章節 32: Chapter 62- Gong Jinhai
Juanxiu and his team sat in a small, dimly lit corner of the inn's common room, each lost in their own thinking. Juanxiu was deep in thought, trying to connect the pieces of information they had gathered throughout the day. Siyi was busy looking at the items they had acquired from their visit to the Golden Alabaster Association's shop, while Chang Bao was relishing in the delicious meal that had been served.
Finally, Juanxiu broke the silence. "We have learned so much about this powerful organization, but there are still many pieces missing from the puzzle."
Siyi nodded in agreement, "What are we going to do with these items, there are just too many of them."
Chang Bao looked up from his meal and chimed in, "Aiya, you have been so busy buying items that we don't even need."
Juanxiu rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Just take what you want. Consume the potions and elixirs, it might help you and Liu Peng to boost you strength. As for Chang Bao, he may not find that useful since he is not a cultivator,"
Siyi nodded, "I'm getting this blade. This looks like a good quality." She watched as the sword gave a gleam. "What about the Young Lord of that merchant group?"
Juanxiu looked at his companions, "I have a feeling that the answer to all our questions lies within the Golden Alabaster Association. We just have to be patient and persistent in our efforts to uncover the truth."
Liu Peng leaned against the wall, lost in his own thoughts. Suddenly, a memory from his past came flooding back to him. He remembered the wild rumors he heard back in the Grand City of Qingyun when he and Tengyang met. It was about a young lord of a wealthy merchant company who had turned into a demon. Could it be related to what they were currently investigating? Tengyang even mentioned then that the rumor is too absurd.
He quickly pushed that thought aside, not wanting to jump to conclusions. "Guys, I think it's time we put our heads together and figure out how to approach the Young Lord," Juanxiu said, interrupting Liu Peng's thoughts.
As the group huddled together in the dimly lit common room of the inn, the excitement in the air was palpable. They had spent the entire day at the Golden Alabaster Association's shop, now it was time to plan their next move.
"So, what's our plan?" Liu Peng asked, eager to get started.
Juanxiu leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. "I think our best bet is to pose as members of the cult," he said. "Siyi and I will try to blend in with the group and gather as much information as we can."
"And I'll keep an eye on you two from a distance," Liu Peng added. "That way, if anything goes wrong, I'll be there to help."
Siyi nodded in agreement, her eyes shining with excitement. "I'm ready for this," she said. "I've always been good at blending in and observing. I think we have a good chance of making this work."
Chang Bao, who had been quiet throughout the conversation, finally spoke up. "What about me? What can I do to help?"
"You can stay here at the inn," Juanxiu replied. "If we haven't returned by tomorrow morning, you'll head to the Xiao clan and relay the information to them."
Juanxiu is confident that the clan will not ignore a missing alchemist whom they think is the disciple of Alchemist Lai Xiaoli. Moreover, they are also in the process of investigating the mystrious disappearance of their servant.
"Got it," Chang Bao said, a determined look on his face.
The group nodded in agreement, eager to get started on their mission. They had a solid plan in place, and they were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead as they continued their journey to uncover the truth about the Golden Alabaster Organization.
****
Juanxiu and Siyi waited until the cover of night before making their move. They knew that the hypnotized members of the cult would be marching through the streets, and they needed to blend in with the crowd. The two of them donned similar robes to the cult members and made their way towards the parade.
They could hear the hushed whispers of the townspeople around them.
"Have you seen the cult?"
"They're so eerie, walking around like they're in a trance."
"I heard they're trying to awaken some sort of dark deity."
Finally, the parade started, and the group of hypnotized people began to march down the street, their feet pounding in unison. Juanxiu and Siyi joined the group, copying their movements as best they could, while Liu Peng hung back, watching from a distance.
The parade was both eerie and mesmerizing. As they walked, the hypnotized individuals would stop to pin talismans to doorsteps, muttering the same phrase over and over again, "The Lord will cleanse us of our curse."
Juanxiu was a skilled talisman expert, but he struggled to analyze the talismans. Juanxiu noticed that the symbols on the talismans were too blurry to decipher from his distance. He felt frustrated, knowing that the talismans could hold the key to unlocking the secrets
The parade of the hypnotized individuals seemed to go on forever as they marched through the streets, stopping at different corners of the town to pin talismans on doorsteps. Finally, the group reached the outskirts of the town and stood in place, their faces blank and expressionless. Juanxiu noticed that this area seemed to be under some sort of formation, as no one else seemed to see the strange gathering taking place.
Juanxiu and Siyi could feel the tension rising. The hypnotized crowd simply stood in place, their faces blank and expressionless. It was as if they were waiting for something, or someone, to emerge.
And then, suddenly, a man appeared from the ground, his red robes billowing behind him, it was Gong Jinhai, the Young Master of the Golden Alabaster. "My children," he proclaimed, his voice ringing through the night. "You have come so far, sacrificing so much. The day of reckoning is near, and only those who have turned away from their sin will be cleansed of the curse by our Lord. We need only a few more souls to awaken the Lord, and the curse will be lifted from us all."
