Chapter 381
Without her master's presence, the lack of that energetic, fulfilling feeling left Mudrock feeling empty. She gripped the handrail and turned back, urging the other person to leave as soon as possible.
"Our missions are complete, so let's go back soon and not bother you here."
Qiu Bai held a different opinion and insisted on staying:
"The two of them disappeared before the battle was decided. Perhaps when they reappear, we can play a crucial role."
Mudrock strictly followed Shi Lei's orders, leaving the scene immediately after luring Ya to reveal himself. She had absolute confidence in her master and did not believe he would be defeated by his opponent.
April 4th, 9:42 AM
Jade Gate, the Left General's Mansion.
Zuo Xuanliao stood atop the watchtower, watching the sky gradually be shrouded in rocks. He paced back and forth in the cramped space, as anxious as an ant on a hot plate.
Rows of torches had been lit below, illuminating the area as if it were daytime.
Zuo Xuanliao could not determine whether the rocks rising from all around were the work of the Grandmaster, Zhongli, or the suspect.
At this moment, the Mobile Cities resembled a massive prison encased in rock. As the commander of Jade Gate, he was unable to obtain the latest intelligence in a timely manner.
"General."
Seeing the patrolling soldiers below, Zuo Xuanliao quickly climbed down the ladder and asked:
"How's the investigation going?"
"The explosion in the south of the city has been investigated. The accident occurred at a sword-making workshop. The workshop owner Meng Tieyi, was fighting with the Mountain Sea Cult when, for some unknown reason, the gunpowder exploded, ultimately causing him to perish along with them."
Upon hearing this, Zuo Xuanliao's eyelids twitched violently. This Meng Tieyi had once been a very good friend of his.
Sixteen years ago, a large group of Mountain Sea Cult disguised themselves as martial artists and caused trouble in the city, even killing his friend.
From that time on, Zuo Xuanliao's relationship with him plummeted to a freezing point, becoming extremely strained. Little did he know that the next time he heard the other's name, it would be after death.
Zuo Xuanliao felt a little dizzy, but quickly regained his balance. Even before considering his identity as Meng Tieyi's friend, he always remembered that he was the garrison commander of Jade Gate.
"Are there any remaining Mountain Sea Cult in the sword-making workshop? If you find them, capture them all alive!"
The soldier twitched the corner of his mouth and shook his head regretfully:
"I'm sorry, General. By the time we arrived at the sword-making workshop, there was no one left alive."
"..."
Before Zuo Xuanliao could sink into his sorrowful memories, the Imperial Observatory sorcerers responsible for preventing Catastrophe rushed over.
He forcibly composed himself and immediately went to meet the leader and asked:
"How is the situation?"
"Reporting to the General, the sand filtration structure and Originium purification works of the barbican are all activated. However, the two sand channels in the northwest direction have been severely damaged, and the Catastrophe may well pour into the city through the breach. The destructive power will be no less than that of a small Catastrophe. However, the rocks that have risen outside the city have blocked the sandstorm from entering. Although we do not know which extraordinary powerhouse did this, it has indeed helped Jade Gate a lot."
Zuo Xuanliao didn't reply, but instead looked up at the starless, pitch-black sky. The soldiers and sorcerers remained silent, creating an eerie stillness.
The General's Mansion is located a little north of the city.
Apart from the crackling of firewood, there was no sound of raging sandstorms or flashing lightning. Jade Gate was like a warm cradle, isolating it from danger.
"These rocks could collapse at any moment, so don't take any chances. You all go to the Outer City and keep an eye on the signs of the Catastrophe. If you can't hold it, retreat to the Inner City and await my orders."
"Yes, General!"
"You may all leave."
Zuo Xuanliao dismissed the soldiers and sorcerers, and with a solemn expression, took out a red brocade pouch from his pocket.
This was given to him by Liang Xun through the Grand Tutor, who did not want any third person to know its contents.
The red brocade pouch was very light; after pulling the tightly tied rope, a slip of paper was revealed.
Zuo Xuanliao stretched out his calloused fingers and gently rubbed them together to separate the folded paper. On it, in very beautiful calligraphy, was written a proverb from the Yan.
