Shi Chun shouted back, "Generous indeed!"
The two were so in sync in their banter that they seemed to be chatting and laughing just to annoy others, perfectly coordinating to save themselves.
Thanks to their sarcastic remarks, Xiang Lan'er recalled the entire incident.
The "benefactor" had received the slave contract but didn't hand it over to her and Bian Weikang right away.
Instead, he took them back to the Carefree Pavilion, and during the journey, the big man excused himself for a short while.
The person who seized her from behind even pointed out the contents of the slave contract in front of her, and then immediately destroyed it.
She didn't think much of it at the time, but thinking back now, everything seemed suspicious.
The slave contract was such an important thing, yet she hadn't insisted on seeing it firsthand.
At least, she should've made sure it was real before it was destroyed, right?
But the moment the contract was taken out and read, hardly any time was given for a reaction; it was destroyed immediately.
Saying there was no time for her to react wasn't entirely fair.
From the Graceful Cloud Pavilion to the Carefree Pavilion, wasn't there enough time during such a long journey?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, realizing she had been too careless.
She hadn't expected someone would use such a low-level, despicable trick.
Weren't they afraid of the embarrassment if they were found out?
It's known that the Demonic Path people follow no rules, yet this person behind her was even trickier than the Demonic Path people!
Though she realized her carelessness, being caught by such a low-level trick was truly humiliating.
From her reaction, Madame Fengchi suspected what Shi Chun had said might be true.
She was shocked, with the same lingering question: Why didn't the Holy Maiden check the authenticity of the slave contract before it was destroyed?
She wanted to ask this Holy Maiden, how could she get into such a mess and go to Wukang Mountain in person only to end up like this? If someone took the contract to the Heavenly Court to report it, and if the court ordered Wukang Mountain to hand her over, what then?
Wukang Mountain would not dare to defy the Heavenly Court; they'd just have to hand her over.
So how would that work?
Seeing that the two hostage-takers continued to mock,
Madame Fengchi shook Cen Futong's neck again, demanding in a deep voice, "How did you catch my lady?"
The pale Cen Futong, fearful and uncomfortable, replied, "Just like that."
Fengchi pinched his neck hard, causing him to scream in pain, pressing once more, "I asked for the detailed process."
This question was important to her.
Cen Futong hurriedly confessed, "There wasn't much to it. We rushed out, she didn't resist at all, and we captured her."
Did she really not resist? Fengchi looked at the Holy Maiden, seeking confirmation.
Xiang Lan'er, feeling more embarrassed, shut her eyes tightly, feeling she'd lose face if she answered further.
In disbelief, Fengchi understood.
It seemed she really surrendered without a fight.
Perhaps the Holy Maiden feared exposing herself?
She asked again, "When my lady was captured, was it just him who did it, or did you all join in?"
Cen Futong replied anxiously, "I didn't do anything. If you don't believe me, ask your lady. It was the other three who caught her."
It was true, he indeed hadn't acted before.
Madame Fengchi raised her chin slightly toward Shi Chun's direction, "Those two didn't act either?"
This question puzzled Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang.
Why ask about that? The person was already captured, and who did it wasn't that important.
Cen Futong: "No, they didn't act. It was just those three."
Fengchi: "I followed behind you, and as soon as you acted, I quickly approached and saw my lady being held by him. You were all in it together. Why would he just hold her hostage for no reason?"
Dare to be dishonest? She tightened her grip.
It was her main confusion.
If the situation had been a little less tight, with her abilities, she could easily save her.
Cen Futong cried out in pain instantly, "I don't know. I'm confused too. We just caught her, and he immediately seized her and held a knife to her throat. I asked him what was going on, and he said your lady had accomplices. Then, Madame, you showed up. I truly have no idea how he knew."
Such a thing? Madame Fengchi instinctively thought it an excuse and looked at the Holy Maiden again.
Xiang Lan'er's eyes betrayed only shame, nothing else, indicating a clear answer: it was indeed the case.
Could such an unbelievable thing be true? Fengchi was astonished.
Was it foresight, or did he somehow already know of their plan? If it was the latter, that was far too frightening.
In any case, her biggest concern was lifted, that the two hostage-takers had not used any special means when taking the hostages.
This gave her peace of mind to act.
She decided not to wait any longer.
The blade had already cut into the Holy Maiden's neck, and the short blade had pierced into her rib.
Delaying further only caused more harm to the Holy Maiden.
Suddenly, she flung Cen Futong away, his momentums like waves crashing.
Boom! Cen Futong collided with the unsuspecting Skinny Monkey, the latter completely caught off guard, unable to react, and was sent flying.
