Chapter 753: Chapter 752: Counterattack (Part 2)
These days, Yan Kai was not in the city, but at a branch of the Blade Slaves Sect outside the city. However, he didn’t dare to make any moves. The matter at hand was too serious and the Golden Armor Guard had directly dispatched one of their inspectors to oversee operations.
When Shi Xiaole arrived, Yan Kai was entertaining a wealthy-looking man, none other than one of the twelve inspectors, ’Fat Impermanence’ Shi Guangwei.
"How is everything going?"
After Shi Guangwei left, Yan Kai immediately approached, asking via a transmission.
"Lord Yan, rest assured – that old man doesn’t dare disobey us. I’ve commanded him to arrive at the appointed location at nine p.m. tomorrow. I believe he will be able to retrieve the item."
Yan Kai discreetly nodded and said, "Come patrol with me."
An hour later.
Shi Xiaole, under the guise of Yang Ting, returned to the city. Yan Kai ordered him to keep close watch over the Gui Family and prevent any sudden changes. The official explanation was to maintain the peace and prevent the Martial World’s inhabitants from breaking rules.
Remaining in the house where the Sixth Elder and Yang Ting had hatched their plan for an entire day, Shi Xiaole woke the Sixth Elder when the sun set.
"What are you really intending to do?"
The Sixth Elder’s face was ashen but drawing from his vast experience in the Martial World, he saw that Shi Xiaole wanted to use him to his advantage. Thus, he still held onto the hope of survival.
"Do as I say, and you may survive," Shi Xiaole said.
"Why should I believe you?"
Thud!
With a single punch, Shi Xiaole cracked the Sixth Elder like a roasted shrimp and barked, "Because your life is in my hands. If I want you dead, you’ll die."
"You must swear by your words."
Through gritted teeth, the Sixth Elder was resolute: if Shi Xiaole did not loosen up, he would rather die than be manipulated.
Unexpectedly, Shi Xiaole swore an oath without missing a beat.
"What would you have me do?"
"It’s simple..."
"Why are you doing this?"
Hearing Shi Xiaole’s entire scheme, the Sixth Elder’s eyes flickered with uncertainty.
"Treasures stir hearts. You people want that item, and so do I. Rest assured, as long as you help me, I won’t trouble you."
The Sixth Elder nodded, yet he internally sneered.
So-called righteous young heroes bound by loyalty and justice are all just despicably selfish and greedy at the end of the day!
...
Just as the Sixth Elder, who disappeared for a day, returned to the inn, he was immediately caught in a fix by two other elders.
"Old Six, how did it go? Is Yan Kai willing to release our comrades?" the Third Elder asked.
Out of the four elders involved this time, the Seventeenth Elder was jailed by Yan Kai for revealing secrets. Following discussion amongst themselves, the most diplomatic Sixth Elder was chosen to negotiate, but it was unexpected that he only returned now.
"It’s tough; he demands that the three of us apologize in person and then he might consider it," said the Sixth Elder with a shake of his head and a helpless sigh.
"He’s gone too far! Who does Yan Kai think he is?" huffed the Eighteenth Elder indignantly.
Even the Third Elder’s face darkened. After treating Yan Kai like a trusted friend, to be disrespected in such a way was an intolerable blow. This friendship was done.
Barely managing to contain his fury, the Third Elder said through gritted teeth, "The situation is stronger than the individual. If we don’t bring Seventeenth Elder back, our Gui family’s reputation will be damaged. Let’s go."
Just as the Eighteenth Elder was about to argue, he was waved off by the Third Elder. Seeing his resoluteness, the Eighteenth Elder swallowed back his words.
Together, the three of them left the inn.
Meanwhile, Shi Xiaole had arrived at Gui Fuling’s room. As she was unsuspecting, he flicked a droplet of fresh blood into one of her pores.
"Hold on a moment; I need to go do something. I’ll be right back."
On the street, the Sixth Elder suddenly said to the other two, and immediately ran back to the inn.
Neither the Third Elder nor the Eighteenth Elder took much notice, but after waiting for fifteen minutes without sight of their comrade, they finally became suspicious. Exchanging glances, they rushed back to the inn.
There was no one to be found, and their usual chatter was absent. When the two elders knocked and entered a room, they found Gui Zhihang unconscious in bed. His pulse was steady, but he wouldn’t wake up no matter how loudly they called.
"Is that residual smell ... Soul-Dissolving Bewitching Fragrance?"
The Seventeenth Elder sniffed and his brain momentarily spun before he became alert again. He shouted out.
The Third Elder was both shocked and relieved.
This fourth-class strange poison was rare in the world. How did it appear here? Thankfully, it had no side effects. After sleeping for three days, one would naturally wake up.
"This is bad!"
As if remembering something, both elders immediately checked the other rooms. As expected, besides Qiao Yu and Yuan Yuying who were out, Duanmu Keren, Mu Ling, Shi Xiaole and even Hua Yiyun were all poisoned.
However, Miss Gui Fuling was missing!
At such a pivotal moment, she would not recklessly run off. The only explanation was that she had been forcibly taken away. Who had done this?
Thinking of the missing Sixth Elder, the two elders felt a chill in their hearts.
Night. Moonless.
With Gui Fuling under his left arm, the Sixth Elder sprinted through the mountains.
According to the plan, he first kidnapped Gui Fuling to draw the attention of the Gui Family. He was to meet up with Shi Xiaole up ahead and transfer the person to him. Once the person was given to Shi Xiaole, his task would be complete.
The reason he wouldn’t let Shi Xiaole take the treasure directly off Gui Fuling’s body, according to Shi Xiaole, was to avoid raising suspicion; he must be the one to carry the can.
