The Eve of the Transaction

The next day, just as dawn was breaking.

Chen Chen quietly left the safe house.

He changed into a more inconspicuous coarse cloth garment, used a medicinal paste to draw a few scars on his face, and put on a wide bamboo hat. He looked like a down-on-his-luck mercenary who had been making a living in the Black Mist Mountain Range for years.

He cast the Breath Concealment Art, suppressing his cultivation back to the Body Tempering Realm, and not just any Body Tempering Realm, but one with a weak aura, as if he had suffered internal injuries.

Walking on the street, he didn't attract anyone's attention.

As Steward Wang had said, the atmosphere in Tianfeng City had changed.

The streets were noticeably filled with more martial artists with sharp eyes and imposing auras.

They moved in small groups, seemingly strolling, but their gazes constantly swept over the passersby, especially those wearing bamboo hats or acting suspiciously.

Chen Chen knew these people were the Liang Family's informants.

The Liang Family was truly desperate.

Besides the Liang Family members, Chen Chen also keenly sensed a faint, cold killing intent hidden in the dark corners of the city.

That killing intent was locked onto him.

Assassins from the Blood Fiend Tower!

He was like a venomous snake lurking underwater, patiently waiting for the moment its prey showed a flaw.

"How interesting."

Chen Chen sneered inwardly.

He was like a dancer walking on a knife's edge, surrounded by enemies, where a single misstep could lead to eternal damnation.

Yet, he reveled in this thrilling sensation.

He did not go to the Tudimiao in the west of the city.

It was too early to go there now; it would only expose him.

His agreement with Lin Yueru was for three days later, which was today, to make their move.

But he still needed to confirm one last time with Lin Yueru.

To confirm the details of the plan, to confirm her resolve.

He arrived in the east of the city, by the Cuiwei Lake where he and Lin Yueru had their first "encounter."

Cuiwei Lake in the early morning was still shrouded in a thin mist, beautiful as a fairyland.

But today, there was no sign of that white figure by the lake.

Chen Chen was not surprised.

With such a major event happening, Lin Yueru, as the eldest daughter of the Lin Family, couldn't possibly have the leisure to collect morning dew here as she used to.

He found a hidden spot in the woods and did not reveal himself.

Instead, he took out a small paper crane from his Storage Bag.

It was a trinket he had bought incidentally when purchasing information from the Shadow Tower.

A Sound Transmission Paper Crane.

A low-level talisman that could attach a wisp of divine sense, or a sentence, to it, and it would then automatically fly to the designated target.

Although it could be easily intercepted, it was perfect for conveying simple messages when meeting in person was inconvenient.

Chen Chen imprinted a wisp of divine sense into the paper crane.

"Tonight at midnight, west of the city, at the Mass Grave. Wang Teng will be transacting with the Blood Fiend Tower. The moment they are caught red-handed will be our signal to act. I will be responsible for luring everyone out, and you will be responsible for intercepting the assassin pursuing me. After success, Wang Teng's life will be mine. His Storage Bag will be yours. This is the final confirmation."

Having done all this, he gently tossed the paper crane towards the separate residence named "Tingxue Small Residence" in the east of the city.

The paper crane turned into a streak of white light and silently merged into the morning mist.

Chen Chen did not linger and turned to leave.

He knew the bait had been cast.

Now, it was time to see how many big fish he could catch tonight.

Tingxue Small Residence.

Inside the separate residence, the scent of plum blossoms filled the air.

Lin Yueru, dressed in white, stood quietly beneath a blooming winter plum tree, her expression cool and distant.

Before her stood a Lin Family Dark Guard with a respectful expression.

"Miss, the Family Head has ordered the entire city to be locked down. All Dark Guards are searching for the grey-clothed man who won the Azure Cloud Token. However... there has been no clue so far. That person has vanished into thin air."

"I understand," Lin Yueru's voice betrayed no emotion. "Continue searching."

"Yes." The Dark Guard bowed and retreated.

"Miss," the personal maid who had been accompanying her couldn't help but speak, "Could that grey-clothed man have already escaped the city?"

"No," Lin Yueru shook her head, her tone certain.

"Why?" the maid asked, confused.

"Intuition," Lin Yueru said calmly.

She didn't know why, but she always felt that the mysterious man in grey had absolutely not left.

He was still in Tianfeng City.

Moreover, he must be plotting something.

Just then.

A pure white paper crane flew over the courtyard wall and landed silently before her.

The maid's expression changed, and she immediately drew her sword, saying vigilantly, "Miss, be careful! This is..."

"No need to be nervous."

Lin Yueru waved her hand, signaling her to step back.

She recognized this paper crane.

This was the mysterious man's method of contacting her.

She extended her slender, jade-like fingers and tapped lightly.

The paper crane dissolved into specks of light, and a message surged into her mind.

"Tonight at midnight, west of the city, at the Mass Grave..."

After receiving all the information, a ripple finally appeared on Lin Yueru's usually serene face.

Her pupils contracted slightly.

"He... is actually going to make a move."

Seeing her young lady's changing expression, the maid asked worriedly, "Miss, what did that person say again?"

Lin Yueru was silent for a moment before slowly speaking, her voice carrying a complex emotion that even she hadn't noticed.

"He told me tonight is Wang Teng's death day."

"What?!" the maid exclaimed in shock. "He... he's really going to kill Wang Teng? In Tianfeng City?"

Wang Teng was an inner disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect!

Killing an inner disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect in Tianfeng City was a world-shattering event!

"Miss, this is too dangerous! That person is clearly using our Lin Family!" the maid urged anxiously. "We can't let him use us as pawns!"

"Use us as pawns?" A cold killing intent flashed in Lin Yueru's eyes. "As long as Wang Teng can be killed, what does it matter if we're used as pawns?"

The humiliation from a year ago was a thorn in her heart that could never be erased.

If Wang Teng doesn't die, her Dao heart will not find peace!

"But... the Blood Fiend Tower... that's a demonic sect! What if..."

"There are no 'what ifs'," Lin Yueru interrupted her, her gaze becoming incredibly resolute.

"Fortune favors the bold. This time, it is both a crisis and a rare opportunity for our Lin Family that comes once in a hundred years!"

"If we can obtain evidence of Wang Teng colluding with the demonic path, not only will I be able to avenge myself, but our entire Lin Family will gain immense favor from the Azure Cloud Sect!"

"At that time, let alone one Azure Cloud Token, even ten or a hundred, the Azure Cloud Sect will have to obediently deliver them to us!"

The maid was startled by the crazed light in her young lady's eyes.

She had never seen her young lady lose composure like this before.

"Pass down my order." Lin Yueru took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, her voice returning to its usual coolness.

"Have all the elites remaining in the manor gather tonight on the outskirts of the Mass Grave in the west of the city and await orders!"

"Remember, without my command, no one is to act rashly!"

"Yes, Miss!" The maid dared not say more and quickly bowed to receive the order.

Watching the maid's retreating figure, Lin Yueru looked up at the sky.

The sky of Tianfeng City was about to change.

And she, Lin Yueru, would be the one... holding the reins!