Chapter 446: 少年路轲

It was a rainy day.

The sky was dim, and rain poured outside the tents.

The fenced area was vast, but there were only a few tents, and they were utterly deserted inside. It was clearly meant to be a significant military base, yet there wasn't a single guard. It seemed as if none were needed at all.

Thump, thump, thump!

From a great distance, a figure in red came sprinting through the rain. By their appearance, it was a young man.

“Lu Ke is here?”

Lan Ling, one of only two figures in the main tent, was seated at a wooden table. She was a woman in red, currently studying the massive array disk on the table with a furrowed brow.

“Indeed.”

Xin retracted his gaze from the window. He too looked at the oversized array disk on the table. This device not only took up most of the tabletop horizontally but also stood over half a person's height. It had a thirty-six-layered nested structure. Xin admitted that just one glance made him feel dizzy. He truly wondered how these Spirit Array Masters could study such things without… going bald?

“Any progress?” Xin asked, running a hand over his bald head.

“It's about the same.” Lan Ling pushed back a strand of hair from her forehead, lifting her face with a furrowed brow. It was a beautiful face with exquisite makeup, a refined nose, slender eyebrows, and skin as fair as snow. The only slight imperfection was that even with a considerable amount of blush on the outer corners of her eyes, her dark circles didn't seem to be entirely concealed.

“So, there's always a price to pay…” Xin felt a slight comfort in his heart.

Lan Ling took a sip of water to moisten her throat before asking, “Are Shou Ye and the others still not back?”

“They should be soon.” Xin paused abruptly as he spoke. “Spreading the word across more than ten prefectures and hundreds of cities near the White Cavern in just a few days requires considerable effort. Speaking of which…” Seeing Lan Ling's gaze on him, he continued, “We've given them the Exquisite Stone and included stowaways… With such obvious bait, will anyone really bite? Are they all that foolish?”

“With us here in the extradimensional space, not even a mosquito can fly in, you know.” At his words, Lan Ling let out a soft laugh and rose, bowing slightly. Her red robe suddenly accentuated her figure perfectly—what should have been prominent wasn't, what should have been concave wasn't; it was utterly plain and unremarkable.

Xin's face remained impassive; like an ancient monk, he watched Lan Ling breathe out, waiting for her reply.

“Isn't it better for the bait to be obvious?” she asked. “If it were truly a flawless plan, the strategists of those major families and powers might actually be able to deduce something. But precisely because it's obvious, everyone can see the temptation. There are loopholes, so people will investigate them thoroughly, won't they?”

Lan Ling adjusted her red robe, pausing before continuing: “But what if they investigate in the wrong direction? Currently, everyone's time and energy are limited. By the time they discover their mistake, they'll be unable to turn back. And if they don't realize anything at all, by the time they feel their analysis is complete, they'll have fallen into the trap. Don't you agree?” Lan Ling walked to the window, extending a slender hand to touch the drizzling raindrops outside.

“I see.” Xin's eyes swiveled in confusion. “This is a strategy.”

“Mhm.” Lan Ling gazed at the sprinting figure in the distance and asked, “How many layers can you see?”

“Heh, this is impressive.” Xin chuckled confidently. “This time, with your explanation, I can see the third layer. One layer is the bait, another is our setup, and then there’s one more…” He chuckled, lowering his voice. “I know you brainy types definitely have another layer where, even if someone figures it out, their final conclusion will still be wrong.” He raised an eyebrow, as if inviting praise. “I'm right, aren't I?”

“You are.” Lan Ling nodded with a smile. From the start, she hadn't intended to explain everything thoroughly to this simple-minded, brawny fellow. Misleading him… well, simply fobbing him off was enough. She could explain it clearly, but the crucial point was that if he heard the entire plan, he would surely become even more confused.

To be able to see this layer… Honestly, it was truly good. After all, simply not regressing was progress in itself.

“Leaving aside the major families and powers for now, how many Ghost Beast Hosts have been found in the past few days?” Lan Ling asked.

Xin's expression turned serious. He pulled out a pile of jade slips from his ring and clattered them onto the windowsill. “Quite a few. There are seventeen suspected ones, and we're still monitoring them.” He casually picked up one of the jade slips. “Data, want to see?”

