Martial Peak

Chapter 6120, Escape (4)

Author: Silavin

“Oh? We are safe here?” Yang Ji’s first words were met with cold glares from Hong Jun and Xing Ting.

Hong Jun did not want to waste time and directly said, “speak. What are your conditions to work with us wholeheartedly?”

Yang Ji, a little taken aback by the level of hostility from those two, went silent for a moment before speaking, “First, I want to know about what you are planning. No private talks without me. The whole way, I didn’t even know where you two are dragging me.”

Xing Ting looked at Hong Jun, wondering what decision he would make. It was not that much of a condition, so she would accept this in a heartbeat. However, Hong Jun was different.

And indeed, Hong Jun flatly refused. “No. What use is there for you to know? Planning to escape from us? I’ll give you no chance to do so.”

Yang Ji raised his index finger and started shaking it. “Escape, maybe, but what’s the use if I still have this seal on me? So, my second condition is for you to release my seal once this is over, so that I can leave and we can permanently part ways. As for why I want to know your plans, that’s because I know this area far better than you do.”

When he said those words, Yang Ji could not help but gulp a little. Honestly, everything he said was something Wu Lun had directed him to say. Otherwise, how was it possible for him to know about this place?

Hong Jun sneered, “You? What could you possibly know? Someone with no cultivation could not possibly have even entered this black market without us.”

Yang Ji wiggled his finger even more aggressively, though his expression remained a little stiff. “Hey, I think you are mistaking something here. There is no law saying that ordinary Mortals cannot enter this black market. In fact, because I’m Mortal, I am able to do things and see things you cultivators cannot. After all, why would a cultivator ever need to be wary of a Mortal? You guys basically have us by the necks.”

Hong Jun rolled his eyes, not believing any of this. “Your eyes when you’ve first entered are akin to the Young Mistress when she visits a new place. Yet, you dare to blatantly say that you know this place better than us?”

“If you don’t believe me then sure, but know that even this place isn’t safe.” Yang Ji stated and pointed outside, towards the entrance where they had entered from. “This underground market has multiple entrances and exits. Nine of which are known to the public. In short, you should only be aware of nine entrances, since the rest are not accessible to the public.”

This information made Xing Ting’s eyes widened, while Hong Jun remained impassive.

Yang Ji, seeming some reaction at least, relaxed a fraction more, and pointed out, “The people chasing after you, there are not a ton of them right? They should also be here for the first time. So, the information they have is the same as yours. If you want to escape from their clutches, I’m the only edge you got.”

“Preposterous.” Hong Jun still denied accepting Yang Ji’s terms. “Even if you do know how many exits there are, that’s not enough of a reason to listen to you.”

Yang Ji quickly cut in, “Sure, but what if I know of an entrance that you do not know about? I did say that there are more than nine.”

“In that case, it’ll be easier to torture it out of you.” Hong Jun had enough up till this point but Yang Ji’s next words made his raised hand freeze in place.

“You’ll fail if you continue on like this.” Yang Ji spoke up, a little nervous as sweat rolled down his back. “You plan on buying time here, in the black market, right? That is a fool’s choice. The black market is where information gets sold at a price. If they want to find you, and you are here in this den of unlaws, you are basically free picking.”

Hong Jun thought it over for a moment and narrowed his eyes. “What do you know?”

“I know that you’ve picked this place because you believe that the Array here would be able to confuse whatever device is being used to track me. But that’s a foolish hope. The moment we enter the black market, they are aware of our presence here. In fact, they should have already figured out your plan. If you were them, wouldn’t you send your men to station themselves at every entrance? Also, while they might not be able to track us using the device within the black market, they can have others do that for them.” Yang Ji said and pointed at Hong Jun.

“Conflicts might not be allowed in the black market, but who is to say that the same thing that happened in the inn will not happen here again? Besides, this is the black market. If something is profitable enough, I’m sure someone would be willing to cross certain lines.” Yang Ji openly stated, as though he was certain of it.

Hong Jun thought for a moment and reluctantly agreed with Yang Ji’s assessment. Prejudice had not blinded him enough to make him accept false hope. Yang Ji had actually pointed out what he was worried about.

However, unable to bring himself to ask, Hong Jun looked at Xing Ting, hinting her to do it instead.

