Chapter 308
Chapter 308: Hostage
Guan Sou.
One of the two Hundred Star Realm cultivators of the Mountain Watching Club, hailing from Reversed Illusion Mountain.
Wang Jie and Nan Zhi stood motionless, their gazes fixed upon Guan Sou reflected clearly in the mirror ahead. Turning around, they saw him once more behind them. The mirrors seemed ordinary, yet they felt real.
However, both were powerful cultivators and could sense a hidden threat ahead.
Should they make a move, they would immediately face the crushing fury of heavenly thunder.
“Greetings, senior,” Wang Jie and Nan Zhi saluted respectfully.
Guan Sou appeared youthful; otherwise, he would never have gained entry into the club. Nonetheless, he was a Hundred Star Realm master, deserving of the honorific “senior.”
Guan Sou stared at them, puzzled, and asked, “Why are you two together?”
Wang Jie exchanged glances with Nan Zhi, unsure how to explain.
Guan Sou watched calmly and continued, “Moreover, the moment you saw me, you both seemed shocked. Traveling through this Formation Dao, encountering people is natural. So what surprised you? Was it me specifically, or just seeing another person at all?”
“I would appreciate an explanation from you two.”
Wang Jie glanced around cautiously, “Has senior set up an array to prevent anyone entering from escaping?”
Guan Sou smiled faintly, “What do you think?”
Wang Jie continued, “Or perhaps, is senior waiting to trap someone specific?”
“Wang Jie,” Guan Sou replied softly, a cold edge in his tone, “since you helped find the Red Moon, I’ll grant you one more chance. Answer my question clearly, or else you won’t leave this Four Seasons Train alive.”
Wang Jie had no desire to die here and quickly explained, “We noticed many people were killed, their deaths resembling those of the Nan family. We suspected that whoever destroyed the Nan family never left or perhaps their successor had infiltrated here. We decided to stick together for safety.”
Guan Sou narrowed his eyes, “And my first question?”
Wang Jie raised his hand, revealing the star disk, “Senior, can you conceal your aura?”
Guan Sou was startled, “A star path master’s star disk? You’re a star path master?”
Wang Jie knew he had to reveal something to survive. Guan Sou had prepared meticulously; he could either be the murderer—given his ability to conceal aura—or he was waiting to capture the culprit.
Guan Sou exhaled slowly, “No wonder no one can force your hand. A mere Lock Force cultivator being valued so highly by Black White Heaven. So, a star path master backs you.”
Wang Jie stared at him directly, “Then, senior, might you tell me, did you kill Su Ji Kong?”
Guan Sou looked shocked, “Su Ji Kong is dead too?”
“It wasn’t senior’s doing?”
“I do not wield the sword.”
Wang Jie withdrew the star disk and asked further, “Then does senior know of someone who could?”
Guan Sou’s gaze grew complicated, “Lan Tui is dead.”
Wang Jie was startled. Another Hundred Star Realm cultivator had fallen—this time Lan Tui. Lan Tui far surpassed Su Ji Kong. He was a Hundred Star Realm cultivator from Pathless Observation, a figure of immense, hidden power. Even he had fallen?
“Also killed by a single sword?” Nan Zhi asked involuntarily.
Guan Sou nodded slowly.
The atmosphere grew heavy.
Killing Lan Tui with just one sword—this was deeply terrifying.
Guan Sou spoke gravely, “Lan Tui was an elite genius from Pathless Observation, cultivating Void Power. I can’t imagine who could slay him with a single sword. Only a Star Guardian among the Hundred Star Realm could accomplish this. If not a Hundred Star Realm cultivator, then it must be someone at the Star Refining Realm.”
He breathed out softly, adding, “Perhaps we truly have a Star Refining Realm master among us.”
Wang Jie glanced at Nan Zhi, recalling her earlier remark that even a Star Refining Realm expert would struggle to break this Formation Dao.
However difficult, a Star Refining Realm cultivator would still see through it far clearer than they could. Now, it seemed reasonable.
“Could it be a Star Guardian?” Nan Zhi questioned cautiously.
