Chapter 22: Echoes from the Ancients (Part 2)
"Are you interested in joining the 'Thirteen Moon-Slaying Sect'? One of them died last year, and the position is vacant."
Faced with Xiao Ping's charming smile, Beichen was stunned with his mouth tilted.
“────Huh?”
Xiao Ping just smiled, but was in no hurry to continue speaking, waiting patiently for Beichen to come back to his senses.
Beichen glanced at Atlas, who had an expressionless face, and rubbed his brows with a slight headache:
"That... I'm completely confused. What's going on? Was that the drama on the street just for us?"
"No."
He stretched out his finger and shook it, then winked meaningfully at Beichen.
"I approached you under orders from above because you were a rising star in the Tuling tribe, worth recruiting and exploiting. But I never expected you to get so close to the world we're in contact with."
Beichen, however, was not so easily persuaded by his words: "If we want to win over the people of the Tuling tribe, wouldn't it be better to target Glenshe?"
"Oh, him, there's no need to win him over."
Xiao Peng said this lightly. Beichen thought about it carefully after hearing it: Yes, a being like Rabid Dog Glenshe is unlikely to be used by any organization.
"When did you...start noticing me?"
"Hmm..." Xiao Peng tilted his head and thought for a moment, "I'll have to ask my master about that. But if I were an observer, I'd be able to notice your gait and the aura around you pretty quickly, especially since you're wearing that conspicuous helmet."
“Huh?!”
The original intention was to cover up the face, but this helmet made him more conspicuous?
"Is there anything else you want to ask?"
Xiao Peng still smiled calmly, as if he knew everything.
"There are so many questions. What kind of organization are you? Why are you researching these ruins? And why did you invite me in so easily? How did you get the remains of the previous Red Moon Priestess? And you, since you admit that our previous encounter was a hoax, what's going on with you? Are you really bound by a contract? If so, why would you come to a place like this alone instead of with your partner?"
"That's a very rude question," Xiao Ping said, with a gleam in his eyes that made Beichen shudder instinctively.
"If you're interested in joining, you'll naturally learn what kind of organization we are. For now, just know that we're a group that's against the Red Moon Priestess."
"...against the Red Moon Priestess...?"
"Yes, the organization's rules are that if you encounter someone who is also planning to investigate these ancient ruins, as long as they don't side with the Red Moon Priestess, you should try your best to invite them to join."
Beichen frowned with a complicated expression.
"Then how can you be sure that what I just said is true? What if I am a heretic who wants to resurrect the Red Moon Priestess? Look, I have a possessed Moon Envoy with me."
"Haha, it seems you don't understand what a weapon with the special attribute of 'Charm Spirit Added' is like."
Xiao Ping suddenly narrowed his eyes at her and curled the corners of his mouth dangerously.
"Femme Fatale" - these words instantly popped up in Beichen's mind.
"We are born sociable and can always see through other people's minds with the utmost accuracy. In other words, we have a strong ability to read people's expressions. We can tell if they are lying or if they are sincere when they say something. The spirits will tell us the truth. I misjudged you twice. If I misjudged you again, I will be ashamed to face everyone."
"So you can conclude that I'm not lying?"
The handsome man with a whip smiled and nodded.
"The organization's greatest strengths are its tolerance and freedom. Aside from dripping a drop of blood on the Life-Sharing Crystal to indicate your survival status, attending emergency meetings, and submitting activity reports every three months, there aren't any hard and fast rules. Furthermore, if you encounter difficulties, you can get assistance from other members of the organization."
As he spoke, his smile became more and more like a giant python approaching with its tongue spitting out its tongue - colorful but extremely dangerous.
"As a rule of thumb, as long as they're on the opposite side of the 'Time Destroyer' Red Moon Priestess, we'd welcome not only the humanoid Moon Envoy, but even the Red Moon Priestess herself. ──Ah, or rather, absolutely welcome."
"!?"
Beichen tried hard to suppress her shock, but she was not strong enough and could not help it, so she took a deep breath slowly. Seeing her expression, Atlas, who had been silent, wrapped his tail around her hand with a little worry, while Xiaopeng had a triumphant smile on his face.
"Okay, let me answer your last question."
Regardless of Beichen's confused mood, Xiaoying continued to speak in a lukewarm voice.
"I set up a trap to meet you on the street, as ordered, but traveling alone to this ruin and meeting you was a coincidence. I deliberately left the summoning range of my contractor to investigate this place, naturally wanting to secretly search for something in the ruins without telling my master and contractor."
"—looking for something?"
"Anything will do, as long as it's something valuable—something that can give my words weight."
Beichen was stunned for a while after hearing this, then lowered his head to think for a few minutes, and finally suddenly looked up at him:
"You want to be promoted to the Nine Glory and break free from the constraints of the contract... Is that true? Are you preparing to turn against your master?"
The smile on Xiaoping's lips grew wider.
"It seems that I've said so much to you, you do have some brains."
"—Then why did you suggest I join that 'Thirteen Moon-Slaying Sect'? Isn't that the organization your master belongs to?!"
"Because he's a member of the organization, it would be more troublesome to attack people from the same organization, right? Since I'm planning to leave, I naturally need to find a backer who can compete with me in advance."
Beichen suddenly felt a little bit amused and helpless:
"Don't tell me that the 'backer who can compete' you chose is me!"
Xiao Peng curled his lips and rolled his eyes:
"Why do you think I'm being so honest and telling you everything?"
"But I'm just an ordinary person with average strength!?"
"Your own combat prowess isn't exactly impressive, but you're surrounded by some truly remarkable people, right? Forget about the heinous, corrupt official Darim, who's so obediently staying by your side. The mad dog Glenshe has secretly cared for you, even declaring you his long-lost, fabricated sister. That arrogant 'Frost and Flame Witch' has also approached you. Now, even the humanoid Moon Envoy, synonymous with nightmares in the eyes of the people, is friendly by your side. I may not trust you, but I won't distrust my own judgment."
