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Chapter 9: Gu Diao
The reflection of the prison bars cast upon Ji Zichen's face as he sat in his cell, dressed in prison garb. The lead Officer stood outside the bars, laughing heartily for a moment before abruptly stopping, his expression turning cold. "The creature locked up with you is a Gu Diao captured from the Li Yun Wilderness. You merchants of magical artifacts often deal with these monsters, don’t you? You know their habits better than I do. If you provoke it, it will devour you without leaving a bone behind."
Ji Zichen gripped the bars tightly, finally feeling the despair of a slave trapped in a cage. His face turned pale and bruised as he coldly retorted, "Even if I did steal a slave, I shouldn’t be treated like this!"
A strange glint flickered in the lead Officer's eyes. "I’m just a lowly constable; I certainly wouldn’t dare to provoke your Divine Alliance Under the Covenant. Don’t you understand? This is a setup! Someone wanted you locked up; it’s just unfortunate that you crossed someone you shouldn’t have. Just stay put."
With that, the lead Officer left, wearing an expression of smugness and mockery.
Ji Zichen shook violently! "This is a setup! Those two brothers and the slave were all part of a play, but why? Why would someone set me up?"
He thought of the woman from the Suffering Holy Church but quickly dismissed the idea. "No way, the Suffering Holy Church doesn’t have the power to command an Officer from Corner Lodge," he reasoned. Yet aside from that woman, Ji Zichen couldn’t recall anyone else he had offended.
"Gurgle..."
A strange sound came from behind him, resembling a stomach growling in hunger. Ji Zichen shivered as he remembered that he was not alone in this prison.
The Gu Diao resembled a horned sculpture and made sounds like an infant while being carnivorous.
With the body of a leopard, a beak like an eagle, and a single horn, its massive mouth could swallow a person whole.
The Gu Diao originally lived in Thunder Marsh but had long since evolved away from water and migrated to Li Yun Wilderness, becoming one of the most terrifying monsters.
In its hunting expeditions, it had devoured hundreds.
Ji Zichen ’s weapons and magical artifacts had all been confiscated; he was now equivalent to an ordinary person with martial skills. However high his martial prowess might be, without artifacts he stood no chance against the towering Gu Diao. The prison was quite large—half illuminated and half cloaked in darkness—where two red eyes glowed ominously. The eerie red light slowly emerged from the shadows as the Gu Diao appeared, walking like a human. As it materialized, its beak was already inches away from Ji Zichen's face.
The creature extended its tongue and licked Ji Zichen, then spat out, "The taste of magical artifacts is quite unpleasant."
The slimy residue covered Ji Zichen's face. Wiping it away, Ji Zichen reflected that having been around magical artifacts for so long, he had inevitably picked up their scent. To a human nose, the smell was undetectable, but Gu Diao's nose was keen like a dog's, able to discern various odors clearly.
Seeing that Gu Diao showed no interest in him, Ji Zichen's courage grew. "I've never seen a Gu Diao that doesn't eat humans."
Gu Diao replied, "Gu Diao doesn't eat people; it loves fruit."
Ji Zichen retorted cautiously, "I've seen Gu Diaos that do eat humans."
Gu Diao shook its head innocently. "Humans kill Gu Diao; Gu Diao eats humans."
It seemed that Gu Diao had a low intelligence. Ji Zichen continued, "Since you don't provoke others and don't eat people, how did you end up here?"
Gu Diao appeared somewhat agitated. "The cart overturned in the valley; Gu Diao saved people. Humans fear Gu Diao; Gu Diao eats humans."
After pondering for a moment, Ji Zichen finally understood Gu Diao's meaning. "So you had a cart accident in Mountain Valley. You wanted to save someone, but when people saw you, they thought you were going to eat them and attacked you. You only ate them in self-defense?"
Seeing that Ji Zichen understood, Gu Diao looked very pleased. "Gu Diao doesn't eat people; it loves fruit."
Ji Zichen then realized that Gu Diao only resorted to eating humans because they had been killed by people first; it was an act of revenge.
Noticing that Gu Diao bore no hostility, Ji Zichen sat down in front of it. Happy that Ji Zichen was not afraid, Gu Diao also settled down beside him.
