Chapter 25: Stand-in Part 6

Xiang Xian made a polite “after you” gesture. Guo Jing got up and headed out, but after a moment, he sensed something off, turned back to size them up, and said, “Tomorrow, on the third…”

Xiao Kun and Xiang Xian said in unison: “Go to the palace to give thanks.”

Xiao Kun: “You already said that, Lord Guo. Take care.”

“Good, good.” Guo Jing left, and the Stone Lions at the door shouted together, “Farewell, Lord Guo!”

“This is Mr. Ying’s challenge,” Xiao Kun said to Xiang Xian as he set down the map.

Xiang Xian, ever cautious, began inspecting the two Stone Lions at the door and found their talismanic runes had indeed been tampered with. The Stone Lions must have been cast under a spell, leaving them confused.

“These things are useless against real enemies,” Xiang Xian said. “They just make noise normally. We need to dump them somewhere.”

The Stone Lions wailed in unison: “Nooo, Deputy Emissary—”

“Do you think the demon appearing in Kaifeng City is the Mr. Ying we fought before?” Xiang Xian silenced the Stone Lions and asked Xiao Kun.

Xiao Kun couldn’t be sure. The enemy now lurked in the shadows, having kidnapped Chaosheng and Wu Yingzong, while they were out in the open, always at the mercy of the enemy’s schemes—or rather, from the moment they returned to Kaifeng, their every move had been in the enemy’s grasp.

They didn’t even know the enemy’s identity now. This feeling was truly awful.

Xiang Xian also realized the massive crisis in Kaifeng City. Their companions had been taken hostage—this was the greatest setback he had faced since becoming an exorcist.

“We must find a breakthrough first,” Xiang Xian said. “We can’t keep letting them lead us around by the nose.”

Xiang Xian recalled how he and Xiao Kun had been toyed with round and round by the enemy last night and the night before. “This is fighting at a disadvantage.”

Xiao Kun grunted in acknowledgment, staying calm. He had endured greater disadvantages before—like the fall of the Liao Kingdom and Sa Luan’s capture, which were even worse than now.

“Go to the spot on the map?” Xiao Kun asked.

Both knew full well it was a trap. They had no idea what awaited them on Shaoshi Mountain, but with the enemy’s move, they had no choice but to go.

In Kaifeng City, within a grand mansion, a massive dragon pillar stood at the main gate. A plaque hung in the mansion, inscribed: Tian Ce Mansion.

A chain emanating black qi shackled Wu Yingzong’s ankle, chaining him to a stone pillar. Wu Yingzong held Chaosheng’s hand with one hand, vigilantly scanning their surroundings, but Chaosheng signaled it was fine and slowly stood.

“What is this place?” Chaosheng said. “We seem to still be in Kaifeng City.”

Wu Yingzong grunted, judging the surrounding layout and architecture. “The houses and walls here aren’t like those in Kaifeng.”

Wu Yingzong channeled his magical power, and the chain lit up as if absorbing his strength.

Chaosheng signaled for Wu Yingzong to stop struggling first and looked around.

“Tian Ce Squat-Squat,” Chaosheng read the plaque.

“It’s ‘shun-shun,’” a voice said. “Tian Ce Mansion, meaning the brilliance of the Tian Ce Star shining in all directions.”

Both turned at once to see black qi swirling as a tall, thin man materialized.

Chaosheng immediately pulled away, assuming a fighting stance toward the man.

“Kunlun Master,” the man looked down at Chaosheng condescendingly, “instead of enjoying millions of years of life in the White Jade Palace, you insisted on coming to the mortal world to suffer?”

“Who are you? What is this place?” Chaosheng asked warily. “Why did you capture us?”

The man showed Chaosheng an unusual courtesy but completely ignored Wu Yingzong behind him. In his eyes, Wu Yingzong was merely a lowly monster.

He paced in the courtyard, thought for a moment, and said, “You don’t know what this place is? That makes sense; immortals naturally don’t care about worldly affairs. It doesn’t hurt to tell you—I am ‘Mr. Qin,’ and this is a secluded realm created by the ancient magic treasure ‘Qingyu Golden Chalice.’ Though you are within Kaifeng City, no one can find this place.”

With a gesture from Mr. Qin, the surrounding courtyard walls collapsed, revealing a misty world outside. In the fog, countless black, surging soldiers faintly appeared.

Chaosheng took a deep breath.

“What do you want?” Chaosheng said. “No wonder Lord Jumang’s branches and leaves have been withering day by day. After arriving on the Shenzhou Great Land, I never detected much Demonic Qi. You’ve all been hiding here?”

“This is merely a small part of the plan,” Mr. Qin curled his lips into a mysterious smile. “I’m showing you this only to tell you that even with heaven-defying abilities, even if Acalanatha and Dipamkara came in person, they could not reverse the defeat.”

Chaosheng slowly retreated in front of Wu Yingzong, raised his left hand to point at the sky, and extended his right hand to point at the earth. Spiritual Power surged, and the world inside the Qingyu Golden Chalice began to shake.

Mr. Qin said, “Don’t do something pointless, Kunlun Master. King Mu knows your background and abilities very well.”

“Is that so?” Chaosheng replied coldly. “Though I don’t know who he is, did he tell you…”

Mr. Qin made a simple gesture, and Wu Yingzong trembled violently. The Demon Chain binding him instantly turned blood-red, but he merely endured it without a sound.

Chaosheng’s aura was on the verge of erupting, but at the critical moment, he finally calmed down.

Mr. Qin said, “You have infinite life, but your Ape Demon does not, right?”

A flicker of hatred appeared for the first time in Chaosheng’s clear eyes. Mr. Qin added lightly, “Come with me, and after the task is done, I promise to release him.”

“Will you keep your promise?” Chaosheng withdrew his hand and said coldly. He turned his back and discreetly passed a small pair of Silver Scissors to Wu Yingzong.

“You have no choice but to believe me now, do you?” Mr. Qin said. “Come.”

Demonic Qi then swept over them. Mr. Qin took Chaosheng and vanished into the air once more. Wu Yingzong gripped the scissors tightly, struggled fiercely, and roared, “Chaosheng!”