“Why?” Qilin turned his head and asked Wang Cang Hai.
Qilin thought, Wanbao is so unreasonable. When I wanted to run for my life earlier, he held me back and insisted we go save people. Now that I want to save someone, he won’t let me risk my life. What kind of logic is that?
Wang Cang Hai gripped Qilin’s wrist tightly and said in a low voice, “This could be a trap set by the Zhang family.”
Qilin found that idea laughable. “Of course, it’s a trap—anyone can see that. They’re trying to kill the Ren Mian Niao.”
Wang Cang Hai, however, frowned. “No. They’re trying to use you to kill the Ren Mian Niao.”
“Doesn’t this strike you as odd?” Wang Cang Hai continued. “From the moment these Zhang family members saw you, they’ve been begging you to save them. But their real goal isn’t to escape. They’ve been preparing those chains to attack the Ren Mian Niao, and their actual objective seems to be something even deeper beneath the lake.”
Qilin was momentarily stunned.
He had to admit—Wang Cang Hai had a point.
And the strange occurrences at the bottom of Qingze Lake were too numerous to ignore. It was as if this place was a reflection of the deepest underground secrets of Wang Bai Mountain and Dong Xia.
Could it be that the Ren Mian Niao here was guarding the same secret?
Was there another ultimate sanctuary hidden beneath Qingze Lake?
A rustling sound interrupted Qilin’s thoughts. Something dark and shadowy was approaching the entrance of the cave.
Qilin immediately gripped his black-gold blade, ready to cleave the intruder in two.
But the moment he raised his weapon, he felt an overwhelming resistance.
It was as if the air had solidified, holding his blade in place—his strikes felt sluggish and ineffective, as though the laws of nature themselves had been disrupted.
A wave of unease settled in his chest.
Then, Wang Cang Hai suddenly spoke. “Zhang Hai Xing?”
Sure enough, a shadowed figure swiftly climbed into the cave, crouching at the entrance and panting heavily. “It’s me… Clan Leader, Wanbao, are you both alright?”
Qilin responded, “We’re fine. How did you find us?”
Zhang Hai Xing replied, “Your black-gold blade is in your hands, Clan Leader. Zhang family members share a spiritual bond with their weapons. I followed this faint connection to bring everyone here.”
Qilin and Wang Cang Hai exchanged a quick glance.
No words were needed—their eyes conveyed the same thought: So it’s true. The Zhang family deliberately planned to enter this place alongside ‘Zhang Qiling.’
Lowering his blade, Qilin returned it to Zhang Hai Xing. “Good thing your weapon recognizes its owner. It’s too dark here to see clearly—I almost mistook you for a monster and chopped you down.”
Zhang Hai Xing took back his blade with a faint smile. “As long as we’ve found the Clan Leader, that’s what matters. With you here, everyone feels more at ease.”
Wang Cang Hai suddenly interrupted, his tone cold. “Zhang Hai Wang is dead. You don’t seem upset.”
Zhang Hai Xing showed no hesitation, not even the slightest discomfort. “Hai Wang sacrificed himself for the hope of the clan. It was an honorable death. I envy him.”
Qilin frowned. This is a setup.
He could already predict what Zhang Hai Xing’s next words would be—he was going to flatter Qilin, coaxing him into becoming the next noble sacrifice for the clan.
But to his surprise, Zhang Hai Xing said instead, “Clan Leader, I only came here to retrieve my blade. We’ve already discussed our plan. In a moment, I will take the core position in the formation. Once the Demon-Slaying Array is activated and the Ren Mian Niao is dead, please lead the others forward.”
Forward… to where?
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