Mo Hua took the lead, guiding the way through the Dragon King Temple.
But the atmosphere within the group was somewhat strange.
Gu Changhuai and Inspector Xia walked one step behind him, one on either side. They were both protecting Mo Hua and guarding against Inspector Xiao.
Inspector Xiao still wore that false smile, but now that the dagger had been drawn at last, there was truly nothing left to that smile but the skin.
The others' attitudes toward Inspector Xiao were also exceedingly subtle.
Water Yama was clearly in league with Inspector Xiao. Openly or secretly, the two must have had dealings before.
When they had encircled and hunted the Water Bandits on the island, Water Yama had escaped from Gu Changhuai and Inspector Xia's hands only because Inspector Xiao had saved him.
Thus, Water Yama obeyed Inspector Xiao's every word.
Yet at the same time, he seemed somewhat wary of Inspector Xiao, even harboring an indescribable fear.
That was exceedingly rare for a killer like Water Yama, whose hands were steeped in blood.
Xie Liu evidently also vaguely knew Inspector Xiao's identity.
Among the Golden Core cultivators in the Dragon King Temple, his status was the lowest, his strength the weakest, and his voice the smallest. Thus, he could only trail behind Inspector Xiao, who could barely be considered an "accomplice," and muddle along.
The strangest one was Xiao Tianquan.
Xiao Tianquan and Inspector Xiao were both cultivators of the Xiao Family. They ought to have been branches from the same tree, sharing breath and blood.
Yet after Inspector Xiao defected, Xiao Tianquan had said nothing. Along the way, he had even deliberately kept his distance from Inspector Xiao and stood beside Inspector Xia instead.
The Xiao Family's situation seems rather complicated as well... Mo Hua thought silently.