Chapter 184: Ink Crow Attacks, Once Again Mired in a Bitter Battle

A figure stumbled and ran into the alley entrance, the urgent shout tore through the night wind: "Young Hero Zhang! Miss Lin! Over here!"

Third Master Liu! Sweat beaded on his forehead, he had rushed all the way, worry evident on his face.

"Third Master!" Zhang Jun felt his heart ease slightly, stepping forward quickly, "How did you come here?"

"The Qin family has caused such a commotion, how could I not be anxious?" Third Master Liu panted, without hesitation he grabbed the two and left, "This place is not suitable to stay long, follow me, I've arranged a temporary place for you to stay, let's first get past this uproar."

The three dared not delay, using the night as cover they darted through the winding alleys. Third Master Liu knew these obscure paths in the capital like the back of his hand, quickly leading them to the backyard of a medicine shop bearing the sign "Hall of Hundred Herbs".

The medicine shop's front was modest, but its backyard was tranquil and elegant, with a few side rooms kept clean and orderly.

"This place is temporarily safe," Third Master Liu lowered his voice, guiding them into a side room, "My men are watching outside; any sign of movement will be signaled immediately."

Zhang Jun and Lin Xue had just exhaled in relief when the words of thanks had not yet left their mouths.

Suddenly!

A bone-chilling cold seeped in from outside the courtyard, like a poisonous snake's tongue, instantly locking onto the three inside the side room.

Third Master Liu's face changed drastically: "Not good! There's an expert!"

Before his words finished, the courtyard gate was kicked open with a bang from outside! Wood chips flew as a tall, slender figure appeared ghostlike at the doorway.

The newcomer was completely shrouded in a black crow-feather cloak, hood lowered, two points of eerie green light seeping out in the dark night. The aura emanating from him was gloomy and strange, mixed with a nauseating stench of decay and blood, several times stronger than any member of the "Shadow" organization they had encountered before.

"Heh heh heh... truly, after searching high and low with no success, it comes easily." The tall, slender man let out a laugh like a night owl, two icy senses locking tightly onto Zhang Jun and Lin Xue, "Remnants of the Medicine Sect, plus the Qin family's traitor—today, none of you will escape!"

"Ink Crow Envoy!" Third Master Liu exclaimed in shock, horror and dread intertwined, "One of the four chief aides under the Black Judge! How could he personally come after us!"

"Third Master, step back!" Zhang Jun grabbed Liu and pulled him behind him, his expression grave. The aura emanating from the Ink Crow Envoy was far beyond what the likes of Qin Yuechuan could match; he was definitely a tough opponent! He stepped forward, the Yang Jade in his palm warming slightly, pure yang energy gathering: "You sneaky rats, if you want to hold us back, you'll have to see if you've got the skill!"

The Ink Crow Envoy sneered, his figure flickering; before his afterimage faded, he had already ghost‑like closed in on Zhang Jun!

What incredible speed!

A withered eagle's claw, nails pitch black, a foul-smelling gust blasted his face, aiming straight for Zhang Jun's throat! Where the claw wind passed, the air emitted a sharp hiss.

Zhang Jun's pupils contracted, his hairs standing on end; without thinking, he gathered scorching pure yang energy in his right fist, not dodging or avoiding, he charged forward head‑on!

"Bang!"

Fist and claw collided, a dull explosion rang out. Zhang Jun felt a yin‑cold, twisting force surge wildly up his arm, his arm went numb, his whole body shaken back three steps before he barely steadied himself.

The Ink Crow Envoy's body swayed slightly, the eerie green light beneath his hood flickered for a moment.

"Not bad, you've got some strength." the Ink Crow Envoy rasped, his assault relentless, his footwork strange and unpredictable, each movement leaving an elusive afterimage. His claws flew, each strike vicious, targeting Zhang Jun's vital points.

