“I can’t believe it,” Huangquan said, and Lin Xu couldn’t help but retort, “Look at those weapons and the state of this city. Clearly, it’s the result of war. If there was a war, there must have been a victorious side. How could the victors possibly still die here?”
“Many impossible things happen,” Huangquan replied tersely, not intending to elaborate further, just looking at the others. “I’ve said what needs to be said…”
Before she could finish her sentence, a loud “thud” interrupted her.
Everyone turned towards the source of the sound and saw a stone tablet appearing beside the ruined city gate.
Seeing the stone tablet, everyone’s expressions turned grim.
Just moments ago, there was nothing there. Why would a stone tablet suddenly appear?
“There are words on the stone tablet,” Nangong Qingyue remarked.
At his words, everyone looked at it.
“Those who enter the inner circle, wishing to leave, must enter the city,” Jingchen recited. “The entrance is within the city. Without entering the city, there is no entrance.”
“Hmm,” Huangquan sneered after hearing Jingchen’s recitation. “It seems whatever is inside the ruins really wants us to go in.”
“Huangquan, if you want to leave, you must go in. Aren’t you going?” Feng Jiuyuan looked at Huangquan and asked with a smile.
“I don’t care,” Huangquan replied, then looked at Nangong Qingyue. “Brother, extend.”
Following her words, Nangong Qingyue extended his arm.
Huangquan held his hand and looked at the High Priest. “Shall we go?”
The High Priest nodded. “Let’s go.”
With that said, the High Priest led the way towards the city.
Seeing the High Priest moving forward, the others followed.
Huangquan walked at the rear, holding Nangong Qingyue’s hand. In a place where no one could see, spiritual energy appeared in her palm.
As their palms touched, a sensation of heat spread. Nangong Qingyue instinctively looked down.
Huangquan released his grip, and Nangong Mian saw a faint red mark appear in the palm of his hand, but before he could examine it closely, the mark disappeared.
“Brother, try not to leave my side once we’re inside,” Huangquan said.
Nangong Mian nodded. “I understand.”
The group stepped past the stone tablet and entered the city.
“Huff…”
Just as they entered the city, a sudden white mist enveloped them.
“Cough, cough…”
“What’s going on?”
“Who’s touching me?”
“Damn, it’s chilly. What’s touching me?”
“Huangquan, are you touching me on purpose?”
“…”
After a moment of confusion and surprise, the white mist vanished.
As the mist cleared, Feng Jiuyuan looked at the scene before him, his smile fading.
In front of him were scantily clad dancers.
The dancers moved their bodies seductively, enticing dances filled the air. People around him were either drinking or frolicking.
“Jiuyuan, you don’t seem to be in a good mood today,” a man noticed Feng Jiuyuan’s stiff expression and pushed aside a girl beside him, asking, “What’s wrong with you?”
Jiuyuan?
Feng Jiuyuan looked at the man. “Who am I?”
“You’re Feng Jiuyuan,” the man looked at him puzzled. “Jiuyuan, didn’t you say you were getting married and wouldn’t have time to play anymore? You specially invited us to gather at the Xianwu Tower, right?”
Feng Jiuyuan…
His mind, just clear moments ago, suddenly felt heavy and clouded. Something seemed to be disappearing from his memory.
“Oh…”
A stunningly beautiful dancer slipped and fell towards Feng Jiuyuan.
Feng Jiuyuan reached out and caught her gracefully in his arms.
“Feng Gongzi…”
The dancer fell gracefully into his arms, smiling charmingly at him. “Isn’t this lady beautiful enough? Why is Feng Gongzi so distracted today?”
“Naturally, you are beautiful…” Feng Jiuyuan smiled back at the woman, but hesitated.
The dancer, curious, pressed on, “Just what is it?”
“Not beautiful enough.” With that, Feng Jiuyuan gently pushed her away and swiftly stood up, stepping back.
Once steady, Feng Jiuyuan shrugged off his clothes, letting them drop to the ground, and looked coldly at the people before him. “What audacity! Who dares to crawl into the embrace of this young master?”
In an instant, the jovial atmosphere among the people turned sinister. Their faces twisted, mouths gaping as they lunged towards Feng Jiuyuan.
“Smack!”
The scene before him abruptly vanished. A sharp, fiery pain spread across his face. Confused, Feng Jiuyuan looked at Jingchen standing beside him. After a moment, he managed to ask, “Did you just hit me?”
Jingchen stared back coldly. “I hit you to wake you up from the illusion.”
Feng Jiuyuan had already sensed something was amiss earlier. Hearing Jingchen’s explanation, he didn’t argue but sat up. Glancing around, he saw Lin Xu and Nangong Mian lying beside him.
Turning his head, he spotted the High Priest and Huangquan crouched next to Nangong Mian.
Having awakened Feng Jiuyuan, Jingchen walked over to Nangong Mian, delivering two sharp slaps. Nangong Mian slowly opened his eyes.
Feng Jiuyuan: “…”
He initially thought Jingchen hit him out of spite, but now he realized it was indeed to wake him up.
Seeing Nangong Mian awake, Jingchen moved to Lin Xu’s side next, delivering two more slaps. Lin Xu, with lower cultivation, took a bit longer to stir. After waiting a moment with no sign of awakening, Jingchen delivered two more decisive slaps.
Once Lin Xu finally began to stir, Jingchen stood up and walked over to Huangquan’s side. “They’re all awake now.”
“Hmm,” responded the High Priest indifferently, without even lifting his head.
The others, upon waking up, were momentarily dazed but quickly realized what had just happened. They gradually gathered around Huangquan and the rest.
The normally cold and serene High Priest now furrowed his brows tightly, his typically aloof expression growing even colder.
Huangquan, crouching next to the High Priest, wore an equally grim expression. Both of them looked down at Nangong Mian lying on the ground, their faces filled with concern.
Feng Jiuyuan approached. “Jingchen woke us up by slapping us. Should we try?”
Huangquan glanced up at him. “I was the one who asked Jingchen to slap you. Do you think I didn’t try?”
Feng Jiuyuan paused, realizing Huangquan had a point but still found it odd. “We woke up after being slapped, so why didn’t it work for Nangong Mian?”
Not just Nangong Mian, both Lin Xu and Nangong Mian woke up after being slapped. Why was Nangong Mian different?
“This city…” Huangquan lifted her head, her gaze icy as she stared at the sky.
She had left a mark on her brother; the things in this city shouldn’t harm him. Yet now, he was taken away.
Feng Jiuyuan and the others were fine, but her brother…
If the mark didn’t activate, it meant whoever took her brother didn’t use force, or… her brother went willingly.
Why would he go willingly?
Huangquan reached out, intending to lift Nangong Mian.
The High Priest was quicker, already lifting him up. “Let me handle this.”
