Chapter 156: Crisis of Trust

"What reason did they have to hunt you down? Don't they deserve to know?"

Upon receiving Xu Wen's private telepathic transmission, Gou Qian suddenly revealed a faint smile. With a deliberate yet seemingly casual glance at the two women, the man, and Elder Xie riding atop the Black Wind Condor, he spoke up, openly exposing Xu Wen's covert communication.

Both women raised their eyes to look at Xu Wen, though neither displayed an overly surprised expression.

"Don't bother trying to sow discord here; it's quite unnecessary... We were never companions to begin with. They were merely captured by us temporarily, intended to be sold as pill slaves in the market."

Kuer's reply caught Gou Qian off guard, leaving him with an expression of surprise and bewilderment.

Gou Qian cast several repeated glances at Xu Wen, seemingly trying to gauge the credibility of Kuer's words.

"I don't have time to waste with you. Either tell me the truth, or die right here... Don't even think about insulting our intelligence with that nonsense about the Three Great Pirate Regiments marching inland."

Xu Wen did not appear overly surprised by Gou Qian's exposure, though a trace of annoyance and anger flickered briefly across his face, and his tone grew cold.

With a rolling of his eyes, Gou Qian stared directly at Xu Wen and said, "Since you're not traveling together, things will be much easier. Why not join my Heavenly King Pirate Regiment? Even if that nine-star dark mage comes after you, our commander can absolutely guarantee your safety..."

"Shut up!"

The expressions of Kuer and her companion changed drastically, neither of them expecting Gou Qian to utter such words.

Noticing the drastic change in the two women's expressions, as well as the looks of temptation on Elder Xie and Wang Xiaoshuai's faces, Gou Qian immediately realized that Kuer's previous words had been true, and a flicker of hope sprouted deep within his heart.

"I'm sure you aren't willing to be escorted to the Dark Empire as slaves anyway. With your cultivation levels, joining our Heavenly King Pirate Regiment? Getting into a properly organized combat squad will definitely not be a problem!"

Disregarding the fierce glares cast by the two women, Gou Qian continued his attempt to win them over.

After all, the two women possessed six-star and seven-star cultivations. As long as Xu Wen and Elder Xie chose not to interfere, the other party would certainly not dare to make any rash moves.

"Save those parlor tricks meant for children; drop the attempts at instigation... Right now, I only want to know what on earth your Heavenly King Pirate Regiment is up to. Put these words aside... and talk as we walk."

Xu Wen shot a cold glance at Gou Qian, signaling with an unquestionable tone for the latter to lead the way.

This unyielding firmness finally allowed the two women to breathe a sigh of relief. Had Xu Wen truly been swayed by the other's persuasion, they would have had zero room for resistance, and the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Noticing the impatience and determination on Xu Wen's face, Gou Qian shook his head with a sigh and abandoned further idle talk.

Along the way, he interrupted to ask Xu Wen a question: whether he had used a Youth-Preserving Pill.

"Such a precious pill, how could any man bear to use it?" Bi'er cast a sidelong glance at him before secretly fixing her gaze back on Xu Wen. "He's a monster."

Xu Wen silently rolled his eyes in silent protest. The others, however, all chose to remain silent at the same time, seemingly in deep agreement with Bi'er's assessment.

A youth who appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen years old not only possessed the spiritual cultivation of a seven-star mage, but was also proficient in seven-star Earth-Emperor-grade magic, with combat power comparable to an eight-star mage. Furthermore, he was a peak five-star beast tamer... and now he could even summon undead skeletons, appearing to dabble in necromancy as well. As for the medicinal pills he refined, even a nine-star dark mage was forced to show him a measure of respect and keep him respectfully provided for.

Xu Wen did not give them time to dwell on their astonishment, quickly steering the topic back to the unusual massacre committed by the Heavenly King Pirate Regiment.

"..."

Gou Qian's expression shifted several times in rapid succession, yet he still hesitated to speak out immediately.

"It's better for you lot not to know about this kind of thing—even if you do rendezvous with that nine-star dark mage. And I can guarantee you, it has nothing to do with you."

"Bullshit."

Xu Wen coldly interrupted him.

"If it had nothing to do with us, would your Heavenly King Pirate Regiment have mobilized in full force? Even the leader stepped out in person? Not even a passing merchant vessel was spared?"

"That's... sigh, it was merely to play it safe and ensure no word leaked out."

Gou Qian spoke haltingly, offering a vague explanation to the group.

"Actually... after being locked down for so many days, the matter is nearly concluded. By this time tomorrow, the maritime blockade will be lifted. If you had simply arrived a day later, none of this would have happened."

As he said this, a wave of desolate gloom swept through Gou Qian's heart.

Had the Fish Arrow Mercenary Corps' tall ship appeared even a day later, today's battle could indeed have been avoided, and his previous five companions would not have perished at the hands of the very people standing before him now.

Yet hearing this, a thought stirred deeply within Xu Wen.

"A blockade?"

Such a term was hardly unfamiliar to Xu Wen.

Whenever precious herbs, rare metals, or special magical beasts were discovered, groups within the Magical Beast Mountain Range would often blockade small areas to prevent others from approaching.

However, such situations were invariably tied to varying degrees of conflicting interests!

To make the Wanderer personally step out, command the entire Heavenly King Pirate Regiment to mobilize in full force, and unite the Three Great Pirate Regiments to enforce a massive blockade of the maritime routes... even Xu Wen found it hard to imagine what astonishing interests and secrets lay hidden behind this affair.

At the same time, Xu Wen could sense from Gou Qian's tone and expression that trying to extract detailed information from him was likely a dead end.

