Chapter 340 - 339: Keep a Close Watch, Finally Witness Changes

Hovering in midair, Li Jing looked at Black Butterfly with amazement.

At this moment, Black Butterfly blended seamlessly into the midnight street.

He had a clear sense of it.

If he hadn’t come for Black Butterfly, he would have completely ignored her, treating her as an unnoteworthy passerby.

How did she do that?

Some sort of magic skill?

Or was it a legacy of the Sinister Gate?

Out of curiosity, Li Jing landed quietly near Black Butterfly, somewhat amused. He then lifted the silence of the Charming Shadow interfering with her.

Black Butterfly, standing quietly under a streetlamp, immediately stiffened and turned her head with a frown.

Seeing someone appearing by her side, a moment of surprise flashed in her eyes, but her face remained calm.

When Li Jing saw her tight face, he slightly coughed.

"Where are the members of the Demon Beast Union?"

"There."

Black Butterfly raised her hand, pointing to a dilapidated bar across the street.

"There are undercover members in there keeping an eye out. We can just guard outside. Too many people going in can cause trouble. Also, since you’re coming over, I just came out. If we go back, it might attract the demons’ attention. We’d better wait here for now. If there’s any movement, the undercover member will contact us."

Since Li Jing is here, he naturally wants to see the target that Black Butterfly and the undercover members have locked onto.

It wouldn’t matter if he went in alone.

With the charm of Silent Shadow, no one would notice him.

Unless, someone from the Seventh Realm turned up in this rundown bar.

However, since Black Butterfly had spoken, he had to respect her opinion.

Unlike Child-face, Black Butterfly behaved professionally in every aspect, which was very reassuring.

Going in for a look doesn’t mean much.

He could at most see how much health the targeted demon had left.

Nodding in approval, Li Jing asked.

"How many members of the Demon Beast Union have you found?"

"Three."

Black Butterfly responded meticulously, then continued.

"A female demon and two male demons, the females is at Six Realm, the two males are at Fifth Boundary. We verified before locking onto these three that they have been visiting the Dark Street frequently in the past month. At first, they tried to make contact with a demon group called the Night Charm Gang, and there were considerable frictions. Later, they also contacted several other small forces on the Dark Street, but they never made contact with the Rakshasa."

Upon hearing Black Butterfly mention the "Night Charm Gang", Li Jing was slightly taken aback.

It was to be expected that the Demon Beast Union would frequents the Dark Street.

Otherwise, how could they plot to frame the Rakshasa and the disciples of the sect?

However, he was surprised that they had contact with Ye Liuli’s Night Charm Gang.

Bearing the nature of the Demon Beast Union, they would not be able to contact mature demon groups or individual demons.

Strictly speaking, the Demon Beast Union is just a grand scam.

Any demon with some experience would see that this organization is nothing more than a pyramid scheme.

For a long time, to maintain their secrecy and avoid rejection from most demons, the Demon Beast Union really avoided having contact with higher-level demons and demon groups.

Most of the high-level demons Li Jing encountered didn’t have any real contact with the Demon Beast Union and only knew of its existence, which shows a lot.

Ren Jie was targeted because her talents have extremely high value and the Demon Beast Union tried hard to win her over.

As a result, Ren Jie saw through the unreliability of the Demon Beast Union and avoided them early on.

Why did the Demon Beast Union approach Ye Liuli’s Night Charm Gang? Because they were eyeing their strength?

There must be part of the reason for that.

Despite Ye Liuli being easily "tricked" by Li Jing and choosing to give in.

Compared to Ren Jie, who operates a pawnshop in the alley, Ye Liuli who controls the Night Charm Gang not only is as powerful but also posses more strength than the former.

She has an entire gang under her control.

In addition.

The Night Charm Gang itself is considered a recognizable force in the Dark Street, and like the Rakshasa, they have been developing their industry and power in secret in the Central City.

In a true comparison, Ren Jie really has nothing on Ye Liuli.

Even if the Demon Beast Union wanted to change its whole strategy, they would not be so unaware of their own limitations to try to win over a demon like Ye Liuli, who has both strength and connections.

