Chapter 42 - Blacklist

Chapter 42 - Blacklist

The lively atmosphere of the bustling marketplace faded into the background as Yang Xie observed the scene unfolding in front of him. Xiao Li's enthusiastic tone caught his attention once again, and his eyes followed the exchange between Xiao Li and the group.

"Hmph! What's your business with my wife?" Yang Xie couldn't help but think privately, though outwardly, he appeared indifferent. His focus remained on their current objective, though the tension in the air was palpable.

Xiao Li turned toward Yaya, flashing a grin. "Are you sure you don't want to buy some pills? They can do wonders."

Yaya shook her head firmly. "No, I don't need them. I'm fine."

Xiao Li paused, noticing the decision but offering no further insistence. She didn't want to pressure the girl.

With that, Xiao Li's gaze shifted toward Yun Wei. "Sister Wei, come and sign too," she invited, a friendly smile gracing her lips.

Yun Wei nodded and stepped forward, adding her signature to the growing list.

Yang Xie glanced at the papers but didn't linger on them. Instead, his mind wandered, piecing together the fragments of their conversation and the business dealings being discussed. He wasn't unfamiliar with this sort of operation, and while it wasn't something that intrigued him in particular, he appreciated their professionalism.

"We can earn commissions for referring customers who then make purchases," Yun Wei explained, noting the puzzled look on Yang Xie's face. She didn't mind divulging more details, as this was a common practice among those with connections in the area.

"That's not a bad deal," Yang Xie responded casually, nodding his understanding. "It's nice to see your work paying off."

"Thanks," Yun Wei smiled, her pride in her work evident.

"Let's skip the weapons area," Yang Xie suggested, turning toward her. "We won't need anything there. Nangong Ya's sword has served us well so far, and I see no reason to change that."

Yun Wei raised an eyebrow but then agreed. "Alright, let's head directly to the mission area then. That's where most of the action is."

They made their way through the bustling halls and corridors, where the air buzzed with excitement. As they entered the mission hall, Yang Xie's ears picked up snippets of conversation, their words revealing more about the current state of affairs.

"Nangong Qing's team took down Xie Hu's group! They say they brought back proof. Even the mission inspectors confirmed it," one person remarked with disbelief.

"But they're not even at the late martial arts stage yet. How could they have defeated Xie Hu's team? It doesn't make sense!"

"Everyone's talking about it," another voice chimed in. "Apparently, they even brought back the ears of all the members as proof."

Yang Xie's curiosity piqued as he overheard the conversation. He exchanged a look with Yun Wei, who seemed equally intrigued.

"They took down a team from the blacklist?" Yun Wei commented softly. Her eyes sparkled with interest. "That's incredible. Xie Hu's team was notorious. If they really did defeat them, that's a huge accomplishment."

"Blacklist?" Yang Xie repeated the term, seeking more clarity. "What does that mean?"

"Ah, you're not familiar?" Yun Wei asked, surprised. "The blacklist is a list of the most dangerous criminals in the region—people who've committed heinous crimes. Only a select few get on it, and their bounties are huge. Anyone who eliminates someone from the list earns a substantial reward."

"Sounds dangerous," Yang Xie commented thoughtfully. "How do you get on the blacklist?"

"Simple. You commit unforgivable crimes—murder, betrayal, theft on an unimaginable scale. And then, once you're on it, your bounty becomes a prize for anyone strong enough to take you down." Yun Wei gestured to the center of the hall, where a large electronic board displayed the bounty list.

Yang Xie followed her lead, his gaze landing on the list of names, and the towering figure of Xie Hu's team marked at the 14th position with a bright red X. It signified that they were no longer a threat.

"5 million Da Zhou coins," Yang Xie read aloud, his voice tinged with amazement. The bounty for eliminating Xie Hu's team had been claimed, and it was substantial.

Yun Wei nodded. "The bounty for them was enormous. But don't be fooled—taking down someone on the blacklist is no small feat. Even for a team like Nangong Qing's, they had to endure significant losses."

"5 million…" Yang Xie murmured to himself. The number was staggering. "I could do a lot with that kind of money."

As they continued to glance over the list, Yang Xie saw even larger bounties at the top. The name at the very top was Wei Jian, a notorious blood hunter, with a staggering 30 million Da Zhou coins as his bounty. Beneath him, Xu Lizhu—another notorious figure—had a 25 million coin bounty. These figures only added to the intrigue.

"Why would anyone not want to claim these bounties?" Yang Xie mused aloud, glancing at Yun Wei. "These numbers are… huge."

Yun Wei sighed. "It's not as easy as it looks. These criminals are no pushovers. They're at the peak of martial arts, and many have their own loyal followers. You'd need a plan—and the strength to back it up."

Yang Xie's eyes gleamed with excitement as he thought about the possibilities. "Maybe with my shadow soldiers and some careful planning, it wouldn't be so hard. Maybe I could start looking into this seriously."

Yun Wei raised an eyebrow. "You're thinking of hunting down one of these criminals?"

Yang Xie shrugged nonchalantly. "Why not? It's not like I don't have the resources, and the rewards are certainly tempting."

"Just be careful," Yun Wei warned. "The consequences of failure are dire. These criminals are ruthless, and there's always someone looking to claim the bounty before you do."

Yang Xie smiled at her concern. "Don't worry, I'm more than capable of handling things. Let's just see where this path takes me."

With a new sense of resolve, Yang Xie turned his attention back to the wall of bounties, his mind racing with the opportunities that lay ahead. The list of blacklisted criminals wasn't just a reminder of the lawless chaos in this world—it was an open invitation for those bold enough to take it.

"And I'm certainly bold enough," he thought.