Run?
Facing the eerie presence of over a dozen clan elders, fleeing was indeed the best option. Zhang Haike was not the type to charge headfirst into certain death like a fool.
But how could these eerie beings be so easily shaken off? If no one stayed behind to draw their attention, how could anyone escape?
He had intended to charge forward. He didn't believe the clan elders couldn't see the current situation, but the elders told him to run?
"Sizzle—"
Zhang Qiling swiftly severed a decaying long sword from the hand of an eerie being with a powerful slash. To his surprise, it lunged forward and gripped the blade of the Black Gold Ancient Saber!
The saber spun, severing the dried corpse's palm with a grating sound of metal cracking. In that brief moment of pause, the eerie beings behind them pounced, their fingers transforming into blades, tearing a bloody gash on Zhang Qiling's back!
A wave of intense pain washed over him. The corpse poison that entered his body reacted violently with his internal Qilin blood. Without any hesitation, Zhang Qiling spun, evading the encirclement of other eerie beings, and flipped backward to land.
Blood dripped, and the Black Gold Ancient Saber hummed as flames ignited, charging towards the eerie beings with savage fury. But just as the two were about to collide, the milky white substance rolling on the ground, like a parasite, rapidly ascended the dried corpses' legs. In an instant, a thick, armored shell formed on the bodies of these eerie beings!
The milky white substance was quickly burned away, only to regenerate rapidly, creating a stalemate on the dried corpses' surfaces. The eerie beings, devoid of emotion or sensation, charged through the waves of fire!
Zhang Qiling held his saber across his chest, looking back to find Zhang Haike still standing there, frozen like a fool. A sense of urgency gripped him.
"Run quickly—!"
"..."
Zhang Haike's lips twitched, a look of extreme pain on his face. He took a deep breath, noticing the milky white substances approaching him, and stumbled back a step.
"...Clan Elder, wait for me."
Zhang Qiling, once again surrounded, did not respond, it was unclear if he heard him.
Zhang Haike was not one to hesitate after making a decision. He cast one last glance at Zhang Qiling, then instantly turned, his speed reaching its maximum in the blink of an eye!
...Faster, faster!
He rushed past the human-faced turtle sculpture. The towering human-faced turtle watched him impassively, as if with mockery.
...As long as I can make it back to the clan grounds, if I can call for reinforcements, there might still be hope!
He plunged into the deep, dark pool. The awakened leeches swarmed towards him but retreated instantly upon sensing the Qilin blood Zhang Qiling had left on Zhang Haike's arm.
...The Clan Elder has already cleared most of the traps ahead. Reinforcements will arrive quickly. Everything will be fine.
Zhang Haike sprinted up the spiral staircase, bursting out of the ink jade qilin's mouth at the main entrance, as if escaping the divine beast that the Zhang family had worshipped for generations.
Light streamed in through the broken turtle shell, almost blinding Zhang Haike. He ran towards the light, and as he burst out, he felt only a vast expanse of white snow rapidly approaching.
...He knelt on the ground.
The old men were standing there, and seeing him emerge, they rushed forward with joy.
"Where is the Clan Elder? Did the Clan Elder find the Mother Bell?"
"Please..." Zhang Haike grabbed the hem of an elder's robe with all his might, his veins bulging, his raised face terrifyingly pale. "Please, Elder, lead people into the sacred land to rescue the Clan Elder!"
Zhang Haike still held onto hope, but this hope shattered bit by bit as the elders' expressions turned cold.
"...Is that so? He couldn't make it either." The elders exchanged glances, their faces showing deep disappointment and disdain.
"Since he couldn't produce the Mother Bell, it only proves he is not the destined Clan Elder our Zhang family has long awaited."
"Rescue? Hah!"
"...But the Clan Elder found the Mother Bell." Zhang Haike lied. He knew these people were already planning to abandon Zhang Qiling. His blood felt almost frozen in the snow, and he could barely distinguish what he was saying.
"If no one goes to rescue him, what about the Mother Bell?"
"The Mother Bell, ah, the Mother Bell..." The elders seemed to hesitate. Zhang Haike thought they might change their minds, but in the end, they revealed strange smiles.
