Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Anger flashed through the eyes ofthe majority of the cultivators. The old woman had already made an opening move when she first ascended the mountain. The old man was about to display his supernatural powers to awe the crowd right now. Even if they were to set down their prowess, there was no need for each person to display his or her powers individually.
However, the disgusting pride on the old man’s face suddenly vanished unexpectedly. In exchange, he had a solemn and stern expression now. He then folded his hands and raised them in front of his face to earnestly give a great salute to the cultivators once again which confused everyone all at once.
After the old man had straightened his back, he then stretched out his hand and pointed to the other three monsters as he spoke steadily, “Amongst these people here, anyone could be a sword immortal who had lived in solitary whose cultivation base can only be higher than an old fellow like me. This old fellow had acted continuously earlier not because I had intentionally wanted to show off my abilities but because this is an important and urgent matter. I wish to let our fellow cultivators understand that we are about to enter the mortal world and that in the world, there is truly a great disaster which is upon us! To those we may have disrespected, I hope that everybody will be magnanimous enough to forgive us! When peace and calm have returned to the world once again and if this old fellow is still alive, then I shall humbly apologize to everyone once again!”
In the span of a short moment, the old man had turned from a troublemaker who had been intoxicated by his small success into an erudite person from another realm who was respectable and virtuous. Fei Fei pouted slightly with the corners of her mouth, Bao Ri’s tactic of saluting first and then declaring his righteousness was exceedingly remarkable. Anyone else would have been frightened and under normal circumstances, one could not help but look for excuses on one’s behalf so that they would not accidentally provoke a strongman. The excuse that was most commonly used was to justify the actions of the strongman and place the other party’s doings into the position of ‘everything had its cause’.
He had acted disdainfully at first then commanded a deep reverence from the people. He had acted arrogantly and self-possessed at first and turned everybody else’s fear of oneself into approval while maintaining one’s composure. Such a trick was not something any person could adopt. Of course, the process of mood-inducing was built upon the foundations of this old man’s great abilities. If Ji Fei and Shui Jing were to adopt this trick, they would soon have been torn apart by the rogue cultivators.
As expected, the majority of the rogue cultivators bowed and returned the salutation one after another. They then started speaking courteously in a noisy manner.
The old man Bao Ri smiled earnestly as he said, “The few of us old monsters had stayed behind closed doors on usual days, that is why our fellow cultivators don’t know who we are. However, I’ll only need to mention a location and everyone will then understand.” Bao Ri then paused and said these words steadily, “The Black and White Island!”
There was an immediate uproar as the cultivators all erupted into chaos at once. Even the master cultivators from the righteous path of the Five Blessings could not refrain themselves anymore and started whispering to each other. On the other hand, the Little Supreme Leader Liu Zheng’s expression was very confused.
Even though he understood that these four strange persons would somehow be related to Xiang Liu, when he heard the old man speaking about the Black and White Island personally, Wen Leyang was still astonished in his heart.
The old man Bao Ri retained the expression of elderly affection and benevolent justice on his face all the while. He started speaking once again when the hubbub died down, “The few of us are closely connected to the Black and White Island. When put into words, you can even say that we are the disciples of Black and White Island and that is not considered a bluff.” The old man suddenly laughed, “And even less considered as nonsense!”
The majority of the rogue cultivators, like Giant Bull, were typically rough and impolite. When they realized that the old man had suddenly spoken in an impolite manner, most of them followed along and laughed as well and their favorable impression towards the old man Bao Ri grew stronger. Zhui Zi, who was standing right next to Wen Leyang, moved her body ever so slightly but Chang Li was agile and quick as she grabbed Zhui Zi’s wrist and shook her head gently.
The old man Bao Ri’s smile did not recede as he continued, “The few of us had joined hands to ascend the mountain, we are here because of the matter concerning the Black and White Island! Two thousand years ago, a demon-suppressing heaven’s cone nail had been destroyed on the Black and White Island. The culprit was the demon cat Chang Li who had then been pursued by the junior brother disciples who had been guarding the formation. They chased her for a great distance but she had received protection from someone else. After a violent battle, her whereabouts were unknown… The island-protecting junior brother disciples and the cultivators of the world could only say that the demon cat had used magic to commit suicide yet no one had expected this.” At this point, the old man Bao Ri’s tone of speaking abruptly changed. He sounded sterner and more furious now, “A few years ago, the demon cat had returned to the mortal world and she’s creating trouble once again!”
