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Chapter 5: The Attraction of the Barrier
Cheng Gangzhu sighed, "I am getting old. Once I finish this job, I can step down from my responsibilities. I can help you, but it's an opportunity, not a guarantee. Whether you can take on this role depends on the votes from the brothers."
Qin Feng immediately replied seriously, "Whether or not I help the leader doesn't matter to me. I'm just surprised that you think this way. You know I came to the Yellow Sand Gang just to avoid trouble. I'm not greedy; I only need ten percent of the wealth from the ruins. If I can live comfortably for the rest of my life, that will be enough for me."
Cheng Gangzhu smiled lightly. "Very well, let's discuss this matter today; it will benefit us both."
Qin Feng looked at the Fire Lion trapped in the Fox Spines and said, "That damn lion has been to the ruins before. He has a Barrier there, and before we go anywhere, we need to figure out what this Barrier is."
"I know about that," Cheng Gangzhu replied.
Qin Feng turned to Mad Bull and said, "Cheng Gangzhu, you don't need to be involved in what comes next. I'll handle this traitor myself."
Cheng Gangzhu smiled slightly. "You should be careful; there was a reason I valued Mad Bull in the past."
As Cheng Gangzhu retracted the Fox Spines, the fox fur returned to its original form, but the Fox Spines still held the Fire Lion captive.
Cheng Gangzhu then approached the cage and addressed the Fire Lion inside, "As long as you don't make things difficult for me, I won't make things difficult for you."
At that moment, Cheng Gangzhu reached for the fox fur as if he intended to lift the Fox Prisoner from the top platform. However, Ji Zichen suddenly shifted and leaped to the side of the Fox Prisoner, grabbing it with one hand and saying, "Wait! I can't let you take him away."
Although Cheng Gangzhu didn't know Ji Zichen personally, he had seen Ji Zichen and his companions watching from the sidelines. Given Ji Zichen's youth, Cheng Gangzhu didn't take him seriously and couldn't help but chuckle. "You won't let me take him away?"
Ji Zichen did not smile; his eyes were fixed firmly on Cheng Gangzhu. "That's right."
Lin Chuyu's expression changed dramatically as she hurriedly said, "Brother Ji, why are you helping that Master?"
Xia Zhou looked serious and kept a wary eye on Cheng Gangzhu, unable to understand why Ji Zichen would intervene.
Ji Zichen maintained his composure, staring directly at Cheng Gangzhu as they stood in silence for a moment.
Cheng Gangzhu locked eyes with Ji Zichen, and in her gaze, he saw an unfathomable abyss. Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked solemnly, "Who are you?"
" Ji Zichen!" she replied.
Surprise flickered in Cheng Gangzhu's eyes. "So you are Ji Zichen."
Finding the situation quite amusing, he continued, "I didn't expect to see you here. Are you here to save him? But I heard he was once one of those who captured you."
Ji Zichen replied defiantly, "He was, but I'm not saving him out of any friendship."
Cheng Gangzhu was taken aback. "Then why save him?"
Ji Zichen gently continued, "Out of gratitude."
Cheng Gangzhu paused, confused. "Gratitude?"
"Yes," Ji Zichen said loudly. "Yan Shaoyuan from the Yan Clan is my brother. Though the Yan Clan has perished, Swallow Brew is their legacy. I cannot let it disappear from this world, so I won't let you take him away."
Fire Lion understood his predicament well. When he brought Cheng Gangzhu to the ruins, it was essentially a death sentence for him. A person who was of no use to Cheng Gangzhu had no reason to live.
Cheng Gangzhu was not foolish enough to let him go. If Fire Lion were to spread word that Cheng Gangzhu had found the ruins out of spite, then Cheng Gangzhu would have no peaceful days ahead. After all, those who had not gained wealth would surely be envious.
Fire Lion knew Ji Zichen's capabilities. With her stepping in to help him now, he felt he had to grasp this lifeline. In the depths of despair within Fox Prisoner, a sudden spark of vitality filled Fire Lion. Though surprised, he laughed heartily and said, "I didn't know you had ties with the Yan Clan; this is wonderful! Ji Zichen, since you've saved me, I'll tell you the formula for Swallow Brew."
Xia Zhou patted Lin Chuyu on the shoulder and said, "You stay up on the roof; don't come down."
With a leap, Xia Zhou landed on the platform and walked over to Ji Zichen with a smile. "So, are you planning to make a move? Do you need my help?"
Ji Zichen beamed back at him. "No need; just take good care of Lin Chuyu."
Cheng Gangzhu teased with a smirk, " Ji Zichen, I've heard about your Five Elements Pearl, but don't you see that you're outnumbered?"
Ji Zichen did not answer Cheng Gangzhu. Instead, Ji Zichen turned to Fire Lion and asked, "Are you a mouse?"
Fire Lion was momentarily taken aback, completely confused about the purpose of Ji Zichen's question. "Why do you ask that?" Fire Lion replied.
"Because I'm curious; mice cannot stand the light," Ji Zichen said.
The crowd was stunned by this statement, which sounded like an insult, yet Ji Zichen's expression did not seem to convey any intent to belittle or mock Fire Lion.
Only Fire Lion understood why Ji Zichen asked this question. Back in the Divine Clan's Gap, he had been a Half-Mouse Monster.
With a bitter smile, Fire Lion said, "I am no longer one. If I still had a mouse's body, how could I be trapped by this Fox Prisoner? That Barrier outside the ruins has some kind of pulling force. At first, I didn't realize this. When I got within half a step of the Barrier, I was drawn in. As my hand was pulled into the Barrier, I felt something inside it devouring my arm."
"When my hand was severed, I could no longer transform into a mouse. It was as if the Barrier were alive; it didn't want my life but was merely warning me, which is why I survived."
