The next day!
Morning light had just begun to rise.
Lin Baichuan and Qin Qing left Yunshan County with Li Da, preparing to return to Cangwu County City to report back and submit their mission.
Less than two hours after the three of them left Yunshan County, a figure shrouded from head to toe in a black robe silently entered the county office. He then made his way into Liang Youtian's underground palace, moving with complete familiarity along the way without alerting anyone.
"Useless trash. I gave him so many benefits, yet he still died like this, ruining my years of investment in one stroke."
Looking at Liang Youtian's dismembered corpse in the Blood Pool, the Black Robe Figure's eyes instantly turned crimson with blood. Killing intent flashed like blades as he gritted his teeth and growled, "Dead is dead, but that high-grade spirit artifact, the Nine Yin Ice Soul Net, was lost too. He truly was useless to the extreme."
As he spoke, he raised a hand. Billowing black mist churned in his palm, like jet-black flames burning fiercely, and poured into the Blood Pool.
Sizzle, sizzle...
The entire Blood Pool immediately began to burn. Liang Youtian's body was incinerated in an instant, while the blood filling the pool was burned and condensed. In less than a quarter of an hour, it had condensed into a blood-red pill the size of a longan.
"It actually refined into a high-grade Thousand Blood Pill. That piece of trash was not entirely useless; at least it recovered some of my losses."
With a wave of his hand, the Black Robe Figure collected the blood-red pill. His words brimmed with killing intent. "The Nine Yin Ice Soul Net is of vital importance. It must be recovered. Hmph... They dare take an item belonging to my White Lotus Cult? They are truly seeking their own deaths..."
As he spoke, the Black Robe Figure had already slipped soundlessly out of the underground palace.
At this time, outside Yunshan County.
Lin Baichuan was galloping atop a Unicorn Horse when, for no reason at all, a chill ran through his entire body. He could not help but shudder.
"What is this? Could someone be plotting against me?"
Lin Baichuan's expression tightened. He muttered to himself as a faint sense of unease rose in his heart. Then, involuntarily, he looked toward Li Da ahead of him and murderous intent surged within him. Could this bastard be plotting against me again? No... I can't let this bastard live. I have to find a way to kill him.
He had considered simply striking from the shadows and slaughtering Li Da outright.
But in the end, he dismissed the thought. Qin Qing was watching from the side. If he attacked Li Da, she would certainly stop him. Unless he killed her as well, he would never be able to kill Li Da.
Why not go all the way and slaughter them both?
Lin Baichuan thought to himself, then shook his head with a bitter smile. Qin Qing's identity and background were anything but simple. If he dared kill her today, he would likely never know peace again in the future.
Moreover, she was of noble status. Who knew how many life-saving methods she had in her hands? It was better to be cautious.
Forget it. I'll wait and see. There will always be another chance.
Lin Baichuan thought silently, and the Unicorn Horse beneath him galloped onward, its speed rising to the limit.
Before nightfall, the three had arrived at an ancient town called Tianhe Town, three thousand li away. They had also passed through Tianhe Town on their way here, but because they had been hurrying along, they had not stayed long.
"It is getting late. Let us rest in this town for the night!"
Qin Qing glanced at Li Da and Lin Baichuan before speaking gravely.
"I have no objections!"
Lin Baichuan nodded with a smile. He would have loved nothing more than to linger on the road awhile longer. The longer they remained on the road, the more chances he would have to deal with Li Da. Once they returned to Cangwu County City, there would be no opportunities left.
He did not have the nerve to kill someone under the very nose of the Demon Suppression Division.
"This mission has seen too many unexpected twists. We lost three brothers, and this matter is of great importance. We should return and report it as soon as possible!" Li Da frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "At the Unicorn Horses' speed, if we travel day and night, we can return to Cangwu County City by tomorrow evening."
Li Da was no fool. His relationship with Lin Baichuan had essentially torn apart, and he knew perfectly well that Lin Baichuan wanted nothing more than to kill him quickly. How could he dare linger on the road at a time like this? Only by returning to Cangwu County City as early as possible could he feel even a little safe.
Seeing that Li Da insisted on traveling through the night, Qin Qing could not help frowning. "At our current speed, we will reach Qili Slope right around midnight. I remember the captain telling me that Qili Slope is shrouded in poisonous miasma at night, and demons and fiends may even run rampant there. It is fraught with danger.
"So, we should rest in Tianhe Town for the night and set off again early tomorrow morning. Besides, even if we can endure traveling day and night, the horses cannot!"
