Is there even a need to guess? When someone stands right before you to hold you accountable, Bian Weiying didn't want to argue with him.
She turned back to her people and said, "Let's go and see."
Gan Tangyu and Xiang Lan'er immediately followed her.
The group made their way to the hidden location of Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang.
Using a sandalwood gold light to inspect the area, they first found no signs of a struggle.
After searching around, there were indeed no traces of anyone there.
Following Bian Weiying's indication, Gan Tangyu simply cast a spell and shouted loudly, "Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang, Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang..."
Her voice vanished into the vast darkness, yet no one answered even if she shouted until her throat hurt.
Bian Weiying took out the other half of the Parent-Child Talisman, which Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang had given her.
She used a spell to send a message, asking where they were and requesting them to return quickly.
The two of them had already decided not to come back, so there was naturally no response.
Watching Bian Weiying quietly put away the half talisman, Xiang Lan'er said solemnly, "There were no warnings, and no signs of battle at the scene. Could it be that we got too close, catching them off guard?"
Bian Weiying glanced sideways, "You suspect Bai Zhuchuan's group made a move?"
Xiang Lan'er replied, "It’s possible. Bai Zhuchuan has always been antagonistic, constantly sneering and targeting them."
Bian Weiying turned to look at Gan Tangyu.
Gan Tangyu thought about it and agreed, "Indeed."
Bian Weiying then gazed into the night, mumbling, "Could they have run away themselves?" She recalled Shi Chun’s previous request for a talisman, growing suspicious.
Xiang Lan'er analyzed, "There are three possibilities. Either they were ambushed and taken away by outsiders, caught off guard by their own, or if they indeed defected, with their cultivation, why run? What would be the purpose? Unless they never want to return, becoming traitors to Wukang Mountain. What would outsiders gain by taking them now? At the start, no one has reaped much reward yet. What’s the point of striking now?"
She found it unlikely Sun Shigang’s group would act rashly.
Without her cooperation, they wouldn't dare make a move, risking conflict.
Besides, they wouldn't dare act without her consent.
Indeed, Bian Weiying was swayed by her reasoning and slowly began to examine her sister-in-law, who seemed different from usual.
Her thoughts were clear, and her analysis was sharp as a blade, quite unlike the shy and submissive wife she appeared to be.
Caught watching the reflected starlight in her sisters-in-law’s scrutinizing eyes, Xiang Lan'er quickly portrayed herself as deeply worried, "If something really happened, even if they died, the bodies wouldn't be thrown too far. Let's ask our sects for help searching."
Bian Weiying nodded slightly.
It was troublesome, yet they couldn't ignore it, so she immediately led the two to request Bai Zhuchuan's assistance in the search.
Bai Zhuchuan indeed disliked wasting effort on two worthless people.
But facing beautiful ladies requesting, he reluctantly proclaimed in good cheer, obliging the group to help search.
Soon, spots of sandalwood gold flame qi spread out across the wilderness in search.
In the end, no people were found, but another hidden cave with an Insect Essence Crystal was discovered, sparking a round of cheers.
After helping search for about an hour, people gradually stopped, not willing to waste time on two good-for-nothings endlessly.
Bian Weiying and her group had no choice, afraid to suspect internal betrayal, facing the reality before them.
After things quieted down again, Xiang Lan'er sent a signal to Sun Shigang’s group, wanting to confirm whether they acted.
Yet, there was no response…
Shi Chun and the others, already far away, followed the maps to find a secluded canyon near the boundary of the barrier.
After searching the gorge to ensure no one was there, they decided to settle down.
Unbinding their captives, when getting to Sun Shigang, who glared fiercely, Wu Jinliang certainly wasn’t courteous.
Whack! He slapped him hard across the face, saying, “Why glare? Didn’t you tell us to wait? No need! We came to you, so what now?”
Seeing the defiant glare, he dealt a few more hard slaps until blood dripped from Sun Shigang’s mouth and nose, his face swelling visibly.
Seeing the now useless talisman paper on him, Wu Jinliang, recalling how Sun Shigang could resist even under a third-grade Immobilization Talisman, became curious.
Placing his hand on Sun Shigang, he cautiously applied a spell to investigate.
The deeper he searched, the more it frightened him, breaking out in cold sweat.
He immediately bolstered more layers of restrictions and shouted, "Chun, this guy’s a problem."
Shi Chun, busy finding a suitable spot within the canyon for temporary residence, snapped into attention at the news, flashing over, "What's wrong?"
Wu Jinliang wiped off his sweat, “Lucky I checked. His restrictions have been breached in several places. A moment later, we would have been in danger. Moreover, his cultivation isn’t just high, but peak level. How did he sneak past checks unnoticed?”
Quickly, he examined the other captives and found the restrictions intact, without signs of disruption.