It’s not because Ye Liuli might be too haughty, but because being successful in Dark Street, she naturally despises the oppressive and scheming Demon Beast Union.

So, what was the reason for the Demon Beast Union to contact Ye Liuli?

Li Jing speculated for a bit and soon had a conclusion.

They contacted Ye Liuli for the same purpose as the disciples of the Sect who contacted the Rakshasa - They intended to use Night Charm Gang as an official stepping stone into the asset and industry competition between the Wang and Lu families.

They just miscalculated and were rejected by Ye Liuli.

There was nothing to say about that.

Ye Liuli is clear-headed.

Establishing the Night Charm Gang with a group of demons, she wouldn’t have come this far without some foresight.

Knowing that the Demon Beast Union was targeted by Longyu, if she still made contact with them, she might end up involving herself and the entire Night Charm Gang.

What Li Jing was really concerned about was -

What made the Demon Beast Union target Ye Liuli?

Knowing they’d probably be disregarded, there’s no way the folks at Demon Beast Union weren’t aware.

But they still approached her.

Did they have some sort of secret reinforcement?

Or was it something else ...?

The key probably lies in the cause of the friction between the two sides, as mentioned by Black Butterfly.

People like Ye Liuli on this path, are usually pretty straightforward.

If the negotiation doesn’t work, then there’s no talk.

The high way, the plank bridge. Each goes their own way.

People like the Demon Beast Union aren’t something ordinary folks can deal with.

The Night Charm Gang operated inconspicuously in the Dark Street, struggling to thrive due to the dual pressures of the Capital Inspection Headquarters and Dong Ye City Inspection Bureau. She wouldn’t be foolish enough to randomly make enemies.

How did that saying go?

If the deal fails, there’s still goodwill.

When confronted with the Demon Beast Union, Ye Liuli would likely avoid conflict if possible, no matter how much she distanced herself from them.

Unless it was absolutely necessary, and she could no longer bear it.

Guessing this, Li Jing couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed.

If he had known this earlier, he would have asked during his conversation with Ye Liuli, and she might have told him everything.

Guessing like this now, it’s truly hard to draw a conclusion.

At this moment, seeking out Ye Liuli again was out of the question for Li Jing.

Not to mention she should be busy taking over the territory of the Rakshasa at this time, and the Dark Street had been taken over by the Dong Ye City Inspection Bureau and the Management Bureau as a whole. It wouldn’t be proper for him to run over to find her again.

Sighing silently, Li Jing asked the Black Butterfly at his side.

"How long have the three demons, two men and one woman, who you’ve been tracking, been in the bar?"

"For quite a while now."

Black Butterfly responded.

"Initially the three of them were scattered, and I, along with two undercover agents, were also separately tracking them. It was around the time when there was a commotion in the Dark Street that they left their individual locations to gather at this bar."

Hearing Black Butterfly’s account, Li Jing slightly raised his eyebrows.

The commotion in the Dark Street that Black Butterfly was referring to was clearly when the Management Bureau arrived with tens of thousands of personnel.

These three demons, who had been scattered before, gathered because of this.

There was clearly a problem.

If nothing unexpected happened, the Demon Beast Union had already planned their next move, and these three were likely the ones leading it.

Having a Late Six Realm female demon present also indicated that the trio held high statuses within the Demon Beast Union.

As he was contemplating, Black Butterfly spoke up.

"Can you tell me what the situation at the Dark Street is?"

Upon hearing this, Li Jing nodded and briefly recounted his and Tongyan’s visit to the Dark Street.

After understanding the basics, Black Butterfly’s expression changed slightly.

"I have a lot of information about you. You do have a knack for investigating cases. But I have to admit, I underestimated you before. For you to be able to uncover so much in such a short amount of time and to act on it, it’s a capability and initiative not possessed by ordinary people."

With a grimace, Li Jing couldn’t help but chuckle ruefully. Thanks to Chen Jing’s "grace", he had been investigated by countless people without his knowledge.

This was expected.

But the fact that the Sinister Gate, such "professionals", was among them, was not good news.

