"Fellow Daoist Tian Can!" Qiu Chengruo cried out involuntarily, stepping forward to shield Yong Ruyu, her eyes fixed nervously on Nie Wushang.
Nie Wushang was currently disguised as Tian Can, dressed in black robes with an imposing, sharp aura. She was no benevolent soul to begin with, and as she stared at Yong Ruyu, her gaze was icy, her tone murderous. She radiated killing intent, as if blood could spill within five paces at any moment.
Seeing her like this, Mo Tiange couldn't help but smile. It reminded her of their first meeting—at Perfected One Xuanyin's Nascent Soul formation ceremony. Back then, they were both merely Foundation Establishment cultivators. Nie Wushang had clashed with others at the slightest disagreement, exuding this same sharp, murderous aura. Only now, over sixty years later, today's Nie Wushang seemed less gloomy and more imposing than before.
"Fellow Daoist Qin, you two..." Seeing Nie Wushang's disdainful gaze and unwavering stance, Qiu Chengruo turned to Mo Tiange, with whom she could still converse. But as soon as she turned, she saw Mo Tiange smiling, and her heart sank to the depths.
Could it be that choosing these companions was truly a mistake? This Fellow Daoist Qin seemed good-tempered, but was she actually cold and ruthless, indifferent to others' lives? Qiu Chengruo felt increasingly uneasy.
Mo Tiange, however, seemed completely unaware. She smiled back at Qiu Chengruo and turned to Nie Wushang. "I knew it. I'll never learn that ruthless edge of yours."
Nie Wushang snorted, flicked her eyelids, and said nothing. Unlike Mo Tiange, who tried to control her killing, Nie Wushang had been ordered by Venerable Songfeng since childhood to kill countless people. Taking a life or two meant nothing to her. Yong Ruyu and Qiu Chengruo were merely strangers; killing them wouldn't be a big deal.
"But now is not the time to kill them," Mo Tiange mused, then shifted her gaze to Yong Ruyu with a smile. "Fellow Daoist Yong, while I dislike killing, in this matter, I stand with Fellow Daoist Tian Can. If you cling to such thoughts, even if we don't kill you, your life was forfeited the moment you gave up on it—and along with it, your junior sister's life."
At these words, Yong Ruyu's eyes flickered, his face pale as he looked at Qiu Chengruo. He had seen the situation earlier: Nie Wushang was fiercely menacing, yet Qiu Chengruo had stepped in front of him without hesitation. They had been senior brother and junior sister for centuries, then Dao companions living together for years. He knew her personality all too well. Though her cultivation was not low and her strength not weak, she had relied on him too much over the years. If he collapsed, she would certainly not survive.
"Senior Brother..." Qiu Chengruo looked at him, her eyes pleading. "You... I..." She wanted to say something but ultimately couldn't find the words.
Yong Ruyu sighed. "Junior Sister, I've disappointed you. I..."
Confusion filled Qiu Chengruo's eyes. Did he regret his earlier actions, or was he apologizing for his incompetence?
The next moment, her gaze grew resolute. She grasped Yong Ruyu's hand. "No matter what you do, I... I'll only stand by your side. You can rest assured."
Yong Ruyu trembled at her words. Many emotions flashed in his eyes as he looked at her, ending with another sigh. "Junior Sister, at a time like this, you still treat me with such deep affection... Back then... back then, I wronged you..."
"Why bring that up now?" Qiu Chengruo's gaze softened. "All these years, you've let me restrain you, blocking any woman who approached, without a single complaint. How could I not understand your feelings? It's just... I've always been unwilling..."
"Enough, you two," Nie Wushang coldly interrupted their tender moment. "What time is this? You still have leisure for this? Decide quickly. If you want to live, pull yourselves together and think of a way. If you want to die, I'll grant it to you right now."
"..."
Yong Ruyu's face first turned ashen, then he looked at Qiu Chengruo, then at Mo Tiange and Nie Wushang. Gradually, a look of determination appeared on his face. Finally, gritting his teeth, he cupped his hands. "Fellow Daoists, I was disrespectful earlier. Thank you both for the reminder."
Seeing his reaction, Nie Wushang's expression slowly eased. She withdrew her gaze and said calmly, "Since you want to live, that makes things simpler."
"Oh?" Hearing her tone, it seemed she already had an idea. Mo Tiange asked, "What have you thought of?"
Nie Wushang glanced at her. "I think there are two ways to handle this. First, find the others and see what happened to them; there might be other clues. Second, wait and see. Since City Lord Mei is plotting against us, and we're not carrying those puppets as he intended, he must have a follow-up plan."
"Hmm..." Mo Tiange nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense." She turned to the other two. "Fellow Daoist Yong, Fellow Daoist Qiu, what are your thoughts?"
Yong Ruyu, who had just regained some color in his face, smiled bitterly. "Fellow Daoists, you decide this matter. If you need to know anything, ask me later." Having just experienced such emotional extremes, he was in no state to think calmly.