"……Well."
Beichen twitched his lips: It turns out that my itinerary has long been seen by others.
"Besides," Xiao Peng stroked her long, black, satin-like hair with an elegant movement, "Who do you think is stronger, the lions and tigers... or the deer, who can survive unharmed among the lions and tigers, and even gather them together?"
“…”
Because Xiao Ying's words were too shocking, Beichen stood there in a daze, not knowing how to respond.
"Little witch, you may be far more powerful than you think, but if you don't fully utilize your strengths, you'll be nothing more than an above-average warrior. I find it truly a pity—what do you think? Are you interested in adding a military advisor to your forces?"
After Xiao Ping finished speaking, she looked at Beichen with a confident smile, waiting for her answer.
"etc……"
After thinking for a long time, Beichen was still confused because there were too many questions.
"That's too sudden. I need to think about it. ──By the way, what will you do if I don't agree?"
"I won't do anything. I won't kill you to silence you, nor will I seek revenge," Xiao Peng said, once again revealing that venomous, gentle smile. "But, maybe just for fun, I'll exaggerate the story of you being the Red Moon Priestess and spread it around the capital. That strange giant beast from earlier would also have a reasonable explanation."
"you!!"
Seeing Beichen's face suddenly turn pale, Xiaoping chuckled and waved his hand.
"Just kidding, don't make such a scary face."
...How can this be a joke?!
"Beichen, kill him?"
Seeing Beichen's frightened expression, Atlas spoke softly. Xiaopeng, on the other hand, didn't show any sign of unease at what he said. Instead, he raised an eyebrow at Beichen with interest.
"Beichen? So Yaxiu Tuling isn't your real name. It sounds more like Youyu's. So, it seems like that blonde hair is fake too?"
“…Ugh!!”
Beichen was once again furious: This guy is too cunning! !
"Alright, alright."
Xiao Ping restrained his teasing expression and replaced it with a more serious one.
"I'm serious about my proposal, but even if you don't agree, I won't disclose your affairs unless it's absolutely necessary. I don't want to go against that heartless Darim. Besides, intelligence is my weapon, and I'll naturally use it where it's most effective."
As he spoke, he walked to the stone wall of the platform, walked around the wall, and then returned to his original place. His eyes fell on a stone carved with a strange pattern. Then he lowered his head and placed the object in his hand that looked like a pocket watch against the small gem in the center of the pattern.
Boom boom boom
The stone walls of the huge platform slowly parted, and a long stone staircase extended into the darkness underground.
"I'm going in. You guys take your time to think about it."
As he spoke, he took out a piece of lighting spirit crystal, and then walked into the passage leading to the underground without looking back.
"Ah—wait! Atlas, chase!"
There might be important information in it, and it can’t be taken away by Xiao Ping before then!
Thinking of this, Beichen no longer cared about safety and rushed down with Atlas.
Seeing Beichen catching up, Xiaoying, who had only walked a few steps ahead, simply stopped and waited for them to catch up.
"Is it really okay to catch up without waiting for your own weapons to arrive? They must have been separated from you because of this relic."
“…”
"Forget it," Xiao Peng chuckled, "Then let's put aside those complicated matters for now and cooperate for the time being to investigate this ruins properly."
"Yeah, okay."
Although after meeting him, for some reason, the development of things seemed to be led by him - this made Beichen a little unwilling, but it was indeed better to cooperate at the moment.
Xiao Ying, on the other hand, looked at her in surprise because of her cooperation:
"I say, have you ever thought about killing me to silence me? This guy next to you is far more powerful than me, right?"
Beichen was stunned for a moment, then shook his head.
"It's not that I haven't thought about it, but I thought about it and gave up."
"—Why?"
"What a shame, you are indeed very smart, and a stunning beauty."
For the first time, Xiao Peng's expression showed a slight crack - he really liked the first reason, but the second one was nothing!
Just as Xiao Ping's mouth twitched, Atlas on the side suddenly spoke.
"Beichen, Beichen."
As he spoke, he shook Beichen's hand with his tail as if to seek credit.
"Found it."
"Eh? Atlas, what did you find?"
"he,"
He pointed at Xiao Ying's turned profile, nodded vigorously, and spoke with a righteous (?) look on his face.
"Fox spirit."
“…”
“…”
The long stone walkway suddenly became quiet.
Beichen was frowning, veins popped out of Xiaoying's smiling face, and Atlas still looked at the two of them with a righteous and expressionless look.
"...Um, vixen is used to describe women...right?"
Beichen glanced guiltily at Xiaoying's dark face and explained carefully.
Atlas tilted his head:
"Re-search completed, 'Su Daji'."
"Isn't that still a vixen?!"
"... Then, Mr. Su Daji."
"Just adding a nickname doesn't make her a man!"
“…Shemale.”
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! Don't ever say that word! If we really piss him off, we'll be in big trouble!!"
"Transvestite? Mulan?"
"That's not right!!! The first one makes some sense, but Mulan—Mulan, this is completely backwards, right?!"
"Mian Shou."
"You...what kind of logic is behind the search engine in your database?!"
"Best friend."
“This is completely meaningless!!”
Xiao Ping's face grew darker and darker, until finally he crushed the lighting spirit crystal in his hand with a snap, and the light in the corridor dimmed by half in an instant.
And in this dim light, the beautiful woman with a stunning face showed Beichen a cold, ghostly, vicious and stunning smile.
Then his eyes moved, his red lips parted, and a few words burst out from his mouth:
"Girl, your, big, uncle, sweetheart."
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