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A human faced horse with wings flying in the sky drove the streets below into a panic. A patrolling guard flew up on a bald eagle, wanting to force Zheng Cheng down yet afraid of coming too close. Normally spirit weapon users wouldn’t summon spirit beasts in the city as it could easily create a disturbance. A Dark grade rare beast appearing openly in the city was even less frequently seen so the caution was justified.
Zui You was about to call Zheng Cheng down when he saw dust flying up from a faraway street. A squadron of soldiers were chasing after Zheng Cheng and would soon arrive at their inn.
Jiang Chao Ge looked towards Yu Ren Shu: “I’m afraid we might have been exposed. Could Qian Xiu’s identity have even discovered by someone?”
Yu Ren Shu said heavily: “Cheng Xiang Yu could have also betrayed us.”
Jiang Chao Ge froze. Although that was also highly probable he didn’t want to accept it. His strong desire to return to his own world was something Yu Ren Shu couldn’t understand. No matter how much strength he gained in this world, it all felt empty because he didn’t belong in this world. He would probably never be able to integrate into this world. He had always been an outsider so he couldn’t readily believe that a transmigrator would betray them. They would not only have betrayed Chu Yun but also their family and friends from their original world.
Long Xiang grabbed his weapon: “Let’s go. They are rushing towards us.”
A sharp arrow flew through the air, ruthlessly striking Zheng Cheng’s right wing. Zheng Cheng gave a mournful cry, a pained expression appearing on that beautiful gender neutral face. Without Ruan Qian Xiu, no one could help him heal his worlds. His body dropped down from the sky, and fell heavily to the ground with a thud. Fresh blood suddenly spurted from his mouth and nose.
Everyone ran out of the inn, pushed through the crown and came to Zheng Cheng’s side.
Zheng Cheng opened his mouth and strained to speak: “Qian Xiu….. Qian Xiu….” Although he was human faced rare beast, his vocal cords weren’t very complete and could only forcefully speak the spirit user’s name.
Yu Ren Shu knelt down and stroked his face softly: “Don’t worry, we’ll go save her.” He turned his head to look at the fast approaching squadron. A disordered wave of spiritual power rushed over them. This was an entire squad of spirit weapon users, who didn’t look easy to deal with at a glance.
Everyone stood in front of Zheng Cheng. If this squadron dared not stop, then they would dare to kill in all directions on the street.
The leader was a black armoured knight riding a large fierce leopard with a bear body and an elephant trunk. He only raised his hand to signal stopping when they were less than a hundred metres from them. In the end, more than thirty spirit weapon users stopped close by to them. That black armoured knight jumped down from the ferocious leopard and cupped his hands at Yu Ren Shu and said neither haughty nor servile: “At the order of the leader of Fan Clan, I have to come to invite you to chat at the mansion.”
Yu Ren Shu could tell from his eyes that he already knew who they were. Only the streets were full of people and it would be inconvenient to say many things. Ruan Qian Xiu was obviouslg in their hands. They had no other choice.
Yu Ren Shu met eyes with Jiang Chao Ge. Yu Ren Shu said lightly: “I can go with you. They are busy.”
“That’s fine. This way sir.”
As expected, Fan Clan was uninterested in people apart from him. If they wanted to capture everyone, this whole street would’ve been destroyed.
Yu Ren Shu and Tian Rong walked overnight. The black armoured knight’s gaze drifted towards Tian Rong and silently disapproved.
Yu Ren Shu patted Tian Rong’s shoulder: “I’ll go on my own.”
Tian Rong said coldly: “No.”
Yu Ren Shu whispered by his ear: “Listen to Jiang Chao Ge. Come rescue us.” As he spoke, he took off the long Jian and threw it to Tian Rong. Simultaneously, he transferred more than half his spiritual power into Tian Rong’s body.
A flash of surprise flitted across Tian Rong’s pupils. Since they were afraid of spirit beasts rebelling, spirit weapon users would very rarely give so much spiritual power for the spirit beast to use. Because every time they transferred spiritual power into the spirit beasts’ body, they were supporting the spirit beast. After a period of time, dripping water will become the ocean. The spirit beast would be able to use this spiritual power to revive. So spirit weapon users were guarded against that possibility.
Tian Rong watched silently as Yu Ren Shu got on the leopards back and was taken away, hand uncontrollably tightening around Tian Rong Jian.
The black armoured knight left behind half the cavalry. Among them, one riding a horse walked over, towering above them: “Enter the inn.”
