Chapter 185: Mysterious Woman

Rest assured, I have my limits.

Jiangnan replied, his tone confident.

He hung up the phone, and Jiangnan's gaze sharpened, like a sword drawn from its sheath, its edge fully exposed.

Shadow organization, your doom has arrived!

He turned, walked out of the room, and his figure vanished into the vast night.

Under the night sky, in the outskirts of Jinghai City, inside an abandoned factory.

Dim lights flickered irregularly, casting the surroundings in a gloomy, terrifying hue.

Several silhouettes moved through the factory like ghosts, silent.

Suddenly, a figure appeared at the factory entrance.

He was tall and upright, with a stern face and sharp eyes—Jiangnan.

Jiangnan stood at the doorway, scanning the area, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

This was the Shadow organization's base in Jinghai City.

He inhaled deeply and walked slowly into the factory.

Inside the factory, silence reigned, broken only by the rumble of machinery echoing through the cavernous space.

Jiangnan's gaze was vigilant, each step taken cautiously.

Suddenly, he halted, a hint of something odd flashing in his eyes.

He smelled a faint whiff of blood mingling in the air, barely perceptible.

Jiangnan furrowed his brows, followed the scent of blood, and arrived at the doorway of a warehouse.

The warehouse door was tightly shut; inside was pitch black, nothing visible.

Jiangnan's gaze hardened, and he reached out to push the warehouse door open.

Creak…

The warehouse door emitted a harsh screech, unusually loud in the silent factory.

By the faint light, Jiangnan saw the interior of the warehouse, his pupils snapping shut.

Inside the warehouse, several corpses lay haphazardly, blood staining the floor in a shocking sight.

A strong smell of blood assaulted him, making him feel nauseous.

Jiangnan forced himself to endure the discomfort, entered the warehouse, and examined the corpses carefully.

These people were all members of the Shadow organization.

They all wore identical black uniforms, embroidered on the chest with a black shadow emblem.

Jiangnan's gaze grew heavy, a wave of unease rising within him.

What had happened inside the Shadow organization?

Why were people dying here?

Suddenly, Jiangnan's gaze hardened; he noticed that all these corpses shared a common trait.

Each neck bore a slender wound, as if cut by some kind of blade.

The wound was deep, nearly severing the entire neck.

Jiangnan crouched down, examined the wound closely, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

The wound didn't look like it was caused by an ordinary knife.

It resembled... some special weapon.

A thought flashed through Jiangnan's mind.

Could it be that internal strife had erupted within the Shadow organization?

Or perhaps others had broken in here?

Jiangnan's mind filled with questions; he looked around, trying to find more clues.

Suddenly, his gaze fixed on a flashing object in the warehouse corner.

Jiangnan walked over and picked up the object.

It was a tiny dart, entirely jet‑black, with only the tip glimmering with a cold light.

The dart's shape was unusual, resembling a bat about to take flight.

Jiangnan studied the dart closely, a flash of insight in his eyes.

He had seen this kind of dart before.

He had also spotted similar darts on the Holy Sect's altar.

Could the Holy Sect and the Shadow organization truly be connected?

Jiangnan was startled; if this were true, the situation would become even more complicated.

He must investigate quickly, lest the consequences be unimaginable.

Jiangnan stored the dart and prepared to leave the warehouse.

Suddenly, he heard a faint footstep from outside the warehouse.

The steps were light, yet clearly audible in the silent factory.

Jiangnan's gaze hardened; he quickly ducked behind a stack of goods, held his breath, and waited silently.

The footsteps drew nearer, finally stopping at the warehouse doorway.

Through a gap in the cargo, Jiangnan saw a silhouette appear at the warehouse entrance.

It was a woman, tall and slender, clad in a black bodysuit that outlined her graceful figure.

On her face she wore a black mask, revealing only a pair of eyes.

Her eyes were beautiful, like a clear lake, yet beneath the surface lay a hint of cold.

The woman walked into the warehouse, looked around, and a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes.

She went to the corpse, crouched, and examined it closely.

Suddenly, the woman's gaze hardened; she noticed that a corpse's neck was missing a dart.

The woman's complexion shifted slightly; she rose quickly, scanned the surroundings, and her eyes became alert.

"Come out, I know you're here."

The woman spoke, her voice cold, echoing through the empty warehouse.

Jiangnan's gaze tightened; he knew he had been discovered.

He rose slowly and stepped out from behind the cargo.

"Who are you?"

The woman looked at Jiangnan, her eyes full of caution.

"Just a passerby."

Jiangnan replied, his tone calm.

"A passerby?"

The woman sneered, a trace of contempt flashing in her eyes.

"Do you think I'd believe that?"

"Believe it or not."

Jiangnan's tone was indifferent, as if everything were under his control.

"What are you doing here?"

The woman continued, a hint of scrutiny in her eyes.

"The same as you."

Jiangnan answered, his tone calm.

"The same as me?"

The woman frowned slightly, a flicker of doubt in her eyes.

"That's right, I'm here to investigate the Shadow organization."

Jiangnan's tone was firm, a sharp glint in his eyes.

The woman's gaze hardened; she stared at Jiangnan, as if trying to read something on his face.

"Who exactly are you?"

The woman asked again, her tone tinged with probing.

"Someone who wants to eliminate the Shadow organization."

Jiangnan replied, his tone resolute.

The woman was silent for a moment, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

"You may leave."

The woman suddenly spoke, her voice calm.

"You won't kill me?"

Jiangnan was somewhat surprised, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"Why would I kill you?"

The woman retorted, a trace of incomprehension in her tone.

"Aren't we enemies?"

Jiangnan continued, his eyes probing.

"Not at least now."

The woman answered, her tone calm.

"Why?"

Jiangnan pressed, his eyes full of curiosity.

"Because we share a common enemy."

The woman replied, a chill in her voice.

"The Shadow organization?"

Jiangnan asked, a flash of realization in his eyes.

"That's right."

The woman answered, her tone affirmative.

"You're also here to investigate them?"

Jiangnan continued, his eyes probing.

"Yes."

The woman answered, briefly.

"Why?"

Jiangnan pressed, his eyes full of curiosity.

"Because they deserve to die."

The woman answered, a hint of hatred in her voice.

Jiangnan's gaze tightened; from her tone he sensed a fierce hatred.

"Do you hold a grudge against the Shadow organization?"

Jiangnan asked, a flash of understanding in his eyes.

"Yes."

The woman answered, her tone carrying a hint of sadness.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

Jiangnan asked, his tone carrying a hint of concern.

The woman was silent for a moment, a flash of struggle passing through her eyes.

Finally, she spoke, her voice low, her tone bearing a hint of pain.

"They... they killed my entire family."

The woman's voice trembled, her eyes filled with hatred.

Jiangnan's eyes narrowed, and a surge of sympathy rose in his heart.

"And you, why did you come here?"