The monster, who considered itself a hunter, begged for mercy from the prey it despised. The plea, delivered in a tone that sounded like it was about to tear someone apart, made the scene incredibly bizarre.
Liu Buli remained silent.
Shen Muzhi couldn't help but ask, "Brother Lu, are you sure you heard correctly? The way he's acting... it doesn't look like he's begging for mercy, does it?"
"But he is indeed begging for mercy," Lu Wuming replied.
Perhaps because the first sentence had been spoken, the rest of the explanation became much simpler. After a brief pause, Lu Wuming continued, "He says he's the most ordinary kind of ghost, the lowest existence in the entire ghost city, essentially a slave. He was just following his master's orders to gather materials for a banquet. Who knew his master would die like that? So, he tried to escape, but he was a step too slow and was captured."
After finishing, Lu Wuming looked into Liu Buli's eyes again. His gaze held a hint of hesitation as he asked, "Master, do you believe what I'm saying?"
"I do. Whatever you say, I believe," Liu Buli replied, stroking his chin. "If you can communicate with him, ask him more. They were preparing materials for a banquet, so who is attending this banquet? And how did they enter Medicine Master Valley so easily? Everyone knows about the existence of ghosts, and every sect has barriers specifically designed to deal with them. Have they found a way to break through the barriers now?"
In the novel, the Second Elder of Medicine Master Valley was deceived by the ghost race and became a traitor among humans, opening the barrier for them to successfully infiltrate Medicine Master Valley.
However, due to the events that had already transpired, the former Second Elder of Medicine Master Valley had already been killed by Shen Muzhi. Thus, things had changed. Even if there was still a traitor, they could no longer rely on the novel's plot to identify them.
Lu Wuming nodded and relayed all of Liu Buli's questions to the ghost.
Lu Wuming couldn't speak the ghost language, but after his relay, the ghost seemed to understand.
Then came another round of guttural roars. Lu Wuming listened quietly, while Liu Buli observed his expression, sensing that Lu Wuming had likely obtained some useful answers.
When the ghost's voice finally ceased, Liu Buli eagerly asked Lu Wuming, "Wuming, did you find out anything useful?"
Lu Wuming nodded.
After a moment's thought, he said, "Someone in Medicine Master Valley did facilitate their entry, but that person only communicated with their master. As lowly servants, they didn't even have the right to see that person. They only overheard their master saying while drinking that humans were truly foolish, willing to betray their own kind for a small favor. Most ghosts wouldn't do such a thing."
Hearing this, Shen Muzhi's face flushed with embarrassment.
After all, the traitor was from his own ranks, and they still didn't know who this traitor was.
You Siqi, sensing his discomfort, smoothly changed the subject. "Even among humans, those who commit such acts of betrayal are a minority. Every race is the same; there's no inherent superiority."
Liu Buli nodded and asked Lu Wuming, "What about the other questions? Who is attending the banquet? Is it their so-called Ghost King?"
"Not exactly," Lu Wuming replied. "The Ghost King rarely leaves the ghost realm. Even when offering tribute, people are captured from the cultivation world and brought to the ghost realm; the Ghost King never comes in person. He said that this banquet is only for the higher-ranking ghosts who own slaves. To put it more plainly, those with some intelligence, capable of conversing with humans."
Liu Buli let out an "Oh" and pondered, "The Ghost King doesn't often leave the ghost realm. Is there a reason for that? For example, is there something here that he fears, or are there some forbidden spells preventing his departure?"
Lu Wuming relayed the question to the ghost verbatim.
However, this time the result was unsatisfactory. The questions were too profound, far beyond the ghost's capacity to answer.
Liu Buli had anticipated this outcome, so when Lu Wuming shook his head, he wasn't particularly disappointed.
After a moment of serious thought, he turned his gaze to Shen Muzhi. "I've asked all the questions I have. Do you have anything else you want to ask?"
Shen Muzhi remained silent for a moment before shaking his head.
He did have more questions, but he also knew that the slaves they had captured were of extremely low status.
They wouldn't be able to provide answers to those questions, so why waste time asking things that couldn't be answered?
With a sigh, Shen Muzhi said, "I'll handle the rest myself. I'm very grateful for the intelligence you've managed to gather."
"I think if you can find the traitor, you might be able to get more information," Liu Buli blinked and reminded him. "After all, you are the Valley Master here. You've been with them for so long; do you have any idea who might be capable of such a thing?"
Shen Muzhi hesitated for a moment, then said, "I have a general idea of a few suspects, but I'm not certain."
Liu Buli smiled. "Then find a way to confirm it, won't you?"
His words indicated that he already had a plan in mind.
Shen Muzhi immediately looked at him for help.
Thus, half an hour later, the new elder of Medicine Master Valley was brought to the dungeon.
He was a middle-aged man, somewhat portly, with a slightly unsteady gait. Judging by his appearance alone, there was nothing to suggest he was a physician.
Upon reaching Shen Muzhi, he puffed out his belly, bowed with difficulty, and forced a fawning smile. He asked, "Valley Master, you sent for me?"
"Yes," Shen Muzhi nodded, his expression cold. "You opened the barrier of Medicine Master Valley and led the ghost race to invade. Are you not going to give me a proper explanation for this?"