[Book II Chapter 141] DYLAN: Apprehending Teng Ling
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“There he is.” Teng Ling sat cross-legged cultivating on the terrace of his penthouse suit. It was the first time Dylan was seeing him since the Godly Herb Garden.
His team observed him from a rooftop several buildings away, along with the pair of young women who had accompanied them here. “Thank you.” Free bowed to one of them. “This would have taken forever without your assistance.”
“It was no issue.” Lucy Vance replied. In a stroke of convenience, the guide Sarah had referred them to happened to be the girlfriend of Free’s brother and had immediately agreed to help them. Her amazing ability to discern the future had lead them straight to this place in Chancel, the subterranean city below Neon.
“So what next?” Nang asked. “A penthouse that luxurious is guaranteed to be heavily shielded. Breaking in won’t be easy.”
“I could slip in.” Said the girl behind Lucy. Dylan still wasn’t sure of the nature of their relationship or what to make of her. The canine traits were putting him off. They were unusual in Sanwue.
“I’d advice against a direct assault.” Darious spoke up, a rare occurrence. Their companion mostly kept silent when they were planning. “We are unlikely to secure Teng Ling before Viacore intervenes.”
“I don’t see any guards.” Nang observed. “Aren’t you just over-complicating this?”
Darius simply shook his head. “I fear you don’t grasp the gravity of situation. Neon’s big five are terrifyingly powerful, stronger than any immortal. It’s madness to antagonize them, especially in Chancel. That hotel is reserved for Viacore’s VIPs, a place of absolute safety. They will grant him safe passage out of the city rather than tarnish this image. That’s if they don’t make an example of us.”
“What if we went through the proper channels?” Free offered. “Wouldn’t working with the authorities solve the problem?”
“What crimes has Teng Ling committed?” Darius sighed. “Without proof of wrong doing, only a request of cooperation from the Great Assembly might sway Viacore against its guest. Even then, there is a chance they may tip him off.”
Dylan grimaced. Communication between large bureaucracies was not known to be speedy, and he’d prefer not to rely on it.
“Personally, I advise simply waiting until he leaves the premises.” Darius added.
This was an even less appealing prospect. “Who knows how long Teng could stay cooped up there!” Dylan objected. “Are you suggesting we do nothing with our quarry before our eyes?”
Darius was nonplussed. “All we need to do is ensure he learns of the night phoenix’s capture.”
Everyone went quiet. That could work… Dylan appraised their mysterious shinobi companion, wondering once again who he was.
“If you’d like,” Lucy spoke up. “I can arrange for a servant to bring him the news with his next meal.”
Dylan was apprehensive about imposing further. “That would be appreciated, but there’s really no need. We could handle this ourselves.”
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However, Lucy shook her head. “It’ll go smoother if I’m involved.”
Two hours later, Teng Ling arrived at a deserted platform at the bottom of Neon docks. Before he could reach one of the hangars, Dylan walked out to greet him.
“Where are you off to?” He asked.
“That’s none of your concern.” Teng regarded him apprehensively, circling around.
“Do you remember the Sacred Cloud Sect?” Dylan asked.
After a moment of confusion, Teng’s eyes lit up. Cursing, he backpedaled to gain distance. In doing so, he stepped into Nang’s trap and was ensnared in a web of technicolored mothsilk.
Just as Lucy predicted. After returning from the Viacore hotel, the young necromancer had lead them here and advised them on the best approach to ambush their target.
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“What is your business with me?” Teng demanded angrily.
“We have some questions.” Nang approached him. “What happened to the soul of the original owner of that body?”
This question cause Teng to stop struggling. “So that’s it…” Somehow he twisted and a small dagger appeared in his hand, only to have it be swatted away by a root.
“Don’t bother trying to off yourself while I’m around.” Free warned. “At best you’ll cause yourself needless pain and annoy me.”
“Their souls, what happens to them?” Nang repeated.
“They are absorbed,” Teng answered calmly. “And since only the Abyss can separate them, they are forever destined to linger within us.”
Nang’s face became ugly, and Dylan recalled his experience when he had been captured by her technicolored mothsilk. “I want him dead too, perhaps more than you, but we need him alive for questioning.”
“You think I’ll reveal anything?” Teng laughed. “I’m not someone frightened by pain or death.”
“We’ll see.” Dylan turned and faced Lucy as she joined them. “We owe you a debt of gratitude——”
“It was you!” Teng cried out, his voice full of hatred and his eyes fixed on the figure hiding in Lucy’s shadow. “I knew Salazar should’ve kill you.”
Everyone stood stunned for a second. Then Lucy spoke up, “Yes, we know you’ve been working directly with Salazar Rook. Sana here told us, although not as promptly as I would’ve liked.” She shot the young wolf girl angry glare.
“We will be having a serious discussion about this later.” She whispered. Sana paled.
Turning back to Teng, she continued. “Why are you doing the bidding of that monster?”
The shock of Sana’s presence loosened Teng’s tongue as his energy drained away. “There’s little choice. Without him, we’d be locked away for all eternity.”
This struck Dylan as funny. “You’re his slaves then?”
Teng bristled. “Not exactly. He promised to share the process for reincarnating souls from the Hoshindai if we aid him in accomplishing his patron’s desire. Since the oath binds his words, we trust his promise.”
“Yet if he fails, you’re left with nothing to show for your servitude.” Dylan smirked.
A pained expression crossed Teng’s face. “If we don’t prove ourself useful tools, next time he could leave us to rot forever.”
“Where is the Hoshindai?” Dylan asked.
“No idea.” Teng’s dejected answer seemed genuine. “Salazar has been pushing to relocate it since the Dark Age began. We resisted at first, not wanting to fall even further under his sway, but that changed after Bao’s death.”
Dylan winced. “So that was what put you on high alert?”
Teng nodded. “She wouldn’t have chosen to send herself off with shining soul if her killer hadn’t figured out her true nature.”
“What have you been doing in Chancel?” Free asked.
Teng frowned, a look of contempt replaced the self-pity. “Don’t take me for a fool. Revealing a few generalities doesn’t mean I’ll answer your questions.”
“He’s been fulfilling requests for rare items.” Lucy answered. “Sana witnessed him help Salazar obtain a petal of panacea.”
Since Teng was reluctant to speak further, they left Nang to repackage him into a portable buddle. Dylan once more thanked Lucy for her contributions.
“What will you do with him?” Lucy asked.
“Bring him back to Sanwue for questioning and study.” Dylan answered.
Lucy’s faced creased. “That might be a mistake. The man has been in regular contact with Salazar Rook. It may be possible to track his master through him.”
This logic caused Dylan paused. “Do you really believe that’d work?”
Before Lucy could respond, her wristal flashed. She excused herself to converse with her boyfriend. The exchange didn’t last long.
“Damn it!” She turned to them. “Rifts are about to open in Nordric…”