Before his voice died away, the old monk Ji Fei, who had been acting docile and obedient on the side, suddenly raised his head. It was as if he had turned into another person as he asked aloud bravely, “May I ask the senior Bao Ri, ever since Chang Li had made her comeback, what sort of trouble has she created?” His tone of speaking did not sound courteous at all but was filled with rebuke.
Fei Fei giggled. She then pulled Wen Leyang’s sleeve gently and spoke softly, “That old monk is not as foolish as we expected!”
Fei Fei then procured a binocular from her bag with agile movements. She raised the binoculars to her eyes to observe Ji Fei without raising the cultivator’s attention at all. A moment later, Fei Fei spoke in slight astonishment, “The old monk’s expression… Is like… He has a patron backing him. It’s as if he knows that Chang Li is here!”
Wen Leyang had been initially puzzled for the old monk did not need to jump out to express his determination right now. Moreover, who was he trying to show this act of jumping out? Upon listening to Fei Fei’s speech, he was suddenly enlightened while also a little bit curious. Xiao Sha’s Art of Disguise was miraculous, even they could not recognize themselves. If Ji Fei could tell that Chang Li was on the Goddess Peak as well, that would be an absurd situation.
The old monk Ji Fei did not wait for old man Bao Ri to speak as he continued to bombard the old man with even more rebuke, “Chang Li is already the top demon immortal since two thousand years ago, even the unity of the cultivation world had been futile against her…”
Wen Leyang nodded to Fei Fei, the old monk Ji Fei has already started his flattery so he has certainly known that they had arrived.
“In a rogue cultivator’s lifetime, we aim for free and unfettered cultivation. We would not be concerned whether it was the battle of the righteous and the evil path or the violent fights between demons and devils. Moreover, regardless of whether your statement was true or false, even if Chang Li were to reenter the world, how is that related to us?” Ji Fei’s words were not aggressive at all but they sounded very pleasant to the ears of rogue cultivators. Following that, the old monk sneered, “Perhaps the sword immortals who had possessed the superhuman skills of the heavens and earth want us, the rogue cultivators, to deal with the demon immortal Chang Li?”
Old man Bao Ri raised his brows and was about to speak but Ji Fei, who had shut his mouth, unexpectedly began to speak again, “Even though Ji Fei and Shui Jing are from the junior generation of cultivators, we dare to speak a boastful talk here – if Chang Li were to stand in front of me right now and ask me to help her deal with all of you, I will refuse as well. It is as what I’ve just said, the rogue cultivators are unconcerned over worldly disputes, we only strive for free and unfettered cultivation. I do not care about the Black and White Island; Xiang Liu; top sword immortals; or even outstanding great demons!”
The old monk Ji Fei exhaled a long breath after he had finished speaking. He stood opposite old man Bao Ri righteously. When the mountain wind blew on him, he truly had the mannerism of an erudite person. However, the evil glow at the corners of his eyes swept swiftly past the area where Wen Leyang and the rest were standing…
Old man Bao Ri had been repeatedly chided by Ji Fei and the anger on his face has grown thicker. Sir Rust stretched out his hand and grabbed Bao Ri’s wrist. It was true that they were here at Goddess Peak to request for the cultivators of the world’s help to manage some matters on their behalf. Even though Ji Fei was only a trivial person, he was still the organizer of this meeting after all. If he were to be slapped to death, the cultivators would not dare to risk their lives to fight him but they would not stay loyal to him either.
The Hot Immortal Aunt took two steps forward. Her expression was kind and affectionate as she laughed at Ji Fei, “I’m afraid that this head priest is still unaware that the demon cat and her comrades had tried to release Xiang Liu back then. After she has reentered the mortal world this time, she had saved Xiang Liu’s evil soul companion from the highland then killed our fellow disciples that we had left on the highland…”
Wen Leyang and Chang Li gazed into the eyes of one another with a strange expression. According to the fat woman’s statement, the evil soul’s companion was supposed to be the dog-headed eagle. Had Qian Ren just taken his Grand Master Tuo Xie’s place? He only needed to ponder attentively before he realized that since this gang of people was trying to deal with Grand Master Chang Li, they were no different to Wu Dudu. They were also attempting to kill the monkey Qian Ren. They could even straightforwardly compile everything and declare that for Chang Li’s comrades, their deaths would not be the sufficient punishment for their crimes.