Mo Tiange and Nie Wushang understood the situation and didn't press further.
After thinking for a moment, Mo Tiange looked at Nie Wushang. "Your two methods don't conflict. Why don't we search for the others while waiting for the next move?"
"Mm," Nie Wushang nodded in agreement.
Having simply decided, the four took a moment to rest and regroup before setting off again.
The cave system was extensive, with many branching paths. Eventually, the four simply went with the flow, walking randomly.
Nie Wushang was right about one thing: whatever City Lord Mei's scheme was, it would eventually reveal itself. If they truly couldn't figure it out, they could just wait. However, that would leave them very passive.
Still, though walking randomly, Mo Tiange and Nie Wushang remained vigilant. Yong Ruyu and Qiu Chengruo's slightly lower cultivation was secondary; the main issue was their lack of strong survival willpower. So, it was best to rely on themselves.
Entering another random fork, Nie Wushang, who was leading, suddenly stopped and raised a finger to her lips in a silencing gesture.
The three behind her halted together. Mo Tiange looked around but saw nothing unusual and inquired with her eyes.
Nie Wushang used Secret Voice Transmission: "There's Demonic Qi."
Mo Tiange was startled. "How do you know?" Her Divine Sense was no weaker than Nie Wushang's, yet she hadn't detected anything.
Nie Wushang mysteriously blinked. "That treasure I stole from the Tianyan Sect can sense Demonic Qi."
"I see..." Demonic Qi. Most of those who entered this so-called Ancient Secret Land with them were Demonic Cultivators. So, could it be other Demonic Cultivators passing through?
After a moment's thought, Mo Tiange asked, "How many people? Which way are they headed?"
"Unclear. They should be coming this way," Nie Wushang said. "We'll wait here."
"Mm."
Their conversation was entirely via Secret Voice Transmission, so Yong Ruyu and Qiu Chengruo couldn't hear. After waiting a while, Qiu Chengruo couldn't help but ask, "What's going on?"
Nie Wushang glanced at her. "Waiting for people."
"Huh?"
By then, Mo Tiange's Divine Sense also detected traces of others. She frowned and spoke aloud. "Three people. One at mid Core Formation, two at early Core Formation."
Hearing this, Nie Wushang sighed softly. "Bad luck. Looks like it's those three."
Among the cultivators who entered the secret land, only one group was a trio: the burly Demonic Cultivator City Lord Mei called Jinshi and his two lackeys. These three were repulsive in appearance, frivolous in speech, and held hostility toward them. Now, while searching for other cultivators to understand the situation and uncover City Lord Mei's purpose, these three were hardly a good choice.
"Huh?" Mo Tiange then exclaimed in surprise.
"What is it?" Nie Wushang asked.
"Those three seem... abnormal."
"Abnormal?"
"Mm." Mo Tiange frowned. "They seem to be chased by something... looking quite disheveled."
"What?" Nie Wushang was astonished.
By then, the three had also entered her Divine Sense range. Indeed, it was so.
Simultaneously, their presence was discovered. The three suddenly sped up, running toward them.
Mo Tiange and Nie Wushang were both intently tracking the trio with their Divine Sense and didn't speak for a moment. Yong Ruyu and Qiu Chengruo, with slightly weaker Divine Sense, didn't know what was happening. Hearing their conversation and seeing their expressions, they grew apprehensive.
A while later, their Divine Sense finally sensed the trio's approach. Yong Ruyu also frowned.
After sensing for a bit, he asked, "Fellow Daoists, are we waiting here?"
"Mm," Nie Wushang replied absently.
"But... who knows if these three harbor ill intentions?" Yong Ruyu worried. "After all, before entering the secret land, their attitude toward us was always hostile."
"So what?" Nie Wushang didn't even bat an eyelid. "If they harbor ill intentions, we'll just kill them."
"..." Hearing this answer, Yong Ruyu fell silent. Having been threatened by Nie Wushang earlier, he already knew this seemingly frail fellow cultivator was far more ruthless than himself. He had shown cowardice once, and his cultivation was inferior. At this point, he really had no face to say anything.
As they spoke, the three drew closer. Finally, they heard footsteps echoing from the cavern.
Mo Tiange immediately frowned. The footsteps were chaotic and disorderly; their situation must be very bad. Had they encountered something terrifying?
She barely had time to think this when the three Demonic Cultivators appeared at the end of a branching path.
Seeing the four of them, the burly leader was overjoyed, rushing over with his two lackeys. "Fellow Daoists, please lend a hand!"
None of the four spoke. They remembered clearly the attitude these three had before entering the secret land. Seeing them now, so eagerly seeking help, seemed highly unusual.
The three stopped before them. The burly leader seemed to sense their wariness and said urgently, "Fellow Daoists, there's a monster in these caverns! If you don't help, that monster will come for you too in the end!"