Both spat blood, and then crashed into a large stone that shattered.
The blood hadn't even hit the ground before the collapsing stones buried them.
The Skinny Monkey didn't even get a chance to regret; his fate was indeed unlucky as predicted.
In an instant, two more were killed.
Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang were slightly shocked.
They'd heard people outside the Exile Lands were more refined and reasonable.
But this? Right off the bat, five were dead.
The two became alert as if facing a great enemy.
Just when they thought a fight to the death was inevitable, Madame Fengchi's figure flickered and disappeared into the forest, leaving no trace, with the unconscious Bian Weikang still on the ground.
"Spring, what is this trick?" Wu Jinliang looked around in confusion.
Shi Chun muttered, "How should I know?"
Though the person seemed to have left, the two dared not relax an ounce, instead getting even more on edge.
Xiang Lan'er's face held a subtle sneer.
"Spring, look around."
Wu Jinliang suddenly gave an urgent warning.
Shi Chun didn't need warning; he noticed too.
The surrounding light dimmed suddenly.
Black mist began spreading from the woods, making the trees hazy.
It steadily crept towards them.
It appeared to be some trickery.
The two were immediately on high alert, watching for any sudden attack from any direction.
At that moment, Xiang Lan'er sensed something odd with Shi Chun's body.
His muscles were tense, and it seemed he was trembling.
She couldn't help but find it amusing.
Was he trembling in fear? So now he was scared?
Shi Chun’s body did have a problem.
Tensing up made him feel like countless insects were gnawing at his spine, with his brain splitting open with pain.
Fortunately, along with the pain, the strange scene reappeared in his right eye, like an illusion.
Fighting against the agony, he quickly glanced around with his right eye, soon locking onto the right side.
In the misty depths was a vague human-shaped cloud form.
Comparing shapes, it should be Madame Fengchi.
Oddly, this cloud form looked different than before.
Inside was a distinct flame-like shape, seemingly a burning black flame.
What's going on? Confused, Shi Chun urgently warned, "Jinliang, follow me."
He shifted position, moving Xiang Lan'er to the front right, using her as a shield to avoid direct confrontation.
Adjusting his sight unintentionally, his right eye glimpsed something unusual in Xiang Lan'er, and quickly returned.
He found another black flame-like thing inside her.
What's that?
He looked back at Wu Jinliang, seeing only a normal, clouded appearance with no abnormalities.
Only these two women have that?
Back-to-back with Wu Jinliang, they adjusted positions with Wu Jinliang’s knife held defensively before him.
From the black mist, Madame Fengchi stood on a small slope, looking puzzled.
Shi Chun's positioning seemed spot on, piercing her illusions, or was his hearing highly keen?
Maybe it was sheer luck.
No matter which, she wouldn't wait anymore.
The Holy Maiden was injured.
Her ten fingers intertwined, performing a spell, forming a Lotus Hand Seal at her chest.
Suddenly, a murmuring sound echoed throughout the woods.
A strange soft chanting that seemed to hum, "Murmur murmur murmur..."
The rhythm was dense and tight, as if echoing in the entire forest, or right beside one's ears.
Xiang Lan'er calmly closed her eyes, clearly entering a state of deep meditation.
This eerie situation made Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang feel uneasy.
For Shi Chun, dragging things out wasn’t a solution, especially with this strange occurrence beyond his understanding.
Overcoming his anguish, he shouted, "Madame, we are not enemies; we can discuss this."
The murmuring didn’t stop, and there was no response from Madame Fengchi.
"Humming hum, ah..."
The steadily faster rhythm abruptly saw a sharp scream burst, piercing through like a needle through eardrums, instantly filling one's mind.
This was Wu Jinliang's sensation: his mind went blank, his blade clattered to the ground, his eyes turned white, and he collapsed.
The scream was another case for Shi Chun.
Annoying, but nothing intolerable.
Jinliang's collapse startled him, and he yelled, "Jinliang!"
Without hesitation, he called out fiercely, "Let's see who dies first!"
Fierce determination filled his eyes.
The short blade lodged under Xiang Lan’er's arches was ruthlessly driven deeper, drawing blood on her clothes.
Xiang Lan'er suddenly opened her eyes, filled with pain.
The shrilling stopped abruptly, and Madame Fengchi urgently yelled, "Stop!"
She swiftly emerged from the black mist, signaling Shi Chun to pause, her face full of amazement, "Are you practicing Demonic Cultivation? Are you also from the Demonic Path? Which line? Lianshan or Guizang?"
(Chapter End)