Chapter 13

The night was like ink, and Lin Xuan, like a leopard blending into the shadows, sneaked back into Qingyun City silently.

He did not return to the Lin family, nor did he go to any of Black Wind Stronghold's strongholds, but instead headed straight for the inn named "Yuelai" in the south of the city, according to the clues previously provided by the Information Department. According to investigations, that mysterious gray-robed merchant was staying there, having booked the most secluded superior room in the backyard.

With the "Turtle Breath Art" pushed to the limit, Lin Xuan's aura almost blended with the surrounding grass, trees, bricks, and stones. He climbed onto the wall of the inn's backyard like a gecko, his sharp gaze instantly locking onto that room.

The windows were tightly shut, and the candlelight inside flickered, casting two blurry figures.

Besides the gray-robed merchant, there was someone else?

Lin Xuan's heart tightened, and he restrained his breath even more carefully, landing lightly on the roof like a feather, finding a gap between the tiles, holding his breath, and peeking downward.

Inside the room, the gray-robed merchant was still wearing that wide gray robe, his hood covering most of his face, revealing only a slightly pale chin. And sitting opposite him was none other than the City Lord of Qingyun City—Zhao Wuji!

It really was the Zhao Clan! Lin Xuan's eyes turned slightly cold.

"... City Lord Zhao, has the news been confirmed?" The gray-robed merchant's voice was hoarse, with a texture like metal rubbing against metal.

Zhao Wuji's expression was grave, and he shook his head: "Master, my men followed the compass's guidance and searched to Black Wind Stronghold, but the aura disappeared completely at the gate. The stronghold leader, Black Bear, insisted that it was just a down-and-out young master passing by to stay for the night, and had long since left. The compass had no reaction afterward."

"Disappeared?" The brows under the gray-robed merchant's hood seemed to furrow, "It seems the target is more cunning than we imagined, possessing highly sophisticated concealment techniques, or... having treasures on his body that interfere with tracking."

Zhao Wuji asked tentatively: "Master, you are making such a big fuss to find this person, what exactly is he..."

The gray-robed merchant interrupted him, his voice carrying a trace of unquestionable majesty: "City Lord Zhao, some things, the more you know, the less it may be a good thing. You only need to know that this person is crucial to my 'Youming Sect'. Find him, and the 'Barrier-Breaking Pill' promised to you before will not be lacking."

Youming Sect?!

Lin Xuan on the roof was shocked! This was a massive demonic sect mentioned in the original work! They acted in secrecy, used ruthless methods, and were not tolerated by the righteous path. What do they want with him?! Could it be that just because he stirred up trouble in Qingyun City, he was targeted by such a behemoth? This doesn't make sense!

Upon hearing the words "Barrier-Breaking Pill," a trace of eagerness flashed in Zhao Wuji's eyes; he had been stuck at the early stage of the Golden Core for many years, and this Barrier-Breaking Pill was his key hope for breaking through to the mid-stage!

"Master, rest assured! I have already dispatched more men to blockade the several main roads leading out of the city and have been secretly investigating within the city. As long as he is still in the territory of Qingyun City, I will dig three feet into the ground to find him!"

"Very good." The gray-robed merchant nodded with satisfaction, "Remember, I want him alive. This person carries great luck and is of great use for the revival of my sect's holy object!"

Great luck? Holy object revival?

Lin Xuan was even more confused, but the words "great luck" instantly made him think of Ye Chen! Could it be that because he escaped from Ye Chen's hands several times and even caused Ye Chen's Dao heart to be damaged, he was mistaken for someone who also carried great luck? Is this Youming Sect trying to catch him to sacrifice to their so-called holy object?

Damn it, an unprovoked disaster! Lin Xuan cursed in his heart. This is simply sitting in the stronghold and having disaster fall from the sky!

Just then, the gray-robed merchant seemed to sense something, suddenly looking up, his gaze sharp as electricity, as if piercing through the roof and shooting straight at Lin Xuan's hiding place!

"Who?!"

Discovered?!

Lin Xuan's scalp exploded, and without thinking, his figure retreated violently like a ghost!

Almost the moment he retreated, the tiles where he had been leaning exploded, and a pitch-black, death-filled spiritual power beam pierced through! If he had been half a second slower, he would probably have been seriously injured!

"Fast reaction!" The gray-robed merchant snorted coldly, his figure flickering, and he had already chased out from the hole in the roof like green smoke!

Zhao Wuji followed closely behind, his face ugly; someone was actually eavesdropping under his nose!

Lin Xuan pushed the "Ghost Shadow Step" to the limit, leaping across the inn's roof like flying, fleeing toward the complex slum area in the west of the city. He dared not leave the city directly; the outside was open, making it easier to be caught.

"Where are you going!" The gray-robed merchant's speed was even faster, his cultivation having reached the Golden Core Stage! He waved his sleeve, and several strands of black energy entangled toward Lin Xuan like poisonous snakes.

