For so many years, other people saw the Thousand Beast City basking in their glory, and only the core members of the Thousand Beast City knew that they were almost drained and almost spent.
Everytime he saw the Grand Chieftain vexed and tormented late at night, Xiong Ba felt like a knife was cutting at his heart, wishing that he was able to share the Chieftain’s burden.
And now, as long as there was the slightest sliver of hope, they would have to give it a try!
Jun Wu Xie’s eyes lowered as she considered Xiong Ba’s words.
News about the human skin map were highly scarce and for the previous four pieces of the map, Fei Yan had sacrificed blood and tears before he managed to locate two of them, whereas for the other two, one was a unexpected surprise brought about by Fan Zhuo, the other was just something they happened to stumble across. It could be said that every single piece of those maps were highly difficult to search for and now, Xiong Ba had suddenly come up to them on his own and offered news about the fifth map.
However, the situation surrounding the map this time was entirely different.
Those people who have been entrusted with the map before had been highly protective of the maps. But from Xiong Ba’s words, it was not difficult for Jun Wu Xie to surmise that the fifth human skin map had not only not brought the people from the Thousand Beast City any joy, but it had been more of fear panic and death.
If they had a choice, the Grand Chieftain of the Thousand Beast City would definitely not wish for that map which was so highly stained with blood to continue to remain in the city. But the Purple Spirit user who had once been from the Thousand Beast City was like a heavy lock and chains, which tightly bound the Grand Chieftain of the Thousand Beast City, forcing him to have no other choice but to follow orders.
But within all of that, something did not feel right with Jun Wu Xie somehow and she lifted her eyes and looked at Xiong Ba to ask: “I believe your Chieftain is not following the orders of that person only because he fears the power of the Purple Spirit right?”
Although the Purple Spirit was powerful, the Thousand Beast City possessed the Spirit Tamer Bone Flute that was able to control Spirit Beasts and if they really fought to the death with everything they had, using the Spirit Tamer Bone Flute would surely cause the enemy substantially heavy losses. But even after so many years, the Thousand Beast City had not put up any clear show of resistance. If their people were not naturally timid people, then that must mean that that person must be holding some other handle against them.
Xiong Ba was suddenly stumped for words and he was looking rather awkward at that moment. Qu Ling Yue bit on her lip as she stared at Xiong Ba’s perplexed expression. She summoned up her courage and then said to Jun Xie: “Because in the hands of that Great Grandaunt, she holds many people’s life.”
Jun Wu Xie lifted an eyebrow.
“She captured my mother, and many other relatives and family of the Thousand Beast City. If we do not do as she says, she will kill those people.” Qu Ling Yue’s eyes darkened. It wasn’t that her father had not thought of resisting, but her mother and several uncles and aunts were in the Great Grandaunt’s hands. Her father and many people in the Thousand Beast City had no choice but to submit themselves to her back and call and not matter how unwilling they were, they had to do it.
Volume 10
Chapter 950: “The Fifth Map (6)”
“Where did she keep the people she captured?” Jun Wu Xie asked.
Qu Ling Yue shook her head. “It is because we do not know where she had hidden the hostages that father is unable to rescue those people. Great Grandaunt had secretly abducted those people when father showed his unwillingness to continue with carrying out her orders and till today, no one knows where she has imprisoned our people.”
“Then how do you know that those people are still alive?” Jun Wu Xie asked.
“Great Grandaunt will release a batch of people back to the Thousand Beast City every month to see their family, showing that they are still safe. She releases a different batch of people every month and at the end of that month, they will be brought away again. If anyone among those people dares to secretly escape, then she will punish those people who are still imprisoned by killing them.” Whenever Qu Ling Yue remembered the Great Grandaunt’s vicious maliciousness, she would feel chills run through her bones. Her father had not wanted her to be dragged into all of that and had sent her to the War Banner Academy long ago. Although she seldom returned to the Thousand Beast City, at the times that she did, she would always see many things happening that chilled her heart.
