Chapter 699: Section 486: Cang Xu Amidst Maneuvering (Bonus Chapter for 1400 Monthly Votes)
“The ship ghosts have been temporarily stabilized,” Cang Xu reflected to himself on the way back.
For Cang Xu, his current situation was very complex.
He had to maintain contact with both the Zhou Zhang faction and the ship ghosts, feigning compliance while secretly making calculations, seizing the chestnuts from the fire for his true position and camp.
Cang Xu was very skilled in such situations, even though he had been affected by the methods of both sides, his confidence was growing.
“Everything stems from the squad leader, who has enabled me to handle things with increasing ease.”
Cang Xu recalled the various events on Mysterious Monster Island and thought of his recent harrowing experience, struggling on the brink of betrayal.
The timely arrival of the young squad leader was due to a transmission caused by the Divine Artifact “Mermaid’s Fairy Tale.”
“This is the arrangement of fate!”
After understanding the causes and consequences, Cang Xu’s reverence for fate had greatly increased.
He returned to his dwelling—still the same shabby shack.
Ku Feng had already arrived.
Cang Xu welcomed him into the house and had a long private conversation with him.
In order to survive, Ku Feng was racing against time, swift and decisive.
He asked many questions, and Cang Xu replied with logical, consistent answers, full of detail.
Of course, on some questions, Cang Xu deliberately gave vague answers, displaying the psychological state of tension, fear, and dependency that he felt at the time.
Ku Feng was greatly inspired by this and said outright that Cang Xu’s psychological state was the best foundation for conversion.
Especially the immense pressure brought by death, under such circumstances, it was actually a help.
After the exchange, Ku Feng felt he had gained a lot and was grateful to Cang Xu.
“If I can survive and return this time, I must repay him!”
With this thought in mind, Ku Feng also attempted to provide timely reciprocation: “I walk the path of Corpse Vein. I’m ashamed to say that the knowledge I’ve obtained might even be less than yours. But as an Undead Martial Artist, I have a lot of experience in using Undead Fighting Energy.”
“These cultivation insights are the only compensation I can offer you right now.”
“There’s no need,” Cang Xu waved his hand, rejecting the offer decisively and directly.
He said earnestly, “It’s not that I look down on you, I am interested in any knowledge. But for you, Ku Feng, my companion, you need to cherish your time more. There’s no need to waste it here; keep it for yourself. You never know if an extra minute or even a second might be the key to life and death at a crucial moment.”
Ku Feng was deeply moved by the words.
Previously, Ku Feng had set up Cang Xu with the help of Fin Spirit and Little Prince.
Before seeking Cang Xu’s help, Ku Feng had been psychologically prepared for various outcomes.
But from beginning to end, Cang Xu maintained a gentle attitude, not just pretending in front of the ship ghosts, but genuinely considering for Ku Feng.
“The past incidents don’t account for much. If it were me in your place, I would have done the same. It’s all for the sake of survival.”
“Of course, if we survive and even regain our freedom, you’d better compensate me properly!”
Ku Feng was touched.
He took a deep breath, and with a suppressed voice, said: “I have taken note of this favor, and I will repay it in the future.”
Ku Feng was not the sort of person who was good with words, but from this simple answer, Cang Xu could feel his sincerity and determination.
“This favor of yours won’t let you easily pay it back,” Cang Xu mused to himself with a hidden smile.
“Thinking about it, teleporting back this time was indeed the right decision.”
“I have completely opened up the situation among these ship ghosts!”
Based on Cang Xu’s understanding of Ku Feng and his political savvy, Ku Feng owed him a big one this time. In the future, he would surely be of use to Cang Xu.
“Now, it would allow the squad leader to take action and try to save Ku Feng.”
In Ku Feng’s eyes, his future was uncertain.
But in Cang Xu’s view, it was another situation entirely.
Living or dying could all be arranged with the help of the young squad leader!
“The entrapment by Fin Spirit before, but because I am now still alive, has inadvertently offered me a chance to deepen feelings and break through relationships.”
Cang Xu quickly calmed himself.
This was just minor progress, too insignificant in the entire plan.
“I am an Undead Mage and, although I have received Divine Blessing and passed Zhou Zhang’s trial, the other believers’ attitudes toward me are still wary, guarded, and distant.”
Cang Xu peered through the gap in his shabby shack, gazing at the golden altar.
Recalling the teleportation back and being inspected by Zhou Zhang, his brow slightly furrowed.
He had passed Zhou Zhang’s verification, and the process was much easier than he had imagined. But it was this ease that made him feel unsure and unsteady.
“Does Zhou Zhang truly trust me?”
“If she really trusts me, why not actively remove my seal?”
“Perhaps, I should take the initiative to meet her, to request her to remove my seal?”
This thought sprang up in Cang Xu.
It was a probing action.
The next moment, he negated this risky idea himself.
It was too rash, not his style.
The most important thing was the plan he had discussed with the young squad leader! Even though he was under a seal, it did not affect the advancement of the plan.
“There’s no need to take excessive risks.”
“From another angle, the seal on me is the best means to gain Zhou Zhang’s trust.”
