Chapter 269 : Preparing for Rescue
"Prey" was certainly not a flattering description, containing not even a hint of goodwill.
While Jiang Mo's group was interrogating the native youth, Tan Xin and the others who had fallen into the aboriginal settlement had already seen other captives in the prison. The number wasn't particularly large, but neither was it small—roughly estimated at one hundred and eighty people.
Among them were those Tan Xin's group recognized and those they didn't, cultivators of both the righteous and demonic paths.
This was certainly not a good situation, but more troubling than their capture was another matter—they had landed on the island just yesterday, and even if they hadn't been driven by spirit beasts during the night, these people couldn't have been captured for more than a day at most. Yet in this brief period, those who had been captured earlier appeared completely dazed, not even blinking an eye despite being called or shaken by old acquaintances.
Tan Xin and You Yi even discovered fellow sect members among the captives, but unfortunately, once-familiar brothers showed no reaction to them. Their eyes were open, but their gazes were dim, as if their souls had lost connection with the outside world.
No matter how accustomed You Yi was to misfortune, this scene still chilled him to the core. He murmured to Tan Xin: "What's happened to them?"
Tan Xin didn't know either. He first frowned and shook his head, then suddenly raised his hand and placed a finger on his senior brother's forehead. A golden Buddha light briefly flashed at his fingertip, entering the other's forehead. The vacant eyes of his sect brother seemed to regain a glimmer of awareness.
You Yi's eyes immediately brightened—he hadn't expected Tan Xin to retain Buddha light on this strange island. But before he could ask how this was possible, he noticed Tan Xin's once-ruddy complexion had turned pale—no need to ask; it was likely some secret technique that couldn't be used lightly or revealed to outsiders.
Tan Xin indeed had no intention of explaining. After completing this, he simply stared at his sect brother. As the Buddha light entered the spiritual platform, a flash of awareness rippled through the captive's eyes, gradually giving way to struggle.
For Tan Xin and the others, it was just a matter of moments, but for the affected person, it might have been a long struggle. Finally, that small light dispelled the darkness. With a loud "Ah!", he seemed to break free from some invisible restraint, his mind suddenly clear. Then his legs gave way and he collapsed to the ground, large drops of sweat breaking out on his forehead, making him look as if he'd been pulled from water moments later.
Everyone's gaze turned toward him. Some eyes brightened with hope, others showed concern, but at this moment, what everyone most wanted to do was seize this awakened monk and question him thoroughly.
The monk took a good while to recover, his heavy breathing gradually stabilizing.
Tan Xin stepped forward to help him up. Seeing him, the monk quickly pressed his palms together in gratitude: "Thank you for your rescue, Junior Brother Tan Xin."
Buddha's disciple Tan Xin had built quite a reputation over the years, and moreover, all the captured people were those who had landed with him and whom he had awakened to band together. Though everyone had countless questions, they all restrained themselves from speaking immediately. Fortunately, Tan Xin probably understood their thoughts, and after saying thanks were unnecessary, he proactively asked what had happened previously.
However, the monk knew little more than they did: "Yesterday we suddenly appeared on the island, and after waking up, we went inland to explore. In the evening, we encountered a group of strange people and were captured by them."
This experience, apart from the earlier exploration inland and earlier capture, was virtually identical to that of the others.
But this wasn't what Tan Xin and the others wanted to know, so they asked further: "Why was Senior Brother in such a state earlier, as if your soul wasn't your own?"
The monk sighed and said: "I don't know either. After being captured yesterday, I drank some water they brought this morning and became like that." After looking around at his still-dazed companions, he added: "Besides your group, there weren't so many people this morning. I don't know what these strange people intend to do."
After a day, everyone knew their physical conditions were no different from ordinary mortals, and they needed food and water to survive on this island. Hearing the monk's words, they realized the problem lay in the food and drink, but could they really continue without eating or drinking?
You Yi's brow furrowed tightly as he said: "Though we don't know what these people are planning, it can't be good. We must escape."
Everyone agreed with this sentiment and understood it perfectly. But having been captured and clearly outmatched, escape wouldn't be easy. Moreover, with so many affected people, they couldn't expect Tan Xin to use his secret technique to save each one. Should they carry these people away together, or abandon their sect brothers and friends to save themselves?
The entire prison fell silent, the atmosphere growing even more oppressive.
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At this time, the vast majority of people stranded on the merperson island were still unaware of the natives' existence, because apart from Yun Qingyue's group who had actively sought them out by coincidence, most cultivators who encountered these aboriginals had been captured.
The cultivators were scattered in all directions, each playing out their own deserted island survival drama.
Days were long and nights short on the merperson island, but the daylight hours still passed quickly. Before they knew it, the sun was setting again. The vast majority, having learned from the previous night's spirit beast attacks, began seeking suitable, hidden, and safe places to stay before the sky completely darkened, planning for a peaceful night.
Of course, there were exceptions. For instance, Jiang Mo's trio, having just extracted considerable information from the native youth and learned that no one from the settlement ventured out at night, used the remaining daylight to sneak back near the settlement.
The three found a spot with lush vegetation to hide. Jiang Mo casually placed a woven grass wreath on Yun Qingyue's head, roughly concealing her flowing black hair, then put one on her own head. When Zhong Heng looked back, she handed him a bunch of wild grass and said in a low voice: "If you want one, make it yourself."
Without spiritual energy and the cultivators' ability to traverse heaven and earth, the castaways seemed to have returned to ordinary existence. For instance, without invisibility techniques or formations, they could only use locally available materials for camouflage.
Zhong Heng pouted, casting a suspicious glance at the two before taking the grass.
His craftsmanship wasn't great—he haphazardly wove a grass ring and placed it on his head, then peered toward the distant settlement: "It's getting dark. There don't seem to be many guards outside the settlement, but it won't be easy to sneak in and rescue people."
The native youth they had captured had revealed much information, but being so young, he hadn't been exposed to many affairs and knew little about the tribe's secrets. Fortunately, having grown up in the settlement, he was familiar with its personnel and defenses. At first, he had gritted his teeth and refused to talk, but ultimately succumbed to the unbearable itching.
The three observed the settlement for a long time, confirming that the youth's description of the defensive deployment contained no errors.
After careful observation, Jiang Mo had formed a rough understanding and said: "These natives harbor ill intentions toward cultivators. If we're going to rescue people, sooner is better."
Yun Qingyue thought for a moment and replied: "We should rescue them, but there's no rush. This settlement likely harbors even more secrets."
The ghost ship had shattered at sea just yesterday, and everyone had only landed on the island then. Setting aside the spirit beasts' nocturnal herding, these natives seemed to have moved suspiciously quickly—they hadn't spotted any traces of them near the shore yesterday, yet they seemed to be intentionally hunting the cultivators. What was their motive? This needed to be clarified.
Jiang Mo naturally wouldn't contradict her senior sister. Hearing this, she immediately changed her stance: "That's true. This settlement doesn't seem simple, and the island is only so big—even if we rescue people, avoiding recapture would be difficult. It might be better to use this opportunity to infiltrate and investigate their background."
Zhong Heng turned to look at her, his expression somewhat peculiar, apparently having noticed her devotion to his senior sister during these two days.
Jiang Mo's skin was thick enough—perceiving his gaze, she returned it straightforwardly, even asking with an air of obviousness: "Why are you looking at me like that? Is what I said incorrect?"
Zhong Heng withdrew his gaze: "No, you're right. I was just wondering, since someone is missing from the settlement tonight, will they strengthen their defenses?"