Scheming and Treachery

"Hmm? The Storm Wolf's aura is gone. It failed. What a waste, and I even wasted a portion of my Wolf's Saliva Incense."

About two miles from where Li Mu and Xiao Yu were fighting the Storm Wolf, in a hidden cave shrouded in shadows, a man cursed and stood up. The red waist token on his hip, engraved with the character "Fiend", swayed with his movement.

Time rewound two days. Just as Li Mu and Xiao Yu left Qinglan City together, a gloomy old man in a red robe hurried into a grand hall and respectfully bowed to the black-robed man seated on the main throne, who exuded an imposing aura even without showing anger.

"Patriarch, Li Yubai's second son left Qinglan City today. He's traveling with a student from Cangyun Academy, a commoner. Judging by their direction, they're heading towards the Black Dragon Mountain Range. Should we..."

The one kneeling on one knee and asking was none other than the Grand Elder of the Nangong Family, Nangong Wuqing. He clasped his hands and bowed his head, not daring to meet the gaze of the black-robed man before him. It was evident how powerful the Patriarch Nangong Bo was, for a Nascent Soul Realm expert like himself to be so subservient.

"Hmph. For the past six months, this brat hasn't stepped foot outside Qinglan City. He's finally let his guard down. Take my token and go to the Blood Fiend Camp. Have them send someone. I want Li Yubai's son to remain in the Black Dragon Mountain Range forever. As for that commoner from Cangyun Academy, deal with them too. The fewer of these lowlifes, the better."

The black-robed man didn't even lift his head, but every word dripped with killing intent. He waved his hand at Nangong Wuqing, tossing him a token the color of fresh blood, engraved with a ferocious "Sha" character.

"Blood Fiend Token? Patriarch, to deal with a mere brat who hasn't even reached the Core Formation Realm, you need to deploy people from the Blood Fiend Camp? Those are..."

Nangong Wuqing looked up at the black-robed man in surprise. He knew exactly what the Blood Fiend Token represented. He was a bit confused about the Patriarch's decision to use it just to deal with Li Mu.

"Don't underestimate any member of the Li Family. Tell the people from the Blood Fiend Camp to make it look like an accident. Otherwise, Li Yubai can be quite troublesome when he goes mad. The time for our plan is approaching. Remember not to cause any unnecessary trouble."

Seeing that Nangong Bo's killing intent was resolute, the old man in the blood-red robe said no more. He took the Blood Fiend Token and withdrew from the hall.

Qinglan City was home to tens of thousands of people, with its four districts each fulfilling their roles, making the city stand like a dazzling pearl in the east of the Cangyun Empire. However, beneath Qinglan City lay a different world entirely.

A vast network of intricate underground passages was hidden beneath the city, serving as a gathering place for various forces that couldn't bear the light of day. Fugitive organizations wanted by the empire, private armed forces forbidden by law, and more had all found their way to survive in this underworld.

Nangong Wuqing was currently walking through a pitch-black underground passage, his entire figure concealed by a black cloak. He moved swiftly, yet without making a sound. Suddenly, two shadowy figures emerged from nowhere, blocking his path.

Neither of the shadowy figures spoke, simply standing before Nangong Wuqing. However, the faint aura of slaughter emanating from them made even the Nascent Soul Realm Grand Elder Nangong feel a sense of oppression.

This sense of being locked down by their aura only slowly dissipated after Nangong Wuqing produced the Blood Fiend Token. After confirming the token's authenticity, the two shadowy figures turned and darted deeper into the passage. Nangong Wuqing quickly followed them, plunging into the darkness ahead.

"Nangong Bo actually used the Blood Fiend Token. Speak, who do you want us to kill? Li Yubai? Or some imperial general?"

A figure sat before Nangong Wuqing, idly playing with the Blood Fiend Token. The faint light of a candle flickered nearby. The man, whose upper body was completely hidden in darkness, asked in a mocking tone, as if the Lord of Qinglan City himself was someone he could kill on a whim.

