Why the Jing State Liu Family?

There were many reasons.

First, someone from the Liu Family had just died in Shu State after a conflict with the Xiao Family.

Second, Liu Jing had worked with Black Tooth before—once when the Illusory Sound Sect and Liu Lang robbed the Xiao Family of its medicinal herbs, and another time when they targeted Hundred Herbs Hall.

Although both attempts ended in failure, Black Tooth had indeed earned quite a bit of silver from the Liu Family.

In fact, those prior failures made Chen Yi’s mission all the more favorable.

With these thoughts in mind, Chen Yi finished his preparations, grabbed the silver notes hidden in his room, and slipped silently out of the Spring Lotus Garden. He wound his way through the streets and alleys, heading for the house in the West Market.

It was now deep into the night.

The streets were mostly empty, the narrow alleys even more so.

The few people he did encounter were mostly drunks or gamblers.

But none of them noticed him pass by.

It was all thanks to his much-improved Body Technique.

Since his cultivation advanced to the Sixth Grade Realm, his control over his True Essence had become much more fluid, leading to significant improvements in all of his techniques.

Especially after a "Divine Position" was born in his Forehead Acupoint Sea of Qi, his Fist Technique, Body Technique, and Spear Technique were all enhanced by Spiritual Essence.

For example, the Meteor Butterfly Step, enhanced by the Wood Spirit, gained a Surging Power.

When he used this Body Technique, not only did it consume less True Essence, but it also allowed him to slightly restore the True Essence in his three Seas of Qi.

The Wandering Dragon and Phoenix, on the other hand, was enhanced by the Vortex Power from his Wood and Fire Dual Spirits. It was far more explosive and dramatically increased the speed of his Body Technique.

It allowed him to circle an opponent like a raging vortex.

His other techniques, such as the Mountain Shattering Fist, Hundred Flowers Palm, and Dragon-slaying Spear, had also received noticeable improvements.

The specifics would require further testing.

Just then, a steady drizzle began to fall, and the faint rumble of thunder rolled across the sky.

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow and quickened his pace.

Such weather was even better for those who moved in the dark than a moonless, windy night.

But it also tended to frustrate those accustomed to the light, like Hundred Households Fang Hongxiu and her party from the Imprisonment Department, who were currently patrolling the area around the West Market.

She glanced at the sky and ordered her subordinates to put on their raincoats, lest they get soaked.

A younger-looking Imprisonment Officer beside her muttered under his breath while putting on his raincoat and bamboo hat:

"Damn this weather. Raining again."

The mere mention of rain made Fang Hongxiu frown.

Ever since Chen Yi had taken her down with Qingfeng Drunk and verbally ’humiliated’ her, she thought of nothing but capturing him and throwing him in prison.

If not for the other cases at the Imprisonment Department, she likely would have dedicated all her time and energy to hunting down that scoundrel.

Even so, Fang Hongxiu brought her subordinates to patrol the West Market every night.

Her intuition told her the scoundrel’s lair was somewhere in the West Market.

If she could find just one clue, she was confident she could follow the trail straight to him.

"Stay sharp, everyone. Weather like this is when shady characters are most active."

"Especially that scoundrel who’s made us lose face twice now. If we find him again, we absolutely must not let him get away!"

"Yes, Lord Hundred Households!"

The Imprisonment Officers exchanged glances, wry smiles on their faces.

They felt the same as Fang Hongxiu, eager to bring the man to justice, but if they did run into him again, how were they supposed to actually capture him?

They had failed twice in a row—ambushed the first time, poisoned the second.

’What about next time?’

They were all a little worried. If they were taken down a third time, their failure as Imprisonment Officers would likely become infamous throughout Shu State.

It would be an absolute, utter humiliation.

From a safe distance, Chen Yi saw Fang Hongxiu’s group and heard her voice. He couldn’t help but smirk.

’This Hundred Households from the Imprisonment Department seems to have become obsessed after I took her down twice.’

’Patrolling the West Market every single night...’

’Is she vowing not to rest until I’m brought to justice?’

Chen Yi was bemused by her dedication, but he had no intention of causing trouble and delaying his real objective.

Once he was sure Fang Hongxiu and her group were gone, he skirted around Hundred Herbs Hall and arrived at the house.

Zhang Dabao, who had already retired for the night, saw him arrive and quickly rose to his feet, bowing.

"Sir."

Chen Yi grunted in acknowledgment, setting his bamboo hat on the table and motioning for Zhang Dabao to begin the disguise.

Though Zhang Dabao didn’t understand why he had come so late, he did as instructed and got to work.

Thanks to their previous practice sessions, it took less than the time of half an incense stick for him to transform Chen Yi into "Chen Yu." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Zhang Dabao was just about to pack up his tools when Chen Yi spoke. "Apply another mask on top of this one."

