Chapter 651: Who Is It?

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Under the cliff, Dugu Chou panted harshly. Ling Xiaozui was equally fatigued and was worse off than the former. He had single-handedly fought against ten opponents and that battle itself had greatly exceeded the limits his body could take. Although he was yet to be on his last legs, he was still severely depleted and could hardly go on. Almost every breath that he took was tinged with the copper taste of blood.

"Treat their injuries first. Otherwise, they won't be able to last until we get back," said Ling Xiaozui.

"Alright."

Medicinal pills were retrieved and the vapor under the cliff was condensed into water before they were both poured into the injured men's mouths.

Gu Chaliang cried out, "I can drink it myself… Oof…"

However, Dugu Chou and Ling Xiaozui ignored him and forced the solution down his throat. The former rested for a while; feeling their energy recovering slightly, they carried the other two men in a sprint to escape once more, making a distance of three thousand miles before finding a secluded cave to hide in.

"We can rest well here."

Finding a flat surface and laying the two men down, Dugu Chou and Ling Xiaozui exchanged a look before walking out to have a quiet conversation.

"I don't have much medicine on me now. Do you have any that specifically targets internal injuries?"I

"I don't have much left either... I didn't expect things to escalate to this extent – I can't believe that the four of us have been forced into this situation despite working together…"

"Forget it then. Let us split up and find some along our way. This forest is exceptionally hidden and dangerous. Maybe there'll be resources we've never seen. Let's try our luck."

"Yes, luck is probably the only thing we can try now."

Both men went in different directions, according to what they said upon leaving the cave. They met up again after making an elaborate round, discreet and stealthy. Their rendezvous point was dozens of miles away from the cave.

"Who do you think it is?" Dugu Chou was grim and serious.

"What do you think?" Ling Xiaozui was hesitant.

"This is a tough question. Anyone is possible – no one is above suspicion!" sighed Dugu Chou.

"I haven't thought it through before, but now that I think about it, there're too many coincidences since things happen. These two men… How long has it been since they last made their appearances? It must be truly a great coincidence that they appeared at this time as well."

Ling Xiaozui said thoughtfully, "If it were one of them who had painstakingly planned this trap, can we – even with our capabilities– escape this death threat?"

"Not to such an extent," said Dugu Chou, "Both of us were even cautious against each other the moment we noticed we were ambushed… There has to be a premise when a fatal trap is set against people like us, that we won't make a break for it. The plan wouldn't work otherwise."

"Weren't you on guard against the ambush of the person on your back when you carried him? We both know the answer. Even if they did ambush us, they can only cause little trouble or injure us slightly. Their hidden strike would not likely be fatal."

"Indeed, I agree fully. If we didn't have them as baggage, our collaboration would be feared by anyone who intends to ambush us."

"Don't be so optimistic just yet. You know that those eighteen people have the ability to keep us all here!"

Ling Xiaozui sucked in a breath and said, "I am, instead, puzzled about the fact that they executed such a well-planned ambush, yet allowed us to bolt. It certainly doesn't fit the worst case scenario I had in mind."

Dugu Chou wholly agreed to Ling Xiaozui's words.

"That's right. Still, the reality remains that we managed to break loose and the four of us have survived. We even know about their true capabilities! This in itself is already a ma.s.sive gain, but to what end?"

"If this were the argument, then they don't look like they were ambus.h.i.+ng us – it feels more like they were delivering an important message to us. It's interesting… What a riddle…"

Both of them cracked their heads but did not manage to figure out the hidden meaning behind recent events. They were not supposed to be ambushed, but it had happened. Since it had happened, and the other party's combined strength was formidable, they should not have escaped as easily as they had, yet the reality remained that they did.

Everything was simply illogical. How many issues and secrets were actually hidden behind the veil of obscurity?

These two men had no idea. What they were certain of, however, was that the other party must have their own hidden agenda! The question was, what could it be?

"While it may not be them, we can't let our guard down from now on. Any carelessness will cause us grave defeat!"

This was the tacit understanding between the two of them.

"We have been veterans of the martial world for so many years now yet we were so easily outwitted. It's utterly embarra.s.sing. If we were to be tricked again, we can commit suicide!"

Dugu Chou chuckled and said, "I'm very interested to know the other party's next course of action, though. After setting up such an elaborate game, it'd be a waste if the follow-up plan isn't brilliant enough."

Ling Xiaozui was not as optimistic as he replied, "Don't take this lightly. We don't know their goal yet, but their abilities have proven overwhelming thus far– it's really a lineup that can kill us all!"

"If Heaven's Inquisition or Feng Xiange were to be the spy, then he'd definitely expend his all to lead us onto the path he needs us to be."

"On the contrary, if both of them were innocent, they'd still have other plans to push us towards their goal!"

Ling Xiaozui spoke seriously, "All in all, we have to be more careful from here on. We must be highly alert."

"Of course."

When both of them went back to the cave, there were bunches of the mountain's spiritual medicine in each of their grasps. The two of them then took care of a man each, healing, cultivating, and treating them. After some time, Feng Xiange and Gu Chaliang regained consciousness. Both of them wore begrudging expressions, worn down by pain.

Feng Xiange began complaining about Gu Chaliang with br.i.m.m.i.n.g irritation, "Sir Heaven's Inquisition, the so-called Unrivaled Fortune Teller who knows five past and future millenniums, how did you even lead us right into such a trap? What a wonder…"

Gu Chaliang argued his case, looking terribly fl.u.s.tered, "Before we came, I've checked upon each of us. No one showed signs of being endangered, let alone embroiled in a life-threatening situation. Could this be by chance?"

"By chance? What exactly is your definition of being endangered? Look at me, do I have an intact piece of flesh? Is this not endangered? Is it only dangerous when my head is off my neck?" Feng Xiange hissed in a fit of rage.

Gu Chaliang was tongue-tied, only managing a suitable retort after a long while, "We aren't dead anyway. That's not being endangered. Isn't this right?"

Feng Xiange's rage burned even more furiously as he retorted, "If it weren't for Ling Xiaozui and Dugu Chou who fought with their lives, could the both of us have survived?"

"Turning calamities into blessings, surviving bad luck to receive good fortune… It's a good thing! Besides, grat.i.tude should come first upon receiving someone's saving grace!" Gu Chaliang said with his eyes blinking rapidly.

Feng Xiange's mouth hung open; he choked before saying resentfully, "Have you expressed your thanks?"

He then turned and faced Ling Xiaozui and Dugu Chou to speak in earnest, "Brothers, thank you! I shall brew a few pots of good wine for both of you when we return."

Ling Xiaozui laughed and said, "I'll be waiting for it! The mere thought of the G.o.d of Wine's exquisite brew has me salivating already. A taste earlier had me dreaming about it recently, reminiscing the lingering flavor."

Dugu Chou chortled as well, but his gaze on Gu Chaliang was tinged with a hint of undisguised suspicion.