Chapter 495 - 417: Ambush 2

Chapter 495: Chapter 417: Ambush 2

Feng Qingxuan looked up, her face etched with anxiety. "My Divine Sense was injured. To help me heal, Master Mu brought me to the Black Market to find a Divine Sense Treasure."

"Two nights ago, at the Jiangkou Hongyan Pavilion, Master Mu was making a trade with someone. We didn’t expect the other party to be a Guiyuan expert with malicious intent. He attacked suddenly after the deal was done."

"Master Mu fought him in the city and had a slight advantage. She chased him out of the city... and then, she never came back."

As Feng Qingxuan spoke, her voice choked with sobs. "I searched for her outside the city, but all I found in the wilderness were signs of a struggle and... a message left by the other person."

The expressions of both Jiang Buyu and Ye Guhong changed at once.

"What message?"

"He said..."

Feng Qingxuan bit her lip. "He wants the Celestial Sword Sect to come and ransom her. Master Mu... I’m afraid she’s been captured alive. I was terrified. I am weak and powerless, so I had no choice but to take the liberty of coming here to beg you two Supreme Elders to intervene and save Master Mu!"

The atmosphere in the cabin instantly grew tense.

Jiang Buyu and Ye Guhong exchanged a glance, each seeing the shock in the other’s eyes.

They knew Mu Wanqiu’s strength all too well.

A genius of the Sword Dao, she had reached the Guiyuan realm in less than sixty years of Cultivation. Her sixth-place ranking among the Celestial Sword Seven Sons was well-deserved.

If not for her relatively short time cultivating and lack of accumulated experience, even the top five might not be able to guarantee a victory against her.

’Someone of her caliber was captured alive?’

’Just how strong was her opponent?!’

Jiang Buyu’s gaze fixed on Feng Qingxuan. "How are you certain the opponent is a Guiyuan?"

"I saw it with my own eyes. When they fought in the city, Master Mu had a slight advantage. That person must have used some vile trick. That’s how Master Mu carelessly fell into his trap..."

Killing intent flared in Ye Guhong’s eyes. "The audacity! Brother Jiang, we must execute this person! Otherwise, what will become of the Celestial Sword Sect’s prestige?"

But Jiang Buyu didn’t respond.

Ye Guhong frowned. "Brother Jiang, do you feel something is amiss?"

Jiang Buyu seemed to be muttering to himself, yet also explaining it to Ye Guhong. "When did such a character appear in the Jiangzhou region? Guiyuan experts are already rare, and those who dare to make an enemy of our Celestial Sword Sect are practically unheard-of..."

A sharp glint flashed in Ye Guhong’s eyes. "Brother, you mean..."

"Do you still remember our purpose for this trip?" Jiang Buyu asked.

A cold light radiated from Ye Guhong’s eyes. "...The one who attacked Junior Sister Mu is the same person behind the Netherworld Ship?"

Jiang Buyu gave a noncommittal response, his gaze falling back on Feng Qingxuan.

"What did he look like? Did you get a clear look at him?"

"He wore a wooden mask the entire time, so I couldn’t see his true face. I only remember he was wearing grey cloth robes. His build was... somewhat stocky, and his height was around six foot three."

"Jian You."

"I am here."

"Go bring Hua Wuxin here."

"Yes, sir."

Jian You accepted the order and quickly brought the accompanying Hua Wuxin into the cabin.

Jiang Buyu stared at him. "Describe the appearance of the man you saw at the Kao Mountain Wall again. In detail."

Hua Wuxin didn’t understand why, but he still described what he had seen in a trembling voice.

Slightly plump, grey clothes, an ordinary face, a calm gaze...

It was a seventy to eighty percent match with Feng Qingxuan’s description!

The killing intent in Ye Guhong’s eyes surged. He sneered, "Good! Good! Good! To wear out iron shoes in a fruitless search, only to find it by chance without any effort! I was just worrying about how to find this skulking rat, and he goes and delivers himself to our doorstep!"

"Don’t be careless."

Jiang Buyu shook his head slightly. "This person could kill the Seven-Kills and capture Junior Sister Mu. His cunning and methods are anything but ordinary. He deliberately left clues this time to lure us in. I fear... it’s a trap."

Ye Guhong, however, was unconvinced. "It’s just a few cheap tricks. He’s only at the Guiyuan Cultivation level, what’s there to be afraid of?"

Jiang Buyu was silent.

A moment later, he looked at Feng Qingxuan. "Did the other party say how to ransom her?"

Feng Qingxuan shook her head. "He only left an address and said to go there for the ransom."

"Where?"

"A deserted temple, thirty li southwest of Jiangkou."

A trace of doubt flickered in Jiang Buyu’s eyes.

’A lone temple in the middle of nowhere.’

’This is clearly a trap to lure us in!’

’The moment we get there, we’ll walk right into an ambush.’

Seeing his hesitation, Ye Guhong suggested, "Brother Jiang, if you think this is a bad idea, why don’t we first send an urgent report to Brother Lu and ask for his decision? Or we could wait for him to arrive and join us before we act."

Jiang Buyu shook his head. "Time waits for no one. By the time the message gets there and he rushes over, I’m afraid Junior Sister Mu will have already met a grim fate. Besides, Brother Lu is guarding the Little World; he cannot leave so easily."

After a moment of contemplation, he finally sighed. "Fine. Since the opponent has thrown down the gauntlet, there’s no harm in the two of us going to scout out the situation first. But on this trip, we must put caution first."

"Of course." Ye Guhong nodded in agreement.

Jiang Buyu looked at Jian You. "You and the others will first transport the goods back to the secret chamber in the Ruins Market and hide them properly. Don’t cause any unnecessary complications. Ye Taishang and I will go to the deserted temple to investigate. We’ll be back shortly."

Jian You bowed. "As you command."

After giving his instructions, he turned to Feng Qingxuan. "Lead the way."

Feng Qingxuan lowered her gaze and bowed. "Thank you, Supreme Elders."

With that, she turned and led the way out of the cabin.

Jiang Buyu and Ye Guhong rose and followed.

The three of them disembarked from the Tower Ship. After a few leaps and bounds, their figures blended into the deep darkness beyond the pier, swiftly receding into the distance until they vanished.

After the three Supreme Elders had left, Jian You returned to the pier. He turned to the disciples and Porters bustling about and said, "Pick up the pace! Load all the goods onto the carts. We’re leaving for the Ruins Market immediately."

The disciples assented.

Before long, all the crates and chests were loaded onto the carts.

Elders Jian You, Sword Fear, and Sword Fool mounted their horses. Stationed at the front and rear to watch over the convoy, they led several dozen Celestial Sword Sect disciples in escorting the goods. The caravan slowly departed from the dimly lit Jiangkou Pier, heading toward the Ruins Market within the city.