307: Chapter 307 Illusion

"The location of Ciyin Medical Valley."

Bai Nianci bit her lip and remained silent.

Chen Ran was not in a rush either, merely watching her quietly.

After a long moment.

"The South China Sea, Qingyu Island."

Bai Nianci spoke in a low voice,

she knew she should not speak, but Senior Sister Liu was still in the other party's hands, and dozens of lives on the ship were controlled by the people of the Demonic Sect.

If she did not speak, these people would die.

If she spoke...

Bai Nianci's heart was in complete chaos; she did not know what she ought to do.

Hearing this answer, Chen Ran frowned slightly.

"Lie."

He spat out two words indifferently.

Bai Nianci shuddered all over.

"I didn't..."

"Last time at the teahouse, you said it was heading south along the Chishui River, reachable by water route in seven days."

Chen Ran looked at her and slowly spoke,

"Qingyu Island in the South China Sea takes at least over half a month to reach from here, and the direction does not match either."

Bai Nianci's face turned pale.

She did not expect the other party to remember such details clearly.

"Last chance."

Chen Ran released the hand pinching her cheek and instead gripped Liu Qing's neck.

"Thirty miles west of the end of the Chishui River, there is a bamboo forest."

Bai Nianci finally could not hold on any longer, her eyes turning red as she said,

"Deep within the bamboo forest, there is a secret passage. Passing through the secret passage leads directly to the outer mountain gate of Ciyin Medical Valley."

This time Chen Ran did not speak again; he released his hand and turned to look at the half-kneeling strong man of the Demonic Sect on the ground.

"Go tell the captain to turn the bow around and head down the Chishui River."

"Yes."

The strong man accepted the order and quickly retreated.

Inside the ship's hall, everyone looked at each other in dismay, not daring to make a sound.

Bound by the True Qi shackles, Liu Qing knelt on the ground with a face as pale as paper.

She looked at Bai Nianci, her eyes filled with heartbreak.

This child's heart was too soft.

Yet how could she blame her?

If Bai Nianci truly did not speak, I'm afraid not a single person on this ship would survive.

After a moment.

The entire ship shook slightly and began to slowly change direction.

The course that originally headed south was now sailing toward the west.

"From the very beginning, you were lying to me."

Bai Nianci's eyes were red, tears swirling in her sockets, yet she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

"I specially formulated a prescription for you, thinking it could help you live a few more years, yet you have no conscience!"

Hearing the voice behind him, Chen Ran's footsteps paused slightly.

Conscience?

He raised his hand and touched his chest.

It was empty there, with nothing at all.

"I have never said that I am a good person."

Chen Ran spoke indifferently without turning back,

"It was you yourself who regarded me as a good person."

"Bai Nianci, the thing one should least do in this world is to harbor goodwill toward strangers."

"For that prescription, I paid silver, and from then on, we were even."

Having said this, Chen Ran strode toward the outside of the cabin.

Bai Nianci stood in place, her tears finally falling down.

She wiped away her tears, but no matter what, she could not wipe them clean.

"Junior Sister..."

Liu Qing looked at Bai Nianci and spoke with heartache.

But she was currently controlled by the True Qi shackles, making even a slight movement difficult.

Bai Nianci took a deep breath, walked over to Liu Qing's side, and squatted down.

"Senior Sister, I'm sorry."

Lowering her head, her voice was choked with sobs,

"It is all my fault; I was the one who revealed the location of the Medical Valley."

"Silly child, this is not your fault."

Liu Qing shook her head, her eyes filled with gentleness,

"You have already done very well."

...

Outside the cabin.

Chen Ran stood at the bow of the ship, watching the distant water surface gradually turning.

The night wind blew, causing his long black hair to flutter in the air.

The Demonic Sect strong man walked out from the cabin and spoke respectfully:

"My lord, the captain has already changed the course according to your instructions."

"Mn."

Chen Ran nodded.

The strong man hesitated for a moment and spoke again:

"My lord, how exactly should those people be dealt with? Some of them have rather special identities, should we..."

The strong man made a gesture around his neck with his right hand, hinting at something,

yet Chen Ran shook his head.

"Lock them up, and don't let them run around. I still have use for these people."

Chen Ran said casually.

"Yes."

The strong man acknowledged the order and was about to turn and leave.

"Wait."

Chen Ran suddenly spoke.

"Does my lord have any other instructions?"

"That Bai Nianci, take her alone to my room."

Chen Ran said indifferently.

The strong man was slightly stunned, then revealed an expression of "I understand".

"Rest assured, my lord, this subordinate will go handle it right away."

The strong man turned and walked into the ship's hall, arriving in front of Bai Nianci.

