Chapter 88: The Scapegoat Jiugong
Xiao Nanfeng and Yu'er hid within a secluded bush deep in the mountainous forest.
"Nanfeng, for some reason, I keep feeling as though someone's been spying on us," Yu'er murmured.
"Not someone—some centipede spirits," Xiao Nanfeng corrected, laughing.
"What?" Yu'er reared back in surprise.
"That golden centipede spirit must still be doubting my identity, to have his subordinates tail me. I've been keeping track of them with spiritual power, so don't worry," Xiao Nanfeng explained.
Yu'er nodded hesitantly, but it still made her uncomfortable to have spirits looming behind her back.
"Before us lies the black-armored warriors' territory, but... they seem to be moving?" Xiao Nanfeng scouted afar with visible confusion.
In a distant valley, the black-armored warriors were packing up. Xiang Zhirou was lecturing a few of the warriors as the rest of the group prepared to depart.
"We've killed half their number over these last few days. Are they leaving because they've grown afraid of us?"
"They still have a few Ascension-realm cultivators, so they shouldn't need to fear us. If they're leaving so suddenly, they must have some ulterior motive in mind," Xiao Nanfeng analyzed.
"Look, our juniors!" Yu'er's eyes lit up.
Several Taiqing disciples were being chased out of a tent. They all showed signs of having been tortured and were bloody all over. A few of the black-armored warriors were whipping them to spur them onward.
"As expected, there are a few senior disciples still alive." Xiao Nanfeng sighed in relief.
"Nanfeng, we have to find a way to rescue them." Yu'er's eyes flashed with anticipation.
"We must, but we can't do it. There must be some reason for Xiang Zhirou to be moving her camp so suddenly, and we need to find some helpers to assist us." Xiao Nanfeng narrowed his eyes as he glanced into the distance.
"We have helpers?" Yu'er turned to Xiao Nanfeng in surprise.
"Of course we do. Come on!"
The two of them headed away from the forest and into a distant, secluded valley. Only then did Xiao Nanfeng call out, "Come out, all of you!"
Their surroundings remained silent.
Xiao Nanfeng waved a hand, causing his Immortal Cicada to fly toward a patch of grass. A wave of killing intent surrounded it.
"Do you want me to force you out with this blade?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.
Only then did a centipede spirit, almost as long as a person, crawl out with a rustle.
The centipede spirit hissed, causing a group of centipede spirits to emerge from the nearby undergrowth, surrounding Xiao Nanfeng and Yu'er.
"Don't worry, I'm not here to make trouble for you. You've been following me for a few days now, haven't you? I'd like you to send word back to your leader," Xiao Nanfeng explained.
The centipede spirit glanced at Xiao Nanfeng with visible confusion. It commanded the other spirits not to strike just yet.
"You saw those black-armored warriors too, and the fact that they've captured a few foreigners. The Empire of Great Yan also wants those foreigners, and I'd like to enlist your help," Xiao Nanfeng explained.
The centipede spirit looked toward Xiao Nanfeng, waiting for him to elaborate.
"Your leader promised to lend us minor assistance. Of course, we wouldn't have you do all this for nothing. Feel free to set terms for your assistance, which Lord Wei will be happy to fulfill on your behalf. Of course, it can't be anything too extreme," Xiao Nanfeng continued.
The centipede spirit nodded, then darted into a hole and scrambled off.
Xiao Nanfeng and Yu'er glanced at each other. It was true that they were conspiring with the enemy, but it would be worthwhile if they could get a few of the senior disciples back as a result. As for the promised compensation, well, the centipede spirits could ask for it from Lord Wei himself.
The two cultivators continued spying on the black-armored warriors as they moved camp. Two hours later, a giant golden centipede spirit crawled out of an upturned rock not far from Xiao Nanfeng.
"You want my assistance, lad?" The golden centipede spirit stared at Xiao Nanfeng.
"My name is Nanfeng, and this is Yu'er. I left in a hurry that day, and forgot to make introductions to you in my haste. How might I address you?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.
"You've grown rather audacious in just a few days, haven't you? You can call me Jiugong," the golden centipede spirit replied coldly.
"Jiugong? Your subordinate has explained the situation to you, hasn't it? Those prisoners are foreigners, and I'd like to bring them back to Great Yan, in order to interrogate them for critical information. Please bring them back alive," Xiao Nanfeng requested with a smile.
"Ha! Those black-armored warriors tried to invade our lair, only to be defeated and consumed by the rest of us. It will be difficult, however, to take them down outside the lair. There are what seems to be three Ascension-realm cultivators, along with one golden crow spirit. You aren't deliberately trying to lead me to my death, are you?"
"Yu'er and I can lead the Ascension-realm cultivators away, at least two of them. As for the remaining two, Jiugong, I trust that you can handle them. You have countless subordinates, and all you have to do is grab the prisoners and run. There's no need for a life-and-death battle, and it shouldn't be difficult," Xiao Nanfeng persuaded.
