Chapter 486: Cang Xu Socializes

“Jian Gui is temporarily pacified,” Cang Xu murmured to himself on the way back.

For Cang Xu, his current situation was complex.

He had to maintain contact with both Zhou Zhang's faction and Jian Gui, playing both sides while secretly plotting, gaining benefits for his true allegiance and faction.

Cang Xu excelled in such situations. Despite bearing the marks of both factions' schemes, his confidence only grew.

“It all stems from the commander. He's the one who made me feel increasingly at ease.”

Recalling the events on Mystifying Monster Island and the perilous ordeal this time, Cang Xu found himself teetering on the edge of betrayal.

The young commander's timely arrival had been triggered by the divine artifact [Mermaid Fairy Tale]'s teleportation effect.

“This is destiny!”

Understanding the chain of events filled Cang Xu with profound reverence for destiny.

He returned to his dwelling - still the same crude shack.

Ku Feng had already arrived.

Cang Xu welcomed him inside and spoke with him privately for quite some time.

Ku Feng, desperate to survive, and pressed for time, moved with decisive urgency.

He asked numerous questions, to which Cang Xu responded with well-reasoned answers, consistent, logically sound, and rich in detail.

Of course, on certain points, Cang Xu deliberately gave vague answers, revealing the state of tension, fear, and utter helplessness he had felt at the time.

This greatly enlightened Ku Feng declared: Cang Xu's psychological state formed the strongest foundation for his successful conversion.

Especially the immense pressure brought by death, in such circumstances, it became an aid.

After their exchange, Ku Feng felt deeply enriched and grew grateful toward Cang Xu.

“If I survive this, I must repay him!”

With this resolve, Ku Feng sought to offer timely feedback: "I walk the path of the corpse aspect. Regarding its inheritance, I'm ashamed to say my knowledge might not even match yours. But as an undead ronin, I possess extensive experience in wielding undead battle qi."

"My cultivation experience is the only thing I can repay you with."

"No need," Cang Xu waved his hand and rejected.

He spoke with genuine sincerity: "It's not that I look down on you, I'm interested in all knowledge. But for you, Ku Feng, my companion, you need to treasure your time more now. There's no need to waste it here. Save it for yourself. Who knows? In a critical moment, an extra minute—or even a second—could mean the difference between life and death."

These words deeply moved Ku Feng.

After all, Ku Feng had previously targeted Cang Xu with the help of Qi Ling and Xiao Wang Zi.

Before seeking Cang Xu's aid, Ku Feng had braced himself for the worst.

Yet from start to finish, Cang Xu remained gentle, not merely putting on a show before Jian Gui, but genuinely considering Ku Feng's well-being.

Cang Xu continued, "What happened before doesn't amount to much. If I were in your place, I'd have done the same. It's just about survival."

“Of course, if we make it out alive, or even regain our freedom, you'll owe me big time!”

Ku Feng was deeply moved.

He took a deep breath, lowering his voice: “I'll remember this favor. I'll repay it someday.”

Ku Feng wasn't one for flowery words, but Cang Xu could sense his sincerity and resolve in that simple reply.

“This debt of yours won't be easily repaid,” Cang Xu chuckled inwardly.

“Come to think of it, taking this risky teleportation back was absolutely the right call.”

“I've completely turned the tables on Jian Gui's crew!”

Based on Cang Xu's understanding of Ku Feng and his own political acumen, Ku Feng was now deeply indebted. He would surely be useful to Cang Xu in the future.

“This means I can ask the commander to intervene and protect Ku Feng as much as possible.”

To Ku Feng, his situation seemed precarious.

But to Cang Xu, it presented an entirely different scenario.

Life or death could now be arranged entirely through the hands of the young commander!

“Qi Ling previously schemed against me... but my survival has actually given me an opportunity to strengthen bonds and break through barriers.”

Cang Xu quickly regained his composure.

This was merely a minor advancement, too insignificant within the grand scheme of the entire plan.

"I am a necromancer, though I have received divine blessing and passed Zhou Zhang's trial, the other believers still regard me with apprehension, wariness, and aloofness."

Cang Xu gazed through the cracks of his makeshift hut toward the golden altar.

Recalling his teleportation back and the inspection by Zhou Zhang, his brow furrowed slightly.

He had passed Zhou Zhang's verification, a process far easier than he had anticipated. Yet it was precisely this ease that left him feeling unsettled, uneasy.

“Does Zhou Zhang truly trust me?”

“If she truly trusts me, why hasn't she proactively lifted my seal?”

“Perhaps I should seek an audience with her myself and request the seal's removal?”

A thought suddenly struck Cang Xu.

It was a form of probing.

The next moment, he dismissed this dangerous notion of testing the waters.

Too reckless, it was not his style.

Most importantly, there was the plan he'd discussed with the young commander! Even sealed, he could still advance that plan.

“No need for unnecessary risks.”

“Look at it another way, this seal on me is the best way to gain Zhou Zhang's trust.”

Cang Xu secretly speculated that perhaps, ever since his teleportation, every move he made had been under Zhou Zhang's strict surveillance and scrutiny.