As she spoke, Qin Qing patted the Unicorn Horse beneath her and took the lead toward Tianhe Town ahead.
Seeing this, Lin Baichuan was overjoyed. He gave Li Da a half-smiling look before immediately following her. Li Da, however, turned livid, silently cursing Qin Qing's ancestors for eighteen generations.
He had suggested traveling through the night precisely because he wanted to return to Cangwu County City sooner, so he would not have to remain on edge and guard against Lin Baichuan.
"Damn it..."
Li Da gritted his teeth and growled. Resentment filled his heart, but in the end, he still clenched his jaw and followed them. He truly feared Lin Baichuan, but likewise, he did not dare travel alone. Qili Slope was full of dangers. In his current state, crossing Qili Slope alone at night was far too dangerous; nine times out of ten, he would perish there.
He feared Lin Baichuan and worried that Lin Baichuan would strike to kill him.
But at the same time, he wanted to borrow Qin Qing's strength to protect him safely along the way.
At the very least, with Qin Qing around, Lin Baichuan would never dare attack him casually. Qin Qing was no mere decoration.
After the group of three entered the town, they soon found an inn and settled in.
Half an hour later.
Inside an inn room.
Lin Baichuan was sitting cross-legged on the bed, diligently comprehending the Golden Bell Shield, which he had raised to the seventh level. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, followed by Qin Qing's voice from outside. "It's me... Is it convenient to talk?"
What does this woman want?
Lin Baichuan was slightly stunned, unable to guess why Qin Qing had come looking for him at this time.
However, after only a brief moment of thought, Lin Baichuan still rose and opened the door, letting Qin Qing into the room.
"Miss Qin, what brings you to see me at this hour?"
Lin Baichuan asked in a low voice. His expression was calm, but a trace of vigilance showed in his eyes. He remained wary of Qin Qing. He always felt that he could not see through this woman, so it was best to be cautious. After all, a careful sailor sails for ten thousand years. From his experience in his previous life, the more beautiful a woman was, the more deceptive she could be.
The ancients of his previous life had said it well: a woman's heart was the most venomous.
Those words were not spoken lightly.
"You need not be so guarded. I bear you no ill will."
Qin Qing seemed to see through Lin Baichuan's thoughts. She gave a light laugh and said, "I came today merely to make a deal with you."
"What deal?"
Lin Baichuan frowned slightly. He felt no embarrassment at having his thoughts exposed by Qin Qing; instead, he became even more wary and alert toward her.
"Help me with one matter, and I can tell you how to perfectly bring out the effects of Earth Spirit Milk." Qin Qing smiled faintly and said it casually.
The instant those words left her lips, Lin Baichuan's heart jolted. His pupils shrank to pinpoints, yet he immediately said, "What Earth Spirit Milk? Miss Qin, what use is there in telling me that..."
"Hehe... Don't tell me the Earth Spirit Milk isn't on you."
Qin Qing chuckled. "Back in Seven Mile Slope Town, Yin Kuisheng detonated his Demon Core and fled. The next day, someone discovered that he had died in Qili Slope, while the Earth Spirit Milk on him had vanished without a trace. If I am not mistaken, that night, you secretly followed the heavily wounded Yin Kuisheng to Qili Slope, killed him, and took the Earth Spirit Milk, didn't you?"
Lin Baichuan's heart immediately churned like rivers and seas overturning, unable to calm down. This woman is truly formidable. She actually guessed the entire course of events correctly.
But shocked as he was, Lin Baichuan naturally would not admit it. He immediately shook his head. "Miss Qin must be mistaken. I know nothing about any Earth Spirit Milk, nor did I ever pursue and kill Yin Kuisheng..."
"Is that so?"
Qin Qing raised her brows and looked at Lin Baichuan meaningfully. Her phoenix eyes were like lightning, as though she wanted to see straight through him.
After a long while, Qin Qing suddenly smiled, rose to her feet, and said, "Perhaps I truly was mistaken. In that case, just pretend I was never here. What a pity... If I am not mistaken, you have already broken through the limits of physical strength, haven't you?
"If you could use the Earth Spirit Milk according to my method, it could absolutely allow you to lay a perfect foundation, reshape your physique and bone structure, and make your entire body undergo a complete rebirth. What a pity... The Earth Spirit Milk is not on you, so there is no point in saying any more.
"Sorry to disturb you..."
With that, Qin Qing smiled faintly and strode toward the door.
Before you continue