The Prince's spiritual sense spread out over an area of 3,000 meters as he listened to Hao Xuan's orders before he had even finished listening to the orders, the perpetrators were found.
But he stayed until Hao Xuan was done talking before taking flight. The two pairs of translucent wings attached to his back fluttered as he took flight. In his eyes, the time came to a standstill. Cutting through the air he soundlessly appeared below the mirror, right under its surface.
A small trace of killing intent escaped from the Prince's body as he locked onto to 86, 89 and Stasa that were right above him standing on the other side of the mirror. It was so subtle that Stasa couldn't even feel it even though his life was just as much in danger as the other two.
Hao Xuan followed the Prince's signal from the ground and closed in on his location. But it was only when he was less than a hundred meters that the mirror and the three on it became visible. Under normal circumstances, he should have been able to see them from a mile away but 86's ability completely blocked his perception.
He recognized Stasa at first glance so it wasn't hard to determine who the other two were.
'Come down!' he ordered before taking a seat on a small boulder nearby.
He had exhausted too much Qi on that small exchange back there with the Crimson Beast. Right now his biggest issue was not having enough Qi reserves.
As they neared Hao Xuan was once again able to feel a vague connection to Ceni which was coming from the Cube in Stasa's hand. Stasa said something but Hao Xuan didn't even register his existence.
The Prince, as quick as he was, swiftly flew out from under the mirror and hid behind a nearby tree without being found out.
Hao Xuan sniffed the air just as the mirror landed and felt the same kind of smell coming from the cube and 89 so he naturally looked towards him.
"What did you do to her?" he asked in a low voice while giving the Prince another order.
'If they attack, kill the one in the middle first,' he pointed out 86.
Out of everyone here, 86 smelled the most 'unique' which to Hao Xuan was equal to danger. And it was a smell he knew very well, almost identical to the creatures from the mirror dimension.
Just to be sure he glanced at their exposed feet which thankfully weren't inverted.
'At least they are human,' he thought.
At the same time, both 86 and 89 were eyeing him up and down. 86 was the first one to speak up.
'You see that?'
'See what?'
'He looks blurry.'
'Looks blurry? What does that mean?'
'Exactly what I said. I can't focus on him, his entire figure is blurry in my eyes.'
'Really? What does that mean? Did that ever happen before?'
'Yeah, once. When I was escorting Lord Enver to a 'Deep Rock' to visit an inmate.'
'Deep Rock?! You mean the Interdimensional Prisons? The place where they keep the most dangerous prisoners alive?'
'Yes, that one,' 89 could feel the eye roll that was aimed at him even through the hoods covering their faces, 'The inmate Lord Enver met was like this guy. His silhouette was all blurry and no matter how hard I tried to focus it wouldn't stabilize. It looked like there were several people superimposed onto one.'
'Then…what? Kill him? Seal him?'
'How about we just talk so we can get out of here without risking our lives?'
'Yeah, that works. Let's not take on any more risks than we have to.'
When they were done 89 came forward and bowed from the waist.
"We work for Lord Dai Zhi and are here under this orders to escort his dear sister back to him. She has only been sealed and is not in any danger. Once we return she will be released without harm."
But unlike their expectations, Hao Xuan's expression turned cold when he heard Dai Zhi's name. Others might not but he was well aware of Dai Zhi's plan for Ceni.
Either she would die here or be taken hostage or maybe even as a slave by the first Protector of the Hall. That was part of their deal.
"Why didn't you pick me up? I was only a little bit away, you must have seen me fighting."
But Hao Xuan chose to keep that part to himself. No one would believe him anyway.
86 and 89 glanced at one another, unsure how to answer. The stunt they pulled by giving him the wrong coordinate wasn't exactly authorized by anyone other than Stasa so they couldn't admit it.
Just then Stasa stepped forward, chest puffed out and leaking pride all over the place.
"Why should we have helped you? What business is it ours what you do with your life?"
Hao Xuan once again glanced at the cube then back at 89.
"Let her out. Now."
