Two days later.
Qingzhou City.
The Qingyun Sect's branch.
"Greetings, Third Elder and West Elder."
The disciples at the Qingyun Sect's branch bowed and saluted respectfully.
"Rise. Have you found any leads on the Misty Rain Tower?"
The Third Elder asked slowly, his expression grave.
"Reporting to the Third Elder, we found that the Misty Rain Tower last appeared in Qingzhou City. As for where they went afterward, it has been extremely difficult to investigate."
Li Yaochao, the steward of Qingzhou City's branch, clasped his fists and reported.
"A bunch of good-for-nothings! Since that's the case, why are you still standing here? Hurry to the Black Market and look for information!"
Upon hearing that they had not found the Misty Rain Tower's exact location, the Third Elder flew into a rage.
"Yes... This subordinate will go at once."
Seeing the Third Elder lose his temper, Li Yaochao was so frightened that his legs went weak. He spoke in a trembling voice.
Afterward, he hurriedly took several disciples and fled, stumbling over themselves.
"Assassin organizations like this are the most troublesome. We can only wait for them to make a move before finding any clues."
The West Elder spoke in a deep voice from the side.
"Third Elder, in my opinion, we could post a mission in the Black Market and lure them out."
The West Elder offered his suggestion.
"That plan is viable, but they may not fall for it."
"After all, we made no attempt to conceal our movements when we came to Qingzhou City. The Misty Rain Tower has surely learned of it by now,"
"They should be able to see through this plan."
The Third Elder said.
"But we can still give it a try and see whether the Misty Rain Tower has the nerve to accept the mission,"
"After all, they have only just emerged. Perhaps they want to use us to establish their reputation. There may truly be some fools who don't know when to stop."
The Third Elder picked up the tea on the table and took a small sip before saying:
"Let's wait for Li Yaochao to return from the Black Market and see whether he has any news of the Misty Rain Tower."
"If he hasn't obtained any information, then we'll post a bounty mission in the Black Market—an assassination contract targeting the Qingyun Sect's steward in Qingzhou City."
Dusk arrived.
The Black Market of Qingzhou City was packed with people. Hawkers' cries, laughter, and arguments blended into one,
while the air was thick with the warmth of daily life and an aura of secrecy.
Li Yaochao led several disciples through the crowd, his sharp gaze sweeping over every stall and every face,
and whenever he saw someone who looked like a well-informed dealer, he went over and quietly asked about the Misty Rain Tower's whereabouts.
But the result only made him increasingly irritated. Those dealers either shook their heads repeatedly,
or quoted astronomical prices without being able to provide the slightest useful information,
basically saying that the Misty Rain Tower had only recently emerged and came and went without a trace. How could people like them possibly find out anything?
"Steward, this won't do. The people in this Black Market simply can't be relied on!"
One of the disciples moved closer to Li Yaochao and lowered his voice.
Li Yaochao's expression was so gloomy it seemed water might drip from it. He gritted his teeth.
"Let's go! To Langya Pavilion! The Misty Rain Tower had Langya Pavilion help spread information before. Perhaps Langya Pavilion knows something about them!"
The group headed straight for Langya Pavilion in the western part of the city.
In front of Langya Pavilion, two guards dressed in blue robes stood with long swords hanging from their waists, their expressions solemn.
Li Yaochao stepped forward, stated his identity and purpose, and was then led inside.
The reception room was elegantly furnished, with calligraphy and paintings hanging all over the western wall. Shangguan Hong, dressed in gray robes, sat upright at the head of the room, brewing tea.
"May I ask what brings Your Excellency here?" Shangguan Hong asked in a deep voice.
"I am Li Yaochao of the Qingyun Sect. I have come especially to ask whether Your Excellency knows anything about the Misty Rain Tower."
"If you do, I hope you can tell us the location of the Misty Rain Tower's headquarters. The Qingyun Sect will certainly reward you handsomely."
Li Yaochao clasped his fists in salute, a hint of urgency in his voice.
Shangguan Hong gently shook his head, poured a cup of tea, pushed it in front of Li Yaochao, and slowly began to speak.
"Although Langya Pavilion is well informed about affairs in Qingzhou, there are still matters we cannot investigate."
"The Misty Rain Tower only recently appeared, and its movements are elusive. Its members rarely show themselves, so we likewise do not know its exact foothold."
"What?" Li Yaochao's expression changed drastically. "Even Langya Pavilion doesn't know? Didn't they seek your help before?"
"We truly don't know! If Your Excellency doesn't believe us, then please leave." Shangguan Hong's tone was cold, and he had already issued an order for him to leave.
Li Yaochao trembled with rage and wanted to seize Shangguan Hong on the spot and take him back for interrogation. But remembering that this was the Black Market, he could only leave resentfully with his disciples.
Not long after Li Yaochao's group left Langya Pavilion, two figures quietly appeared at a restaurant in the Black Market.
They were Jing Ke and Zhuan Chu.
Both were dressed entirely in black and blended into the crowd without the slightest incongruity.
"Those people just now were from the Qingyun Sect?" Zhuan Chu lowered his voice and glanced toward the direction in which Li Yaochao had left.
Jing Ke nodded, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "No mistake. I heard clearly that they were asking around the Black Market for information about the Misty Rain Tower."
"Looks like the Qingyun Sect's people have indeed set their sights on us."
As the two spoke, they heard two cultivators beside them conversing in low voices.
"Have you heard? The Qingyun Sect's Third Elder and West Elder have both come to Qingzhou City. It seems they're here to cause trouble for the Misty Rain Tower!"
"The Misty Rain Tower? The assassin organization that recently wiped out the City Lord's Mansion of Luoxia City? They're bold enough to provoke even the Qingyun Sect!"
"Who knows? Perhaps there's some major figure backing the Misty Rain Tower..."
Jing Ke and Zhuan Chu exchanged a glance, both seeing the gravity in each other's eyes.
The Qingyun Sect's elders had come in person. It seemed this trouble would be no small matter.
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