A level just shy of the Human Immortal Realm’s Advanced Martial Realm? Shi Chun couldn't believe it.
He reached to examine Sun Shigang personally, sensing the immense, boundless power within, breaking into a sweat again, realizing they had caught a big fish indeed.
But he was more excited, eyes shining brilliantly.
A strong demon cultivator? Even better! He hadn't expected to bag such a big catch!
He immediately turned back, “Jinliang, near the entrance, there's a collapsed pagoda platform with many iron chains. Fetch as many as possible, the more the better.”
Wu Jinliang responded, “You want to tie him with chains? With his skills, iron chains might not restrain him.”
Shi Chun, eager and impatient, dismissed with a wave, “Go while it’s dark. I have plans for them.”
"Alright, but be careful," Wu Jinliang said, tossing his blade aside for future load considerations, then turned and left.
Shi Chun kept busy, finding a suitable spot under a cliff, he drew his blade, digging furiously.
Periodically, he would check on Sun Shigang’s restrictions, pausing to dig again, and so the cycle continued.
By the faint light of dawn, Wu Jinliang finally returned, exhausted, crashing down like carrying a mountain of chains.
He leaned against the cliff panting heavily.
Shi Chun emerged from the excavated cave, eyes on the pile, “That should do. The chains look like they're practically rust-proof and durable. Binding them should be sufficient.”
Shi Chun praised, “Advanced Martial Realm indeed has its privileges, huh.”
Wu Jinliang glanced at the massive mound of earth and rubble, bewildered, “Why dig such a large pit?”
"Prepare for a long stay."
“A long stay?”
Shi Chun dragged Sun Shigang over, binding him with the iron chains, meticulously setting traps using his short blade and sword.
The mechanism ready to pierce him should he dare to break free with a spell.
Wu Jinliang watched the scene unfolding, puzzled by the seemingly excessive efforts.
Shi Chun dismissed with ease, “You’ll understand later.”
With nothing better to do, Wu Jinliang watched Shi Chun tie up Sun Shigang into an iron dumpling, only his head poking out.
Watching the spectacle unfold gave him a slightly uneasy feeling, noticing how Shi Chun set to work without batting an eye, five third-grade Immobilization Talismans used without hesitation.
Overall satisfied with the iron dumpling masterpiece, Shi Chun felt reassured, convinced the sheer number of chains and their inherent strength ensured they restrained a martial expert just fine.
The two sought Wu Jinliang’s brute strength to haul the iron dumpling into the cave.
Inside, they discovered a complex series of interconnected spaces, with a giant stone wall a yard thick, with a space hidden around a corner.
Shi Chun dragged another chain inside, setting a crossbeam among the cave’s stones to secure it.
Wu Jinliang lent a hand, attaching the other end to the iron dumpling, and they hung it midair.
Sun Shigang’s eyes were filled with confusion, unaware of what these conniving bastards intended.
It seemed menacing, so terrifying—was this overkill for a previous threat?
Rendered mute, he could only brood.
Expecting nothing short of horrific intentions, Shi Chun instructed Wu Jinliang, “Release his restrictions.”
Wu Jinliang stretched, grasping the iron dumpling, dispelling the restraints through the chains.
Without restrictions, Sun Shigang spoke gravely, “Just what do you two bastards want?”
Wu Jinliang gestured as if to say, 'It’s not my idea; don’t blame me.'
Shi Chun, however, straightforwardly admitted, “Nothing much; you and I both know our identities. Let’s not pretend otherwise. Let me be upfront. I have a peculiar poison needing demonic qi to neutralize, and the simplest method was using Xiang Lan'er. But considering her entouraged state, it didn’t seem right. With you volunteering yourself, I’ll spare her for now.”
Wu Jinliang eying the scene, thought.
Poison? What poison?
“Simply put, expel your demonic qi to heal me, and I’ll release you. Xiang Lan'er will go unharmed. Refuse, and I’ll torture you relentlessly until you beg for death. If you perish, then I’ll target Xiang Lan'er too. You know I can easily approach her.”
He wasn’t entirely joking.
Choosing Sun Shigang first was because he worried about lacking enough demonic qi.
If insufficient, Xiang Lan'er wouldn't be spared.
After all, reaching Xiang Lan'er was easier—he had a Parent-Child Talisman with Bian Weiying for easy recall.
When Bian Weiying confronted him about leaving, he could fault Sun Shigang's group for capturing him.
Unexpectedly, catching such a big fish, the demonic qi supply might exceed expectations.
Plus, with four comrades, he should enjoy its benefits for a while.
How did he know I was demonic? Sun Shigang asked hesitantly, “What poison needs demonic qi?”
Shi Chun wiggled his fingers, “You wouldn’t have heard of it. Test your demonic qi; if ineffective, keeping you won’t matter.”
(End of chapter)