Tonight would be no exception

Desert City.

After all his twists and turns, Hai Bodong had still returned here.

Over the past few days spent hiding in the shadows, he had thought things through.

Although he had fled quickly that day, Queen Medusa might still have noticed him. But the fact that she had not pursued him said a great deal.

Perhaps Queen Medusa had been held up by something.

Or perhaps she no longer cared about him.

It was even possible that she truly had not recognized him.

Whatever the truth, it was good news for Hai Bodong.

That meant he could keep lying low in Desert City!

Returning to his familiar shop, Hai Bodong looked at the rubble strewn across the ground with a touch of resignation. It was all that brat's fault, provoking him even with death staring him in the face.

The destruction of the shop was no great loss. He only needed to say the word, and the city lord would eagerly send people to rebuild it.

But with the map fragment in Medusa's hands, there truly was not the slightest chance of getting it back.

After so many years of research, it had all come to nothing in the end. The bitter taste in his heart was unbearable.

As he sighed over his loss, the chatter and laughter nearby suddenly caught Hai Bodong's attention.

"If you ask me, that kid definitely wouldn't shoot without a target. He's no fool. He knows the consequences. If some powerful expert really accepts the commission and he can't produce the payment, he'll be in trouble."

"Impossible, absolutely impossible. I just came from Stone Desert City, and I've seen that Chen Cang with my own eyes. He looks younger than twenty. Where would he get the wealth to throw around like that? Besides, I've never heard of any big shot surnamed Chen in the Jia Ma Empire."

"But I heard he's the young sect master the Misty Cloud Sect has been secretly grooming."

"I've even heard people say he's Pill King Gu He's sworn brother in private. Do you believe that?"

Hai Bodong quietly approached. "Who are you talking about?"

"That Chen Cang in Stone Desert City."

After standing beside them and listening to their rambling for quite a while, Hai Bodong finally grasped the gist of it.

Hai Bodong had little interest in commissions and such. What astonished him was that the brat was actually still alive?!

That conclusion left Hai Bodong thoroughly puzzled. He was certain that the mark on Chen Cang had vanished.

And Medusa's handiwork was not something just anyone could undo. At the very least, no one in the nearby cities should have been capable of it.

Could Medusa have erased it herself?

There seemed to be no other possible explanation.

At that thought, Hai Bodong's mind descended into confusion.

He distinctly remembered that Chen Cang and Queen Medusa were not acquainted. Why had things turned out this way?

Hai Bodong paced back and forth, trying to think from Queen Medusa's perspective-

If I were Medusa and happened to see a boy with a remarkably extraordinary magical beast, it would make sense to leave a mark out of interest. Then, after who knew how long, I suddenly sensed the mark somewhere nearby. With nothing else to do, I might as well go meet him. During that meeting, the boy and I got along splendidly, so I naturally erased the mark!

"No, that doesn't fit that woman's temperament."

Hai Bodong shook his head, rejecting the idea. In any case, he did not believe anyone could have a delightful conversation with Queen Medusa.

"Perhaps they struck some sort of deal..."

That was more likely!

But one thing he could be certain of was that Chen Cang and Queen Medusa now knew each other. Their first encounter must have been reasonably amicable for her to be willing to erase the mark.

With that premise, the commission Chen Cang had issued merited closer scrutiny. Was it truly his own intention?

Or had Queen Medusa instructed him to do it?

Hai Bodong had a faint premonition that this might be an opportunity for him.

Yet his ignorance of the precise schemes between Chen Cang and Queen Medusa made him reluctant to act rashly.

After agonizing over it for a long while, Hai Bodong finally decided to make an attempt. Since he could not go himself, sending a few people he trusted completely would serve just as well!

Elsewhere.

Queen Medusa, who had said she was going into seclusion, once again arrived in Stone Desert City in disguise.

Throughout the journey, she had pondered the purpose of Chen Cang's commission.

Having observed him secretly for so long, Queen Medusa knew that Chen Cang was intensely goal-driven. He must have known beforehand that a Heavenly Flame existed in Tagor, which was why he had searched every day, come wind or rain.

Yet now that he had finally found the Heavenly Flame, he should logically have concealed the news and tried every possible means to obtain it. There was no reason to make such a commotion.

Even if Chen Cang lacked the strength to take the Heavenly Flame, he should have approached anyone he wished to hire in private.

Her initial observations had clearly shown Chen Cang to be quite cunning, but his current actions left her bewildered.

Still, there was no denying that Queen Medusa had indeed grown anxious.

After returning to the Holy City last night and consulting the records, she had come to understand the Heavenly Flame's importance more clearly. It was a fallback for her future.

She absolutely could not let anyone else seize it first!

Treasures born of heaven and earth, wonders of the world, belonged to the virtuous.

Strength was virtue!

Thus, she had to take the Heavenly Flame before Chen Cang made his move!

Otherwise, if some muddleheaded expert truly accepted Chen Cang's commission, trying to fight for it afterward would be far more troublesome.

Taking a room at the same inn as before, Medusa monitored Chen Cang's movements while making her final preparations to take the Heavenly Flame.

In the blink of an eye, ten days slipped by.

Over those days, word of the commission in Stone Desert City spread far and wide, and Chen Cang's background was dug up from top to bottom along with it.

By now, almost everyone who had followed the matter had been plunged into a different kind of shock.

Identity: Guest Elder of the Xiao Clan in Wutan City.

Age: seventeen and a half.

Strength: known to have surpassed the Clan Leaders of Wutan City's Three Great Clans eight months ago; estimated to be a high-level Da Dou Shi.

Only a handful knew that he had long since crossed the barrier of Da Dou Shi and was a genuine Dou Ling.

But even the widely circulated information moved countless people. To the people of the Jia Ma Empire, it was practically earth-shattering. At the very least, no one had heard of such a genius in the past hundred years.

For a time, Chen Cang's name shook the Jia Ma Empire, and quite a few factions began entertaining ideas.

As the source of this swirling storm, Chen Cang had been somewhat mentally prepared. Thus, although heads turned in staggering numbers whenever he went out each day, he could still maintain his composure.

After all, he had already experienced this once in Wutan City, though on a smaller scale.

Compared with these inconsequential matters, Chen Cang was more surprised that someone was actually willing to accept a commission with no guarantee whatsoever.

Even if it was only a Three-Star Dou Ling.

"What a surprise. Now that I've seen you in person, young master, I'm even more certain I made the right choice."

Deep into the night, a tall, thin, middle-aged man dressed in black sat across from Chen Cang in the inn room and spoke with feeling.

Chen Cang remained noncommittal. "I'm surprised too. I didn't expect anyone to actually accept my commission. You're the first, and you'll be the last."

"No. In my view, there will certainly be other experts willing to lend a hand. Even without the reward, simply forming a friendship with you would be a gain in itself, young master. To be honest, that is precisely what I, Lei Zang, have in mind."

"Perhaps."

Chen Cang gazed at the man's face and smiled without arguing.

Before a human lie detector, every little move and petty trick had nowhere to hide!

Oh? He even came with a mission.

Unfortunately, he really was not close to Queen Medusa. That woman was probably busy trying to take the Heavenly Flame right now.

Over the past few days, Chen Cang had visited the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake at least once a day. From the snake's memories, he knew that Medusa had visited no less often than he had and had already tried to take the green lotus core flame several times.

Tonight, presumably, would be no exception.