Chapter 222: Interrogation

As they were walking inside, Tang Wulin's expression shifted slightly; he tapped the back of Gongyang Mo's hand, Gongyang Mo instantly understood, and led him toward the roadside.

Soon the two reached a deserted corner, and Tang Wulin said coldly, 'Come out; I've sensed you.'

Tang Wulin lacked Huo Yutong's spiritual detection, but having undergone the academy's special training, he was skilled in counter‑tracking; the tracker's skills were not advanced, so he easily noticed them.

"Hehe, hehe, not bad; looks like you're quite capable."

As the chuckling sounded, a gaunt black‑clad figure appeared before the two.

His complexion was bluish‑green, with faint black vapors rising from it; at a glance he looked extremely bizarre and repulsive.

Sensing his yin‑evil aura, Tang Wulin and Gongyang Mo furrowed their brows and asked:

"Why are you tracking us two?"

"Why ask? Tsk tsk, you know the answer, kid—you two pretended to be Evening Water Alliance members; didn't you think the real ones would come looking for you?"

Tang Wulin and Gongyang Mo's hearts sank; they hadn't expected that merely using the Evening Water Alliance as a pretext for a couple of questions would get them found by the genuine members so quickly.

It seems the plan needs some changes.

Tang Wulin asked with a grim expression:

"What do you intend to do with us two?"

The black‑clad figure chuckled: 'How about this—you just said you're Evening Water Alliance members; then prove you have the ability for that.'

Gongyang Mo silently cursed; the black‑clad figure's meaning was clear—he wanted them to display Evil Soul Master techniques.

But they were both from Shilake Academy, normally cultivating properly—how could they have Evil Soul Master combat methods?

He could only wait for a chance to kill him… Gongyang Mo was about to signal Tang Wulin when Tang Wulin said, 'Sure, can we do it here?'

"Huh?"

Gongyang Mo and the black‑clad figure stared, then saw a flash of golden light as Tang Wulin grasped a long spear in his hand.

The black‑clad figure's hairs stood on end; he let out a strange cry, four soul rings—two yellow and two purple—rose around him, and he tried to flee.

From the spear he sensed an extreme danger; his instinct told him that if he didn't run now he would really die.

However, before he could even turn, he felt a strange force surge from his chest, slamming him to the ground.

Looking up, he saw Tang Wulin already standing before him, foot pressing on his chest—the strange force he'd felt came from that foot.

Tang Wulin's eyes flashed with killing intent; he raised the spear and then thrust it down violently.

"Ah——!"

The black‑clad figure let out a startled cry; as pain surged, Tang Wulin drove the Golden Dragon Spear into his arm, and with the flowing golden light he watched in horror as his life force was rapidly devoured by the spear.

He panicked and shouted loudly.

"I believe you! I believe you're my kind!"

Even though he shouted, Tang Wulin didn't stop immediately; he waited a moment before pulling the Golden Dragon Spear out.

In less than two seconds, the arm he'd stabbed had aged horribly; clearly it had suffered massive trauma, and barring a miracle it would never recover.

Tang Wulin said coldly:

"I don't want to hear you speak to me and my big brother in that tone again."

"Yes, yes, sorry! I—I won't dare again!"

The black‑clad figure trembled violently; that had been the closest he'd ever come to death in his life. Seeing Tang Wulin's cold gaze, he had no doubt that if he'd begged for mercy a moment slower, Tang Wulin would really have killed him.

A puddle of liquid slowly flowed from his lower body—he had been frightened into incontinence. Tang Wulin glanced at him impassively, and the killing intent in his heart finally eased somewhat.

He really wanted to kill the black‑clad figure outright, but not because the man had offended him; rather, the man's words had made it clear he was an Evil Soul Master, and one belonging to the Evening Water Alliance.

In other words, he had contributed to the suffering of every unfortunate person in this market; just imagining it made Tang Wulin feel nauseous.

Unfortunately, this guy can't die yet—Tang Wulin still has questions for him.

Lifting his foot from the black‑clad figure's chest, Tang Wulin said coldly, 'From now on, I ask, you answer—no extra words. Understand?'

"Yes, yes!"

The black‑clad figure nodded repeatedly; intense fear had already crushed him.

Evil Soul Masters are mostly unable to resist their desires, people of extremely poor character; the less they value others' lives, the more they cherish their own. Now faced with a being that could take his life with a single thought, their greedy, death‑fearing side was fully displayed.

Tang Wulin first asked, 'How did you find us?'

This question is the most important; Tang Wulin and Gongyang Mo must first know how they were exposed, otherwise the same thing could happen again.

The black‑clad figure hurriedly replied.

"The stall owner at the little stand where the two of you visited told me; he wasn't sure you were Evening Water Alliance members, so he asked me, the patroller, to say something."

Hearing that, Tang Wulin relaxed a little.

Good, it turned out to be an informant.

But that's not too hard to guard against.

Tang Wulin continued, 'We want to take part in this auction—what are the requirements?'

The black‑clad figure trembled as he said, 'Evening Water Alliance members can participate by showing a token; outsiders need to reserve half a month in advance and undergo strict checks—of course, old customers are exempt, they have privileges.'

Tang Wulin frowned.

"A token?"

"Yes! This one!"

Seeing Tang Wulin's displeased expression, the black‑clad figure feared he'd be killed in anger and quickly produced the token.

Tang Wulin reached out his hand.

"Give it to me."

The black‑clad figure hesitated.

"Um… sir, if you want something similar, I can take you to the relevant department to register; then you'd be one of us."

However, Tang Wulin acted as if he hadn't heard those words and continued speaking.

Give me.

The black-clothed person wanted to cry but had no tears; after glancing at the Golden Dragon Spear, he ultimately still did not dare to defy Tang Wulin's words, and handed over the token.

Tang Wulin nodded satisfactorily, then said to him:

"Good, now spit out everything you know about the Evening Water Alliance, immediately, or die!"

(End of chapter)