Cheng Gangzhu's expression darkened upon hearing this. "A Barrier with a pulling force?"
Qin Feng was equally astonished. "How do we deal with that?"
Qin Feng then shouted, "You stupid lion! Do you really think such lies can scare us?"
Fire Lion sneered. "If you don't believe me, that's your choice. If you ever get the chance to go there, don't say I didn't warn you."
Upon hearing this, Ji Zichen fixed a sharp gaze on Fire Lion. His expression was sincere but tinged with some regret, making it clear he wasn't lying. "Since you're no longer a Half-Mouse Monster, then I can save you."
Ji Zichen drew the Demon-Slaying Sword and swung it at the Fox Spines. With a loud crack, several Fox Spines were easily severed by the sword. Cheng Gangzhu's face changed! "Your sword can cut through my Fox Spines!"
With three Fox Spines cut down by Ji Zichen, Fire Lion seized the opportunity and swiftly leaped out of the fox fur without hesitation.
Once free, Fire Lion laughed heartily. "Cheng Gangzhu, so your Fox Spines are not all that impressive after all!"
Cheng Gangzhu stared incredulously at the Demon-Slaying Sword. "Impossible! How can such a sword exist?"
As soon as Fire Lion broke free, he leaped off the platform and shouted, "Thank you, Ji Zichen! But I can't stay!"
Cheng Gangzhu, recovering from his shock, saw Fire Lion escape and jumped down to pursue him. "Where do you think you're going?"
Qin Feng coldly stared at Mad Bull, who smiled back and said, "Are you looking to fight or chase someone?"
Qin Feng gritted his teeth and replied, "Consider yourself lucky!"
He too jumped down, and Ji Zichen turned to Xia Zhou. "I'm going after him. Take care of Lin Chuyu."
Ji Zichen dashed off in pursuit, and Mad Bull wasted no time either. He had endured humiliation for so long; he couldn't let Fire Lion escape just like that.
What was once a tense platform now only had Xia Zhou and Lin Chuyu left. Xia Zhou leaped onto the roof and grabbed Lin Chuyu's arm. "Don't be afraid; I'll get you down."
Xia Zhou led Lin Chuyu off the platform, but Lin Chuyu had never experienced jumping down from such a height before, and her face turned pale with fear.
As Ji Zichen landed on the ground, he saw that Fire Lion was already more than ten paces away. He sighed inwardly, realizing, "I was so focused on rescuing him that I forgot about his Red Boots."
Despite his age, Cheng Gangzhu was not slow in pursuit; he quickly closed the distance behind Fire Lion. At that moment, Xia Zhou and Lin Chuyu caught up to Ji Zichen's side. Xia Zhou looked ahead and said, "He's not too far away."
Just then, Xinfeng galloped past Ji Zichen and the others. Mad Bull mounted his horse and joined them. "What are you standing around for? Get on your horses and chase after him!"
"Go!" Mad Bull urged as he spurred his horse into action.
The horses were those of the Sand Bandits from earlier. Ji Zichen scanned the area and noticed rows of black horses at Fire Cloud Residence. He immediately said, "Get on your horses! We need to chase him!"
The three of them mounted their horses and raced forward. Xia Zhou reassured them, "Don't worry; we can catch up."
Ji Zichen lamented, "It's all my fault for being careless; otherwise, we wouldn't be in this mess."
Cheng Gangzhu activated his lightness skill to pursue Fire Lion. He closed the gap to about four paces but found it challenging to keep up. Despite his efforts, Cheng Gangzhu was older, while Fire Lion had the advantage of his Red Boots. No matter how far he ran, Fire Lion would not tire easily. Cheng Gangzhu lacked such boots and relied solely on his formidable inner strength to chase after him.
At this moment, although the distance was not far, if it continued for long, Cheng Gangzhu would inevitably fall into a disadvantage. Cheng Gangzhu could not allow Fire Lion to run so freely. With a fierce shout, he called out, "Fire Lion, if you have the ability, then don’t stop!"
Cheng Gangzhu plucked a tuft of Fox Feather from the fox fur draped over his shoulder and tossed it into the air. The tuft transformed into over a hundred white Fox Spines that surged toward Fire Lion from behind.
Feeling a gale approaching from behind, Fire Lion glanced back and saw a row of Fox Spines rushing toward him. These Fox Spines appeared to be large and elongated, resembling javelins in length. With no other choice, Fire Lion braced himself and dropped to the ground just as the row of Fox Spines flew past his head.
The Fox Spines landed ahead, embedding themselves into the ground and forming a barrier about the height of a person that blocked Fire Lion's path. Just as Fire Lion was about to leap over the barrier, he noticed Cheng Gangzhu's palm wind had already arrived. Fire Lion quickly turned to the right to evade, but Cheng Gangzhu was already standing directly opposite him.
Cheng Gangzhu did not continue to pursue; instead, he panted heavily and said, "Still thinking of escaping?"
Fire Lion, having been caught by Cheng Gangzhu, smiled instead and replied, "Cheng Gangzhu, your inner strength is impressive."
After catching his breath for a moment, Cheng Gangzhu's breathing gradually steadied. He declared, "The Yellow Sand Plain has eyes and ears everywhere belonging to my Yellow Sand Gang. Where do you think you can escape to?"
Fire Lion chuckled in response, "Who said I was trying to escape? I’ve just been cooped up for too long and needed to stretch my muscles."
At that moment, Ji Zichen and Yu Ren also arrived. Qin Feng halted his horse three yards in front of Ji Zichen and the others.
Cheng Gangzhu glared angrily at Fire Lion and said, "Fire Lion, you’ve nearly worn out my patience. If I don’t teach you a lesson now, you won’t know how to repent."
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