Chapter 166: Probing, Impending Crisis

Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Probing, Impending Crisis

"As if I needed you to tell me?"

Si Jin scoffed, clearly annoyed, but didn’t argue.

That bastard who appeared out of nowhere could fight both his and Bai Ye’s spiritual bodies to a standstill. His level was definitely no lower than theirs.

Thinking about what he’d said before he left, there was no telling when he might suddenly pop up again and take Yun Sheng away.

Seeing his sour expression and the way his jaw had tightened, Bai Ye said in a low voice, "You should go. I’ll handle the rest."

Si Jin said nothing more this time.

He turned to glance inside the canyon, then his figure darted away, instantly melting into the darkness and vanishing without a trace.

Bai Ye stood his ground, slowly exhaling.

He quickly composed himself, suppressing the spiritual power that was still faintly surging within him. He tightened his grip on the blade in his hand and stood quietly, waiting for Qi Yao and his people to arrive.

Meanwhile, inside the canyon.

The moment Yun Sheng walked in, she felt several gazes shoot toward her, landing on her in unison.

"Yun Sheng! Are you okay?!"

Cheng Nian stood behind Ma Yu, her eyes red-rimmed. She stared intently at her, her voice trembling.

Ma Yu and Guo Kai also looked at her with grave expressions.

Ever since White Tiger had taken Yun Sheng out of the canyon, the intense energy fluctuations outside hadn’t stopped.

The roars of the pollutants came one after another, sometimes violent, sometimes bloodcurdling—the terrifying sounds made their hearts pound.

Guo Kai had actually considered going out to check.

But he remembered what White Tiger had said. He thought about how he might not be of any help if he went out, and could even become a burden.

If something happened to him, what would become of the rest of the team?

He could only suppress the impulse with all his might, remain in the canyon, and wait.

"I’m fine, don’t worry."

Yun Sheng replied, walking toward them.

Cheng Nian and Li Wen immediately rushed over, looking her up and down.

Cheng Nian took her hands, turning them over and over to inspect them, while Li Wen circled behind her to check for injuries. Only after confirming she was really unharmed did the two finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"You scared me to death! Yun Sheng, after the White Tiger Officer took you, there were constant sounds of fighting, and the screams of those pollutants... We thought..."

Cheng Nian didn’t finish, but everyone knew what she had left unsaid.

Li Wen also nodded vigorously. "Yun Sheng, it’s a good thing you’re okay..."

Yun Sheng gently patted their hands. Just as she was about to say something, Guo Kai walked over.

His gaze also swept over Yun Sheng. After confirming she was safe and sound, he subconsciously glanced toward the canyon entrance, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Yun Sheng, where is the White Tiger Officer?"

Yun Sheng pursed her lips. "He’s outside. Major General Qi and his men have arrived."

Hearing this, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.

"Major General Qi is here?" Ma Yu’s tense shoulders visibly relaxed, and a look of relief after surviving a catastrophe finally appeared on his face. "That’s great... With him here, those pollutants outside will definitely be cleaned up quickly."

Guo Kai nodded in agreement. "Once Major General Qi and his men finish dealing with the pollutants outside, they should come in. By then, we’ll be truly safe."

The others all looked toward the canyon entrance with hopeful eyes, waiting for true safety to arrive.

Cheng Nian pulled Yun Sheng down to sit on a rock, chattering on about her worries and fears while in the canyon.

Li Wen added a few words from time to time, and Ma Yu also chimed in, saying that he and Guo Kai had almost rushed out themselves.

Yun Sheng listened, occasionally offering a word or two in response.

But her gaze couldn’t help but drift toward the canyon entrance.

There was nothing to see.

Only the cold moonlight spilling down.

The sounds of fighting from outside had ceased; it was completely silent.

’Qi Yao and his men have probably met up with Bai Ye by now. I wonder what Qi Yao’s reaction will be when he sees Bai Ye. Will he become suspicious?’

’Has Bai Ye’s condition stabilized...? His spiritual power won’t go berserk again, right?’

’And Si Jin.’

’He must have gone into hiding again. With his skills, he won’t be discovered by Qi Yao, right?’

Yun Sheng lowered her head, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the spot on her skin that had been tightly gripped just a moment ago.

Even though she couldn’t see anything, and it had fallen quiet outside, her heart simply wouldn’t calm down.

...

Qi Yao led several Sentinels and dealt with the group of low-level pollutants charging at them at top speed. When they reached a spot not far from the canyon, the sight before them left everyone stunned.

The ground was covered with the corpses of pollutants, so densely packed they formed hills.

Black blood pooled into streams, glinting eerily under the moonlight.

And in the center of the corpses, a tall, slender figure stood silently.

He was drenched in blood, his combat suit covered in tears and grime. His back was ramrod straight, and his cold, severe face was clearly visible in the moonlight.

"Wh-White War God?!"

A Sentinel couldn’t help but cry out in alarm, his eyes wide.

Another Sentinel’s jaw dropped as he stared at the bodies covering the ground, his voice trembling.

"No wonder... No wonder there are so many pollutant corpses, and even several S-Class ones... The White War God must have taken action personally!"

"My god, why is the White War God here?"

The Sentinels looked at each other, both shocked and excited.

Qi Yao stood his ground, looking at Bai Ye as a complex emotion flickered in his eyes.

Then, he strode forward and gave a solemn salute.

"White War God."

Bai Ye gave a slight nod but said nothing.

Qi Yao lifted his head, his gaze sweeping quickly over him.

The obviously over-exerted and extremely unstable spiritual power, and those eyes that, despite their calmness, held a faint trace of exhaustion.

"White War God," he began, his tone respectful but with a hint of probing, "what are you doing here?"

Bai Ye raised his eyes, meeting Qi Yao’s implicitly searching gaze.

"I’m on a special mission. I was passing through and happened upon a pollutant outbreak, so I dealt with it."

It was an incredibly understated remark.

A glint flashed in Qi Yao’s eyes.

"Thank you for your efforts, White War God," he said respectfully, but his gaze once again swept over the ghastly bloodstains on Bai Ye’s body. "Are you injured?"

"Superficial wounds." Bai Ye’s reply was so brief it was almost cold.

Qi Yao nodded but didn’t stop there.

He took a step forward, his tone still respectful but now laced with a hint of concern. "White War God, forgive my bluntness, but I sense that your spiritual power seems very unstable. Killing so many pollutants must have been an immense drain, no?"

Bai Ye didn’t speak.

Qi Yao continued, "There happens to be an S-Class guide at the camp. If the White War God requires it, you can go for a soothing session. You’re SSS-level; if your spiritual power is unstable, it’s easy to lose control. It would be troublesome if something were to happen."

Bai Ye’s brow furrowed slightly.

’If I go for soothing now, the guide will definitely discover the true state of my spiritual landscape.’

’Those dense cracks, the signs of being on the verge of losing control... they would surely think I’m at risk of degenerating into a Dark Sentinel and report it to the Star Alliance immediately.’

’And the Star Alliance is extremely sensitive about such matters. They would probably take action at once!’

’Therefore, I can absolutely not accept a guide’s soothing.’

’But Qi Yao’s words, while sounding like concern on the surface, are actually a test.’

’If I refuse, it probably won’t be that easy to fool him.’