Chapter 191 - 190: The Consequences of Going on Strike

Chapter 191: Chapter 190: The Consequences of Going on Strike

The baby ghost failed to get what it wanted and didn’t succeed in stalling for time, so it could only resume its navigation duties sullenly.

After driving for over half an hour, they found another abandoned yellow share-bike on the side of the road.

Gu Qingyin smiled. "The bike’s out of battery. They can’t have gotten far."

Just then, the gears in Liu Ergou’s rusty brain started to turn. "Didn’t we say Chen Ling was in that town yesterday? Why would she get up this morning and take off on a share-bike? Does she know we’re after her?"

Logically, that should be impossible. They had taken special measures to mask their pursuit, the kind that couldn’t even be detected by divination. Unless someone tipped her off.

Liu Ergou narrowed his eyes. His gaze swept past Gu Qingyin, lingered suspiciously on Elder Miao and Miao Yan, and finally settled on the phone being used for navigation.

But he immediately shook his head. ’The father and son both died at Chen Ling’s hands,’ he thought. ’They wouldn’t be so messed up as to help her escape, would they? That makes no sense.’

Pulling his gaze back, Liu Ergou’s eyes met Elder Miao’s. Neither of them spoke for several seconds.

Gu Qingyin raised a hand and waved it between them. "Maybe she had something urgent and had to leave. Our enemy hasn’t even shown her face yet, let’s not start fighting amongst ourselves."

Miao Yan nodded in earnest agreement. "This could be their plan, to make us suspect each other. They’d love it if we started fighting; it would give them more time to get away."

Realization dawned on Liu Ergou, and his expression turned apologetic. "I was being narrow-minded."

Elder Miao shook his head magnanimously. "Form bold hypotheses, then carefully seek proof. It’s understandable."

And just like that, a minor crisis was averted with just a few words.

Gu Qingyin offered a faint smile, her gaze sweeping imperceptibly over Miao Yan’s phone before she leaned back and closed her eyes.

She looked like she was resting, but she was actually deep in thought.

’The possibility of a tip-off is definitely there, and it’s a strong one,’ Gu Qingyin thought. ’But it’s probably not anyone in this car. If I had to suspect someone, Kong Xu is the most likely candidate.’

After all, she already knew that Kong Xu was the type to prioritize romance over his own life.

’But he’s been in our sights the entire time. Huo Yunjing even had him trapped at the hotel. How could he have contacted Chen Ling?’

Gu Qingyin frowned, her thoughts turning to the baby ghost who could sense Chen Ling’s location. ’Did the little guy inherit his dad’s obsessive tendencies? An unconditional attachment to his mother figure?’

’Hmm... It’s very possible.’

Logically, now that she had a suspect, Gu Qingyin should have tried to confirm her suspicions and find proof. But she didn’t feel it was necessary. She wasn’t the one who needed to be in a hurry.

Sure enough, after they finished lunch at a service area and were preparing to get back on the road, their "navigator" went on strike again.

Kong Xu materialized, glanced cautiously at Huo Yunjing, and said meekly, "He’s tired. He’s just a child, after all. He’s not mature and can be a bit headstrong. Why don’t... you all take a break, too?"

Before Gu Qingyin could say a word, Liu Ergou narrowed his eyes. "If we keep resting, when will we ever catch her? You two aren’t doing this on purpose, are you?"

Kong Xu blinked innocently. "I don’t want this either, but the child is genuinely tired."

Huo Yunjing sneered, dissolving into a black mist that shot into Miao Yan’s phone. In the blink of an eye, he dragged the baby ghost out.

The baby ghost kept its eyes shut, playing dead. Huo Yunjing shook it in disgust, then raised his other hand, grabbed the baby ghost’s arm, and tore it off as if ripping a piece of paper.

The baby ghost’s eyes shot open in terror. It saw Huo Yunjing holding its severed arm with a blank expression as a ball of ghost fire erupted from his palm, setting the limb ablaze.

Within seconds, the arm had turned into a ball of pure ghost energy, with no trace of any impurity.

