Translator: CinderTL

"What you say makes sense," Jing Bei said. "Mi Man is driven by profit. If she were truly willing to offer herself, she certainly wouldn’t choose a rogue cultivator like you."

Not only Jing Bei believed Song Wen’s words, but Fu Hongwen and Fu Kaiyu did as well.

Fu Hongwen’s gaze toward Song Wen softened considerably, even carrying a hint of guilt.

Jing Bei then shifted his attention to Mi Man.

"You are truly skilled in deception. I almost fell for your lies and wrongly accused Fellow Daoist Lei Yue. However, since you refuse to serve me, I cannot force you. Still, you must suffer some consequences—if only to appease Fellow Daoist Fu Hongwen."

As he spoke, a chilling aura suddenly erupted from his body, surging directly toward Mi Man.

Mi Man felt as if a mountain had descended upon her, her legs buckling as she collapsed to her knees.

"Jing Bei, what are you doing? I am a disciple of the Spirit Jade Palace! If you dare kill me, you’ll never leave Great Tan City alive!" Mi Man cried out in panic.

"I told you, I’m merely making you suffer a little."

Jing Bei rose leisurely and walked over to Mi Man, gazing down at her from above.

"Your face is indeed remarkably beautiful—eyes like painted landscapes, skin fairer than snow, so delicate it seems it could burst with a touch. It would be quite interesting to see a permanent, disfiguring scar mar its perfection."

He crouched down, extending his right index finger to trace a line across Mi Man’s cheek, which was so tender it seemed to drip with moisture.

His fingernail was nearly an inch long, sharp and pointed like a miniature blade.

Mi Man’s eyes widened in terror. She could clearly feel the chilling sensation left by Jing Bei’s fingernail as it grazed her skin.

The thought of a hideous, irreparable scar permanently disfiguring her face filled her with utter despair.

Her beauty had always been her greatest asset, the foundation upon which she had cultivated to the Divine Transformation Stage in just a few centuries. Losing it would not only cripple her future cultivation path but also subject her to endless ridicule and scorn.

"Senior Jing Bei, I beg you, please don’t..."

Song Wen, standing nearby, watched the sharp fingernail on Jing Bei’s finger, his pupils contracting slightly.

Perhaps Mi Man hadn’t noticed anything amiss, but Song Wen had detected an extremely familiar aura emanating from Jing Bei.

The aura of the Corpse Dao!

Combined with the Orthodox Path aura Jing Bei had displayed since his arrival, Song Wen was certain: Jing Bei was cultivating the Corpse King’s Rebirth Art!

Jing Bei was a member of the Divine Blood Gate, and a core disciple at that!

Song Wen’s curiosity deepened. What exactly was Jing Bei planning tonight?

What benefit would targeting Mi Man bring him?

Why would a member of the Divine Blood Gate openly appear in Great Tan City? What was his purpose?

As Song Wen pondered these questions, Jing Bei rose to his feet, ceasing his torment of Mi Man. He had clearly considered her status, refraining from truly scarring her face.

"Little friend Mi Man, our paths will cross again! When that day comes, you won’t have the chance to refuse me."

With these words, Jing Bei strode toward the door.

Fu Kaiyu, dragging Fu Hongwen, hurried after him.

"Fellow Daoist Mi Man, are you alright?" Song Wen asked solicitously after the trio had left the private room.

Mi Man remained slumped on the floor, her face pale with lingering fear, ignoring Song Wen’s insincere concern.

Song Wen continued, "It’s not that I fear death, but Jing Bei and Fu Kaiyu are both Void Refinement Stage cultivators. Before them, you and I are mere ants. I truly dare not intervene to save you, fellow daoist. I hope you can understand. Though we can’t match them, the Spirit Jade Palace stands behind you. If you report this matter to your sect, they will surely seek justice for you."

Mi Man had recovered from her initial terror. Rising to her feet, she said, "Jing Bei didn’t harm me in the slightest. Even if I report this to the sect, they won’t punish Jing Bei or Fu Kaiyu. After all, the Fu Clan is a subordinate family of the Spirit Jade Palace, and both men are Void Refinement Stage cultivators, while I’m only at the Divine Transformation Stage. Moreover, if this incident becomes public, it will tarnish my reputation. Lei Yue, let’s drop this matter today and keep it quiet."

With that, she strode out of the private room.

Watching Mi Man’s retreating figure disappear around the corner of the corridor, Song Wen shook his head slightly.

He had hoped to use the Spirit Jade Palace to deal with Jing Bei and uncover his purpose in Great Tan City.

But since Mi Man refused to provoke Jing Bei and Fu Kaiyu, he would have to act alone.

To make a move against Jing Bei and Fu Kaiyu, Song Wen couldn’t act within Great Tan City.

To know when they would leave, he needed to constantly monitor their every move.

But achieving this was no easy task.

First, while Song Wen possessed the shadow void, many cultivators in Great Tan City had divine senses stronger than it. Reckless use of the shadow void for surveillance could easily expose its existence.

Second, Great Tan City was rife with formations that could conceal the shadow void’s perception. Once the pair hid within such a formation, the shadow void would be unable to track their movements.

After confirming that Jing Bei’s group and Mi Man had left the tavern, Song Wen quickly disguised himself as a nascent soul cultivator and followed suit.

The night was pitch-black. Most shops, save for taverns and brothels, had already closed for the night, and the once-bustling streets were now deserted, with only a few figures passing by.

Using the candlelight spilling from a distant inn, Song Wen glanced westward down the street.

When leaving the tavern, he had specifically asked the waiter which direction Jing Bei’s group had taken. Though they had headed this way, no trace of them remained.

Wary of alerting the city’s powerful cultivators or arousing Jing Bei’s suspicion, Song Wen dared not recklessly unleash his divine sense to investigate.

Song Wen activated his Dreamfloat True Eye, a crimson glow suffusing his eyes as he scanned the street where the trio had departed.

Instantly, three faint traces materialized before him.

Fortunately, the street was deserted, preserving the trio’s tracks. Otherwise, even the Dreamfloat True Eye would have been unable to follow them.

Following the traces, Song Wen weaved through the city’s streets and alleys, eventually arriving outside an inn.

Jing Bei and his companions had entered the inn.

The inn’s layout resembled that of the Jade Cauldron Pavilion, the brothel they had visited earlier.

Before Song Wen stood a magnificent pavilion, which served only as the inn’s reception hall. The lodging quarters consisted of individual courtyards behind the pavilion.

As Song Wen entered the reception hall, a Foundation Establishment Stage maid immediately approached him.

"Senior, are you here to stay?" the maid asked respectfully.

Song Wen nodded, offering no further response.

Sensing his lack of interest, the maid dared not slacken her attentiveness. She promptly led him to the registration desk to complete the check-in process.

Afterward, she guided him toward the rear of the inn, eventually arriving at a small courtyard.

"Senior, this is your courtyard. This junior will take her leave now," the maid said, bowing slightly before turning to depart.

But Song Wen suddenly called out, stopping her.

"Come inside with me."

Song Wen retrieved the token given to him by the inn. After channeling a wisp of spiritual power into it, the courtyard gate swung open automatically.

He strode through the gate, entering the courtyard without waiting for her.

"Senior, the inn’s rules are strict. We are forbidden from overstepping our boundaries with guests. I hope Senior will understand," the maid said, hesitating outside the gate.

Song Wen abruptly turned, his gaze sweeping over the plain-looking maid, his expression turning slightly cold.

I’ve always maintained my integrity. How dare they mistake me for some lecherous fool?

(End of the Chapter)

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