Chapter 103: With Ulterior Motives

Almost at the same time that Lady Crane, Liang Yan, and Ji Lai reached their alliance, a figure in a black robe and a bamboo hat walked alone through a secluded alley in the southwestern corner of Mingyi City.

It was deep in the night, and the city’s common folk were long since lost in dreams, leaving the area in total darkness. Yet, the black-robed figure moved through it without the slightest discomfort, as if the night were as clear as day. He navigated the twists and turns of the alleyway until he reached a dead end, where he stopped before a massive black gate.

He seemed to hesitate for a moment before finally raising his hand, preparing to grasp the door knocker.

At that instant, a sudden change occurred!

Five streaks of silver light tore through the night sky, shooting toward him with lethal speed. The black-robed figure, clearly caught off guard, kicked off the ground in haste and flew backward. However, the silver lights were relentless, shifting their trajectory to pursue him with even greater intensity.

In the blink of an eye, the lights caught up, instantly binding the figure. Upon closer inspection, they were five silver-white threads, radiating a faint, chilling gleam.

Simultaneously, a cold voice rang out from behind the gate: "Strangulate!"

As if obeying a command, the five threads pulled taut, slicing toward the center where the black-robed figure stood, as if determined to carve him into pieces. The threads tightened further, and just as it seemed the figure was about to perish on the spot, a stream of azure energy emerged from his body, forming a barrier against the onslaught. No matter how much the threads tightened, they could not move even an inch further.

"Eh?"

The person behind the gate seemed quite startled, but before he could speak, the sound of a flute drifted from elsewhere in the courtyard. The melody was as lingering as water, filled with an indescribable, winding tenderness. In a daze, the black-robed figure saw twelve beauties appear in mid-air, walking toward him with graceful, swaying steps. They were all stunning, with flower-like faces and moon-like beauty. Their silk skirts fluttered as they moved, exuding such a profound charm that one could not help but be intoxicated by them.

However, after only a brief moment of distraction, the black-robed figure snapped back to reality. He let out a long whistle, and a surge of azure energy erupted from him, blowing toward the enchanting beauties in the air.

*Whoosh!*

Like a gale sweeping across a desert, the figures of the beauties dissipated under the force of the azure energy, their forms vanishing to reveal twelve white skeletons. These skeletons held their shape for only a moment before crumbling into dust, scattering like sand across the sky. The starry night returned to silence once more.

"Innate True Qi!" someone exclaimed from inside the gate.

"Hmph!"

The black-robed figure let out a cold snort. His azure energy flared, and the silver threads wrapped around him snapped one after another with sharp *pop* sounds. With a flick of his large sleeve, he landed back on the open ground before the gate.

"Heavenly Net and Earthly Web, Pink Skulls! Is this how you treat your guests?" the black-robed figure asked coldly.

"Heh heh, perhaps you don't know the rules, sir. No one who comes here is a guest; they are only enemies. If you wish to discuss business, there are outlets in the city for that. This place only handles killings."

"Enough nonsense. I am looking for Zhao Wuming! The city outlets said he was away, so I came to see for myself whether he is truly gone or simply hiding."

At these words, silence fell behind the gate. After a long while, a voice sighed softly from the back courtyard: "Very well, let him in."

As the command was given, the heavy black gate creaked open, revealing two figures behind it. One was clad in black with black hair, his left hand still coiled with several silver threads. The other was a masked woman with a flute tucked into her waistband, standing daintily to the side.

The black-robed figure glanced at them, ignored them, and strode through the gate toward the back courtyard.

Deep within the courtyard, an ash-clad middle-aged man sat cross-legged atop a rockery. His face was square, a sheathed long saber strapped to his back, and a scar ran from his earlobe to the corner of his mouth, giving him a gruesome appearance.

"Fellow Daoist Yun, long time no see!" The man opened his eyes and smiled faintly.

The black-robed figure removed his bamboo hat and discarded the black robe, revealing a Taoist robe underneath. It was none other than Yun Xuzi!

"Zhao Wuming, you are truly the most cowardly assassin I have ever met, bar none!" Yun Xuzi said, his face etched with anger.

"Heh heh, with major events unfolding and the situation in Mingyi City currently volatile and brimming with undercurrents, I naturally have to be cautious to avoid capsizing in the gutter!"

"So you hide here, refusing to step out?" Yun Xuzi persisted.

Zhao Wuming threw his head back and laughed. "Come to think of it, I thought I had hidden my tracks quite well. I wonder, how did Fellow Daoist Yun determine that I was here?"

"Hmph! The entire Lu family estate was slaughtered, and every victim was cut in half at the waist. Isn't that your signature style?"

"So that's it!" Zhao Wuming realized. "No wonder. It seems I must change this old habit of mine." He paused before continuing, "Fellow Daoist Yun, we are both heading to the Four Bright Mountains Palace. May I ask what brings you here in the middle of the night?"

Yun Xuzi was silent for a moment before finally speaking: "I want you to help me kill someone."

"Easy!" Zhao Wuming nodded. "The Shadow Pavilion I founded is a professional assassin organization; we exist to take money and resolve problems for others. Who is it that you wish to have killed?"

"The Sickly Scholar!"

"Him!" Zhao Wuming’s expression was one of genuine surprise. He looked Yun Xuzi up and down, then added with a mocking smile, "They say one must be ruthless to be a great man. I see now that Fellow Daoist Yun is truly a great man indeed!"

"You've said too much," Yun Xuzi replied coldly.

"Heh heh, don't worry! Our Shadow Pavilion only takes money to do the job; we never ask the employer for their reasons. However, the Sickly Scholar is at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. I cannot guarantee success in killing him alone."

Yun Xuzi said, "Do not worry. Inside the palace, I will strike alongside you. You need only follow my lead and assist me in accomplishing the task."

"Haha! Excellent! But you know the rules of our Shadow Pavilion, don't you?" Zhao Wuming reminded him.

"Hmph, naturally. One-third of the deposit upfront, and the remainder paid in full once the deed is done." As Yun Xuzi spoke, he produced a black storage bag and handed it to Zhao Wuming.

Zhao Wuming took it and swept his divine sense inside. He chuckled, "Done. Who knew you were so familiar with our Shadow Pavilion's rates! Rest assured, the Sickly Scholar is already a dead man walking. Hahaha!"

Yun Xuzi nodded expressionlessly, readjusted his bamboo hat and black robe, and without another word, turned and walked out of the courtyard.

He stepped out of the dark alley and looked toward the distant, flickering lights of the pleasure district, muttering to himself:

"Scholar, do not blame me for being heartless. If you must blame someone, blame yourself for knowing too much..."

...

Almost at the same time, beside a small stream on the outskirts of Mingyi City, a yellow-robed monk with a plump, auspicious-looking face leaned against a mossy boulder, gulping down a jug of fine wine. On a wooden bridge not far away stood the sickly scholar, who coughed every now and then.

"I have explained the plan clearly. I hope we can cooperate fully when the time comes; the treasures in the mountain palace will then be ours for the taking," the sickly scholar said.

The monk listened with a beaming smile, his layers of fat almost obscuring his eyes.

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist. Of all things, this monk is the most trustworthy!"