Chapter 89: Is That Even Possible?
Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan silently passed through the guards’ perimeter and found themselves in a large, open space.
This area, formed by a natural indentation in the cliff face, was hidden from view by elevated walkways, buildings, and hanging lanterns.
If not for Xu Xiaoyan’s experience as a thief, they would never have noticed it.
Beyond the perimeter, the number of people dwindled significantly.
And the scantily clad women were gone.
Instead, they saw buildings that shouldn’t be in a pleasure palace: alchemy rooms, libraries, training grounds…
They knew they had found the right place.
Shi Hao whispered, “We need to find the Leopard Gate’s main account book, so Yue Ya’er can unravel their operations and take them down.”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “That won’t be easy.”
The Night Wanderer Talisman’s effect was wearing off. They didn’t dare waste any time, floating from building to building.
They entered a room and were startled to find numerous people inside.
They hadn’t sensed anyone.
But upon closer inspection, they realized these were just life-sized wooden statues.
Men and women, posed in various… compromising positions, their presence making Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan blush.
Xu Xiaoyan stomped on Shi Hao’s foot… I told you I didn’t want to come here!
Shi Hao, also embarrassed, was about to pull her out of the room when he sensed something and, instead of retreating, pushed her against the wall, his arm around her.
Xu Xiaoyan stared at him… I didn’t know you were like this.
Shi Hao whispered in her ear, “Someone’s coming.” He knew the Night Wanderer Talisman’s effect was about to end. Leaving now would expose them.
They slipped to the window and looked out. Two men were approaching.
One, with messy hair and a broad, powerful build, appeared to be in his fifties. It was Li Ximing, the “Three Extremes Ghost Butcher” of the Ghost Extreme Sect.
During the fight at Civilian Martial Ridge, Li Ximing, riding his Yingzhao beast, had pursued the carriage carrying the God-Sealing Stone. Shi Hao, thinking quickly, had thrown one of the stones from the carriage for Dark Thunder to retrieve.
He had then led Li Ximing away, abandoning the carriage just as he was about to be caught.
The other man was shorter and stockier, his build suggesting he was an expert in external martial arts.
The room was dimly lit by four pearls containing Night Fragrance Grass.
Two strings of lanterns hung outside, and torches flickered in the distance.
“Senior Brother Li,” the stocky man said, “Although we followed your instructions and led that Yue Ke Tai girl to the Brocade Dragon Gate, she’ll eventually find her way to us. In these times, being targeted by the barbarian court and the Ancestral Altar would be disastrous.”
Li Ximing, his hands clasped behind him, snorted, “It’s not that we don’t want to eliminate her. We sent ‘Blood Shadow’ to kill her today, but she survived.”
The stocky man’s expression changed, “Blood Shadow failed? How is that possible?”
Li Ximing said, “A new face in the martial world, a Daoist called Chongyun, unexpectedly saved her.”
The stocky man said, “Chongyun? Someone reported yesterday that there was a leadership dispute at Floating Cloud Monastery, and a young Daoist named Chongyun killed Kou Deqiu in a duel. Is it the same Chongyun? Why is he involved with the Yue Ke Tai family?”
Li Ximing said, “It seems to be just a coincidence. After reviewing the events, we learned that Chongyun was hired as a bodyguard by Zhao Wencheng, the accountant of the Brocade Dragon Gate. Yue Ya’er, misled by your information, targeted the Brocade Dragon Gate and captured Zhao Wencheng.”
“That Chongyun pursued her to the Jade Flower Courtyard. I don’t know if there was some kind of deal, or some other unexpected event, but Yue Ya’er brought him to her private quarters.
“According to Blood Shadow’s report, although that Chongyun only has a seventh-rank foundation, his senses are incredibly sharp. He managed to block Blood Shadow’s first attack. Normally, Blood Shadow would retreat after a failed attack, but he sensed the young man’s potential and decided to eliminate him before he became a threat, so he unleashed his full power.
“He used both the Dim Soul Demonic Art and the Earthly Shadow Star supernatural ability. With those two combined, the young man and Yue Ya’er should have been completely incapacitated, their senses and even their divine sense blocked. He used the same technique to kill Nie Wenhao, the ‘Fist Hero,’ a fifth-rank expert.
“But that Chongyun somehow managed to block his attack. He still doesn’t understand how.”
The stocky man gritted his teeth, “Should I send our elite to eliminate him?”