Juanxiu felt a shiver run down his spine as the man spoke, his voice ringing through the night. As Jinhai stood before the hypnotized crowd, Juanxiu noticed a glowing artifact that he was wearing. It was a necklace, with a gem embedded in it that emitted an eerie light. The light was familiar to Juanxiu, and after a moment of contemplation, he realized that he had seen it before. It was during the fight against the zombie alchemist, where two mysterious cultivators had taken the gem.
"Siyi," Juanxiu whispered, trying to keep his voice low. "The last time I was in Cardinal city, I also encountered the same gem. The people back then were also hypnotized, but by a fungal spore"
Siyi nodded, her eyes wide with recognition. "Do you think it's the same one?"
"I don't know," Juanxiu replied, unsure of it. "I have to find out what purpose it serves. It must be important."
Suddenly, the leader began to chant in a strange, otherworldly language.
"Kaltor Naxx Zorv Zaleth Korith Vaelor Naleth Xith Zaleth Vaelor Naxx Zorv Kaltor."
Siyi felt her consciousness slipping away, and in a moment of desperation, she took out the dagger she had brought with her and cut her palm with it, breaking the spell. Juanxiu, meanwhile, was not affected by the enchantment and could not understand why.
"Quickly, return to your homes!" the Young leader of the Golden Alabaster urged the people. "We do not want to attract any suspicion."
As the hypnotized individuals dispersed, Juanxiu took Siyi by the arm, helping her steady herself. The two of them looked at each other, both feeling shaken by the strange and otherworldly chant they had just witnessed.
"Did you feel that?" Siyi whispered, her voice barely audible. "It was like my mind was slipping away, and I had to fight to keep control."
Juanxiu nodded, his expression grim.
The two of them took the opportunity to break away from the group and discreetly followed the Young Lord. The two of them walked cautiously, making sure to keep a safe distance so as not to draw any suspicion. They trailed behind Jinhai as he made his way to a secluded area in the outskirts of the town.
SiYi couldn't help but admire the sleek and confident strides of the Young Master of the Alabaster Organization. She wondered what kind of person he was and what his motivations were. Juanxiu and Siyi kept their eyes fixed on the Young Lord, determined to find out what he was up to.
Finally, the Young Lord came to a stop in front of a small temple. Juanxiu and Siyi quickly ducked behind some bushes, watching as the Young Lord stepped inside the temple. They waited for a few moments, debating whether to follow him or not. Eventually, Juanxiu made up his mind and decided to take the risk.
He whispered to Siyi, "Let's go see what he's doing in there."
With a nod from Siyi, the two of them carefully approached the temple, their hearts pounding in their chests. They peered inside, and what they saw took their breath away.
The walls were adorned with intricate carvings of ancient symbols and depictions of long-forgotten deities. The air was thick with the scent of incense and wax candles, casting an eerie glow throughout the temple.
The walls were made of ancient stone, worn and weathered by time, and in some places, they were adorned with cobwebs that had been there for ages. The stone floor was slick with the moss that had grown between the cracks and crevices, creating a slippery surface for those who dared to venture inside.
They had to go through several halls before they reach the center. In the center of the temple, there was a large statue of a deity, its features long worn away by the elements, giving it an eerie and mysterious appearance. The statue was surrounded by a circle of flickering candles, their warm glow illuminating the dark and musty interior.
"Great Lord, the people will soon be ready to meet you,"Jinhai spoke reverring the statue
Juanxiu couldn't help but feel that they were getting closer to uncovering the truth about the sinister plans. He just hoped that they would be able to leave the temple unscathed.
****
Liu Peng watched in disbelief as the hypnotized individuals started to emerge from the shadows, as if they had been hiding in plain sight all along. He couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine as he realized the implications of what he was witnessing. He immediately sprang into action, searching for Juanxiu and Siyi among the crowd.
As he made his way through the group of people, Liu Peng couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The hypnotized individuals all had blank expressions on their faces, and they seemed to be moving in unison, as if they were being controlled by some unseen force. Liu Peng was determined to find his friends and get to the bottom of what was happening.
"Juanxiu! Siyi!" Liu Peng called out, his voice echoing through the night. "Where are you?" But there was no response, and the hypnotized individuals continued to march forward, their blank expressions never changing.
Liu Peng was about to abandon his search when he spotted a faint glimmer of light coming from a temple not far away form his location.
As Liu Peng was searching for the two, Juanxiu and Siyi were closely observing the Young Lord from a distance. They had managed to follow him to a secluded area in the outskirts of the town, determined to find out what he was up to.
However, their mission was about to be jeopardized as a spider suddenly fell onto Siyi's shoulder, causing her to shriek in terror.
"Ahhh!"
Juanxiu quickly covered her mouth with his hand, but the Young Lord had heard the commotion.
"Who's there?" The Young Lord called out, his voice echoing through the quiet night.
Juanxiu and Siyi were nervous, their hearts pounding in their chest.
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