Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8586 8586: Suicide (1)

The moment the black rope ensnared them, frantic struggles broke out. They fully realized that true capture spelled disaster. As subordinates of the third elder, invading the fifth elder's domain to grab someone was pure suicide. Everyone knew the third and fifth elders were fierce rivals. Falling into the fifth elder's hands meant they'd be skinned alive.

"Hmph!" A icy snort echoed suddenly, booming like thunder right by their ears. Their bodies stiffened instantly, heads spinning wildly. It felt like a massive hammer had smashed their skulls, leaving them utterly immobile.

When they finally snapped out of it, restraints had already bound them tight. Every bit of magical power in their bodies stood sealed off. Movement was impossible. Recognizing their plight, they exchanged glances and clenched their jaws. Hidden poison from their teeth surged into their mouths. In moments, their faces turned purple-blue, and death claimed them.

Gu Ming and his group only spotted the anomaly after it was too late—they were gone. Shockingly, their souls had vanished completely. The toxin had apparently erased even those. Searching souls was now out of the question for Gu Ming.

An ugly scowl twisted Gu Ming's face at the sight. He could've slain them outright and probed their souls, but chose capture instead. That way, they'd serve as proof to confront the third elder properly. It positioned them on the moral high ground.

Yet these turned out to be death warriors. The third elder deploying Island Master-level death warriors caught him off guard. Death warriors came in two flavors. One was a sect rank just above servant, typically for cultivators under Profound Dharma realm. The other: elites groomed by top powers, utterly devoted. Their masters gripped their lives tightly. On failure, suicide erased all traces. Self-explosion was common; poison rarer.

Island Master-level death warriors weren't ordinary, though. Anywhere they went, they ranked as powerhouses, core pillars of any force's might—the peak combat strength. Wasting such assets made no sense. Thus, no one ever pegged Island Master experts as mere death warriors.

But the third elder had molded Island Master experts into sacrificial pawns, and they'd offed themselves. Gu Ming never saw it coming. That oversight handed them the chance. Had he anticipated it, he'd have crushed any opening. Too late now.

Gu Ming eyed the corpses with a cold huff. "Handle these bodies. Yu Qing, let's talk in your room." Yu Qing assented, promptly directing his uncle to clear the remains. Then he guided Gu Ming and the others to his study. His prior quiet room lay ruined by the intruders, unusable. The study would do.

In the study, Gu Ming claimed the host's seat, Yu Qing and his two senior brothers taking the sides. Tea arrived swiftly from a servant. Gu Ming sipped before addressing Yu Qing: "You handled this well, Yu Qing. Their status didn't faze you. Capture by them would've spelled big trouble. Their failure leaves us clear. Still, this can't drag on—they'll strike again. Stay vigilant."

Yu Qing nodded. "Yes, Master. I'm sealing the island, keeping just the teleportation array to Ghost Bone Island open. All others shut tight—no more chances for them. Today was razor-close. A bit later from you and the senior brothers, and I'd have been done for."

Gu Ming nodded approval. "Sealing's smart. We'll manage external threats, so relax. No entries mean you're safer. If they mass-attack your barriers, bolt to my island. Ignore the rest for now—signal me, and support rushes over." He backed the seal fully; it was Yu Qing's sharpest move.

Yu Qing bowed his head in reply, though icy glints flickered in his eyes. For an Island Master, sealing screamed desperation—humiliating. Linking solely to Gu Ming handed his fate over completely. Future betrayal? Effortless for Gu Ming. Exactly what he dreaded. Trust remained shaky; harm could lurk.

Gu Ming missed Yu Qing's inner turmoil. Yu Qing played the loyal part flawlessly, fostering Gu Ming's sense of total control. That's why he pushed it. He knew sealing humiliated an Island Master, but saw it as Yu Qing's deference. He'd accept nothing less—or haul Yu Qing away.

After more directives, Gu Ming departed Yu Qing's island with his crew. Yu Qing escorted to the array, then commanded the seal. Back in his quarters, he fired up the formation and slipped into the island's hidden space to meet Cheng Wanchun.

Plant Castle staff whisked him straight to Cheng Wanchun in the study. Spotting Yu Qing, Cheng smiled. "Here you are—sit. What's brewing? Still mulling today's mess? Sealing for real?"

Yu Qing jolted—Cheng knew already. Monitoring confirmed, but powerless against it. He forced a wry grin. "What choice? Gu Ming's playing me obvious. Seal or face worse dangers."

Cheng Wanchun chuckled. "No need for that mindset. It's knottier than you think. Those law enforcement Hall disciples hitting your island? Third elder's crew, sure—but also legit Hall members. Get my drift?" He eyed Yu Qing grinning.

Yu Qing froze, face shifting. "Legit law enforcement Hall? Not third elder's private squad?" He grasped the chasm. True Hall meant elder council orders—not sect master's direct call, but binding. Dark Ghost Sect rules: five of eight elders greenlighted it, enforceable—even overriding the sect master, post-report.

Approval needed only five elders; report to sect master first. If he and three others nixed it, nothing happened—no execution. Full rift between Grandmaster and council hurt everyone.

Hence Yu Qing's tension at Cheng's reveal. Hall elders under council directive implied sect master acquiescence. That's why they targeted his island. Their deaths here? Massive liability.

Cheng Wanchun eyed him smiling. "Relax—no sect master buy-in. Few elders' rogue move. Killing them stirs trouble, sure—but no sweat for us. If Gu Ming dumps you, hit the island, self-destruct. Setup's ready—you slip in safe. Islanders perish, but mission's done. No worries."

Yu Qing blinked, then nodded. "Can I bring some folks now? Island's tense—you know. No time for evac when it blows." Uncle Yi's crew weighed heavy; they'd stuck through hell, family-like. He craved their safety first.

Cheng Wanchun shook his head. "Chill—they're covered, guaranteed. Too many eyes on you. Moving them screams suspicion—bad for all. Trust: Master's word—you're ours forever. Safe."