Yinshan Record

Chapter 281 A Life Worse Than Death: Blood Refining to Guide the Soul (Part 2)
Su Che always remembered one sentence.

Of all things people desire, none is more important than life; of all things people abhor, none is more important than death.

Of course, this applies to ordinary people.

Many people are willing to risk their lives for their ideals.

The armored giant before him was clearly not one of those people; to him, life and death were the same.

Just as bad.

While alive, one is a cultivator trapped inside this armor; when dead, one is forever trapped inside as a spirit within it.

In this situation, what meaning does life and death have?

It's all just torture.

However, Su Che has special questioning skills.

"I thought it was something important, but it's just a trivial matter."

Su Che smiled slightly.

"Which company in the East China Sea are you working for? Tell me, and maybe I can help you. This soul-summoning technique isn't without its weaknesses."

"Telling you wouldn't hurt, but you can't help me, and I don't need your help. I only have one request."

"What? Just tell me."

The armored giant grinned.

"Give me a quick death."

Since the outcome after death is worse, it's better to choose complete annihilation.

Su Che also had some understanding of the choice made by the armored giants.

Death is only a threat to those who have a sweet burden on the shoulders of the happy.

People who truly have nothing, or whose lives only cause pain to their loved ones, are not bothered by death.

Even death can be considered a kind of liberation.

The armored giant didn't give Su Che much time to consider.

Have you ever heard of the name "Rakshasa Sea"?

Rakshasa Sea, it's them again.

No, perhaps it's more accurate to say it's them.

Although one cannot completely trust the armored man's words, Su Che did remember the name Rakshasa Sea.

The large trading company on the East China Sea has members from all over the world, a diverse mix of people.

Such an organization is fine for making money, but Su Che really doesn't believe they're planning anything big.

With numerous internal factions and conflicting policies, planning any major undertaking inevitably faces numerous overt and covert obstacles.

"We are the hunting party under the command of Rakshasa Sea."

The armored giant chuckled.

There were three other people besides me.

The hidden Xuanmen master, who had not yet made a move, coordinated with the armored giant using talismanic techniques.

And then there was that gray-clad swordsman, wielding a treacherous, snake-shaped sword.

There is one more person...

"Yan Qi is one of your people too?"

"Him? We don't have the ability to recruit the top disciples of the East Sea Sword Palace."

The armored giant had already given up and was completely indifferent.

That means there is still one of the three who has not shown up.

Su Che frowned slightly. Would the person hiding behind the scenes watch coldly and see through his tricks?
Su Che had heard of the so-called hunting group.

Since the East Sea is a sacred place for cultivators, it naturally has its reasons for being a sacred place.

Besides the numerous sects and sects in the area, the abundance of cultivation resources such as sacred trees, spiritual veins, and rare birds and beasts is also a contributing factor.

With intertwined interests, all related to the path to immortality, there were naturally some open and covert struggles.

Hunting groups are something that emerged in response to this broader context. A few independent cultivators without formal backgrounds band together, either to compete for things for their own benefit or to do shady things for some prestigious sect in exchange for favors.

It's the most natural thing in the world.

Hunting groups vary in size. The smallest, like the armored giant's group, consists of only four people. They are usually good brothers who share everything, but when trouble comes, they each scheme for their own benefit.

Large hunting groups even have immortal masters as their leaders, with strict internal rules and a tight organization, no less than medium-sized sects in the East China Sea.

According to the armored man, their group was a hunting party on the outskirts of the Rakshasa Sea, doing shady things for the Rakshasa Sea in exchange for benefits.

"When did they start targeting us?"

"When we were in Tian'an County, we received orders to follow a deity in the Rakshasa Sea and find an opportunity to capture the Prince of Wuling."

Tianan County?
There was a Deer God from the Rakshasa Sea who was in Tian'an County at the time. The probability of two Rakshasa Sea deities residing in such a small county is extremely low. The Langya Wang clan had long been colluding with the Rakshasa Sea, so were they involved in the plan to capture the Prince of Wuling?
Su Che remembered that it was Madam Xie who instigated the Prince of Wuling to go to the sword debate between good and evil.

"Only the four of you?"

Su Che frowned.