Lan Ling shook her head. “What about your intuition?”

Within the Red Robes, each person had their specific duties, and the division of labor was extremely clear. She was responsible for overall planning and arrangement; matters of combat were surely handled by others. Xin, however, was a unique existence. While he could indeed identify suspected Ghost Beast Hosts using the Red Robes' verification methods, only those truly in the know understood Xin's absolute ability: intuition! As if a born nemesis, this guy could tell which one was a Ghost Beast Host just by intuition, even without verification. Such an absurd, cheat-like ability should have been impossible within a rigorous organization like the Red Robes. Yet, countless past battles had verified just how terrifying Xin's intuition was. This guy's accuracy, simply by visual discernment, even reached sixty percent!

“Sixty percent…” Every time Lan Ling thought of this, she found it somewhat terrifying. How terrifying were Ghost Beast Hosts! Even using the Red Robes' methods, they could only reach close to sixty percent when first searching within extradimensional spaces. In the human world, with Ghost Beast Hosts who had learned to hide, the Red Robes' methods only yielded an accuracy of seven or eight percent. Not even ten percent. Let alone sixty!

“As for my intuition…” Xin hesitated, then set aside the other jade slips, leaving only four.

“Four Ghost Beasts?” Lan Ling's pupils constricted. This number was unexpected. Not too few, but too many! After all, in most operations, their target was usually just one.

Xin nodded. “Yes, this time, the situation is likely a bit grim. The entity inside the White Cavern, despite such a fierce campaign last time, still managed to escape. That shows just how terrifying its power is. The Xu Yue Ash Palace would absolutely not let such a powerhouse go. I can even be sure, without thinking, that they will send someone to make contact. And with the White Cavern opening this time, as its home space, that sealed entity is bound to return. Perhaps even before the White Cavern opens, these two sides will sense each other and make initial contact.”

Lan Ling was silent for a moment. She had anticipated this situation; it wasn't unexpected. However, being anticipated didn't mean it wasn't thorny. On the contrary, if these Ghost Beast Hosts formed an alliance before the White Cavern opened, the Red Robes' mission would become even more difficult.

But… A corner of Lan Ling's lips curled up. This time, their objective wasn't simply to hunt Ghost Beasts either.

“Within the Eight Palaces?” She suddenly uttered the term.

Shock appeared in Xin's eyes. “As expected of Sister Lan Ling, you're truly brilliant! I haven't even said…”

“The main point.” Lan Ling tapped on the windowsill.

“Oh, right.” Xin immediately became serious. “Indeed, most of these individuals have appeared in the Eight Palaces, but currently, there have been no movements of contact. I've been watching closely, don't worry. Once there's any inexplicable interaction, then…”

Lan Ling suddenly interrupted, “Then there's no need to act rashly.”

“Hm?” Xin asked, startled, “Why not?”

“A strategy.” At Lan Ling's simple two words, Xin suddenly understood.

“Alright, so we still follow the original plan and let them all enter the White Cavern no matter what?”

“Yes.” Lan Ling paused for a long time before adding, “Including the cultivators from the major families and powers, as well as the stowaways.”

Xin frowned. He had always felt that the latter two were unnecessary. But…

“A strategy?”

“A strategy.”

“Alright…” He reluctantly picked up one of the jade slips. With a flick of his hand, a light screen appeared in the air. On the screen was a woman in a white dress, her face unclear, but the small bronze censer she held in her right hand was very distinctive.

“Xu-crafted item.” Lan Ling's gaze quickly fixed on the small bronze censer.

“Right.” Xin said, “Theoretically, she shouldn't be so obvious, but…”

“Remember her aura, watch out for disguises, and the sudden disappearance of characteristic movements. Don't be fooled,” Lan Ling stated decisively.

Xin's expression showed understanding. “Oh, right, it could indeed be like that.”

“No problem, I know.” He patted his chest, assuring her.

“Your subordinates know,” Lan Ling added with a faint, charming smile, completing his sentence.

