Chapter 139: Making an Agreement

"This…"

Village Chief was speechless.

"Village Chief, think carefully—those missing people, do they have any common traits?"

Jiangnan pressed on with the question.

"Common traits?"

The Village Chief fell into thought.

"It seems… they're all strong, robust young men."

"And they all disappeared after going into the mountains."

"Going into the mountains?"

Jiangnan caught the key information.

"What did they go into the mountains for?"

"What else could they be doing?"

The Village Chief sighed.

"Of course, to gather herbs or to hunt."

"Deep in Nanjiang there are many precious medicinal herbs and beasts that can fetch a good price."

"So, people from your village often lead outsiders into the mountains?"

Xia Yurou asked.

"Yes."

The Village Chief nodded.

"That's also our village's main source of income."

"Is it possible that those outsiders had accidents in the mountains and then blamed your village?"

Zhou Hexuan raised that possibility.

"Impossible!"

The Village Chief flatly rejected it.

"Those outsiders are experienced hunters or herb gatherers; how could they have accidents in the mountains?"

"And even if something happened to them, they couldn't leave no trace at all, could they?"

"Village Chief, if I can find those missing people or the culprit, could you help us get a guide to lead us deep into Nanjiang?"

Jiangnan suddenly made a request.

"You want to go into Nanjiang?"

The Village Chief was startled.

"That place is a Forbidden Land; none who enter ever come out alive!"

"We have a reason we must go."

Jiangnan's tone was firm.

"This…"

The Village Chief hesitated briefly, then gritted his teeth and said:

"Alright, as long as you truly can find the culprit, I won't just find a guide—I'll personally take you there!"

"Fine, it's a promise."

Jiangnan extended his hand.

The Village Chief grasped Jiangnan's hand and shook it vigorously.

"It's a promise!"

After reaching the agreement, the three bid farewell to the Village Chief and left his house.

"What do we do now?"

Xia Yurou asked.

"First, let's go check the back mountain."

Jiangnan said.

"Those people disappeared in the back mountain; perhaps we can find some clues there."

"Let's go."

Zhou Hexuan clenched his fists, ready.

The three followed the small path behind the village toward the back mountain.

The back mountain was thick with vegetation, its canopy blocking the sky.

A narrow goat‑trail wound upward toward the summit.

The mountain wind blew, rustling the leaves.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and foliage.

The three walked up the path.

"Look, there are footprints here."

Xia Yurou suddenly pointed at a patch of grass.

Jiangnan and Zhou Hexuan crouched down to examine closely.

In the grass were several disordered footprints, clearly fresh.

"It seems someone has been here recently."

Zhou Hexuan said.

Continue upward.

Jiangnan stood up and continued forward.

The three continued climbing upward, and their footprints grew more numerous.

"Listen, there seems to be movement ahead."

Zhou Hexuan suddenly stopped and listened.

Jiangnan and Xia Yurou also held their breath and listened carefully.

"Shush… shush…"

A faint sound came from the forest ahead.

"Let's go take a look."

Jiangnan gestured.

The three lightened their steps and quietly approached the source of the sound.

After passing through a dense thicket, the view ahead opened up.

A cave appeared before the three.

The cave mouth was deep and pitch black, obscuring what lay inside.

"The sound is coming from inside."

Zhou Hexuan said softly.

"Let's go in and take a look."

Jiangnan led the way into the cave.

Xia Yurou and Zhou Hexuan followed closely behind.

Inside the cave, it was dark and damp.

The air was filled with a rotten smell.

The three proceeded cautiously, daring not to make a sound.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, a anguished scream came from deep within the cave.

The three were startled and quickened their pace.

Rounding a bend, a spacious cavern came into view.

At the cavern's center burned a bonfire.

The firelight flickered, illuminating the scene inside the cavern.

There, a young man was bound to a stone pillar.

He was covered in wounds and on the brink of death.

A person in black robes stood before the man, holding a dagger.

"Who are you?"

The black-robed person heard the commotion and abruptly turned around.

He wore a hideous mask, obscuring his true face.

"Who we are doesn't matter."

Jiangnan stared coldly at the black-robed person.

"What matters is why you kidnapped him."

"Heh heh heh…"

The black-robed person let out a strange laugh.

"Why?"

"Of course it's for the Holy Sect!"

"You foolish humans will never comprehend the greatness of the Holy Sect!"

"Playing at mysticism."

Jiangnan's eyes turned cold as he fixed his gaze on the black-robed person, sharp as a hawk.

"Holy Sect?"

Jiangnan repeated, his tone hinting at inquiry.

"What exactly do you intend to do?"

The black-robed person's body trembled slightly, apparently not expecting Jiangnan to ask so directly.

"Heh heh heh…"

The black-robed person again let out a strange laugh, echoing in the cavern and sending chills down the spine.

"Want to know?"

The black-robed person's voice was hoarse, tinged with mockery.

"Then trade your life for it!"

Before his words faded, black mist suddenly surged from the black-robed person's body.

That black mist roiled and surged as if alive, emitting wails like ghosts and wolves.

Within the black mist, countless distorted faces could be faintly seen, hideous and terrifying, like demons from hell.

Xia Yurou and Zhou Hexuan's faces changed, and they instinctively stepped back a few paces.

The temperature inside the cavern plummeted, a chilling chill spreading, making one shiver.

"Careful!"

Xia Yurou exclaimed.

Zhou Hexuan tightly clenched his fists, nervously watching the Black-robed Man.

Jiangnan's gaze hardened; facing the oncoming Black Fog, he did not retreat at all.

He stood still, his posture upright as a pine, like an immovable mountain peak.

The Black Fog instantly enveloped Jiangnan, and the wailing cries grew more mournful, as if to tear him to pieces.

Xia Yurou and Zhou Hexuan's hearts rose to their throats; they stared at the Black Fog, fearing any mishap for Jiangnan.

At that moment, Jiangnan moved.

He raised his right hand, fingers spread, palm upward.

An invisible force surged from his palm, forming strands of golden light.

True Qi!

The golden light collided with the Black Fog, emitting a "sizzle" like melting ice.

Under the golden light, the Black Fog quickly dissipated, and the wailing cries vanished as well.

Moments later, the Black Fog had completely vanished, revealing Jiangnan's figure.

He still stood where he was, unscathed, expression calm.

A flash of astonishment crossed the Black-robed Man's eyes; the Black-robed Man had not expected Jiangnan to dispel the attack so easily.

"You… who exactly are you?"

The Black-robed Man's voice trembled, tinged with fear.

Jiangnan gave no reply, merely watching the Black-robed Man silently.

"I'll ask you again: what does the Holy Sect intend to do?"

Jiangnan's voice was icy, devoid of any feeling.

The Black-robed Man remained silent, his gaze flickering uncertainly.

"It seems you are the type who never sheds a tear at a coffin."

Jiangnan's eyes grew cold as he stepped toward the Black-robed Man.