Meng Bai's expression grew serious as he heard the man's words. "Like a teleportation array or a hidden tunnel?"
"Possibly," the man nodded. "Or were taken by force and smuggled out."
'Doubt someone can smuggle the two high elders easily.' Daoist Chu's brows knit together slightly. "Have there been any… odd disappearances or abnormal activities in the city around the time they went missing?"
The clerk tapped the panel again and pulled up a new list. "A few disappearances of rogue cultivators and merchant guards during that season. Nothing extreme, but there was a slight spike."
He paused, then added, "You might want to ask around the city. We provide a broad view, but there are individuals in Ash Crown City with sharp eyes and longer memories. Sword cultivators, in particular, tend to stand out even if their faces change. The way they walk, the calm in their gaze—it's not easily hidden."
Daoist Chu nodded thoughtfully. "Understood. Thank you."