However, what was the relationship between Qian Ren and these people or what was his relationship to the Black and White Island? Wen Leyang was recalling Qian Ren’s encounters and he could not help but peer at Zhui Zi as an idea which frightened him suddenly popped out in his mind.
“Moreover, three of our formation-protecting junior brother disciples on the Black and White Island had recently died an untimely death too!” Hot Immortal Aunt’s voice sounded crisp and pleasant as she spoke. She was also a little breathless as if she had exerted too much strength. If one were to close their eyes and listen to her, she would sound enticing and attractive. However, when one was to open their eyes, they would feel like dying just from looking at her.
The old monk Ji Fei remembered that he was an amnesiac so he made a terrified expression which had appeared feigned to the utmost extent in Fei Fei’s eyes, “The three solitary guardian sword immortals on the Black and White Island… Have passed away?!” The old monk then inhaled a deep breath as he bawled and cried out in a heart-wrenching voice three times! The Little Supreme Leader Liu Zheng has a very intimate relationship with Wen Leyang so he would need to honor that regardless.
The Hot Immortal Aunt was startled by the old monk who could cry on demand. Her smile vanished and she spoke with a stern expression, “The demon cat Chang Li perpetrates every conceivable crime and is unpardonably wicked. If we don’t kill her, I’m afraid that it will not take long before she releases Xiang Liu into the mortal world once again!”
The old monk Ji Fei wiped his tears away and he straightened his back once again. He frowned as he asked, “How is this related to us, the rogue cultivators?”
The Hot Immortal Aunt understood very well that he was messing around but she held her patience and spoke with a lowered voice, “The moment Xiang Liu is released, he will plunge the people into misery and suffering. None of the cultivators in the world will be capable of keeping out of the affair! The relationship between the demon cat, Xiang Liu, and the rogue cultivators is as such!”
The Hot Immortal Aunt’s fat face has quietly condensed into streaks of murderous wrinkles. The old monk Ji Fei panicked and he did not know what to say anymore when a smiling voice suddenly echoed from behind him at that moment, “Sister, had Xiang Liu once told you that he would start a massacre after he has reentered the mortal world? That he would kill the entire cultivation world?”
Wen Buzuo walked out smilingly as the old monk Ji Fei exhaled a long breath from the bottom of his heart. When it comes to endless pestering with unreasonable demands, Wen Buzuo was the real master. He was directly unreasonable the moment he started speaking.
As expected, the Hot Immortal Aunt was stunned for a moment. Still, she could not help but to continue, “Xiang Liu is the utmost evilest creature under the heavens. He is the master of all sins. Ever since the primitive ages, he has been the monster which had created troubles for the entire world. If he were to truly struggle free from his trap…”
Wen Buzuo laughed strangely and he did not allow her to finish her sentence at all, “These are all fool’s folklores and the recordings of baseless history. Since I’ve never head which family’s first ancestors had been harmed by Xiang Liu, the nine-headed monster can be sleeping on the Black and White Island out of fatigue or playing joyously and rolling around on the Changbai Mountains, he is still f*cking unrelated to the rogue cultivators! The few of all of you, on the other hand, whether you are doing this out of good or malicious intention, you are encouraging all of us to deal with Chang Li. Heh, I’m afraid that it is not that different than when all of you directly attack and kill everyone on the Goddess Peak!”
The rogue cultivators have started to discuss amongst themselves animatedly. They do not wish for Xiang Liu to escape but they also did not want to deal with Chang Li too. Everyone knows very well in their hearts the demon cat’s existence and condition.
The Hot Immortal Aunt chuckled crisply, “All of you have misunderstood us, our siblings are here not because we want to force this group to capture the demon cat…”
Wen Buzuo still refused to allow her to finish her sentence before he started shaking his huge head. He then paced back and forth on the same spot as he said, “We are people who are aware of our limitations. We cannot possibly form groups of tens or groups of a hundred to descend the mountain and capture Chang Li. However…” Wen Buzuo abruptly stopped walking and his eyes glimmered as he stared at the Hot Immortal Aunt, “Even if you were to allow us to help, it would only be wishful thinking! The rogue cultivators have our own ideas and methods, all of you ought to manage the fight yourselves. We are not the judge nor the players in uniform and we are not even the motherf*cking cheerleaders!”
