Of course, Xiang Zhen had only looked out of curiosity, with no ill intent to pry. The man in the floral robe also seemed to have been woken by the movement of his waist token. He opened his eyes groggily, sat up stretching, saw Xiang Zhen looking at him, then smiled and lay back down, waving his hand as a greeting, lazily.
Xiang Zhen walked over, tapped the drum surface with his knuckles to test it, felt the thumping sound, then asked, “Can you bring him in today?”
The man in the floral robe knew he was asking about Yu Qing. He put his hands behind his head and said, “Who knows.”
Xiang Zhen fell silent.
The man in the floral robe turned his head to look at him and smiled, “Do you know why I gave them a day to search?”
Xiang Zhen naturally shook his head, waiting for what came next.
The man in the floral robe stretched out a hand and pointed at the buzzing scene outside, “They will fly everywhere to search, and will record everyone’s location.”
The reason he had been so magnanimous as to give them a day to find someone was that he wanted everyone who entered to start moving around. Only then could they be discovered, and only then could their approximate locations be recorded.
“So rest assured, we will find him, and we will get to the bottom of how to open the exit. I want to know what is going on too.”
Hearing this, Xiang Zhen did feel somewhat reassured. He only wanted to find Yu Qing and fight him, then leave this place. He had no interest whatsoever in any other grudges or grievances.
At the end of the mountain ridge, Xiang Lanzhi, who had dashed out, stood before a deep abyss, or more precisely, before a massive sinkhole. The contrast between light and dark made it impossible to see what lay below.
She looked back at the path she had come from, sighed with an indescribable expression, and felt that she had indeed suffered quite a defeat this time. She realised that “pride goes before a fall” was truly an eternal truth.
By her own estimation, Le Shu and Gan Li’s plan to use hostages to coerce Huan Yushan would probably not succeed, because she knew very well how great the gap was between a High Profound realm cultivator and an Upper Profound realm cultivator. This also meant that the former had far more means at their disposal.
But she had not warned them, nor had she pointed out the possible consequences. She had used those subordinates to delay Huan Yushan, buying time for her own escape.
Making this decision was cruel, but she had had no choice. If she had stayed behind, it was likely that no one would have been able to escape, and she would not have gotten away either.
And the sinkhole before her was not necessarily the best hiding place, but her injuries were quite severe and she could barely carry on. After much thought, she decided to go down and assess the environment first.
After looking around, she leapt down, landing at a moderate pace on the uneven floor of the sinkhole.
Once below, she could actually see the environment more clearly. Everywhere were jagged rocks and moss, the ground was barren, overgrown with weeds and thorns.
After carefully observing her surroundings, she began walking toward the darkness in the distance where she could not see clearly, intending to find a suitable hiding place.
Because the path was difficult, when she encountered obstacles, she gathered her breath and leapt over them.
But when she landed, her body staggered. With a “pfft” she coughed up a mouthful of blood, swaying and almost unable to stand. She quickly reached out to steady herself against a large boulder to avoid falling, clutching her chest and gasping violently.
The breath of true qi she had been holding slipped, and she suddenly felt her body was terribly weak.
After finally regulating her breathing with great difficulty, she continued forward, lifting her skirt and walking with unsteady steps.
When she reached the boundary between light and dark, she discovered a large patch of flowers growing in the darkness that shunned the light. They were golden blossoms as large as washbasins. Looking down from above, they appeared like smiling faces turned toward the sky.
However, she had no mind to appreciate them at this moment. She only wanted to see if there was a suitable hiding place. She jumped down from the rock, steadied her slightly swaying body, and continued deeper inside.
But just as she passed before a large boulder crouching like a tiger, a hand suddenly emerged from behind the stone and tapped her waist.
Xiang Lanzhi, whose perception and reflexes had both dulled, was greatly alarmed. Before she could react, several fingers had already struck her in succession, placing restrictions on her body. She was no longer able to use her cultivation, and even if she had the strength, her current strength was limited.
She had not expected there to be an ambush here. She was secretly sighing “my life is over” and wondering what humiliation she would suffer, when with a swish of a sword, a blade was already pressed against her neck, looking ready to take her life at any moment.
Only then did people emerge on either side of her. The people on both sides slowly moved toward her face, as if looking at some kind of monster.
