Chapter 310 - 193: Encirclement and Pursuit

Chapter 310: Chapter 193: Encirclement and Pursuit

Countless pairs of demonic eyes watched from the surroundings.

A single word from Wu Qiuyuan was all it would take. He didn’t even need to identify Su Mu and the others as Taiping Captains; just saying he didn’t know them would be enough for the demons to swarm them in an instant.

Never mind a Taiping Captain—even a Taiping Bureau Governor, or a Commander-in-Chief, would die here.

The hearts of Su Mu, Xu Chongyuan, Zhong Guizheng, and the others leaped into their throats.

Shi Ziran was already silently gathering his strength, preparing to snap his bonds.

He didn’t know Wu Qiuyuan, but from the reactions of Su Mu and Xu Chongyuan, he could tell that the man before them knew who they were!

DRIP!

A drop of cold sweat trickled down Wu Qiuyuan’s forehead.

Su Mu and the others were afraid, but so was he.

If he exposed Su Mu’s group, they would surely die, but he wouldn’t survive either.

’How could I be so unlucky?’

’To think I’d be caught doing something so shameful by people I know.’

If Su Mu and Xu Chongyuan were allowed to leave alive, wouldn’t his presence in the Demon Court be exposed?

He couldn’t afford either outcome.

"If you’re friends, why did you attack him?"

The demon who had led Wu Qiuyuan in asked, looking at Su Mu with confusion.

"This is how we greet each other."

Su Mu said, his face expressionless.

"Right, Brother Wu?"

"Why aren’t you saying anything?"

Seeing Wu Qiuyuan remain silent, the demon asked, puzzled.

"Y-yes."

Wu Qiuyuan replied subconsciously.

Hearing this, the demon that led him in cracked an ugly smile and waved a hand. "Everyone, stand down. It’s fine, they’re friends. Human greetings are so strange. I almost thought he was about to kill him."

The surrounding demons all broke into laughter.

"Human customs give me a headache. I never realized they had so many ways to greet each other."

The demons started complaining. "There’s clasping fists, bowing, kneeling... and now there’s covering mouths? It’s too damn hard to learn."

"Easy for you to say. What about me?"

one demon grumbled.

It had no claws, only hooves, and its Cultivation wasn’t high enough to transform them into human hands. Clasping fists, covering mouths—it couldn’t do any of it.

Muttering their complaints, the crowd of demons dispersed.

The demon guide turned to Wu Qiuyuan. "Since you know each other, do you want to go see the Grand General together?"

"Together! We’re definitely going together!"

Xu Chongyuan said without hesitation.

He wasn’t sure why Wu Qiuyuan was here, but right now, they absolutely could not let the man out of their sight.

Otherwise, if Wu Qiuyuan revealed their identities to the Demon Court’s Grand General, they would never make it back to Hujue Pass in time.

Their only hope for survival was to stick close to Wu Qiuyuan and threaten him into silence.

And if worst came to worst, they could drag him down with them.

"Let’s go. Together."

Su Mu said lightly, placing a hand on Wu Qiuyuan’s shoulder.

"There’s no need for that."

Wu Qiuyuan’s voice held a pleading tone. "I can go see the Grand General by myself."

"How could we let you do that?"

Xu Chongyuan took two steps forward, flanking Wu Qiuyuan with Su Mu. "Let’s go, Brother Wu. The sooner we see the Grand General, the sooner we can all head back to Hujue Pass."

"Are you two done talking?"

the demon guide said impatiently. "You can chat on your own turf. Right now, hurry up and follow me to see the Grand General. He’s waiting for your news.

Have you confirmed the time to open the city gates or not?"

Su Mu and Xu Chongyuan exchanged a look, both seeing the shock in each other’s eyes.

Wu Qiuyuan... was a traitor to humanity!

’Is he a member of the Pure Land Sect?’

’Or have the Wu Family colluded with the Pure Land Sect and the Demon Court?’

This was absolutely massive news.

The Wu Family was one of the most prominent families in the Da Xuan Dynasty, and they were different from the Jiangzuo Wenren Family.

Although the Jiangzuo Wenren Family had been prosperous for generations, they were, after all, a clan of civil servants.

But the Wu Family had risen through the Martial Dao. They had countless experts in their clan, and many of their scions held important positions. Even the major sects and factions had disciples from the Wu Family.

If the Wu Family betrayed them, the consequences would be countless times more severe than the Wenren Family’s betrayal.

The Pure Land Sect was already a big enough headache, and now the Wu Family was involved too.

If they really managed to open the gates of Hujue Pass, the fortress would be attacked from both inside and out. It would be in grave danger.

Wu Qiuyuan cursed his luck inwardly. He glanced to his left, then to his right.

’These people... they’re really not giving me a way out!’

Now that Su Mu and Xu Chongyuan had heard the reason for his visit, if the two of them made it back alive, he was a dead man.

He steeled his resolve and grit his teeth.

’I’m dead either way!’

’You forced my hand!’

"Grand General, they are Taiping Captains!"

Wu Qiuyuan suddenly lunged forward, shouting at the top of his lungs.

The moment he yelled, blood and qi surged through his body as he channeled all his strength into his legs.

He just had to hold on for a moment. The demons would kill Su Mu and Xu Chongyuan, and he would survive.

’Just hold on for a moment!’

Wu Qiuyuan lunged forward with all the strength he had ever possessed.

He felt as light as a swallow, his speed far greater than usual.

Glancing back subconsciously, Wu Qiuyuan suddenly saw a very familiar pair of legs.

Just then, an excruciating pain flooded his senses.

Looking down, Wu Qiuyuan discovered that his upper body was no longer attached to his lower body.

THUD!

Wu Qiuyuan’s torso slammed heavily onto the ground, a full ten feet away from his lower half.