"One should always be wary of others."
Although few in number, it is concise and to the point.
If this strange phenomenon was indeed the work of the man codenamed Zhongli, it proves that he possesses terrifying strength that is no less than, and perhaps even surpasses, that of the Sui Beast.
The Great Yan Dynasty is already having enough of a headache because of this sealed Great Beast. If an even more powerful Great Beast were to appear, who knows what price they would have to pay to destroy it.
The Grand Tutor was reminding him to gather information on Zhongli as soon as possible and analyze his weaknesses.
This is why one should always be wary of others.
After reading the contents, Zuo Xuanliao threw the letter and the brocade pouch into the brazier. The firelight flickered for a moment, then danced on his face, which was now illuminated by the flickering light.
Through the technique of Ya, Shi Lei has mastered the method of spacetime simulation. With just a few modifications, he can create a space independent of reality, like the Jade Bottle.
These techniques are child's play for Ya. Even if he were to teach them, there would be no loss.
Seeing that the other person learned it in just a few minutes made Ya even more eager to leave. If the other person insisted on teaching him everything, would that be teaching or not teaching at all?
"Let's just consider this a chance to make friends today. Maybe we'll meet again in the future. I'll be going now."
"Who gave you permission to leave?"
Shi Lei's sudden remark froze Ya in place.
"We haven't settled our score yet."
Ya was about to remind him that they had just made a verbal agreement that he would let Him go after being taught the technique of creating spacetime.
But upon reflection, she realized the other person had never said such a thing, and her expression tightened involuntarily.
What do you want?
Shi Lei looked at the other party and listed them one by one.
"I beat you until you vomited blood, and with the skills I taught you, our score is settled. But you attacked Texas, so you have to apologize to her in person. If she forgives you, I won't pursue the matter further. But if she doesn't forgive you, you should know the consequences."
Ya dared not speak out in anger, looking frustrated and wanting to take action but afraid of losing.
Honestly, He simply couldn't understand it.
Ya couldn't understand why someone as powerful Shi Lei would be with someone as weak as Lupo.
Even the white-haired Sarkaz, whom I just fought, is many times stronger than that Female Lupo.
Or perhaps I misjudged her, and that the Female Lupo actually possessed extraordinary qualities that others didn't?
But He dared not say such things.
This human body is now severely damaged. If the fighting continues, it will only awaken the original body. But this is not what Ya wants to see, so he can only endure it.
"Okay, I promise you."
If any of their kind knew that such a Great Beast was apologizing to such insignificant humans, they would surely laugh their heads off.
But now, Ya has no kindred spirits.
If He had to choose between revenge and dignity, He would rather choose the former.
This colossal Great Beast, isolated from the world for hundreds of years, never reflects on whether its own problems are the issue. Shi Lei gradually understood this and showed no mercy:
"Just agree if you agree, who are you trying to fool with that 'get revenge later' attitude? You attacked me after saying a few words, and you think you're so wronged? If I hadn't been there, Texas would have been in serious trouble. If you're going to have this attitude, I suggest you don't apologize, just fight."
Yahweh closed his eyes in anguish; this was the first time in his life he had suffered such criticism.
No, I must be patient!
Rather than fighting to the death with this man whose strength is unknown, it's better to save your energy and deal with Sui.
The harm this traitor inflicted on me is thousands of times greater than the verbal provocation I'm experiencing now!
In an instant, Ya seemed to enter a state of enlightenment, his tone and attitude softening completely:
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault."
"That's more like it. Not dealing with you on the spot was already a huge act of leniency, yet you still don't know how to be grateful. Besides the Texas matter, there's a third debt. Once the second debt is settled, I will hand you over to the Grandmaster for punishment, to deal with the crime of stealing the sword."
"Was it necessary to go to such extremes?"
This answer amused Shi Lei:
"Absolutely? You must pay the price for your reckless actions. If you're going to tell me that humans are ants and that the strong prey on the weak, does that mean I'm stronger than you and can just kill you at will?"
