The night in Skywind Martial City had not grown quiet with the late hour. If anything, it had taken on a different kind of liveliness. Lanterns swayed in the night wind along both sides of the street, stretching passersby's shadows long and short. From a distant tavern came the hearty sounds of martial artists playing drinking games and the crisp clink of wine bowls. Every now and then, a figure flashed across a rooftop before vanishing into the darkness.
"Brother Qin, I think we've got people following us." Tang Xiaoman smiled as if nothing were amiss, but kept his voice low enough for only the two of them to hear. "More than one group. There are two groups at the street corner on the left, and another one... Heh, skulking around and keeping their heads down, right behind that cart selling Fierce Beast pelts."
Tang Xiaoman cursed inwardly. Those guys really were dogs—their noses were far too sharp. Brother Qin had just finished ten consecutive victories and was at his weakest. They were already looking to take advantage. Shameless. Still, he secretly admired Qin Jue's foresight. If they had stayed in the martial arena a moment longer, things would probably have gone beyond simply being followed.
Qin Jue's expression remained calm. "I know. There are three groups. Two aren't bothering to hide their killing intent. They're probably desperate men who'd do anything for money, nothing to worry about. But there's another group that's concealed itself well. Its breathing is long and steady. There's a master among them."
"A master?" Tang Xiaoman's heart tightened. "Could they be from the martial arena?"
"Doesn't seem like it." Qin Jue shook his head. "People from the martial arena wouldn't use these tactics. Whoever they are, our top priority is finding somewhere safe to recover. A head-on fight would be our worst option."
"Got it!" Tang Xiaoman replied at once. "I know a place that's absolutely safe. There's an inn in the south of the city called Returning Goose Residence. The owner was once a close friend of my father's, one who'd have laid down his life for him."
"Good. Lead the way."
The two said no more and quickened their pace, weaving through the streets and alleys. Tang Xiaoman was clearly very familiar with Skywind Martial City's layout. After several twists and turns, he quickly shook the two less-skilled groups of pursuers.
An incense stick later, they arrived deep in an alley in the southern part of the city. At the alley's end hung an old lantern bearing the words "Returning Goose Residence."
The inn had a modest frontage and looked somewhat run-down. Compared with the grand taverns and inns of Skywind Martial City, it was utterly unremarkable.
Tang Xiaoman stepped forward and knocked on the door in a measured rhythm.
Soon, the door creaked open, and a tall, middle-aged man leaned out. When he saw Tang Xiaoman, he first froze, then broke into a delighted smile. "Xiaoman? What brings you here, you rascal? Weren't you going to North Province with your father?"
"Uncle Li." Tang Xiaoman grinned and slapped him familiarly on the shoulder. "Don't ask. It's a long story. This is my brother, Qin Jue. We've run into a bit of trouble and want to stay here for a few days."
The man called Uncle Li looked Qin Jue over. His aura was restrained, but Qin Jue could tell he was definitely a martial artist, and a powerful one at that. Uncle Li's gaze lingered on Qin Jue only briefly before he cheerfully stepped aside.
"Sure! Same as always: I won't ask anything, and you won't tell me anything. Come on in."
The two entered the inn. Inside, everything was clean and tidy. Uncle Li led them straight through the front hall to a private room in the back courtyard. The courtyard was peaceful, with an old well and several ancient locust trees nearby. Moonlight spilled across the ground in mottled patches.
"This room will do. No one usually comes to the back courtyard, so it's quiet." Uncle Li pushed open the door. "If you need anything, come find me in the front hall."
"Thank you, Boss Li." Qin Jue clasped his hands in salute.
"Don't mention it." Uncle Li waved a hand, then turned to Tang Xiaoman. "You, behave yourself. Don't get me into trouble."
"I know, Uncle Li," Tang Xiaoman replied with a cheeky grin.
After Uncle Li left, Tang Xiaoman immediately shut the door and carefully checked the windows. Only then did he let out a breath of relief.
"Brother Qin, hurry and meditate to recover. I'll keep watch." As he spoke, Tang Xiaoman carried a stool to the door, took off his Cloud Treading Boots, and brought out a soft cloth to polish them carefully.
Qin Jue nodded without a word of thanks. He sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, and began circulating the Nine Revolutions Viscera Refining Secret Record.
The room fell silent, leaving only Qin Jue's long, steady breathing.
As the technique circulated, the blood and qi drained from his body were like a riverbed receiving rain after a long drought, slowly springing back to life. Under his inner gaze, his five viscera and six bowels gave off a faint glow. With every pulse, they rumbled like distant thunder, swiftly refining the heaven and earth's energy he drew in and replenishing what he had expended.
