Chapter 328

Chapter 328: Successfully Stayed in Shadowmist Ravine

Shi Mu spoke with certainty: “I even exchanged a signal with that Female Cultivator using my eyes, and her response was exactly the same as the Devil Lord’s, so she must be the Devil Lord!”

That cold, dismissive look was perfect. He had relied on Shen Sang Ruo’s aloof attitude to confirm it beyond doubt.

Wan Quan wavered, then grew excited as he asked: “Really?”

If Ya Lan had truly returned, the Radical Faction would gain a powerful ally, and the Conservative Faction would be theirs to crush.

Wan Quan frowned as a doubt struck him: “Then why didn’t the Devil Lord join the Radical Faction right away, and instead went to the Conservative Faction?”

Shi Mu did not answer, but suddenly asked a different question: “Wan Quan, how old are you this year?”

Wan Quan replied without thinking: “One thousand three hundred eighty one. Why?”

Shi Mu clicked his tongue and shook his head: “See? You’re still too young.”

He leaned in and explained like a mentor: “This is the Devil Lord’s plan. She pretends to join, but actually goes undercover so she can tear the enemy down from inside without losing a single soldier.”

He patted Wan Quan’s shoulder with meaning: “Understand? You still need to listen and learn, Little Wan.”

He added with relief: “Good thing I showed up in time, or you would’ve ruined the Devil Lord’s grand plan.”

Then he changed to a lecturing tone: “Even without the Devil Lord, you shouldn’t be so impulsive. It was only bringing someone in. Did you really plan to drag Shang Qing and Shi Yi back? They worked so hard to slip into the Conservative Faction. Your stunt almost wrecked the whole plan.”

Wan Quan shrugged and explained: “I only wanted to teach the Conservative Faction a lesson. I wasn’t going to take them back for real. Doing that makes the people there trust even more that those two fell out with us.”

In truth, Shang Qing and Shi Yi were not defectors at all. They were undercover. Though they served under Ya Lan, they had never met her and could not tell Little Black’s aura apart. They had already tasted the Radical Faction’s benefits, so how could they give that up and truly join the Conservative Faction? Everything was to support the Radical Faction’s later moves and also to soften tensions with Immortal Maiden Azure Luan.

After winning that new ally and hearing the news that Ya Lan had revived, Shi Mu naturally felt that even heaven favored their plan to wipe out the Conservative Faction. He was in a very good mood.

He decided with confidence: “In two days, I’ll slip into the Conservative Faction’s sector to find the Devil Lord.”

He had two aims: to confirm once more whether Shen Sang Ruo was Ya Lan, and to link up their plans so the Radical Faction could fully cooperate.

Wan Quan lifted his hand at once: “I’m going with you.” He also wanted to visit the legendary Devil Lord.

Elsewhere, Shen Sang Ruo followed behind Ling Hu Min, unaware that in the eyes of the Radical Faction she had already become the resurrected Ya Lan. Inside her, Little Black was oddly excited, its long tail streaming as it drifted to and fro. Then Little Flame socked it again, and Little Black wailed to her for pity. Shen Sang Ruo told Little Flame in advance: “Don’t beat Little Black for a while. Let it have some fun.” Only then did Little Black swagger around the room, drifting proudly.

As they walked, Shen Sang Ruo replayed Shi Mu’s strange behavior in her head. Ling Hu Min, who had been silent the whole way, suddenly asked in a mild voice: “Do you know Shi Mu?”

She answered quickly: “No, and I don’t know why he looked at me like that.”

Shi Mu thought his secret eye signals were subtle, but except for the people standing at his back who could not see his face, everyone else had seen it clearly.

Immortal Maiden Azure Luan shivered at the thought and muttered with disgust: “Could it be he’s into you? I’ll dig out his eyes.” Daring to covet Shen Sang Ruo?

Ling Hu Min’s face gave nothing away, but Shen Sang Ruo sensed his displeasure and caution toward her. She could not blame him. If she truly had ties with Shi Mu, letting her join the Conservative Faction would be inviting disaster. As the only remaining Chief of the Conservative Faction, and at such a tense time, he had to be extra careful.

Shen Sang Ruo spoke solemnly to ease his doubts: “Leader Ling Hu, I swear on the Oath to the Heavenly Dao: I have nothing to do with Shi Mu.”

Hearing her swear that oath, Ling Hu Min’s expression softened slightly, but he still did not plan to accept her. He gave a hard warning that still showed concern for her health: “I don’t know why you came to Shadowmist Ravine. You used to cultivate with Spiritual Qi. If you stay long in Devil Qi, your body will break down. You should leave soon.”

Shen Sang Ruo realized Ling Hu Min wasn’t as rigid as he looked.

Shang Qing quickly chimed in: “Yes, Azure Luan, send her out.”

He had no idea why Immortal Maiden Azure Luan brought such trouble in and almost ruined their work.

Shi Yi snapped, impatient to be rid of her, but before he could finish, he caught Immortal Maiden Azure Luan’s icy stare. She said in a calm, threatening voice: “If you say one more word, this Immortal Maiden will cut off one of your fingers.”

Shen Sang Ruo noticed a small flicker of emotion on Ling Hu Min’s face and thought he looked a bit pleased at Shi Yi’s scolding. [So he isn’t as serious as he seems.] Ling Hu Min also disliked those two, but the current crisis meant any extra strength for the Conservative Faction had to be kept.

Shi Yi knew Immortal Maiden Azure Luan was not joking. Given her hatred for them, getting a calm warning already meant restraint. He shut his mouth with an ugly look.

Shen Sang Ruo felt oddly safe. [Fierce is good. I can relax.] She winked at Immortal Maiden Azure Luan and smiled, then turned to Ling Hu Min to plead her case: “Leader Ling Hu, I truly want to join Shadowmist Ravine, and I can endure Devil Qi. Give me ten days. If I can’t hold out within ten days, I’ll leave on my own.”

Ling Hu Min studied her face again and again. Her eyes were clear and sincere, strangely convincing. At last he snorted and left her with a warning: “Do whatever you want. If something happens, no one will help you.”

He wasn’t lying. Everyone in the Conservative Faction was busy preparing for the Radical Faction’s next big move. They really could not spare anyone to care for her. He also figured she would give up and leave in a day or two.

In this way, Shen Sang Ruo stayed with the Conservative Faction. She and Immortal Maiden Azure Luan were each given a room.

Three days passed in a row.

Immortal Maiden Azure Luan was probing Shang Qing and Shi Yi for news, while Shen Sang Ruo stayed quiet. She had estimated the mission would take at least half a year, at most a year. This was just the beginning, so she was in no rush.

That night, she suddenly felt someone slip into her room.