Chapter 1107: A Place Where Time and Space Are Chaotic
Zheng Da used a detection item and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that there was indeed an item ahead.
But amidst the relief, he found it unbelievable. They had clearly walked in a straight line, so why had they circled back to the starting point?
"Could it be that everything we perceive is fake?" Wang Mo couldn't help but ask.
Who knew? Even Jiang Wenzhang didn't dare to actually go up and touch his own item, let alone retrieve it. What if Xu Huo was using this method to lure him into retrieving the item?
"Then use a long-distance teleportation item," he gritted his teeth. "Have one person go back to report. I don't believe his spiritual realm has no boundaries!"
"Maybe we should all just leave," Zhao Xiaofang suggested. "They're still soaking in the water anyway. We can come back later and still make it in time."
Jiang Wenzhang and Zheng Da were unwilling to leave. Besides coveting that large piece of Subclass Stone, the "Impenetrable from Within" was an A-grade item. If something went wrong midway, it would undoubtedly shake Jiang Wenzhang's foundation in Xiaohe City—at the very least, he needed a powerful item to intimidate others. Otherwise, even with Mr. Kang's protection, if another player actually killed him, would Mr. Kang avenge him?
Inside the protective barrier, sweat beaded on Jiang Wenzhang's forehead. He now realized what it meant to be in a dilemma—unwilling to give up the A-grade item and leave, yet having to take a huge risk to stay. He couldn't go, and he couldn't stay!
"Try once more," Zheng Da made the decision. "If we walk again and still end up back here, we'll use the teleportation item. Once we're out, Zhao Xiaofang and Wang Mo will go back to report and call for more people. Jiang Wenzhang and I will guard the edge of the woods. If Xu Huo comes out, we'll use a signal flare to notify you, and then you can head straight back to the city."
After discussing it, they set off immediately, but half a minute later, they were back at the same spot. They exchanged glances and simultaneously used space teleportation items.
Jiang Wenzhang and Zheng Da successfully escaped the woods, while Wang Mo and Zhao Xiaofang were teleported even farther away. Seeing the flashing signal light in the distance, Jiang Wenzhang finally relaxed. He turned to Zheng Da and said, "I was really afraid we wouldn't be able to escape his control range."
"No matter how strong he is, he's just a C-grade player. It's already abnormally strong for his spiritual power to affect reality. If he could really control an area spanning over a kilometer, he'd almost be on par with Mr. Kang!" Zheng Da said dismissively.
Mentioning Mr. Kang eased Jiang Wenzhang's expression a bit, but he also felt some regret. "If I had returned to Xiaohe City first and handed this matter over to Mr. Kang, it would have been better."
Zheng Da paused. "I'm just afraid Mr. Kang might keep him here. Then where would we stand?"
Jiang Wenzhang wasn't particularly outstanding. The reason Mr. Kang valued him was because of his special trait, which was very useful for Mr. Kang's control over the entire Xiaohe City. If Xu Huo stayed, he would definitely be replaced.
Zheng Da seemed to see his worry and grinned. "Then get rid of him. Keeping him here isn't easy, but getting rid of him is a piece of cake, isn't it?"
Jiang Wenzhang's expression shifted slightly, clearly tempted.
Zheng Da squinted his eyes, a hint of sarcasm in his tone. "I've risked my life for Mr. Kang, but it seems I'm not even worth as much as someone who stirs up trouble with gossip."
Jiang Wenzhang looked up at him. "You still want to make a move?"
"Would I dare?" Zheng Da crossed his arms. "I'm afraid you'll go back and tattle to Mr. Kang!"
"Just speak plainly, don't be so sarcastic," Jiang Wenzhang said, getting a bit angry.
"I learned it from you, didn't I?" Zheng Da laughed, then continued, "The missing persons cases caused by foreign players—you and I both know the truth of that. Don't really think I'm clueless. Some of those player remains found in the wild were even arranged by me personally!"
Jiang Wenzhang stared at him in shock and quickly said, "Do you know what you're saying?"
Zheng Da sat down on a rock. "You don't know?"
Jiang Wenzhang looked at him with suspicion. "You mean the mysterious disappearances weren't caused by foreign players at all!"
"You really don't know?" Zheng Da countered, studying his expression before saying, "Sometimes when I go out, Mr. Kang gives me these kinds of tasks."
Jiang Wenzhang was confused. "How could the mysterious disappearances not be caused by foreign players? Wasn't it because they entered and triggered high-risk instances, causing spatial chaos?"
"No wonder... no wonder sometimes a few people die inexplicably in the city, right around the time new players go missing... and you were the one who took people to dispose of the bodies!"
He suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Zheng Da's arm, pressing for an answer. "Is that how Xiao Dao died too?"
Zheng Da was taller than him and didn't answer his questions. He just looked down at him, his expression full of contempt.
Jiang Wenzhang suddenly became agitated. "There are so many people in Xiaohe City, why did you have to pick Xiao Dao?"
Xiao Dao was an orphan Jiang Wenzhang had adopted, resembling him in both appearance and personality.
"What do you think?" Zheng Da pushed his hand away. "Who told you to be so annoying? Do you really think Mr. Kang values someone like you?"
"Calling you stupid, you've got a bit of cunning. Calling you smart, you just hide in the gutter like a rat and whine. You don't really think anyone enjoys being around someone like you, do you?"
"You? You're fit to just skulk alone in a corner, living less like a human being."
Jiang Wenzhang stumbled back two steps, then swung a long blade that appeared in his hand at "Zheng Da"!
"Zheng Da" easily blocked his arm and teased, "I haven't even said the harsher stuff yet, and you can't take it?"
"I'll kill you!" Jiang Wenzhang charged at him recklessly, but perhaps because he had lost his composure, even though both were injured, Zheng Da handled him with ease. After a few exchanges, Jiang Wenzhang was pinned to the ground by an item.
"Zheng Da" stepped on his face. "To be honest, I've had my eye on your items for a long time."
The blade pressed against Jiang Wenzhang's neck. The bone-chilling cold seemed to penetrate through his protective suit and reach his skin. He suddenly snapped out of it and shouted, "Do you dare kill me? Mr. Kang still relies on my trait to influence foreign players!"
"It doesn't matter. Someone will replace you soon." "Zheng Da's" movements didn't hesitate.
But Jiang Wenzhang had a flash of inspiration. "That Xu guy and his group came from 002 Night City. They didn't jump to the new wormhole point, so they can only stay in the instance for a little over twenty days at most. Think about how you'll explain that to Mr. Kang!"
"Over twenty days?" "Zheng Da" paused. "Do you think I'm stupid? Even if we drag it out until the next high-risk instance, it'll take three months."
Jiang Wenzhang said with undisguised sarcasm, "And you claim to work for Mr. Kang? You can't even see this? The time in Xiaohe City is different from the time in other places of the high-risk instance. There's no need to wait three months. Players who fail to successfully jump the wormhole point will be teleported out!"
(Chapter End)