“As my father’s child, but am unable to share my father’s burden, but can only continue to see him made to submit to others. I have been useless, I have worked very hard to raise my own spirit power, thinking to bring my mother and the others back….. But….. I am still too weak.” Qu Ling Yue said, her voice growing hoarse as she spoke.
Although she had achieved the War Banner Academy’s top rank in their own Spirit Tournament, she was still gravely inadequate, a cup of water before a burning cart in the face of a Purple Spirit, amounting to nothing!
Jun Wu Xie stared silently at Qu Ling Yue who was weeping softly behind her hands. From Qu Ling Yue’s sobs, she could feel the self admonishment and her refusal to submit.
The feeling one felt when the people most important to them were harmed by others, but due to themselves being too weak, they could do nothing but watch the tragedy unfold, unable to retaliate…..
Jun Wu Xie was no stranger to that.
Back in the most initial period in the Lin Palace, she had felt just like that.
Only difference was that she had been more fortunate then, as the opponents she faced were people from the Lower Realm, while Qu Ling Yue was faced with people from the Twelve Palaces of the Middle Realm!
The disparity between the Middle and Lower Realm was too great and it was completely beyond Qu Ling Yue to be able to turn the situation around.
Jun Wu Xie believed, that the Great Grandaunt that Qu Ling Yue mentioned, must have been roped in by the Twelve Palaces to go to the Middle Realm after she broke through to the Purple Spirit, and had subsequently been entrusted with the human skin map by the Twelve Palaces after that.
But just how hard hearted must one be, to be able to inflict such a blood filled conspiracy upon the people from her own family?
Jun Wu Xie’s brows creased up together and subconsciously thought of the prison in the past, that demonic devil, had also seemed to enjoy such methods as well.
“I can help you.” Jun Wu Xie said finally.
And at the instant that Jun Xie opened his mouth, Qu Ling Yue raised up her head in joy and delight, her face burning with hope, big teardrops running down her cheeks, but her eyes were clear and sparkling.
“Really? You will really help me?” Qu Ling Yue grasped at Jun Xie’s hand excitedly, so agitated that her hands started trembling.
She could think of no other ways anymore and witnessing Jun Wu Xie’s resourcefulness and intelligence had shown her a glimmer of hope.
Jun Wu Xie nodded her head slightly. Even without Qu Ling Yue’s request, when Fei Yan discovers that the Thousand Beast City had one of the maps, they would still make their way there regardless. And with Qu Ling Yue and Xiong Ba’s help, it should make it easier for them to get their hands on that fifth map.
“Thank you! Thank you!” Qu Ling Yue was so agitated she started crying again. Xiong Ba patted her on the shoulder comfortingly and at the same time, he threw Jun Xie an appreciative glance of gratitude..
Volume 10
Chapter 951: “The Fifth Map (7)”
After ascertaining the location of the fifth map, Jun Wu Xie left Qu Ling Yue and Xiong Ba behind in the room to calm their emotions temporarily while she walked out to go into the Immortals’ Loft on her own.
In the inn, Qiao Chu, Hua Yao and the others were still busying themselves as they loaded all their luggages onto the horse carriages.
Fan Jin was thanking the innkeeper for the care he had provided the lot of them for the period. Outside the Immortals’ Loft, the Zephyr Academy’s horse carriages were all ready to go, just awaiting their passengers before they move out.
Qiao Chu saw Jun Wu Xie descending the steps and immediately smiled as his figure shot over to her.
“We’re all packed! And we are ready to embark on our return anytime. Oh right, what did that Qu Ling Yue want from you? I saw her rushing in with that huge bear earlier, looking highly anxious.” Qiao Chu held his arms out, imitating Xiong Ba’s towering body size. Xiong Ba’s enormous and brawny body was enough to be two of Qiao Chu.
Jun Wu Xie said: “We are not returning to the Zephyr Academy.”
Qiao Chu who was smiling exultantly suddenly froze a moment when he suddenly heard Jun Wu Xie’s words, only recovering a couple of beats later.
