Chapter 36: Another Interrogation
36
Another Interrogation
I
I think what we should do is pretty obvious, Hao Zhen said. We took roughly five minutes to interrogate the elder, so we still have about fifteen minutes worth of spiritual stones left. Tian Jin and Lan Yue nodded. We can simply use on the inner disciple the sa strategy we just used on the elder. Based on what the elder said, Du Qing should have also given the inner disciple the paired matrix.
Cant we just get rid of the tracking matrix on the ring and run away, instead? Tian Jin said, frowning.
We can, but we dont know how close the inner disciple is to us already, so that might be risky, Hao Zhen said. Then, after a mont, he added. I still have so more questions Id like to ask.
Tian Jins expression grew thoughtful, and he seed to consider it for a few monts before nodding his head. Lan Yue similarly expressed her agreent, though she didnt need to think as long. Tian Jin then glanced at the elders corpse and furrowed his brow a little. What should we do about that, then?
We hide it. Corpses can go inside spatial rings, right? Tian Jin nodded. Then we store it inside one for now. We dont want the inner disciple to realize that anything is wrong, so we cant let him see the corpse.
Hao Zhen was fairly certain that even if the inner disciple acted as stupidly as the inner elder had, he still would have been alard by the sight of the elders corpse, so there was no point in taking needless risks. Sothing about putting a corpse inside a spatial ring felt wrong, sohow, if not dirty, but Hao Zhen tried not to dwell too much on that. He did his best to ignore the part of him that felt disturbed by this whole situation.
Tian Jin promptly placed the corpse inside his spatial ring, also making storing away the pool of blood that had been ford on the ground. They had no way of telling when, exactly, the inner disciple would be arriving, so they had to act as quickly as possible.
Hao Zhen also considered placing the corpse of the protector inside the spatial ring but decided that Tian Jin standing in front of it already completely hid it, so it wasnt much of a problem. The elder hadnt noticed it, in any case. Hao Zhen didnt think Tian Jin would also have liked that idea. Maybe the other boy was fine with treating the corpse of soone that was had been trying to kill them as if it were an object by putting it inside his spatial ring, but the corpse of the protector was a different story. The protector hadnt been an enemy of theirs. If anything, the things the man had left behind had helped them trendously.
With that, they once again got into position and waited for the inner disciple to arrive, much like they had waited for the elder earlier. As he waited, Hao Zhen couldnt help but think back to the sa line of thought that had led him to realize that they could use the schemas on the cave: What would have happened if he and Lan Yue hadnt been with Tian Jin?
He wondered how, exactly, the inner disciple fit into this picture. If the elder hadnt been imprisoned by the Radiant Light Imprisonnt Talisman, would he still have inford Du Qing, leading to Du Qing sending an inner disciple after Tian Jin too? It depended on how, exactly, Tian Jin would have managed to escape from the elder in the first place. Assuming Du Qing did send an inner disciple after him, however
What would have happened, exactly? Tian Jin would have probably killed the elder much like he had done just now, using the restraining schema on the cave to seal the mans movents before driving the Radiant Light Sword through his chest. He didnt believe Tian Jin would have interrogated the elder, however. That would an that after killing the elder, Tian Jin would have left the cave, thinking that he was no longer in danger only to be ambushed by the inner disciple once he was outside, in the forest.
Hao Zhen cringed a little at that thought. That would have been badreally bad. If Tian Jin was on his own, he probably would have managed to find a way to escape so far. However, if Hao Zhen hadnt interrogated the elder, and the three of them ended up leaving the cave Unless Lan Yue managed to use her remaining Radiant Light Imprisonnt Talisman, things could have gone down very badly for them. Especially if the inner disciple went for a sneak attack.
Hao Zhen shook his head. What could have been didnt matter. There was no point in dwelling on it. At least not in this case. Not anymore. Going forward, Hao Zhen figured that trying to guess how things were originally ant to be play out could give him an edge, so hed be trying to apply that again in the future. At the sa ti, however, he wondered how useful itd be, considering they seed to be deviating from the original storyline more and more, as far as he could tell.
