Chapter 36: Another Interrogation

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 same 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 moment, he added. I still have some more questions Id like to ask.

Tian Jins expression grew thoughtful, and he seemed to consider it for a few moments before nodding his head. Lan Yue similarly expressed her agreement, 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 alarmed by the sight of the elders corpse, so there was no point in taking needless risks. Something about putting a corpse inside a spatial ring felt wrong, somehow, 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 formed 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 someone 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 tremendously.

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 same 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 Imprisonment Talisman, would he still have informed 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 movements before driving the Radiant Light Sword through his chest. He didnt believe Tian Jin would have interrogated the elder, however. That would mean 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.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

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 Imprisonment 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 meant to be play out could give him an edge, so hed be trying to apply that again in the future. At the same time, however, he wondered how useful itd be, considering they seemed 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 moment.

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 immersed 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 Imprisonment Talisman poking through the waterfall before the rest of the dome passed through the curtain of water. Then, the dome 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.

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 somehow 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 member of the upper echelon of the sect in disguise?

You Lan Yue said, before trailing off.

The inner disciples gaze shifted to her a moment 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 me.

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 moments, 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 time to time, 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 moment of hesitation, opened them again just in time 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 time today he had ordered someones 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.