Regarding the situation in the Land of Exile, those who had a chance to leave had already left long ago. Only Wu Jinliang had always followed him. Even after Miao Yilan had given him the chance to stay in Bowan Building, Wu Jinliang still gave it up and continued to follow him.

What for? Isn't it because there's something about his teacher, Shi Chun, that Wu Jinliang finds worth following?

Now there's only Wu Jinliang by his side, he's both a brother and a friend. If he was looked down upon by Wu Jinliang, that would be truly regrettable.

Faced with aggressive questioning, he responded, "I don't know. I don't ask which branch you are from, and you shouldn't ask about mine. If you really must know, then I'm just a Scattered Demon. Let's talk about what to do with the situation at hand, how do you want to resolve this?"

His tone also softened. Since everyone present was from the Demon Path, he didn't want to leave himself with no way out. All they had to do was give a hint to the Heavenly Court and he would have to hide for the rest of his life, plus he would have offended those of the Demon Path as well. This would truly leave him unacceptable by both sides, making life impossible.

Feng Chi could understand why the other party was unwilling to disclose their reasons. Not knowing which branch's undercover agent they were, revealing such details could lead to their branch not letting them off.

So she didn't press the issue any longer and sneered, "How else to solve this? Hurry and release her!"

Shi Chun: "I would like to release her, but if I do, would you let us go?"

Feng Chi raised an eyebrow in reproach, "Have you lost your mind? With a significant event approaching, the Three Veins swore an oath in the Blood Alliance to consolidate power and cease infighting, allowing only fair competition. Otherwise, they would face collective opposition. As people of the Three Veins, we should stick to our promises."

Shi Chun: "Promises are promises, but even if you made a move, no one would see it here."

Feng Chi grew angry, "It's one thing for the Heavenly Court to belittle us, but what does it mean when you demean yourself? Do you think everyone on the Demon Path is as vile and despicable as you?"

Shi Chun: "It doesn't matter if I'm seen as a villain or a good person, only those who survive have the right to choose what kind of person they are. You don't think that a few words from you will make me risk my life on a gamble, do you?"

Feng Chi: "Didn't you say the deed of sale isn't with you?"

A deed of sale? Since learning that the other party was of the Demon Path, Shi Chun felt that item suddenly insecure, perhaps no longer a reliable shield. Even if it was useful, the moment he released the captive, the other party might capture him and force the deed out, which would certainly bring great suffering.

However, after quickly thinking it over, he changed his mind.

When first encountering this sort of situation, anyone would think about how to escape, and he was no exception. But now realizing he was also a person of the Demon Path, especially after discovering that Demonic Qi could solve the long-standing cultivation problems, he was reluctant to flee.

The logic was simple. Once he separated from these two from the Demon Path, where would he find such strong companions in the Path again? Surely he couldn't go around asking everywhere. If inquiring was effective, the Heavenly Court would have done it long ago, and the Demon Path would have been extinct by now.

In the end, it's an old habit developed in the Land of Exile; seeing an opportunity, he wanted to reach out for it.

So he directly changed the subject, "The biggest issue now is, if I release her, how do I get into Wukang Mountain?"

Feng Chi: "How you get into Wukang Mountain is your business, not ours."

"Not your business?" Shi Chun shook the woman he was holding in his arms, "If I sell her off, completely severing her ties with Bian Weikang, it would make it easier to present myself before Bian Jixiong. Only then I could enter Wukang Mountain.

Now she also wants to enter Wukang Mountain. What does that make me? I redeemed a brothel woman for the Bian family as their daughter-in-law. Wukang Mountain's face would be swollen from the slap. If Bian Jixiong saw me face to face, he would probably want to kill me on the spot. Even thinking of entering Wukang Mountain is but a dream.

If you don't enter Wukang Mountain, I can. If you enter, then I can't. How is that not your concern?"

This was indeed the biggest reason he decided to sell Xiang Laner upon seeing the situation outside Cloud Building. Making money was just a side benefit.

Feng Chi and the captive Xiang Laner were simultaneously stunned – so that was his reason for redeeming and selling people.

Cen Futong had already confessed how he manipulated the transaction among all parties. Now thinking about it, redeeming and selling people was indeed a way to kill several birds with one stone; not only earning the favor of Bian Weikang but also Bian Jixiong, and making money to boot.

Clearly, had it not been for running into them, his scheme would have been quite successful.

Feng Chi naturally would not agree with his argument, "Blaming us? No one invited you. You took the initiative to get involved with us. It's your own doing."

Shi Chun: "With her identity, it's already problematic to enter Wukang Mountain. Under normal circumstances, Wukang Mountain would not accept her. There's only one possibility: that you have preparations in Wukang Mountain. In that case, entering with one person is entering; two is the same. Why not take me along as well?"

Feng Chi refused: "You take your path, we'll cross our bridge. There's no need to tie our fates together, no companionship needed."

Shi Chun: "Breaking down negotiations is bad for everyone. Why force me to use Miss Xiang as a shield? How about this: take me into Wukang Mountain, and I won't interfere with your affairs or compete with you for anything. If there's anything where you could use our help, just ask. After I get what I want, I'll return the deed of sale to you. If we can have mutual benefits, there's no need for us to make a big fuss. What do you say?"