Still, he had no intention of complicating matters unnecessarily.

The vigilance accompanying a joint operation by the Three Great Pirate Regiments could be easily imagined; even if 'Pudong' himself were present, it would be impossible to reap any benefits from the hands of so many powerhouses.

The notion of sitting back as a fisherman reaping the spoils could be entirely dismissed!

Now that he knew the Three Great Pirate Regiments had blockaded a vast expanse of sea for the sake of certain interests, their ruthless actions in annihilating the Fish Arrow Mercenary Corps could also be understood.

Without further ado, he casually asked a few more questions, and the group rapidly distanced themselves from the waters where the battle had just taken place.

"A little further ahead, and I'll have to turn back."

In less than a quarter of an hour, the Black Wind Condor had flown a full hundred miles following Gou Qian. The latter turned back, staring anxiously into Xu Wen's eyes as he spoke.

"What are you going to say when you get back?"

"What else can I say?" Gou Qian let out a bitter, self-deprecating chuckle. "Six of us, five dead and one survivor. Once I go back, I won't be able to keep my position as captain, and I'll have no face to linger there anyway. It would be better if they just consider me dead."

Xu Wen nodded silently.

Six eight-star experts annihilated by five underdogs, with all their tiger-shark beasts killed—returning would indeed make it immensely difficult to give an account or face the shame. Evasion might truly be a decent choice.

"Are you really going to let him go?"

At that moment, Elder Xie's voice quietly slipped into his ear. "In case he goes back and reports us, we still run the risk of being pursued."

Xu Wen had considered this possibility as well.

The man could indeed use their intelligence to redeem himself for his failure.

However... he did not care about such things.

According to Gou Qian's previous words, the blockade would be lifted tomorrow, and the Heavenly King Pirate Regiment likely wouldn't have sufficient time to continue the hunt—across a distance of nearly two hundred miles, it was already exceedingly difficult for someone of eight-star strength to catch up, and with the Wanderer acting alone, he would find himself spread too thin in the boundless sea.

Having replied to Elder Xie, Xu Wen nodded at the wary-looking Gou Qian, and the Black Wind Condor accelerated, sweeping far past him into the distance!

A long while passed.

Gou Qian's figure dissolved into a tiny black speck in the distant sky.

No glaring signal flare ever appeared.

Only then did the five of them completely let out a breath of relief, withdrawing their gazes.

The atmosphere atop the Black Wind Condor quickly turned subtle... Xu Wen's performance in fighting off the Heavenly King pirates on the back of the condor forced the two women to view him with newfound seriousness. Although Kuer managed to maintain her original composure, the subtle movement of pulling Bi'er behind her still betrayed a trace of tension.

"Keep in this direction, and we should see the mainland in about two days!"

Not long after, Kuer suddenly uttered an inexplicable remark to Xu Wen. "When we sight land, you can let us down and leave."

"Sister?"

Bi'er looked at Kuer in astonishment, her face showing bewilderment. Just as she opened her mouth intending to say something, she was cut off by Kuer's next words:

"Since you are a necromancer, I suppose you also know how to break a mental imprint. The imprint our master placed on you is invalid now. Are you considering how to deal with us at this moment?"

Despite saying this, her tone remained exceedingly calm—cold and icy, devoid of the slightest emotion, rendering it impossible to discern joy or anger.

While Elder Xie, Wang Xiaoshuai, and Bi'er experienced a moment of sudden realization and enlightenment, they simultaneously could not help but reveal a hint of tension and vigilance.

Yet Xu Wen merely turned back, cast a faint glance at them, and then turned away without a word. He neither confirmed nor denied it.

Atop the Black Wind Condor, the atmosphere among the group grew increasingly heavy.

Yet no one dared to make any rash moves... Kuer's silver repeating metallic crossbow was clutched tightly within her sleeve, coated with the venom of a millennium corpse king—a poison that even Elder Xie dared not take lightly. Kuer's hands were slightly raised, intentionally or unintentionally aimed toward Elder Xie and Xu Wen.

Wang Xiaoshuai stood at a stalemate with Bi'er, likewise not daring to strike lightly.

Until Xu Wen spoke or gave an indication, no one dared to court unnecessary trouble.

After a good half-hour passed, Xu Wen still stood motionlessly at the very front of the Black Wind Condor, seemingly indifferent to the situation behind him... because he knew:

If either side struck first, it would undoubtedly end in mutual destruction.

At close range, the threat of an assassin surpassed that of any other profession!

Especially with those two crossbows; even with magical protection, Xu Wen had no confidence in his ability to intercept them. Elder Xie shared the exact same sentiment—if Xu Wen died, he would certainly die as well!

However, Kuer and Bi'er lacked the ability to fly and could only rely on the Black Wind Condor to leave the sea. If they made a move, they would undoubtedly end up as food for the fish in the deep sea.

And so, the five of them remained locked in a stalemate.

Amid mutual vigilance and wariness, they allowed the Black Wind Condor to beat its wings and fly toward the edge of the sea.

Time slipped away swiftly!

No members of the Heavenly King Pirate Regiment appeared... but the sky was gradually growing dim.

"Those two crossbows must be quite heavy. You've held them for so long, you can put them down."

Without turning his head, Xu Wen transmitted a sentence backward: "Besides, Pudong didn't end up doing anything to me anyway; I'm not bored enough to drag you down with me in mutual destruction."

His words finally allowed the two women to relax their nerves, which had been stretched taut to the point of numbness.

However... not long after that heart had settled, at the meeting point of the darkening blue sky and the ocean, a patch of unusual red clouds eerily appeared, flowing in a bewitching manner.