Chapter 524: Escape the Ghost Realm

Xue Wei followed the branch leader into the conference room. The female ghost he had saved from the caravan was also allowed inside, which surprised her, as she thought that they would be guarded against her.

Seeing that they allowed her inside, she felt perplexed, but a warmth also appeared in her heart. She felt kindness for the first time. This kindness was completely devoid of romantic emotions, it was more like the feeling that a child would have when the parent approved of one, and her heart was full of sweetness.

Xue Wei was not paying attention to the female ghost's reactions right now, as his full attention was on the branch leader. This figure was strong. His strength could not rival Lan when he was at his peak, but it was not much lower than Tao Wu, who was the third strongest expert whom Xue Wei had encountered.

If Lan had not sealed his powers, then this Branch Leader would never pose a threat to them, but now that they were, they had to tread cautiously.

Also, Xue Wei had seen the Whispering Oak Inn's indifference towards the receptionist; he somewhat feared that if he left the female ghost in the foyer, he would return to having seen her being harvested. It was much safer to bring her along.

The branch leader was very curious as to what Xue Wei could offer, but he was even more interested in what they had to provide in return.

He also had a selfish wish, a wish to leave the Ghost Realm.

Every ghost which lived in the Ghost Realm wanted to escape from their cage. While it was a place where they could grow stronger, they were also trapped inside. Their lives were an endless circle of absorbing the souls and spirit liquid of others, and they had no joy in life. It was a struggle to live, and there was no beauty in life.

Everyone who reached a certain strength wished to escape, but the Ghost Realm was amongst the few realms that you could not leave. No matter how much strength you gained, you were incapable of breaking through the formation which covered the Ghost Realm, and transcend to a higher realm.

When the branch leader looked at Xue Wei, he saw a person who was capable of entering the Ghost Realm while still being a living being, and thus he might have a way to bring someone out as well.

While the chances were small, he could not extinguish the hope that was sprouting within him.

Xue Wei sat down in a chair in the conference room and gestured for the female ghost to take a seat by his side. He then took Lan from his shoulders and placed him on the table, and when the three of them were seated, they all focused their attention on the branch leader who sat across the table, looking at them with as much curiosity.

"I noticed your treasure," the Branch Leader started the conversation. "It had an extreme amount of Yin Qi, and I am quite interested in purchasing it. However, I heard your words to the receptionist, saying that you are interested in working together with the Whispering Oak Inn, which made me rather curious."

Xue Wei smiled as he looked at the branch leader. He could sense that this man had something he wanted even more than the herbs and treasures in his possession, but he was unsure what it was, so he did not bring it up.

Instead, he took out the three illustrations he had made and placed them on the table. "I am looking for three ghosts looking like this. I am especially interested in the female."

The branch leader frowned as he reached out and took the three drawings that Xue Wei had made, and as he looked at the three portraits, his pupils dilated, and his eyes widened.

Xue Wei, who was observing his every move, noticed this and narrowed his eyes. It seemed as if this branch leader knew at least one of these figures.

Realizing that his expression was too revealing, the branch leader coughed and turned back to the previous indifference.

"Who are these to you, and why are you looking for them?"

Xue Wei glanced at Lan, who seemed to be excited, and then he opened his mouth to answer. "I think you should have already guessed our origin," he began. "We came here for the sake of looking for these three figures, and we aim to take them back with us."

The branch leader frowned, but only he knew that he was feeling extremely ecstatic. If they had planned on bringing three with them away, then they could also bring him along. However, this was not a decision he could make on his own.

"As you might have realized, I am not foreign to them. In fact, I know two of them, and I can contact them to hear what their thoughts are. The third, I am not aware of who it is, but I can use the Whispering Oak Inn to try and locate the person."

Xue Wei and Lan looked at one another, they could see the disbelief in the other's eyes, and their hearts were beating rapidly. Was there a chance for them to reunite with Li Zhiqing this soon?

"Which two do you know?" Xue Wei asked the question that he knew Lan was dying to ask. He could sense the discomfort, anticipation, fear, and excitement in his body, and he too felt rather excited. He had a limited amount of time within the Ghost Realm, and if he could not locate Li Zhiqing within this time, then he would be in big trouble.

The branch leader noticed the emotions in Lan's eyes, and he felt a little confused. However, he pushed two of the illustrations forward and said, "I know these two."