Chapter 1126: Sudden Turn of Events (Part One)

The Ghost-Face chuckled, a sound that hovered somewhere between weeping and laughter. "Don't be like that. We’re old acquaintances; surely you can't bear to see me die? Why not let me take you to see Desai? You two are the true arch-enemies—if you have a grudge, go settle it with him!"

"You're quite the smooth talker. Lead the way, then." Wujue loosened his grip and delivered a sharp kick to the man's rear, releasing him.

Ghost-Face dared not stall. He hurried ahead, whispering, "Slow down, slow down, we'll be there soon."

The surrounding zombies lurked with predatory intent, ready to strike, but Ghost-Face began to whistle a jaunty tune. Under the spell of his melody, the zombies seemed to selectively ignore him, steering clear of his path entirely.

To prevent any sudden escape, Wujue followed closely behind, keeping his shotgun leveled at the Ghost-Face’s back. "Don't try anything clever. The moment you make a wrong move, I’ll blow you away."

"Rest assured!" Ghost-Face sneered. "I’m merely commanding them to stay out of our way. The time has come for you and Desai to meet."

They wove their way through the sea of zombies. After nearly fifteen minutes of walking, the path ahead cleared, and the highway began to widen.

As they drew nearer to the long-awaited encounter with Desai, Wujue grew increasingly vigilant. Soon, a massive battleship came into view, docked at the edge of the highway. It seemed Desai’s forces had set up camp here.

Wujue ordered Ghost-Face to stop and demanded, "This is Desai's troop? Why stop here? What is his objective?"

"Who knows? They say it’s for the treasure of the First Emperor..." Before Ghost-Face could finish, Wujue struck him hard across the face with the butt of his gun. "Take a nap. Don't worry about the rest."

After knocking him unconscious, Wujue dragged him aside and swapped into his clothes. He retrieved the whistle and a box of face paint from the man's pockets, applied the same markings to his own face, and crept toward the battleship.

Before long, a warrior of the Tianzhu Clan stepped out and inquired, "Ghost-Face, why have you returned? What about the task Lord Desai entrusted to you?"

Wujue feigned panic. "It’s a disaster. Wujue arrived with a formidable opponent, and those zombies were actually..."

He paused, deliberately panting as if parched. "I can't go on... I was wounded in the scuffle. Take me to Lord Desai at once; I have urgent news."

Wujue had never been much of an actor, but after days of exposure to the likes of Tel and Huron, he had picked up a few tricks. His performance was convincing enough.

The Tianzhu warrior nodded and led him into the ship. Wujue followed cautiously, keeping a sharp eye on his surroundings.

This battleship was different from the ones he had seen before—it appeared more heavily armed and better equipped. Judging by what he saw, this was likely the flagship of the Tianzhu fleet. It was clear that by deploying such a vessel, they were determined to claim the First Emperor’s tomb. Desai had clearly been entrusted with a major mission.

Lost in thought, he was ushered into Desai's quarters. His long-time nemesis sat in the command center, observing the tactical map. Desai spoke without turning, "Ghost-Face, you’ve failed again! Do you remember what you said when I saved your life?"

He slammed his hand against the table in frustration. Wujue coughed feebly, pretending he was too injured to speak, and scribbled a few words on a notepad: "Situation changed. Wujue has grown stronger."

Desai glanced at the note and a faint smile touched his lips. Wujue still remembered the capabilities Desai had displayed in their last encounter. After being modified by the Tianzhu Clan, Desai possessed immense evolutionary power, capable of shifting his entire body into a bestial form. For now, he looked no different than before, save for a ruddier complexion.

"I know all of Wujue’s little tricks," Desai remarked. "Beyond desperately trying to increase his own strength, what else can he do? Let me tell you, I have already prepared a pawn to deal with him. Remember our old friend, Luosi? Come, watch a good show."

He ordered his subordinates to pull up a video feed for Wujue to see. The footage showed the highway where Wujue had just battled the zombies.

After Wujue had left, Xun’er and Gao Lin exchanged a few words before she and Miaopu drove off, leaving Gao Lin to hold the post. Midway through their journey, a ghost-like figure materialized in front of the car, blocking their path.

Wujue’s eyes lit up. The spirit looked familiar—could it be the Flash-Spirit?

As expected, Xun’er stopped the car and spoke to the spirit. It was indeed the returning Flash-Spirit, who claimed he had been training with Fu Yuan when he received a distress signal from Xiao Yang.

Fu Yuan had surmised that they were in danger, so the Flash-Spirit had come to help. He asked Xun’er about the current situation. Xun’er, relieved, laughed and told him about the recent events, then asked what he planned to do.

"I’m going to provide support," the Flash-Spirit replied with a smile. "Just remember to tell the reinforcements that I’m here."

After a brief exchange, the Flash-Spirit drifted past Xun’er and departed. However, Wujue noticed something amiss. Miaopu began to growl angrily inside the car.

Xun’er suddenly felt a sense of dread. She checked her belongings and realized with a jolt that the spirit orb sealing Luosi was missing. She had been deceived.

She glared in the direction the Flash-Spirit had vanished, realizing the entity was an impostor. Knowing pursuit was futile, she and Miaopu decided to split up to avoid further complications. Miaopu would return to warn Gao Lin, while Xun’er would push on to rendezvous with Princess An Yi, hoping to spread the news of Luosi’s escape.

The video feed cut out. Desai turned to Wujue and smiled. "I haven't introduced you to our new friend yet. One of the few spirit-type warriors in this world—he will soon bring Luosi to meet you."

Wujue was stunned. Desai had gathered quite a collection of experts; he was clearly well-prepared. What baffled him was how Desai knew about the events at the scenic area, especially regarding the Flash-Spirit.

Desai tapped his fingers on the table. "You must be wondering why I hold so many trump cards. Well, here’s the thing: with Luosi returning, I have even more help at my disposal. So, tell me—is there any reason to keep someone who constantly fails?"

"Let's start with a multiple-choice question," Desai said, facing Wujue, before suddenly reaching out to press an emergency button under the desk.