Li Ximing shook his head, “No. That Chongyun has mastered the Star Plucking Sword Technique, even the long-lost ‘Star Chasing Piercing the Dipper’ technique. And his background is mysterious. He might be a talented young martial artist nurtured by some unorthodox sect, and he might have a powerful backing. We shouldn’t provoke him unnecessarily and risk creating another enemy.”
Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan now knew that the stocky man was Jiao Han, the leader of the Leopard Gate.
Jiao Han, a fifth-rank expert and the leader of one of the three gangs and six societies of Dàxīng City, was acting subserviently towards Li Ximing, addressing him as “Senior Brother.”
Both men outside were fifth-rank experts, capable of easily killing them. Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan didn’t dare make a sound.
The Night Wanderer Talisman’s effect had worn off. They held their breath, hoping not to be discovered.
Jiao Han said, troubled, “So, we led that Yue Ya’er girl to the Brocade Dragon Gate, she captured their accountant, and that Chongyun, being the accountant’s bodyguard, went after her. I don’t know how handsome he is, but that Yue Ya’er girl brought him to her private quarters, presumably for some… illicit activity, and he ended up saving her life?”
“We tried to mislead her, and it backfired spectacularly. Even a fictional story wouldn’t be this absurd.”
Li Ximing said, “That Yue Ya’er girl doesn’t know much about the demonic sects, and she probably has no way of tracing Blood Shadow back to us. But if she continues her investigation, once the Brocade Dragon Gate is cleared, we’ll be her next target. This is becoming quite troublesome.”
“And we had hoped to kill her and disrupt the Ancestral Altar, our biggest threat. But since the assassination failed, we might not have another opportunity.”
Jiao Han lowered his voice, “She has the backing of the Yue Ke Tai family and the Ancestral Altar. If she truly targets the Leopard Gate, even if she just sends the authorities to harass us constantly, it will ruin our business. Our clients value discretion.”
“The Ancestral Altar has already eliminated many of our ‘female ghosts’ planted in prominent families. If our business here is disrupted as well, we’re finished.”
Li Ximing said, “Our priority is still the Dragon Head Mountain operation. If it succeeds on the night of the full moon, we’ll control Dàxīng City, and we won’t have to worry about anything else. That Grandmother Ba is our biggest threat.”
He paused, then asked, “Have you found Hao Xinghua and Night Lily yet?”
Shi Hao, having just heard them discussing him, was amused to be the topic of their next conversation as well.
Jiao Han said, “Someone reported seeing them earlier, but when our men arrived, they were gone. Those two are slippery. It won’t be easy to find them.”
Li Ximing said, “This ‘Mad Blade Hero’ Hao Xinghua is also quite strange. From what we’ve seen, he cultivates demonic techniques. We initially thought he was from the Black Lotus Realm, but now it seems he’s not from any of the three Evil Lotus factions. If he were, they would already have the Emerald Beauty.”
Jiao Han said, “He must be from Dark Thunder.”
Li Ximing shook his head, “Dark Thunder is a loose organization, a mix of various sects and factions united by their opposition to the barbarians. That doesn’t tell us much. He might not even be a member, just someone they hired.
“Regardless, the Emerald Beauty is crucial. Remember, according to the legend, it first appeared on Dragon Head Mountain. Send more men. We have to find those two.”
Jiao Han said, “Don’t worry, Senior Brother. They can’t hide forever.”
Li Ximing nodded, “I have to leave the city tonight. There’s been some progress with the research on the God-Sealing Stones. I need to see it for myself. If Yue Ya’er targets the Leopard Gate, lay low and try to mislead her. Don’t confront her directly to avoid further trouble.”
Jiao Han said, “I understand.”
The two separated. Jiao Han called two men over, gave them some instructions, and then went deeper into the compound.
Shi Hao, an idea coming to him, whispered to Xu Xiaoyan, “I’ll follow Jiao Han and see if I can find any more information. Wait for me here.”
Xu Xiaoyan looked at him, “Are you crazy? Jiao Han is a fifth-rank expert! He’ll discover you immediately…”
Shi Hao said, “I have a plan. If I’m discovered, use the Void Traversing Brick to get me out of there.” He slipped out the window, the Heroic Deeds Blade strapped to his back, and followed Jiao Han.
Xu Xiaoyan sighed, knowing she couldn’t stop him. She hid in the room, her face flushing as she looked at the wooden statues.
She stared at one of the statues, her eyes widening… Is that even possible?
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