Chapter 108: The Capture

Ji Jiuxuan glanced at her elder cousin’s expression and somewhat guessed what was going on.

“Do as you wish. But can that person be found?” Judging by the situation, it seemed quite difficult to track him down.

“It’s possible, but we might have to leave the city,” the phantom said, growing very serious. “If you go outside the city, you could encounter danger. You must be fully aware of that.”

For so many years, there had been no news of her father and mother. Now, for the first time, there was a faint clue.

She did not want to let it slip away.

In this lifetime, she was willing to open her heart to those around her and protect them. So as long as there was even the slightest hope, she would never give up.

“Brother, I know where that person is.”

“Where?” Meeting Ji Jiuxuan’s gaze, Ji Xiuqi was slightly surprised. The person had just left, yet his younger sister already knew where he was. It was hard not to be suspicious.

This was how the Ji family was—once trust was given, it was never doubted. This was one of the core beliefs that allowed the Ji family to become the strongest clan on the southern coast.

Now, he trusted his younger sister. As long as she didn’t want to say, he would never force her.

“Outside the city.” Ji Jiuxuan had thought of countless ways to explain, but found that her elder cousin did not press for details.

He even asked, “Do you know which city gate exactly?”

There were four main gates in Liangzhou City, each facing a different direction. Knowing the precise gate would make the search easier and save time.

Ji Jiuxuan asked the phantom, “Do you know the exact location?”

The phantom looked toward the great black dragon circling in the void, his voice firm and unquestionable. “Go help draw it.”

Long Xuan was one of his soul fragments. Judging by the tone, one might think he was his subordinate.

But considering his own nature—ruthless to others and to himself—he had no intention of digging deeper.

Without hesitation, Long Xuan said, “Alright, I will draw it.”

This way, Ji Jiu wouldn’t have to leave the city, avoiding danger. The black dragon’s exposure was no problem at all, and it also helped explain how Ji Jiu knew the information.

Just as Ji Jiuxuan thought the phantom would not answer, the black dragon resting in her hand suddenly awakened, looking up at her. “I will help you draw it.”

She knew Long Xuan’s abilities, so without hesitation, she took out pen and paper from the space.

Considering Long Xuan’s small frame, it would be impossible for him to hold the pen.

So she took out a large sand tray from the space.

This was the kitchen utensil she usually used when cooking sandpot stewed goose—just the right tool for the job.

At that moment, Ji Xiuqi’s mind filled in the blanks, convinced that the information must have come from Ji Jiu’s beast companion, which likely possessed some special ability.

All his previous doubts vanished as he looked at the tiny, slender dragon no bigger than a loach, wondering how it could pinpoint the other’s location.

Long Xuan’s body was enveloped in a golden spiritual aura. As his spiritual power fluctuated, the sand tray changed.

At its center suddenly rose a sandcastle resembling a city. As the sand tray shifted, the scenery outside the city walls transformed as well—trees, rivers, and not far off, a small black figure formed from sand and stone debris moved rapidly, while several white figures within the city scurried about like headless flies searching for something.

“The black figure is that person; the white ones are your people.”

Ji Xiuqi was stunned and quickly took out his communication jade pendant to inform the dispatched men of the black-clad man’s position.

In the next moment, the white figures rushed out of the city at high speed, charging toward the black figure.

Both Ji Jiuxuan and Ji Xiuqi kept their eyes fixed on the changes in the sand tray. Whenever the black figure made a move, Ji Xiuqi sent messages via jade slips to those on the ground.

Soon, the black-clad man was found, and a fierce battle ensued.

Though the sand tray couldn’t fully depict their fight, Ji Jiuxuan surprisingly could discern how the battle unfolded.

Before long, the black-clad man was captured by the white figures.

Since she hadn’t warned them in time, Ji Jiuxuan immediately said, “Brother, this person is not to be underestimated. Be cautious.”

“Understood, I’ll instruct them,” Ji Xiuqi said. The fact that this person had escaped the Ji family’s hidden guards before meant he was formidable. They had indeed been careless just now.

Watching the white figures bring the black figure safely into the city and into the Ji family’s guesthouse, the sand tray finally returned to calm.

At this moment, Long Xuan’s soul did not return to the ring but remained alert, watching the surroundings. He was ready to act if Ji Jiuxuan encountered danger.

The phantom would only appear if no one was around or if the opponent was sure to die.

Since Long Xuan had a physical form, he was more convenient to have present.

Just then, the barrier was lifted. A tall, burly man wearing the Ji family’s combat robe entered, his expression grave, carrying a person.

The captive was bound with immortal restraining cords, looking dejected.

Upon seeing Ji Jiuxuan, his eyes instantly lit up with calculation.

Ji Xiuqi noticed the change too, his guard deepening.

“Young master, I have just investigated. There is nothing on this person related to those two,” the hidden guard said cautiously, not naming Ji Minghuai or the others to be absolutely sure.

Ji Jiuxuan looked at the black dragon and asked in her heart, “Long Xuan, I can sense the aura of father and mother, but I can’t detect what exactly on this person stores their essence.”

Normally, if it were in the spatial realm, it would be completely undetectable. So Ji Jiuxuan was certain that the object was outside, but she simply couldn’t find it.

“It’s on his waist.”

She hurriedly looked up. Apart from a jade pendant hanging at the waist, there was nothing else.

“Is it that jade pendant?” Such items were indeed easy to conceal things within.

Ji Jiuxuan said to the burly man, “Uncle Fang, please check the jade pendant at his waist. That’s where it must be.”

The black-clad man’s expression shifted slightly at her words but quickly regained composure, as if it were just an ordinary jade pendant.

This aroused Ji Jiuxuan’s suspicion. She warned Uncle Fang, “Be careful, there may be a trick.”

This person was clearly no ordinary man.

The black-clad man showed nothing but displeasure. “Let me go! This is outrageous. You’ve bound me and now want to take my things?”

He spoke angrily yet without aggression, clearly pleading for release.

If it weren’t for the aura growing clearer in her perception, she might have thought they had captured the wrong man.

Uncle Fang ignored his words and simply removed the jade pendant from his waist.

The black-clad man struggled to grab it back, but the restraining cords tightened, rendering him powerless.

“There’s nothing inside,” Uncle Fang examined the pendant carefully. Although it was intricately crafted, he found nothing hidden within.

When the pendant was placed on the table, a fleeting glint of triumph flashed in the black-clad man’s eyes—quick and vanishing.

Thank you for the moon tickets cast by Purple Camellia!

(End of chapter)