Chapter 318: The Beginning of Wen Chan’s Betrayal

Chapter 318: Chapter 318: The Beginning of Wen Chan’s Betrayal

Gu Insects were prevalent in the Southern Domain. Chu Fan recalled one of Yun Xi’s masters, Dugu Ling, mentioning that there were countless types. Some could be used to poison and kill, others to heal and save, and many others to control a person’s mind.

The effects varied wildly depending on the type of Gu Insect.

So, Chu Fan believed Wen Chan when she said an Insect Gu had been planted in her, forcing her to obey the Saintess of the God Slaughter Hall.

It was just like on Three Mountains Island; the moment he asked about the God Slaughter Hall, those people had died with black liquid pouring from their orifices.

’That must have been the work of a Gu Insect, too.’

But when it came to the most skilled practitioner of the Insect Gu Technique in the world, it had to be Dugu Ling.

At this thought, a new plan formed in Chu Fan’s mind.

"If I can help you remove the Gu Insect from your body, would you be willing to work with me?"

Wen Chan shook her head. "That’s impossible. The Gu Insect they planted in me is extremely potent; it can’t be removed. The slightest touch means death. Besides, if the Gu Insect dies, the God Slaughter Hall will know immediately. So even if you really could remove the Gu Poison for me, they would just hunt me down."

Chu Fan frowned. He hadn’t realized there were so many intricacies to the Insect Gu.

"Let’s at least try. If it’s truly hopeless, we’ll give up. But what if we succeed? Would you be willing to work with me then?"

"If you could truly remove the Gu Insect, what would I have to lose by working with you? But I urge you to give up on this idea. If you try, not only will I die, but you’ll die as well. You have no idea just how powerful the God Slaughter Hall is," Wen Chan said, her voice laced with lingering fear.

"Let’s set aside the Gu Insect for now. In a while, I’ll take you to meet a true master of Gu Insects. We’ll ask her if it’s possible. Let me ask you something else: once you’ve gathered information about the Eastern Domain and reported it, will they send more powerful people here?"

"So many members of the God Slaughter Hall died on Three Mountains Island. Knowing their methods, they absolutely won’t let it go. Once they figure out what happened, they’re bound to retaliate with even more vicious and brutal means."

"Is there any way to keep them out of the Eastern Domain for, say, three to five years?"

Wen Chan shook her head. "Only if the Cultivation of the person who made a move on Three Mountains Island far exceeds their expectations would they be too afraid to come. But in the eyes of the God Slaughter Hall, who in the Eastern Domain could possibly inspire that kind of fear in them? It’s impossible!"

"What if you tell them an Earth Immortal was responsible? Don’t forget, there are two Earth Immortals in the Eastern Domain!"

Wen Chan shook her head again. "Forget whether they’d even believe an Earth Immortal would get involved. I can’t lie to them. The person who contacts me will be carrying a mother Gu. If I lie, my body will erupt in a pain that feels like my very bones are being devoured."

"So, when do you think your contact will show up next?"

Wen Chan shook her head. "The God Slaughter Hall is far more powerful than you can imagine, and they don’t trust anyone easily. Even with this Insect Gu planted in me, there’s no telling how many of their eyes are watching me right here in the Simurgh Pavilion. My contact might show up once every ten or fifteen days, or they might appear the very instant I uncover any useful information."

"So even if I wanted to get you out of here today, it’s not possible?"

"It would be very difficult to leave without being seen by my watchers. Even I don’t know who they are," Wen Chan sighed.

In truth, Chu Fan did have a way to find out who in the Simurgh Pavilion belonged to the God Slaughter Hall. He could simply use the Inner Binding Seal, one of his Divine Techniques.

But he had no intention of doing so, lest he alert the enemy.

’If I can help Wen Chan remove the Insect Gu, and then use a fake one to deceive the God Slaughter Hall, she could become another sharp weapon in my arsenal against them.’

With that, Chu Fan’s mind began to race, formulating a plan.

’Whether it could succeed or not, how could he know without trying?’

’She can’t leave the Simurgh Pavilion, but Dugu Ling could come here. With the Space-Time Shuttle, a round trip would only take half an hour.’

"If someone contacts you, stall them. Say you haven’t found any useful information yet. In ten days, at most, I will bring the person who can deal with your Insect Gu. We’ll ask her then if anything can be done. If she can’t do it, I won’t mention working together again. From that point on, we’ll pretend we never met and go our separate ways."

"Fine. I’ll wait ten days. When those ten days are up, I will truthfully report that you’re still alive and that you were the one who acted on Three Mountains Island. How you handle the God Slaughter Hall’s insane retaliation will be your problem," Wen Chan said.

In her heart, Wen Chan knew removing the Gu Insect was likely impossible, but how could she not cling to a sliver of hope?

If there was even a chance she could escape the God Slaughter Hall’s control and live freely, who would choose to remain a pawn in another’s game?

Chu Fan stayed in the pavilion for a while longer. They made small talk about trivial matters before he finally departed.

After returning to Celestial Heart Hall, he summoned Jing’an and handed him a list, telling him to procure all the items on it as quickly as possible.

Chu Fan had already decided: once the items on the list were procured, he would make a trip to the Bamboo Sea. He wasn’t sure if the four old-timers would even see him, though, since it had only been a month since his last visit.

Bringing them supplies would be his best excuse.

After Chu Fan left the Simurgh Pavilion, the Madam who had led him to Wen Chan made her way to Wen Chan’s private rooms.

"What is that man’s relationship to Chu Fan?" the Madam asked bluntly after closing the door.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Wen Chan said coldly.

The Madam then produced a Jade Token. Wen Chan’s heart lurched at the sight of it.

"My apologies, Upper Peak! This subordinate failed to recognize you!"

The Madam put away the Jade Token, her voice equally cold. "Answer the question. What is that man’s relationship to Chu Fan?"

"He is Ying Xiao, the Dark Night Envoy, Zhou Yi," Wen Chan lied, taking a gamble.

She was gambling that the Madam didn’t have the mother Gu with her.

Hearing this, the Madam’s brow furrowed slightly. "Why would Ying Xiao come looking for you?"

The God Slaughter Hall had its own intelligence network. Since they had managed to infiltrate this deep, it was only natural they knew the identities of Chu Fan’s Eight Battle Generals.

"He asked what my relationship was to Wen Chan. I didn’t admit to anything."

"So, you’re saying Ying Xiao and his people might know about Xi Jun Building?" the Madam wondered aloud in a low voice.

Wen Chan nodded. "They might know something, but my assessment is that this Ying Xiao doesn’t know much. Otherwise, he would have asked if I *was* Wen Chan, not what my relationship *to* Wen Chan is."

The Madam nodded. "That makes sense. What else did he say?"

"He also asked if I knew about Chaoyin Pavilion and the God Slaughter Hall. I didn’t tell the truth, of course, but I’m certain he’s grown suspicious of my identity," Wen Chan said, mixing truth with lies, her eyes fixed on the Madam’s expression the entire time.

"Are you certain you haven’t uttered a single falsehood?" the Madam asked, her sharp gaze boring into Wen Chan’s eyes.

"You have the mother Gu. How would I dare speak even half a lie?" Wen Chan replied.

The Madam’s expression softened into a smile. "You’re right. If you had told even half a lie, you’d be in a state beyond life or death right now. Regardless, they’re suspicious of your identity now. Be more careful for the time being. Don’t speak carelessly, or you know the consequences."