The woman was quick to pick up the cue and she asked, “In that case, do you have any plans?”

“If it were me, I would only stay at the black market to load up on supplies to help with battles or escape. Afterwards, take one of those ships heading out of the city. Of course, the ship needs to be well protected, and from another Force that your Hong Clan would not dare to provoke.” Yang Ji stated. “As for the shops I recommend, there is the shop by the corner, another shop two streets behind and a shop quite a distance away but it possibly has the best stuff in the market without going through an auction.”

Naturally, all these shops were picked by Wu Lun. Yang Ji did not even know what he was saying at this point. He was just pointing in the direction Wu Lun told him to point towards and went off describing what Wu Lun said to him.

Still, it apparently worked. Xing Ting looked at Hong Jun and questioned, “Sir…”

Hong Jun’s eyes narrowed. He inspected Yang Ji once more. He could clearly feel that this young man was more than meets the eye. A mere Mortal, an Lower Realm being at that, yet he dares to act so impudently. Hong Jun could tell that not all of Yang Ji’s words were true. Some of it was said with hints of nervousness, which others might not be able to pick up with their naked eyes but Hong Jun had his Divine Sense on the boy the entire time.

Still, it was indeed true that they were basically trapped within the black market right now. The noose around their neck was tightening, and Hong Jun did indeed need to find a way to counter this.

There was one point Yang Ji had not said, but something Hong Jun clearly knew, which was that the black market naturally held blessings from the city to exist. Even with its rules, this black market would still bow down to pressure from the city.

If ‘they’ could move Liu Sang Hu, then who else within the city might they move?

Even if this boy’s words might not be all true, he could take the time to verify them first. It was indeed not a bad idea to take stock of the items they have at their disposal.

Seeming to make up his mind, Hong Jun gave a snort and drew Runes once more, which separated themselves into three. One Rune was obviously larger than the two, and this large one was directly injected into Yang Ji with a move of Hong Jun’s finger. Meanwhile, the other two were taken by Hong Jun and Xing Ting.

“Xing Ting, go.” Suddenly, without an explanation, a voice could be heard ringing in Yang Ji’s ears. This was a different sensation from Divine Sense communication, which would be directed into one’s mind. It was as if Hong Jun was directly speaking into his ear, regardless of distance.

“Yes.” Similarly, Xing Ting’s voice came out, and it too rang in Yang Ji’s ears.

Xing Ting ignored Yang Ji’s astonished expression and left the private room, just to bring back a plate of food.

“Huh?” Yang Ji, seeing her take a plate, seemed confused. [They need to eat?]

Seemingly confused by Yang Ji’s reaction, Xing Ting gently placed the plate in front of Yang Ji, and placed the spoon and chopsticks by his side.

“Erm?” Yang Ji looked at them, still confused.

“You fool. You are supposed to be Mortal. You need to eat. Did you forget about this?” Wu Lun’s voice could be heard as he face palmed.

Yang Ji, upon that realisation, pointed at the food and looked at the two, asking, “This is for me?”

“Then, who else is it for?” Hong Jun snorted and then left the room, leaving Yang Ji and Xing Ting alone inside.

“Oh…” Yang Ji commented and Xing Ting said, “I know you might not like us, and in fact might blame us for putting you in this mess. But, we will still treat you fairly. We will definitely not let you go hungry if you follow us.”

Yang Ji looked at Xing Ting and asked Wu Lun, “Hey, what is she talking about? Treat me fairly? If they did, they would not need to be so heavy handed.”

Wu Lun shook his head and said, “Casting pearls before a swine. Though, in their case, they think those are pearls and you’re the swine when in fact it’s the opposite. Nevermind them. They are just trying to win you over. They do not know that food and luxuries don’t move you. Meanwhile, you can provide them information they would never know through me.”

“For now, just keep up all appearances as a Mortal. So, eat and sleep properly.” Wu Lun said with such casualness that it made Yang Ji a little perturbed. After all, he rarely needed to do either.

It was not so much that he disliked food, but he simply had no appetite for them. As for sleep, it was actually quite hard to find him tired enough to sleep. He did like sleeping though, it was just there was a thin line between sleep and mediation, which he tended to do the latter rather than the former. If possible, he too would like to sleep more and dream more.