Chapter Sixty: Captured

Seeing Cang Ling’s indifferent demeanor, Hu Mo almost wished he could find a tall tree and hang himself—this was truly bullying at its worst. It was no different from pushing someone down, taking full advantage, and then ruthlessly abandoning them.

Cang Ling hummed an unknown tune to herself, paying no attention to Hu Mo’s miserable expression. After taking a dozen steps, she suddenly spoke, “That little girl seemed quite heartbroken just now. I didn’t expect you to be quite so charming.”

“Huh? What did you say?” Hu Mo was momentarily stunned, staring at Cang Ling in confusion.

Cang Ling gave a light snort, smiled coolly, and said, “Are you really that naïve, or are you pretending? After she heard what I said, it was as if a hundred jars of vinegar had been smashed. If I’m not mistaken, she’s probably hiding in a corner crying right now.”

“Uh... no way.” Hu Mo couldn’t help but blurt out, staring blankly at Cang Ling.

“Believe it or don’t, it’s none of my concern. I’ll go on ahead; honestly, coming out here with you is incredibly dull.” With a disgruntled huff, Cang Ling stepped sideways and vanished from Hu Mo’s sight. Hu Mo realized that he became utterly disoriented in front of this sorceress—what on earth was happening?

“A witch is a witch. Even if I reincarnated three times, I’d still be nothing more than a child in front of her.” Hu Mo sighed, walking forward alone.

He hadn’t gone far when the Azure King Cauldron suddenly began to stir, and a powerful sense of warning welled up in his heart.

“Something’s wrong!” Hu Mo’s expression changed abruptly; just as he tried to use Wind and Cloud Steps, a tremendous force pressed in from all directions.

“Too late—Four Directions Trap, activate!” A heavy voice rang out, and the oppressive force transformed into a vast net, binding Hu Mo tightly. Despite his best efforts, he was compelled to give up—compared to this power, he was utterly insignificant.

Moreover, he was shocked to discover that his surroundings had shifted. The familiar stone street was replaced by luxuriant trees, and Hu Mo was certain the scene before him couldn’t possibly be within Flame City.

“A teleportation array? Impossible! Wasn’t it said to be lost to history?” Anxiety instantly shrouded Hu Mo’s heart. Stranger still, his connection with Cang Ling was suddenly severed, leaving him even more unsettled.

Who were these people? What did they want? Countless questions tangled in his mind, throwing him into confusion.

“No, I must stay calm! This isn’t the time to panic.” Hu Mo reassured himself, and soon the surroundings stabilized.

He found himself at the center of a huge array. Around him, four middle-aged men in green robes sat cross-legged, faint green light radiating from their bodies, coalescing into a shield the size of the array itself, enveloping him.

Through the green shield, Hu Mo saw a silver-haired man standing opposite, gazing at him with a slight smile.

Hu Mo was certain he didn’t know this man. The aura emanating from the group was strange—both familiar and utterly foreign.

As he pondered, Hu Mo’s gaze shifted, and he spotted a familiar figure. Zhu Xinyue, who had just been speaking with him, was also captured, lying on the ground with her eyes closed.

“No way—how did they catch her too? What are these people trying to do?” Hu Mo muttered, struggling to muster some power by activating the Three Treasures, hoping to boost his strength and break the confinement.

To his disappointment, the binding force had penetrated deep into his soul. He knew, this time, he was truly trapped.

“That’s enough. Guardians, you’ve done well.” The silver-haired man spoke softly, his warm smile never wavering.

“As you command, Young Master!” The four green-robed men finished their work; the green shield shrank and condensed into a point of light, which settled on Hu Mo’s forehead. Hu Mo gave a bitter smile—these fellows were truly extraordinary.

Just a speck of green light achieved the same effect as before, leaving Hu Mo utterly helpless. He realized how foolish it had been to come without guards, and he was furious at Cang Ling for vanishing early—hadn’t she promised to protect him? How could she disappear at such a crucial moment?

“You must be the eldest son of the Hu family. To meet Flame City’s most notorious playboy is truly a pleasure. Although this meeting may not suit your tastes, I had no choice but to arrange it this way. Let me introduce myself: my family name is Dongfang, and my given name is Jun. You may call me Jun, or even Brother Jun, as you wish. These four are my retainers: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise. As for the one lying over there, she should be familiar to you—your nation’s little princess. Like you, she’s an honored guest, though somewhat uncooperative, so I had to let her sleep for a while.” Dongfang Jun’s smile was radiant, as if chatting with an old friend.

