Chapter 374: A Little Too Late

Lin Jin’s Dragonfire grew increasingly purer, which further drove up the temperature. Engulfed in flames, the demonic appraiser was screaming as he decisively pulled out a knife and severed himself from his pet beast. The blood that s[rayed out of the snake immediately put out most of the flames on the appraiser’s body.

It was obviously a last resort move but it worked, giving the demonic appraiser a chance to escape the sea of flames. The serpent on the other hand, was not so fortunate.

Essentially abandoned by its owner, it writhed around slightly within the fire, and hissed loudly before it was grilled alive.

The demonic appraiser was losing right after the first clash. In fact, he almost lost his life mere seconds into the fight. Although he was full of resentment, he dared not try another attack, especially after losing his pet beast. To launch an attack now would be futile.

The road ahead was impossible so he could only run deeper into the prison. Of course, Lin Jin wouldn’t just let him escape like this.

“It’s a pity White Ape isn’t here. I would’ve left the pursuit to him,” Lin Jin suddenly uttered.

The next instant, a bundle of flames leaped out from his arm. It was Xiao Huo. Taking on his usual form, he sprinted forward to give chase to the escaping enemy.

Lin Jin wasn’t in a hurry. After a few steps forward, he found a torch, lit it, before gradually making his way deeper into the prison.

This dark cell couldn’t possibly have another exit so the demonic appraiser had nowhere to escape. Furthermore, be it his cultivation level, blood contract realm, or their pet beasts’ quality, Lin Jin’s stats overpowered the demonic appraiser’s by a landslide. It was why he could afford to remain so calm.

Apart from that, Lin Jin was pretty certain that this man had outside help. Otherwise, the man couldn’t have kept this all in the dark alone. Cultivating the eight-headed viper required frequent check-ups or even spells performed to give it nourishment. This demonic appraiser couldn’t possibly have visited the girl, so he must have an accomplice somewhere out there.

Lin Jin was pretty confident that he knew who that accomplice was.

This case was handled by Appraiser Tan Xun and Appraiser Yang Qingshi. Tan Xun later stopped paying it any more attention after the culprit was apprehended, but Yang Qingshi continued his involvement in a case which had seemingly ended.

Not only was he a frequent visitor at the Du Manor but this dark cell as well.

Lin Jin was thinking that if this demonic appraiser was forced into a corner, he might just contact Yang Qingshi and when the latter showed up, Lin Jin would have all the evidence he needed to destroy their plot once and for all.

After all, his enemy must have been alerted by now and Lin Jin feared they might just run away if they realized something was wrong.

Hence, he chose not to pursue that demonic appraiser now. With Xiao Huo tracking him, the man shouldn’t be able to escape.

With this in mind, Lin Jin continued forward with the torch in hand.

Soon, he reached the end.

There was still a death row prisoner on one side, curled up in a corner with a hood covering his face. On the other corner was the demonic appraiser, covered entirely in burns, panting heavily. Besides pain, there was also disbelief in his eyes.

He never expected Lin Jin to be this powerful. To think he would be brought down to such a state in mere seconds.

“Why is this happening?” the demonic appraiser growled through gritted teeth. Standing before him was Xiao Huo, watching him silently. Xiao Huo had now become the dark cell’s main source of light. His Dharma body made him somewhat translucent and he somewhat resembled a fire spirit.

Lin Jin felt the need to deal this demonic appraiser another blow so he would finally resign to his fate and give up resistance.

“There’s Demonic Appraisal Association branch on Turtle Island near Reed City. Do you know about it?” Lin Jin suddenly asked.

The demonic appraiser was stunned.

Without needing his answer, his expression said enough.

“Have you been there?” the demonic appraiser inquire through narrowed eyes.

Lin Jin nodded.

“Not only have I been there, I even destroyed Turtle Island while I was there!” Lin Jin told him honestly. Aware of the possibility that the appraiser might shrug it off as a mere lie, Lin Jin started describing Turtle Island’s landscape and mentioned the fates of Elder Zhou and the rest of his comrades.

The demonic appraiser’s expression turned into one of fear.

“Yo-… Just who are you? We’re pretty certain that the Jade Dragon Kingdom doesn’t have a beast appraiser as strong as you.” The demonic appraiser sounded unconvinced, but soon, he laughed, albeit a little maniacally. “But you have no idea what trouble you’ve brought upon yourself. You shouldn’t have destroyed our branch because someone will now come for you. Do you think you’re really that powerful? In an intermediate country, sure, you’re powerful, but would you be able to stand up against the experts of a premium country? How many Rank 4 pet beasts could you fend off if they laid siege to you? What about Rank 5 pet beasts? Hahahaha, cough… cough…”

After roaring with laughter, the person started coughing up blood.

Stunned, Lin Jin immediately shot a needle at him, piercing it into the man’s body.

Then, he understood what had happened.

To sever oneself from one’s pet beast was such a risky move that there was the risk of death.

And this person clearly didn’t seem like the lucky type.

Perhaps it was due to the burns from Dragonfire that he ended up losing a lot of blood. His injuries were too severe that death was actually inevitable.

Truth be told, Lin Jin didn’t want him dead because if he died, no one could testify against Yang Qingshi.

Recalling that someone was trying to force out the needle he left inside Du Lianxi’s body, Lin Jin speculated that it must have been Yang Qingshi.

Thus, Lin Jin asked, “Is Yang Qingshi also one of your men?”

That person scoffed. “Like hell I’m gonna tell you that, haha..ha…”

After a few laughs, his body started convulsing until his breathing stopped completely.

Lin Jin raised his hand and Xiao Huo flew back into his arm. He then turned to head outside.

He had to hurry to the Du Manor right now. Although Lin Jin had never met Yang Qingshi, he was sure that the man was a member of the Demonic Appraisal Association.

Yang Qingshi probably hadn’t learned of this demonic appraiser’s death yet so Lin Jin had to apprehend him now. With just a little probing, Yang Qingshi might just come clean.

Lin Jin was currently in an advantageous position so he had to go all out. Like Tan Xun, Yang Qingshi was a Rank 3 beast appraiser. Still, even if all of the Rank 3 appraisers were to go against Lin Jin, they would probably still never stand a chance to win the battle.

Hence, Lin Jin was set on apprehending Yang Qingshi and no one could stop him.

Once out of the dark cell, with a wave of his hand, clouds started gathering underneath Lin Jin’s feet.

He was getting much more proficient at using Carrier Cloud. Although he still couldn’t soar to such an altitude that he could clear mountains and wide rivers, hugging the ground was still a manageable feat. Currently, he could steadily maintain an altitude of a couple hundred meters.

With this, it only took a few brisk steps to reach the Du Manor. It was just one straight line after all.

It wasn’t long before Lin Jin arrived at the Du Manor. Instead of knocking on the door, he stealthily rode his cloud over the walls, covering his presence with Camouflage and arriving before Du Lianxi’s room.

The place was quiet with no one around.

But Lin Jin could sense an aura. Someone must have just left this place.

Entering the room, Du Lianxi was still lying motionlessly on her bed. Upon taking a closer look, she was no longer breathing.