As for him, the Sinister Gate might not have mastered much.

But when it came to the Sinister Gate’s professionalism, Li Jing had not the slightest doubt.

As for himself, the Sinister Gate must have grasped some rather substantial things.

In this respect, he might need to be careful.

Especially now that this had happened, under Black Butterfly’s leadership, the Sinister Gate might pay even more attention to him in the future.

Quietly reminding himself to be more cautious in the future, Li Jing didn’t expose his thoughts.

Some things are understood without having to be said outright.

If it was said outright, it wouldn’t be fun anymore.

Glancing at Black Butterfly’s calm face, Li Jing smiled.

"Since we have some free time, can you tell me about Tianyi Dao Gate?"

Upon hearing this, Black Butterfly wrinkled her brow slightly and said.

"There are some things you’ve managed to avoid so far, it would be best not to rashly delve deeper into. Tianyi Dao Gate is not like any ordinary sect, having contact with them could inevitably lead you into a quagmire."

Saying this, she continued indifferently.

"What I can tell you is this, those who are involved with Tianyi Dao Gate invariably face trouble. Over the years, who knows how much trouble that group of madmen from Tianyi Dao Gate has caused, not only in our permanent Secret Realm, but also in various other permanent Secret Realms. At least from what I personally know, apart from a few mad Demon Taoists, almost no sect is willing to be on good terms with Tianyi Dao Gate."

Black Butterfly’s statement didn’t contain much substantive content.

However, at least one thing was clear.

Tianyi Dao Gate was almost considered a ’public enemy’ among the hundreds of Hidden World Sects in Longyu.

To put it bluntly.

They didn’t have many friends, and enemies were everywhere.

This provoked Li Jing’s curiosity.

No matter how bold Chen Jing’s backing from Tianyi Dao Gate was, let’s not talk about that.

If Tianyi Dao Gate has offended so many people to become a ’public enemy’, then why can it still stand tall?

Moreover, it seems to play a crucial role among the sects?

The attention Chen Jing has attracted in Jianghai being alone, could not simply be because he was a disciple of a sect.

Plus the Immortal King Command.

From what Li Jing can see now, not every disciple of a sect could have an Immortal King Command, even if they were powerful or capable.

Previously, Li Jing didn’t know this.

Now, he has understood it.

Looking at the world at large, there are countless disciples from various sects.

If anybody with a higher cultivation level or a little bit of ability could obtain an Immortal King Command, Forbidden Skills would probably overflow in the streets.

Curious but not wanting to dig further, Li Jing did not ask anymore.

Black Butterfly was obviously trying to avoid the subject, and if he had insisted on asking, it would have seemed inappropriate.

...

Black Butterfly was not talkative.

Compared to Tongyan, her personality was much colder.

Without Tongyan, who would lock gazes with Black Butterfly every now and then, being alone with her was honestly rather dull.

Having chatted idly with Black Butterfly for a while, Li Jing quickly found himself out of things to say. She then took out her mobile phone and started to play on it.

The wait was long.

Time quickly reached three o’clock in the morning.

Having waited by the street for a full three hours, although many customers came and went from the bar, the members of the Demon Beast Union remained inside. The undercover agents from the Sinister Gate didn’t relay any information either, leaving Li Jing somewhat impatient.

Just as he was hesitating whether to suggest going into the bar for a look, Black Butterfly next to him absentmindedly said while holding her phone.

"Two of them have come out."

Upon hearing it, Li Jing was slightly startled and instinctively looked up.

Following that, he saw a male and a female monster, both with health bars atop their heads, walking out of the bar across the street.

The female monster had a health bar value of 8842.

Late Six Realm.

The male monster’s had a health bar value of 7061.

Mid Fifth Boundary.

The two walked side by side, the female demon clinging to the male demon in an intimate manner, almost hanging off him, while they laughed and talked.

Li Jing was still cloaked in his Silent Shadow, but he’d chosen not to apply it to Black Butterfly.

Black Butterfly herself was also employing her ability to make herself inconspicuous.

So, even though the once bustling street was now deserted in the early hours of the morning, the sight of the two crossing the street and looking straight over at them didn’t warrant much concern.