"The target isn't Li Yubai, but he's related to him. The target is his second son, Li Mu, who is currently at the Half-step Core Formation Realm."

Nangong Wuqing didn't dare to be negligent. He laid out all the details of the assassination target. The Blood Fiend Camp was extremely mysterious; even he, the Grand Elder of the Nangong Family, had no right to know their specific details. He only knew that even Nangong Bo would have to be respectful to the man before him.

"For a mere Half-step Core Formation Realm brat, your Nangong Family needs to deploy the Blood Fiend Camp? Do you really think we're here to be ordered around? Give me one reason, or you're not leaving here today."

The man in the shadows suddenly unleashed an overwhelming aura, pressing down directly on Nangong Wuqing. The greatly alarmed Grand Elder quickly circulated his World Origin Energy to resist the man's pressure, but he soon found himself like a small boat in a stormy sea, utterly unable to resist.

After all, an early-stage Nascent Soul Realm expert was a powerhouse anywhere, but before this man, Nangong Wuqing felt like a helpless child. In no time, he was drenched in sweat, on the verge of collapse.

"Hahahaha, Grand Elder Nangong, no need to be nervous. I was just joking. Since your Nangong Family has produced the Blood Fiend Token, we'll take this job."

Just as Nangong Wuqing felt he was about to be crushed by the mountain-like pressure, the man burst into laughter, and the terrifying pressure vanished. Only Nangong Wuqing, now limp, remained on the ground.

"Then I'll trouble you. The Patriarch also asked me to relay a message: try to make it look like an accident. Otherwise, I'm afraid Li Yubai won't let it go."

The old man, soaked in sweat, finally managed to stand up and, despite his apprehension, relayed his Patriarch's instructions to the man before him.

"Hmph, are you telling me how to do my job? A mere Half-step Core Formation Realm doesn't require the true might of our Blood Fiend Camp. Don't worry, I have my own arrangements."

The man snorted coldly, clearly displeased with the extra request. His aura surged, causing Nangong Wuqing to break out in a cold sweat again.

"Go back and tell Nangong Bo not to let his personal desires interfere with the implementation of the grand plan. The Helm Master will personally visit Qinglan City soon. By then, I hope his task will be completed."

The powerful man clearly had no intention of wasting more time with Nangong Wuqing and waved his hand, intending to dismiss him.

As for the Grand Elder, facing the man's dismissal, he was more than happy to oblige. He bowed respectfully and retreated along the same path, exiting the underground passage.

"Order Beast Armor to handle this. Make it look like a Demon Beast attack. That should be his specialty. Hmph, this Nangong Bo, using the Blood Fiend Token on a mortal. If it weren't for the Nangong Family still having some use in the Helm Master's plan, I would have annihilated them long ago."

The shadowy figure behind the man nodded slightly and then vanished. The man who had been seated also stood up, turned, and disappeared into the darkness.

Xiao Yu struggled to move, carrying the unconscious Li Mu on her back. The fierce battle had filled the entire forest with a heavy, bloody smell. Although this was the outskirts of the Black Dragon Mountain Range, there was no guarantee what other powerful Demon Beasts might be lurking around. After all, the appearance of that Storm Wolf had been completely unexpected. Both of them were in a bad state, and if they encountered another Demon Beast, they would truly be finished.

"Brother Mu, hold on. Xiao Yu will heal you right away."

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the young girl finally brought Li Mu to the base of a protruding cliff. She gently placed him on the flat rock and quickly took out several pills from her bag, placing them into the young man's mouth. Then, she placed her palm against his, and a warm, gentle origin energy flowed into his body, beginning to nourish his injured internal organs.

If anyone else were present, they would have recognized that the young girl was cultivating a rare healing technique. Such techniques were difficult to master but lacked any offensive power, which was why few cultivators practiced them throughout history. At this moment, Xiao Yu had clearly reached a high level of proficiency in this healing art.