"Of course not, our mission is just to abduct people. There are other people to deal with the people in your Censorate who are secretly protecting the Prince of Wuling."

This makes sense.

The departure of the Prince of Wuling from the capital, aside from Luochahai who was plotting against the Prince of Wuling for reasons unknown, affected several factions within the Great Liang Dynasty.

The Emperor, the Crown Prince, the Wang Clan of Langya...

It would be ridiculous to have no one watching over you.

"What happened next? What does the Rakshasa Sea want with the Prince of Wuling?"

"We're just doing our job. How would we know what the people of the Rakshasa Sea are thinking?"

The armored giant slowly shook his head.

The Buddhist sect had established itself in Guobei County, and the imperial court and the Buddhist sect had long had a tacit understanding. The Prince of Wuling was secretly practicing demonic arts, and the Rakshasa Sea was preparing to abduct the Prince of Wuling while also making contact with people from the Buddhist sect.

These events, one by one, were like a spider web, making it impossible for Su Che to discern what was hidden behind them.

"Is the one who led you the one with the surname Lu among the 365 divine lords of the Rakshasa Sea?"

The armored giant let out a strange, guttural laugh, each laugh drawing blood from his chest.

"Since you already know, why ask?"

"Now that you've kidnapped the Prince of Wuling, what are your plans?"

Su Che looked at the armored man: "What's the next step?"

"We need to wait for further instructions."

The armored giant looked at Su Che and said, "We're both just pawns in someone else's hands, so we know the rules. We do what we're told, and they won't tell us anything more."

Su Che sighed.

"I have nothing more to ask. Is there anything else you'd like to say?"

"If it's possible, I'd like to ask you for a favor."

"You said."

"After I die and become a spirit of an artifact, please make sure to destroy me completely and don't put me outside."

He said.

“They used some tricks when forging this armor. Once it’s sent outside, the people of the Rakshasa Sea will be able to sense it, so you’d better find another place as soon as possible.”

The Azure Emperor's Treasure Garden is a self-contained entity, isolated from the outside world. If there were any means of spying, sealing them inside this ancient Azure Emperor's relic would most likely prevent such attacks.

But once you're outside, it's hard to say.

"This is helping me, not you."

Su Che looked cautiously at the armored man: "Since you're so agreeable, I'll grant your request for any private matters."

"Izumo Province..." the armored man gasped for breath. "In Lianbin Port of Izumo Province, there is a lane called Niuma Lane. Inside, there is a house with a crabapple tree that grows taller than the courtyard wall. After I die, please have my ashes cremated and sent there by someone. Regardless of whether there are people there or not, scatter my ashes under the crabapple tree. This would be a great kindness from Young Master Su. I will never forget it."

"Alright, I will agree."

Su Che looked at the armored giant and said, "But I need you to tell me about your brothers."

"otherwise?"

"Otherwise, I wouldn't have done anything. I wouldn't have gone into that alley and chopped down the crabapple trees for firewood."

"Hehe, young master has something to say."

“We’re not exactly brothers, we just got to know each other well from working together. The gray-clad swordsman comes from Listening Rain Pavilion, he’s considered a disgraced member there. He wields a strange and fierce sword, you’ve already seen it.”

"The one who used the talisman is Mu Cheng, a disciple of the Shangqing lineage. Please keep his identity a secret."

"As for the person who is hiding, although he is a brother, he was planted by half of the Rakshasa Sea to monitor us. Everyone calls him Fu Kong. I have never seen him make a move, but he looks like a demon."

The armored giant looked at Su Che: "I wonder if Young Master Su is satisfied with this answer?"

"Within the Azure Emperor's Treasure Garden lies the Great Sun Qian Yuan True Fire, which can incinerate all things and will surely liberate you."

Su Che looked at him: "Have you ever thought about revenge?"

This armored giant must have been a hero of the East China Sea, so there must be some other story behind his current predicament.

If we can arouse his sense of shared hatred and indignation, it might become an ally for us.

"Young Master Su, please take good care of yourself. Asking you to avenge me would only harm you."

The armored giant looked at Su Che and said, "What are you waiting for?"

Su Che raised his hand, and he had already left the place.

(End of this chapter)