Seeing the two monsters coming out, Li Jing frowned and turned his head.

"Is the other male demon still in the bar? Doesn’t he intend to come out too?"

"Yes."

Black Butterfly responded, adding.

"They might have sensed someone watching them, or they might just be being cautious. The message from our mole is that the latter is still in the bar. Because he is still there, it’s inconvenient for them to be followed."

Speaking of it, she added further.

"Looking at the current situation, the likelihood of the three monsters being cautious is higher. If they were aware of the situation, they’d rather stay in the bar than split up. After all, our target has never been just the three of them, but the Demon Beast Union behind them."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing nodded in agreement, his gaze following the two monsters until they were far away.

Seeing the two of them quickly turn into a dark alley after leaving the vicinity of the bar, Li Jing murmured,

"Let’s follow."

"You follow, I’ll check around."

Black Butterfly offered an opposing opinion, stating.

"Don’t worry about the one in the bar, the mole will take care of it."

Without waiting for Li Jing to reply, she twisted her body slightly and disappeared like a bubble, vanishing into thin air.

Li Jing was momentarily taken aback.

A special escape method.

Similar to hers, but clearly more advanced.

When she came and went, at least Li Jing could sense it as his cultivation level gradually increased, but he had no sense of her leaving this time.

In the blink of an eye, she was gone.

This feeling.

Much like when Li Jing saw Black Butterfly earlier.

The feeling then was that Black Butterfly should appear here.

The feeling now is that Black Butterfly does not belong here.

Even though he had been standing on the street with Black Butterfly for three hours, Li Jing didn’t find her sudden disappearance abrupt.

One has to admit.

This ability, is quite badass.

Its effect, it seems, works subtly over time.

It wouldn’t have much effect on those who are prepared and aware.

But for those who are unprepared and unaware, no one would notice Black Butterfly appearing here and then disappearing without a trace.

With this, Li Jing confirmed.

Black Butterfly’s ability is a unique secret technique from Sinister Gate.

Sinister Gate is known for its undercover work and gathering intelligence, all thanks to this technique.

The two moles in the bar are probably in the same situation as Tong Yan and Ji Youyu.

Compared to Qi Chen, their mastery and application of the sect’s legacy is still not up to par.

Therefore, with one monster still in the bar, neither of the two moles could leave.

A sect’s legacy.

Interesting.

Staring at where Black Butterfly used to be, Li Jing was filled with admiration, then pulled himself together.

Black Butterfly’s professionalism made him seem like a novice.

Checking the surroundings is indeed necessary.

Keeping an eye on the one in the bar is also essential.

Their attention should not solely be on the two monsters that have started acting suspiciously.

Li Jing thought.

As a formal inspector, he should concentrate.

He should not underestimate certain signs just because his strength has increased. Otherwise, he would inevitably suffer a great loss sooner or later.

Warned himself, Li Jing headed towards the dark alley into which the two monsters had turned.

...

Soon, Li Jing arrived at the entrance of the alley.

Before he could go inside, his primordial spirit sense informed him that the pair of monsters who had turned into the alley was in the middle of the alley, rubbing against each other like a pair of passionate lovers.

Desperate with desire?

Clearly not.

When it comes to choosing a mate, monsters are even more particular than humans.

Female monster, innately admire the strong.

This is a biological instinct of beast class creatures.

A female monster in the late six realm, would never choose one in the middle of the fifth realm.

A male pet, that’s another story.

Monsters indeed have a taste for this.

Like the Baboon Pig Demon Girl that Li Jing encountered earlier.

However, the outcome for males who become the slaves of female demons tends to be very tragic.

The female demons who choose this path are far more dominant personalities than comparable powerful women, often driven by particular needs.

Usually, it’s a one-sided exploitation.

With the power of someone at the mid-Fifth Boundary, even the worst placed individual in the Demon Beast Union could at least have a middle-to-high-ranking position, rather than stooping so low as to become a male slave.

Given these factors, it’s not difficult to draw a conclusion.

They are not passionately in love, but rather, extremely wary of being investigated.

