Chapter 375: Can We Talk?

Lu Feng voiced every method he could think of, ultimately deciding that going to a temple was the most reliable option.

After all, in a sacred place like that, that damn baleful aura certainly wouldn't dare approach.

Watching his panicked state, Gu Yang couldn't help but sigh. "Lu Feng, listen to me. Those things are likely targeting me. As long as you aren't with me, you'll be fine."

Lu Feng abruptly shut his mouth, staring at him with wide eyes.

"Am I the kind of person who would abandon a friend?"

Gu Yang naturally knew his character, but now was not the time to talk about loyalty.

"Lu Feng, calm down and think about it. You can't follow me twenty-four hours a day, and even if you threw yourself into this, it wouldn't change anything. Most importantly, I will find someone to handle this matter. Staying here will only become a burden to me."

His voice was cold and ruthless, and that last sentence was particularly hurtful, but Lu Feng knew he was saying it intentionally to protect him.

"Who are you going to look for? I can help you."

"You don't know those people, but don't worry, I will certainly be safe." Gu Yang raised his voice again, offering him a promise.

Although Lu Feng felt uneasy in his heart, he didn't show too much on his face.

His best friend never needed sympathy.

"Fine, but you have to let me stay here tonight. Look at me now; I definitely can't drive, and there's no telling if those things are still lingering around the car."

He was truly worried and afraid.

Gu Yang thought for a moment. "Staying here is fine, but you should go to Little Wang's place next door to spend the night."

After all, it wasn't safe here.

Lu Feng opened his mouth to say something more, but seeing Gu Yang's determined attitude, he could only give up.

In the dead of night, Gu Yang stood alone by the window, watching the bright moonlight outside. His thoughts, however, were on where Su Yan might be at this moment. What was she doing? Had she eaten enough and stayed warm? Was she in danger?

After an unknown amount of time, he sensed a change in the atmosphere of the room and finally withdrew his gaze.

The lit lamp suddenly went out, and the entire room instantly plunged into darkness.

Gu Yang gave a bitter smile; what was meant to come would always come.

Fortunately, the moonlight was bright tonight, pouring into the room through the window. Once he adjusted, he would be able to see his surroundings.

Clumps of black mist slowly seeped through the cracks of the tightly closed door, growing more and more.

Beyond his concern for himself, Gu Yang was even more worried about the others in the dormitory building.

Only when he held his breath and heard no cries for help did his hanging heart settle slightly.

If he caused others to suffer because of him, he would not be able to rest in peace even in death.

The baleful aura did not attack him immediately; instead, it gathered into a circle, trapping him within.

Gu Yang felt a sense of suffocation—true suffocation caused by the thinning air in the room.

The circle surrounding him was gradually contracting, slowly closing in on his body.

Aside from being imprisoned within it, Gu Yang could do nothing. This sense of powerlessness was something he had never experienced since childhood, and he loathed it.

His hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into tight fists, the veins on his arms bulging menacingly.

Just when he thought he was about to be swallowed by this baleful aura, a piercing light suddenly radiated from his body.

The terrifying baleful aura let out final wails before dissipating into the world.

Gu Yang had no idea what had happened; he only felt a wave of dizziness before losing consciousness.

***

The Zhou Family Ancestral Land.

Su Yan suddenly jolted awake. Originally, she had only intended to close her eyes for a moment, but she hadn't expected to actually fall asleep.

She seemed to have had a nightmare, but she couldn't remember a single thing about it upon waking.

Lifting her eyelids to look around, she saw that Ma Chulan, leaning not far away, had also long since entered a dream state.

Ma Chulong, who had been guarding nearby, saw her wake up and quickly walked over.

"Why did you wake up so soon?"

"How long was I asleep?"

Su Yan suppressed the thread of unease in her heart and confirmed with Ma Chulong.

"Only a little over half an hour." Seeing that her complexion wasn't great, Ma Chulong asked, "Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Su Yan shook her head. "No, I'm not sleepy anymore. You should rest."

"I can still hold out." Fatigue was evident in Ma Chulong's eyes, yet he was still concerned for her.

Su Yan persisted, "Sleep for a while. We don't know what we'll encounter when we enter the third stage."

Ma Chulong's expression grew even more serious. To be honest, he had prepared himself mentally before coming here, but after actually experiencing it, he realized everything here was far too eerie.

He was uncertain what kind of trial they would face in the third stage; the only thing worth being grateful for was that no one had been sacrificed in the first two stages.

"Alright, I'll have to trouble you then."

A place like this never truly allowed one to feel at ease.

Su Yan gave no particular response. Once Ma Chulong sat down beside Ma Chulan and closed his eyes, she simply stood up.

Most people were resting. After walking a few steps, Su Yan saw the Kong family members not far away.

Kong Nian was still avoiding everyone's line of sight, clearly hiding something.

Just as Su Yan intended to look away, "Ruan Tao" suddenly woke up and accurately captured her gaze.

Su Yan did not flinch or dodge; she met his eyes directly.

In the next second, under her gaze, Ruan Tao slowly stood up and walked straight toward her without disturbing anyone nearby.

A moment later, the two stood face to face.

"Miss Su, could we speak privately?"

Su Yan did not refuse. Following Ruan Tao's gesture, she kept pace with him.

Only after they had moved away from the area where everyone was resting did Ruan Tao finally stop.

When he looked at Su Yan again, his eyes were unfathomable.

"I heard Miss Su is from Fengcheng? That you lived in a place called Daliushu Village when you were a child?"

Su Yan was not at all surprised that he knew these things. If the Kong family wanted to investigate someone, it would certainly be effortless.

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

The fact that she could still converse with the Kong family with such "calmness" was already her limit.

"How could there be a problem? I have heard some things about Miss Su, and I feel that Miss Su should have some connection to our Kong family."

Listening to his words, Su Yan's gaze grew increasingly cold.

"I would actually prefer to have no connection to the Kong family at all. Don't you agree, Uncle-Master Kong?"

Since things had already come to this, there was no need to hide anything. She decided to tear through the veil and get straight to the point to see what he actually wanted.

Kong Xiang, inside Ruan Tao's body, was stunned for a moment, but he quickly recovered.

This girl's skill was indeed quite significant. Even Zhou Li and Ma Chulong had not noticed his abnormality, yet she could be so certain.

As expected, the Patriarch's decision was not wrong.

(End of Chapter)