Ji Fei immediately chimed in loudly, “That’s correct! If you were to look for us today, she will be looking for us tomorrow so what should the rogue cultivators be cultivating about then? We might as well break up and become the disciples of the orthodox Five Blessings’ sects!”
The people from the orthodox Five Blessings behind him were startled. They had been scolding the old monk in their hearts for playing a dirty trick and sending these few old monsters on their way. Forget about the rogue cultivators, even the orthodox sects of the cultivation world, who would want and who would dare to truly get involved in the fight between Chang Li and the Black and White Island?
The Hot Immortal Aunt stopped speaking as she turned around and gazed into the eyes of the other three monsters. Their faces then simultaneously flashed with an arrogant smile. The old monk Ji Fei felt his heart thud loudly as he dashed back to the Five Blessings’ formation with Wen Buzuo.
At this moment, the Little Supreme Leader Liu Zheng walked over and the expression on his face was entangled with deep puzzlement. He gave the four old monsters a kowtow as a salutation and spoke a neutral manner, “I am a disciple of the Kunlun Sect and my name is Liu Zheng. I would like to inquire from the fellow seniors, what sort of connection do you have with the Black and White Island?” He had attended to the Enlightened Tian Shu for many years yet he had never heard from Tian Shu that there were some unknown branches or other pupils from the same master of the Black and White Island on the land of the east. Moreover, these four persons’ cultivation methods differed from one another; there was not a single ounce of similarity to Tian Shu and Tian Hua’s cultivation method.
However, these four monsters possessed exceedingly high cultivation bases. Even if they were to need others’ help to deal with Xiang Liu, there had been no need for them to flash the Black and White Island’s banner.
The Hot Immortal Aunt realized that the young lad who had walked over was weary-looking but has handsome facial features. She swayed her body affectionately and smiled as she asked in reply, “Based on my judgment, those two who had pestered us endlessly are the demon cat’s comrades. However, you have bright eyes and graceful brows with righteous mannerisms yet you straightforwardly doubt our words?” She then tutted and shook her head with a piteous expression.
Ji Fei and Wen Buzuo gazed into each others’ eyes in fear before retreating into the depth of the crowd.
Liu Zheng’s expression had remained unchanged. The usual carefree attitude between his brows was lost as he answered earnestly, “The Kunlun Sect and the Black and White Island are connected, the Enlightened Tian Shu had granted me the grace of rebirth. There are over a thousand disciples in the Kunlun Sect who have sworn that they would avenge this grand old man!”
The Hot Immortal Aunt’s eyes brightened abruptly as she completely disregarded the bunch of rogue cultivators who were in a messy discussion at the moment. She walked in huge strides towards Liu Zheng, stretched out her hand and patted him on his shoulder, “Then you are considered the Black and White Island’s peripheral disciple. We are all family…”
Unexpectedly, before she could finish her sentence, a voice that sounded so low that one wished that one could sit on the floor to listen to it suddenly hummed and echoed from the huge mountain, “He is not even an official disciple, the old father does not have such a family!” In the midst of his speech, a young lad with a strong and burly body but with a sallow complexion suddenly jumped out from the earth.
Anger flashed through Liu Zheng’s face. He clenched his teeth in rage but he did not speak.
The Hot Immortal Aunt laughed so hard that her fat flesh shook. She then grabbed hold of the young lad with the waxy and yellow-colored face, “Xiao Sang, what took you so long?” Following that, she introduced him to Liu Zheng in a hospitable manner, “Do not mistrust his young appearance but he is your senior too. He is Earth Emperor Brother Sang from the Great Drum Pit of Mount Heng!”
Brother Sang was still as arrogant as before. He seemed to be even too lazy to peer at Liu Zheng from the corners of his eyes as he said, “Who is this? He is pretentious and fake! The Black and White Island had failed to protect the formation. Those three pus-filled cysts should have cut their own throats as an apology since earlier but they had managed to survive for another two thousand years. However, they had still died without a burial place – died tragically in the end…” Before he could finish his sentence, the first four monsters simultaneously opened their mouths and shouted in rage, “Xiao Sang!”
