Jing Shen neither denied nor admitted, merely tilted his chin slightly and waved his hand, "Let's go."
Lin Xi gave me a knowing smile, her meaning unclear.
The group of five continued forward. The deeper we went into the forest, the easier the path became. This was because the colossal ancient trees in the center were more numerous and their trunks thicker. The trees were less dense, and the canopy of each tree was so broad it blocked out the sun. This created a pure yin environment below, where most plants couldn't survive, leaving only shade-loving mosses and similar flora, forming a vast carpet.
Above the canopy, the sun blazed, but in our area, it was like an hour after sunset, with very low visibility. Occasionally, a faint ray of sunlight would filter through the dense branches, illuminating only a palm-sized area. Dust motes and pollen in the light beam were clearly visible, suspended and undergoing random Brownian motion. The light was too dim for diffuse reflection to illuminate elsewhere.
Fortunately, the ground was flat and firm, and the moss was thick. Every step felt like treading on a soft wool carpet, and there was no worry of twisting an ankle in potholes.
Winding our way through the dark green carpet, when we were still two hundred meters from the purple-black aura of Long Yue, they finally spotted us. They dispatched three Purple Qi experts – those same three beautiful purple-clad bodyguards – to approach us for reconnaissance.
I calculated. They had seen me and the eagle demon, so the two of us couldn't speak. Furthermore, Jing Shen was not disguised and didn't need to be; a god is a god, and neither changes their name nor their residence.
"By the way, what's your name, now?" I asked Jing Shen casually.
"Chinese name? No."
"Russian name is fine too," I said.
"Diana."
I nodded. I seemed to have heard the name somewhere. It was acceptable; Yan Xia also had the surname Di, like Di Renjie, and Anna was more common, usually a nickname for young girls.
I turned to Lin Xi. "That polar bear saw me and Jing Shen. Long Yue recognizes my voice and Ya Nan's, and Chen Ke was a member of the original Mohe. It's possible they'll be recognized. Therefore, I suggest Captain Lin revert to your true form. Ya Nan, Chen Ke, and I will pose as your subordinates. We won't speak. As for Diana, let her be Diana. Treat her as a friend who is already familiar with you, a friend of Shabiya. This will put significant pressure on Long Yue!"
Lin Xi considered it and found it logical. She proceeded as planned. Returning to one's true human form was relatively simple. Chen Ke found a pressure point, pricked it, and quickly withdrew. Within two seconds, Lin Xi's face returned to its original appearance.
Just then, the three Purple Qi bodyguards appeared before us, descending from the sky.
"Who goes there! How dare you trespass into Mohe's forbidden territory!" the one in the middle declared arrogantly.
Lin Xi stepped forward, displayed her identification, and scoffed, "Under the heavens, all land belongs to the king. When did this place become your Mohe's forbidden territory? Does your ginseng-headed leader intend to claim territory? To declare himself king? I was just looking for a reason to raid you!"
"What a bold statement! You, a mere captain of the Bordered Yellow Banner, dare to claim you will raid us?" the female bodyguard retorted, not to be outdone.
Lin Xi pulled Jing Shen closer. "I may not be able to defeat your Long Yue, but she can."
"Who is she?" the female bodyguard asked.
"Go back and ask your polar bear. Didn't he just fight with this beauty not long ago?"
The three bodyguards exchanged glances. I analyzed that perhaps after Sheryosha's defeat in the hotel restaurant, he was too embarrassed to report what had truly happened in the restaurant. Moreover, it was my flying kick that forced Sheryosha back, and its power was not great (compared to Jing Shen). Thus, Sheryosha was not injured, merely felt outmatched and acted wisely.
Seeing they didn't recognize her, Lin Xi rolled her eyes and boasted, "This is the North Sea Jing Shen. You three little shrimps are not qualified to stand here and speak with Jing Shen. Hurry back and report to your ginseng master!"
"Really..." another female bodyguard cast a doubtful look at the identity of this beautiful girl with a Russian appearance.
"Whether it's true or not, ask Sheryosha," Lin Xi said, looking at the mobile phone in the bodyguard's hand, hinting at it.
The bodyguard, reasonably intelligent, raised her phone and took a picture of us. The three of them quickly retreated, their speed comparable to Bolt's. Soon, they converged with Long Yue's ginseng aura. I also saw that the blue aura from the polar bear demon was visibly shaken. It was as if a spray bottle filled with alcohol had suddenly been sprayed onto a lighter flame; the aura expanded violently, then contracted intensely. It seemed he was indeed intimidated by the North Sea Jing Shen...