Humph, sneaky mongrel!
If he could, the Sixth Elder really wanted to escape with Gui Fuling, but he couldn’t. The young man had already forced him to swear an oath, and he didn’t want to be blasted by the Five Thunderbolts.
Besides, he didn’t know what the treasure was for.
Under the agreed ancient pine, the Sixth Elder casually tossed Gui Fuling into a nearby bush to get her out of the way.
Before long, a figure slowly walked up.
"Yang Ting?!"
The Sixth Elder paused for a moment. In the next moment, the other party’s eyes were like two whirlpools, sucking his consciousness into them; under the hold of their gaze, he found himself asking subconsciously, "Why didn’t Yan Kai come himself?"
"Me being here is the same as if he was, hand over the things on Gui Fuling."
The Sixth Elder was completely unaware that Gui Fuling, who had been in a faint, had secretly awoken and clearly heard his words.
Neither did Gui Fuling know that the Sixth Elder’s face was wooden and he had completely lost the ability to think for himself.
"The woman is there..."
With a point from the Sixth Elder, Gui Fuling on the ground suddenly tossed about a dozen newly acquired Tang Sect Magic Mist Bombs. Taking advantage of the billowing smoke, she picked up her pace and ran away.
"There’s one 2-hour period left until nine p.m., Miss Gui, you must move fast."
Shi Xiaole knocked out the Sixth Elder and looked into the dark night, his tone casual and placid.
...
Seeing their lady returning while they were still in a state of confusion, the two elders of the Gui Family were ecstatic, and rushed to ask her for the details. Upon hearing the events, they were naturally furious at the Sixth Elder.
"Elder Six, you treacherous scoundrel, I’ll never let you off!"
The Eighteenth Elder was murderous.
"Don’t be impulsive; we can handle Elder Six, but Yan Kai is a thorny issue. Plus, his identity is special, making it difficult for us to act. Let’s go see Shi Guangwei immediately," said the Third Elder, glancing at Gui Fuling.
Actually, he was still a little confused. He didn’t understand why Yan Kai wanted to target Miss Gui. Plus, how did Miss Gui awaken so quickly after being affected by the Soul-Dissolving Bewitching Fragrance?
"Third Elder, sister."
At this time, Gui Zhihang and others arrived.
"Young Master, all of you are awake?"
The two elders exchanged glances.
"We seem to have been ambushed just now, but I don’t know what the person’s intentions were. They didn’t take any action against us."
Gui Zhihang spoke with a heavy tone.
The Eighteenth Elder let out a sigh of relief, laughing coldly, "Heh, Heaven is watching, that person wanted to take action against you guys, the Young Master. He never expected the Soul-Dissolving Bewitching Fragrance he got wasn’t fully potent."
Gui Fuling intervened, "Little brother, we’ll explain the details later. Right now, we must go and see Shi Guangwei. I suspect Yan Kai is from the Blade Slaves Sect!"
At her words, everyone, including the two elders, was taken aback.
Gui Fuling, of course, was not guessing blindly.
No one knew that she had obtained something from the Blade Slaves Sect’s branch, but that thing was already consumed and couldn’t be vomited out, making the forthcoming explanation difficult. She certainly didn’t want to draw attention to herself.
On the outskirts of the city.
In the tent he had set up, Shi Guangwei met with everyone. Upon hearing their words, he narrowed his eyes and said, "Miss Gui, words must be accountable. Are you saying that Yan Kai has betrayed me?"
Gui Fuling bowed her head and said, "The young lady was trapped in a branch of the Blade Slaves Sect for a few days, and Lord Yan had set his sights on me. I can only suspect that he is a member of the Blade Slaves Sect."
Shi Guangwei hooked the corner of his mouth with a chuckle at her mindless logic.
Observing Gui Fuling, Shi Xiaole was astounded by this woman’s cunning. If he hadn’t accidentally discovered the secret plot of Yang Ting and the Sixth Elder, he would probably still be in the dark.
Who could know that beneath Gui Fuling’s deliberately obtuse exterior lay such deep cunning?
"Call for Yan Kai."
With a wave of Shi Guangwei’s hand, footsteps erupted outside the tent. Before long, someone reported: "My Lord, Lord Yan left about fifteen minutes ago."
"What?"
Shi Guangwei’s expression faltered a little.
Under normal circumstances, Yan Kai’s absence wouldn’t matter. Anyone staying in a place like this would tire of it; however, his disappearance following immediate suspicion was exceedingly convenient.
"What about Yang Ting? Call him in."
Shi Guangwei settled for the next best.
More than half a 2-hour period passed before footsteps sounded again. "My Lord, we were unable to find Yang Ting’s figure in the city. Other Golden Armor Guards reported that they hadn’t seen him since yesterday."
Shi Guangwei closed his eyes as a dense murderous aura surged out from him.
If, as Gui Fuling had said, Yang Ting was Yan Kai’s subordinate, then, logically, to prevent his identity from being exposed, Yan Kai would naturally kill Yang Ting first to make him a silent corpse.
Therefore, Yang Ting’s disappearance was only logical.
"Search for him. Mobilize everyone. No matter what methods you use, you must find Yan Kai before dawn, alive or dead."
"Yes!"
The strength of the Golden Armor Guards is unfathomable. With their full force, plus the three Pacifying Envoys who came with Shi Guangwei, whose strength was no weaker than Yan Kai’s, they quickly discovered Yan Kai’s whereabouts.
At this time, Yan Kai, having waited at the agreed place and time without seeing anyone, quickly sensed that something was wrong.
