Chapter 213: Night Exploration of the Murong Manor

Inside the envelope was only a sheepskin-drawn map, tattered and incomplete, plus a line of small script, vigorous and powerful, its force showing through the back of the paper:

To find your master, go to the Murongs in Yanjing; in a deadly place, you will find life.

Zhang Jun pinched the letter, his brow twisted into a knot.

Who is this bastard who delivered the letter?

Friend or foe?

Is the Murong household a dragon's pool and tiger's den, or does it truly hide clues to his master?

"Deadly place, find life"—what the hell kind of hint is that?

Damn it, this matter is getting more and more interesting!

It feels like playing with Russian nesting dolls—just open one and inside is another bigger one, endless.

This Yanjing, it seems I have no choice but to go!

Moreover, I must hurry!

Yanjing City is truly not just for show!

Compared to Jiangbei, the sky here is higher by a few degrees, damn it; the air carries not sandstorms but dragon aura and the scent of power.

Traffic flows like water and horses, high-rises stand dense, as if the Along the River During the Qingming Festival painting had come alive; but look closely, beneath the bright, beautiful silk lies how many surging undercurrents, how many pairs of eyes in the shadows watching you, denser than the market's surveillance.

Liu Qingxue's work efficiency is truly top-notch, swift and decisive.

The group had just gotten off the train—no, they had just tumbled off that shaky, about-to-collapse long-distance carriage—and were promptly settled into a place that looked unimpressive but was actually fully equipped.

This area is quiet amidst the bustle, a typical old Yanjing hutong; turn left out the door and you're at Wangfujing, turn right… uh, turn right and it's a dead-end alley.

"Damn it, this Yanjing City is even more confusing than the bewildering formation of our Wan Yao Gu!" Tie Shan gulped a mouthful of strong tea, smacking his lips, "That vibe in the air presses so hard you can barely breathe. Not like in our mountains, where you're free!" While muttering, he was already calculating which black market could yield some scraps of info about the Murong family and the "Shadow" Organization. This old hand, his nose is sharper than a dog's.

The three characters "Murong" in Yanjing City are a golden signboard, ringing loud!

Some say they are living Buddhas, opening granaries to give grain, providing medical aid and medicine, accumulating more virtue than the monks in the temple; others say they are smiling tigers, their means dark, secretly doing deeds that could muddy the waters of Yanjing City.

An ancient martial arts clan, holy hands of medicine—with these two great labels slapped on, whether they're dragon or snake is hard to say.

Zhang Jun temporarily disregarded those rumors; right now he's more worried about Lin Xue's medicinal supplies.

After the turmoil in Wan Yao Gu, Lin Xue's medicine pouch had basically run dry.

"Come on, Xue'er, brother will take you to tour Yanjing's biggest medicinal market, open your eyes!" Zhang Jun tucked away the silver notes Liu Qingxue gave him, feeling much more confident.

Yanjing's medicinal market is a dazzling array of rare treasures and strange herbs, enough to make one's eyes dizzy.

Lin Xue's eyes lit up; she touched this, smelled that, like a little mouse that had just entered a grain store.

"Boss, how much for this stalk of 'Dragon Blood Vine'?" Lin Xue pointed at a vine wholly reddish, faintly exuding a bloody scent, and asked.

"Oh, miss, you have good eyes!" The stall owner, a thin old man, narrowed his eyes to size up Lin Xue, "This is a well-aged treasure, nourishing qi and blood, unblocking meridians—hey, you won't find a second one in the whole market! Fair price, fifty taels of silver, not a cent less!"

Fifty taels? Highway robbery! Zhang Jun frowned, about to speak, when a weird, effeminate voice cut in.

"Fifty taels? I, the young master, will pay one hundred taels! This 'Dragon Blood Vine' is mine!"

Following the sound, I saw a young dandy dressed in fine silks, his face practically screaming "I'm a spoiled rich kid", swinging a flashy folding fan, flanked by two lackeys, strutting over arrogantly.

That young master glanced sideways at Zhang Jun and Lin Xue, his eyes full of undisguised contempt, as if looking at them another time would dirty his own eyes.

Lin Xue's pretty face turned slightly cold: "First come, first served, right? We spotted these herbs first."

"First come, first served?" The young master snorted, pointing his fan at Lin Xue, "In Yanjing City, my word is the rule! You disagree?"

One of his lackeys immediately swaggered forward, shouting: "Blind your dog eyes! Do you know who this is? He's the Young Sect Master of the Golden Blade Sect, Gao Yanei, the eldest young master! His father and the Murong family share the same pants!"

Damn, it's the Murong family again? Zhang Jun cursed inwardly, are the Murongs like sticky plaster? They're everywhere!

He originally didn't want to cause trouble, after all he's new here and unfamiliar with the place, but the other's smug face really pissed him off.

"We saw these items first." Zhang Jun's voice wasn't loud, but his tone left no room for doubt.

"Oh ho, you dare talk back?" Gao Yanei laughed, snapping his fan shut, "Looks like I need to give you a taste of color so you know how many eyes the Horse King has! Come on, break the men's legs, and the women… hehe, bring them back for me to have a good 'look'!"

The two lackeys gave a vicious grin and lunged forward.

Zhang Jun's eyes turned cold; these two scumbags aren't even enough to stuff between his teeth.

He hardly moved at all; just as the two lackeys were about to close in, he lightly shrugged his shoulder and, without leaving a trace, tripped them.

"Ouch!"

"Thud!"

The two lackeys instantly piled up like arhats, fell flat on their faces, and a front tooth got knocked out.

Gao Yanei's smug grin froze; he hadn't expected this ordinary country bumpkin in plain clothes to be a martial artist.

"You… you dare to strike?"

Zhang Jun couldn't be bothered with talk; he stepped forward, swift as a ghost, and before Gao Yanei could react, he backhanded a big slap across his face.

"Smack!"

Crisp and loud!

Gao Yanei spun three times on the spot; half his face swelled at visible speed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"You… you wait! If you've got guts, don't run!" He covered his face, glared at Zhang Jun with venom, and scrambled away with his lackeys.

The surrounding crowd watching the spectacle burst into laughter, and many looked at Zhang Jun with eyes that held a hint of something else.

This kid, he's ruthless!

But some shook their heads silently, offending Gao Yanei would make it hard to get by in Yanjing City.

Zhang Jun didn't really care; this kind of jumping clown, he hadn't even taken notice. Had I gone too far? No, with people like this, you can't indulge them.

He paid, took the "Dragon Blood Vine", and pulled Lin Xue to leave.

"Please hold, friend."

A clear, pleasant voice, tinged with a hint of arrogance, came from behind.

Zhang Jun turned around and saw a girl in fiery red attire, standing gracefully not far away.

The girl was about seventeen or eighteen years old, her skin fair as snow, her eyebrows and eyes like a painting, full of heroic spirit, her glossy black hair tied up high, making her look even more neat and spry.