They act in the alleyway to see if anyone will follow them.

This is good news.

These two demons are so cautious, they undoubtedly have a purpose.

Li Jing stopped at the entrance to the alley without going in.

Even if he did want to go in, that would be no problem.

With the Silent Shadow ability, even if he walks right over them, they won’t detect him.

However, he’s not interested in watching the two demons rub up against each other.

With his powerful Primordial Spirit, he can sense their presence and even what they’re doing, so why would he bother to risk his eyesight?

As Li Jing predicted.

Although the two demons were entangled in the alley, they did not make further contact.

Moments later.

The two finished their entanglement and headed deeper into the alley.

Li Jing sensed something and quietly stepped into the alleyway.

...

The two demons making their way deep into the alley moved quickly. Li Jing, relying on his Primordial Spirit to track them, didn’t rush to catch up and instead hung back.

Soon, the two demons emerged out from the other end of the alley and onto a main avenue nearby.

They stopped at the street’s edge.

Li Jing followed them out of the alley but stayed back at a distance.

At that moment, a business van drove slowly toward the two, stopping in front of them. The door opened with a clatter.

The two demons locked eyes, and the female boarded the van and closed the door. The van then drove off.

The male demon was left behind and continued walking along the avenue.

A twitch pulled at the corner of Li Jing’s mouth.

Damn it.

Are the people from the Demon Beast Union this cautious now?

Just three of them.

And they’ve split in three different directions?

Based on the visible health bar for the two, the female demon is clearly the most valuable lead.

But with the skill of the Demon Beast Union, the two male demons can’t be ignored.

Seeing the van about to disappear from view, Li Jing evaluated the pros and cons, took out his phone, found the Black Butterfly’s number and composed a message.

"Male demon heading south on the avenue opposite Changsheng Road, the female demon is taking a car, I’m following her."

After sending the message, Black Butterfly replied immediately.

"Okay."

Having received a simple one-word reply, Li Jing didn’t delay. He transformed into a thunderbolt and used Sky Control to take off.

He didn’t know where the Black Butterfly, who had gone to ascertain the situation, was at this time.

But judging from her swift reply, she’s probably nearby, keeping a watchful eye.

In that case, he can leave without worry.

...

The speed of the van carrying the female demon was not fast.

In Central City, where there are surveillance cameras everywhere, even in the dead of night, no one would dare to speed.

Of course.

No matter how fast the van was, it was nothing to Li Jing, who was using Sky Control.

It took him less than two breaths to catch up with the van, speeding along the avenue to Central City, and he used Thunderbolt movement to smoothly follow behind it.

Li Jing followed the van for about half an hour.

After all, anything with four wheels is rather slow.

Half an hour’s drive didn’t get them very far.

The van didn’t head straight for Central City.

Instead, it took a small, winding path on the outskirts, close to the center, and finally stopped before a sewage treatment plant.

The van’s door opened, and the female demon got out alone and went into the sewage treatment plant.

The van did not linger.

Having "dropped off" its passenger, it immediately turned around and left.

Li Jing couldn’t follow this move.

He was alone and couldn’t be in two places at once.

But he did note down the license plate number of the van and texted it to Xia Ai, asking her to track the van through traffic surveillance.

Li Jing himself followed the female demon into the sewage treatment plant.

...

The sewage treatment plant, which was closed at dawn, was very quiet, with no human activity.

All that could be heard was the "click, click, click" of the female demon’s high-heeled shoes hitting the ground.

Li Jing’s Primordial Spirit couldn’t sense any other demons in the factory apart from the female demon.

But he couldn’t just leave now.

The female demon went all the way to the sewage storage pool at the back of the sewage treatment plant. Under Li Jing’s watch, she made sure no one was around and quietly opened the manhole cover next to the pool, slipping inside.

Seeing the female demon going straight to the underground water storage tank at the sewage treatment plant, Li Jing frowned slightly.

Getting into an underground water storage tank is quite tricky.

But having followed her this far, he has to go down and check it out.

He casually took off his clean suit and descended into the underground following the female demon through the manhole cover.