That girl was obviously Soo-Hyun. She never forgot Jin and the impact he had in her early years. Of course, she grown to become a young woman now. Whatever she felt about Jin...It disappeared in the river of time. She still respected and admired him. She wasn't fond of the way he was being treated by the sect and the other disciples due to this. But she could only admit that the rewards were too tempting. Of course, if it was her, she wouldn't hunt him and welcome him back with open arms instead. But who else had similar thoughts?

She went to meet Han-Bi and Sang-Min. The two already crossed over the 25th stage and were well on their way to the 30th. They would probably not be able to get promoted to core disciples but they would easily enter the ranks of inner elders as simple Elders at the beginning. Later on, who knows?

In any case, they hadn't changed housings and neither did she. The three were still neighbors and continued to foster their friendship. In a way, she replaced Jin.

As she arrived, she found the two enjoying themselves on the terrace as usual. Throughout the years, she always wondered if those two ever did something else... Sang-Min was just going wherever Han-Bi was as being with her was enough to satisfy him. As for Han-Bi, she enjoyed tea and calm. That's how they ended up spending most of their time there, either drinking or cultivating. Sometimes both.

They greeted her warmly as usual. They certainly expected her to come to them as soon as they received that notice. She moved on but never tried to forget. On the other hand, they had truly moved on.

She didn't bother with useless talks and went straight to the point: "Aren't you guys angry about this?"

The two of them retained a poker face as they shook their heads sideways. Han-Bi sighed and stated: "It is a relief that he is alive but it isn't wrong to say that he is no longer one of us. He spent more time outside after all"

Soo-Min expected this answer and sighed. Then, she took a seat and asked them: "Please, at least, tell me that you guys are not going out to hunt him"

Sang-Min answered her: "No way. We don't know where he is"

Han-Bi glared at him before adding: "And even if we did, we would not go. It's too dangerous. Whoever tries to help him...I'm afraid they won't have a good end"

Soo-Min nodded and sighed once more. Then, she stated: "It's sad"

The two seniors did not expect her to remain so serene in the face of such a news. Sang-Min asked: "That's it? You're not going to complain or rant more?"

Soo-Min glared at him before she spoke: "What good would it be? I grew up, ok? I know that I am powerless to do anything about such a thing. I'm just mad. I don't like it"

Han-Bi nodded approvingly and Sang-Min added: "Are you sure? I remember how much of a fuss you made back in the days..."

Soo-Min punched him lightly making the three chuckle. Then, she turned serious and stated: "Well, you're right when you say that he is no longer one of us... I just hate the fact that even though he's alive, he's being hunted down worldwide...He does not deserve that"

Han-Bi asked: "Are you certain about that? Just like us, he might have changed a lot"

Soo-Min denied it strongly: "No. He's a nice and caring guy. What's more, none of the wanted posters ever mentioned any crimes. I think that it's all just about greed...And that's why I'm mad"

The seniors looked at each other. They silently agreed with her deduction. It did not seem like Jin had done any crimes. Sure, he had the corruption element but then again, it was not enough to promote such a hunt. The three grade 6 weapons were. But even those were lacking. There had to be something else he owned that had an immense value.

Han-Bi decided to change the subject: "Then, how about that little lover of yours?"

Soo-Min: "I broke all his limbs. This fucker met Jin, can you believe it? He went to that arena precisely to meet him and didn't say anything!"

Han-Bi nodded and agreed wholeheartedly with the punishment: "He deserved it"

Sang-Min agreed too. Considering how much Jin was important to Soo-Min back then, he should have told her right away, even before he left. Just the possibility of him being alive would have been enough for Soo-Min to go with him. This idiot did not even realize that Soo-Min was not in love with Jin, only extremely grateful...

He didn't expect Soo-Min to add more though: "And I told him that if he ever steps foot outside the sect, i'd go after his life and hunt him"

The two seniors chuckled. This girl remained as barbaric as ever. But that aside, she better not go for it. Not that she would fail or be punished but because it was too dangerous at the moment. Han-Bi advised her: "You're the one who should not ever step foot outside the sect until Jin is captured. Don't forget that to other people, you are a precious bait"

Soo-Min hadn't thought of this and did not expect it. She tried to defend herself: "No way, it's been so long already..."

Sang-Min cut her off and added: "Yet you broke a guy's limbs because of him. Don't think too much of it. We're all 'bait' in the eyes of those hunters. Everyone that was close to him is in this situation"

Soo-Min gasped and asked: "What about his family then?!"

Both of the seniors looked at her slightly shocked. They did not expect such a quesiton and, now that they thought of it, they had no answers. They did not know his family or anything about them...