Wen Buzuo was elated in his heart. No matter how hard he had pestered, there was no way he could stop Liu Zheng from mutually recognizing the Black and White Island. Just as he was anxious about what to do, a dabbler had jumped out from the ground and managed to scold Liu Zheng back to sanity with a single sentence.
Liu Zheng’s eyes were bloodshot as he spoke, “Our master had lived in solitude and guarded the heavens for several millennia. He had guarded the Black and White Island loyally and he had fought Chang Li laboriously. He pursued the evil soul and died tragically before he could fulfill his ambition. How dare you defile him as such!”
Wen Buzuo sneered at the same time, “The four… Five of you are the extraordinary sword immortals who will help the world but two thousand years ago, when the Black and White Island’s three sword immortals were fighting Chang Li, why had all of you not attacked her then? You’ve only jumped out right now and showed off your skills and prowess, what role models you are!”
Grandmother Shudou, whose hunched body was shaped like the number ‘7’, suddenly raised her head. Her gloomy and icy cold gaze directly plucked out Wen Buzuo from the group of monks, “The thief who likes to sow dissension…”
However, before she could finish her sentence, Xiao Sang sniggered coldly and interrupted her. Each time he laughed, the entire mountain beneath everyone’s feet would shake in response. “He could not even handle such a trivial matter properly, death was insufficient as the punishment for his crimes, how could he be bold enough to ask for help?”
The other four monsters stood and gazed at one another. They were stunned all at once and they could not understand Brother Sang’s perception. They were here on Goddess Peak because they had a task that depended on these cultivators’ efforts. Brother Sang always had a strange temper and narrow-minded views on usual days but they did not expect his thoughts to be muddled to this extent.
The Little Supreme Leader Liu Zheng had since crushed his teeth in rage. He howled furiously all of a sudden, “Bounce the sword, Taoism code, seal!” There was a bang followed by cold lights which then spread out in all directions. The Kunlun sword formation which had merged with his heart and soul suddenly appeared out of thin air, shaking its head and wagging its tail like a raging dragon. It then surrounded the Earth Emperor Brother Sang, “Apologize! Otherwise, your life will not be spared!”
Liu Zheng too could not figure out why this b*stard had started to scold the moment he had jumped out. Even though he was enraged to the point of madness, he still left some space for him to change his mind in his attack as he had not directly guided his sword formation to blast and kill the other party.
Unexpectedly, the Earth Emperor Brother Sang was even more hot-tempered than him as he roared in rage in return, “It is in reverse, it is in reverse! This little b*stard dares to attack me!” Soon after, the sound of metal clanking was heard. He had launched his supernatural power and was about to dash forward! The Little Supreme Leader Liu Zheng’s expression stiffened, he was no longer merciful and clenched his teeth as his hand pinched into the sword-controlling gesture. Countless long swords reacted like sharks which had suddenly picked up the scent of blood as they spun around and flew towards Brother Sang mercilessly!
When Wen Leyang was still on the highland’s Snowy Peak, Liu Zheng and the seventy-two esteemed sword seniors had joined hands to launch the sword formation. Its power was difficult for even the resurrected Enlightened Tian Shu to resist. During recent times, Liu Zheng had continuously merged his cultivation method on the highland and he no longer needed the seventy-two esteemed sword seniors’ effort, he was capable of expressing eighty percent of the sword formation’s power by himself. Yet, in the midst of his vast and majestic divine power, not only did he fail to kill Brother Sang in one attempt, there was a faint sensation of his sword formation’s mannerism being broken.
Brother Sang repeatedly roared in rage within the sword formation, “All the disciples under my sect, execute this demon!” Where his voice was heard, fifty to sixty cultivators who had mingled amongst the rogue cultivators or the World Sect immediately answered in response. Their bodies tossed and turned as they pounced towards the Little Supreme Leader Liu Zheng in lightning speed.
Even though the seventy-two esteemed sword seniors had stayed behind on the highland, there was still the Head Lama Rangjung, the old demon rabbit Bu Le and a few others by Liu Zheng’s side. Even the siblings Bushuo and Buzuo had shouted in unison as well. All of them dashed towards the other party together with the supernatural powers and treasured weapons summoned by the monks from the Tibetan Buddhist Sect and the Great Mercy Temple.