Zhang Jun pushed his pure yang energy to the limit, under the glow of the Yang Jade a faint golden halo flowed around him. His punches and kicks were wide and bold, fierce and domineering, clashing violently with the Ink Crow Envoy's yin‑poisonous, claw technique; the ringing of metal on metal never ceased.

For a moment, fierce winds howled in the courtyard, dust and sand flew, the two fought so intensely it was hard to tell who was ahead.

"Zhang Jun, watch out for his poison!" Lin Xue shouted sharply, she had already seen that the Ink Crow Envoy's claws were coated with deadly poison, that foul smell was anything but ordinary.

The Ink Crow Envoy seemed struck where Lin Xue had hit him; his attack suddenly shifted, he flung his arms wide, the large black feather cloak billowed on its own, thick ink‑black mist poured out from him, quickly enveloping half the courtyard.

"Heh heh... try a taste of my 'Bone‑Corroding Soul‑Enticing Mist'!"

The black mist carried a strong stench and also a feeling of paralysis that made the head spin. Zhang Jun inhaled a little, and felt his limbs grow slightly heavy, his internal energy flow hindered a bit.

"Despicable!" Zhang Jun shouted angrily, drawing a deep breath, he sent pure yang energy surging through his body to try to push the black mist aside, but the effect was minimal.

At that very moment, Lin Xue moved!

She quickly produced several small medicine vials from her bosom, her fingers flying, in an instant she mixed several powders, while lightly tapping with her jade‑like finger, a few strands of pure profound yin energy, like icy blue silk threads, precisely wound around those powders.

"Clearing Heart Powder, go!" Lin Xue said lowly, the powder mixed with profound yin energy turned into a clear stream, accurately shot into the black mist.

Suddenly everything changed! Where the Clearing Heart Powder passed, the thick black mist, as if meeting its nemesis, rapidly dissipated, revealing a clear expanse. A faint medicinal fragrance drove away the stench; Zhang Jun felt his mind clear, the sense of paralysis greatly lessened.

"Third Master, use the locust stones soaked in hundred‑flower snake saliva!" Lin Xue said to Third Master Liu at breakneck speed.

Third Master Liu had already been terrified out of his wits; hearing this, he reacted instantly, he took a deep breath, relying on his familiarity with the layout of the Hall of Hundred Herbs' backyard, he lowered his body and hid behind a rockery, his hand now holding several black stones.

"Release!" Third Master Liu shouted low, snapping his wrist, three poison‑coated locust stones whistled through the air in a triangular formation, shooting toward the Ink Crow Envoy's lower three points.

The Ink Crow Envoy, still slightly startled by the dispelled poison mist, sensed the incoming hidden weapons and had to divert his attention to dodge.

In that brief moment of chaos, Lin Xue's thoughts flashed; she caught a glimpse of the half‑exposed ancient map in her bosom. The ancient map, stimulated by the yin‑cold aura emanating from the Ink Crow Envoy, had its formerly dim animal‑skin surface light up in several places with tiny runes she had never noticed before, glowing faintly like they had been ignited.

This discovery moved Lin Xue's heart; this ancient map seemed to react to such extreme yin and cold aura!

The Ink Crow Envoy was harassed by Third Master Liu's hidden weapons, and seeing his poison mist easily dispelled by Lin Xue, the malevolent glow in his eerie green eyes intensified; unable to break through after a prolonged attack, he grew somewhat impatient.

"Looks like, if I don't show you something fierce, you won't know how to write the word 'death'!" the Ink Crow Envoy let out a sharp, shrill roar, both hands slamming together in front of his chest, forming a strange seal.

His black feather cloak suddenly billowed, countless black energy particles surged wildly out of the cloak and rapidly condensed before him.

"Secret Technique — Crow Swarm Devour!"

In an instant, those black energy particles transformed into hundreds or thousands of palm‑sized, pitch‑black energy crows!

The energy crows flickered with a blood‑thirsty red glow, their harsh cries piercing the air, covering the sky and earth, their murderous aura bearing down directly on Zhang Jun!