Feeling the heart-palpitating death aura behind him, Lin Xuan knew that fighting head-on would only lead to death. He suddenly turned back, and the several "lime powder smoke bombs" he had been holding in his hand were thrown backward!

"Puff, puff, puff!"

White smoke filled the air, instantly blocking their vision.

"Petty tricks!" The gray-robed merchant rolled his sleeve, and a gust of cold wind blew away most of the lime powder. But with this delay, Lin Xuan had opened up some distance again.

"City Lord Zhao, blockade the Xicheng! Don't let him run!" The gray-robed merchant shouted sternly.

Zhao Wuji immediately sent a signal, and the City Lord's Mansion guards began to gather toward the Xicheng.

Blocked in front and pursued from behind! The situation was even more dangerous than being chased by Ye Chen last time!

Lin Xuan was anxious, his brain working at high speed. Forcing his way through wouldn't work, and concealment seemed to be countered by some method of the other party...

Got it!

His gaze swept over the chaotic street below, and he saw a familiar sign—Hundred Flowers Pavilion!

That was the most famous... brothel in Qingyun City!

A brilliant "slacking off" plan formed instantly!

His figure turned, no longer fleeing in a straight line, but drilling into a small alley behind the Hundred Flowers Pavilion like a fish. The moment he confirmed he had temporarily shaken off the gray-robed merchant's sight, he quickly took out a set of... women's clothing from the system space that he had casually stuffed in before! (A prop from a previous "slacking off" mission that hadn't been used)

He nimbly put on the slightly gaudy dress, used "Thousand-Face Phantom" (an entry-level disguise technique just urgently exchanged with slacking off points) to slightly adjust his facial lines and Adam's apple, then messily grabbed his hair, applied some rouge and powder...

When the gray-robed merchant and Zhao Wuji chased to the alley with the guards, they only saw a "woman" running out from the back door of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion in a panic, her clothes disheveled, her hair bun messy, her makeup smeared, crying and shouting while running:

"Help! The damn lecher won't pay and wants to hit people! There's no justice!"

The voice was sharp and ear-piercing, full of the grievances and anger of a street shrew.

The gray-robed merchant and Zhao Wuji were stunned, their gazes sweeping over this "woman," and their spiritual sense subconsciously swept over, feeling only a weak Body Refining Stage aura and a strong scent of powder, completely different from the agile and cunning Foundation Establishment aura from before!

"Bad luck!" Zhao Wuji frowned in disgust, his gaze passing over "her" to continue searching for Lin Xuan's trail.

The gray-robed merchant also just glanced at her and stopped paying attention, his spiritual sense spreading out like a spider web, carefully sensing every trace of spiritual power fluctuation around.

Lin Xuan (women's clothing version) felt his heart pounding, but on the surface, he cried even harder, stumbling toward the opposite direction of his planned escape route, cursing the fictional "lecher" with foul language, perfectly blending into the role of a bullied courtesan.

【Ding! Detected the gray-robed merchant's neglect and Zhao Wuji's disgust, emotion value +333!】

【Ding! Detected the surprise and gossip of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion guards/passersby, emotion value +666!】

Successfully fooled them!

Lin Xuan endured the inner excitement and a trace of shame, maintaining the posture of a "victim," twisting and turning, specifically drilling into alleys with many people, and finally successfully shook off all tracking, sneaking into an abandoned drainage ditch, temporarily safe.

He leaned against the damp and cold wall, let out a long breath, and quickly changed back into his original clothes.

"Damn it, this time it was a huge loss! I even wore women's clothes!" Lin Xuan spat, feeling his integrity shattered all over the ground again.

But the harvest was also huge. He not only successfully escaped, but more importantly, he heard key information!

"Youming Sect... holy object revival... great luck..."

Lin Xuan's eyes flickered, "It seems they have mistaken me for a 'Child of Destiny' like Ye Chen? Want to catch me to be a sacrifice or a battery?"

He felt unprecedented pressure. Being targeted by a demonic giant was much more troublesome than dealing with Ye Chen.

"However, misfortune often hides blessings..." Lin Xuan touched his chin, a trace of cunning flashing in his eyes, "The Youming Sect is in the dark, and I am also in the dark. Moreover, they seem to value my 'luck' very much..."

A bold idea grew in his heart.

Since you want to catch me, why don't I... play along? Use this point to turn the tables and pit the Youming Sect? Even, see if I can get some benefits from that "holy object"?

Only in muddy waters can one catch fish!

He glanced at the system panel; after that thrilling escape and "performance," the slacking off points had risen quite a bit.

"It's time to improve my strength again and prepare for the upcoming 'fishing in muddy waters'."

A dangerous arc curled at the corner of Lin Xuan's mouth.

(Chapter 13 End)