Ya's arrogance and dignity were shattered like a mirror. He happened to have a question about age that he wanted to ask Chongyue, and bowed his head in agreement:
"I'm sorry, I realize my mistake. I agree to all the conditions you've set."
"Alright, take me back now."
In the world of martial arts, speed is the only way to break through defenses.
Shi Lei is not afraid of Ya's tricks; as long as Ya is faster, he can handle any unexpected situation.
Ya Ye indeed dared not act recklessly, and obediently used his Scythe Blade to create Space-Time Rift. Instantly, it enveloped the two of them, pulling them back to the Jade Gate in the real world.
Even in the dim light, Shi Lei could still see normally. He looked around and confirmed that Mudrock had left, leaving only Miss Qiu behind.
As his Psychic Power expanded, Shi Lei immediately sensed that Chongyue and Miss Ling were heading towards the location of the sand canal.
"Plop."
The two jumped from the height and landed steadily.
Chongyue knew that what was about to happen was not suitable for people who were not Great Beast to hear, so he spoke up and instructed:
"Qiu Bai, you go first, leave this to me."
Qiu Bai dared not disobey the master's orders, so he lit a tinderbox and climbed the ladder to leave the sand canal.
After confirming that the other party had gone far away, Shi Lei informed Chongyue and his sister Ling of the outcome of the case against Ya:
"Master, I will bring him here and hand him over to you after he has apologized to Texas."
"Okay, but I'd like to ask a few questions, and then decide whether to stay or leave based on His answers, is that alright?"
Shi Lei shrugged, indicating that the Grandmaster should do as he pleased. He offered to step aside, wanting to hear what they would have to say.
Chongyue cast a grateful glance, then shifted his gaze to Ya's face, which had lost its sharpness:
"I want to know, how did you collude with the Mountain Sea Cult?"
There's nothing wrong with talking about such a small matter.
"When I returned to Yan, I encountered this group of people in the Gobi Desert. With just a slight gesture, they treated me like a god. Some of them were hypocritical and some were devout, but they all tried their best to prove to me just how firm their faith was."
They are clearly human, yet they curse their fellow human beings day and night, deeming them utterly wicked. They want to use the power of the Great Beast to overthrow the existing order. I use them as tools to handle the dirty work that's inconvenient to do openly—it's that simple.
Chongyue did not offer his personal opinion, but instead posed the next question to Ya, which was also the key one:
"You stole the sword, were you looking for Him?"
"That's right. To locate Sui's true form, we need to find any fragment of his consciousness. But you have a hard time finding any of them. This sword is the most convenient one."
Chongyue had already learned from Shi Lei that Ya wanted to seek revenge against Sui. He called Ling aside for a brief discussion, then returned to reply:
"Considering that we share the same goal, I will allow you to atone for your sins through good deeds. I can even take you to the place where the seal was placed, and let you lead the charge after He unseales it."
Ya knew perfectly well that they were using him. He also knew that Sui would be extremely weak when the seal was first broken. In addition, his true form was currently at its limit, so taking the lead in revenge was undoubtedly the best choice at the moment.
"That would be exactly what I wanted."
"Alright, then we'll lock you up in the dungeon after you've settled your score with Mister Zhongli. You've done some wrong things, and you have to give the Great Yan an explanation. We'll release you when the year is about to be lifted from its slumber."
"I am extremely grateful."
Having fulfilled half of his desire for revenge, Ya's attitude had also become much more upright. He now had no reason to run away and go it alone, and willingly accepted being imprisoned.
Having resolved the issue with Ya, Chongyue looked at Shi Lei, who had stepped aside, and clasped his hands in invitation:
"Mister Zhongli, may I speak to you in private?"
"Good."
Shi Lei immediately put his newfound knowledge to use, creating a small world independent of the real world. Seeing this, Chongyue paused for a moment, then followed him inside.
Since Shi Lei did not construct any interior scenes, there was only an endless expanse of white between heaven and earth.
Chongyue looked around, showing no discomfort with the environment, and went straight to the point:
"Mister Zhongli, in fact, for the Great Yan, the Mountain Sea Cult is a more worthy of vigilance than the Great Beast."