Everyone, humans and ghosts alike, assumed this ball of ghost energy was destined for Huo Yunjing’s stomach. Instead, Huo Yunjing picked up the ethereal mass, examined it, and then abruptly shoved it into the baby ghost’s mouth.

The baby ghost absorbed it instinctively, unable to even spit it out—the ghost energy was too pure, too easy to absorb.

Everyone, human and ghost, was stunned. What was happening?

Huo Yunjing sneered. "You thought I would eat it? What a piece of trash. As if it’s worthy of being my food."

Gu Qingyin couldn’t help but laugh. ’He’s being so dramatic.’

The baby ghost was furious but dared not say a word.

Kong Xu stood frozen nearby, completely at a loss for what to do.

Huo Yunjing raised his hand again, placing it on the baby ghost’s leg. "Still tired?" he asked. "Want another bite?"

The baby ghost was about to explode with rage. ’If I’m tired, I have to eat myself?! What kind of messed-up logic is that!’

Huo Yunjing’s lips curled into a grin, revealing a set of chillingly white teeth. "You should be quite used to the feeling of being eaten. In fact... you must enjoy it, right?"

Why else would you be so eager to help the one who ate you?

The baby ghost glared at him, its eyes dark and sullen. It did not look like it was enjoying this at all.

Huo Yunjing met its gaze, the pressure from his hand gradually increasing. It looked like he was about to twist its leg off, too.

Left with no choice, Kong Xu summoned his courage and stepped forward, offering an appeasing smile. "Please, don’t be angry, sir. Let me talk to him."

Huo Yunjing paused. His eyes swiveled to glance at Kong Xu, and he remained motionless for several seconds.

Kong Xu grew increasingly panicked, fighting the urge to abandon his son and flee.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, Huo Yunjing looked away and released his grip. "One minute."

Kong Xu relaxed, nodding repeatedly. He picked up the baby ghost and moved to the side to talk with it.

Huo Yunjing walked back to Gu Qingyin’s side. The other Heavenly Masters instinctively backed away, putting distance between themselves and him. Huo Yunjing didn’t spare them a single glance.

Gu Qingyin smiled teasingly. "How does it feel to bully a little kid?"

Huo Yunjing chuckled. "Not bad."

Gu Qingyin couldn’t help but curse, "You’re so shameless."

Huo Yunjing shrugged, unconcerned. "As long as it works."

In less than a minute, Kong Xu returned with the baby ghost and announced that they could get back on the road.

Huo Yunjing’s expression was once again blank as he looked down at the baby ghost. "You won’t intentionally give us the wrong directions, will you?"

The others, who were about to get into the car, all turned to look at the baby ghost.

The baby ghost stiffly shook its head. It hadn’t been dead for long; it didn’t want to die a second time so soon.

Huo Yunjing smiled and said in a gentle voice, "Good boy."

Both the baby ghost and Kong Xu couldn’t help but shudder, mentally cursing, ’Psycho!’

Everyone got back on the road. Under the baby ghost’s direction, the car veered further and further off the main road, soon plunging into the deep mountains and ancient forests.

But no one questioned the directions. Chen Ling and Dongfang Ran didn’t have a vehicle; to evade pursuit, heading into the mountains was their only option.

"The road ends here. Let’s get ready to head into the mountains."

Gu Qingyin got out of the car, glanced at the dense jungle, then down at her own sandals and shorts. This wouldn’t do.

"I need to change."

Huo Yunjing immediately created a Ghost Realm to conceal Gu Qingyin. Two minutes later, it vanished.

Gu Qingyin had already changed. She was now wearing cargo pants and hiking boots, with the same form-fitting, short-sleeved shirt, but with the hem tucked into her pants.

Miao Yan’s eyes lit up. ’So convenient,’ he thought. ’When will I ever get a ghost servant that powerful? Sigh, this is the gap between me and my idol.’

They journeyed deep into the dense forest, twisting and turning for nearly two hours, when the baby ghost went silent again.

Before Huo Yunjing could erupt, Kong Xu quickly explained, "He’s not on strike! They’re right up ahead!"