Jiang Chao Ge glanced at him coldly, lifting Zheng Cheng with the rest of their group and entering the inn.
The cavalry cleared the inn of all unnecessary people. Very quickly, this place became a temporary cage to imprison them in.
Long Xiang slammed his fist on the table and said gloomily: “How Long do we have to stay here for?”
Jiang Chao Ge looked outside through the window at the encirclement of spirit weapon users that was so tight not even water could slip through and shook his head: “It won’t be for long.”
Zui You heaved a deep sigh and said: “Boring, why don’t we just murder our way out?”
Long Xiang frowned: “How are you going to deal with sister Qian Xiu and his highness?”
“Even if they wanted to return Yu Ren Shu to the imperial capital, they have to maintain dignity for the imperial family. There isn’t much to worry about for this point.” Jiang Chao Ge said with a heavy heart: “Actually how did Ruan Qian Xiu expose her tracks? With her brain and skills, she wouldn’t have been easily discovered let alone be captured.” Could Chen Xiang Yun have really betrayed them?
“Blood Temple could’ve also sold our whereabouts to Fan Clan. I think Blood Temple has always been following us in the dark.”
“Then Blood Temple wouldn’t definitely know about the matter of Xiao Xue and Da Liang City. They might’ve even seen Ren Wang.”
“With Ren Wang’s speed, not necessarily.” Zhi Xuan shook his head: “But Da Liang City can’t walk or run. If Blood Temple has always been following us, they must know.”
Jiang Chao Ge nodded: “That’s right. On our way here, the matter of Da Liang City hasn’t created any waves in any other places. It’d obviously been completely sealed up in the north by Qi Ling Feng. But it’s hard to say if Blood Temple will transmit the news to someone else. I think Qian Xiu and Shu being taken away this time, definitely isn’t only because Shu is wanted by the imperial capital.”
“Then what should we do now?”
“We can’t stay for long. If Shu hasn’t returned by daybreak, we’ll have to take action.”
“It’s too risky that way.” Zui You said: “This is Ying City, the lair of Fan Clan. It’s full of experts. They have a greater number of Heaven grade spirit weapons than us. It’s impossible to save them then escape from Ying City.”
“My idea of taking action isn’t forcefully breaking out of this encirclement. If they refuse to let people go, I must find a way to discuss matters with the Fan clan elder. Every second and minute we stay here, we risk the maiden hearing of the news and coming for the kill. If we really provoke Xiao Xue here, we won’t be the only ones dying. A thousand year old Ying City would be completely destroyed in a day.”
Everyone’s expression was grave and felt as if there was a knife hanging above their head. The name of that knife was ‘ancient rare beasts’. After witnessing the destruction of Da Liang City for themselves, they didn’t wish for that kind of hellish scene to appear in the human world ever again. They definitely couldn’t allow Ying City to follow in the tracks of Da Liang City. They also wouldn’t wait to die here.
Zhi Xuan’s bright gold pupils looked beyond the window: “As soon as Xiao Xue gets the news, even from thousands of miles away, he could arrive within the day.”
Jiang Chao Ge sighed. He hoped Yu Ren Shu would be able to make the Fan clan elder aware of the seriousness and allow them to quickly leave. Now that their identities have been exposed, if they really attracted Xiao Xue, it would be too late to say anything.
Everyone waited anxiously in the inn. Jiang Chao Ge also couldn’t calm down whole cultivating in his room. He kept visualising Xiao Xue’s fierce crimson body currently running towards them at insane speeds, crushing the entire city like Mount Tai. The devastating scene of Da Liang City overlapped with Ying City in his head. Countless casualties, blood streaming…..
“Jiang Chao Ge, Jiang Chao Ge.”
Jiang Chao Ge suddenly opened his eyes and was faced there Zhi Xuan’s somewhat worried pupils. He sighed heavily: “What’s wrong?”
“Cultivating while your heart is unclear and agitated. Are you looking to die?”
Jiang Chao Ge wiped the sweat on his forehead and felt a lingering fear. He was currently cultivating using a demonic method. Even while being careful one could Qi deviate let alone being as half hearted as he was now. It really was too dangerous. He shook his head, making his mind a bit clearer.
Zhi Xuan held his face and made him look directly at him: “Scared again? I already said don’t be afraid. You have me.”
“I wasn’t. I was only worried about Ying City,”
Zhi Xuan humphed disdainfully: “They even want to capture you and you’re still worried for them?”