Jiugong stared at Xiao Nanfeng. It had learned about his battles through the eyes of its scouts, and it naturally believed that Xiao Nanfeng would be able to lure two of them away. However, it had no intention of agreeing so easily.
"What benefits will you provide?" Jiugong asked.
"Aren't the twenty Ascension-realm carcasses I provided back in the lair enough?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.
Jiugong shook its head. That clearly wasn't enough to satisfy its greed.
"State your conditions, then," Xiao Nanfeng replied coolly.
"I want Emperor Yan's jeweled mirror," Jiugong replied, continuing to stare at Xiao Nanfeng.
This was, once again, a trick. Emperor Yan had no jeweled mirror in the public eye; if Nanfeng were to agree immediately, it would prove that there was some issue with him.
"Jiugong, I heard Lord Wei mention that Emperor Wei has six jeweled mirrors to his name. To which one are you referring?" Xiao Nanfeng replied, deftly sidestepping the issue.
Jiugong: ...How was it supposed to respond to this question? It had made something up!
"Jiugong, I'm only asking for your assistance because you're a local power in the region. Ignoring the fact that you promised to aid us with a few small favors, I, on behalf of Lord Wei, have provided you with lavish compensation for what you've done. Isn't it rather unseemly for you to be attempting to trick us?" Xiao Nanfeng grumbled.
Jiugong stared at Xiao Nanfeng unflinchingly. "I can lend my assistance, but I want half of the contents of the twenty chests I gave you."
"That's beyond what I have control over." Xiao Nanfeng shook his head.
"And you still want my help?" Jiugong refused to relent.
"I can promise that Lord Wei will send you three more Ascension-realm carcasses as thanks for your assistance. What say you?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.
"Three is far too insufficient. I want eight," Jiugong replied coolly.
"That won't do! I can only promise three," Xiao Nanfeng haggled.
"Five, no less." Jiugong stared at Xiao Nanfeng.
Xiao Nanfeng frowned for a moment before finally nodding. "Very well, but those foreigners have to be alive!"
"Don't worry." Jiugong was very satisfied by the outcome of the negotiations.
Two hours later, as Xiang Zhirou and her warriors walked toward a valley, two Immortal Cicadas whizzed into the air from afar. Countless crow spirits in the air were struck down and fell to the ground as the two Immortal Cicadas vanished again.
"Young Miss, it's those two bastards! They're here again!" one black-armored warrior shouted.
"They're asking for it!" Xiang Zhirou cried out. She commanded, "Crow spirits, find them! They must be nearby."
The crow spirits began scouting through the air. One crow spirit cawed in alert as the gathered cultivators saw Yu'er darting back into the undergrowth.
"You've found them? Quick, seize her!" Xiang Zhirou howled in excitement.
Xiang Zhirou herself gave chase. Two Ascension-realm black-armored cultivators accompanied her on either side, as well as the golden crow spirit.
The forest was dense with foliage. Once Yu'er darted back into the forest, the crow scouts in the air were unable to catch sight of her. Quickly, however, Yu'er showed herself once more,c ausing the crow spirits to give chase.
Some crow spirits rushed into the forest in an attempt to catch her, but they were unable to fly as quickly as she could run in the dense undergrowth. With her Ascension-realm strength, Yu'er was able to shrug them off in no time.
"Get back here and stop running away, you bastard! Stop right there!" Xiang Zhirou howled from behind.
Yu'er ran off at full speed with her Ascension-realm strength. She vanished and reappeared time and time again. Even Xiang Zhirou and her guards were unable to catch up to her, and she began pulling away from them.
The hiding Jiugong grinned with excitement. "All the Ascension-realm cultivators have been lured away! It looks like I'll get five Ascension-realm spiritbeast carcasses for doing nothing, then, haha!"
Jiugong roared, causing centipedes to rush out of the valley in a rumble. Countless centipede spirits were rushing toward the group of black-armored warriors, hundreds of which were as long as a person. They were going to kill them all!
"Young Miss, help us!" the black-armored warriors cried out in fright.
Jiugong led the charge, quickly rushing toward the side of the few Taiqing disciples.
"This is truly effortless, haha!" Jiugong roared in laughter.
Just then, a huge sword slash from a red-armored cultivator struck Jiugong's body.
Jiugong rapidly defended itself with spirit qi, but it was still sent flying. Several of its legs were chopped off.
"What?!" Jiugong cried out.
Three more red-armored warriors emerged, rushing toward Jiugong with fearsome techniques in hand.
"Four Ascension-realm warriors? An ambush! Could it be the cultivators from Great Qi? Did that brat make me his scapegoat?!"
The other three sword slashes struck Jiugong and sent it flying, causing its carapace to crack. Blood flowed from its body.
"Kill!" the four Ascension-realm cultivators shouted.
A huge battle occurred within the valley. Branches and rocks flew through the air; waves of energy clashed with each other.
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