Chapter 23: Truth!

The giant tiger lunged halfway into the air, its massive eyes fixed on the group ahead, its sharp fangs glinting coldly in the candlelight.

Faced with this terrifying sight, even Lu Lingfeng and the other four Jinyiwei felt a surge of panic, instinctively retreating in all directions.

“Boom!”

With a thunderous crash, the tiger landed on the ground and turned its head toward the two men cornered by the window.

The two men were one of Lu Lingfeng’s Jinyiwei, and the other was the black-robed elder, inexplicably present here.

Seeing them targeted by the tiger, everyone—including Su Wuming above—held their breath in dread.

Suddenly, Su Wuming’s gaze sharpened, as if he had noticed something, locking his eyes on the floor beneath the tiger.

Strange…

Judging by the tiger’s size, it must weigh at least a thousand jin.

How could such a massive beast land with such force without shattering the floor?

Just as Su Wuming began to suspect, the elder under scrutiny could no longer bear the pressure—he screamed in terror and leapt out the window.

Seeing this, the Jinyiwei trapped in the corner gritted his teeth and imitated the elder, turning and sprinting toward the window.

“Don’t jump!!”

At this critical moment, a frantic voice rang out from outside the door.

Everyone froze, turning to look—only to see a figure in blue robes sprinting in, clutching a piece of wrought iron, gasping as he tore off his face mask and shouted:

“Don’t jump! There’s a trap outside!”

What?!

Everyone was stunned, especially the Jinyiwei who had already reached the window—he halted mid-stride.

“Phew~ Finally made it! All that effort wasn’t wasted!”

Seeing Su Wuming still hanging as in the original story, the young man in blue robes exhaled deeply, a faint smile appearing on his handsome face.

At the same time, Su Wuming, who had recognized his cousin’s voice, finally confirmed his identity and blurted out: “Su Haoming?!”

“What are you doing here?!”

He glanced at his cousin at the door, then down at the giant tiger, barking: “Why aren’t you running?!”

Su Haoming, gripping his spear, frowned: “Run where?”

Su Wuming glared at him: “Can’t you see the tiger?!”

Su Haoming shook his head: “Brother, I know you’re worried about me, but don’t use such a clumsy excuse. With your intelligence, surely you can see through this thing’s true nature?”

At these words, everyone—including Lu Lingfeng—stunned.

Only Su Wuming wasn’t surprised; he merely nodded, as if expecting this, then sighed: “Foolish child. If you noticed the trap outside, how can you be sure there aren’t other dangers here?”

“What other dangers?”

Watching the tiger pace forward, Lu Lingfeng tightened his grip on his Tang dao and asked: “Su Wuming, what are you two talking about?!”

Hearing Lu Lingfeng’s question, Su Haoming glanced at him, then picked up a wooden plank from the floor and hurled it forward with force.

“Whoosh~”

With a faint whistle, the plank spun through the air toward the tiger.

Seeing this, Lu Lingfeng’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Su Haoming, utterly confused why he’d use such a method to draw the tiger’s attention.

In his view, such a weak attack couldn’t possibly harm the giant tiger—it would only enrage it and turn its fury on Su Haoming.

As expected, the tiger roared in fury and swung its paw without hesitation to strike the plank.

But to Lu Lingfeng’s utter shock, the plank did not shatter upon impact—instantly, it plunged into the tiger’s paw and kept flying forward.

“Boom!”

A muffled thud, then smoke billowed.

Lu Lingfeng and the others were caught off guard, dust coating their faces—they frantically waved their hands to clear it.

When the dust settled, the four-meter-long tiger had vanished. Before them lay only a tiger hide, stitched together with red thread, resting quietly on the white-dusted floor.

“...What just happened?”

Lu Lingfeng stared blankly at the tiger hide on the ground.

“Just as you see,” Su Haoming stepped forward calmly. “The tiger never existed. It’s merely several tiger hides stitched together, combined with silk threads and hallucinogenic dust to create the illusion.”

One of the Jinyiwei blurted: “Like a puppet on strings?”

Su Haoming bent down. “Exactly.”

He picked up the wooden plank and showed Lu Lingfeng the silk threads tangled on it.