“Hmm, I must be even more cautious!”

Cang Xu lingered in the shack for a short while before pushing open the door and stepping out.

The area where necromancers gathered had always been isolated as a separate zone by other Charming Blue believers.

Now, Cang Xu voluntarily left this isolated zone and ventured into other areas.

Along the way, he encountered numerous Charming Blue believers. These intelligent sea creatures all regarded him with looks of suspicion, wariness, and warning. Many pointed at him from corners, whispering among themselves, a decidedly unfriendly atmosphere.

Having witnessed Cang Xu's departure, they continued their discussion.

“Who would have thought a necromancer would become one of us?”

“I absolutely won't accept him!”

“This is all the will of the gods. I believe that since he's been granted divine blessing and teleported back, it proves his true heart.”

“Even so, what does that matter? Does sharing the same faith mean we can't be enemies? That poor son of mine never came back. Waaah, waaah, waaah! That vile undead actually returned!"

…

Cang Xu left his lodgings of his own accord, seeking Qing Xin.

He knew Qing Xin's location, among the human pirates.

"Come to think of it, Qing Xin was captured aboard the ghost ship. Yet during imprisonment, Zhou Zhang had her transferred to the human pirates. Looking at how she forced us to select participants for the teleportation blood sacrifice, this Charming Blue Archbishop Zhou Zhang truly has a twisted sense of humor."

Cang Xu felt Zhou Zhang treated their group of captives as casually as a child playing with ants.

"Relying on her mastery of both divine and magic spells, especially her deception magic, Zhou Zhang certainly has reason to look down on us. But might her nature offer some exploitable weakness?"

Lost in thought, Cang Xu unexpectedly encountered Qing Xin halfway through his journey.

Zhou Zhang did not restrict the necromancers' movements, nor did she concern herself with the human prisoners. After all, these captives bore dual seals; Zhou Zhang had no fear they could cause any disturbance.

Qing Xin's face lit up with delight upon seeing Cang Xu, “Magician Xu Jia, I was just looking for you!” she exclaimed.

Like Ku Feng, her motive for seeking Cang Xu was to learn from his successful conversion.

In truth, Qing Xin bore even heavier psychological pressure than Ku Feng.

Under the current rules, the second blood sacrifice ritual would almost certainly target her.

Cang Xu smiled and nodded, “My success this time was sheer luck. I was actually looking for you too, as I believe my experience might be of some help.”

Qing Xin instantly looked deeply moved, nodding vigorously, her eyes reddening.

This period had been incredibly difficult for her.

Had she known things would turn out this way, she never would have agreed to leave Two Eyes Island with Zi Di!

To Qing Xin, Cang Xu was her lifeline.

But in truth, she needn't have worried at all.

Among the captives, she was likely the safest. The young commander was hiding aboard the Deep Sea Monster Fish. For the sake of his beloved Zi Di, he would never allow anything to happen to Qing Xin!

As for Cang Xu, he bore not only dual seals but also the deadly trap set by Jian Gui. Though he had seen the fishman youngster, he was still walking a tightrope.

The explanation Cang Xu gave Qing Xin was nearly identical to what he told Ku Feng.

He treated them equally primarily because he knew Zhou Zhang and others were secretly monitoring him. By acting impartially, he demonstrated he had done everything possible.

This act of helping his comrades highlighted his loyalty and emphasized the common ground between the undead and the living. Raising the opinion of Zhou Zhang and the others would also increase their trust in him.

After parting ways with Qing Xin, Cang Xu returned to his quarters. Outwardly, he began his prayers, but secretly, he was forging memories.

The reason he didn't proceed with the operation was that Cang Xu still had to consider Jian Gui's feelings.

Earlier, Cang Xu had assured Jian Gui that he would spare no effort in forging the memories. But after leaving, he'd been wandering about, negotiating with others—what was that about?

This would undoubtedly damage his image in Jian Gui's eyes.

"Besides, Xiao Wang Zi won't see me. He was tormented by guilt before; now, even looking at me makes him uncomfortable."

"Qi Ling... What happened earlier has already severely damaged our relationship. Even if I reach out, she'll be suspicious."

“Truthfully, her existence serves another purpose.”

“I can fabricate a conflict between us, making it explicit. This will reassure Jian Gui, making him believe everything is under control.”

“Using the teleportation blood sacrifice, the commander can capture these undead, even Jian Gui himself.”

“Once my rank advances and I can command the artifact [Mermaid Fairy Tale] to teleport away, the power of the Wisteria Merchant Alliance will command Jian Gui's respect and force the undead orthodoxy to take notice.”

“My future relations with Jian Gui's faction will improve tremendously!”

Cang Xu's vision was far-reaching; he was already strategizing and acting for future alliances.

The web of relationships surrounding Cang Xu was exceedingly complex.

He had to navigate two distinct roles: Charming Blue believer and necromancer.

He needed to maintain a delicate equilibrium between these identities, constantly maneuvering between the two factions while advancing his own true agenda.

Among the survivors, no one was better suited for this arduous task than him.