It was a good thing that their enemies acted like cultivation novel antagonists, in any case, because at least on that he could rely. In fact, that was exactly one of the reasons why he had pushed for using on the inner disciple the strategy they had used against the elder. Because of the revelation that theyd still have to deal with another enemy, he had only asked the elder the questions that dealt with the situation at handthe things they had needed to know at that mont.
Assuming that the inner disciple was the last person Du Qing sent for a while, however, hed be able to ask a couple of other questions that had been plaguing his mind for a while now.
It was as Hao Zhen was imrsed in his thoughts that he caught, in the distance, a red dot. As he still had Spiritual Sight active, he could see, spiritually, past the waterfall, so he could see the spiritual form becoming bigger and bigger.
Concluding that what was heading their way was none other than a magical cloud, Hao Zhen steeled himself for yet another confrontation.
Just like the elder, they first saw a barrier similar to the one created by the Radiant Light Imprisonnt Talisman poking through the waterfall before the rest of the do passed through the curtain of water. Then, the do of light disappeared, revealing a young man in dark green robes standing on top of a magical cloud. He appeared to be in his early twenties and was rather tall, probably taller than even the inner elder.
The inner disciples entrance was virtually identical to that of the elder, almost like a reenactnt. Hao Zhen guessed that both this inner disciple and the elder from before had Radiant Light Fieldone of the sects three signature skillsas their spiritual skill, so they had ended up coming to the sa conclusion as to what the best of going past the waterfall was.
Hao Zhen knew that if he had this spiritual skill, hed have done it the sa way. His hair was still damp from when he climbed through the waterfall to get into the cave. It was a good thing his robes were magically water-resistant or sothing along those lines, or else he reckoned hed be very uncomfortable right now.
The elder disciple first looked around the cave, only briefly glancing at them. Hmm. He frowned. It seems that the inner elder was late, after all. He then focused on them. You threeTian Jin, Duo Lan, and Hao Zhen?
Just like before, Tian Jin said nothing. Hao Zhen and Lan Yue similarly stayed silent.
The inner disciples frown deepened. When a senior is talking with you, its bad manners not to answer, he said, a threatening edge to his voice. They remained silent, and the disciples expression darkened. Very well, then. So be it. It seems I must teach you so lessons as your senior.
The inner disciple then absorbed his magical cloud into his sleeves before walking over to them. Just like the elder, he didnt appear to noticeor at least pay much attentionto the arrays on the cave wall. Now that Hao Zhen was paying attention, however, he realized there was no spiritual power in the disciples eyes, so he wasnt using Spiritual Sight, which would explain things.
You needed to be cursed with a ludicrous level of arrogance to venture into the location where your enemies are hiding in without using Spiritual Sight to check for magical traps or anything of the sort. Sheer stupidity would also do the trick. Then again, arrogance and stupidity went hand in hand. One often led to the other.
Just like what happened with the elder, the mont the inner disciple crossed into the area of effect of the restraining schema, Tian Jin activated it. With that, everyone in the cave lost their ability to move.
What is this! the inner disciple cried, outraged. You! he glared fiercely at Tian Jin. What have you done!
Tian Jin said nothing. Instead, he repeated the sa routine they had used to interrogate the inner elder, giving Hao Zhen a nod to start the interrogation.
Weve used a restraining array, Hao Zhen said, simply, once again trying to get used to the fact he could only move his face at the mont. If you want to live, youll have to answer our questions.
A restraining array? The inner disciple frowned. I see. But youre a fool if you think that will be enough. I doubt
The young mans words were cut off by Tian Jin driving his sword into his shoulder. The inner disciple howled in pain, followed by another when Tian Jin pulled his sword back. The inner disciple gave Tian Jin a look of utmost vehence.
