In her heart, Lingyan did not believe that Gu Zhong was the kind of person who would indiscriminately kill innocent people and harm the common people. She always felt that there was something wrong with Yinshui Village, the den of the evil cult.
This premonition was confirmed when we turned a corner and walked into the innermost cell.
"I don't recall it being time to give you your medicine today, right?"
A familiar, lazy, and casual voice came from behind, and Ling Yan unconsciously paused in her steps.
With her cascading black hair and jade-like beauty, she shone brightly even in the dim, dusty prison cell.
"Hmm? Interesting, someone actually broke in?"
The beauty turned around, and her stunning face momentarily stunned the men present.
Ling Yan reached out and touched the bars of the cell. They were made of fine iron, and none of the keys carried by the cell guards matched the iron lock. This treatment was truly extraordinary.
The leader of a demonic cult is imprisoned in his own backyard? That would be a laughing stock if word got out.
The question now is, how did Gu Zhong end up being arrested again? Or did she lock herself up? And what is her purpose?
"This cell is really sturdy."
Ye Feng, who had been fiddling with the cell door for a long time without being able to open it, gave an embarrassed chuckle.
Finally, he drew the sword he carried on his back, ready to slash at the prison door.
"Please excuse me for a moment, young lady."
Gu Zhong wisely stepped back a few paces to the side, while Ye Feng channeled his inner strength and slashed fiercely at the iron lock. The originally sturdy lock fell to the ground with a crash.
Seeing Ye Feng sheathe his sword, Ling Yan couldn't help but feel a little regretful that she hadn't been able to watch him for a few more moments.
The Heavenly Sword, the supreme treasure of the Heavenly Martial Sect, is a divine sword forged from millennia-old cold iron. It can cut through hair with a breath and slice through iron like mud.
The fact that he carried this sword with him at all times shows how favored Ye Feng, the young sect leader, was within the sect.
"Ayan thanks you, heroes."
Gu Zhong walked towards them with a delicate, swaying gait, and gave a graceful bow, behaving like a shy young woman.
When Lingyan heard her refer to herself in that way, she choked on her breath and couldn't help but cough a few times.
Good heavens, this bastard really knows how to use her name.
"Miss Ayan, there's no need for such formalities."
Ye Feng quickly reached out to help him up, but Gu Zhong casually sidestepped him.
"How can we be ungrateful for a life-saving grace?"
"Of all the women we've come this far, besides those they kidnapped tonight, you are one of the few who are still conscious. May I ask where you live, and if you know anything about the women around here? We can then escort you home."
Ye Feng didn't mind and then asked the crucial question.
"I am merely a courtesan in this city. As for the others, I have had little contact with them since being imprisoned here. How could they possibly know?"
Gu Zhong shook his head, indicating that he knew nothing about Ye Feng's question, and even showed a hint of loneliness and fear.
"Very well, I'm sorry to trouble you, young lady." Seeing this, Ye Feng stopped asking questions.
After rescuing all the trapped women and bringing them to the dilapidated temple on the ground, Ye Feng instructed some of his men to protect them. He then urged Ling Yan to return to the Demonic Sect leader.
Although the leader of the demonic sect was sitting there pretending to be a victim, the rat-eyed man didn't seem to know Gu Zhong.
Lingyan figured that Gu Zhong wouldn't take action against the people from Tianji Pavilion, and she also wanted to go back and find out what was going on with this stronghold.
The rat-eyed man was still forced to act as their guide, leading them to the so-called secluded place of the cult leader.
The scene before them was beyond their expectations. From the middle of the way, the passageway was full of corpses, all killed cleanly and swiftly.
Following the bloody markers, one arrives at a huge pool of blood. In the center floats a corpse dressed in a black robe, its eyes wide open in death, a horrifying sight, as if all the blood in its body had been drained. Around it are several peacefully closed corpses of young girls.
"Cult...Cult Leader!"
The rat-eyed man let out a terrified gasp.
"A fierce battle took place here not long ago."
Lingyan bent down to wipe away a trace of blood from the edge of the pool, brought it to her nose to sniff, and then spoke.
"What exactly is going on?"
Ye Feng suppressed his disgust and jumped into the pool to retrieve the corpse of the man who was called the cult leader.
"I'm afraid they're just imposters, low-class scoundrels. What kind of evil arts are they practicing here with young girls' blood? Someone has already done the deed for us."
The one who acts on behalf of Heaven must be Gu Zhong.
Chapter 56 The Leader of the Righteous Path Alliance and the Leader of the Demonic Cult (Part 9)
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Now that she has escaped the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion unscathed and seriously injured, she is more than capable of dealing with such a fool using some schemes.
It's likely that her story of being kidnapped can't be entirely trusted. It's probably more likely that she was forced into the den of thieves. Unfortunately, this imposter leader brought trouble upon herself by inviting wolves into her home.
"The matter here is settled. As for those lackeys who followed us, why don't we return to the city and report to the prefect before making a decision? What do you think, Young Master?"
Seeing that there were no survivors left in this bloody scene, and with the environment truly chilling, and with Gu Zhong on her mind, Ling Yan just wanted to leave as quickly as possible.
"As you command, Pavilion Master."
Ye Feng lifted the hem of his shirt, which was soaked with blood, looking quite disgusted, as if he wished he could fly back and change into dry clothes.