“What was that? Not going back? Why is that? Don’t tell me….. you really want to remain here to be the Fire Country’s Emperor?” As Qiao Chu said those words, he was feeling that it wasn’t possible at all.
Jun Wu Xie rolled her eyes at him.
“We are going to the Thousand Beast City.”
“Thousand Beast City?” Qiao Chu scratched at his head. “Is it because Qu Ling Yue went to look for you? What did she say to you that could make you change your mind so suddenly?”
[He seemed to remember that Little Xie and Qu Ling Yue had not been that close right?]
“Human skin map.” Jun Wu Xie said those three words curtly.
In an instant, Qiao Chu stiffened, and his eyes grew wide as he stared at Jun Wu Xie.
“What….. What….. What did you say?”
“There’s one in the Thousand Beast City.” Jun Wu Xie went on to say.
Qiao Chu immediately gulped and he looked at Jun Wu Xie with shock on his face.
Fei Yan had not managed to gather any news about the location of the fifth map and he had thought that they would need to spend a few more months before they would have any news about it. In the end…..
They had just managed to secure the fourth map and the fifth one had automatically come knocking on their door?
Happiness came too suddenly!
Qiao Chu found himself suddenly in a slightly flustered!
“Really? Qu Ling Yue said that?” Qiao Chu asked, looking excitedly at Jun Wu Xie.
Jun Wu Xie nodded.
Qiao Chu immediately said: “I’ll go tell Brother Hua and the others to stop packing! We will be going to the Thousand Beast City! Immediately! Right away! Anytime you want!” After saying that, Qiao Chu immediately darted off to inform the other companions that there was a change in their itinerary, and he briefly shared with all of them what Jun Wu Xie had told him.
That piece of news, came as a great surprise to Hua Yao and the others. They immediately threw down the luggages in their hands and quickly dragged Jun Wu Xie into Fan Zhuo’s room where the six companions squeezed inside together, shutting the door tightly behind them, breaking into a barrage of questions to get a complete picture of what was happening.
Jun Wu Xie briefly repeated the words that Qu Ling Yue and Xiong Ba had told her earlier to Hua Yao and the others, and told them all about the current situation in the Thousand Beast City.
Having heard news about the fifth portion of the map had indeed gotten the companions stirred. But not long after, the excitement subsided and they regained their usual calm.
“You are saying that not just the map is in the Thousand Beast City, but there are also people from the Twelve Palaces?” Hua Yao asked with his brows furrowing up together, the memory he had in his mind when they encountered the people from the Twelve Palaces wasn’t too pleasant.
Jun Wu Xie nodded.
The Great Grandaunt that Qu Ling Yue had mentioned, sounded like she stayed within the Thousand Beast City permanently, to oversee the search for the Dark Emperor’s tomb. If they went to the Thousand Beast City just like that, they would be pitted against the opponent very quickly!
Volume 10
Chapter 952: “The Fifth Map (8)”
“About how many people does the enemy have?” Hua Yao asked cautiously. This was not the first time that they had still insisted to make their way towards a location even when they knew that there were people of the Twelve Palaces present.
“Qu Ling Yue wasn’t too clear about that. Besides that Great Grandaunt, there were roughly about three others permanently stationed there in the Thousand Beast City, and whether there are any others there, is uncertain.” Jun Wu Xie said.
“Openly, there are already four of them.” Fei Yan quipped, rubbing at his chin, trying to gauge how much danger they will be walking into, into the mission this time.
“It is not as bad as we might have thought. The people from the Twelve Palaces, are not just our enemies this time. They are also the enemies of the people in the Thousand Beast City. As long as we can ensure the safety of the people that have been abducted, everyone in the Thousand Beast City will be glad to lend us a hand.” Jun Wu Xie said as her eyes narrowed. The hatred the people of the Thousand Beast City held against the Twelve Palaces might not be any less than the companions. As their family members were in the hands of the enemy, they had no other choice but to follow their orders.
But once their family members were freed, why would they allow themselves to continue to be subjugated?