Guan Sou shook his head, “Every Star Guardian’s background is clearly known; it’s unlikely. Besides, the Nan family’s treasures wouldn’t attract a Star Guardian. With just a word from a Star Guardian, except for a select few among the Four Pillars, all other resources would be readily provided. Their inheritances are already supreme; the Nan family wouldn’t catch their attention.”
His words were harsh but true.
Those worthy of a Star Guardian’s attention were groups like Three Chan Heaven, at the least.
The Nan family’s annihilation, with the murderer leaving their treasures untouched, implied that the Nan family was quite ordinary to certain powerful beings.
Wang Jie suddenly thought of Black White Heaven.
If the Nan family was ordinary, then Black White Heaven would be even more so.
Previously, he thought the Zhi family stood high above, their treasury holding everything imaginable. Now, perhaps even that was only average.
He couldn’t set his hopes too high on that small boat.
Otherwise, one day trouble would strike unexpectedly.
Wang Jie bowed respectfully to Guan Sou again, “Then, senior, may we leave now?”
Guan Sou appeared intrigued, “If I guarantee I won’t harm you two, would you willingly stay?”
Trouble arose again.
Wang Jie met Nan Zhi’s gaze, uncertain how to respond.
Guan Sou chuckled softly, “Wang Jie, I said I’d only give you one chance. Yet, you’ve deceived me.”
Wang Jie’s heart sank, “What makes senior say this?”
Guan Sou shook his head, “My Reversed Illusion Mountain is unmatched in reading hearts. From the moment you stepped in here, I knew you both had another purpose. Of course, I don’t care what that purpose is. But since you deceived me, you must pay the price.”
Both grew instantly alert.
Nan Zhi clenched her fists. If her life was truly endangered, she would be forced to reveal her true identity.
“No matter how vigilant you are, it’s useless. Do you truly believe you can face me, or even escape my formation?” As he spoke, numerous mirrors rose from every direction.
Nan Zhi unclenched her fists helplessly. Escape was impossible now; this was the Mirrorless Realm of Reversed Illusion Mountain. They couldn’t fight against this.
“Senior,” Wang Jie asked, his voice tight, “what exactly do you want from us?”
Guan Sou stared hard at Wang Jie, then glanced briefly toward Nan Zhi before slowly speaking: “I need you—to lure out the killer.”
Wang Jie’s eyes widened: “Me? Lure them?”
“Correct,” Guan Sou confirmed directly. “The killer must be nearby. The girl stays here. You’ll be the bait. If you draw out the murderer and we finish them, it’ll benefit us all. I don’t care what your purpose with this girl is, but since you’re together, whatever your goal is must require both of you present. So the girl is now my hostage.”
Wang Jie’s eyes flickered uneasily. Without Nan Zhi, he couldn’t find the formation dao’s exit at all.
Yet defeating Guan Sou was impossible.
And drawing out the killer—was even more impossible.
Guan Sou continued staring at him: “You have a star disk; you can sense qi. Either lure out the killer yourself or tell me their location, and I’ll find them myself. Do this, and I promise no harm will come to you both.”
Nan Zhi anxiously turned toward Wang Jie, worry filling her gaze.
“Hurry up,” Guan Sou pressed.
Wang Jie helplessly exchanged a glance with Nan Zhi, then slowly turned away and left.
After Wang Jie had departed, Nan Zhi looked toward Guan Sou: “Even if he finds the killer, he’ll never draw them here. Lan Tui was slain with a single strike. Wang Jie wouldn’t survive any longer.”
Guan Sou remained indifferent: “No one is more suitable. If he dies, so be it.”
Nan Zhi’s gaze darkened. She didn’t care whether Wang Jie lived or died. But without him, every step forward would become dangerous. No one knew what enemies might await beyond the formation dao’s barrier.
Thinking this, she let out a heavy sigh.
At that moment, Wang Jie only felt relief that Mo Wan Yin wasn’t here. Otherwise, Guan Sou would’ve held two hostages instead of one.
Staring at the star disk, he had no idea what to do next.
Lure out the killer?
He wasn’t foolish. Going to lure the murderer was suicide.
But how could he get Nan Zhi away safely?
For a moment, he felt completely lost.
The star disk showed some scattered qi around him, but they were stationary. Guan Sou’s presence, however, was completely hidden—his technique for concealing qi was truly formidable.
