Chapter 537: Treasuring Strength

It was not that the two of them were unaware of the battle that was likely to happen outside, but they had expected it to be held far away from them. However, it seemed as if the killing intent was creeping closer and closer to their courtyard.

They had to be idiots to ignore such blatant hostility. Even if they had complete faith in the branch leader, they had also understood that this realm was different from the other. Loyalty was scarce, and someone as the branch leader had so many subordinates. It was no wonder if a few of them had made their own plans.

When the youngster pushed open the door into the courtyard, what greeted him was not Xue Wei and Lan deep in cultivation, but the two of them standing in front of him, vigilance was evident within their eyes, and it was clear that they did not trust this man.

The youngster was somewhat stumped. He had thought that he had already been slightly subtle, as no screams or sounds had escaped his victims. He had forgotten that everyone with some cultivation would be sensitive to the dense killing intent in the air.

"Young Master, the branch leader, has asked me to get you to a safe location. Although he is confident in his own abilities, he also knows that there is a chance that unwanted criminals can enter the premises and harm you."

Xue Wei could not help but sneer upon hearing this. It was true that he was somewhat young, but he was no longer naive. Seeing the greed within the young ghost's eye, it was clear that he was actually one of these criminals who wished to benefit from the chaos.

Xue Wei and Lan could not help but glance at one another. The young ghost was not aware of Lan's actual identity. He did not know what this little beast was; all he knew was that it was of a rather big importance. In fact, he was of the impression that this little beast was the reason that the branch leader was so polite to Xue Wei.

He contemplated for some time, but he dared not stay within the branch leader's nest for too long, as he knew that it could bode danger to him. Even so, he did not know what he was expected to do.

Should he bring Xue Wei with him by force, or should he take the gamble, and simply steal the little beast-like thing on his shoulder?

Xue Wei and Lan were somewhat stunned when they saw the hesitation in the ghost's demeanor. Was he not even sure of what to do after he had come this far?

They could not help but sneer slightly. This was somewhat stupid, but it would benefit them. If they could drag out the time, then they should be able to wait for the branch leader to deal with the trouble himself.

It was not that Xue Wei was unwilling to fight, but he was quite realistic. Although he would be able to fight, and likely stall this ghost for some time, he would not be able to defeat him. The energy ripples which erupted from this young ghost showed that he was above his own strength.

Lan was resting lazily on Xue Wei's shoulder. While he seemed very casual, he was alert and focused. He had not been in a dangerous situation for many thousands of years, as the ones who could pose a threat to him in this universe could be counted on one hand, but he was also aware that since he had sealed his strength, things were not as they used to be.

He was no longer the undefeatable deity above all others; he was now just an ordinary beast with a bit of strength.

"Do you plan on giving me up?" Neither Lan nor Xue Wei answered the young ghost. Instead, Lan lazily stretched on Xue Wei's shoulder as he asked the question.

Xue Wei could not help but sneer. "I might not be a good person, but that does not mean that I am willing to sacrifice those who I hold dear."

While he did not answer directly, Lan did not need another answer. He had already known that Xue Wei would never abandon him, and he could not help but feel that although he was now facing a dangerous world, he was much more alive than ever before.

Back when he was young, he had been cultivating with ease. His family was the hegemony in the entire universe; their power and influence could not be compared to anyone else, so it had been a smooth advance.

When he had an argument with his father, and escaped to the world where Xue Wei had originated from, he had already been so strong that no one could pose any sort of danger to him.

As such, these dangerous situations where one was walking on the fine line between life and death were a completely new emotion for him, and he could not help but feel some strange sort of excitement.

At first, he had sealed his strength, as this was a requirement to enter the Ghost Realm and find Li Zhiqing, but now he did not feel that it was such a bad thing to be weaker.

It was not that he was a masochist, but he felt that although he had unmeasurable power, he had never truly understood the struggle and the meaning behind having strength.

Getting something without working hard for it might make one not value it as much, as compared to if they had genuinely fought with all their might to achieve their success.