AZI Volume 2 Chapter 41

"Is this what he meant?"

Walking up behind Nian Yao Yao, Long Hua takes a brief glance at the map.

Just above the label of this entryway, there is an odd symbol present.

(Zhēn, as in genuine, this should be the way their surname is written.)

Surrounding the zhen character is a sycee shape.

Aside from one entryway that is located in the far-right corner of the map, the other entrances all possessed this symbol—that is most likely the Zhen family's household crest.

"Figured something out?"

Shrugging a shoulder to Nian Yao Yao's question, Long Hua replies—

"There's only one entryway that isn't marked by the Zhen family's crest. Maybe the first five are all reserved for practitioners only?"

As Nian Yao Yao steps to the side, Long Hua approaches the metal panel—while shrouding his right hand in a thin layer of sword Qi.

"Azure Dragon of the East."

Muttering this, Long Hua presses the right side of the panel, and through the extension of his sword Qi, he detects an odd device buried beneath the surface.

(Under ordinary circumstances, infusing spirit Qi should be the proper way to operate this device, but…)

Unable to determine whether or not the city's detection system is able to reach here, Long Hua constricts his eyes in thought for a brief moment.

(Hmm… I'm probably being overly cautious of this, but I don't feel like taking any chances… If they ask me to pay for damages later, I'll just redirect the blame onto surnamed Bai.)

Settling on this, Long Hua decides to destroy the device, as he wills his sword Qi to pierce through it.

"Vermilion Bird of the South, White Tiger of the West, Black Tortoise of the North, and…"

Repeating the pressing pattern that Nian Yao Yao had done previously, while leaving a cut mark on the panel's surface with every touch, Long Hua eventually moves his hand towards the center, and goes on to mutter—

"Yellow Dragon of the Center."

Upon touching the center of the panel, the wall beside it caves inwards, and slides off to the right—to reveal a hidden entrance way.

"…I'm not a fan of long, dark tunnels."

Seeing this to be the perfect opportunity to rearrange their formation, Nian Yao Yao speaks up.

"Are you suggesting for me to take up front?"

With a bitter expression on her face, Nian Yao Yao replies—

"You seem more suited to this—considering how the door didn't respond when I pressed it."

Blinking his eyes, Long Hua thought—

(Strange, the number of practitioners in this world, who have access to the city—shouldn't be high in numbers, but the number of gates on this map…)

"What are you thinking of?"

Towards Long Hua's silence, Nian Yao Yao's eyes give off a gleam of thoughtfulness, to which, the former replies—

"Makes little sense for doors like this to exist in abundance—when customers of my nature are meant to be scarce."

"…"

Having this pointed out, Nian Yao Yao does find it odd for there to be five marked entrances on the map, while Nian Tao Tao remarks—

"I doubt this is all just a coincidence. Blatant favoritism is being displayed here."

"In other words…?"

With a tone of anger and discomfort, Nian Tao Tao replies—

"They're far more interested in people of your nature; we are just seen as a bunch of tagalongs—nothing more than plain pebbles on the roadside. I'd consider this to be a show of rudeness when conducting business."

Towards Nian Tao Tao's statement, Long Hua can't help but frown. This means that the other side's surprises are aimed exclusively at him.

Shrugging her shoulders, Nian Tao Tao adds—

"As for what you two are thinking of, why not just say it? It's that, isn't it? What we believed to be scarce is actually the exact opposite?"

In response to what Nian Tao Tao is suggesting, both Long Hua and Nian Yao Yao's expression turns grim.

"I was trying to not think in that direction… Unfortunately, that does make sense."

(If that were the case, they'd all be my enemies by default.)

The thought of there being a high number of practitioners hiding in this world—causes Long Hua to narrow his eyes with a gleam of killing intent. His first thought against them is to steal the spirit Qi that they've accumulated.

"…Hua, what exactly did you and "that guy" talk about last night?"

Being put on the spot by Zhui Yun's abrupt question, which was asked with a tone of wariness, Long Hua turns his gaze towards her direction, and replies—

"What you really wish to ask is—if I made a secret deal with "that guy," that could potentially end up putting your employer in danger, is it not?"

Facing Long Hua, Zhui Yun straightens her back, and cautiously says—

"…You were the one who brought up how much value a Nian beast possesses."

"…"

"…"

As silence looms over the group for a few moments, tension inevitably rises.

"Since we're not being seen as the main customers of this place-"

Before Nian Yao Yao can finish her sentence, Tian Cheng draws out an inch of Kun's blade with a noticeable hiss.

Throughout this entire time, she has kept her eyes open, and now—

"Master."

"I know."

With his right hand wrapped around Bai Zhe's handle, Long Hua turns his attention towards the dark tunnel.

(I can't see the end of this tunnel from here… If I had divine sense, I could look further in without risks.)

"Surnamed Long, what's happening?"

Glancing at Qing Yue, Long Hua replies—

"Prepare for whatever it is that that village is using to greet us with."

Seeing Long Hua in an alerted state, Zhui Yun draws closer to Nian Yao Yao, while Qing Yue positions herself in front of Nian Tao Tao.

"…"

"…"

Not a single person said another word, as they waited for the other side's greeting to arrive.

"…"

"…"

Under current circumstances, an entire second of waiting has seemingly been stretched into a full minute, and just as the thought of drawing in a breath of air crosses Nian Tao Tao's mind—

"Uh…!"

"…!"

"…?"

"This is…?"

*…! …! …! …!* other than Long Hua and Tian Cheng, a magic circle—manifests beneath everyone else's feet.

(This energy that is coming from those circles… Teleportation? They're being forcefully transferred away?)

"Wha…-!?"

Before Nian Yao Yao can say anything else, the magic circle activates fully, and with it, her figure vanishes in the next instance.

"Lad-!"

The next person to go is Zhui Yun, and following her—are Nian Tao Tao and Qing Yue.

"...…"

"...…"

Making eye contact with one another, Long Hua relaxes his hold on Bai Zhe's handle, while straightening his stance.

There wasn't a hint of unease on his face—in seeing his four companions spirited away in such an abrupt manner.

[Not so much as even a look of surprise? Are you simply just that composed, or is it because you possess a heart of iron?]

Momentarily, an androgynous voice comes from within the dark tunnel.

In response to the question, Long Hua raises his index finger, and explains—

"One, living, breathing, Nian beasts—are far too great of a rarity to be killed. Merchants would rather have them well-fed and alive—with the intent of auctioning them off. Two, we're still in the process of business negotiations; neither of us would want to offend the other greatly—before the matter is settled. Three, it's their own fault for getting caught up in a trap like that; why should I care?"

(Now this, is the bastard that I'm familiar with.)

Towards Long Hua's words, the Tian Cheng inside of the dreamscape—claps her hands in amazement.