Chapter 2331: A Seed of Doubt in the Heart

Ye Liuyun's duplicate at this moment had already left the city with Zhao Hu and Yu Yao, hurrying to the suburban tavern that Hei Feng frequented.

The tavern was situated not far outside the city; its interior décor was plain, yet it was fairly spacious, and when the duplicate arrived, tables of Martial Cultivators were drinking and chatting.

The crowd gathered here consisted of desperados and Mercenaries, each a fierce brute with vulgar language, extremely rude.

The duplicate concealed the Golden Pupil, and Zhao Hu and Yu Yao also deliberately changed clothes, looking much like Mercenaries.

Especially since Zhao Hu spoke in a loud voice while Yu Yao was reticent, the three of them indeed resembled Mercenaries.

When the three newcomers entered, they attracted others' attention, but Zhao Hu, acting familiar, ordered drinks and dishes for his companions, then instructed Ye Liuyun on ways Mercenaries protect themselves, speaking convincingly with his past Mercenary experience.

Thus the others did not suspect their identities, assuming two veteran Mercenaries were leading a rookie.

The duplicate chatted with Zhao Hu while scanning for Hei Feng's presence, and discovered the tavern was a two‑story building.

The first floor had scattered seats occupied by rough men, all drinking and chatting.

The second floor contained private rooms, protected by a Formation that blocked Divine Sense probing.

The duplicate looked up, scanned with the Golden Pupil, and saw someone inside a private room on the second floor.

It was a young woman dressed in black, standing by the window and looking outward.

Seeming to sense someone eyeing her, she instantly turned toward the door; the duplicate immediately confirmed that the woman was Hei Feng.

He promptly averted his gaze, fearing Hei Feng's stare.

At that moment, a Martial Cultivator in a black robe appeared outside, leaning on a cane and moving very slowly.

When that Martial Cultivator showed up, the Martial Cultivators chatting inside the tavern instantly fell silent.

Huh?

What's wrong?

Zhao Hu deliberately asked loudly.

"If you want to stay alive, stop shouting!"

A middle‑aged Martial Cultivator nearby kindly reminded Zhao Hu and his group.

The duplicate politely made small talk with that Martial Cultivator: "Senior, who is that Martial Cultivator?"

"That's the death‑stealing Killing Star, Yue Lao Guai! If you don't want to die, don't provoke him."

That Martial Cultivator didn't dare speak loudly, as if everyone was afraid of him.

Yue Lao Guai, however, did not enter the tavern; instead, he trembled and stopped at a distance, panting as he slowly said toward the tavern: "Hei Feng, old man, I came especially for you; if you don't come out, I'll go in!"

Although Yue Lao Guai's voice was not loud, everyone inside the tavern heard him clearly.

The duplicate noticed the Martial Cultivators nearby changed expression; some even set down their cups, ready to flee.

"What skill does Yue Lao Guai have that makes these people so frightened?"

The duplicate was deeply curious inside.

"Yue Lao, don't come in to scare us; let me go out!"

A woman's voice from upstairs also echoed, followed by the sound of a door opening and footsteps descending.

"That makes it even better!"

Yue Lao Guai responded calmly without haste.

The Martial Cultivators inside fell silent, and some even sat down to make way for Hei Feng.

It seems the Martial Cultivators here are also very afraid of Hei Feng.

Hei Feng glanced at the Martial Cultivators on the first floor, deliberately gave Ye Liuyun a look, then immediately turned her gaze toward Yue Lao Guai outside.

The duplicate wanted to scan Hei Feng's strength with the Golden Pupil, but feared being noticed, so held back.

"It looks like Yue Lao Guai also came to kill Hei Feng.

I'll wait until they finish fighting, then strike the victor!"

The duplicate felt indifferent toward these assassins; they were all killing for money, so killing them was no big deal.

But Hei Feng's words caught his attention.

"Yue Lao, today they sent you to kill me; tomorrow someone else might be sent to kill you!"

Hei Feng's crisp voice rang again as she walked, chatting with Yue Lao Guai.

"Hehe, in our line of work, there's no such thing as tomorrow! Live day by day; why think so much!"

Yue Lao Guai's hoarse old voice replied.

The duplicate thought, "Is Hei Feng referring to the way Black Kill deals with assassins?"

He also used Transmission Voice to ask Yu Yao: "Have you ever heard of Black Kill cleaning up its own assassins?"

Yu Yao shook his head, and via Transmission Voice replied to Ye Liuyun: "Never heard of it.

No one has ever tried to kill me!"

But Ye Liuyun was still hesitant, wanting to capture Hei Feng alive to see whether she was bluffing or had proof.

This concerns his trust in Black Kill; better to be prepared in advance.

"Alas, at your advanced age, disappearing and nurturing your remaining years would be wonderful! Why must you come to court death!"

Hei Feng continued speaking.

At this moment she had already reached Yue Lao Guai and stopped.

"Hehe, I do want to rest, but I need to earn money to prolong my life! That's fate!"

Yue Lao Guai said this while tapping the ground twice with his cane, as if lamenting fate's injustice.

But Hei Feng's figure suddenly vaulted into the air, and at that moment two massive hands made of earth emerged from the ground, reaching for the spot where Hei Feng had just stood, but grasped nothing.

In mid‑air, Hei Feng waved a hand, and dozens of black darts formed from True Essence shot toward Yue Lao Guai.

Yue Lao Guai, who seemed frail, moved with great speed.

The duplicate's Golden Pupil saw clearly; he used Spatial Power to suddenly appear behind Hei Feng and jabbed at her lower back with his cane.

Hei Feng didn't even turn her head, flicked her hand, and another volley of darts shot toward him.

Yue Laogai immediately moved again, but this time when he reappeared, Hei Feng had already anticipated his position, and the dart had already been launched.

Yue Laogai then brandished his staff, forming an earth shield in front of him.

But that earth shield only blocked the dart briefly before the dart pierced through.

Yet that brief block gave Yue Laogai time to relocate again, evading Hei Feng's dart attack.

Hei Feng's darts were also unusual; after being thrown, they did not hit the ground but immediately curved back, shooting again at Yue Laogai.

Thus Yue Laogai kept dodging Hei Feng's assaults, gradually falling into a disadvantage.

The duel between the two was clearly restrained, not a raging battle, but a fight relying on technique.

Only the speed of their exchange was especially fast, yet it did not consume much True Essence.

The clone estimated that both of them were holding back.

After all, the people in the tavern were all outlaws.

If the two of them fought to mutual ruin, it would likely give others a cheap gain.

At that moment, Yue Laogai, while dodging, shouted to the Martial Cultivators in the tavern: "Friends in the tavern, a rare chance—who's willing to step up and help me kill Hei Feng? We'll split the profit."

The Martial Cultivators in the tavern only listened; none intended to act, as no one wanted to wade into this murky water now.

"Alas!"

Yue Laogai let out a sigh, as if disappointed in those Martial Cultivators.

But Hei Feng's movements stalled because of that, then immediately stepped back a bit, and the offensive waned.