Twilight City Tavern

Over the next few days, Ling Li deliberately slowed his pace while traveling. Every other day, he would roast a few monster beasts to satisfy his cravings. Unfortunately, the feeling of being watched vanished completely, and he never saw the Purple Beast again.

I hope fate brings us together again... Ling Li sighed, drained the last mouthful of fruit wine, extinguished every spark in the campfire, and set off at full speed toward Twilight City.

Raising his blade skills to the Master level was already an unexpected windfall, and it gave Ling Li a little more confidence in this assassination.

Several days later, Twilight City

At the heart of the massive city stood an enormous castle that occupied nearly half its area. Bathed in the lingering light of dusk, it gave off a bleak, desolate feeling.

After arriving in Twilight City, Ling Li did not immediately begin his assassination mission. Instead, as was his habit, he first took a walk around the city.

Some said that the Black Corner Region was a miniature version of the entire Dou Qi Continent. People from all over the world gathered here. The customs of every city were surprisingly alike in their simplicity, yet their traditions varied greatly. Perhaps due to the unique environment and climate, a vast mountain range similar to the Monster Beast Mountain Range had formed here, and it contained no fewer varieties of monster beasts.

On the streets of Twilight City, Ling Li watched the passing crowds and felt that they all seemed somewhat malnourished, their faces a little pale. It was said that aside from Maple City, where fighting was completely forbidden, this was the most peaceful area in the entire Black Corner Region. However, anyone wishing to settle here had to pay the Blood Sect enormous quantities of blood and Gold Coins every month.

Ling Li did not think much of this rule. Most people who came to the Black Corner Region were desperate fugitives with nowhere else to go. If they wanted the protection of a Dou Huang expert without paying a price, where could they possibly find such a good deal?

There was no such thing as a free lunch.

After casually finding a restaurant and forcing himself to try the city's specialty Blood Food despite his disgust, Ling Li headed toward a tavern in the city.

According to the intelligence, Wu Ye was particularly fond of this tavern. Every fifteenth day of the month, after returning to Twilight City to resupply and finishing his tribute to the Blood Sect, he would come here for a drink.

The tavern was not large, but business was booming. Its only three tables were already fully occupied, while the other drinkers without seats either sat on the ground or leaned against the walls, gulping down strong liquor.

The moment Ling Li stepped into the tavern, the clamor flooded his mind. The wild fragrance of alcohol, mixed with a thick bloody stench, filled his nostrils.

Most of those drinking in the tavern were burly men wearing leather armor, with bloodstained weapons lying beside them. Ling Li saw someone paying at the bar by directly pulling out a money pouch dripping with blood, while the owner accepted it without batting an eye.

Ling Li surveyed the drinkers around him. Their strength levels were surprisingly high; he even sensed an aura close to that of a Dou Wang. However, their auras were rather unstable. Even Ling Li, a one-star Dou Spirit, could perceive them clearly. They were nothing compared to the Purple Beast he had encountered before.

"What would you like to drink, sir?" As Ling Li approached the bar, a kindly voice reached his ears. The speaker was the tavern owner, an elderly man who looked quite benevolent.

"Just give me any drink." Ling Li did not dare underestimate the old man. Anyone capable of opening a tavern in the Black Corner Region was either absurdly powerful or backed by an absurdly powerful patron. Either way, it was best not to offend them lightly.

The old man smiled, took out a cup shaped like a small wooden barrel from beneath the counter, and drew with his withered hand toward the inner room of the tavern. A mass of pale golden liquor flew out from within, swiftly forming a stream that flowed into the wooden cup without spilling a single drop.

"This is our best-selling ale. Three Gold Coins, please." The old man pushed the cup in front of Ling Li as he spoke.

Ling Li gave the old man a surprised look. If it were merely drawing out the liquor and pouring it into the wooden cup, Ling Li believed he could do it too. But he would have to focus completely, and his speed would be as slow as a turtle's crawl. He could never do it as effortlessly and swiftly as this tavern owner.

What kind of monsters had he been running into? The White-clothed Woman and the old blacksmith in Yan Tie City, the fifth-tier Purple Beast in the mountain range, this completely unfathomable tavern owner, and Hai Bodong, whom Ling Li had not met but who sold maps in Desert City.

Did these experts have nothing better to do than spend their lives on this kind of pastime...

Seemingly seeing through Ling Li's thoughts, the old man chuckled. "Young man, don't worry. This place is fairly safe. As long as you don't cause trouble here, this old man won't meddle in your affairs. These old bones of mine can't withstand much tossing around..."

Ling Li fell silent for a moment, took out three Gold Coins, picked up the cup, and went to sit in a corner of the tavern. With a thought, he stored the liquor in the System Space and replaced it with clear water. The food and water in the System Space were always kept relatively well-stocked. Since entering the Black Corner Region, Ling Li had been self-sufficient when it came to food. He did not dare eat or drink anything here carelessly.

Even if that formidable old man had said he would not meddle in his affairs, how could Ling Li easily believe the words of someone he had never met? When traveling outside, the most important rule for survival was not to trust anyone easily—not even friends, family, or oneself.

After settling in, Ling Li listened to the idle chatter of the drinkers around him while keeping constant watch on the tavern entrance. According to the intelligence, Wu Ye should visit this tavern today.

The drinkers here were all red-faced and thick-necked from their drinking, but there was still a trace of clarity in their eyes. Most of what they said was merely joking banter, with no useful information at all.

Watching others drink alone in the corner bored Ling Li to the point of drowsiness. The booming voices around him made his head spin even more.

Just as Ling Li was about to nod off from boredom, a thick bloody stench wafted in from the tavern entrance. His pupils contracted slightly. At the previously empty doorway, a figure wrapped from head to toe in a Blood Robe appeared abruptly like a ghost.

No way. Such terrifying speed... is he a two-star Dou Spirit? Ling Li stared fixedly at the crimson figure, all traces of drowsiness vanishing from his face as a rare hint of solemnity flashed through his eyes.

The instant the blood-robed figure appeared, the once-noisy tavern suddenly fell silent for a moment. A faint, barely concealed wariness flashed in the eyes of many drinkers as they looked at him, while a thick bloody smell rapidly spread throughout the tavern.

"Oh? You're early this time? Wu Ye, what would you like to drink today?"