Gu Qingyun looked up warily and saw a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old boy standing on the tree branch above her, his arms crossed over his chest and his expression teasing as he looked down at her.
Gu Qingyun withdrew her gaze and continued forward.
Before her eyes could adjust, the boy leaped down from the tree and blocked her path.
Gu Qingyun looked at him coldly.
The boy circled around her, stroking his chin with one hand. His gaze paused briefly on the metal ring around her ankle. “A Profound-Locking Ring? Are you an escaped slave?”
Gu Qingyun lowered her head and glanced at her ankle, her delicate brows drawing together slightly.
The Profound-Locking Ring was a very extraordinary object. Once it was put on, even the most powerful person would lose all their Profound Power. Only someone who possessed the key to the Profound-Locking Ring could open it.
The Profound Power in this body had already been crippled by Bai Youruo back in the Yuanbao Kingdom. However, the original host had used a profound artifact, causing the people in the Slave Quarters to believe that she possessed Profound Power, so they had put an additional Profound-Locking Ring on her.
If she did not remove the ring, she would be unable to cultivate the Profound Power of this world.
In the Twenty-First Century, her skills had ranked among the top three Mercenaries in the world. But in this world, with nothing but her fists, even the most insignificant people could bully her.
Having already suffered several losses, Gu Qingyun knew very clearly that if she wanted to survive in the Nine Provinces of the Eastern Region, she had to remove the Profound-Locking Ring.
Because the Profound-Locking Ring was also a symbol of slavery.
The moment she appeared in a populated place, anyone could bully her, making it impossible for her to live in peace.
A cold glint flashed in Gu Qingyun’s eyes, and the hand hanging at her side quietly clenched into a fist.
The boy easily noticed her movement and cast a sidelong glance at her hand. “You want to silence the witnesses? With those abilities of yours?”
Gu Qingyun was slightly startled inwardly. What keen powers of observation. A boy of only fourteen or fifteen possessed such ability as well. Could everyone in this world be an expert?
Through the original host’s memories, she knew that not everyone could cultivate Profound Qi, yet she had encountered quite a few of them shortly after arriving.
“What’s your name? Which Aristocratic Clan did you escape from?” the boy asked curiously.
Gu Qingyun did not answer.
When the boy saw that she did not answer, he raised a brow. “Are you mute?”
Gu Qingyun turned and walked away.
Seeing this, the boy followed behind her. “You really are mute? Then I’ll call you Little Mute slave. Little Mute slave, where are you going? The Ghost Tomb Forest is just ahead. Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Gu Qingyun strode forward without paying any attention to the boy’s warning.
“Could she be deaf?” the boy muttered softly. Seeing Gu Qingyun walk toward the Ghost Tomb Forest, he could not stand by and watch. He hurried forward and reached out to grab her shoulder.
Gu Qingyun dipped her right shoulder, avoiding his hand.
The boy let out a surprised sound and swung his hand toward her left shoulder.
Gu Qingyun spun aside and threw a punch at his chest.
“I didn’t expect you to be pretty good with your fists and feet.” The boy’s interest grew considerably, and he began exchanging blows with her.
Without using Profound Power, he dodged her attacks in a highly awkward manner, so he could not help using his Profound Power.
Gu Qingyun was blasted backward by the impact of the Profound Power. She flipped through the air, landed on both feet, and staggered two steps back.
“Ah, I forgot you can’t use Profound Power.” Seeing the blood at the corner of her mouth, the boy awkwardly rubbed the back of his head.
Gu Qingyun warned him, “Don’t follow me again.”
With that, she left the boy with a proud and aloof back.
The boy stared blankly after her and murmured softly, “So you’re not Little Mute after all.”
By the time he came back to his senses, Gu Qingyun had already disappeared from view. “Hey, it’s really dangerous up ahead!”
After hesitating for a while, he gritted his teeth and chased after her.
The Ghost Tomb Forest was, as its name suggested, a forest of tombs.
Tombstones of various sizes stood scattered throughout the forest. Towering trees blocked out the sky and sun, so the place rarely saw sunlight. Standing beneath the trees felt as though one had entered the depths of night.
The Ghost Tomb Forest was filled with countless insects, snakes, and poisonous creatures. Damp and gloomy, it was a place ordinary people did not dare approach.
There was also a ghost wall here. Many people entered the Ghost Tomb Forest, lost their way, and eventually became trapped there until they died.
Gu Qingyun was not being arrogantly overconfident. She had a reason she had no choice but to come to the Ghost Tomb Forest.
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