Dressed as a Lotus Sect guard, Yu Lingyu wore He Jin's token on his waist. "Wen Jian, a member of the Lotus Sect?" He responded in surprise, as Hong Li shook her head in confirmation. "Jian Gongzi's position is similar to He Jin's. He is a chief commanding officer."
Yu Lingyu did not expect such a thing. Why would the heir to the country's largest trading authority join hands with an evil sect?
Wait! Did Wu Xuan know about this?
"Are we on the right track?" Lingyu asked with a little worry as he walked past the many empty cells. "These are all empty."
Hong Li clasped her hands behind her back and was walking slowly and steadily as if there was no panic at all. "It's like they were all taken to the execution ground." Hong Li said as Yu Lingyu finished off another Lotus Guard. They had faced more than a dozen enemies along the way. But Yu Lingyu didn't seem tired at all. Hong Li couldn't help but be surprised. Was this the same Yu Lingyu who was with her two years ago?
"Ground of execution?" He asked, sticking out to walk alongside Hong Li. Their voices echoed in the middle of the empty and dark cave, adding to the horror. Inside it was damp and the air was filled with the smell of blood, making it difficult to even breathe.
"I'll take you there. Ah-Yu, promise me you won't act rashly, no matter what you see." She said slowly, not daring to look at Lingyu's face. He is no longer the innocent friend she used to know. He was a responsible grown man.
"Hong Li," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Whatever, I promise."
******************************************************
Wu Xuan was casually reclining on the wet stone ground that was full of blood. His body was covered in other people's blood. "Poison, hmm," he muttered, remembering the poison that now slowly fading away. Poison is nothing to him. He, himself, was the antidote.
"Dead already?" He muttered as he kicked a corpse at his feet. "How boring?"
Before, he was able to easily dodge He Jing's spear attack, but if he did, the attack would go directly to Lingyu.
Lingyu could stop it, but Xuan didn't want to risk it.
"Maybe I'm worrying too much." Wu Xuan stood up, brushing off the bloody dust from his cloak. "He is no longer a weakling. After all, his true identity is the Wind Lord." Muttering to himself, he slowly moved forward.
He slowly followed Yu Lingyu's scent. Despite how strong the smell of blood was, Lingyu's peony-scented incense still lingered more or less in the air. Judging from the corpses that passed by, he had already assumed that Yu Lingyu was already far ahead of him.
But "What is this aura?" He stopped where he was muttering. He sensed a strong, energetic qi aura that resonated with his insides. Cold, dark, and dangerous. It was by no means that of an ordinary philosopher or man. So, "A god or a heavenly demon!"
"Could I have misunderstood? The last Heavenly Demon Yue Ling died a long time ago. So could this be a god?" He looked for the direction from which aura was coming, but he could not find a definite direction. Shaking his head from side to side, he quickly pursued the peony incense again.
But Wu Xuan was sure that he could barely hear a voice as bitter and cold as winter. A voice he had long forgotten.
"Welcome to the darkness of the winter."
***
The air was heavy with the stench of despair, pressing a suffocating blanket over the huddled figures gathered in the circular hall. The rough-hewn stone walls were smoothed with moisture and carved with secret symbols. Only its stone roof remained dry and clean. Torch lights danced erratically on the wet walls and were carved with scenes of earth, torture, and sacrifice.
In the middle of the hall was a spiritual dungeon that stretched up to the roof. Despite the flickering torchlight, what was inside did not lack a blood-red glow. It was hard for Yu Lingyu to say what it really was, but he knew that it was not something good. A red mist?
"It's Xul'goth," Hong Li whispered to him in a trembling voice.
"What is that?"
"The God of the Lotus Sect, these cultists believe that he is a god, and offer sacrifices to awaken him." Amidst Hong Li's whispers, Yu Lingyu's attention turned to the young woman lying in front of the cell. Short hair and Juyao uniforms, Yuan Yu Yi!
Her eyes wide with fear, she turned pale as a ghost. There were more people around the cell, and Lingyu could see in advance that the group of Juyao assistants, including his juniors, were among them. Chained and kneeling, their condition was not good at all.
"Hong Li, I can't wait any longer. They will kill her." Lingyu said slowly as he hid by the entrance, tightening his grip around his sword. "They don't know the real Wen Jian, right?"
But at the same time, a fierce scream tore through the chamber.
"Yu Yi Shimei!"
"Yu Yi!"
The lotus guard with bloodthirsty eyes in front of the cell raised his dagger. A drop of dried blood spread across its polished surface. He was muttering something in an ancient language.
Why is that language familiar?
As the last word slipped out of his mouth, he quickly lowered the sharp bloody dagger to Yuan Yu Yi.
"Stop!"
The half-opened gate quickly swung fully open as the guards took a step back before the crimson tide stained the rocky terrain again. There, a tall and thin motionless figure stood erect. The sword in his hand glinted ominously under the glowing lantern light.