“Looks like this time, we will still have to depend on your little head as well.” Once Qiao Chu heard Jun Wu Xie said that, he immediately remembered all that had happened right here in the Fire Country. Although they knew that all their powers were still incomparable to the people from the Twelve Palaces, but they have the both well skilled and highly resourceful Jun Wu Xie on their side!
“Then let us give it a try this time, and use these few people from the Twelve Palaces as a trial for us. We are bound to have to face them sooner or later anyway.” Fan Zhuo said with a smile. Back at the Zephyr Academy, they had already had a taste of what it was like, and they did not fear giving it another shot!
“Heh heh, but there is one thing that I would like to ask Little Xie about.” Qiao Chu said suddenly, an utterly shameless and despicable smile coming onto his face.
Jun Wu Xie glanced at him and said: “Speak.”
“Err….. That Big Brother Wu Yao….. when is he coming back?” Qiao Chu asked, blinking his eyes innocently. In actuality, towards Jun Wu Yao, Qiao Chu held so much admiration for him that it bothered on worship. If Jun Wu Yao was able to join them, then those few people from the Twelve Palaces wouldn’t be a worry. Even if their numbers doubled, they wouldn’t be able to even pose a threat to them.
Sometimes, they would really become very curious, just where had Jun Wu Yao really come from, that he became so powerful that even people from the Twelve Palaces would be put in a situation that they would not stand a chance of surviving under his hands.
Jun Wu Xie stiffened, never expecting that Qiao Chu would suddenly mention Jun Wu Yao.
Since Jun Wu Yao last departure, quite a long period had passed. She had thought that he would return after a few days but as time pushed on, she began to realise that he must have gone missing once again.
“Certain things, require us to do it ourselves.” Jun Wu Xie said, lowering her eyes. Not knowing the reason why, when Qiao Chu had just mentioned Jun Wu Yao, an indescribable feeling had come into her chest, which made her feel some discomfort in her heart.
“Cough. I was just saying that. Do not take it to heart. I know that. To exact the vengeance we seek, we will finally have to do it ourselves. Only like this, would it be considered a proper and satisfying revenge.” Qiao Chu immediately said. It wasn’t that he wanted to ride on his coattails, but it was just that Jun Wu Yao had become a person he deeply admired.
Sensing that Jun Wu Xie’s mood suddenly didn’t feel right, Hua Yao and the others did not continue to say anything much else about it but split up to go make their own prep
arations, to change their next destination to the Thousand Beast City!
Jun Wu Xie had remained behind in Fan Zhuo’s room while Hua Yao went to discuss it with Qu Ling Yue and Xiong Ba.
Fan Jin was happy seeing that they were about to return to the Zephyr Academy but he was suddenly informed by Fan Zhuo that they would be not able to go back together with him. Fan Jin merely smiled and did not say much but only to remind Fan Zhuo to take good care of himself.
Volume 10
Chapter 953: “Retribution (1)”
Fan Jin was feeling happy seeing that they were about to return to the Zephyr Academy but he was suddenly informed by Fan Zhuo that they would be not able to go back together with him. Fan Jin merely smiled and did not say much but only to remind Fan Zhuo to take good care of himself.
After Qu Ling Yue and Xiong Ba received a definitive answer, they returned to the inn they were staying at to get themselves prepared.
When Fan Jin was to set forth on the return journey towards the Zephyr Academy alone, he bade farewell to Jun Wu Xie and the others and got into the horse carriage. He stared at the several attractive looking faces and a bitterness surfaced beneath his smile. He knew deep down that he was different from all the companions afterall.
He gathered his emotions to compose himself and pulled himself together. He was determined to get the Zephyr Academy back on track and to be better than it had been before when Fan Zhuo returned, in order to not shame his little brother!
Two of the horse carriages from the Zephyr Academy convoy remained behind. There had only been three of them when they came here and only one departed from the place alone now.
Lei Chen was persistently trying to get Jun Xie to talk to him at the Immortals’ Loft but he was repeatedly snubbed and ignored, making Lei Chen so frustrated he almost wanted to scratch his nails against the walls!
Genius Doctor: Black Belly Miss Volume 10 Page 14