The first thing to enter her view was a large man with half his face covered, who was also the one holding the sword to her neck.
Next was a person slowly withdrawing his fingers from her body, also with half his face covered. But one look at his hair tied in a ponytail, plus the familiar impression, and she immediately recognised who it was. She said in surprise, “A Shiheng?”
It was truly surprising. This fellow who had run off to who knew where, she had never expected to run into him by randomly finding a place to hide. This kind of fate really left one speechless.
Indeed, the one who had struck to subdue her was Yu Qing.
This place was nowhere else but the spot the vine demon had pointed out for collecting pollen. The few of them had been working here when the lookout, Baili Xin, suddenly jumped down and said someone was coming, and that it was Xiang Lanzhi coming. That had really terrified them, and they quickly hid.
They had no time to make much fuss. Xiang Lanzhi came down right after. They were so frightened they did not dare to breathe, and they even tried to suppress their heartbeats with spells.
Who would have thought, they suddenly saw Xiang Lanzhi coughing up blood, and she could not even stand steady.
Given this person’s strength, there should be no need to put on such an act.
Only then did they realise that this person was not here to capture them, and had not discovered their hiding place. Something must have happened, and she seemed to be here to take refuge.
Seeing that no one else appeared behind her, the scene before them unfolded. Otherwise, under normal circumstances, how would they dare to touch a single finger of Xiang Lanzhi.
Seeing that she had directly called out the name, Yu Qing was also puzzled. He touched the thick cloth covering his face and subconsciously asked, “You can recognise me at a glance even like this?”
Xiang Lanzhi could not help but roll her eyes.
The next moment, Yu Qing’s gaze noticed her clothing. He found that she was dressed quite casually today, and her clothes were clearly somewhat dishevelled. Who knew what she had encountered. Her collar was crooked, her chest half exposed, making it difficult for Sect Leader Yu not to stare at that fair skin for a few extra glances.
Xiang Lanzhi quickly noticed his improper gaze and grew somewhat angry. She immediately rebuked him, “Where are your eyes looking?”
Though she was subdued, the overbearing might of the Great Traveller of the Great Enterprise Division was still present.
Yu Qing gave an awkward dry laugh, averted his gaze, and very much wanted to say it was not intentional.
Xiang Lanzhi’s gaze then fixed on Mu Aotie, cold and murderous, as if saying, “You have quite the nerve!”
That lingering aura of hers was indeed quite powerful when it flared up. Mu Aotie’s hand subconsciously trembled, but he quickly puffed out his chest again and held the sword steadily against her neck without letting go.
Fortunately, Yu Qing was sensible enough. He quickly raised his hand and nudged the sword in Mu Aotie’s hand, “One of us, one of us, no need for this.”
He said “one of us” with his mouth, but actually it was because he had not yet figured out the situation and wanted to leave himself a way out. In reality, he had no intention of helping Xiang Lanzhi undo the restrictions on her body.
Mu Aotie had no choice but to sheath his sword.
At this time, the masked and hiding Nan Zhu and Baili Xin also emerged, drew near, and curiously sized up this lofty Great Traveller.
Xiang Lanzhi raised her hand to tidy up the clothing at her chest, while sweeping her eyes over the group. She was not polite either, and directly demanded, “You should have healing medicine on you. Give me some. I have suffered some internal injuries.”
She had left in too much of a hurry and had been careless. She had almost nothing on her person. Otherwise she would not have run out dressed as if for bed.
It was also because she had not been able to take miraculous elixirs in time, which caused her injuries to worsen as she fled at high speed, and caused her to be unable to even stand steady when she landed here.
“Yes, yes, yes.” Nan Zhu quickly came over to curry favour, pulled out a small medicine bottle, and poured out a jade-green, fragrant pill.
Yu Qing and the others did not stop him.
Xiang Lanzhi took the pill in hand, rolled it between her fingers and looked at it, frowning, “Don’t you have anything better?”
Yu Qing smiled bitterly, “Great Traveller, you think we are like you, with endless good resources? We really cannot afford top-grade miraculous elixirs.”
Xiang Lanzhi glanced at him sideways, but still put the pill in her mouth and swallowed it. Something was better than nothing.
