Chapter 43: Shaking the Web

The night air was cold and heavy as Tang Xiu leaned against the cracked wall of the warehouse, staring out into the dark horizon. Zhou Feng's revelations had opened a path, but it was fraught with danger.

"They've hidden themselves well," Tang Xiu murmured to himself. His mind replayed the information Zhou Feng had spilled after hours of questioning.

The Shadow Sect had multiple layers of support within the city. Wealthy merchants, corrupt officials, and even rogue martial artists—all fed the sect's strength in exchange for power and protection. Their base of operations was hidden deep underground, accessible only through secret tunnels connected to key locations.

Tang Xiu clenched his fist. "A network like this thrives on silence. If we make enough noise, it'll collapse."

By morning, the group had their next steps. Tang Xiu stood before the others, his calm but commanding presence setting the tone.

"We have three targets," Tang Xiu began. "First, the merchant Zhou Feng worked with—a man named Liu Sheng. He's supplying funds and rare resources to the Shadow Sect. Without him, their operations will slow."

"Second," he continued, "there's a small, corrupt martial arts dojo on the outskirts of the city. They're one of the sect's main recruiting grounds for enforcers. If we cut off their flow of manpower, they'll be weakened."

"And the last?" Xu Liang asked eagerly.

"Their informants," Tang Xiu said. "We already have a list of their most active spies in the city. They're the eyes and ears of the Shadow Sect. Without them, the sect will be blind."

The group divided once again, each member taking a target.

Xu Liang and Lei Xian were sent to deal with Liu Sheng, disguised as traveling businessmen. Old Hu took the dojo, blending in with the students to gather information before making his move.

Tang Xiu, however, decided to handle the spies personally.

"They think they're safe in the shadows," Tang Xiu said to himself, a faint smile on his lips. "Let's see how they like being hunted."

The first spy on Tang Xiu's list was a middle-aged man named Wu Hai, who worked as a manager at a high-end restaurant. By day, he served the city's elites, but by night, he passed information to the Shadow Sect through coded messages hidden in food orders.

Tang Xiu entered the restaurant casually, blending in with the lunch crowd. He took a seat near the kitchen door, his sharp eyes scanning every movement.

Wu Hai appeared soon enough, a polite smile on his face as he greeted customers. To anyone else, he seemed like a hardworking manager, but Tang Xiu noticed the subtle exchanges—a folded napkin here, a slight nod there.

After an hour of observation, Tang Xiu followed Wu Hai to the back alley where the man handed off a small envelope to a courier.

With a flicker of movement, Tang Xiu intercepted the courier, his hand gripping the man's arm like a vice.

"W-who are you?" the courier stammered, his face pale.

"Just someone cleaning up the city," Tang Xiu replied coldly.

The courier never saw the strike that rendered him unconscious. Tang Xiu retrieved the envelope and pocketed it before disappearing into the shadows.

The second spy was a woman named Mei Ling, a street vendor who sold handmade jewelry in the bustling market. She was known for her friendly demeanor, but Zhou Feng had revealed her true nature—a cunning informant who used her stall as a front to gather and relay information.

Tang Xiu approached her stall casually, admiring the jewelry on display.

"These are beautiful," he said, picking up a bracelet.

Mei Ling smiled. "Thank you, young man. Each piece is handmade with care."

As she spoke, Tang Xiu noticed her hands subtly passing a small pouch to a man pretending to browse.

"Interesting," Tang Xiu said, setting the bracelet down. His hand moved like lightning, grabbing the man's wrist before he could walk away.

"What's in the pouch?" Tang Xiu asked, his voice calm but icy.

The man stammered, his face pale. Mei Ling's smile vanished, replaced by a look of panic.

"Y-you're mistaken!" she said. "That's just a gift for a friend!"

Tang Xiu's grip tightened. "Do I look like someone who makes mistakes?"

By the end of the day, Tang Xiu had dismantled the Shadow Sect's informant network in the city. The spies were either captured or silenced, and the flow of information to the sect was cut off.

When he returned to the warehouse, the others were waiting.

"Liu Sheng's warehouses are under lockdown," Xu Liang reported. "He's scrambling to hide his connection to the Shadow Sect."

Old Hu grinned. "And the dojo? Empty. The students fled after I took down their instructors. The sect won't be getting reinforcements from there anytime soon."

Tang Xiu nodded, satisfied. "Good work. We've dealt a heavy blow to their operations. Now, we focus on the core."

That night, as the group rested, Tang Xiu sat alone, studying a map of the city.

The Shadow Sect was on the defensive, but they were far from defeated. Their underground base was still intact, and their higher-ranking members were undoubtedly planning their next move.

Tang Xiu's eyes narrowed. "This is just the beginning. The Shadow Sect will learn that when you play in the shadows, you invite your own destruction."

With the city in chaos and the Shadow Sect scrambling to recover, the stage was set for the next phase of Tang Xiu's plan. The real battle was yet to come.