Ji Zichen sighed and said, "You were captured due to a misunderstanding, while I fell into a trap set by someone else. We have both become prisoners."
Gu Diao bared its teeth and glared at Ji Zichen. "Gu Diao is not a prisoner!"
Ji Zichen was startled and quickly reassured it, "Not a prisoner, not a prisoner."
Gu Diao scrutinized Ji Zichen for a moment before regaining its composure. "Gu Diao's five companions came to the prison, one by one, all killed, clear to me."
Ji Zichen forced a smile. "I'm in a similar situation as you now; I can hardly see my own fate."
Gu Diao gazed intently at Ji Zichen and nodded. "Gu Diao knows, you are also pitiful."
Ji Zichen chuckled. "I never thought I'd be pitied by Gu Diao."
With a heavy heart, Gu Diao looked at Ji Zichen and after a while said, "Help Gu Diao."
Ji Zichen laughed. "I'm barely keeping myself safe; what can I do to help you?"
Gu Diao's expression turned serious. "Gu Diao entrusts you; if you refuse, I will kill you!"
Ji Zichen, unarmed, dared not provoke Gu Diao. "What is it that you need? I'll help with what I can."
Gu Diao stood up, opened its mouth wide, and pretended to gag before suddenly spitting out five black pearls. It handed the sticky black pearls to Ji Zichen and said, "Gu Diao has matured, hunted Azure Serpent, Azure Serpent Pearls, return to Mountain Valley."
"This is Azure Serpent Pearl!" Ji Zichen's eyes widened in disbelief. The Azure Serpent Pearl was a rare life-saving elixir, extremely hard to come by; one pearl could be worth ten thousand taels of gold. Seeing five of them now left Ji Zichen astonished.
Ji Zichen understood what Gu Diao needed help with. In Guzhao Clan, once Gu Diao matured, it had to leave the valley to hunt the Azure Serpent. If it could return with Azure Serpent Pearls, it would mean that this Gu Diao had gained the strength to stand on its own and would become a strong warrior of Guzhao Clan.
Upon their first meeting, Gu Diao was able to trust him so readily that Ji Zichen felt a surge of excitement. Kiko had never received the Azure Serpent Pearl before and asked, "Aren't you afraid I might sell it?"
Gu Diao replied confidently, "I trust you, Gu Diao does not make mistakes. Your eyes tell me you are not a bad person. Returning the pearl to the valley is worth dying for."
Ji Zichen accepted the Azure Serpent Pearl and sincerely said, "If I, Ji Zichen, do not die, I will return every single Azure Serpent Pearl back to Li Yun Wilderness Mountain Valley."
Gu Diao then prostrated himself before Kiko, a gesture of the highest respect from the Guzhao Clan.
-
Unbeknownst to him, it was already midnight. Just as Ji Zichen was about to fall asleep, he was suddenly pulled out by Prison. Kiko instructed Prison to take him to the outer city, where he found himself in the grand hall of a Private Residence, surrounded by soldiers clad in armor.
Sitting in his prison garb at the side of the hall, Kiko was approached by a Servant who wore a smile and respectfully placed a cup of hot tea on the table beside him. "Young Master Ji, please enjoy your tea."
Ji Zichen knew that the main figure was about to appear and coldly remarked, "As a prisoner, how can I accept such treatment?"
The Servant smiled slightly. "Young Master Ji, please wait a moment; your master will arrive shortly." The Servant then withdrew.
Kiko picked up the teacup, blew on it lightly to cool it down, and took a sip. It was excellent Longjing tea.
Just as he set the cup down, three generals in military armor entered from outside. They each took their seats in the guest area. Shortly after, the previous Servant returned with more tea. As he served it, Xiang Yan entered from outside. The Servant announced, "General Xiang."
Xiang Yan nodded slightly. "Bring Young Master Ji's belongings."
"Yes."
Ji Zichen did not know Xiang Yan, and the Servant did not address him as "Master," but rather called him "General." This Servant must also be a Soldier; they were all quite peculiar, and it was unclear what they intended to do.