"If he dies, we'll send someone else in. The Zhang family never lacks for Clan Elders."
...In their eyes, the Zhang family Clan Elder was merely a glorious and precious consumable.
A swarm of bees seemed to enter Zhang Haike's mind, buzzing noisily, sucking his brain matter, piercing his skull, and frantically trying to break free.
He stood there, stunned. By the time he came to his senses, they were gone, leaving only the dirty, pathetic snow trampled underfoot.
...This was supposed to be clean white snow.
Light fell on the ground, reflecting into Zhang Haike's eyes. For a moment, he even began to fear the overly strong sunlight.
(You're afraid of the dark) Zhang Qiling's calm and certain voice somehow flashed in his mind.
Zhang Haike didn't know what he was thinking. He just suddenly felt that perhaps he wasn't afraid of the dark, but now, he truly feared the light.
...He truly feared these people who, under the light, were rotten to the point of foulness, and in the darkness, were terrifying and horrifying.
There was no point in seeking help from these inner clan members. The overseas Zhang family would also not rashly go to war with the inner clan for a Clan Elder they had never met.
The Zhang family Clan Elder was indeed a consumable, especially a solitary one like Zhang Qiling, with no foundation and no followers.
Zhang Haike knew that the overseas Zhang family had always harbored resentment towards the inner clan, constantly thinking of overthrowing them to become the main branch of the Zhang family. However, they were also a cautious group, like fish that wouldn't bite the bait or take the hook. If they didn't see a sure chance of victory, they would never make a move, preferring to lie in wait in remote places.
But how could Zhang Haike possibly show them a sure chance of victory now?
Zhang Qiling was just a person with amnesia. He knew nothing, had no one to support him, no backing. Where—
Wait.
Zhang Haike suddenly stopped. Hope flared in his hollow eyes, his pale face suddenly lit up.
Trembling, he reached into his inner lining and pulled out a human skin mask.
This mask, which had led to him being beaten by Zhang Qiling, was not easily kept intact due to its fine craftsmanship. He simply dared not wear it in front of Zhang Qiling anymore.
He held the mask in his hands, staring intently at the young, cheerful face, and a bold idea gradually formed in his mind.
...He had also participated in the investigation and research of Zhang Qiling's past. He knew that Wu Tianzhen and Wang Pangzi had somehow gotten involved with the Xie family and, along with the capable Xie Yuchen, were tracking down Zhang family spies.
The overseas Zhang family was unwilling to go to war with the inner clan because they saw no hope of a decisive blow. But in reality, the strength of the two branches should be roughly equal.
If the Xie family were willing to join this campaign against the inner clan—
Moreover, they would be fighting for the current Clan Elder, which, in name, held complete legitimacy. If this battle were successful, the overseas Zhang family could soar, becoming a meritorious branch supporting the Clan Elder in punishing the rebels!
...Would this still not tempt the overseas Zhang family?
Zhang Haike fell into a strange calm. He slowly stood up, avoiding any onlookers, and slipped into the large mansion where Zhang Qiling had resided.
The old men were quick. In just this short time, all the guards and attendants in the mansion had been withdrawn.
Zhang Haike rummaged in a corner and found the black clothes Zhang Qiling had taken off when he first arrived. This clothing had been torn into strips by him for bandages and was still stained with large patches of blood.
After the Zhang family sent an identical set of clothes, this damaged black garment had been kept here.
He carefully folded the clothes, concealed them inside his outer garment, and then requested leave from the elders under the pretext of completing his mission and returning to report to the overseas Zhang family.
The old men were indifferent to his sudden change in attitude. Zhang Haike didn't know if it was because he was as insignificant as grass in their eyes, or because these elders felt his current indifference to the Clan Elder was the normal behavior.
He calmly walked out of the inner clan's territory and then instantly unleashed his full strength, charging forward!
The tattered clothes felt scorching hot in his embrace. Zhang Haike felt as if he had descended into madness.
Now, all he could hope for was that the person the Clan Elder, even with his amnesia, kept thinking about, would not betray him.