Stranger Danger

“Interesting. How interesting. A human is pleading for a Stranger, and a Stranger is pleading for a human. I’ve definitely seen something new today.”

Elder Miao chuckled, but her smile was growing increasingly scornful and ridiculing. “However… it seems you’ve both forgotten that the choice is not in either of your hands!”

Elder Miao looked at Wang Shengkui. “Your life is worth nothing to me. Hence, your promise is meaningless to me as well.”

Elder Miao then looked down at the little Stranger. “As for you, little guy, you are already in my hands. You’re coming back with me to Dragonrider Mountain whether you like it or not.”

“I see…” Wang Shengkui’s eyes darkened.

“You know what? This farce is getting boring,” Elder Miao said suddenly as if she had lost all interest. “Kill them all.”

Before Wang Shengkui and the horse caravanners could react, the fish basket from before appeared in the sky. Golden light descended from the golden dragon wrapped around the Strange Artifact and immobilized everyone in place. Not one person in the horse caravan could move a muscle.

“Okay! I’ve been wanting to do this from the start!” Tong Chuan smiled savagely as he walked toward Sun Bo and Uncle Qi. Almost everyone else looked eager and malicious as well.

“You… Why?” Wang Shengkui blanched as his eyes widened like saucers. One moment ago, Elder Miao was still talking to him like a civilized person. The next, she was going to kill them all, and for what?

He did not understand why she wanted to kill his men though. He was the one who made the request, so why was she directing her ire at everyone?

“Why?” Elder Miao blinked cutely and innocently. “Because I loathe people like you, of course.”

“Don’t you get it? People like you make me feel ugly. The kinder and better you are, the more ugly and evil I feel, and the more ugly and evil I feel, the more I wish to destroy you.”

“If that’s true, then just kill me and be done with it. Why are you targeting my brothers as well?”

Wang Shengkui had never seen a more evil expression in his life than the innocent smile on Elder Miao’s face right now. “They haven’t offended you, have they?”

“They haven’t offended me, yes, but you have.”

Elder Miao giggled. “It costs to stick your nose in another’s business, you know?”

Wang Shengkui was speechless for a moment. Then, he started begging, “Its all my fault, so please let them go! I beg you! Please!”

“Are you regretting your life choices?” Elder Miao asked smilingly.

Wang Shengkui did not answer her question. He simply continued to plead for mercy.

Did he regret his decision?

The answer was yes and no.

He did not regret breaking the cardinal rule of horse caravanning and pleading on behalf of the little Stranger. He would do it again if he had a choice to redo things.

But he did regret dragging his brothers and sisters down with him. He should’ve been smarter and sent them home first. After that, he could catch up to Elder Miao’s group alone and make his plea. If everything went perfectly, then all was well. If not, then only he would suffer the consequences of his actions.

Right now, he was begging and kowtowing not for himself, but for his brothers and sisters.

“Looks like you do. A shame it’s a little too late, isn’t it?”

Elder Miao slowly walked toward Wang Shengkui while giggling. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill you. In fact, I’m going to make sure that you stay alive to remember that your brothers and sisters are dead because of your goodness. I want you to wallow in shame and guilt all day and night because of your goodness, I want you to live forever in darkness and pain, and I want you to think that your goodness is loathsome and disgusting.”

Every time Elder Miao said a sentence, Wang Shengkui would tremble, and the light in his eyes would dim just a little.

“How cruel can you be?!” Wang Shengkui roared with bloodshot eyes. He struggled with all his might, but he was unable to break free no matter what he tried.

The little Stranger inside the Dragon Subjugating Net was yelling and struggling as well. The threads dug deep into its flesh, but it could not seem to feel the pain it was causing to itself.

“You think so? I think I can be crueler though.”

Elder Miao waved her hand, and Wang Shengkui involuntarily turned around and faced toward his people.

“What if I make you watch your brothers and sisters die because of your goodness? Yes, I think that would be perfect. What do you think?”

“You! Graaaaagh!”

Wang Shengkui roared as he struggled to stand, but the Dragon Nursing Nest’s power was too strong. He could only watch as Elder Miao’s men continued to walk toward his men, raised their murderous weapons, and brought it down.

Wang Shengkui closed his eyes. Trickles of blood slid down his cheeks from how hard he squeezed them.

The screams did not happen though. In fact, he heard nothing despite waiting for a few breaths.

When Wang Shengkui opened his eyes again, he did not see the cruel massacre he thought he was going to see. Instead, he saw Elder Miao’s men standing perfectly still as if someone had cast a petrification spell on them. Even their cruel grins were still plastered on their faces.

“Who are you? Please show yourself!”

For the first time, Elder Miao’s easy expression turned serious. Despite her strength and cultivation level, she did not sense what had paralyzed her men from the start until the end.

There were only two possibilities. One, the unknown person was far, far stronger than her. Second, they cultivated an extremely special martial art.

“It’s one thing to be ugly, and another to make others as ugly as you. I can throw up at the sight of you, you loathsome wench!”

A ridiculing voice came from Elder Miao’s side, and the girl abruptly spun around to face the speaker.

“It’s you?!”

Wang Shengkui subconsciously glanced in the direction of the speaker as well. It was then he noticed the young, ordinary-looking man in a blue outfit he saw earlier. At the same time, he recalled that the young man had been with them this whole time. Somehow, he had completely forgotten about the young man. It was like he existed at the edge of his consciousness until just now.

“I am an elder of Dragonrider Mountain, Innocent Miao. May I know your name, warrior?”

Elder Miao a.k.a Innocent Miao asked. Her expression betrayed nothing, but her heart was overflowing with wariness.

She recognized the young man, of course. In fact, the young man had arrived even earlier than them. He was already here when they arrived at the Celestial Spring the day before yesterday.

Logically speaking, they should’ve been on the lookout for him. After all, they were here to capture the little Stranger, and any additional variable could potentially ruin their plan. It was only natural for them to be wary of him.

For some reason though, the thought had never crossed her mind even though he was right there. It wasn’t like the young man had tried to keep a low profile either. More than once the young man had carried about his business right in front of her, and yet she had subconsciously overlooked his existence almost as if he was air.

If the young man hadn’t chosen to speak up now, she wouldn’t even remember that he was right there with them.

It was a terrifying realization to say the least.

“My name isn’t important. You probably wouldn’t recognize me even if I told you about it,” the young man shook his head and answered casually.

“In that case, may I inquire as to your intentions for interfering with our business?” Innocent Miao asked with a frown.

“It’s pretty simple. I don’t like the way you do things, that’s all,” the young man replied indifferently.

“So, you plan to stick your nose in the Dragonrider Mountain’s business as well?” A hint of cruelty and murder crept onto Innocent Miao’s innocent face.

“No point trying to intimidate me with your sect’s name. I’ve never heard of a Dragonrider Mountain.”

The young man shrugged. “And yes, I’m crashing your party. Whatcha gonna do?”

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