Chapter 139: My Six Gates Never Compromise!
Mo Lin’s capture of Lin Huai, in fact, had been rather simple.
Mo Lin merely made Lin Huai believe that it was only a Profound Rank Demonic Beast, and just like when she faced the Possum Demon earlier, she immediately threw out her giant axe.
No Profound Rank Demonic Beast could withstand her thrown axe.
Unfortunately, Mo Lin was an Earth Rank Demonic Beast—one that had prepared in advance.
It directly intercepted Lin Huai’s thrown axe, separating her from her weapon. In this way, it only needed to face an unarmed Lin Huai.
Of course, to execute this plan, one crucial element was necessary: Mo Lin had to make Lin Huai and Zhu Dongfeng believe that it truly was just a Profound Rank Demonic Beast.
Although its “Shrink” ability could restore its body size to what it was at the Profound Rank, this was only the most superficial form of simulation—it could not possibly deceive Zhu Dongfeng or Lin Huai.
The aura of a Profound Demon and that of an Earth Demon were completely different, and nearly impossible to imitate, even when trying to mimic a weaker one.
It was like a person who, after much training, could no longer deliberately perform at a lower level—even if they wanted to pretend to be a beginner, anyone of the same rank would instantly see through it.
But Mo Lin had somehow managed to do it.
This could not be separated from the help it had received from “Soul Refinement.”
Through “Soul Refinement,” Mo Lin had tempered its soul into a more condensed and refined form, thereby achieving greater control over its physical body.
The union of spirit and flesh had become more harmonious, its control over its body stronger, and naturally, controlling its aura became far easier than for ordinary Demonic Beasts.
To simulate a Profound Rank aura for a short while was no challenge for Mo Lin.
Once it separated Lin Huai from her axe, it could, relying on its many demonic arts, swiftly subdue her—this was no mere boast.
Still, Mo Lin had broken out in a cold sweat.
Had Zhu Dongfeng reacted just a little faster, it might not have had enough time to capture Lin Huai, and the whole plan would have fallen apart.
But now, the initiative had fallen entirely into its hands.
“Mo Lin.”
Zhu Dongfeng sized up the hundred-meter-long giant anaconda before him. When he saw that human-like face on its head, he felt a chill run down his spine.
This was Zhu Dongfeng’s first time seeing Mo Lin in person.
After the chaotic battle with the Mountain Lord and Jingchen, upon learning that Wuzhen had been slain by an Earth Rank Anaconda Demon, he had gone to inspect the scene himself—only to find utter devastation.
He had thought it was just an ordinary anaconda demon, one who, like most Demonic Beasts, became arrogant after gaining power and wanted to wreak havoc upon humans.
If that were the case, then once the Six Gates gathered enough intelligence, this suddenly-appearing anaconda would be no different from any other beast—easily subdued by the Six Gates.
Yet unexpectedly, the anaconda had vanished without a trace as soon as the Six Gates began to track it.
Unable to locate the creature, and with the ‘Locust’ Operation unable to be delayed, Zhu Dongfeng had temporarily forgotten about its existence.
He never thought that when he saw this anaconda again, it would have captured his right-hand subordinate.
Amid his shock, a deep vigilance also arose within his heart.
Earth Demons were not frightening—they had slain more than one during this ‘Locust’ Operation. What was frightening were Earth Demons capable of thinking.
And this one clearly was.
“Speak. What exactly do you want?”
While Zhu Dongfeng observed Mo Lin, Mo Lin was also observing him.
Although this was Zhu Dongfeng’s first time seeing it, this was not Mo Lin’s first time seeing Zhu Dongfeng.
Back when it ambushed Wuzhen, it had hidden not far from Zhu Dongfeng.
Zhu Dongfeng, as the Gate Master of the entire Yongzhou branch of the Six Gates, was merely a mid-tier Earth Rank cultivator—and that did not seem to be an act.
From his earlier battle with the Mountain Lord, although he had forced the latter to retreat, he had failed to capture him—proof enough of his true level.
