I Have 10 Equipment Slots-Chapter 126 - 100: Hunt? Counter-hunt

Gu Zheng mused, "They’ve gathered the Demon Fiends, most likely to lure me out."

"Right, the mastermind must be plotting something! Mr. Gu, we have to act cautiously," Zhang Ning hurriedly agreed.

An Xiaoxue also said nervously, "How about this, Mr. Gu? Why don’t you hurry back to the State Headquarters and report what’s happening at the Command Headquarters here? We can deal with the mastermind after Grand General Meng or Grand General Xie arrives."

The two of them could only act as support, at best.

They couldn’t root out the mastermind, nor could they wipe out the Demon Fiends in large numbers.

On the contrary, if they made one wrong move, the mastermind could turn them into Demon Fiends.

For that reason, nothing could happen to Gu Zheng.

"I’ve already sent messages to Grand General Meng and Grand General Xie, but they haven’t responded. They’re most likely held up by other matters," Gu Zheng replied softly.

To be able to turn people directly into Demon Fiends and bring disaster upon an entire prefecture...

Gu Zheng had already used the Communication Bamboo Token to inform Meng Taiqi and Xie Bisheng of this horrifying matter back when he was still in Lesheng County.

Lesheng County was less than five hundred li from the State City in a straight line.

If the two Demon-slaying Grand Generals were in the State City, they would have certainly received the message and responded. Even if they couldn’t come, they would have sent a message back to Gu Zheng telling him how to proceed.

But to this day, there hadn’t been a single message.

This outcome suggested two possibilities.

One, Meng Taiqi and Xie Bisheng were dead.

Two, neither of them were in the State City.

"Huh?"

Hearing Gu Zheng’s words, An Xiaoxue was dumbfounded.

Zhang Ning was also stunned for a moment. Then, his face filled with anxiety, and he was about to try persuading him again.

"Most importantly!"

Gu Zheng’s voice suddenly rose as he continued, "Since the mastermind knows we’re here, if none of us show ourselves within half a day, he will almost certainly make a move on the people in Bamen County Town and turn them into Demon Fiends too!"

"Or he’ll break down the city gates and let the army of Demon Fiends rush in to slaughter everyone inside!"

"Look at this army of Demon Fiends. They’re moving right along the walls of the county town, yet they’re showing no reaction to the people on the other side of those walls. Is that normal?"

’Not normal!’

The thought echoed in the minds of Zhang Ning and An Xiaoxue.

’It was completely abnormal!’

This army of Demon Fiends was controlled by Du Yanjun and Gao Batian.

There was a slight chance that Du Yanjun and Gao Batian might not attack the people in the town.

But the mastermind absolutely would!

Since he knew of Gu Zheng’s existence, he wouldn’t just wait around like a fool.

Assembling the army of Demon Fiends and using the town’s citizens to force Gu Zheng to appear—this was his move!

"Th-Then... what do we do?" Having understood this, Zhang Ning started to panic.

An Xiaoxue was completely at a loss, standing frozen on the spot.

"It’s fine. I’ll go and meet him," Gu Zheng said softly.

"No!"

An Xiaoxue blurted out instinctively, "Mr. Gu, you can’t! If something happens to you..."

"Do you take me for a fool?"

Gu Zheng interrupted, "I never do things I’m not confident about."

"Uh..." An Xiaoxue faltered.

Zhang Ning, however, thought back on the few incidents since he started following Gu Zheng.

Indeed, Gu Zheng rarely took risks, much less acted foolishly.

"In that case, Mr. Gu, please be careful."

With this in mind, Zhang Ning took a deep breath and said sincerely, "If something happens to you, we won’t be able to escape either."

"Don’t worry."

Gu Zheng reached out and patted Zhang Ning’s shoulder, then An Xiaoxue’s.

"You two wait here. If the crisis is averted, I’ll fire a Whistling Arrow to summon you. Before I do, don’t go near the army of Demon Fiends or the county town."

"Understood!"

Zhang Ning and An Xiaoxue responded in unison.

They then watched as Gu Zheng’s figure flickered and, in a few flashes, disappeared into the mountain forest.

...

He was heading there personally, knowing full well it was a trap.

Naturally, he had the confidence to do so.

This confidence didn’t come from Pang Hu, who was always with him. Although Pang Hu could slap a Spirit Body out of its host with a single swipe and even catch Exotic Insects to eat...

...when faced with a mastermind who could produce something like the Demon Creation Gourd, Pang Hu would likely have no choice but to run.

The Mist Shadow Celestial Dragon, Divine Leech, and Spirit-Eating Ants most likely couldn’t help much either.

The main reason was that the mastermind’s identity was unknown.

Was he a member of a Noble Family, or a member of the Wise Demon Race from the Yingchou Mountain Range?

Only by knowing who the enemy was could he formulate a counter-plan! 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

That’s right.

The mastermind was forcing Gu Zheng to show himself, and Gu Zheng also wanted the mastermind to reveal himself!

In this struggle, Du Yanjun and Gao Batian were merely two pawns who couldn’t escape.

Gu Zheng wasn’t in a hurry to find them and take the "Demon Creation Gourd".

Exposing the mastermind was the key!

How could he expose him?

Simple.

The mastermind wanted to see Gu Zheng, so Gu Zheng would grant his wish.

SWISH!

As his figure shifted, a "Gu Zheng" separated from his shadow.

Deceptive Appearance!

The "Gu Zheng" that had split off had an aura identical to the real Gu Zheng.

It was also "wearing" the Silver Moon Armor and had a "draped" Cloak, looking dashing and full of spirit.

With this "Gu Zheng" created, the real Gu Zheng naturally hid himself in the forest.

The decoy "Gu Zheng" then charged out into the open, moving along the outskirts of the army of Demon Fiends.

The hissing, roaring Demon Fiends didn’t notice him.

Du Yanjun and Gao Batian, hidden within the ranks of the Demon Fiend army, didn’t notice either.

But Qi Zhongshan, who was carrying an arm-length, large red gourd on his back, did see him!

Qi Zhongshan, a man with gray-white hair, a gaunt face, and a goatee, wore an ugly, unsightly cloak similar in appearance to a Demon Fiend. His feet seemed to glide as if on ice as he moved back and forth, weaving effortlessly through the Demon Fiends, searching for a target.

When he saw "Gu Zheng" appear, a red light flashed across his sullen face, and a mix of amusement and killing intent surged in his sharp eyes!

’I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist.’