Jiang Chen admitted that Wu You's concerns were not entirely without merit. The human heart was unpredictable, especially in an environment like this. Any possibility was on the table.
Perhaps Young Master Wei Yong and his group were also kept in the dark. Perhaps the other party was simply using them to dig a trap, with Jiang Chen as the real target.
After all, the Trial Pearls in Jiang Chen's possession were the real prize.
How many Trial Pearls could Young Master Suichen possibly have?
Moreover, if they could detain Young Master Suichen, why would they let someone weaker than him — Wei Yong — slip away?
All of this was riddled with suspicious points.
At the very least, in Jiang Chen's eyes, something was clearly off here.
Of course, Jiang Chen's composure remained rock-solid. He hadn't completely dismissed Wu You's warning, but he also had his own plans regarding any potential traps or conspiracies.
Before long, Wei Yong led them into a secluded valley. The terrain here was treacherous — nestled amid encircling mountain ranges, this deep gorge stood out as a place of exceptional tranquility.
"Where is it?" Gan Ning asked with a frown.
Wei Yong gave a bitter smile. "Not far into this valley now."
At this point, Gan Ning dropped all pretense of subtlety and said flatly, "Wei Yong, you wouldn't conspire with outsiders to lead us into a trap, would you?"
Wei Yong's face drained of color at the accusation.
"Heaven and earth bear witness — how could I, Wei Yong, ever betray my own sect brothers? If there is even a single falsehood in what I've said, may I be struck dead by five thunderbolts!"
Wei Yong clearly felt deeply insulted and swore a solemn oath on the spot.
Jiang Chen, however, merely said in a measured tone, "Enough. There's no need for suspicion among fellow sect members. Even if there is a conspiracy or a trap, the other side could have kept you in the dark and made you an unwitting pawn in all of this."
Wei Yong froze. In his rush, he hadn't considered this angle.
Gan Ning, however, nodded. "Senior Brother makes a good point. Perhaps they're simply using your group to scheme against Jiang Chen Senior Brother. How many Trial Pearls do you even have on hand? Would they really go to such lengths for you? Besides, if even Young Master Suichen couldn't escape, there's no reason you would have been able to, Young Master Wei Yong."
Wei Yong's heart trembled even more. Could it be that they had actually hit the mark? These people's target really was Jiang Chen, not his group?
If that was the case, then it was all the more pathetic.
"Let it be. It's too soon to say anything for certain." With nothing confirmed, Jiang Chen wasn't willing to commit to hard conclusions.
Entering the valley and passing through several narrow sheep-path trails, they soon arrived at a wide, open area that opened up dramatically before them.
A lone figure blocked the outer perimeter, coldly sizing up Jiang Chen and his companions.
"Who goes there?" The cultivator was dressed in white robes embroidered with the sigil of the Radiant Sacred Land. His bearing appeared refined and aloof.
Wei Yong put on an authoritative air and declared, "We are from the Eternal Sacred Land. Our Senior Brother Suichen merely exchanged greetings with your two Holy Maidens, yet you detained him — on what grounds? Now our Senior Brother Jiang Chen has come personally to demand his release. Shouldn't you release Young Master Suichen at once?"
"Jiang Chen?" The cultivator's expression shifted as he studied Jiang Chen. "So you're the genius Jiang Chen who defeated the Poison Consort Shi Qinglu and took care of Hu Lei?"
"The very same," Jiang Chen replied in an even, unhurried tone.
"You don't look like much — certainly no three heads and six arms. Nothing about you screams extraordinary. So why was Hu Lei no match for you, and why couldn't even the Poison Consort Shi Qinglu's venom harm you? Could the rumors in this Trial Zone be somewhat… exaggerated?" The white-robed cultivator seemed to be speaking to Jiang Chen, yet also appeared to be muttering to himself.