Well, I believe that should have cleared things up for you, Hao Zhen. Hearing his words, the inner disciple directed the full strength of his stare to him instead. Hao Zhen did his best to ignore it. We can kill you if we want, so if you want to live, you should better cooperate with us.
The inner disciple glared at him fiercely for a few more monts, not saying a word. Then the inner gritted his teeth, before snapping, What do you want to know?
Hao Zhen started with the usual first question. Do you know what else Du Qing has planned?
The inner disciple glowered at him for a little while longer, before saying, There isnt any. Du Qing was confident that the elder would be able to deal with you three. He only asked
to go after you too so that I could stop you from reaching the Inner Forest in case I found you first.
Hao Zhen let out a breath of relief at that. It seed like hed be able to ask his questions after all. He glanced at Lan Yue, out of the corner of his eye, then at Tian Jin, who was still standing impassively in front of the inner disciple.
If Hao Zhen did ask the next couple of questions he had in mind, there would be no going back. He would definitely have to co out with the truth to Tian Jin and Lan Yue later. He wouldnt be able to make an excuse or co up with another explanation. Still, he was already planning on sharing the truth with them anyway, and these were questions he needed to ask.
Resolving himself, Hao Zhen asked, I take it you were inford that the reason the elder couldnt chase after us at first was that he was confined by a Radiant Light Imprisonnt Talisman?
Yes, the inner disciple said. What about it?
Didnt it occur to you to wonder whereor howwe might have gotten our hands on this talisman?
At that question, Tian Jin turned around to look at him. Hao Zhen could also feel Lan Yues gaze on him.
Obviously you stole it sohow or got it by chance, the inner disciple said, as if it were obvious. It was the girl, Duo Lan, who used it, yes? She must have either stolen it from an elder in the Alchemy Division.
Is that it? Cant you think of any other explanation? He could feel Tian Jins and Lan Yues gazes growing more intense.
The inner disciple furrowed his brow. What other explanation is that?
Maybe Duo Lan is a mber of the upper echelon of the sect in disguise?
You Lan Yue said, before trailing off.
The inner disciples gaze shifted to her a mont before returning to Hao Zhen. Thats preposterous. He didnt elaborate any further.
Well, that was one question answered, Hao Zhen figured. But just to be sure
Did it not occur to you, while walking into this cave, to check for traps?
Youre but outer disciples, the inner disciple said, derisive. You shouldnt be able to make any traps that can affect .
The irony that the inner disciple was currently caught in one of those traps was lost on him.
Hao Zhen regarded the inner disciple thoughtfully for a few more monts, looking for any signs of doubt, suspicion, or hesitation, but he found nothing but derision and anger.
And youre absolutely certain that Duo Lan can only be a thief? he tried again.
Ive already told you so. What is with these idiotic questions?
Well, considering the answers were even more idiotic, Hao Zhen thought that was rather rich. Well, that was about everything Hao Zhen needed to know. Hed have to try this again with other people in the future, just to confirm, but it did appear that Tian Jin and Lan Yue were truly special, in the sense that average people couldnt ignore the influence of whatever was dictating their actions from ti to ti, such as how the inner disciple was being influenced now.
Tian Jins and Lan Yues gazes were almost burning now, and figuring that he had already gotten what he wanted to know, Hao Zhen figured it would be better to wrap things up there. The longer they spent on this, the more spiritual stones they expended.
Tian Jin, Hao Zhen said. Do it.
Hao Zhen then closed, as he had done before, but then after a mont of hesitation, opened them again just in ti to see Tian Jin plunging his word into the inner disciples chest.
Hao Zhen then watched as the inner disciples body crumpled. Hao Zhen felt cold as he stared at the corpse. This was the second ti today he had ordered soones death. He wished he wouldnt be making a habit of this in the future.
Hao Zhen had a foreboding premonition, however, that the future would have much more of this in store for him.
Reviews
All reviews (0)