Chapter 109 - Wu Xianhai (2)

Everyone in the cave was shocked by Kai's words. 

"Illusion Demon?!", Song Wei yelled in horror. Being from a large family meant that she had access to knowledge that most people did not. She knew that Illusion Demons were terrifying existences that only appeared in Pocket Dimensions.

"That can't be...there shouldn't be any in this one, it is controlled by a sect!, and not just any sect, but the Twin Lions Sect!.", she yelled while turning her head over to Wu Xianhai for confirmation.

Wu Xianhai simply starred at Kai with indifference then quietly closed her eyes. "If it has reappeared in this location, then we will have to escape quickly. Please free me, I can help you escape..."

Song Wei was dumbfounded by the response. "Has the Twin-Lions sect been aware of the Illusion Demon this whole time?", she asked in disbelief with tears running down her eyes. 

"Was the recruitment even real?...". She asked while remembering the words of her father, urging her to participate at all costs and to be accepted into the Twin-Lions Sect just like her sister before her.

Wu Xianhai did not answer and only stared at Kai intently.

Hou Zhou had heard of Illusion Demons but did not understand the gravity of the situation until he saw the hopeless look in Song Wei's eyes. He nervously turned towards Kai who had the key to all their lives in his hands.

Kai stood up while scratching his head. It was true that he had seen the Illusion beast and sensed the immense Qi fluctuations in the distance so he quickly turned to run as far as possible, however, Kai didn't feel that his speed was fast enough to outrun it.

He then thought of Wu Xianhai's flying carpet, but the artifact had stopped functioning as soon as she passed out and Kai hadn't been able to get it working again.

"We can cut a deal then. I'll let you go but only if you give me the magic carpet and show me how to use it." Kai said while pointing at the carpet in the corner nearby.

"It's not a magic carpet!. This rare and highly sought after flying artifact is made from the most powerful flying beast's hides, carefully crafted into an artifact by a master-craftsman using ten High-Grade Wind-Qi beast cores!", She yelled which surprised everyone.

"...sure, well whatever you want to call. Do you agree?"

"...I cannot...It is bound to be, just like the ring. Unless I give my..."

"Approval?, yeah yeah, which I'm assuming you still won't give huh?. Look, we're all running out of time". Kai said as he pulled the collar off her neck, shocking her in the process.

"I decide where we go. You deviate from my path, I kill you. You try to run away, I kill you. You even so much as look at me the wrong way...I'm sure I don't have to say what happens right?". Kai asked in a severe tone, making all three of them shudder in fear. 

"..."

Wu Xianhai nodded her head while looking at the spatial ring on his finger. 

"Summon the carpet...", Kai said as he stood off to the side while holding onto her arm tightly. She wouldn't be able to slip out of his grip like last time.

Wu Xianhai looked over to Kai but did not say anything. She closed her eyes and concentrated her Qi. After a few seconds, the carpet unwrapped itself then floated towards her. Kai nodded his head and placed Hou Zhou and Song Wei on the carpet to Wu Xianhai's surprise. 

"You're taking them with?". She asked seriously while looking at them with some disdain. She did not hate them, but simply had a hatred for weakness in general. She felt that they were useless and would simply slow them down.

Kai noticed this and quickly came up with an idea. He put on the most innocent face he could and gave the two a warm smile. "Well, we've been tied together as comrades against the Twin-Lions Sect's deceitful actions. It turns out that my carefree explorations have uncovered a hideous truth that you hoped to keep under wraps", Kai said to Wu Xianhai in a calm tone.

"You sent us into this pocket dimension to fight an illusion Demon. Not just any Illusion Demon, but one at [Grade-4]!". Kai said while feigning ignorance.  To any outsider, it would seem that Kai had only recently found out about the Illusion Demon's presence and was outraged at having his life put in danger.

Wu Xianhai remained silent as Song Wei nodded her head in anger but was completely stunned when she replayed Kai's words in her mind.

"G...grade-4?. Are you sure?!", She asked with a trembling voice.

Kai nodded his head solemnly. He looked up as if giving up then spoke.

"The Qi fluctuations were undeniable. That creature has to be at [Grade-4] or above...". Kai said while shaking his head.

Song Wei's head slumped over as she started mumbling to herself. "or above?...were doomed, thoroughly doomed!".

Hou Zhou seemed conflicted as he listened to Kai. The look on Wu Xianhai's face was more than enough confirmation to prove that what Kai was saying had to be true, but the calm tone he used was just too suspicious.

'Could he have known from the start?. If so, then he must be confident in surviving. This has to be why he separated himself from the group, he must have known!. If I stick with him, I'll have a higher chance of getting out of here.', Hou Zhou thought to himself while looking at Kai in awe. 

He willingly entered a pocket dimension while knowing that a [Grade-4] Illusion demon inside. He either had to be a complete fool or extremely confident in his ability to escape. Hou Zhou wanted to bet on the latter.

Kai could only smile inwardly while sowing the seeds of distrust against the Twin-Lions sect. This was all to make himself seem like one of the victims. Kai figured that if he could turn all the victims against the Twin-Lions Sect, then slipping out during the chaos would be a simple matter.

Kai unlocked Hou Zhou and Song Wei's collars as a show of good faith then instructed Wu Xianhai to get onto the carpet. Kai wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, making her blush slightly.

"If you try to throw me off mid-flight, I'm taking you with me...", Kai said with some suspicion in his voice as the carpet slowly lifted off the ground and floated out of the cave. When they reached the outside, the carpet floated while absorbing latent Qi.

"Look, over there!", Hou Zhou said, prompting the group to all turn their heads. In the distance, a massive fog was slowly gathering and moving towards their general direction. Wu Xianhai quietly looked on while Kai squinted his eyes, trying to peer through the fog.

At that moment, an ear-piercing screech reverberated throughout the area, causing the massive rocky enclosure to shake.

"We need to leave...now," Kai said as he felt the massive Qi fluctuations coming from fog.. Wu Xianhai nodded her head and instructed the carpet to fly in the opposite direction at top speed.