Chapter 65: The Mysterious Disappearance
On the second day, Qin Chuan had already set out from the ruined Tiandou City with more than a hundred armored soldiers.
There were two carriages in the convoy.
One of them was specially prepared by Qian Renxue for Qin Chuan.
The exterior of the carriage looked simple and low-key, but the interior was decorated luxuriously and comfortably. A snow-white fox fur blanket covered the ground, and the fragrance of sandalwood burning in the air made the atmosphere relaxing and peaceful.
However, there was more than one person in the carriage.
Ye Lingling, the healing spirit master, was with Qin Chuan. She had asked to accompany him to the Xingluo Empire, offering to take care of his daily needs during the journey. Qian Renxue did not refuse and allowed her to follow.
But the atmosphere in the carriage had been unusually dull.
Qin Chuan had been frowning since they left the city, hardly acknowledging Ye Lingling's presence.
Ye Lingling couldn't figure out the reason for his mood. After several failed attempts at conversation, she grew quiet and settled into the carriage to rest.
The cause of Qin Chuan's mood was a piece of news he had received from Qian Renxue earlier that morning.
After the events of the previous night, where he and Qian Renxue had become even closer, Qin Chuan had hoped to leave Xingluo as soon as possible. But before departing, he had felt the need to ask something that had been bothering him.
"Xue'er, there is something I've been meaning to ask, but I haven't found the right time until now."
Qian Renxue, nestled in his arms, looked up at him with a gentle expression.
"Brother Qin Chuan, what is it? Feel free to ask."
Qin Chuan hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"After the battle at Wuhun City, I remember Tang Hao's son, Tang San, was buried underground. Is he dead or alive?"
This question had been on his mind for some time, and now, with the privacy of the carriage, he couldn't hold it in any longer.
Qian Renxue's expression froze for a moment. She seemed caught off guard, and then her face twisted into a strange expression.
"What's wrong, Xue'er?" Qin Chuan asked, sensing her discomfort.
"Is something wrong?"
Qian Renxue sighed softly.
"Actually, I should have told you about this when you woke up, but for some reason, I completely forgot about it during the past few days. If you hadn't asked just now, I might have never remembered it."
Qin Chuan was stunned by her words. Forgot? This seemed far too strange. Despite her current level being that of a soul emperor, she should have never forgotten something so important.
"Why don't you tell me what happened?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Qian Renxue's face grew more serious as she recounted the details.
"Tang San is dead," she said simply, but there was something odd in her tone that told Qin Chuan this was not the end of the story.
"Dead?" Qin Chuan repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Then what happened?"
Qian Renxue nodded, but her face was troubled. "Yes, he was dead. But here's the strange part. I clearly had someone guard his body, yet a few days later, he mysteriously disappeared."
Qin Chuan's eyes widened. "What do you mean 'disappeared'?"
"The guard told me that Tang San was there one moment, and then suddenly, the next moment, he was gone. Completely vanished. No trace of him anywhere. It was as if he had never been there."
Qin Chuan was taken aback. "He just… disappeared?"
"Yes, just like that," Qian Renxue replied. "I searched the entire area, but there was no sign of him. It was incredibly strange."
Qin Chuan's mind raced. This wasn't just an ordinary disappearance. Someone had stolen the body, and in such a bizarre, almost supernatural manner.
His thoughts were interrupted when the convoy began moving, and the imperial guards informed them it was time to leave. But even as they continued on their journey, Qin Chuan couldn't stop thinking about the strange events surrounding Tang San.
"How could someone steal a body that should be dead?" Qin Chuan pondered. "Or… was he not dead to begin with?"
The idea that Tang San might have been revived crossed his mind, and a shiver ran down his spine. But who would have the power to do such a thing?
He turned to Ye Lingling, who had been silent until now. "Lingling, you're a healing spirit master. Is there any way someone can bring the dead back to life?"
Ye Lingling shook her head, confused by the question. "How could that be possible? Healing spirit masters can heal wounds, but we're not gods. Even gods might not have such power."
At the mention of gods, Qin Chuan's fists clenched instinctively. He had a terrible feeling about what this might mean.
A god… Could it really be a god?
Qin Chuan took a deep breath, trying to steady his thoughts. He remembered something from the past—an event that occurred in the original time and space.
During the battle at Jialing Pass, Tang San had been killed, but had been mysteriously resurrected by Ning Rongrong and Oscar using the Martial Soul Fusion technique.
Qin Chuan frowned. "But in this timeline, Ning Rongrong and Oscar are still only soul masters. They couldn't possibly have the power to resurrect Tang San. So, who else could it be?"
The answer came to him with startling clarity.
Shura God.
The rumors surrounding Tang San's origins, his connection to Shura God, now made perfect sense. In this world, Shura God must have acquired some life-altering elixir from the Goddess of Life. With this power, he could bring someone back from death.
Qin Chuan muttered to himself, "Shura God must have found something to reverse life and death."
His eyes narrowed, a cold gleam flashing in them. The idea that Tang San had been resurrected under the guidance of Shura God meant that his plans were more far-reaching than Qin Chuan had originally thought. He wasn't just grooming Tang San as a successor; he was making him a powerful ally.
Qin Chuan clenched his fists. "If he really intends to use Tang San as a helper, then he better hope Tang San stays in his place. Because if he doesn't, I won't hesitate to kill him again, just as I did before."
With that, Qin Chuan leaned back against the seat, his mind racing with possibilities.
Outside, the sound of horse hooves broke the silence. One of the armored soldiers rode up to report. "Your Majesty, we've received word that Prince Dai Mubai of Xingluo refuses to return. He's even threatened to die if we attempt to take him back."