Chapter 157: Is the Tiger Talisman with Jiang Feng?

Mu Laoyue, raising his bronze whip, suddenly froze mid‑air; he instinctively turned his head and saw the masked man slowly walk into the room.

Ling Zhaixing slowly opened his closed eyes, looked toward the familiar figure, and a deep‑seated hatred flashed in his eyes.

It was this mysterious masked man who had annihilated her Sect.

Mu Laoyue hurriedly dropped the bronze whip, fell to his knees with a thud, and buried his head low.

"M… Master! I am incompetent, failed to make Ling Zhaixing hand over the Tiger Talisman, please punish me!"

He knows well how ruthless this master is; the determination shown when he wiped out Ling Zhaixing's Sect is still fresh in his memory.

Now that he has performed poorly, he fears an ill fate.

The masked man did not speak immediately, but slowly walked to Ling Zhaixing's side.

The cold eyes exposed by the mask stared at her like a venomous snake, as if trying to read her thoughts.

"Ling Zhaixing, you hid the Southern Frontier Tiger Talisman with Jiang Feng, right?"

Ling Zhaixing's heart sank sharply, and his pupils involuntarily contracted.

But she quickly regained composure, a cold sneer curling at the corner of her mouth.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I threw the Tiger Talisman away long ago; you'll never get it!"

She felt secretly relieved that she had not given the Tiger Talisman to Jiang Feng, but had quietly hidden it in Su Xueyan's room.

The masked man seemed to have anticipated her denial and chuckled indifferently.

"You need not deny. I have already received word that the Dragon Group has gone looking for Jiang Feng."

He paused briefly, then continued.

"Since you stole the Tiger Talisman from the Southern Frontier, you have been under my Heavenly Net Earthly Net; wherever you flee, you cannot escape my tracking. Yet ever since you met Jiang Feng, you have vanished from under my very eyes several times, which surprises me."

"If Mu Laoyue had not recognized your true form and known all your hiding methods, perhaps you could truly escape from me." The masked man's gaze shifted to the kneeling Mu Laoyue.

Mu Laoyue trembled all over and quickly kowtowed.

"I dare not claim credit; serving you is my honor!"

The masked man withdrew his gaze and looked at Ling Zhaixing again.

"Mu Laoyue knows you like the back of his hand, yet he searched every place you might have hidden it and found no Tiger Talisman. Apart from Jiang Feng, who else could help you conceal something so vital?"

Ling Zhaixing's heartbeat quickened a few beats, but his face remained calm.

"You may guess, but what of it?"

Ling Zhaixing let out a cold laugh.

"Even if the Tiger Talisman is with Jiang Feng, with his strength, can you seize it? The Blood Sea Grudge from you wiping out my Sect, I will avenge it sooner or later!"

"Strength?"

The masked man sneered.

"Jiang Feng does have some skill, but to me he is merely a jumping‑beam clown. He lacks the qualification to contend with me."

"The master is wise!"

Mu Laoyue quickly said.

"I will go to the Su Family now, steal the Tiger Talisman back for you! And also eliminate that Jiang Feng brat, removing this obstacle for you!"

He had long hoped to earn merit before the masked man, and now that the chance arose, he would not let it slip.

The masked man fell silent for a moment, seeming to consider Mu Laoyue's proposal.

After a while, he slowly nodded.

"Fine. Go then, remember, you must bring the Tiger Talisman back. As for Jiang Feng, kill him if you can; if not, do not linger in battle—the Tiger Talisman is paramount."

"Yes! I obey!"

Mu Laoyue rejoiced immensely, quickly kowtowed in thanks, then turned and hurried toward the outside of the Water Prison.

……

Meanwhile, the Dragon Group was inside its office in Jiangcheng.

Lu Xiao sat at the desk, brows tightly knit.

She always felt an inexplicable familiarity about Jiang Feng, vaguely reminding her of the person who saved her before she fell unconscious.

Shao Jinpeng stood by the desk, his face full of indignant expression.

"Leader, I still think Jiang Feng is suspicious! Ling Zhaixing must have been hidden by him, and the Southern Frontier Tiger Talisman must be in his hands! We should capture him outright and torture him; I don't believe he won't speak the truth!"

Since returning from the Su Family, Shao Jinpeng has harbored a grudge.

He feels Lu Xiao is too cautious, missing the best chance to capture Jiang Feng.

Lu Xiao looked up and said lightly.

"Shao Jinpeng, I have already warned you: actions require evidence! Moreover, the Su Family's influence in Jiangcheng is considerable; we cannot act rashly lest we cause unnecessary trouble."

"Evidence?"

Shao Jinpeng sneered.

"Ling Zhaixing has appeared at the Su Family; that is the best evidence! Apart from Jiang Feng, who else would shelter her?"

"Enough, stop speaking!"

Lu Xiao interrupted him, his tone stern.

"This matter I have arranged myself; you must not act on your own. If you dare to cause trouble for Jiang Feng again, don't blame me for dealing with you according to the rules!"

Shao Jinpeng, though dissatisfied, dared not defy Lu Xiao's order and could only close his mouth in anger.

At that moment, Duan Fei entered from outside, and upon seeing Shao Jinpeng's angry demeanor, instantly understood a few things.

He smiled and walked forward, patting his shoulder.

"Jinpeng, don't be so hot‑tempered. The leader is right; actions require evidence, we cannot arrest people based on speculation."

Shao Jinpeng shook off his hand and said irritably.

"What do you know? That kid Jiang Feng is a scoundrel; he definitely hid Ling Zhaixing!"

Duan Fei smiled.

"I think it's unlikely. That Jiang Feng looks like an ordinary person; what kind of person is Ling Zhaixing? The Tiger Talisman is such an important thing; how could it possibly be handed to Jiang Feng?"

He paused, then said with implication.

"In my view, it's because of Yun Mengrou's matter that you hold a bias against Jiang Feng, so you think he has problems everywhere."

Shao Jinpeng's expression instantly turned sour.

"I'll make you all see that I'm the right one!"

After speaking, he ignored the two, turned, and briskly walked out of the office.

Watching Shao Jinpeng's departing back, Duan Fei helplessly shook his head.

"Group leader, Jinpeng is just that temperament; don't take it to heart."

"I know…"

Lu Xiao frowned slightly: "Keep an eye on him; don't let him cause trouble."

"Got it!"

Duan Fei grinned and turned to leave.

After Shao Jinpeng walked out of the Dragon Group office, he became increasingly unwilling.

"You won't let me cause trouble for Jiang Feng? Hmph, I'll go anyway!"

Shao Jinpeng gritted his teeth and said.

"I won't believe I can't find evidence! When I get proof of Jiang Feng colluding with Ling Zhaixing, let's see what the group leader has to say!"

He didn't go home; instead, he found a hidden spot and changed into a Night Cloak.

He decided to go to the Su Family again tonight.