Xin's face instantly darkened. Indeed, his task was to fight on the front lines once a Ghost Beast Host was confirmed. All matters of identification and judgment were others' work.

“Cut me some slack…”

“Next.” Lan Ling didn't waste any time.

Xin didn't proceed to the next one; instead, he pointed at the light screen and said, “I suspect she's the one we fought before.”

At this, Lan Ling's small gesture of tapping the windowsill froze. She seemed to relive the sight of the Red Robes, utterly exhausted and powerless, collapsing everywhere after that prolonged battle. The sealing power at that time was truly terrifying! Had it not been for the power of the small world's rules, it would have been difficult for any of them to even survive. Even so, the number of Red Robes who died in that battle was still considerable.

“Are you sure?” A tremor even entered Lan Ling's voice.

“Not certain.” Xin shook his head. “It's too obvious. This woman has attacked several times, and each time, her sealing power was very distinct. It makes me doubt if it's really the one we fought.”

Lan Ling lowered her eyelids, lost in thought. “Keep a close eye on her.” She didn't make a definitive conclusion.

“My… subordinates know.” Xin nodded. He put down that jade slip and picked up the remaining three. “Besides the one just now, there are three other individuals who look very strange; I estimate none of them are simple.” With a wave of his hand, three men appeared on three light screens.

“Utterly unremarkable…” Lan Ling murmured. Just by looking at these screens, she indeed found it difficult to discern anything.

“Yes, they are indeed utterly unremarkable.” Xin glanced at her from head to toe and said, “I can keep an eye on these few, but you might need to pay closer attention to the one suspected of using sealing power. Also…” He paused, his hand hesitantly reaching for a fifth jade slip.

“A fifth one?” Lan Ling's heart tightened. Wasn't this number simply too high this time?

“Not sure.” Xin hesitated. “There's absolutely nothing to discern about her. I'm truly just relying on intuition. But if she truly is a Ghost Beast, then she must have been specially trained by the Xu Yue Ash Palace; she's too well-hidden…”

“Stop dawdling.” Lan Ling cut him off, flicking her hand directly, and a light screen appeared. If it weren't for his intuition, she wouldn't even want to look!

With just one glance, Lan Ling's eyes went wide. On the light screen appeared a woman in a grey robe with an extremely voluptuous figure. It was evident that if such a loose grey robe were worn by herself, one could certainly hide another person in the front. Yet, on this woman, there were even lines that only appear when clothing is stretched taut!

“This…” Lan Ling stared blankly for a while, then declared decisively, “She must be a Ghost Beast!”

Xin: “…” He knew that the appearance of this woman might be a blow to Sister Lan Ling, but surely it wasn't just that, right?

“That's too much. The Red Robes shouldn't act out of pique.”

“A woman's intuition!”

“Your intuition is unreliable.”

“But yours is reliable!”

Xin: “…” He silently dismissed the light screen. “I'll keep an eye on her.”

“Keep a very close eye on her!” Lan Ling was reluctant to let go.

“Master Xin, Sister Lan Ling!”

With a whoosh from the window, the figure in red, who had been sprinting through the rain, finally darted through the window with a shout. The rainwater, flung by the momentum, immediately splattered across the floor, even splashing quite a bit onto the thirty-six-layered nested spirit array.

Lan Ling wrinkled her refined nose. “Can't you be more careful?”

“Heh heh.” The young Lu Ke showed an apologetic smile on his face, but it lasted only a moment before he retorted, “I don't have powerful spiritual energy like you two, and I can't fly, so of course, I can't repel the rainwater!”

“You can't fly with a sword?” Xin slapped the guy on the head.

“Ouch.” Lu Ke hunched, clutching his head. “Flying with a sword, isn't it cold? I'm not going to do that!”

Both: “…”

What a ridiculous thing to say! However, this guy truly had no spiritual energy, so there was no refuting him.

“Your existence is an insult to the reputation of the Moonless Sword Immortal.” Xin rolled his eyes.

“It's fine, it's fine. My master still likes me very much, and he even said he'd come to see me when the White Cavern opens,” Lu Ke chuckled.

“Come?” Lan Ling and Xin were startled. “Your master is coming?”