As soon as the two parties were engaged in a dogfight, whether it was the World Sect or the rogue cultivators, everybody else could not help but gasp softly. With the exception of Bu Le, Shan Duan, Rangjung, and a few other master cultivators, the treasured weapons which belonged to the Great Mercy Temple and the highland’s cultivators crashed into Brother Sang’s disciples. Those treasured weapons were then like snow which had landed on burning charcoal as they retreated in defeat with a hiss.
While master cultivators like the old demon rabbit and Rangjung managed to engage four or five persons from the other party each, the Little Supreme Leader Liu Zheng clenched his teeth as he separated a sword dragon from the sword formation in order to resist the enemy. As the sword formation lost its density, Liu Zheng could only watch helplessly as he could no longer trap the Earth Emperor anymore.
First Brother Xia who had prioritized the code of brotherhood all along suddenly roared. His long spear was aimed as he shouted towards his disciples, “Formation!”
The One Word Palace’s disciples gathered into a formation in a flash. They were going to launch an attack to help Liu Zheng and were just about to join the messy fight when the other four monsters finally shouted in unison, “Stop it!” Grandmother Shudou then launched her previous trick once again. Her body swayed as she dashed into the Kunlun Sword Formation. She plucked off a corner of the sword formation swiftly and released Brother Sang. At the same time, the Hot Immortal Aunt grabbed hold of Brother Sang in a fully satisfied manner as she refused to let go of him to let him go kill Liu Zheng.
The old man Bao Ri, on the other hand, took a step forward as he shouted aloud, “Borrow the sun!” Soon after, a magic conjuration was formed which suddenly slammed towards the middle of the sky. A ball of golden light that was unimaginably dazzling erupted with a loud bang. Every cultivator which had been entangled in the fight felt a gush of tremendous force cutting into their limbs and bones ferociously. Their rapidly flowing blood turned as heavy as mercury and they could not even move their little finger. It was only until the golden light had fully dispersed that they felt their bodies lighten once again and return to their previous state.
Sir Rust had not moved at all. His gaze was as rusty as the color of his skin as he firmly stared at everybody to prevent anyone else from seizing the opportunity for an ambush.
A messy fight had been dispersed in such a short time. Anyone could understand that if these five monsters were to join hands, there was not an ounce of victory for the people in the Five Blessings! In everybody’s heart, one side was filled with fear and astonishment while the other side was secretly relieved. It was at this moment that a squall suddenly echoed. A young lad, who was like a koala bear that was learning how to fly, swung his arms and legs as he somersaulted all the way and flew from the rogue cultivators’ group towards the righteous path of the Five Blessings.
The young lad’s flying posture was extremely peculiar but the majestic sonic boom rippled into a windstorm and thunderstorm between the mountains. Those cultivators with slightly weaker cultivation bases could not even stand steadily as they staggered and fell backward when the young lad flew past the top of their heads. The location that he landed in the end coincidentally formed into a corner with the four monsters that firmly faced the Little Supreme Leader Liu Zheng.
Wen Leyang was furious in his heart. He had been frightened and anxious earlier as he clenched his teeth in preparation to launch an attack at any time to help. However, he was caught off guard by Chang Li and Zhui Zi who had simultaneously exerted their strengths on his left and right. They then said this softly, ‘Ask him about what happened,’ before they tossed him from the crowd.
The five monsters’ faces were shocked as they used their gloomy gazes to size Wen Leyang up and down.
The old monk Ji Fei had expected this and knew that the person who had flown over was Wen Leyang. His face was filled with astonishment yet his gaze was filled with a smile. He secretly tugged Shui Jing as they took two steps forward.
The Earth Emperor Brother Sang realized that someone else has jumped forward again and he asked ferociously, “Who are you?!”
Wen Leyang glared back at him uncourteously, “This old father had jumped out to inquire about the purpose of your presence here on the mountain!” This was the first time he had addressed himself as the old father to others so Wen Leyang was feeling rather pleased.
It was true that the rogue cultivators have strange and different expressions. They had started to fight yet they still do not know the purpose of these people’s presence on the mountain.
The Earth Emperor Brother Sang was stunned as well as he looked at the suddenly shy Hot Immortal Aunt who was still hugging him, “All of you have yet to inform them of their task?”
The other four monsters blushed in unison, “We had not managed to inform them in time!”
