Qian Jue quietly listened to Gu Lan's account, feeling utterly bewildered.
What the hell?!
Since when did Douluo Continent have such a powerful organization like Death Soul City??
If Gu Lan's words weren't exaggerated, then the strength of this Death Soul City was truly no less than that of the Upper Three Sects. Should he really agree to join them?
Originally, Qian Jue had only planned to play along with Gu Lan—pretend to agree for now, then later, when Flender and the others arrived, he could just go back on his word. But if Death Soul City was truly this strong, then he had to think more carefully. If they really launched a large-scale attack against Shrek Academy, how could Flender and Zhao Wuji possibly hold the line?
But as things stood now, what else could he do but agree???
Gu Lan watched Qian Jue's struggle in silence, patiently waiting. In truth, whether Qian Jue agreed or not, he would still bring him back to Death Soul City. He only hoped that Qian Jue would come to terms with it himself.
"…Fine, I'll agree to join you."
After a long silence, Qian Jue finally spoke, forcing the words out.
If he couldn't handle it, then so be it. At any rate, the headache wouldn't be his. Better to deal with what was right in front of him first.
"Ah Jue!"
Dai Mubai exclaimed in shock. He knew full well that the situation forced their hand, but for Qian Jue to so readily agree was still hard for him to accept.
"Mubai, you should agree too."
Qian Jue glanced at him, giving him a furious look with his eyes.
Of course Dai Mubai understood what Qian Jue meant. Right now, they had no choice but to agree. But when he thought back to the only person who had once given him warmth—someone killed by the evil spirit masters of this very organization—he found himself unable to say the words.
"Elder Gu, may I call you that from now on? I'd like to ask—what happens next?"
Seeing that Dai Mubai could not bring himself to speak, Qian Jue quickly changed the subject.
"Of course you may. As for what happens next… we eliminate unrelated people, then bring you back to the Sacred City."
Elder Gu smiled as he replied, summoning his martial spirit once more. The Gu Lan Sacred Beads appeared in his hands.
"Hm?"
Qian Jue was startled. He thought Gu Lan intended to kill Dai Mubai and was about to intervene, but then he saw the Sacred Beads link together and shoot toward Fan Hong.
!!!
Fan Hong panicked and quickly released his martial spirit, activating his third spirit skill, Shadow Wolf's Guard. He poured all of his soul power into his defenses, trying to block the attack.
But the gap between him and Gu Lan was at least ten times greater than the gap between Qian Jue and himself. Qian Jue could still exchange a few blows with him, but against Gu Lan, Fan Hong didn't even last one strike. Even without using a spirit skill, the moment Gu Lan's Sacred Beads made contact, Fan Hong's defenses crumbled instantly. The overwhelming force blasted him and Fan Huan flying. Fan Hong spewed even more blood in midair than Dai Mubai had earlier.
"Father!"
Fan Huan scrambled to his side after they landed, checking his father's condition. Fan Hong had shielded him well, taking the brunt of the attack. Fan Huan was mostly unharmed.
"Why…"
Severely injured, Fan Hong coughed up another mouthful of blood as Fan Huan helped him up. He stared at Gu Lan with confusion and fury. Why attack him? Even if Gu Lan had taken a liking to Qian Jue's talent and wanted to recruit him into Death Soul City, there was no reason to kill him.
He and Qian Jue bore no life-and-death grudge. His son had only been discovered while following them and happened to expose this hideout. At worst, he could just relocate. In fact, if not for his side being exposed, Gu Lan might never have discovered such a promising seedling like Qian Jue. Even if one day Qian Jue rose within Death Soul City and turned against him, Fan Hong could understand it then—he could simply avoid Qian Jue.
But why now? Why kill him 'now'?
"Why? Because some things… the fewer who know, the better."
Gu Lan answered coolly, then turned toward Qian Jue—only to freeze.
At some point, both Qian Jue and Dai Mubai had disappeared!
Gu Lan frowned, ignoring the father and son, and rushed out in pursuit.
Outside the mansion, Flender burst out of a hidden passage, carrying Qian Jue in one arm and Dai Mubai in the other. Spotting Oscar waiting nearby, he quickly handed Dai Mubai over to Qian Jue and urged them:
"Go! Get back to the Academy. I'll hold him off!"
"Got it. Dean, be careful. That man is an evil spirit master—a Spirit Saint named Gu Lan. His martial spirit is the Gu Lan Sacred Beads. His fifth spirit skill is a healing ability. He wants to recruit me for my talent. If possible, it would be best to capture him."
Qian Jue rattled off all the important information in one breath.
Flender frowned deeply.
This was troublesome.
He had only brought Oscar along, thinking this would be a minor incident. Even when Oscar suggested it might be the work of an evil spirit master, he hadn't taken it too seriously.
Powerful evil spirit masters weren't so easy to encounter. He assumed it was just a misguided lower-level spirit master in pursuit of power. As a Spirit Saint, he thought he could handle it easily. But to actually run into an opponent of equal strength…
Qian Jue wanted him to capture the man alive. But at their level, unless the gap was huge, it was nearly impossible to determine victory in a short time. If Zhao Wuji were here, the two of them together might be able to take him down quickly.
Thinking fast, Flender added:
"Then hurry back to the Academy. Get Shao Xin to heal Mubai. Qian Jue, find Zhao Wuji and bring him here. I'll stall him."
"Understood."
Qian Jue nodded, scooped Dai Mubai up in a princess-carry, and dashed off with Oscar. They had to put as much distance as possible between themselves and this place. If Gu Lan emerged and caught them, they would only be burdens to Flender.
"I have a big sausage! I have a big sausage!"
Oscar frantically chanted his incantation, producing sausage after sausage to stabilize Dai Mubai's injuries.
"Boss Dai, hurry and eat. Eat more. How do you feel, any better?"
Oscar asked anxiously.
But Dai Mubai ignored him, scowling instead at Qian Jue.
"Ah Jue, can't you carry me another way? Piggyback me at least. Don't you think this position is too humiliating? Two grown men like this…"
"Pah! I didn't even complain, and 'you're' the one whining? You've got fractured ribs. What, you want me to carry you on my back and risk making it worse?"
"Heh-heh…"
Seeing Dai Mubai still had the mind to gripe, Oscar relaxed—his injuries couldn't be fatal. Watching him get scolded by Qian Jue even made Oscar laugh.
"By the way, Ah Jue, what happened? Didn't Boss Dai say that shadow guy wasn't that strong? How did you both end up like this?"
"Don't ask. Just call it bad luck."
Qian Jue sighed helplessly. He never should have listened to Dai Mubai and gone poking around after evil spirit masters. He had spent the whole night on edge, terrified out of his wits. He swore to himself—next time, he would stick strictly to the plot. Anything outside the script, he wanted no part of it.
…