“Uh…” Lu Ke was taken aback by their strong reaction. “I… I'm not entirely sure either. He just said it was possible.”

“Why?” Xin slapped his forehead. “That can't be right. It's just a mere White Cavern. Why would the Moonless Sword Immortal come here?”

“Maybe it's because of the ‘Four Swords’?” Lu Ke speculated, “After all, he also fought Eight Venerable An back then. If he could get his hands on the Four Swords, it would be a pretty good outcome.”

Lan Ling and Xin exchanged glances, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes. This might be the only junior in the Eastern Domain who dared to call the Eighth Sword Immortal by name. Such a disrespectful address, even they themselves wouldn't dare utter lightly! But then again. He had the qualification.

“It shouldn't be just for the Four Swords.” Lan Ling paced for a while, pondering, “If your master were to come, then the White Robes under his command would certainly make a move too. But what would it be? Would it require the Moonless Sword Immortal to come personally?”

A sudden thought sparked in Xin's mind. “The Saint Servants?”

Lan Ling's steps faltered. She slowly turned back, surprise evident in her eyes. “Since when did your brain start working so well?” She clapped her hands once. “That's right, haven't the Saint Servants caused a huge stir at the Heavenly Mulberry Spirit Palace recently? According to the report the Spirit Palace Dean submitted to the Holy Divine Palace, it seems even ‘Beheading Dao’ appeared. Perhaps the free-range policy back then truly turned into raising a tiger to cause trouble?”

“But still, just ‘Beheading Dao’ wouldn't be enough to warrant this!”

Lu Ke felt uneasy upon hearing this. He crouched down and said, “I only said it was possible, it's not definite yet. Don't make wild assumptions.” He truly feared that if his master didn't come, these two individuals in front of him would metaphorically roast him over a fire. After all, there was a precedent.

“Perhaps it's not just about the recent events caused by the Saint Servants either.” Xin, receiving praise, didn't become complacent but continued to speculate, “After all, this is the White Cavern. The 'Sleeveless Red Scorched Hand' from back then seems to have been cultivated here. If I recall correctly, many years ago, the Moonless Sword Immortal's only failure was at that Saint Servant stronghold destroyed in the Central Domain, right? Their second-in-command escaped. At that time, Shou Ye, that fellow, was still a subordinate of the Moonless Sword Immortal, wasn't he?”

Lu Ke froze. Senior Shou Ye was once his master's subordinate?

“Interesting, interesting…” Lan Ling listened intently, then suddenly reacted. “You're not yourself today; why are you so clever?”

“Heh heh, I'm not stupid; it's just that you two are too smart,” Xin grinned, amused.

“You're acting strangely.” Lan Ling narrowed her eyes and suddenly said, “Three-seven-two-six-four-five-one!”

“Uh.” Xin's smile instantly froze. This needs verification too? *I really am not stupid!* He said helplessly, “Four-four-eight-six-six-nine-six.”

“Pfft!” Lu Ke, off to the side, couldn't help but snort with laughter. Suspected of Ghost Beast possession because he was too smart? Master Xin was still too stupid after all!

Before his smile could be hidden, Xin glared fiercely at him, giving him a hard shove on the shoulder that made him wince in pain. “Three-three-two-two-one-one-one!”

Lu Ke: “…”

“What did I do wrong that I need to be verified too?”

“You just came back from outside,” Xin glared at him.

“One-one-two-two-three-three-nine.” Lu Ke grew sullen.

Every time he recited the 'Life Mantra,' he always found it incredibly embarrassing. Although, thanks to the seal imposed by Dao Qiongcang, the current Hall Master of the Holy Divine Palace, using his strongest Heavenly Secret Art, even a Demi-Saint couldn't break or read the 'Life Mantra' deeply hidden within the Red Robes' souls. But the content of this setup…

“Why couldn't Uncle Dao have chosen a grander command when creating this 'Life Mantra' instead of just numbers?” Lu Ke lamented helplessly.

“As long as it's effective, isn't it fine?” Seeing that the guy wasn't possessed by a Ghost Beast either, Xin immediately grumbled. “What do you need us for?”

