The grand promises of the Big Boss always seemed enticing.
Wu Jinliang wore a sly smile full of fantasy, but it soon froze as he remembered something.
"Hang on, since when did that Sun fellow insult me? It was that Bai guy who bad-mouthed me. The Sun guy just pointed at us as a warning."
Since it wasn't him who got scolded, Shi Chun didn't remember it clearly.
He quickly made up an excuse, blurting out whatever came to mind.
"They provoked us both at the same time, offending both the Big Boss and the Second Boss of the Eastern Nine Plains. We can't let it slide."
The words sounded wicked, and Wu Jinliang, being no fool, quickly realized something was up.
He clutched Shi Chun's arm and refused to move.
"Come on, Chun, tell me honestly, what are you really up to?"
Shi Chun replied, "Isn't it obvious? We're going after Sun Shigang."
Wu Jinliang shook his head, "We've learned to adapt and be patient. I refuse to believe we're backtracking just because they warned us. I don't buy it."
Shi Chun glanced around, then pulled Wu Jinliang closer and whispered in his ear, "That Sun guy is in cahoots with Xiang Lan'er. He's also on the demonic path, and they're putting on an act for us."
Wu Jinliang was puzzled, "How do you know?"
Shi Chun explained, "I saw it when I used my spiritual eye. Both he and Xiang Lan'er have a demon flame inside them. It's one thing for ordinary people to lust after Xiang Lan'er, but for a demonic cultivator to be so bold on our strict Immortal Mountain—is that normal? Don't you think they were targeting us?"
What Shi Chun didn't know was that they were indeed trying to keep it low-key.
But the duo's unconventional behavior left them no choice but to escalate.
Wu Jinliang thought back to the situation, realizing they had indeed been low-key but still got entangled.
It didn't sit right.
"An act? So why target us?"
Shi Chun continued, "From the way they act, nothing good is coming. They've been tailing us, and now they're gone. Xiang Lan'er mentioned having demonic allies nearby. Someone must be keeping tabs. And if it's Sun, he wouldn’t miss us."
Wu Jinliang understood, nodding, "We'll strike first and deal with the potential threat. But how do we find them? It's dark, and your spiritual eye can't stay active all the time, can it?"
Shi Chun sighed, "That's the trouble. Activating it relies on external stimuli and can't be maintained for long. Plus, dealing with someone stronger isn’t easy."
Seeing Shi Chun’s difficulty, Wu Jinliang pondered, "We need to locate them and ensure their hostility doesn’t threaten us. If they're trailing us, best to lure them out using the old trick."
Shi Chun chuckled, "Great minds think alike."
With their plan agreed, the two circled back behind their original group and retraced their path.
Just as Shi Chun predicted, they didn't go far before alarming the Falling Moon Valley group.
It was hard not to be noticed, as the quiet night sky was broken by the duo's blatant, noisy insults.
Sun Shigang’s group wasn't hiding too far, just far enough to avoid detection.
They stayed back once they noticed Bai Zhuchuan's group resting, leaving two to watch for night signals.
Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang’s rude arrival startled Sun Shigang’s group, making them duck into a ravine.
"It's all Xiang Lan'er’s fault, being too beautiful and seemingly vulnerable."
"Knew Bai Zhuchuan had ill intentions but didn't expect him to act so fast."
"Dragging her away, assaulting her in public..."
“Blame it on her background from the brothel.”
"Bian Weiying didn’t stop it. We’re just extras here, no protective talismans given. They don’t care a whit about us. Who knows what they’ll do next?”
“Sour at heart. Let’s hide by the exit, bide time for three months…”
Such chatter continued, with the two taking turns ranting and bickering in circles.
Hearing the insults while hiding, Sun Shigang was stunned.
Was Xiang Lan'er really violated?
Upon confirming who the intruders were, his patience snapped.
He signaled, and his group sprang out.
Figures dashed from the shadows, surrounding Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang in an instant, with a stern-faced Sun Shigang landing right in front of them.
Well, that was fast, Wu Jinliang thought.
Shi Chun glanced around and saw all five of Falling Moon Valley present.
No worries anymore.
He muttered softly, "You take three, I'll handle two."
Previously, he might take on three, leaving two for Wu Jinliang.
Having improved in cultivation, the roles switched.
"Oh, it's you again, Xiang Lan'er..."
Sun Shigang’s words halted abruptly, shocked into action as he attempted to retreat.
However, Immobilization Talismans were unique.
Reactions come too late once spotted.
While actions hesitated, talismans impacted.
Sun Shigang barely started to speak when the two silently prepared for ambush struck.
Five Immobilization Talismans later, all five opponents froze mid-motion.
Sun Shigang’s eyes widened with disbelief, realizing the trap.
Did they just spend five Grade Three Talismans without hearing a single good word or allowing explanations?
Such prodigal squandering baffled him.
He believed in their earlier woes of not having a single talisman because he thought they were unpopular in Wukang Mountain.
Filled with rage, he tried to resist with all his cultivation.
Shi Chun spotting his effort to break free, was shocked at his strength.
Isn’t this High Martial level strength? A Grade Three Talisman should be unbreakable!
Acting swiftly, Shi Chun drew his blade, stabbed a non-lethal point, disrupted Sun’s inner energy, and applied restrictions before severing his limbs’ tendons, ensuring zero threats.
Wu Jinliang quickly subdued the remaining four, showing their well-rehearsed efficiency.
Shi Chun ensured no trail of blood by treating Sun’s wound before tightly binding the captives with tear-stripped ropes spun from their clothes.
With newfound High Martial strength, carrying the load was effortless.
Wu Jinliang shouldered them all, moving faster and lighter than ever.
No running towards the entrance—they went sideways, fleeing as far as possible before Bai Zhuchuan noticed their absence and incited a search frenzy.
On the run, Shi Chun stayed alert with talismans ready, both sprinting away with captives in tow.
Uncertain at getting carried away, the remaining Sun Shigang folks didn't grasp Wu Jinliang and Shi Chun's plan.
They only knew they went further from Bai Zhuchuan’s gang.
Were they truly ignorant of directions?
Sun Shigang regretted deeply, crippled in an instant.
Why? Was it merely for being a threat at Immortal Mountain? Regret washed over him...
Elsewhere, off-venue at midday's martial arena, crowding faded at the dim Western Extreme site mirrored by the Heaven-Gazing Mirror, hiding any sight, leaving frankly uninteresting scenes.
Notably, western challengers still had none early gains, so no scraps to steal, reducing drama and danger.
Prestigious viewers at pavilion and terrace left in droves, Miao Dingyi’s family included.
Madame Fengchi lingered, aware of the ongoing scheme against Wu Jinliang.
How were plans proceeding?
A new arrival whispered nearby, "Tracked it back to Young Master Nan, the one running those betting rings."
Her curiosity piqued, “Why target Shi Chun, a nobody?”
“Unknown so far. Young Master Nan remains inaccessible.”
“Report upwards, have them keep watch.”
The Western night sky was crisp and star-streaked, sometimes traced by meteoric blue glows—a sign of falling Insect Essence Crystals—to excite crowds.
Oblivious to it all, Xiang Lan'er plotted luring Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang away, until approaching steps caught her eye.
Bai Zhuchuan’s squad arrived, one holding sandalwood gold lights.
Seeing them, Bian Weiying stood, yet Bai’s rude demand halted her, “I just checked nearby hideout points. Out of twenty-six, only twenty-four remain. Guess which faction's members vanished?”