Chapter 57: The Blood Path (2)

Discovered by Zhou Yucheng, Gu Yuan was briefly surprised. But that didn’t change anything. Zhou Yucheng might have discovered that someone was nearby, but he still didn’t seem to know his exact location.

Gu Yuan simply ignored him and continued moving away.

After watching the earlier battle, he had already reached a clear conclusion: Zhou Yucheng was probably stronger than him.

There was no need to fight the man, so leaving quietly was the better choice.

Zhou Yucheng’s next words, however, seemed to mock that plan.

"Are you Su Leishan? Ye Chen? Or Gu Yuan? Reveal yourself or don’t. It’s your decision. I can just kill the three of you."

Gu Yuan stopped in his tracks.

What is wrong with this man? Did it never occur to him that the presence he sensed could belong to someone else entirely?

Before Gu Yuan could think any further, Zhou Yucheng began explaining on his own.

"I was given the mission to investigate Qin Bofeng and Su Leishan, and I was authorized to kill on the spot if necessary."

"To make sure I could complete that mission, the Demonic Beast Garden has been closed. Until I leave, no one else can leave either. As for the talisman you were given, the one that was supposed to get you out if the situation became dangerous..."

Zhou Yucheng paused briefly.

"That talisman is fake."

This piece of shit...

Gu Yuan cursed inwardly as he immediately took out the talisman and appraised it.

[Name: Trace Mark Talisman]

[Grade: Mortal Grade]

[Description: An ordinary talisman that leaves a hidden mark on the person who tears it while simultaneously releasing a powerful burst of light that reveals the user’s location from a great distance.]

Fuck.

He really had been played by the Black Desolation Sect.

Gu Yuan was angry for a moment, but he quickly calmed down.

He was bitter.

He had only wanted to help the sect discreetly for the sake of the twins. Yet even when his intentions were good, he still ended up getting dragged into trouble like this.

Is the correct answer really to stop involving himself with those two?

Gu Yuan sighed before quickly making his decision.

He couldn’t believe everything Zhou Yucheng said. But there was also no need to test his credibility.

Gu Yuan changed his appearance back to his original one, displayed the Seventh Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, and finally walked out toward Zhou Yucheng.

"Senior Brother, please calm down. You should have noticed already, but I was also after Qin Bofeng because I found him suspicious. I didn’t mean any harm."

"If I had known he was at the Ninth Stage of the Golden Core Realm, I would have minded my own business."

Zhou Yucheng really was carrying out some kind of mission... Gu Yuan had already discovered that when he used Threads of Providence on him. The Trace Mark Talisman was also clearly not meant to help them escape the secret realm. It was meant to reveal their location.

Those two things were facts.

Then there was the situation itself.

Of the original five team members, one was dead and another was a confirmed spy. That left only Ye Chen and Gu Yuan.

Gu Yuan had already confirmed that Ye Chen wasn’t a spy and wasn’t hiding his cultivation or identity.

That left only him.

After Zhou Yucheng was done with the two real spies, there was no reason for him not to investigate the remaining members of the team.

In other words, Gu Yuan was already in checkmate.

That was why he revealed himself.

"So, it was Gu Yuan?" Zhou Yucheng nodded to himself before saying, "Yes, I know you were after Qin Bofeng. But what guarantee do I have that you were after his life and weren’t his accomplice?"

"If you investigate a little, you’ll be able to find that out easily."

"And why should I? Killing you even if you are innocent is better than troubling myself with an investigation that may or may not prove anything."

If you were suspected, then it was better for you to die.

That was essentially what Zhou Yucheng was saying.

He also raised his saber, clearly preparing to attack.

Gu Yuan wasn’t afraid. Even if Zhou Yucheng was stronger than him, he was confident that the difference wasn’t enough for Zhou Yucheng to threaten his life. If the worst came to pass, he could even use the twins’ names to intimidate him.

Still, not fighting was obviously better.

With that thought, Gu Yuan’s expression relaxed slightly as he said, "You’re asking why you should spare me? Actually, the answer is simple. It’s for Princess Wei Ruyan Princess."

It was as if a volcano had suddenly erupted.

The aura around Zhou Yucheng exploded, his eyes turned bloodshot, and the killing intent that had previously been driven by his mission suddenly became far more personal.

"Hmm? Are you sure you want to treat me like this? I happen to have a way to help you become closer to the Princess."

Zhou Yucheng’s body trembled.

All kinds of emotions flashed through his eyes.

No one in the world knew that he held feelings for the Wei Ruyan Princess. Yet the person standing in front of him not only knew about it, but even claimed to have a way to help him get closer to her.

Could something this convenient really exist?

His grip tightened around his saber, but Zhou Yucheng clearly couldn’t make a decision easily.

Seeing this, Gu Yuan decided to give him another reason not to attack.

"Su Leishan is actually a spy working under the Wei Royal Family. You could use him as a link to get closer to her."

Zhou Yucheng could still attack even after hearing this information. Gu Yuan knew that.

But that was fine too.

If he really chose to attack him, Gu Yuan could fight him without any regrets. And if he managed to delay this fight until later, that would be even better. By then, Gu Yuan was certain he could surpass Zhou Yucheng and deal with him much more easily.

Not just Zhou Yucheng.

Aside from the twins, Gu Yuan was confident that he could eventually surpass everyone in the sect.

It wouldn’t take very long, either.

"Your words better be true. Otherwise, no one in this world will be able to protect you from me."

Leaving behind this threat, Zhou Yucheng quickly moved away, probably searching for Su Leishan.