"You, come with me."

The strong man reached out to grab Bai Nianci's arm.

"What are you going to do?"

Liu Qing's expression changed drastically, desperately trying to break free from the True Qi shackles.

But how could those True Qi shackles be something she could break free from?

"Senior Sister!"

Bai Nianci was also startled, subconsciously stepping backward.

But the strong man's hand had already gripped her shoulder.

"Don't move, or else I won't be polite."

The strong man sneered, his gaze sweeping around.

"Let go of Junior Sister!"

Several other Disciples of Ciyin Medical Valley also spoke up one after another, trying to rush forward.

But they were all controlled by the people of the Demonic Sect and couldn't move at all.

In the eyes of all the Medical Valley Disciples, they could only watch helplessly as the other party led Bai Nianci away from the ship's hall.

The strong man led Bai Nianci all the way to the door of Chen Ran's room.

"My lord, I have brought the person to you."

He knocked on the door respectfully.

"Come in."

A cold man's voice came from inside the room.

The strong man pushed open the door and shoved Bai Nianci inside.

Then he retreated respectfully and closed the door behind him.

Inside the room.

Pushed by that immense force, Bai Nianci almost fell to the ground, staggering a few steps before steadying herself.

She raised her head and saw Chen Ran sitting on a chair by the window, holding a cup of tea in his hand.

Outside the window was the pitch-black river surface.

Moonlight spilled over the river surface, shimmering with ripples.

"You... what are you going to do to me?"

Bai Nianci retreated two steps, her back against the room door, her voice trembling slightly.

But that person did not answer.

He simply held the teacup and quietly looked out the window.

Bai Nianci grew increasingly panicked inside.

She recalled the plots written in those storybooks.

People of the Demonic Sect commit all manner of evils.

Especially toward women...

Bai Nianci's face turned pale, and she subconsciously hugged her arms tightly.

"You, don't come over!"

Her voice trembled, and tears welled up again,

"I, I am warning you, if you dare to do anything to me, I, I will..."

"Then what?"

Chen Ran finally turned his head and glanced at her.

"I will... I will bite my tongue and commit suicide!"

Bai Nianci mustered up her courage and said loudly.

But after saying it, even she felt lacking in confidence.

Looking at Bai Nianci, Chen Ran suddenly smiled.

"What do you think I would do to you?"

Just a single sentence.

Bai Nianci was so frightened that she hurriedly retreated, only to find that behind her was already the door panel, leaving no path of retreat.

She simply closed her eyes.

Waiting for a long while.

Nothing happened at all.

Bai Nianci cautiously opened a slit of her eye, looking out through her eyelashes.

Chen Ran sat right there by the window, the river wind blowing past, his long black hair dancing in the air.

Moonlight spilled onto his profile, outlining distinct contours.

Only then did Bai Nianci slowly relax a bit.

She loosened her arms and cautiously took two steps forward.

"You..."

She opened her mouth, wanting to ask something.

Could it be...

Bai Nianci suddenly thought of a possibility.

Was he afraid that she would reveal his identity?

After all, back at the teahouse that day, she had seen his true face.

Although his appearance seemed somewhat different now, that Evil Qi could definitely not be faked.

Thinking of this, Bai Nianci's heart relaxed slightly.

If it was merely to prevent her from leaking his identity, that would be fine.

At least, he shouldn't do anything excessive to her.

Bai Nianci took a deep breath, slowly walked over to the bedside, and sat down.

Lowering her head, she placed her hands on her knees, tightly clenching the hem of her clothes.

The room was extremely quiet.

Only the sound of the river water beating against the ship's rail outside the window could be heard, thump after thump.

A complex emotion suddenly welled up in Bai Nianci's heart.

She recalled how gentle and polite this person had looked at the teahouse that day.

She remembered how he said his time was short and he wanted to see the scenery of this world in his remaining days.

At that time, she had even felt pity and specially formulated a prescription for him.

But now...

Bai Nianci bit her lip.

She did not understand.

Why could a person have two faces.

Why could he be so gentle to her at the teahouse, yet turn around and ruthlessly hijack a ship and threaten fellow Disciples.

What kind of person was he really?

What on earth was he thinking in his heart?

Bai Nianci looked at Chen Ran's back, her heart filled with doubt.

For a long time.

She finally couldn't help it and spoke softly:

"You... what on earth are you trying to enter the Medical Valley to do?"

Hearing these words, Chen Ran turned his head slightly.

Moonlight spilled onto half of his face, while the other half was hidden in shadow.

He glanced at Bai Nianci and indifferently spoke:

"Looking for someone."