Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1739 - 1732: Intentions Unknown

Chapter 1739: Chapter 1732: Intentions Unknown

"Don’t you have a high-level expert?" Cheng Ziang asked.

"That guy is not from the Emperor’s Sect," Hun Jiansi shrugged.

"You all are really chaotic..."

"Well, it’s a large organization, so naturally there are many factions," Hun Jiansi replied.

After hearing her words, Cheng Ziang lowered his head in contemplation with a serious expression. Hun Jiansi turned her head, meeting Tang Guo’s wary gaze once more, and couldn’t help but say, "You’ve really found a treasure."

"Why do you say that?" Cheng Ziang asked, puzzled.

"That girl," Hun Jiansi pointed at Tang Guo and smiled, "She was able to perceive my presence. Clearly, she’s just a demon clan member. I’m curious how she managed it."

"That doesn’t seem to be such a big deal," Cheng Ziang said.

"Of course it is," Hun Jiansi looked at him earnestly and said, "Don’t forget, the Fog Concealment Skill is hard for even cultivators to perceive unless they’re at the Nascent Soul Realm. Your little White Tiger girl, I can approach her at will, and she wouldn’t even notice my presence."

"So, what do you want?"

"What do you think?" Hun Jiansi replied with a mysterious smile.

"Let me just say, now that she’s one of us, although I don’t particularly care about her, I won’t permit anyone to harm her," Cheng Ziang warned.

"Relax, what do you take me for," Hun Jiansi teased, "a seven or eight-year-old girl poses no threat to me. Indeed, some children have keen senses and can perceive the Fog Concealment Skill, but most become dull as they grow up, so I’m not worried at all."

As they continued talking, Luo’er seemed to hear the commotion and slowly sat up. Tang Guo awkwardly picked up some clothing and covered his shoulders, imitating Tangmo.

Seeing this, Cheng Ziang disregarded the lingering Hun Jiansi and hurried over.

"Have you not slept?" Luo’er rubbed his sore eyes and asked him.

"I’m quite alert. If you’re uncomfortable, you can sleep a bit more. I don’t have any urgent matters to report," Cheng Ziang said.

"If there’s anything, just say it. I’m fine," Luo’er waved his hand.

"The danger hasn’t been lifted yet. The Wu Family’s attack could come at any time until the Nine Thousand Battalion arrives," Cheng Ziang said.

"Hmm, I understand."

"They might arrive around the afternoon, so I plan to hold the inn and wait for them. What do you think?" Cheng Ziang asked.

"Of course we can’t leave," Luo’er said without hesitation, "Ming He’s subordinates are so many wounded ones, without protection, they wouldn’t stand a chance against those attackers."

"Heh,"

Upon hearing his words, Cheng Ziang smiled with relief. As expected, Luo’er would never change, still just like before.

"What’s so funny?"

"Nothing, just rest up; leave the rest to me. I’m full of energy," Cheng Ziang shook his head.

"Thank you."

"Well, I’m the vice-captain after all."

Saying that, Cheng Ziang waved his hand, turned, and left Luo’er’s room, heading into the hallway.

Hun Jiansi seemed to have predicted his actions and was already waiting in the hallway. Seeing him come out, Hun Jiansi approached enthusiastically and said, "You speak so gently when talking with the Saint, even though I didn’t understand a word."

"We were speaking in our native tongue," Cheng Ziang explained.

"Is that to guard against me?" Hun Jiansi pouted.

"You’re overthinking it. We learn the Kyushu language to communicate with Kyushu people, not with our own," Cheng Ziang stated seriously.

"Just joking. Why so serious?"

"People must take responsibility for their words, so most of the time, I don’t find jokes amusing," Cheng Ziang said.

As noon approached, the surroundings of the inn remained littered with corpses. The official road next to the inn had no traffic, likely scared off by the gruesome scene.

After a long night of turmoil, the advance team was exhausted yet forced to stay alert, continuing their duties.

With the sun high overhead, Hu Daoke, who was on guard, spotted a group of people emerging from the forest’s edge and quickly informed Cheng Ziang.

Cheng Ziang used binoculars and noticed those men were robust and wore traditional Kyushu clothing. The leader seemed to be coercing two soldiers at the front.

Ming He, dragging his wounded body, joined the observation spot. Upon seeing the two soldiers, he exclaimed, "Oh no, those are the soldiers I sent to rally local militia!"

"Aren’t those the militia? Why do they look menacing?" Hu Daoke asked.

"They’re not militia," Ming He, with sharp eyes and after a closer look, said solemnly, "Those are cultivators with considerable skills. I have a bad feeling about this."

"Could they be manor troops from other families?" Cheng Ziang asked.

"Unlikely, I’m familiar with the manor troops of major families in Yin State. These are strangers," Ming He shook his head.

The advance team always had this misconception, thinking Kyushu had many cultivators. But compared to the population base, the proportion of cultivators in Kyushu is actually low.

Their frequent encounters with cultivators were mainly due to being targeted by both the Wu Family and the Wen Family.

In fact, Cheng Ziang had also noticed along the way that for those they encountered, if they were cultivators, their status was generally not low. In contrast, most ordinary people were just mixed soldiers.

Thus, when Ming He said he knew the cultivators of major families in Yin State, it wasn’t an exaggeration. Since even in Yin State, there weren’t many cultivators worth mentioning in terms of cultivation.

After considering his words, Cheng Ziang turned and loudly ordered Baiyue, "Vermilion Bird, give them a warning not to approach the inn."

"Roger that." Baiyue nodded, taking up the sniper rifle and climbing up to a higher vantage point.

"Old Hu, set up the firepower point," Cheng Ziang patted Hu Daoke’s shoulder.

"There’s something I need to tell you," Hu Daoke turned back and said, "Well, the cooling parts for the machine gun are gone, so continuous firepower might not be possible..."

"Used up?" Cheng Ziang was taken aback.

"Yeah, we didn’t fight much along the way, but we didn’t bring much Magic Crystal to begin with and haven’t had a chance to replenish," Hu Daoke said.

"Alright then, take it easy and don’t break the gun," Cheng Ziang sighed.

"Manor Lord, what should I do?" Ming He asked urgently.

"What else? Of course, you should go manage your subordinates," Cheng Ziang gave him a justly look and said.

"I am still able to fight," Ming He said excitedly.

"No need," Cheng Ziang waved his hand, "We’ve said we’d take over, so naturally no one else should intervene."

He quickly descended the stairs, exited the inn, and boldly stepped outside through the main entrance.

Soon after, he heard a gunshot above him. Immediately, a column of earth erupted at the feet of those people, causing the leader to stop and signal his companions to halt.

A closer look revealed this group had over twenty members, and their demeanor was clearly difficult to handle. The leader’s face was covered, but his sharp eyes were visible.

"Who are you?" Cheng Ziang stood at the entrance, demanding confidently.

"Judging by your appearance, could you be the Azure Dragon under the Saint?" the leader asked.

"I’m asking the questions, not you," Cheng Ziang replied, his tone unfriendly.

"We heard the news and came to protect the Saint," the leader clasped his hands and said.

"Are you manor troops of Yin State’s major families?"

"Indeed!"

"Can you tell me which family you belong to?"

"Uh, this..."

At that moment, the two trembling soldiers suddenly shouted, "Manor Lord, don’t believe them; they were sent by the Wu Family to assassinate..."

But before they could finish, the leader furiously grabbed their necks from behind and snapped their spines with a forceful twist.

Seeing this, Cheng Ziang’s expression turned cold, and he stopped speaking.