At this point, Yu Qing could not help but ask, “Great Traveller, how did you get this injury?” At the mention of this, killing intent flashed in Xiang Lanzhi’s eyes. She snorted, “I was ambushed by that old thief Huan Yushan. The old thief’s cultivation broke through to High Profound long ago. He has kept a low profile all these years, hiding his strength. He probably had ill intentions long ago.”
Her gaze pointed toward Yu Qing, “Kunling Mountain must have developed greed and wants to monopolise this immortal mansion. I am probably not the only one they want to kill. I am afraid you will not get out alive either.
Outside the exit, Kunling Mountain should already have it under watch. With your strength, even if you get out of here, you will find it hard to escape from Kunling Mountain’s hands. How could they let you leave? We are on the same side now. We must work together.”
She had said a lot, but the last sentence was what she actually wanted to say.
They had clearly recognised her and still dared to strike at her. Could this be impulsiveness? She could sense that these few probably thought a phoenix that had fallen to the ground was worse than a chicken, and also harboured hidden intentions to kill her to silence her. So she had no choice but to remind them to understand the pros and cons.
She did not even dare let these people know that the Great Enterprise Division personnel under her command might already have perished.
She did not even dare press them on how they had found this immortal mansion, afraid that one wrong move would provoke their killing intent.
Including how they had escaped from Le Shu and the others, she did not even dare mention it, let alone inquire about any situation inside the immortal mansion.
The situation was stronger than the person. She had no choice but to restrain herself.
Yu Qing frowned slightly. What he was most worried about right now was not this. He said in a deep voice, “So you are saying that the Kunling Mountain forces led by Huan Yushan are currently hunting you down?”
Xiang Lanzhi said, “Naturally, they will not let me off easily.”
Yu Qing immediately began to complain bitterly, “I say, Great Traveller Xiang, the world is vast. You could have run anywhere. Why did you have to run here?”
He was one step away from saying, are you not just dragging us down?
The corner of Nan Zhu’s mouth twitched. The others also realised the trouble. Staying in this place was probably not safe.
Xiang Lanzhi said, “Running to open terrain is too conspicuous. In open areas, I do not know where there is a suitable hiding place. I could only travel using the mountain terrain for cover. I also did not expect you to be hiding here.
I say, why are you all covering your faces? There are only so many people who entered. Do you really think covering your faces like this will make others blind and unable to recognise you?”
Yu Qing was in no mood to waste words with her. He quickly turned back to Baili Xin and said, “Your eyesight is good. Quickly go keep watch outside. Hide well. Do not let anyone see you.”
Baili Xin knew the gravity of the situation. Without a word, he flashed away.
Yu Qing then turned to his two senior brothers and said, “What are you still looking at? Waiting for people to surround us again? Count us unlucky. Quickly pack up and let’s go.”
His tone was somewhat exasperated. He found that these things kept happening. If he made a mistake and got targeted, he would accept it, like when Xiaoyunjian was discovered and he was captured. But how could he randomly run into them while fleeing? Was it bad luck or what?
Xiang Lanzhi hurriedly said, “There is no need to worry too much. Their search speed is not that fast. They cannot just rush through it. Searching one mountain range, by the time they reach here the sky will be dark. If you want to leave, wait until dark before going out. That old thief Huan Yushan is very likely watching from the sky. Moving now would actually be more dangerous.”
Yu Qing immediately asked, “Are you sure?”
Xiang Lanzhi said, “The distance from the immortal mansion exit area to here is quite far, probably over a hundred li. It is impossible for them to search here so quickly. If there was immediate danger, I would not have jumped in here.”
Hearing this, the three senior brothers breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking about it, this woman would not seek death.
Seeing that they were relieved, Xiang Lanzhi added, “I need to circulate my qi to heal. Undo the restrictions on my body first.”
At this, the three senior brothers looked at each other. If they released the restrictions and let her heal, that would be far too dangerous.
Before they had made up their minds to finish off this woman, it was not good to offend her either.
In the end, Yu Qing forced out a reason, “Great Traveller, it is not that we do not trust you, but we must be cautious. Once we confirm that you are indeed Great Traveller Xiang of the Great Enterprise Division, it will not be too late to undo the restrictions on your body.”