Night was as deep as ink.
Inside the inn room, Chen Chen sat cross-legged, his expression grave.
Outside the window, Tianfeng City remained as bustling as ever, but his heart felt as though a boulder weighed upon it.
The Blood Fiend Tower's pursuers were like a sword hanging over his head, capable of falling at any moment.
If he did not resolve this trouble, he would neither sleep nor eat in peace.
Fight head-on?
No.
Though he did not know the other party's exact cultivation, judging by the intensity of that Spiritual Sense from earlier, the man was at least at the Qi Condensation Fourth Layer, perhaps even higher.
More importantly, this was Tianfeng City, where private fighting was forbidden.
The moment he fought someone from the Blood Fiend Tower in the streets, the City Lord's Mansion guards would inevitably be drawn over.
Once his identity was exposed, he would face the endless pursuit of the entire Wang Family, the Blood Fiend Tower, and even the Azure Cloud Sect.
He had to find a way to lure him out of the city and kill him in a single blow without anyone knowing!
But how could he lure him out?
The other party was clearly after him and had some special tracking method.
The moment he left the city, the other party would certainly follow.
But the problem was that the other party's cultivation was higher than his. Out in the wilderness, he still stood no chance.
Unless... he could find a helper.
Someone capable of contending against a Blood Fiend Tower assassin.
Chen Chen's mind raced madly.
His gaze fell once more upon the black jade slip containing information on Liang Feng.
Connections...
Enemies...
Suddenly, a name leaped into his mind.
—Lin Yueru!
The eldest daughter of the Lin Family.
A genius female cultivator renowned in Tianfeng City, with cultivation at the Sixth Level of Qi Condensation Realm.
But none of that was the key.
The key was that the intelligence mentioned a deep enmity between this Miss Lin and Wang Teng!
It was said that a year ago, Wang Teng had visited Tianfeng City. After drinking, he had behaved disgracefully and tried to violate Lin Yueru. Though he failed, the incident had damaged Lin Yueru's reputation, and the two had borne a grudge against each other ever since.
Though the Lin Family wielded great influence, they were unwilling to lightly offend an Inner Sect Disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect and could only suppress the matter.
But Lin Yueru had a fierce and unyielding temperament. How could she possibly let it go?
She had been secretly searching for an opportunity to take revenge on Wang Teng.
The enemy of an enemy was a friend!
Chen Chen's eyes lit up at once.
If he could reveal the news that the Blood Fiend Tower and Wang Teng intended to deal with him to this Miss Lin...
Would she make a move?
It was a dangerous gambit.
Entrusting his safety to someone he had never met was undoubtedly a reckless wager.
But Chen Chen had no other choice.
He had to gamble!
He carefully recalled every detail from the Shadow Tower's intelligence report.
Before long, he found more information about Lin Yueru.
Although this Miss Lin belonged to the Lin Family, she did not live in the Lin Family estate. Instead, she cultivated alone in a separate courtyard in the east of the city called Tingxue Small Residence.
Moreover, she had a habit.
Every morning, she would personally go to the shore of Cuiwei Lake outside the city to collect morning dew for brewing tea.
This was his only chance!
Having made up his mind, Chen Chen hesitated no longer.
He adjusted himself to his peak condition, then quietly waited in the room for dawn.
The next day, before the sky had brightened.
Chen Chen quietly left the inn.
He used the Breath Concealment Art to suppress his aura to the lowest possible level, moving through the silent streets like a ghostly shadow.
Before long, he arrived at the shore of Cuiwei Lake in the east of the city.
The lake was like a mirror, shrouded in a faint mist that appeared dreamlike and illusory beneath the weak light of dawn.
Chen Chen did not approach the lakeshore. Instead, he found a patch of woods with a broad view yet excellent cover and lay in wait.
He waited.
Waited for the appearance of the Lin Family's eldest daughter.
Time passed second by second.
When the first ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds and spilled across the lake.
A white figure finally appeared on the path by the shore.
She was a woman dressed in white, her figure graceful and alluring.
She wore no veil, revealing a face of peerless beauty. Her skin outshone snow, her brows and eyes were like a painting, and her bearing was cool and detached, like an immortal maiden untouched by the dust of the mortal world.
It was Lin Yueru.
Two maids with steady auras followed behind her, both at the Second Level of Qi Condensation.
Lin Yueru walked to the shore, took a white jade porcelain bottle from one of the maids, bent down, and began carefully collecting the morning dew from the lotus leaves.
Her movements were elegant and focused.
Chen Chen's heart rose to his throat.
He knew that success or failure would be decided in this one move.
He took a deep breath and pushed the Nine Nether Soul Refining Art to its limit.
A concentrated strand of Spiritual Power transformed into an invisible thread and traveled toward Lin Yueru.
He did not directly speak through Spiritual Sense. That would have been too abrupt and too offensive.
He merely wrapped a piece of information in Spiritual Power, turning it into a thought that he sent over.
"Miss Lin, do you wish to know Wang Teng's true purpose in coming to Tianfeng City three days from now?"
"Do you wish to know what shameful transaction he has with the Blood Fiend Tower?"
"Do you wish to know how to ensure that he comes but never returns?"
Lin Yueru, who had been collecting morning dew, suddenly froze!
Her cool eyes instantly sharpened like swords. She abruptly raised her head and swept her gaze toward Chen Chen's hiding place!
A powerful pressure from the Sixth Level of Qi Condensation Realm erupted with a boom!
"Who?!"
The two maids behind her also changed expression dramatically. They immediately drew their swords, shielding her behind them as they warily stared toward the woods.
Chen Chen felt an immense pressure crash down upon him, choking off his breath.
But he did not move, nor did he make another sound.
He knew the bait had been cast.
Now, it depended on whether the fish would take the hook.
Lin Yueru's gaze swept through the woods for a long time, yet she found no trace of anyone.
The other party's Spiritual Power was exceedingly strange. It had flashed by in an instant, impossible to lock onto.
Her brows drew tightly together.
Wang Teng...
Blood Fiend Tower...
Both names touched the most sensitive nerves in her heart.
She fell silent for a moment before finally suppressing the killing intent in her heart.
Facing the empty woods, she said coldly, "What kind of skill is hiding your head and showing your tail?"
"Midnight tonight. The abandoned Land God Temple west of the city. I'll wait for you."
"You had better give me an answer that satisfies me."
"Otherwise, no one in heaven or on earth will be able to save you!"
With that, she did not linger. She turned and quickly departed with the two maids.
Within the woods, Chen Chen let out a breath of relief.
He knew he had won the gamble.
The first step had succeeded.
What came next was tonight's negotiation.
He did not leave immediately, instead continuing to lie in wait where he was.
Because he knew the Blood Fiend Tower assassin had to be nearby.
Sure enough, not long after Lin Yueru left.
A blood-red figure appeared on the other side of the lake like a ghost.
It was the effeminate young man from yesterday.
He looked in the direction Lin Yueru had departed, then looked toward the place from which Chen Chen had sent his thought. Confusion and vigilance flickered in his eyes.
Clearly, he too had sensed that unusual Spiritual Power fluctuation from earlier.
But likewise, he had found nothing.
He wandered around the lakeshore for a long while before finally leaving unwillingly.
Only after confirming that everyone had left did Chen Chen quietly emerge from the woods.
A cold smile appeared on his face.
"Blood Fiend Tower... Wang Teng... Lin Yueru..."
"This grand play in Tianfeng City is truly becoming more and more interesting."
"Since all of you want to be chess players, then I'll be the chess piece... that stirs the winds and clouds!"
Before you continue