Cang Xu secretly guessed that perhaps his every move had been under Zhou Zhang’s strict surveillance and scrutiny since he was transported here.
“Hm, I must be even more cautious!”
Cang Xu stayed inside the hut for a little while before pushing the door open and stepping out.
The gathering place for Undead Mages had always been an isolated area shunned by other Mei Lan Believers.
Now, Cang Xu took the initiative to leave this isolated area and stepped into other regions.
Along the way, he encountered a large number of Mei Lan Believers. These intelligent sea-dwelling creatures all cast doubting, wary, and warning glances at him. Many whispered and pointed at him from corners, displaying unfriendliness.
Even after witnessing Cang Xu’s departure, these individuals continued to discuss.
“I never expected an Undead Mage to become a Believer.”
“I will never accept him!”
“All of this is the will of the gods. I believe that since he has received the Divine Blessing and has been sent back, this has proven his inner conviction.”
“Even so, what of it? Can’t the same faith be an enemy? Poor my son, he didn’t come back, sob sob sob, and this despicable Undead, he came back!”
…
Cang Xu’s proactive departure from his dwelling was to find Qing Xin.
As for Qing Xin’s location, he knew she was among the Human Race pirates.
“Speaking of which, Qing Xin was captured on the Ghost Ship. But when she was detained, she was placed among the Human Race pirates by Zhou Zhang. Thinking back to how she had us select someone for the Transmission Blood Sacrifice, Archbishop Zhou Zhang really does have a wicked sense of humor.”
Cang Xu felt Zhou Zhang treated these captives as a child would toy with ants.
“Zhou Zhang, relying on the combination of Divine Arts and Spell casting, especially the deceptive Divine Arts, truly does have the capacity to look down upon us. But could such a disposition be exploited?”
While Cang Xu was pondering this, he bumped into Qing Xin halfway there.
Zhou Zhang did not restrict the movements of Undead Mages, nor did she restrict the Human Race captives.
After all, these captives all carried a double seal, Zhou Zhang was not worried about them causing any disturbances.
Qing Xin, upon seeing Cang Xu, immediately showed a look of joy and called out, “Mage Xu Jia, I was just about to look for you.”
Similar to Ku Feng’s motive, she sought Cang Xu to learn from his successful conversion experience.
In fact, Qing Xin was under even greater psychological pressure than Ku Feng.
According to the current rules, she would almost certainly be the one transported next through the Blood Sacrifice.
Cang Xu nodded with a smile, “My lucky success this time was precisely why I was looking for you, as I think my experience might be of help to you.”
Qing Xin immediately showed a moved expression, nodding vigorously with eyes reddening.
She had a truly hard time during this period.
Had she known it would come to this, she would never have agreed to leave Twin Eyes Island with Zi Di!
For Qing Xin, Cang Xu was a lifesaver.
But in reality, she had no need to worry.
Among the captives, she was likely the safest. The young squad leader was hiding within the Deep Sea Monster Fish, and for the sake of his beloved Zi Di, he would not allow anything to happen to Qing Xin!
As for Cang Xu, he bore not only the double seal but also a deadly hidden trap set by a ship ghost. Although he had seen the Fishman youth, he was still walking a tightrope.
The explanation Cang Xu gave to Qing Xin was similar to what he told Ku Feng.
He treated them equally, mainly because he considered that he might be under covert surveillance by Zhou Zhang and others, thus choosing a fair approach to demonstrate his best efforts.
Such helpful behavior towards his companions highlighted his sense of loyalty, emphasizing the commonality between Undead and living creatures. By increasing empathy with Zhou Zhang and others, he increased Zhou Zhang’s trust in him.
After parting with Qing Xin, Cang Xu returned to his dwelling, ostensibly beginning prayer but secretly forging memories.
Not continuing his actions was because Cang Xu also had to consider the ship ghost’s feelings.
Previously, Cang Xu had promised the ship ghost he would go all out to fake memories. But upon leaving, Cang Xu began to roam and negotiate with others; what was that about?
This would undoubtedly damage his impression in the ship ghost’s mind.
“Furthermore, Little Prince will not see me. Previously, he was tormented by feelings of guilt, now he finds it difficult to even look at me.”
“Fin Spirit… the previous events have significantly damaged my relationship with her. Even if I reach out in friendship, she will be suspicious.”
“In fact, her existence has another clever use.”
“I can create an apparent opposition with her, highlighting the conflict, which can make the ship ghost more reassured about me, letting him believe everything is under control.”
“Using the Transmission Blood Sacrifice, the squad leader could capture these Undead, even the ship ghost.”
“When my clerical position advances and I can control the Divine Artifact ‘Mermaid’s Fairy Tale’ to transport away, the power of Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce will make the ship ghost respect us, and the Undead Orthodoxy will take us seriously.”
“My future relationship with the ship ghost and his cohorts will also be greatly improved!”
Cang Xu’s gaze was far-reaching, already plotting and acting for future relationships.
The network around Cang Xu was quite complex.
He needed to play two roles well, one as a Mei Lan Believer, and the other as an Undead Mage.
He needed to balance these two identities just right, maneuvering between the two forces, then advancing the true plan of his own people.
Among the survivors, no one was more suitable for this arduous task than he was.