“Fan clan elder is the one that wants to capture us. It has nothing to do with the residents in the city.” He didn’t want to waste time explaining. Zhi Xuan wouldn’t understand. Just like how there wouldn’t feel much in their hearts if they stepped on an ant nest.
Zhi Xuan burrowed into this embrace and said with dissatisfaction: “We’ve always been on the road recently. You always sleep as soon as your head hits the pillow at night. You never tell me stories.” He lifted up his small face, “Or wash me. Or kiss me.”
Jiang Chao Ge rubbed his head: “Zuzong, we are running for our lives right now. Wait till we get to a safe place. I will definitely tell you proper stories and give you a bath.”
“Where is a safe place?”
Jiang Chao Ge was frozen. That’s right where was a safe place? He hesitated for a moment, “If we find Yin Chuan we should be temporarily safe.”
“Even if we find Yin Chuan there needs to be a compatible spirit weapon user to summon him. If that spirit weapon user is as trash as you, what difference would it make?”
Jiang Chao forced a smile: “True.” He suddenly remembered something, “You keep saying you can protect me. But I have absolutely no way of summoning your true form. Where does this confidence come from?”
Zui Xuan glared at him: “Not telling you.”
“Why not?”
“I just won’t tell you.”
Jiang Chao Ge was even more curious: “It couldn’t be forming a contract right? You’ve said that although you will reveal your true form when a contract is made, you can’t fight. Otherwise I’ll be in trouble.”
“It’s not forming a contract.” Zhi Xuan said impatiently: “Stop asking. Either way unless you’re about to die, I wouldn’t use it.”
Jiang Chao Ge could only give up and carried Zhi Xuan to the bed, palm stroking Zhi Xuan’s back softly: “You don’t sleep at night. Be more alert.”
“I know.” Zhi Xuan’s small head rested on Jiang Chao Ge’s chest, listening to the gentle thump thump of his heart and felt unusually calm.
Jiang Chao Ge was sleepy but didn’t dare fall asleep.
Zhi Xuan suddenly threw a bomb while he was in this half awake half asleep state: “Males really can’t bear children?”
Jiang Chao Ge almost fell off the bed in fright. His sleepiness disappeared in an instant and he opened his eyes.
Zhi Xuan climbed onto his body: “Why can’t they?”
“Unless you’ve heard of males bearing children?”
“I don’t know. But many rare beasts are androgynous. There’s no differentiating in gender when reproducing.”
Jiang Chao Ge said with a 囧 face: “Are you also androgynous?”
Zhi Xuan nodded: “Of course.”
Jiang Chao Ge said maliciously: “Then why don’t you just bear one yourself?”
“Naturally I can’t do that. Yin Chuan said….”
What did this god stick Yin Chuan say this time! Jiang Chao Ge yelled in his heart.
“Yin Chuan said it’s more meaningful to create descendants with the opposite sex. He admires humans’ way of reproducing.”
“But don’t you hate humans?”
“But some human matters are really quite okay. Like….” Zhi Xuan wanted to kiss him but couldn’t reach and ultimately kissed his chin, “Kissing. And also Zui You said making love is also very gold.” He looked at Jiang Chao Ge, eyes glittering.
“Allowing you to do human things, isn’t that degrading to your pride and honour? It’s better you don’t think about it.” Hurry up and give birth to a bastard yourself, stop paying attention to me, Jiang Chao Ge thought angrily.
Zhi Xuan curled his lip but also didn’t know how to refute it. He forcefully buried himself into Jiang Chao Ge’s lap, found a comfortable spot and laid down.
Jiang Chao Ge saw that he’d temporarily stopped, let loose a sigh internally and closed his eyes to rest.
By dawn, Yu Ren Shu still hadn’t returned. Jiang Chao Ge washed his face, lit the candles in the inn and pushed open the door.
Cavalrymen surrounded him, pointed at him and said sternly: “Inside.”
Jiang Chao Ge said calmly: “I want to meet your clan leader.”
“Sir clan leader isn’t someone you can meet when you want to meet.”
“I have matters to discuss. It’s an extremely important matter regarding the survival of Ying City. I must meet the clan leader immediately.”
“Insolent.” A cavalryman lifted his weapon and paced over, pressing closer step by step.
Long Xiang pulled Zui You Halberd from his back in one movement and stepped in front of Jiang Chao Ge. There was an unswerving determination on his young face that surpassed his age. He said firmly: “Who dares take a step further.”
Jiang Chao Ge was somewhat pleased with himself internally. Supporting a little body guard at such a high price was so worth it.
Angered, the cavalryman spurred his horse and dashed over.