Lu Lingfeng picked up the plank, staring at the silk wrapping and the stitched hide beneath his feet—his face flushed and paled in turn.

Clearly, this proud Jinyiwei officer from a noble family was ashamed of his earlier reaction.

Not just him—the other three Jinyiwei also looked grim.

Su Haoming glanced at the two still hanging above and frowned: “Why are my cousin and Qian Shu still hanging? Get them down!”

The three Jinyiwei snapped back to attention, exchanged glances, and looked to Lu Lingfeng.

Lu Lingfeng fell silent for a moment, then tossed the plank aside and murmured: “Lower them.”

The three Jinyiwei moved at once, lowering Su Wuming and Su Qian.

Su Haoming rushed forward and helped the elderly Su Qian to his feet.

“Finally down!”

Su Wuming exhaled, reaching up to untie the ropes binding him.

As he stood, Lu Lingfeng had already appeared before him, staring silently.

“Su Wuming, how did you figure it out?”

“Look at the floor!”

Su Wuming pointed at the ground irritably. “This tiger is enormous—if real, the floor would’ve collapsed under its weight!”

Before Lu Lingfeng could respond, the other three Jinyiwei gasped in realization.

“Of course! How did we miss such a simple thing?!”

By the time you figured it out, the stew would’ve gone cold!

Su Haoming internally rolled his eyes.

Lu Lingfeng turned to him: “Did you see it the same way?”

Su Haoming shook his head: “No. I never believed it was real. To me, it was always just hide.”

He raised his left hand—still clutching the face mask he’d torn off.

So he’d rushed in with his face covered…

Su Wuming frowned and scolded: “Su Haoming, you’re too reckless—”

Before he finished, Lu Lingfeng’s face darkened—he lunged and yanked Su Wuming aside.

At the same instant, over a dozen arrows pierced through the door, striking the exact spot where Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming had stood.

“So there’s a backup plan!”

Lu Lingfeng sneered, stepping forward and swinging his Tang dao like a coiling dragon—within a blink, all the incoming arrows were knocked from the air.

“Clang! Clang! Clang!”

Hearing the clatter behind him, Su Wuming startled and dove behind a pillar.

Meanwhile, Su Haoming, as if foreseeing it, had already dragged Su Qian behind cover—and as his cousin squeezed in beside him, he even winked, as if saying, “Now who’s the reckless one?”

...You ungrateful brat!

You knew there was danger—why didn’t you drag your brother to safety?

Su Wuming shot Su Haoming a glare.

Su Haoming whispered with a grin: “With General Lu here, Brother’s safety is guaranteed!”

That’s true—but at least show some concern!

Su Wuming sighed, then noticed the wrought iron in Su Haoming’s hand and frowned:

“I’ve been meaning to ask—what’s that you’re holding?”

Su Haoming paused, raised his pistol, and said seriously: “Truth.”

Truth?

Su Wuming looked startled.

“The Immortal has ascended!”

At that moment, a cry erupted from outside the door.

Lu Lingfeng’s brows tightened—he immediately strode toward the exit.

The other three Jinyiwei exchanged glances, drew their Tang dao, and followed, guarding Su Wuming and the others.

Outside, the remaining denizens of the Ghost Market knelt on the ground, terrified, bowing toward the sky.

“The Immortal has ascended!”

“The Immortal has ascended!”

Su Wuming and the others looked up—ten meters above, a blurred figure floated upward, clutching a white banner.

Seeing Su Wuming’s group emerge from the mansion, the figure turned and stared—letting out an eerie, meaningless cackle.

“That’s Yin Vice Minister’s banner!”

Lu Lingfeng’s face turned ashen: “Damn it—he got away!”

“Boom!”

Before the words left his mouth, a deafening explosion rocked their ears.

The previously boastful and laughing Yin Vice Minister let out a piercing scream as his body tumbled diagonally downward like a kite with its string cut.

At this sight, the cries of “Immortal!” died instantly; Su Wuming and the others were startled by the sudden explosion, staring in shock at Su Haoming beside them.

Su Haoming raised his rifle barrel, blew lightly on it, and sneered:

“You think you can run after showing off?”

“Do you think the truth in my hands is vegetarian?!”

(End of Chapter)