Hearing the muffled rumble coming from Qin Jue, Tang Xiaoman paused in the middle of polishing his boots. His eyes filled with astonishment.
"Good heavens... What kind of technique is that? It makes such a racket?" Tang Xiaoman marveled inwardly. "An ordinary martial artist would need ten days to half a month to recover from such severe internal depletion. At the rate Brother Qin's going, he'll be back to full strength in a night or two. That guy's foundation is as formidable as a Fierce Beast's!"
Time passed by, and the night deepened.
Qin Jue's complexion soon regained its healthy color, and his breathing grew steadier and more even.
When Tang Xiaoman saw this, he finally relaxed. Watching Qin Jue, he couldn't help asking, "Brother Qin, what are you planning to do next? After today's fight, the name Ghost Face has gained a little renown. There must be plenty of people looking into you."
Qin Jue slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them. He exhaled a breath of stale air and said, "I need to break through to the Hundred Refinements Fifth Layer as soon as possible. The manager at Four Seas Pavilion said Wuming Workshop might have the Purple Haze Dragon Vein Grass I need."
"Wuming Workshop?" Tang Xiaoman's expression shifted at the name.
"You know it?" Qin Jue asked.
"I know it all too well." Tang Xiaoman gave a bitter laugh. "That place is Skywind Martial City's underground Black Market, hidden in a natural cavern beneath the southern part of the city. It's full of all sorts of shady characters, desperados and criminals alike. But it's also the only place in the whole city where you can buy treasures that can't be shown in public. It has just one rule: no questions about where anything comes from, and payment and goods change hands on the spot. But that's why backstabbing and robbery happen all the time. It's a dangerous place."
Qin Jue pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "I understand. It's dangerous, but I have to go."
The path of martial cultivation was a struggle against heaven for one's life. Once he had chosen it, there was no turning back. He desperately needed to grow stronger, and the Purple Haze Dragon Vein Grass was the key to his breakthrough. No matter how dangerous it was, he had to get his hands on it.
Seeing the determination in Qin Jue's eyes, Tang Xiaoman grinned and put his newly polished Cloud Treading Boots back on.
"Then I'll risk my life to accompany you. I'm coming with you." He thumped his chest. "That place may be dangerous, but we're no pushovers."
"Thank you," Qin Jue said earnestly.
"Come on, what are you thanking me for?" Tang Xiaoman waved a hand, carefree as ever.
Meanwhile, several hundred yards from Returning Goose Residence, atop a rooftop...
A black figure stood in the shadows, blending into the night. It was the black-clad guard who had followed them all the way.
He gazed at the inn from afar, his eyes icy. As a professional guard, he hadn't followed as closely as the other two foolish groups. Instead, he'd kept his distance, relying on his keen senses to lock onto his target's location.
A moment later, he pulled a messaging talisman from his robes and lightly tapped it with his finger. A faint glow flashed across the paper.
"Young Master, the target has found a place to stay: Returning Goose Residence in the southern part of the city. Should I make a move?"
A moment later, a young man's voice came through the messaging talisman. "No. Keep watching, and don't spook him. That kid is very alert. If we act rashly, we'll only ruin things. Wait until he leaves the inn, then look for an opportunity."
"Yes." The black-clad guard answered quietly. The talisman's glow faded, and he once again disappeared into the night.
The next morning, when the first rays of sunlight passed through the window and spilled into the room, Qin Jue opened his eyes.
After a night of meditation, he had recovered seventy to eighty percent of his depleted blood and qi. The weariness in his mind had also vanished, and he was full of energy.
Tang Xiaoman had kept watch all night. Though somewhat tired, he was still in high spirits. When he saw Qin Jue wake, he yawned and said with a cheeky grin, "Brother Qin, you recover way too fast. You're hardly human."
"Go get some rest. I'll meditate a little longer to consolidate my recovery. We'll head to Wuming Workshop this afternoon," Qin Jue said.
"Sure, I'll catch a nap." Tang Xiaoman stretched. "By the way, Brother Qin, you'd better disguise yourself before going to Wuming Workshop. They may not ask where things come from, but it's crowded and full of prying eyes. Better to be careful."
"I understand." Qin Jue nodded.
He took a black cloak he had prepared earlier and an ordinary iron mask from his bundle. Once he put them on, his aura became utterly unremarkable.
That afternoon, the two slipped out of Returning Goose Residence without a sound and disappeared into the streets and alleys of the southern city.
Not long after they left, the black figure atop a distant rooftop narrowed his eyes.
"They're moving."
He murmured the words, then flashed away, vanishing from the rooftop.
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