Aside from the two battles that had just begun, the rest of the night was uneventful, and the journey back to the city was also smooth.
The prefect stayed at the government office all night. After receiving the abducted women, he immediately arranged for people to register them and compare them with the missing women.
The prefect recognized Gu Zhong at a glance.
"Isn't this Miss Ayan from Xiuchun Pavilion?"
The words slipped out instantly, and the middle-aged man realized his slip of the tongue, chuckled twice, and quickly explained to everyone.
"Because of the fact that Miss Ayan's performance in this year's Flower Queen Contest was truly amazing, I happened to remember it."
This statement seemed somewhat like self-deception, but those present weren't particularly interested in the prefect's private life; it only further confirmed Gu Zhong's claim about his identity.
"We will have to trouble the Prefect to escort these women back home. Now that this matter is settled, we have important business to attend to and will depart early tomorrow morning. We bid you farewell in advance."
After exchanging pleasantries with the prefect, Ye Feng took his leave.
"Gentlemen, why don't you stay another day? I'd like to host a thank-you banquet for you all."
"For those in the martial arts world, upholding justice is their duty; such formalities are unnecessary."
Ye Feng repeatedly declined.
They then brought up the grand ceremony as an excuse, which finally persuaded the prefect to reluctantly abandon the idea, but in the end he still had to accept a plate of gold as a gift.
"Young hero, may I take you with me? I am deeply grateful for your life-saving grace. Please allow me to stay by your side as your maid for a while."
As everyone was about to leave, Gu Zhong, who had been standing to the side engrossed in playing the role of a frightened courtesan, suddenly spoke to Ye Feng.
"this···"
How could a young man not be moved by the favor of such a beautiful woman? Ye Feng hesitated for a moment, glanced at Ling Yan, and finally refused, "Miss, I'm afraid this is inappropriate."
Why?
"I am just a country bumpkin, I have no need for any maids. Besides, we have been traveling through wind and rain, how can I let Miss Ayan suffer?"
This reason sounds perfectly reasonable.
"Young hero, do you despise me for being a courtesan? I was kidnapped to a den of thieves, and even if I were to return safely, I would probably be a laughing stock in this brothel. Where would I find a place to stay?"
In an instant, Gu Zhong was on the verge of tears.
“This, this, this… Miss Ayan, I had absolutely no such intention.”
Ye Feng waved his hands repeatedly, instantly panicking.
He was always easily swayed by women and there was nothing he could do about it; the matter of the young lady from the Cheng family was a good example.
Left with no other choice, he had to turn his gaze back to Ling Yan.
Hearing Ye Feng repeatedly address Ling Yan as "Miss Ayan," and seeing Gu Zhong, who was usually bright and sharp, acting all delicate and pretentious, Ling Yan felt as if she had suffered a heavy blow to her soul.
"Young lady, please stop your nonsense. Why should an ordinary woman get involved in the conflicts of the martial world? Aren't you afraid of losing your life?"
In order to end the matter as soon as possible, Lingyan pretended to be impatient and scolded him, then turned to leave.
"What utopia can truly escape strife? I merely wish to follow you and see more of this vast world, no longer wanting to be confined to this small place. If I could be taken in by some martial arts sect, learn a move or two, and be able to protect myself, I would be content. If I stay here any longer, I fear..."
Gu Zhong was still unwilling to give up and continued to plead earnestly, his unfinished words sounding quite distressed.
"Well... Young Master, it's alright to agree to Miss Ayan's request."
At this point, even the prefect couldn't stand it anymore and whispered a few words in Ye Feng's ear.
“Very well. Pavilion Master, it is indeed inappropriate for Miss Ayan to stay here any longer. We will be passing through Medicine King Manor on our way. The Lord of Medicine King Manor and my master are sworn brothers. I will introduce Miss Ayan to him and let her become his disciple. That would be a good place for her.”
After hearing the prefect's words, Ye Feng, who was already wavering, completely sided with Gu Zhong. Ling Yan knew that the prefect must have told some story about a tragic past and the domination by powerful figures, which was exactly the kind of talk these righteous young heroes loved to hear.
To object now would only make her seem heartless.
"what ever."
With that, Lingyan stormed off, seething with anger.
Even though Ling Yan knew that Gu Zhong's insistence on staying by Ye Feng's side must be for some kind of scheme, she was still somewhat unhappy.
Although the incident in Yinshui Village was not as tragic as before, she was still worried that Gu Zhong would become entangled with Ye Feng.
Moreover, things are deviating further from the planned direction, and it's uncertain whether the original plans will be affected.
If anyone is angrier than Lingyan about this, it would only be Miss Cheng.
She thought she was an exception, having developed a deep bond with Ye Feng, the future leader of the Tianwu Sect, along the way. Who would have thought that a celestial beauty would suddenly appear, possessing a charm completely different from her own?
Cheng Yun was resentful. After her blatant attempts to trip him up were thwarted several times by Gu Zhong's manipulative tactics, Cheng Yun could only resort to subtle provocations to avoid annoying Ye Feng.
Gu Zhongxian did not recognize Cheng Yunlai and retaliated quite rudely.
Watching the two sisters' battle of wits, Ye Feng was caught in the middle, feeling extremely anxious, while Ling Yan remained detached, treating it as a show. Only when Gu Zhong's acting went too far would she occasionally chime in to assert her presence.