Xiang Yan straightened his back as he entered, looking at the three generals in the hall. He said, "Very well, everyone has safely arrived at Corner Lodge."
One of the generals stood up and clasped his hands, asking, "General Xiang, how is Second Sister?"
"Second Sister?" Ji Zichen perked up his ears, thinking, "Is it Lin Chuyu?"
Xiang Yan shook his head, appearing somewhat displeased as he replied, "Lord Lin has made up her mind; further persuasion is futile. Therefore, we can only resort to force to take Second Sister."
Xiang Yan took a seat at the main table and then glanced at Ji Zichen. "Young Master Ji, I apologize for the trouble you've faced."
Ji Zichen sneered, "You and I are strangers; why go through so much trouble for someone like me who sells magical artifacts?"
Xiang Yan smiled slightly. "Young Master Ji still harbors some resentment."
Ji Zichen stared at Xiang Yan and demanded, "Why did you set me up?"
Xiang Yan replied slowly, "I merely wanted to see how much conscience Young Master Ji possesses."
Ji Zichen retorted, "Conscience?"
Xiang Yan said, "Yes. There are not many people with conscience left in this world, and even fewer who would stand up for slaves."
Ji Zichen questioned him sternly, "What exactly do you want to achieve?"
Xiang Yan said in a deep voice, "No one can be in the same room with Gu Diao without being harmed. If you can prove that you are a special person and that Second Sister was sent into the tiger's den by you, then I believe you have an obligation to rescue her."
Ji Zichen frowned and asked, "Are you referring to Second Sister as Lin Chuyu?"
"Of course."
Ji Zichen was puzzled. "The tiger's den? This is her home; how could it be a tiger's den?"
Xiang Yan's face looked as if it had been coated with a thick layer of frost. "It seems that Second Sister hasn't told you anything."
Ji Zichen stared at Xiang Yan. "What should she have told me?"
Xiang Yan spoke frankly, "Do you know about the Vermilion Bird Pearl?"
Ji Zichen was taken aback. "I know."
Xiang Yan continued, "You sell magical artifacts, so you must have heard of the legend of Divine Dawn."
Ji Zichen replied, "That's just a legend."
Xiang Yan smiled faintly. "While no one knows the origins of Divine Dawn, the Vermilion Bird Pearl is real. Since the pearl is real, the ruins must exist."
Ji Zichen said, "Whether it's true or false, I don't see how this has anything to do with me."
Xiang Yan sincerely stated, "I know that within The Divine Alliance Under the Covenant, you are an exceptional expert in searching for ruins. May I ask how you determine the location of these ruins?"
" Ji Zichen " said, "No comment."
"Xiang Yan" replied, "You don't want to, and I won't force you. I've done my research on you. Not only can you search for ruins, but you are also a master of using magical tools. The ruins are filled with dangers, yet you always come out unscathed. You are the best ace I could find for 'Divine Dawn.'"
" Ji Zichen " responded, "I came to 'Corner Lodge' to bring 'Lin Chuyu' back, not to be your ace."
"Xiang Yan" warned, "Young Master Ji, don't forget that you're still wearing prison clothes. Refusing my request could cost you your life. My request is quite simple: we will block the 'Pursuers' in the city, and you must safely escort 'Second Sister' out of the city to find the ruins. That is my only demand."
" Ji Zichen " assessed the situation; he knew that if he didn't agree, it would be difficult to leave here alive.
"Xiang Yan" added, "You must have seen those slaves when you entered the city today. Soon, 'Second Sister' will marry the 'Western King.'"
" Ji Zichen " asked, "Why does the 'Western King' want to marry her?"
"Xiang Yan" replied, "The 'Western King' is certainly also after 'Divine Dawn.' Do you still think you're just sending her home?"
At that moment, a "Servant" brought in " Ji Zichen's" original clothes and a bamboo box. The "Servant" placed the items on " Ji Zichen's" tea table. "Xiang Yan" said, "Do you still want to refuse my proposal, Young Master Ji?"
" Ji Zichen " pondered for a moment, picked up the bamboo box, and stood up. "I'm not doing this for you."
"Xiang Yan" let out a deep sigh of relief and smiled. "Go change in the inner room; we have much more to discuss."
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