Not compete? Feng Chi was puzzled. Could his goal be different from theirs, not to control Wukang Mountain? She immediately asked, "What exactly do you want to do in Wukang Mountain?"

Shi Chun: "Find someone. I can't say more than that."

Find someone? Feng Chi was confused, her gaze turning to Xiang Laner. This was not a decision she could make on her own.

Logically, there was no need to agree, but the hostages were in their hands.

It seemed that this young one was the real decision-maker, Shi Chun realized, and immediately said to Feng Chi, "Turn around."

Feng Chi also saw what he was about to do and turned around right away.

Shi Chun acted swiftly and deftly, releasing Xiang Laner's mute acupoint.

But unexpectedly, his well-intentioned act backfired, as Xiang Laner, who had been unable to speak for too long, opened her mouth with a chill, "Kill him!"

Feng Chi turned back at the sound, looking at her with inquiring eyes.

Xiang Laner emphasized again, "I said kill him!"

Feng Chi appeared to be in a difficult position; the request was too unrealistic, too emotional.

Shi Chun was amused, thinking this woman was crazy. If killing had been possible, would they have waited until now? He whispered in her ear, "The Demon Path is indeed the Demon Path. Those oaths of the Three Veins Alliance, forbidding fratricide, do you believe them yourself? I'm asking you one last time, agree or not? If not, I will strip you bare on the spot before we continue our discussion."

He knew that women outside valued their chastity immensely, almost as much as their lives.

Xiang Laner clenched her silver teeth and with a frosty face said, "You dare!"

The two were already tightly entwined; without moving his hands, Shi Chun's mana transferred over and directly started to undo the clasps of her outer garment.

Feng Chi cried out in alarm, "Stop!"

Xiang Laner, however, shouted sternly, "Let him undress!"

"…" Feng Chi was at a loss for words, her face filled with urgency.

Shi Chun had only undone one clasp of the hostage's outer garment; he didn't dare go any further, well aware that stripping her down would be deeply offensive.

He had just been trying to scare her, but she was completely unfazed by his tactics, leaving him somewhat helpless and silently cursing; he had encountered a tough character, truly from the Demon Path, unconventional and unpredictable.

Xiang Laner wouldn't let it go, "What, you don't dare to undress me now?"

Shi Chun was a bit at a loss for words, sensing the situation had become rather awkward. He didn't dare to release the hostage so casually.

While pondering how to make both sides feel at ease, Feng Chi suddenly turned her head to look to the side and shouted, "Who's there!"

Afraid it was a trick, Shi Chun did not allow his attention to be diverted even for a moment, maintaining high vigilance while his peripheral vision surreptitiously scanned the side.

The Demonic Qi permeating the forest suddenly fluctuated, and a figure appeared out of nowhere through the Demonic Qi; a disheveled old man with greying, unkempt hair, holding a wine gourd, his face obscured by wild hair, but the brightly red, shining nose, flushed from alcohol, was conspicuous. Below the dirty trouser legs, sandals were worn in the manner of a beggar.

The sudden appearance of the figure startled everyone and made them tense.

Feng Chi quickly glanced at Shi Chun, initially thinking a martial expert from his side had arrived, yet seeing Shi Chun's reaction, which clearly showed otherwise, she became even more nervous.

If it had been someone from within the Demon Path, they could have resolved the issue with an oath of the Three Sects, but generally, people were not so courteous towards the Demon Path. Her first reaction was to flee, but the Holy Daughter being held hostage put her in a difficult situation.

The disheveled old man took a swig of wine, burped, and pointed at the lingering Demonic Qi around Feng Chi, "I was wondering where this Demonic Qi came from, it turns out to be you. I've visited the Cloud Building before as well. I didn't expect you, an old madam, to be a daemon. Today, you're unlucky to cross paths with me!"

And with a flick of his finger, his momentum was like a thunderstorm sweeping over a hill.

Feng Chi, shocked and pale, dodged rapidly while her Demonic Qi formed an emergency shield around her.

Bang—the sound exploded like thunder, the shield disintegrated, and Feng Chi was sent flying backward into the forest like a meteor, with blood spraying out like a sudden downpour.

Banknotes that had been retrieved from Cen Futong's possession fell to the ground amidst the commotion.

Both the captive Xiang Laner and Shi Chun were as if struck by lightning.

Particularly Shi Chun, his expression was one of pure horror; with just a flick of the old man's finger, Feng Chi was sent crashing down. It was clear the newcomer's cultivation was fearsomely high. Feng Chi's cultivation was at least of the High Martial Great Success Realm, so what level was this disheveled old man's cultivation? It had to be at least that of an earthbound immortal.

Having spent so long in the Land of Exile, everyone's cultivation had leveled out, but this first outing after leaving had brought one martial expert after another onto the scene, each stronger than the last. He was starting to feel overwhelmed; how was he supposed to continue playing this game?

After the disheveled old man defeated Feng Chi with a finger, he turned back to stare in their direction, making Shi Chun's scalp tingle, furiously cursing himself for courting death. Why hadn't he followed the Righteous Path instead of joining the Demon Path? Now he was probably going to be the shortest-lived member of the Demon Path.

He felt utterly cursed by this perverse twist of fate, not granting him even a chance to choose.

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