the court, and it is impossible to deploy an army without the mayor's consent."
"If not," Guo Baiyu conceded, "maybe let them protect the people in Capital City until we figure out how to seal the Demon Gate."
Zhao Renshu looked at Guo Baiyu. "Baiyu, you are doing what I'm thinking you are about to do," he said, a grim understanding in his eyes.
"Yes, I am," Guo Baiyu sighed.
"Before we part up North," Zhao Renshu continued, "we will activate the barricade stone; it will seal off Cloud City and prevent anyone or anything from entering."
"Let's prepare for the worst," Guo Baiyu stated. "In two days, it will be the annual hunter competition of all the Hunter clans and the Six Sectors in Golden Gate Sector. I think we have to attend this year."
"I will have Shan send a message to Peizhi and the Spirit Clan leaders to meet us in Golden Gate Sector," Zhao Renshu said, making arrangements.
"Dachin, you stay here and watch over the children while we are gone," Guo Baiyu instructed Lee Dachin. He looked at Yang Bao. "Since Zhiqiang is gone, you are now the senior of your juniors. If you don't understand, just ask Teacher Lee."
"Masters, rest assured, I won't let you down," Yang Bao promised, his face determined.
"Don't worry about me," Lee Dachin said. "The students are well-behaved. You guys be safe."
That night, Guo Baiyu was looking through old war books in the study room, searching for any way to stop the demon from breaking through. Then he looked at the door, and Zhao Renshu stood there, looking at him.
"What's the matter?" Guo Baiyu asked.
"What are you doing?" Zhao Renshu countered.
"Gathering knowledge," Guo Baiyu replied.
Zhao Renshu smiled. "Why, when we die, we don't need knowledge anymore?"
"It sounds like you have confidence in the whole situation," Guo Baiyu observed dryly.
Zhao Renshu walked into the room and sat opposite Guo Baiyu. He put a paper talisman on the table and said, "I have already figured it out."
"Do you really want to use this?" Guo Baiyu asked, his voice low with concern.
"This is a contingency plan in case everything else fails," Zhao Renshu explained.
"How do you plan to use this?" Guo Baiyu pressed.
"The volunteers and I will ride into the open Demon Gate and summon my talisman," Zhao Renshu revealed, his voice solemn. "If there is anything left, you will finish it." He sighed and looked at Guo Baiyu. "Baiyu, I know it's a bit selfish to ask you to die together with me, but apart from you, I have no one else that I trust enough to implement the plan to, except you."
Guo Baiyu took the talisman and tucked it inside his robe. "I understand," he said, accepting the heavy burden.
Zhao Renshu sighed. "If our wife knows, she's going to kill us."
"If Ping'an turns to Saroyan and kills them all, I don't mind turning back into dirt," Guo Baiyu replied, a grim humor in his voice.
"Me too," Zhao Renshu agreed. "This is why the talisman is a contingency plan."
"Why are you here?" Guo Baiyu asked, noting his presence.
"Oh, it's dinner time," Zhao Renshu replied, breaking the somber mood.
Early the next morning, Lee Dachin sent Fang Yaoting and Guo Baiyu, Zhao Renshu, and Ping'an to board the ship to Capital City.
"See you in a few days," Fang Yaoting smiled at Lee Dachin, a reassuring promise.
"Dachin, if there is anything urgent, have Shan come get us," Guo Baiyu instructed.
"Or summon Zhiqiang," Zhao Renshu added.
"Don't worry," Lee Dachin smiled. "You guys be careful and stay safe."
Lee Dachin watched as Guo Baiyu, Zhao Renshu, Fang Yaoting, and Ping'an boarded the ship, and the ship left the pier. He stood at the pier until he could no longer see the ship, only then did he decide to walk home, a heavy sense of foreboding settling upon him.