Lan Ling parted her lips slightly. “Surely you didn't sprint all the way here just to complain, did you?”

At this question, Lu Ke's previously jovial expression suddenly grew serious. As he fell silent, the two in the tent also became quiet. The drumming of rain outside the window suddenly seemed quite noisy.

Lan Ling's gaze sharpened. Could this kid have discovered something else?

“Why are you letting those innocent people into the White Cavern?” Lu Ke finally spoke.

Just as expected. Lan Ling instantly understood. Lu Ke was not like Xin; this guy's comprehension was exceptional, or he wouldn't have been taken as a disciple by the Moonless Sword Immortal. However.

“Your rank is not high enough; you have no right to know,” Lan Ling said coldly.

“Sister, I saw it!” Lu Ke's words were filled with righteous indignation. “What is that beneath the Thirty-Six Heavenly Sealing Array?”

“You have no right to know.”

“The Grand Dragon's Blood Altar, that's a Heaven Sacrifice, a Heaven Sacrifice!” Lu Ke sneered, “Do you really think I don't know? I saw that thing from Uncle Dao when I was a child. But how can you use it in the White Cavern? That's not something meant for people!”

Lan Ling's eyes darkened. So he had recognized it from his childhood. “You have no right to know,” her reply remained cold.

“I…” Lu Ke was choked up.

Xin was also confused by their conversation. “What Grand Dragon's Blood Altar? What Heaven Sacrifice?” He was about to speak when Lan Ling stopped him with a gesture.

“Xin, escort him out.”

“I'm not leaving!” Lu Ke shouted angrily, “Those people are innocent; they can't die! The blood on a Red Robe should only come from Ghost Beasts!”

Xin's motion to escort him froze. He truly wasn't stupid. Lu Ke's doubts, he had just asked them himself, and Lan Ling's answer was 'a strategy'. So, was this the strategy?

“Extreme measures?” Xin's shoulders slumped slightly, as if his entire body had become powerless. Was it time to resort to extreme measures again? But then again, it truly was! That sealed Ghost Beast, that Grey Mist Figure—without extreme measures, the Red Robes' combat strength, or even a human wave tactic, simply couldn't overwhelm them.

Lu Ke was still shouting something loudly in his ear, but Lan Ling remained silent. Xin, however, gently turned his head and looked out the window. The sky was still dim, and the rain continued to fall. Even the air was slightly cold.

Sometimes, Xin would also wonder if the Red Robes were truly righteous. This thought had first emerged when he participated in an extreme operation. But upon seeing the common people who had died tragically under the Ghost Beasts' rampage, his sense of compassion still told him that he indeed needed to do more.

“Ultimately, it's just a lack of strength. If I could instantly kill Ghost Beasts, if I could… what need would there be for extreme measures?” In Xin's mind, the sole remaining head of a captain from after that extreme operation appeared. His neck was still spurting blood at the time, but his words were unforgettable. “Justice, after all, always comes at a price.”

Yes. Xin clenched his fists and squared his shoulders. Without the sacrifice of a few, where would true peace come from?

“Master Xin!” His memories shattered. Lu Ke's roar reached him. “Say something! You taught me that the blood on a Red Robe should only come from Ghost Beasts!”

“Xin.” Lan Ling said only one word.

Xin looked at the fiery, red-faced youth, as if seeing his younger self. Once, he too had such a firm and resolute belief. But after the extreme operation, everything shattered. However, his belief became even more resolute!

“Lu Ke, you need to leave.” Xin picked up the young man and walked towards the tent entrance.

Lu Ke stiffened completely. He could tell that Master Xin also understood something. But why didn't he stop them?

“Master Xin!” Xin tossed Lu Ke onto the ground. The rain poured down, drenching the youth once again.

“You're wrong!”

“You're wrong…” Lu Ke's anger seemed to have grown cold, transitioning from a roar to helpless murmurs, shaking his head uncontrollably.

Xin closed his eyes, also letting the rain wash over him. It seemed as if this could cleanse all sin.

“Go.” He finally waved his hand and, with a rare explanation, offered: “You're still young; you wouldn't understand.”