While this might have been due in part to the Mountain Lord’s strength being on par with an upper Earth Rank, as well as his scheming against Jingchen, Zhu Dongfeng’s power clearly wasn’t extraordinary.
Was it that the Six Gates Gate Master did not require great strength—or that this bald Gate Master excelled in something else?
Whatever the reason, Mo Lin wasn’t interested in finding out for now.
“This time, I’ve come for only one thing. I heard that people from the Six Gates of the Western Regions recently met with Gate Master Zhu?”
“I wonder if Gate Master Zhu could tell me what was discussed with the Western Six Gates. In return, I’ll surely repay the favor.”
As it spoke, Mo Lin lifted Lin Huai with the tip of its tail.
Clearly, Lin Huai was the “favor” it was referring to.
Yet, from Mo Lin’s words, Zhu Dongfeng keenly sensed something amiss.
“How do you know about the Westerners’ visit?”
“The matter of the Western Six Gates’ arrival is known only to our own. How do you know?”
“Have you encountered another Six Gates team?”
Mo Lin hadn’t expected Zhu Dongfeng to react with such anger.
Judging from how he had previously stormed off to confront the Mountain Lord out of fury over Lin Shuang and Su Bing—two mere junior constables—perhaps he truly was a man who deeply cared for his people.
If that was the case, then it would be best not to mention that it had killed Fei Wu’s team.
“Gate Master Zhu need not worry. I did meet members of the Six Gates, and yes, I detained them for a short while—but I released them all.”
“After all, what I wished to know, they said only Gate Master Zhu could answer.”
But Zhu Dongfeng refused to let the matter drop.
“Since you claim to have released them, then perhaps you can tell me when and where this happened, and which team you met? Do you recall any names?”
Mo Lin’s heart sank—it was obvious that Zhu Dongfeng suspected it had not released Fei Wu and the others.
And indeed, it hadn’t. Its intent had been to prevent any leaks before finding Zhu Dongfeng.
Knowing it had been exposed, Mo Lin tightened its tail slightly, causing Lin Huai to cry out in pain.
“I think Gate Master Zhu should focus on the situation before him.”
But this time, Zhu Dongfeng’s expression was unexpectedly calm.
“According to the earliest Six Gates record, you killed Wuzhen in Ningjiang County. That means it’s highly likely you’re a beast native to Ningjiang.”
“And in the past seven days, none of the ‘Locust’ Operation teams dispatched from Ningjiang have reported encountering an Earth Rank Anaconda Demon or a Profound Rank Python Demon.”
“However—three days ago, a team of eight set out on a mission and never returned to the Six Gates.”
“The leader of that team was a Six Gates officer named Fei Wu.”
Zhu Dongfeng stared fixedly at Mo Lin, as though trying to read its expression.
“Anaconda Demon—you killed them, didn’t you?”
A bad feeling crept into Mo Lin’s heart.
Zhu Dongfeng, ignoring its attempts to defend itself, continued in a calm but resolute tone:
“Since the founding of the Great Qian Dynasty, the Six Gates has always upheld the duty of punishing evil and upholding justice. For five hundred years, we have never wavered.”
“The first Gate Master once said: ‘When Six Gates officers perform their duties, they may be harmed or taken hostage—but the Six Gates will never compromise with anyone who raises a blade against it.’”
“As the first Gate Master was, so am I. As I am, so are all the men and women of the Six Gates.”
As he spoke, Zhu Dongfeng drew his Silver-Ringed Blade and pointed it directly at Mo Lin.
Not only Zhu Dongfeng—even Lin Huai, though still gripped painfully by Mo Lin’s tail, had eyes that sharpened with unyielding resolve—giving off a sense of fearlessness in the face of death.
Then, Zhu Dongfeng declared firmly:
“Anaconda Demon Mo Lin, if you had not slain members of my Six Gates, there might yet have been room for negotiation between us.”
“But you have killed my men, captured my subordinates, and now wish to force me—Zhu Dongfeng, the Eleventh Gate Master of the Six Gates of the West—to compromise with you?”
“Never!!!”