Chapter 39: Interrogation and Revelations

The unconscious leader of the Shadow

Sect lay bound to a chair in the middle of the room. His hands were tied tightly behind him, and his face was pale, a mix of exhaustion and fear seeping through despite his training.

Tang Xiu sat calmly in front of him, a cold expression on his face. The others stood nearby, watching in silence.

"Wake him up," Tang Xiu said quietly.

Xu Liang tossed a bucket of cold water over the man, who jerked awake with a gasp. He blinked rapidly, his eyes darting around before settling on Tang Xiu.

"You... the man hissed, his voice hoarse.

Tang Xiu leaned forward, his voice calm but icy. "We can skip the small talk. Tell me about the Shadow Sect. Who sent you?"

The man sneered, his lips curling into a defiant smile. "You think I'll betray my sect? Kill me if you want. I'll say nothing."

Tang Xiu smirked faintly. "You misunderstand. I'm not asking for permission."

He placed a hand on the man's forehead, and a faint glow of energy pulsed from his fingers. The man's body stiffened, his face contorting in pain.

"What... what are you doing?!" the man gasped, his voice trembling.

Tang Xiu's voice remained calm. "This is a soul-seizing technique. It lets me extract information directly from your memories.

The more you resist, the more painful it will be. If you talk now, I might spare you some suffering."

The man's confidence wavered, beads of sweat forming on his brow. He clenched his teeth, but the pain was unbearable.

"Wait! Wait!" he cried out. "I'll talk! Just stop!"

Tang Xiu withdrew his hand, leaning back with a satisfied expression. "Good. Start talking."

十

The man hesitated, his pride clashing with his fear, but the cold gleam in Tang Xiu's eyes left him no choice.

"We were sent by Elder Jin" he said reluctantly. "He's one of the Shadow Sect's inner elders. When we heard you destroyed the warehouse, he ordered us to kill you and bring back the artifact you stole."

Tang Xiu raised an eyebrow. "Elder Jin?

What's his position in the sect?"

The man swallowed hard. "He's in charge of operations in this city. But he's just one of many. The real power lies with the Sect Leader. No one crosses him and lives."

Tang Xiu's expression didn't change, but his mind was already calculating. "Where is Elder Jin now?"

The man hesitated again, but another icy glare from Tang Xiu made him speak. "He has a stronghold in the mountains outside the city. It's well-guarded. You'll never get close."

Tang Xiu's lips curved into a faint smile.

"We'll see about that."

After the interrogation, Tang Xiu stepped outside, leaving the others to deal with the prisoner. The cool night air helped him think clearly.

The Shadow Sect was more dangerous than he had anticipated. Elder Jin was just a small piece of a much larger puzzle, but taking him down would send a message to the sect.

Xu Liang joined him, his daggers sheathed at his sides. "What's the plan, Boss? Are we going after this Elder Jin?"

Tang Xiu nodded. "We have to. If we don't deal with him now, he'll come after us again. But this time, we'll take the fight to them."

Xu Liang grinned. "I like the sound of that.

When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow night, Tang Xiu said. "We'll use the day to prepare. This won't be an easy fight."

十

The next morning, the group gathered their supplies and finalized their strategy.

Old Hu frowned as he packed his weapons.

"This is risky, kid. If this Elder Jin is as powerful as that guy says, we might be walking into a trap."

Tang Xiu glanced at him, his expression calm. "Every risk comes with a reward. If we succeed, the Shadow Sect will think twice before targeting us again."

Lei Xian punched his palm, his enthusiasm undimmed. "I've been itching for a real fight. Let's see if this Elder Jin is as tough as they say."

Tang Xiu's gaze turned serious. "Don't underestimate him. The Shadow Sect doesn't promote weaklings to positions of power. Stay focused, and don't let your guard down."

As night fell, the group set out for the mountains. The stronghold was hidden deep within a dense forest, but with the information they had extracted, they knew exactly where to go.

Tang Xiu led the way, his senses sharp as he scanned the surroundings. The forest was eerily quiet, the air heavy with tension.

When they reached the outskirts of the stronghold, they stopped to assess the situation.

The building was a large, fortified structure surrounded by guards. Torches lit the perimeter, and the sound of voices carried through the air.

Xu Liang crouched next to Tang Xiu, his eyes narrowing as he studied the layout.

"There are at least twenty guards outside.

No telling how many are inside."

Tang Xiu nodded. "We'll take them out quietly. Once we're inside, focus on taking down Elder Jin. Without him, the rest will scatter.!

Lei Xian grinned, his fists tightening. "Let's do this."

+

The group moved with precision, taking down the outer guards one by one without raising an alarm. Tang Xiu's leadership was evident in every step, his commands clear and effective.

When they reached the entrance to the stronghold, Tang Xiu paused, his senses tingling.

"He knows we're here," Tang Xiu said softly.

Old Hu raised an eyebrow. "How can you tell?"

Tang Xiu's eyes narrowed. "The qi in the air has changed. He's waiting for us."

Xu Liang smirked. "Then let's not keep him waiting."

Tang Xiu pushed open the heavy doors, stepping into the stronghold with unwavering confidence. The others followed, their weapons ready.

Inside, a figure stood at the center of the room, his aura dark and oppressive. Elder Jin was a tall, imposing man with a cruel smile on his face.

"You've caused quite a bit of trouble for me," Elder Jin said, his voice cold. "But it ends here."

Tang Xiu's expression was calm as he met the man's gaze. "We'll see about that."

The battle was about to begin.