"What are you doing? Honor Master Wen Jian." Beside him, Hong Li said in a louder and more unwavering voice than any other day, holding He Jin's token forward. There was a whisper among the guards. "Stupid cultists," Yu Lingyu said, walking slowly but solemnly.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"What is Master Wen Jian doing here?" The head guard said, carefully examining the token in Hong Li's hand. "Do I need a reason to come?" Yu Lingyu asked with a death glare. The guard looked startled.
"No, no. Master Wen Jian, welcome."
"Crap everywhere, what's going on here?" Yu Lingyu asked, looking out of the corner of his eye at the semi-conscious Yuan Yu Yi. Thank God, he intervened just in time. Even at such a distance, Lingyu could clearly sense the Xul'goth's fierce agitation within the cage. If this dangerous monster is released, it will surely become a serious problem.
"We were short on men, but suddenly these Wen Sect dogs were caught in our hands. Lord Xul'goth favors people with more spiritual energy," the guard replied submissively.
"Oh," Yu Lingyu walked a circle around the people who were on the ground. There were twenty-nine in total, including commoners.
Damn! The size is too much.
And the number of dead, the total number of corpses including four Juyao disciples.
Thirty-two!
"I came here to ensure safety. Our Majesty's safety is very important." Lingyu said, facing the head guard.
"That's right Master Wen."
"But are you really that defensive? What if the Wen Sect attacks?" He asked in a cold but direct tone. The guard seemed to stutter a little. "There's no way they're getting here."
"Oh really?" Yu Lingyu said with a voice filled with contempt.
"So, what is that Wu Xuan doing here?"
This was a direct verbal attack on the guards. Lingyu did not know the past of the Lotus Sect, but the Lotus Sect despised Wu Xuan.
"Wu- Wu Xuan??"
Lingyu smiled. "Why don't you take care of him first." Although this was terrible news for the guards, Lingyu could well sense the enthusiasm of his juniors. Finally, their da shixiong is here. Yu Lingyu could understand it. He felt the same comforting protection in Wei Yunhe.
"Da Shixiong was here, Yu Yi Shimei!"
"Oh, one more thing," Lingyu said. Directing all the guards to Wu Xuan was not a good idea. "There's another one from the south."
The guards' faces turned black.
"He's from Jun Peak,"
"Wei Yunhe? He's here too? But isn't he in Luoyang?" asked another guard.
"Not Wei Yunhe, but his name, I think is Yu Lingyu," Lingyu replied in a cold tone.
"Don't underestimate him. The boss wants them both captured alive. And they will be Lord Xul'goth's best treats." Lingyu warned, looking at the fierce red mist that was rioting within the spiritual dungeon.
"You bastards," Shen Ming's scornful voice brought Lingyu comfort. At least they're still okay.
"Why haven't I heard about Yu Lingyu? However, Master Wen Jian, I will entrust this hall to you for a moment. Please wait." Bowing his head in greeting, the main bodyguard quickly left with the strongest disciples around the hall.
"How stupid?" Lingyu couldn't help but think. "Did they believe so quickly?"
This is the Lotus Sect after all. Chief among them was faith. Certainly, no one would distrust their commanding officer.
"Hong Li, how do you destroy this Xul'goth?" Lingyu asked slowly as the hall doors closed. "That knowledge is beyond me. Ah-Yu what do we do now?"
"You filthy bastard, don't touch Yu Shixiong." Xu Jin's voice sounded straight and deep. Abandoning his gaze on Xul'goth, Lingyu turned to his juniors. He slowly approached them with a small smile. "Lookout your mouth, damn bitch," A guard tried to attack her, but Lingyu's sword accelerated before it. It was drawn across the guard's neck and pulled back in an instant. "Don't disturb the master, unless you want to die." Hong Li shouted to calm the situation.
None of them were in good shape. Where are San Jie and Luo Cheng?
Yu Lingyu smiled gently. Xu Jin looked at the deadly handsome man in front of her with disdain.
"Such a disgrace for the name WEN." As she mumbled, Duan Xia gave a soft blow. "Don't make him angry."
"Ah- Yu, there is an exit from the north of Hall." Hong Li said, moving closer to him.
Yu Lingyu looked at the sword in his hand. It was no different from the blood-soaked dagger. Killing He Jin shocked him, but he got used to it automatically. His sword no longer trembled, and directly carried the victim to the dead end.
It only took a moment, and he was as fast as the wind. Before the remaining guards even knew what had happened, their heads were detached from the trunks.
"Hong Li, release them." Yu Lingyu said as he cut the chains. "Why are you helping us?" Shen Ming asked weakly.
"We're here because your shixiong asked for help. Everyone heads to the gate in the north." Yu Lingyu said, helping Shen Ming to stand up.
"Oh no!" Hong Li's fierce tone sent a chill down Yu Lingyu's neck. He quickly followed her gaze.
Damn!
All the blood of those he had beheaded before was being absorbed by the red mist in the dungeon. He had completely forgotten about it.
Xul'goth had another nickname.
The Bloodsucker!