Hu Mo was truly shaken by his words. This man had a handsome face, but his thick skin was remarkable. Especially that “Brother Jun” remark—Hu Mo was nearly nauseated. In his mind, he instinctively compared this man to Huang Sheng from the past.

But now was not the time for idle thoughts. The enemy outnumbered him, and not only did he lack powerful allies, but he also had the burden of Zhu Xinyue. Even if he managed to regain his strength, the odds of escaping were nearly zero.

Though Zhu Xinyue always pestered him, Hu Mo wasn’t the type to abandon anyone. Saving her was simply his nature.

Turning to face Dongfang Jun, Hu Mo met his timeless smile. Rather than putting on a stern face, he smiled faintly and said, “Dongfang Jun? That’s quite a name. You’ve revived a long-lost teleportation array and captured the imperial princess—your backgrounds must be extraordinary. But with such power at your command, why target someone as insignificant as me? Don’t tell me you’re jealous of my good looks.”

“But your silver hair would surely entrance countless infatuated girls. If you showed up in Flame City, I’d probably lose all my popularity to you, ha ha…”

His own words sent a chill down his spine. As the saying goes, “Speak to people as people, speak to ghosts as ghosts.” When dealing with someone with such thick skin, one must respond in kind, never losing spirit.

“Ha ha, fascinating, truly fascinating. Young Master Hu is indeed a remarkable person. It seems Elder Tianji’s prediction of a variable was correct after all.” Dongfang Jun’s smile remained unchanged, but his eyes shifted dramatically.

One’s expression might hide one’s thoughts, but not the eyes. Hu Mo could sense a flicker of murderous intent in Dongfang Jun’s gaze, while his four retainers stirred, like tigers poised to pounce and tear him apart.

Hu Mo’s heart clenched; his life hung by a thread. He had no time to ponder Elder Tianji’s prophecy—his only focus was how to escape.

“What to do? I can’t just sit here and wait for death! No matter what, I must fight!” Hu Mo thought to himself, one hand behind his back, forming a secret seal.

His only hope now was the Five Element Transformation; if he could summon even a trace of power and connect it to the Three Treasures within, he might break the restraint. The explosive force of Chaos Water and Fire was not to be underestimated.

As he formed the seal, he had to divide his attention. He sensed Dongfang Jun’s aura growing stronger—everything was coming to a head.

“Ha ha, though I don’t know who you are or why you’ve captured me, to kill upon first meeting seems a bit excessive, don’t you think? Are you so afraid of ‘long nights and many dreams’? Why not sit and talk? Perhaps we share common interests—we could even become sworn brothers!” Hu Mo laughed, though inwardly he felt bitter. The restraint was so powerful it bordered on the absurd; in his usual cultivation, he relied on the Three Treasures, which ceaselessly drew in external energy to enhance his strength.

Now, as he personally tried to absorb and convert external energy, he discovered a tragic problem—a membrane seemed to form on his skin, blocking all outside power from entering.

The Three Treasures were like a vast barrel, needing only a small spark to ignite tremendous force. That spark was the battle power Hu Mo had to summon.

Dongfang Jun signaled with his eyes, and his four retainers paused their buildup. Had they attacked earlier, Hu Mo would have been obliterated hundreds of times over.

“You make a good point. For now, I don’t feel like acting so hastily.” Dongfang Jun ran his fingers through his snowy hair; the breeze lifted it, enhancing his handsome appearance.

“Young Master, the master said the variable cannot remain! The crystal can’t sustain this for long,” said the coldest, most fierce-looking retainer. The murderous aura surged again. Among them, only Azure Dragon exuded such hostility—he was clearly a born killer.

Dongfang Jun shook his head, smiling gently. “Azure Dragon, you worry too much. I’ll kill those who need killing; I won’t leave hidden dangers. I had hoped to chat a bit longer with Young Master Hu, but it seems there’s no more opportunity. Very well, Guardians, please take the princess away, and… send Young Master Hu on his way.”