The Shadow Assassin froze, then understood in an instant—the other man hadn't been speaking to him at all. He was "rehearsing" for the people watching the footage: the higher-ups of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group!
Before the words had even faded, an invisible force wrapped tightly around the Shadow Assassin. He didn't even have time to cry out. The scenery before his eyes blurred at lightning speed, as if he'd blinked.
When he opened his eyes again, he was standing in a desolate wilderness.
Teleportation!
The thought exploded in the assassin's mind like a thunderclap, striking more terror into his heart than watching Black Tortoise get crushed moments ago!
But as an assassin, he took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
This footage had to be delivered to his superiors at once!
No matter how you looked at it, the royal family was playing dirty!
They had posted a mission with the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group, then ambushed the person who completed it.
In the end, no one would claim the mission reward.
And they could pin the blame on the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group.
After all, the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group was one of the five top powers. They weren't usually keen on taking jobs to assassinate members of other top powers, either.
But the reward this time was simply too tempting.
Meanwhile, as Chen Lin watched the Shadow Assassin disappear, a barely perceptible smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
While teleporting him away, Chen Lin had discreetly planted a "little something" on him.
Once the man returned and handed the footage over to his superiors, he'd find himself growing more and more devoted to the Black Robed Man before his eyes...
"Hahaha!" A low, delighted chuckle faded away in the empty alley.
Chen Lin's figure vanished completely from the alley.
The next moment, he appeared on the bustling streets of Tianyan City.
The Shadow Assassin and Black Tortoise had been nothing but minor interruptions. He'd originally intended to kill the Shadow Assassin.
But with Black Tortoise there, well, he couldn't very well do that.
As for the purpose of this trip, he'd already made up his mind: he would personally visit the Four Directions Merchant Association and see just how extensive its collection of cultivation techniques was.
With the Earth-tier cultivation techniques he had on hand—especially the exquisite annotations for those cultivated to Great Perfection—as bargaining chips, trading for a Heaven-tier cultivation technique wasn't out of the question.
As for the even rarer King Tier techniques of legend, he had his suspicions, but he knew their price would be astronomical. They wouldn't be easy to obtain without extraordinary means.
He couldn't leave empty-handed this time.
After all, even if he was content to laze around, he couldn't let his strength stagnate!
In a flash, Chen Lin appeared at the imposing entrance of the Four Directions Merchant Association.
Guards stood in formation outside the association, while maids streamed in and out, everything orderly.
Whenever regular patrons or honored guests entered, they were greeted with respectful bows and warm welcomes.
Dressed in a black robe with his hood hanging low, Chen Lin used a cultivation technique to shroud his face in darkness. With only his tall, straight figure visible, he walked toward the merchant association's entrance.
A maid at the door glanced over him and hesitated briefly, apparently sizing up the visitor in such unusual attire.
But the Four Directions Merchant Association had seen all kinds of people. She quickly regained her professional composure and bowed. "Esteemed guest, please follow me to the side hall and wait a moment."
However, just as Chen Lin was about to follow her instructions, another maid hurried over, smiling knowingly. "Esteemed guest, this way, please. I'll take you to meet the appraisal elder."
Her tone was smoother than her colleague's, with the ease of someone accustomed to dealing with all manner of people.
Guests dressed in black robes like this were almost always carrying confidential goods and wanted to keep their identities hidden while trading.
The maids had seen plenty of them. Most could guess the situation well enough and knew how to respond even before the guests said a word.
Chen Lin wasn't surprised. He simply followed the maid, his gaze calm.
He followed her through one carved corridor after another. The air carried a faint scent of tea and spices, lending the place a refined atmosphere.
Just then, a derisive snort sounded from behind him. "Well, well. Since when does the Four Directions Merchant Association accept shifty rats who hide their faces?"
A young nobleman in brocade stepped out from beside a corridor pillar, a gilded fish-shaped pouch hanging from his waist. He was none other than Liu Mingxuan, son of the current Minister of Works.
With a snap, he opened his folding fan and tapped its ribs against his palm, deliberately blocking Chen Lin's way. He looked him up and down with undisguised contempt. "Dressed like that, are you up to some shameful business and afraid of being recognized?"
The maid seemed to have seen her share of grand occasions, too, and started to explain. "Young Master Liu, this guest is—"
"When I'm asking a question, who said you could butt in?" Liu Mingxuan's expression darkened. His cold gaze swept over the maid, silencing her at once as she secretly summoned an elder.
Liu Mingxuan had just taken part in an auction in the association's inner hall. But someone had outbid him, snatching away a treasure he'd been determined to get.
Even when he raised his offer by a considerable amount on the spot, it was no use.
The frustration lodged in his throat like a fish bone, leaving him deeply irritated.
As luck would have it, he'd run into this black-robed man the moment he came out. He might as well take his anger out on him and vent his pent-up frustration.
Because the bidder I'd asked around about was also, damn it, a black-robed man who didn't want to be seen!!!
And now the man in front of him was another black-robed man. What rotten luck.
Watching the scene unfold, Chen Lin mused, This feels so familiar... Isn't this the classic scene from those novels in my previous life, where some clueless rich kid picks a fight with a big shot he shouldn't provoke?
Only this time, I'm the big shot...
This trope is ridiculous, though.
Chen Lin turned his gaze toward Liu Mingxuan. His face was hidden in the darkness beneath his hood, but his deep eyes seemed to radiate an invisible pressure.
Liu Mingxuan felt a chill crawl inexplicably up his spine and over his scalp, leaving him with goosebumps.
Still, Liu Mingxuan was the Minister of Works' son. That brief discomfort wasn't enough to make him back down.
"Heh. I bet you're glaring at me from under there right now, feeling pretty miserable, aren't you? If you're miserable, I'm happy."
He spoke with a taunting edge, trying to overpower the other man with words.
Chen Lin sneered inwardly. Sure enough, there's no escaping a scene like this.
He'd already seen it coming back when he was still at the Scripture Repository.
Liu Mingxuan immediately shot a look at the hulking man behind him, whose muscles bulged like knots. "Go, Da Ming. Teach him a proper lesson!"
At that, Da Ming grinned viciously, his muscles bunching as he advanced on Chen Lin, one step at a time.
But Chen Lin acted as if the brute didn't merit his attention. Instead, he calmly addressed the maid. "He's making trouble here. Does no one from the Four Directions Merchant Association intend to stop him?"
The maid who had been assigned to Chen Lin was already pale with shock at the turn of events. She hurriedly pleaded with Liu Mingxuan. "Young Master Liu, I've already sent word to an elder."
Liu Mingxuan let out a chilling snort. "Sent word to an elder? So what? At worst, I'll pay a little compensation!"
With that, he glanced at Da Ming. The man understood and swung his fist with a vicious grin. It cut through the air, the muscles around his knuckles bulging with a heavy sense of power. He was a guard at the third level of the Divine Treasury Realm!
Yet against this savage punch, Chen Lin merely raised his index finger and gave a faint flick with the tip.
Crack!
Before you continue