Chapter 409 - The Ice Ponds on the Back Mountain (1/2)
Xiao Chen was determined to investigate the back mountain. He could also guess Su Lianyue’s goal in investigating the Corpse Refinery Sect; a woman from Fort Raksasa whose birthday falls on the seventh day of the seventh month must have gone missing as well. Now that she knew the answer, she could very well return and make her report. There was no need for her to continue risking her life. This was the end of their cooperation.
Su Lianyue looked at him quietly. Suddenly, she smiled and said, “How would you know if I’ve found the answer that I’m looking for, Young Master?”
Xiao Chen stared at her. He had the feeling that she was implying something else, so he asked, “Oh? Didn’t you come here to investigate the missing disciples from Fort Raksasa?”
Su Lianyue chortled. “Of course, I did. But that’s not all. For example, the answer I’m concerned about… Were you so concerned about all this because all those ladies share the same birthday of the seventh day of the seventh month?” Her pupils gleamed with emotion as she stared straight at Xiao Chen’s face.
Xiao Chen trembled ever so subtly. It seemed to him that Su Lianyue had been making indirect inquiries about his past since the beginning. He laughed. “A word of advice for you, Fairy.”
“Do tell.” Su Lianyue looked at him with a faint smile, her gaze still on him.
“Do not ever try to learn about my past. It’s very dangerous.”
Xiao Chen didn’t move when he spoke, his eyes as sharp and silent as a sword. This sword wouldn’t attack anyone on its own, but anyone who touched it was bound to get hurt, no matter who it was.
Su Lianyue was dumbfounded. She then burst into hearty laughter. She laughed so hard that she began shaking, unable to stop. Xiao Chen glanced at her. “What’s so funny?”
Su Lianyue shook her hand, still unable to contain her laughter. Every time Xiao Chen spoke to her earnestly, she would inexplicably want to laugh. It was the same thing back in the cave. Xiao Chen’s stomach was groaning but he still told her that she wouldn’t share a goose with a Devil’s Practice cultivator in all seriousness.
Her laughter made Xiao Chen feel very awkward. He coughed once and said, “Enough. Stop laughing. Be careful not to draw the attention of the guards outside.”
When her laughter finally ended, she looked at him. “Oh, alright. I’ll stop joking with you. But did you think that I’ll be done with my mission once I bring this clue back? Did you think I’d give up after I finally found a clue?”
Xiao Chen didn’t reply. He swiped the top of the woman in red and removed the Six-comprehension Seal on her. After the woman woke up, she shuddered and stared daggers at them both.
Su Lianyue’s expression instantly turned cold. She used a poisonous spell and pressed the woman in between the brows with two fingers. The woman immediately became obedient again.
“The ice pond on the rear mountain! Lead the way!”
The woman in red shifted her body, but eventually walked using the same path she had come in, with the two following her. Moments later, they were back at the rock cave from before. The two rows of guards moved out of the way in deference, all afraid to raise their heads.
After leaving the place, the woman in red led them down to the back mountain. The closer they were to the back mountain, the heavier the sinister, cold energy became. Xiao Chen’s brows were tightly furrowed the entire time. Yu Yangzi was someone on his deathbed and had no reason to make up a lie to deceive them. But the Administration of Heaven…
The Administration of Heaven was neither good nor evil. Even though they conducted soul transactions, they would never take the initiative in stealing someone’s soul. What didn’t belong to them, they wouldn’t want. But those who owed them souls had nowhere to run or hide.
But why would the Corpse Refinery Sect be subjugated by the Administration of Heaven? And what was up with that woman named Red Sleeve? These three matters were undoubtedly intricately linked!
Before they knew it, the moon and the stars began to dim as they walked. It must be close to dawn now. White mist gradually rose around them. Some branches were also covered with a layer of frost. There were also fewer patrolling guards here, as if they were either unwilling or not daring to come.
Xiao Chen and Su Lianyue were on full alert. If they ran into that woman named Red Sleeve, they would probably have no chance of survival. They couldn’t just imagine the magnitude of three thousand years’ worth of grievance. But what gave them a little piece of heart was that the woman seemed to be under some sort of control and couldn’t come out for now.
Finally, under the guidance of the woman in red, they arrived in front of a rock cave. The cave looked ordinary, but the cold sensation coming from it was potent. Xiao Chen and Su Lianyue exchanged looks and carefully walked inside. The moment they entered the cave, Xiao Chen could feel a heavy Rancorous Qi. However, this Qi was simply accumulated over the years; it didn’t belong to a single person.
After nearly fifteen minutes, they could faintly see light from the end as well as a thick layer of ice covering the rock walls around them. There were even stalactites hanging above them. The temperature was very, very low here. Even with the Fire-heart Jade, Su Lianyue was still trembling.
Xiao Chen glanced at her, not knowing why she feared the cold so. He remembered that Weiyang would sometimes fear the cold too. Muxue, too. All of them seemed to be bad with the cold.
They continued walking a little longer. The light from the end hit them through a layer of ice. Xiao Chen was finally able to get a clear look at his surroundings. It turned out that the light originated from some Illumination Formations.