Control

(Brothers, give it a strong recommendation!)

At that moment, a young Goth couple emerged from the luxurious central tent. The woman had a huge belly—she was actually pregnant.

The young man approached Qi Bei with a smile, performed a noble's salute of the Golden Leaf Dynasty, and said, "I'm in charge of this caravan. I'm very sorry about the conflict just now. If you've taken a liking to this spot, we'll move out right away."

Qi Bei gave the Goth couple an amused look. Both wore expressions of wanting to settle matters peacefully, looking as though they were easy to deal with.

"This place is spacious enough. You don't need to move—just squeeze in and make do," Qi Bei said.

"No need. Thank you for your kindness, my lord. We'll move out right away." After saying this, the young Goth began ordering the entire caravan to relocate downstream.

My lord? Qi Bei's eyes flickered. They must have heard Tie Tou call him a marquis earlier.

But are they yielding so meekly just because I'm a noble?

"Marquis, there seems to be something wrong with this caravan," Huo Lie murmured into Qi Bei's ear.

"Don't worry about it for now. Have the brothers keep a close eye on them," Qi Bei said indifferently.

"Yes, Marquis." Huo Lie nodded.

Before long, the Goth caravan had withdrawn to the lower reaches of the stream, while Qi Bei and the others settled down.

By then, the sky had gone completely dark. Campfires and magic lamps sprang to life one after another, making the place look like a tiny village.

Qi Bei half-reclined in the armchair inside the tent, his fingers tapping against the chair back as he sank into thought.

"Xiao Jiu. Thirteen." Qi Bei suddenly raised his head and called out.

Two ghostlike black shadows flashed into existence before Qi Bei and respectfully said, "What are your orders, Master?"

"Sneak into the Goth caravan and investigate what's suspicious. Whatever you discover, don't alert them," Qi Bei said.

"Yes, Master." Xiao Jiu and Thirteen vanished like ghosts once more.

Qi Bei stood up, stretched, and muttered to himself, "It's about time we set out."

Lanhe Town was a very prosperous little town.

A river ran through Lanhe Town. The blue sand at its bottom set off the water, making it a famous river of dazzling azure beauty.

At midnight, Lanhe Town had already fallen asleep. The town could not compare with a major city, and nighttime entertainment had yet to bloom everywhere. Apart from a few casinos and brothels that still had their lights on, everywhere else was shrouded in hazy darkness.

Before the archway at the entrance to Lanhe Town, Marquis Lanling waited anxiously, his heart in turmoil and unable to find peace.

On one hand, Marquis Lanling hoped to cling to this powerhouse's coattails and soar to the heavens from then on.

On the other hand, he feared that his guess was wrong and that this powerhouse would simply wipe him out.

Just then, Marquis Lanling seemed to sense something. He abruptly raised his head and saw a mysterious figure standing not far away, draped from head to toe in a black robe like a ghost.

"You're Marquis Lanling?" the mysterious figure asked in a sinister voice.

Marquis Lanling's entire body shuddered. He felt an aura locking onto him—exceedingly faint, yet terrifying beyond measure.

Marquis Lanling had already assumed from the outset that this mysterious figure was the supreme powerhouse who had killed Venerable Wutian and rescued Nan Wuya. How could he possibly have any thoughts of resisting? He immediately bent over with the utmost respect and said in a trembling voice, "Cassif pays his respects to Senior. May I ask why Senior has summoned this junior?"

Qi Bei, disguised as the mysterious figure, was very satisfied with Marquis Lanling's performance. He deliberately did not answer, instead continuing to circulate that trace of dragon aura produced by Divine Dragon Transformation.

In the silence as still as death, fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on Marquis Lanling's forehead. His will had already collapsed earlier, and under the pressure of the dragon aura around Qi Bei, he found even breathing extremely difficult.

With a puff, Marquis Lanling could no longer endure the torment in his heart. His knees went weak, and he fell to the ground, trembling as he said, "Senior, Cassif is willing to be your dog. Whatever Senior orders me to do, I'll do it."

"Cackle, cackle, cackle. Is that so? This old man originally intended to kill you, but since you still have a little use, I'll accept you as my dog." Qi Bei advanced with a strange laugh and stopped before Cassif.

"Thank you, Senior... no, thank you, Master." Marquis Lanling did not dare move a muscle.

"Close your eyes," Qi Bei commanded.

Marquis Lanling obediently squeezed his eyes shut, terrified that if he opened even the slightest crack, he would die without a burial place.

Qi Bei's Dragon Claws, transformed by his dragonification, pressed against Marquis Lanling's forehead. A thread of golden inner power shot into his glabella and came to rest in his heavenly aperture.

Marquis Lanling felt cold, razor-sharp claws touch his forehead. Then a strange energy surged into his mind and began circling there. He knew this was one of the mysterious powerhouse's methods for controlling him.

Before long, Qi Bei withdrew the Dragon Claws. This world had no concept of meridians or acupoints. It could be said that this was a method unique to him. He believed that even powerhouses who had reached Heaven Grade or Saint Grade might not know how to break it.

"Get up," Qi Bei said indifferently.

Marquis Lanling obediently rose, not even daring to wipe the sweat from his face.

"That old bastard Venerable Wutian is holed up in the Golden Leaf Imperial Capital. What exactly is he plotting?" Qi Bei asked.

"Master, I truly don't know about that. I only know that he's looking for something. Nan Wuya seems to possess something he wants," Marquis Lanling answered cautiously.

Qi Bei's thoughts turned. Venerable Wutian is looking for the Nine Nether Chapters. Could it be that he only used Marquis Lanling to lure Nan Wuya out because he knew Marquis Lanling was an honorary disciple of the Dreamy Sea? Then what was the matter with the necromancer who abducted Princess Mingyue in the Imperial Palace, and Xiaoqing, the maid beside Princess Ruixue?

"What was the matter with the necromancer who caused such an uproar in the Imperial Capital last time? Was it Venerable Wutian who set it up?" Qi Bei asked.

"I don't know, Master. Perhaps it was done by one of Venerable Wutian's other subordinates," Marquis Lanling said.

Qi Bei's brows furrowed, and the aura around him suddenly turned sharp.

Marquis Lanling's body trembled. He felt the trace of energy in his mind begin to surge violently, making his head feel as though it were splitting apart.

"Then who else in the Imperial Capital is being controlled by Venerable Wutian?" Qi Bei asked.

Marquis Lanling breathed a sigh of relief. He knew several names and hurriedly rattled off a list, afraid that if he said he did not know again, Qi Bei would finish him on the spot.

Elder Weir of the Mage Guild, the head of the Fox Family, the deputy commander of the Imperial Palace guards...

Qi Bei silently memorized the names. These people all wielded considerable power and might be useful in the future.

Yet a shadow still lingered in Qi Bei's heart. If the necromancer and Xiaoqing's actions had not been pieces Venerable Wutian had placed on the board, then another dark force was very likely hiding within the Golden Leaf Imperial Capital. Why had they abducted Princess Mingyue? What were they trying to obtain?

Based on the clues Qi Bei knew so far, there was still far too little to make sense of everything.