After a slight hesitation, Zhang Dabao warned, "Sir, wearing two human skin masks makes it easier for someone to spot the flaws."

"It’s fine. Just do it."

"Then, what do you have in mind?"

Chen Yi thought for a moment, then said a single word: "Sinister."

He had met Liu Wen once before, and his strongest impression of the man was that he was both insidious and ruthless.

’His subordinates are probably the same type of people.’

Fortunately, Zhang Dabao’s craftsmanship was superb.

In the time it took for an incense stick to burn, he had prepared a half-mask and completed Chen Yi’s new disguise.

It was a half-mask, a deliberate choice to make the disguise less obvious at a glance.

It was a thoughtful precaution.

Chen Yi examined his reflection in a copper mirror by the light of an oil lamp.

The overall shape of his face hadn’t changed much; he was still handsome.

But his eyes were now slightly narrower, his lips thinner, giving him a sharp, cruel look.

"Not bad."

Chen Yi nodded, and his expression immediately shifted.

It was as if he’d become another person entirely. The aura around him turned colder, more sinister.

Seeing his transformation, Zhang Dabao’s jaw dropped.

Although he was a master of the Disguise Skill, his work was mostly physical transformation; the finer details could often betray the ruse.

But with Chen Yi’s transformation, even he was starting to believe this was the man’s true appearance.

No, it was more like Chen Yi himself was inherently a sinister man.

Watching him, Zhang Dabao couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up. "Sir, you’re incredible."

A smirk played on Chen Yi’s lips. He shot Zhang Dabao a sidelong glance and said disdainfully, "A mere parlor trick."

His expression and tone now bore a striking resemblance to Liu Wen’s.

The two chatted for a moment longer.

Liu Lang arrived in a hurry, dressed in black Night Clothes.

When he saw Chen Yi, he stopped short, stunned. "You... Boss?"

Chen Yi gave a slight nod. "As expected of the Sword Madman. A man who keeps his word."

Liu Lang looked him up and down, finding no flaw in the disguise. He couldn’t help but ask,

"So, are you going to tell me who you’re going as?"

Chen Yi shot him a look and instructed Zhang Dabao to secure the doors and windows. He then led the way out of the house.

"The Jing State Liu Family."

Liu Lang pondered for a moment, then a look of understanding spread across his face as he hurried after him.

"Someone from the Liu Family... that could actually work."

"That Liu Jing fellow hired Black Tooth before to go after the Xiao Family. This time, with the fire..."

Before he could finish, Chen Yi raised a hand, cutting him off. "Quiet."

Liu Lang nodded in understanding and led the way.

The two then moved toward the southwest, keeping to the shadows.

Under the cover of the dark, rainy night, their journey was unobstructed.

Before long, Liu Lang led him into a narrow alley nestled between dilapidated houses.

A hoarse voice suddenly echoed from the shadows. "Visiting the wharf, the heavens, or the hells?"

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow. ’A password?’

Before he could give it much thought, Liu Lang had already stepped forward and exchanged a few words with the figure in the darkness.

It was mostly underworld slang, incomprehensible to outsiders.

In any case, they had successfully passed the first checkpoint.

Next, a short man in black led Chen Yi and Liu Lang to Yanhua Lane in the South City.

Seeing the large sign for the Spring Rain Building, Chen Yi couldn’t help but have the same thought Liu Lang had expressed earlier.

’Just like Black Tooth. The best place to hide is in plain sight. To think he’s hidden right inside the Spring Rain Building.’

Suddenly, Chen Yi thought of the Hidden Guard, Lady Tiger.

In a way, Lady Tiger and Black Tooth were cut from the same cloth.

According to his earlier theory, Lady Tiger was probably also hiding somewhere in Yanhua Lane.

Soon, the man in black led them to a quiet room upstairs in the Spring Rain Building, closed the door behind them, and left.

The two of them took their seats.

Liu Lang pointed to the opposite wall, signaling that Black Tooth would emerge from there.

But before he could even lower his hand, a section of the side wall swung inward, and two figures—one tall, one short—stepped into the room.

"..."

Liu Lang lowered his hand, looking slightly embarrassed, and said irritably,

"You’re as elusive as ever, Black Tooth."

As he spoke, however, his gaze landed on the smaller of the two figures.

Chen Yi did the same, sizing up the arrivals.

Both were wearing black masks, but he could surmise that the taller one must be Black Tooth.

As for the identity of the smaller one...

Before Chen Yi could even guess, the shorter figure covered her mouth with a delicate laugh. "’The ’Sword Madman’ didn’t come alone, I see~"

"’Black Tooth, this seems to be against your rules, no?’"

Her voice was ethereal, with a faint, wispy quality.

A chill went down Chen Yi’s spine as he instantly recognized her.

’The Hidden Guard... Lady Tiger?’

’She’s appearing here together with Black Tooth?’