Suddenly, Wang Jie remembered—Bao Lei.
Bao Lei had panicked at the sight of him earlier, clearly indicating he’d encountered something frightening. Perhaps that guy had useful information.
Wang Jie retraced his steps and soon found Bao Lei lying unconscious.
Wang Jie nudged him awake with a kick.
Bao Lei groaned, rubbing his aching head. That earlier hit had really knocked him out cold.
It took a long moment before he could clearly see his surroundings and Wang Jie standing nearby.
Eyes wide, Bao Lei immediately turned to run.
“Do you want me to knock you out again?” Wang Jie calmly asked.
Bao Lei froze, slowly turning back, his eyes filled with dread.
Wang Jie studied him curiously: “You’re different from the Gong nation people I’ve met before. Don’t they say Gong nation warriors fear no death? Why are you so cowardly?”
Bao Lei stared deeply at Wang Jie, replying in a hoarse voice: “That’s just propaganda spread by the Nan clan. Every living being fears death. Why should my Gong nation people foolishly give up our lives?”
Wang Jie praised him with a slight nod: “You’re smarter than most. What’s your status in the Gong nation?”
“Young lord of the Bao family. My name is Bao Lei.”
“The Bao family?”
“The Gong nation has several powerful families,” Bao Lei explained. “The Bao family is one of them—and indeed, the strongest.”
“Comparable to the Kui family?” Wang Jie asked.
Bao Lei scoffed arrogantly: “How can the Kui family possibly compare with us?”
Wang Jie questioned further: “Earlier, you ran when you saw us. What exactly did you encounter?”
Bao Lei hesitated: “So you weren’t the ones who killed Yan Long?”
Wang Jie’s eyes narrowed: “You know about Yan Long’s death?”
“Yes,” Bao Lei replied cautiously.
“We weren’t the ones who killed him,” Wang Jie clarified.
Bao Lei visibly relaxed at this.
“But,” Wang Jie immediately added, “I can still kill you.”
Bao Lei’s gaze sharpened instantly: “I want to buy my life.”
“You’re very quick to offer,” Wang Jie remarked lightly.
“I’ve been unconscious for a while, yet you didn’t kill me, which means you have some use for me,” Bao Lei reasoned carefully. “I believe my life still has value. And you seem rather short on money, Wang Jie.”
Wang Jie nodded thoughtfully: “Money, I have enough. Offer something else.”
Clearly, Bao Lei had no knowledge about the killer, which diminished his worth considerably. Letting him offer a ransom directly saved trouble.
If he’d encountered a typical Gong nation warrior, Wang Jie would’ve had a headache—those people truly didn’t fear death.
“What do you want, then?” Bao Lei asked hesitantly.
Wang Jie responded calmly: “I don’t know what you have, so offer something worthy of your own life.”
Bao Lei’s expression grew troubled. He could easily offer money, but anything else seemed useless. This Wang Jie was already far stronger despite his Full Star Realm cultivation; he clearly wouldn’t care about Gong nation’s methods. What else could Bao Lei provide? Star artifacts? Pills? Those weren’t specialties of the Gong nation, and he didn’t possess them either.
Wang Jie didn’t rush him, still considering his next step.
“I’ve seen Wu Yuan from your Black White Heaven Club,” Bao Lei suddenly blurted.
Wang Jie’s eyes lit up instantly: “Where?”
But the moment he asked, he knew it was futile. Within the formation dao, directions were meaningless. Bao Lei naturally couldn’t answer.
Yet hope sparked within Wang Jie. If Bao Lei had encountered Wu Yuan, then Wu Yuan might also be nearby. Anyone unfamiliar with the formation dao wouldn’t wander recklessly. That meant the chances of finding Wu Yuan were high.
However, his heart quickly sank again. If the murderer was also nearby and found Wu Yuan first, then Wu Yuan would be in grave danger.
Realizing this, Wang Jie immediately prepared to leave.
At that exact moment, Bao Lei hastily took out a small bronze token: “This is my Bao family’s command token. With this, you can mobilize Gong nation’s armies. Is this valuable enough?”
Wang Jie paused, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.