Chapter 19

The night once again became Lin Xuan's best partner.

He was like a bat in the dark night, silently shuttling through the complex alleys and eaves shadows of Qingyun City. The "Shadow Concealment Art" and "Turtle Breath Art" were pushed to the limit by him, and the whole person seemed to have turned into a ghost without substance.

He did not choose to leave the city immediately; that target was too obvious. Since the Zhao Clan dared to search the Four Seas Trading Firm so blatantly, they must have laid a net at all major city gates.

His target was the North City—the core area of the Zhao Clan mansion!

The so-called "gift-giving" naturally has to be delivered to the "master."

Sneaking all the way, avoiding several waves of patrolling City Guards and several obscure spiritual sense scans. The closer to the Zhao mansion, the stricter the defense, with sentries and secret posts standing everywhere, and even early warning arrays were arranged.

But for Lin Xuan, who possesses "Turtle Breath Art" and "Shadow Concealment Art" and has been strengthened by system energy many times, this is not insurmountable. He is like an experienced thief, patiently looking for gaps in defense and blind spots in the array, approaching bit by bit.

Finally, he sneaked to the wall of the Zhao mansion, in a shadow near the backyard woodshed. The defense here is relatively weak, and it is close to the area where servants are active, the aura is mixed, and it is not easy to be detected.

He took out the special reward he got from the "Winning by Slacking Off" achievement from the system space—Bad Luck Curse Doll (one-time).

This is a rough and simple straw man, with bizarre talisman runes drawn on it with cinnabar, emitting an ominous aura.

【Bad Luck Curse Doll (one-time): Use on a specified target, can cause it to encounter a series of uncontrollable "small troubles" and "accidents" in the next 12 hours, with a high probability of interrupting its important affairs, and has a certain probability of attracting the attention of surrounding hostile units. Note: Effect depends on the target's strength and luck.】

"Zhao Wuji, oh Zhao Wuji, you racked your brains to catch me, and colluded with the Youming Sect..." Lin Xuan looked at the doll in his hand emitting bad luck, a wicked smile curling at the corner of his mouth, "I, Lin Xuan, am not a stingy person, this 'good luck' is for you!"

He followed the system instructions, held the doll in his hand, silently recited Zhao Wuji's name and appearance in his heart, and then operated his spiritual power, gently urging it.

Hum!

The cinnabar talisman runes on the doll lit up slightly, then quickly dimmed, as if losing all spirituality, turning into a pile of real dead grass. At the same time, a formless, yet chilling, gloomy fluctuation spread out like ripples, silently blending into the night, locking onto a figure plotting in a study deep in the Zhao mansion...

"Done!" Lin Xuan put away the scrapped doll and clapped his hands.

This "big gift" has been delivered, the effect depends on the Zhao family's own "fortune."

After doing all this, he did not stay, immediately returned along the original path, preparing to find an opportunity to leave the city.

However, just as he was about to leave the core area of the Zhao mansion, a change occurred!

A sharp and unparalleled sword energy killed from the side without warning, carrying thunderous sounds, aiming straight at his heart! This sword energy was pure and domineering, completely different from the death aura of the Youming Sect, but even more deadly!

Ye Chen?! How could he be here?!

Lin Xuan was shocked, too late to think, "Ghost Shadow Step" was instantly activated, and his body forcibly twisted away in an extremely awkward posture!

"Sizzle!"

The sword energy grazed his ribs, slashing a deep mark on the wall, thunder light jumping, making half of his body go numb.

"Lin Xuan! It really is you! You rat hiding your head and showing your tail!" Ye Chen's figure walked out of the shadows, holding a thunder-light long sword, his eyes cold as frost, killing intent almost condensed into substance. "Your concealment technique is indeed sophisticated, but I have a fresh memory of your 'smell'!"

He actually locked onto Lin Xuan through some special induction!

Lin Xuan's face was ugly; he knew that as a Child of Destiny, it was not strange for Ye Chen to have some special means. Just didn't expect to bump into him at this time, at this location!

"Ye Chen, how about we settle the grievances between us another day? I don't have time to play with you now." Lin Xuan said while secretly accumulating strength, preparing to activate "Blood Escape Art" at any time.

"Another day? Today is your death day!" Ye Chen didn't give him a chance at all, his long sword vibrated, and even more violent thunder sword energy swept over like a storm! "Hand over the Holy Maiden's item, and then die!"

Holy Maiden's item? Holy Maiden Yun Yao? When did I take her things? Lin Xuan was stunned, then reacted, I'm afraid it was some misunderstanding from when he peeked (although he didn't see it) or later conflicts, or simply an excuse to take action!

There is no reasoning with this kind of protagonist influenced by the "intelligence-lowering halo"!

