CHAPTER 601: CHAPTER 580 SECOND UPDATE

Ju Nanyi slowly withdrew from the shock in his heart, bit by bit, exiting his own thoughts to return to the present reality, analyzing the differences between this lifetime and the one in his memories. Even if it was destined to be so, did they—those caught in the vortex of fate—have any other choice?

"So, Master Huo Yi just let it happen, let everyone perish, rendering all efforts futile?" Ju Nanyi spoke slowly. After all, they had very few choices to begin with.

If he could choose, he wished he had met Zheng Nianru earlier, before everything was set in stone, before Zheng Nianru had met Zheng Congyuan. He would take her out of the palace and away from all those chaotic thoughts and events.

But, he also had no choice in the matter.

Master Huo Yi gave a bitter smile, looking at Ju Nanyi. Having lived for so long, he was very clear about what Ju Nanyi was thinking at this moment—his youthful vigor, his unwillingness to submit.

However, the insignificance of an individual, the change of a dynasty, in the grand scheme of history, are as trivial as a grain of sand.

So whatever he said was useless, and moreover, he didn’t wish to stay here either. He only wondered whether there was another way to achieve the ending he envisaged.

Yet, it seemed now that Young Master Yin He wasn’t concerned with this either, not even interested in promoting the values of Ghoul Ravine. Thus, it falls to him to come forward. After all, there were still so many commoners, and Qiandao Temple couldn’t just disappear.

"Ghoul Ravine is not to be feared. Even if you don’t deal with them, they won’t last long. The trouble now is how to change the destiny of the Nanzheng Imperial Clan, so that the clan can continue to endure," said Master Huo Yi.

Ju Nanyi looked at Master Huo Yi. In principle, he didn’t believe in things like fate or luck, but ever since he recalled his past life’s memories, he suddenly felt that some events of his previous life must have been predestined to happen this way.

So what exactly were these reawakened memories from his past life urging him to do?

"First, go and take care of a few tasks for me. If these tasks are successful, there’s still a glimmer of hope, and Zheng Congyuan might have a chance at salvation—" Master Huo Yi said, gesturing to Ju Nanyi. Although Ju Nanyi was reluctant to approach and...didn’t really wish to save Zheng Congyuan, he temporarily suppressed the urge to object and listened to Master Huo Yi’s instructions.

...

In the darkness, another group moved in the opposite direction to Ju Nanyi. The three people moved just as quickly, following the patrol teams, and arrived directly at the dwellings where the Disciples of Ghoul Ravine rested.

"Princely Heir, are we at the wrong place?" Gu Dao looked at the numerous disciples and felt his scalp tingle; with so many of them, if they were discovered, escaping would be impossible.

Moreover, the row upon row of houses that looked like dwellings, with Ghoul Ravine disciples coming and going, some changing shifts, some resting—this place didn’t seem like it could hide too many people.

Zong Yunqian also sensed something was off and, after a detailed inspection of the perimeter, still found it unlikely. However, the next moment, he spoke with certainty.

"It should be here. Even if it’s not, this place is closely connected to where those people are held captive," Zong Yunqian almost certainly declared. His intuition was not wrong. As a mage of Qiandao Temple, he could never mistake the aura of his fellow brothers.

And he had confirmed it over and over again—that oh so familiar breath, he was absolutely sure he could not have mistaken it.

However, there was simply no place here for imprisoning people, and the disciples from Ghoul Ravine who came and went had absolutely nothing to do with Qiandao Temple.

Gu Dao and Xi Feng glanced at each other but said nothing more; they naturally trusted their Princely Heir. Moreover, back at the Northern Border, when they were trapped in a snowbound state, it was the Princely Heir who, by following his intuition, managed to find a way out. Had they been careless, they might have been stuck within the snowy peaks’ Maze Formation for years.

"Princely Heir, how about Xi Feng and I distract them while you sneak in?" Gu Dao spoke up, looking at the disciples of Ghoul Ravine constantly coming in and out, and not seeing a better alternative.

But Zong Yunqian disagreed, shaking his head before glancing once more towards the direction of the hillside houses, which probably used to be the residences of the mages from this place.

"We’ll enter from the back mountain," Zong Yunqian said, pointing to the row of houses set against the back mountain. This row was the most remote and had the fewest people, relatively speaking, it was safer.

The trio quickly made their way towards the back mountain and soon reached it; however, the situation was different from what Zong Yunqian had anticipated. At this moment, a group of Disciples of Ghoul Ravine suddenly burst into the last row of houses, zealously pushing their way in. What was originally a queued line had now clumped into a mass, rushing towards the last row of houses.

Zong Yunqian frowned at this sight, the scene before him unexpected.

"Princely Heir—" Gu Dao, seeing this, was about to speak out to stop him, but Zong Yunqian had already gone down, after all, they didn’t have much time left. If they didn’t act now, having passed most of the night with nothing gained—and with these people swarming here, it only further indicated that there was something wrong inside, which they had to check out.

Gu Dao and Xi Feng grew more worried yet followed him down without anyone’s notice.

Soon, they discovered that these people looked somewhat abnormal, as if they were, as if they were leeches sniffing out the scent of blood.

Gu Dao did not know why such a thought suddenly came to him, but he had no time to ponder. Following their Princely Heir, they mixed into the crowd. Those people surged forward without paying them any heed, so Zong Yunqian and his companions became bolder. Zong Yunqian, quick-witted, snatched a few garments from a nearby clothes rack, put one on himself, and threw the rest to Gu Dao and Xi Feng. The three then blended among the disciples of Ghoul Ravine and poured into the house.

Zong Yunqian did not know what he was about to face, only hearing a loud shout from ahead.

"No pushing, line up—one at a time, everyone will get a share—" The voice was strong as a bull’s, and even in the darkness, it carried a deterring force. The line indeed quieted down a bit.

Zong Yunqian looked at Gu Dao and Xi Feng, signaling them to act on their judgment and they scattered with the flow of people. In this way, even if discovered, they would not be captured all at once.

Soon, Zong Yunqian could no longer attend to other matters, for the presence he had felt was becoming increasingly strong. Although Zong Yunqian did not know what it signified, a strong sense of unease had already surged into his heart.

"One at a time, no shoving, and if anyone else pushes, get the hell out," another loud shout came from ahead. Zong Yunqian was getting closer and closer to the entrance now. He knew there was risk involved, but to have a clear view of everything inside, he had to take this risk.

As he got closer, Zong Yunqian heard faint moaning sounds coming from inside the house, which left him puzzled. The people around him were clearly excited, so what was the deal with the moans inside?