Chapter 13: Deep in the Tiger's Den? I'll Fish in Troubled Waters!

The night was like ink, and Lin Xuan, like a leopard merging into the shadows, slipped back into Qingyun City without a sound.

He did not return to the Lin family, nor did he go to any of the Black Wind Shanzhai’s strongholds. Instead, following clues previously provided by the intelligence department, he headed straight for the inn named "Yuelai" in the south of the city. According to investigations, that mysterious gray-robed merchant was staying there, having booked the most secluded upper room in the backyard.

With the "Turtle Breathing Technique" pushed to its limit, Lin Xuan’s aura almost merged with the surrounding grass, trees, bricks, and stones. Like a gecko, he climbed onto the wall of the inn’s backyard, his sharp gaze instantly locking onto that room.

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

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

Lin Xuan’s heart tightened. He restrained his breathing even more carefully, landing as lightly as a feather on the roof, finding a gap between the tiles, holding his breath, and peering 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 family! Lin Xuan’s eyes turned cold.

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

Zhao Wuji looked solemn and shook his head: "Master, my men followed the Luo Pan’s guidance and searched to the Black Wind Shanzhai, but the aura completely vanished at the gate. The Shanzhai leader, Black Bear, insisted it was just a down-and-out young master passing through to stay the night, and that he had already left. The Luo Pan had no reaction afterward."

"Vanished?" The brows beneath the gray-robed merchant’s hood seemed to furrow. "It seems the target is more cunning than we imagined, possessing a highly sophisticated concealment technique, or... he has a treasure on him that interferes with tracking."

Zhao Wuji asked tentatively: "Master, you have gone to such great lengths to find this person, what exactly is he..."

The gray-robed merchant interrupted him, his voice carrying a hint of unquestionable majesty: "City Lord Zhao, some things are not necessarily good to know the more you know. You only need to know that this person is of vital importance to my 'Nether Sect'. Find him, and the 'Barrier-Breaking Pill' I promised you will not be missing."

The Nether Sect?!

Lin Xuan, on the roof, was shocked to his core! This was a massive demonic sect mentioned in the original story! They acted in secrecy, used ruthless methods, and were not tolerated by the righteous path. Why were they looking for him?! Could it be that because he caused trouble in Qingyun City, he was targeted by such a behemoth? That didn't make sense!

When Zhao Wuji heard the words "Barrier-Breaking Pill," a flash of eagerness crossed his eyes. He had been stuck at the early stage of Golden Core for many years; this Barrier-Breaking Pill was his key hope for breaking through to the middle stage!

"Rest assured, Master! I have already sent more men to blockade the main roads leading out of the city and am secretly investigating within the city. As long as he is still within 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 fortune and is of great use for the resurrection of my sect’s holy object!"

Great fortune? Resurrection of a holy object?

Lin Xuan was even more confused, but the words "great fortune" instantly made him think of Ye Chen! Could it be that because he had 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 fortune? Did this Nether Sect want to capture him to sacrifice to their so-called holy object?

Damn it, an unprovoked disaster! Lin Xuan cursed inwardly. This was truly sitting in the Shanzhai when disaster fell from the sky!

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

"Who?!"

Discovered?!

Lin Xuan’s scalp tingled, and without a second thought, his figure retreated violently like a ghost!

Almost the moment he retreated, the tiles where he had just been leaning exploded, and a jet-black streak of spiritual power carrying a thick aura of death shot through! If he had been half a second slower, he would likely have been seriously injured!

"Fast reaction!" The gray-robed merchant snorted coldly, his figure flickering as he chased out through the hole in the roof like blue smoke!

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

Lin Xuan pushed the "Ghost Shadow Step" to its limit, leaping like a bird across the inn’s roof, fleeing toward the direction of the slums in the west of the city where the crowds were complex. He dared not leave the city directly; the area outside the city was open and easier to be caught in.

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

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

"Puff, puff, puff!"

White smoke filled the air, instantly blocking their line of sight.

"Small 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 West City! Don't let him run!" The gray-robed merchant shouted sternly.

Zhao Wuji immediately signaled, and the City Lord’s Mansion guard team began to gather toward the West City.

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

Lin Xuan was anxious, his brain spinning rapidly. Forcing his way through wouldn't work, and his concealment seemed to be countered by some method of the opponent...

Got it!

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

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

A brilliant "slacking off" plan formed instantly!

He turned his figure, no longer running in a straight line, but darting like a fish into a small alley behind the Hundred Flower Pavilion. The moment he confirmed he had temporarily shaken off the gray-robed merchant’s line of sight, he quickly took out a set of... women’s clothing from the system space that he had casually stuffed in there before! (An unused item from a previous "slacking off" mission)

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

When the gray-robed merchant and Zhao Wuji arrived at the alley with the guards, they only saw a "woman" rushing out from the back door of the Hundred Flower Pavilion, disheveled, hair in disarray, makeup smeared, crying and shouting while running:

"Help! That god-damned patron won't pay and wants to hit people! There's no justice!"

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

The gray-robed merchant and Zhao Wuji were stunned. Their gazes swept over this "woman," and their spiritual senses subconsciously brushed past, sensing only a weak Qi Refining stage aura and a thick scent of powder, completely different from the agile and cunning Foundation Establishment aura from before!

"Bad luck!" Zhao Wuji frowned in disgust, his gaze moving past "her" to continue searching for Lin Xuan’s tracks.

The gray-robed merchant also just glanced at her and paid no more attention, his spiritual sense spreading out like a spider web, carefully sensing every trace of spiritual power fluctuation in the surroundings.

Lin Xuan (women’s clothing version) felt his heart pounding wildly, but on the surface, he cried even harder, stumbling and running in the opposite direction of his planned escape route, while still cursing the fictional "patron" 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 points +333!]

[Ding! Detected the surprise and gossip of the Hundred Flower Pavilion guards/passersby, emotion points +666!]

Successfully fooled them!

Lin Xuan suppressed his inner excitement and a trace of shame, maintaining the posture of a "victim," weaving through alleys where people were crowded, and finally successfully shook off all pursuit, sneaking into an abandoned drainage ditch, temporarily safe.

He leaned against the damp, 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 had to wear women's clothes!" Lin Xuan spat, feeling his integrity shatter all over the ground again.

But the gains were also huge. He not only successfully escaped, but more importantly, he had overheard key information!

"Nether Sect... resurrection of a holy object... great fortune..."

Lin Xuan’s eyes flickered. "It seems they have mistaken me for a 'Child of Destiny' like Ye Chen? Wanting to capture 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, fortune hides in misfortune..." Lin Xuan rubbed his chin, a flash of cunning in his eyes. "The Nether Sect is in the dark, and I am also in the dark. Moreover, they seem to value my 'fortune' very much..."

A bold idea sprouted in his heart.

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

Only in muddy water can one catch fish!

He glanced at the system panel; after that thrilling escape and "performance," his slacking 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.

(End of Chapter 13)