Chapter 141: Someone Else Behind the Scenes?

The treasure‑seeking cicada flapped its wings as thin as cicada wings, rose into the air and flew straight toward Chengjiao.

Its flight altitude was low, staying within the two people's line of sight, yet its speed was not slow, as if pulled by something, rushing straight toward the target direction.

"Quick, keep up! Don't let it get lost!"

Ling Zhaixing shouted hurriedly, quickening his steps to follow the treasure‑seeking cicada's figure.

Jiang Feng was no slower; he immediately started the car, slowly trailing behind.

All the way, the treasure‑seeking cicada's flight path was straight, without any hesitation, clearly having precisely captured Su Xueyan's aura.

But just as the car reached a fork in Chengjiao, an accident occurred.

The treasure‑seeking cicada suddenly halted its flight, began to circle in midair, its wing‑vibration frequency increasing rapidly, as if it had encountered something frightening.

It kept spinning in place, refusing to fly forward even a single step.

"What's going on?"

Ling Zhaixing furrowed his brows, pushed open the car door and jumped out, looked up at the circling treasure‑seeking cicada, his face full of doubt.

"Logically, Sister Xue Yan's aura is ahead; why isn't it flying forward?"

Jiang Feng also stopped the car, walked to her side, his gaze sweeping over the fork.

This is the intersection of three roads, the surface a ordinary asphalt road, surrounded by dense forest, appearing normal, yet the treasure‑seeking cicada's reaction was very odd.

The fork had no signs; the three roads stretched in different directions, hidden deep in the woods, making it impossible to tell which led to the destination.

"Could the aura have been cut off?"

Jiang Feng asked.

"Impossible."

Ling Zhaixing shook his head.

"The treasure‑seeking cicada captures the human‑specific qi mechanism; as long as the person is within a Hundred li, it cannot be cut off. Unless…"

Her complexion suddenly changed, as if she had thought of something terrifying.

Jiang Feng did not press further, immediately took out his phone and dialed Shen Junyao.

"Junyao, we are now at the Sancha Kou in Chengjiao, the fork heading southwest. Quickly retrieve the nearby surveillance, see which direction Su Xiaonuan's car went, and whether any suspicious vehicles or personnel appeared!"

"Okay, I'll check right away!"

Shen Junyao's voice came from the other end of the line.

"I've already ordered the main roads around Chengjiao blocked; the surveillance is being retrieved, results should come soon! Don't rush, stay safe; if it really doesn't work, wait for our support!"

"As soon as possible!"

Jiang Feng finished speaking and hung up.

Ling Zhaixing crouched, looked at the trembling treasure‑seeking cicada on the ground, and gently touched its wing with a fingertip.

The cicada, as if startled, leapt up violently, still unwilling to fly forward, only spinning furiously in place.

"I understand."

Ling Zhaixing stood, his face solemn as he looked at Jiang Feng, pointing toward the westward road of the fork.

"Sister Xue Yan was probably taken to that direction."

"Why so certain?"

Jiang Feng asked, his gaze fixed on the road to the west.

"Because a tremendously powerful expert, who practices a cold‑based cultivation technique, has appeared here before."

Ling Zhaixing's tone was confident.

"The cicada's natural enemy is extreme cold aura; its perception of cold is sharper than any creature's. Just now, that cold‑type expert must have lingered here, and the residual chill frightened the cicada, so it wouldn't fly forward and could only spin in place."

She paused briefly, then continued her analysis.

"This expert likely deliberately erased any trace. Yet a cold‑based cultivator's aura is distinctive; even if erased cleanly, a faint trace of chill remains."

Ling Zhaixing inhaled deeply, closed his eyes, sensed carefully for a moment, then opened them.

"That's right, the westward direction! I can vaguely feel that lingering chill over there. Moreover…"

She shifted her tone, her eyes gaining a few more gravitas.

"This chill, I sensed it yesterday at the Su Family Villa!"

"You sensed it at the Su Family Villa too?"

Jiang Feng's gaze darkened, his heart instantly roiled with a storm.

That meant the expert frequently visited the Su Family.

Su Xiaonuan, a young girl, even if she could steal techniques, could not achieve such flawless execution; behind it must be this expert planning and supporting.

"It must be her!"

Ling Zhaixing nodded.

"She lurked near the Su Family, enabling her to help Su Xiaonuan plot the theft of the mysterious warm jade core, and precisely guide Sister Xue Yan here. The chill is growing stronger, indicating we are getting closer to her."

Jiang Feng looked at Ling Zhaixing, admiration evident on his face.

He hadn't expected Ling Zhaixing's stealing skill to be superb and his perception so keen; at crucial moments it truly proves useful.

Ling Zhaixing sensed his gaze, shrugged, his tone carrying a hint of self‑mockery.

"Don't stare at me like that; my combat value is low, I can't beat a Grandmaster, let alone surpass a Grandmaster‑level expert. Without this perception and tracking for survival, I'd have been silenced countless times in the jianghu."

She paused, her tone turning serious.

"Jiang Feng, I must warn you. This mysterious expert's strength is at least above Grandmaster level, and cold‑based techniques are often insidious and domineering; although your power is also great, facing such a top‑tier cold‑type expert, you may not have full confidence."

"We only know the general direction now, not the exact destination; there may be ambushes on the road. Should we wait for Director Shen's surveillance results? Or wait for her to send support?"

Ling Zhaixing voiced his concern; he wasn't cowardly, just didn't want to die in vain.

Jiang Feng was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the dirt road to the west, his eyes profound.

Every extra second of waiting adds another minute of danger for Xue Yan.

He cannot wait, nor can he afford to wait.

Chase.

Ling Zhaixing looked at his resolute gaze and sighed inwardly.

Ling Zhaixing knew they couldn't persuade him.

She pulled a small black mask from her pocket, put it on her face, leaving only a pair of eyes visible, and her tone carried a hint of helplessness.

"Fine, I guess I'm unlucky; after all, I accepted your favor and even promised to help you find the Mysterious Warm Jade Core. But the ugly part is in Front: if we encounter a situation we can't defeat, I won't fight stubbornly; I'll run away first to save my life!"

Jiang Feng glanced at her, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

He didn't say much else, and turned back to the car.

"Get in the car; let's hurry to Front and take a look."

The car started again, driving onto the uneven, pothole‑filled dirt road, its body bouncing violently. The forests on either side grew denser, the light dimmer, as if entering a natural tunnel.

The cold, oppressive aura in the air grew thicker, seeping in through the windows.

Ling Zhaixing couldn't help but shiver, instinctively tightening their clothing.

The vehicle traveled on the dirt road for about half an hour, and finally a sliver of light appeared ahead.

Passing through a dense forest, an ancient rustic villa suddenly emerged before them.