"Fight you!" Lin Xuan pretended to fight for his life, violently throwing the last few "lime powder smoke bombs" and "soul-bewitching smoke" he had been holding in his hand toward Ye Chen, while exerting force under his feet, making a move to rush forward!

Ye Chen had suffered a loss once and was prepared, rolling his sleeves, spiritual power billowing, blocking all the smoke.

However, Lin Xuan's rush was just a feint! The moment the smoke exploded, his figure violently turned, rushing toward a luxury residential area next to the City Lord's Mansion, which was in the opposite direction of the city exit!

That is... the area where several big families of Qingyun City live!

"Want to run?!" Ye Chen roared, turning into thunder light, chasing closely!

The two chased and fled, the movement was huge, instantly alarming the entire silent night!

"Who is it?!"

"Bold! Dare to be presumptuous in the noble area!"

The guards of the big families were alarmed one after another, shouting and rushing out.

This was the effect Lin Xuan wanted! He was like a slippery loach, frantically shuttling between the roofs and walls of major mansions, specifically drilling into those family territories that looked well-defended and not easy to mess with!

"Stop him! He's an assassin!" Ye Chen shouted anxiously behind him.

He shouldn't have shouted this; after shouting, those family guards became even more chaotic! They couldn't see the appearance of Lin Xuan after his disguise, only seeing a figure fleeing in a panic, followed by a murderous sword cultivator chasing closely, also shouting "assassin," how could this be allowed?

"Protect the family head!"

"Activate the defense array!"

"Stop the one behind! He might be an accomplice!"

For a time, chickens flew and dogs jumped, alarms sounded everywhere, various spiritual power lights lit up, and various attacks indiscriminately shrouded the two chasing and fleeing!

Lin Xuan relied on his small figure and "Ghost Shadow Step," like a fish in chaos, narrowly avoiding most attacks. And Ye Chen was miserable, his target was clear, his momentum was fierce, and his thunder-attribute cultivation technique was particularly eye-catching, so he instantly became the target of public criticism!

Several powerful attacks locked onto him directly, forcing him to wave his sword to block, his speed greatly reduced.

"A bunch of idiots! I am Ye Chen! Chasing the wanted criminal!" Ye Chen's face turned iron-blue with anger.

"Ye Chen? Which Ye Chen? Never heard of it!"

"No matter who you are! Dare to break into my Li family's important place, take him!"

The chaos escalated further!

Lin Xuan took advantage of this precious gap of chaos and finally rushed out of the noble area, arriving at the relatively chaotic Xicheng. He did not hesitate and immediately activated "Blood Escape Art"!

"Puff!"

A mouthful of blood spat out, his figure turned into a blood-colored light that was almost impossible to capture with the naked eye, instantly swept across several streets, and rushed directly to the vicinity of the Xicheng Gate!

The guards at the city gate had just been attracted by the chaos in the city center, and saw a blood-colored light rushing over at an incredible speed. Before they could react—

"Boom!"

Lin Xuan directly smashed the side door that had not been completely closed due to the chaos and disappeared into the darkness outside the city!

"Someone... someone broke the gate!" The guards then exclaimed belatedly.

And at this moment, the chaos in the noble area of the city center continued, Ye Chen was entangled by the guards of several families and could not get away, watching Lin Xuan escape, almost vomiting blood with anger.

【Ding! Detected Ye Chen's extreme frustration and anger, emotion value +2888!】

【Ding! Detected the confusion and anger of the major families in Qingyun City, emotion value +5666!】

【Ding! Detected the panic of the City Guard, emotion value +1333!】

Listening to the pleasant prompt sound in his mind, Lin Xuan, who was miles away, finally let out a sigh of relief, stopped the "Blood Escape Art," his face a bit pale, but his mood was incomparably comfortable.

"Ye Chen, old iron, thanks for the assist! I'll treat you to dinner next time!"

"Zhao family head, hope you like the 'good luck' I sent!"

"Qingyun City, goodbye... or, never see you again!"

He identified the direction, headed toward the approximate location of Black Wind Stronghold, and his figure blended into the vast mountains and forests.

Behind him, in Qingyun City, Zhao mansion.

Zhao Wuji in the study was preparing to perform an important spiritual power operation, when suddenly he felt uneasy, a mouthful of spiritual energy went the wrong way, almost going into Qi Deviation.

Immediately after, the tiles on the roof of the study loosened for some reason, and a piece fell down, smashing his favorite inkstone.

He walked out of the study angrily to get some air, his foot slipped, almost falling into the lotus pond...

The Zhao family's "good luck" had just begun.

And this night-running drama directed by Lin Xuan, with Ye Chen's "friendly" appearance, and the Zhao family's continuous "small accidents," is destined to become the most talked-about topic for the residents of Qingyun City for a long time to come.

(Chapter 19 End)