Chapter 216: Chapter 217: A Step Too Late
Along the way, Lin Yun had slain an unknown number of people. Even he had begun to sense that something was wrong. Although the Flowing Cloud Sect had lost many disciples before, they shouldn't have been this easy to deal with.
Where were the main elite forces?
He hadn't seen a single one. Even Gu Xiande's usual cunning seemed to have vanished.
When things are this abnormal, there must be a trick afoot.
But Lin Yun couldn't think about that now. Rescuing Bai Zhuqing came first.
He quickly arrived at the dungeon. Strangely, the guards at the entrance were already lying on the ground. Lin Yun crept forward to inspect them. They were still alive, but seemed to have been knocked into a stupor by some unknown means. He couldn't find any useful clues from their panels, either.
With no other choice, Lin Yun entered the dungeon himself.
The dark, damp dungeon held countless prisoners. Some were mountain bandits and heretical practitioners from the surrounding areas. Others had been locked up for violating the sect's rules. But when they saw Lin Yun, they all reached out their hands excitedly.
"Let me out! We've heard you're an enemy of the Flowing Cloud Sect!"
"That's right! Let us go, and we can help you destroy them!"
Lin Yun ignored them completely. Help him destroy the Flowing Cloud Sect? Most of these people were desperately vicious criminals. He'd be lucky if they didn't cause more chaos after being released. He was no fool.
The dungeon wasn't particularly large, so finding Bai Zhuqing wasn't difficult. Soon, Lin Yun saw a figure blocking his path. The man's arms hung limply at his sides. He stood at the entrance to the interrogation room, his head bowed, looking like a dead man.
But the instant he heard footsteps, he slowly raised his head to look at Lin Yun.
Just then, a familiar voice sounded out. "Lin Yun, you really came."
Gu Xiande arrived with a host of elders. Looking at the chaotic scene, his gaze focused on Lin Yun. "Did you really think the Flowing Cloud Sect was a place you could come and go as you please? Since you're here today, don't even think about leaving so easily."
Lin Yun laughed in retort. "I'm afraid I can't do that. This small place of yours is not grand enough to accommodate a great god like me." His words were flippant. Even facing Gu Xiande, he remained calm and composed.
Gu Xiande didn't get angry. "Back then, you betrayed the sect and caused the deaths of so many. I spared you, considering your youth. I never expected you to dare to storm the sect for revenge this time! What a wolf-hearted, dog-lunged beast. But this is for the best. Killing you here today will rid the cultivation world of a menace."
As Gu Xiande spoke, the other elders had already begun to take their positions. Huang Yuhao watched, his expression one of surprise. To deal with a single Sky-Soaring Realm cultivator, Gu Xiande was actually deploying a killing array. Did this boy really warrant such cautious treatment? Some of the weaker disciples were already finding it hard to concentrate under the pressure of Lin Yun's killing intent domain.
Lin Yun's attention remained fixed on Gu Xiande.
[Name]: Chen Siyuan
[Realm]: Sky-Soaring Realm - Stage 2
[Destiny Template]: Unremarkable (Blue)
[Attributes]: Puppet Person (Black), No Great Ambitions (Green), Shortsighted (White)
[Fate]: Made into a puppet by a mysterious person, ultimately dying after losing his soul. [Recent Turning Point]: Was urgently interrogating Bai Zhuqing, but someone seized the opportunity to refine him into a soulless puppet.
What a sinister technique. Lin Yun felt a pang of worry when he saw Chen Siyuan's panel. A puppet? This method was truly evil. He could only wonder about Bai Zhuqing's condition. But judging by the panel, Bai Zhuqing was definitely here.
The moment Lin Yun drew near, Chen Siyuan jerked his head up. In a stiff, unnatural voice, he said, "Trespassers… will be killed without pardon."
After speaking, he charged forward at an incredible speed. Throughout the entire movement, his joints twisted unnaturally.
The Chongqing Bird warned him, "Be careful, boy. This is an extremely sinister puppet technique. Not only have they lost their sense of self, but they can also be used as a bomb."
To a puppeteer, a puppet was like a toy. It could serve its purpose, but it could also be used for a mutual-destruction suicide attack. The Chen Siyuan before him was very likely just that.
Lin Yun reacted instantly. The moment Chen Siyuan got close, he slashed out with his sword. The Coldflame Sword erupted with a scorching heatwave, its sword Qi taking form. One of Chen Siyuan's arms was severed completely. The smell of roasting flesh filled the air.
Lin Yun's brow furrowed. Though he had lost an arm, Chen Siyuan showed no sign of stopping. If anything, he became even more frenzied.
But Lin Yun did not hesitate. He immediately unleashed his Azure Origin Sword Style. Dozens of streams of sword Qi surrounded Chen Siyuan at top speed, then, with a series of muffled thuds, sliced him to pieces.
After finishing this, he rushed nervously into the interrogation room.
"Bai Zhuqing… how are you?" he called out, his eyes frantically searching.
Finally, he saw him, nailed to the wall.
Bai Zhuqing, his face deathly pale, looked up at Lin Yun. "Why did you come?"
Lin Yun rushed forward, taking out healing medicine and sprinkling it on Bai Zhuqing's wounds as he worked to free him from his bonds. "That old fox Gu Xiande wanted to use you to lure me out. I heard you were in trouble and came. I wasn't strong enough to save you before, but now I have the chance." Lin Yun said with a smile.
Bai Zhuqing's face hardened. "They actually used such despicable methods to deal with you? I never thought Gu Xiande could be so muddled."
Though he had been freed, Bai Zhuqing's body was extremely weak. After taking two steps, he could only sit down on the floor, his hands trembling slightly. He then gave Lin Yun a push.
"You should go. You don't have to do this for me." His eyes were firm.
But Lin Yun was even more resolute. "I'm already here. If you tell me to leave now, aren't you looking down on me, Lin Yun?" He shook his head. "I know those guys outside aren't easy to deal with. But I will not abandon you."
With that, Lin Yun strode forward and lifted Bai Zhuqing onto his back.
In truth, the moment Lin Yun had walked in and seen Bai Zhuqing, he knew. He was a step too late.
Bai Zhuqing had already been made into a puppet.
A wave of loss washed over him, followed by an even deeper hatred for himself. If only I had been a little faster.
He looked at the thick nails pinning Bai Zhuqing to the wall, at the hundreds of wounds, large and small, covering his body. He could only imagine what he had gone through during this time. Even a cultivator couldn't possibly withstand such mental and physical torture.
But Bai Zhuqing had endured.
Lin Yun clenched his fists, his eyes brimming with tears. Even knowing that this was no longer the real Bai Zhuqing, he would absolutely not abandon him now. Even if he had to die, he would carry him out of the Flowing Cloud Sect.
"You can rest assured," Lin Yun said, his voice firm as he looked toward the exit. "No one can stop me. No one."