Chapter 275: Use Her to Exchange
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“Ghost Hag, you were the one who suggested coming to the Dragon Pool Mountain Range. Now that there’s trouble, you want to throw us under the bus? That’s not right!”
“We call you Ghost Hag out of respect; don’t think too highly of yourself!”
“They can’t be hostages, but we can? Why? Are they your lovers or something, you old hag?”
Trapped in the lair by demonic beasts, their hearts were already burning with frustration.
Now betrayed by Ghost Hag, they had no intention of holding back. They said the most cutting things they could, all for one goal: to avoid becoming hostages.
Ghost Hag’s face turned dark as she yelled angrily, “Shut up, all of you!”
However, her authority was no longer respected. Instead of silencing themselves, the group grew even more heated in their insults.
“Enough!” Bai Mei interrupted their meaningless bickering. “We’ll do as she said. Leave those few people behind.”
Her words brought mixed reactions—some felt relieved, others panicked.
“Ghost Hag, your turn.”
Ghost Hag’s eyes flickered with uncertainty, and her rough, bark-like face twitched.
Seeing her hesitation, Bai Mei grew suspicious, her gaze turning colder.
Hua Tu and Na Ya stepped forward, the pressure of their aura suffocating.
“Ghost Hag, what are you waiting for? Hand them over already!”
“Are you trying to get us all killed?”
“Ghost Hag!”
Faced with their threats, Ghost Hag had no choice but to open her spirit beast pouch.
Dozens of small demonic beasts scrambled out, including Ah Chun.
Once free, Ah Chun scanned her surroundings anxiously. Upon spotting Yu Zhao, her lips quivered in grievance, and tears quickly welled up.
Crying, she ran toward Yu Zhao. “Wuwuwu, Yu Zhao, Yu Zhao…”
Yu Zhao bent down slightly to catch her, cradling her gently. Her fingers stroked Ah Chun’s back in soothing motions.
The sharp cries of the nine-tailed fox echoed in the tense silence, drawing everyone’s attention to Yu Zhao.
“Yu Zhao, Yu Zhao, Yu Zhao…”
Ghost Hag muttered the name under her breath, finding it increasingly familiar. Where had she heard it before?
Then, one of the Nascent Soul cultivators beside her spoke. “The winner of the recent cultivation tournament was also named Yu Zhao.”
Ghost Hag’s eyes widened in realization.
Of course. The name Yu Zhao had been the talk of the cultivation world recently.
Not only had she won the tournament’s individual category, but she was also a disciple of the Five Elements Dao Sect and a former pupil of Master Qing Yan.
And now, standing before her was another woman named Yu Zhao, mingling with demonic beasts… Could it be a coincidence?
The more she thought about it, the more suspicious Ghost Hag became. She pointed at Yu Zhao, her gaze venomous. “You’re no fox demon. You’re a cultivator!”
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Even the Nascent Soul cultivators were stunned, and Hua Tu and Na Ya turned their shocked eyes on Yu Zhao.
Yu Zhao and Bai Mei, who knew the truth, remained unperturbed.
Yu Zhao said calmly, “You can leave now.”
“You’ve been pretending to be a demonic beast to infiltrate the Dragon Pool Mountain Range. What’s your goal?” Ghost Hag pressed on, determined to drag Yu Zhao down with her.
“This is none of your business. Are you leaving or not?” Bai Mei’s tone grew impatient.
Ghost Hag was stunned that her accusations didn’t sow any discord. The demonic beasts seemed entirely unfazed by Yu Zhao’s true identity.
With a deep, piercing look at Yu Zhao, Ghost Hag led the others toward the edge of the Dragon Pool Mountain Range.
The Nascent Soul cultivators not chosen as hostages followed eagerly, relieved to escape.
The remaining Nascent Soul cultivators hesitated, but under the watchful eyes of Hua Tu and Na Ya, they dared not act rashly.
Once Ghost Hag had gone, Bai Mei instructed Na Ya, “You stay and look after the young ones. Yu Zhao, Hua Tu, and I will take the hostages to negotiate.”
As Bai Mei spoke, Yu Zhao felt an evaluating gaze fall upon her.
Bai Mei added, “Yu Zhao is a guest of Spirit Mountain and Green Hill Mountain. She’s different from them.”
Hearing the names of the two sacred demonic beast lands, Na Ya reluctantly agreed.
Yu Zhao wanted to leave Ah Chun in Na Ya’s care, but the frightened little fox clung to her, unwilling to part. Helpless, Yu Zhao carried her along.
Before heading off, Yu Zhao approached the four Nascent Soul cultivators chosen as hostages.
Neither Bai Mei nor Hua Tu saw how she did it, but four spirit beast pouches suddenly appeared in her hands.
The four cultivators were shocked and instinctively tried to snatch the pouches back.
Before Yu Zhao could react, Bai Mei and Hua Tu intercepted their attacks.
“What do you think you’re doing? Stay in line!” Hua Tu growled, itching to lash out.
Yu Zhao handed the pouches to Bai Mei. “Check them. There should be more young ones inside.”
Realizing Yu Zhao’s intentions, Bai Mei asked, “You knew they were hiding these?”
Yu Zhao nodded.
Though they had concealed them well, nothing escaped Yu Zhao’s divine sense.
Bai Mei opened the pouches to find that each contained seven or eight young demonic beasts.
Two of them, however, were lifeless—likely killed during capture.
Bai Mei’s lips tightened, her expression colder than ever.
“It wasn’t me!”
“Not me either!”
“Candle Dragon, those two were clearly yours!”
The four cultivators began accusing one another, desperate to avoid blame.
Hua Tu growled deeply, his body tensed as if ready to pounce and tear out their throats.
Bai Mei shook her head, silently urging restraint.
There were still young ones in Ghost Hag’s hands.
Now was not the time for revenge.
Hua Tu, though seething with anger, held himself back. Under Bai Mei’s direction, he herded the four cultivators forward.
His resentment, however, extended to Yu Zhao. Whatever goodwill he had felt for her was gone.
Yu Zhao, unaffected by Hua Tu’s attitude, focused on her mission: to return the little fox safely to Green Hill Mountain. The other beasts were not her concern.
Meanwhile, Ghost Hag and her group had reached the shimmering barrier at the mountain range’s edge.
They tried various methods to break through but failed each time. Left with no choice, they resumed negotiations with Bai Mei.
“The deal remains the same,” Bai Mei said. “Hand over the spirit beast pouch, and I’ll let you go.”
“You need to lift the barrier first. Then I’ll hand it over.”
“If I lift the barrier, what’s to stop you from running?”
“What’s to stop you from reneging once you have the pouch?”
Both sides remained on edge, neither willing to give in.
Finally, Ghost Hag’s expression darkened with malice as she proposed, “If you want the pouch first, fine. Use her to exchange.”
Her finger pointed directly at Yu Zhao.