Chapter 9

The weight of the night hung over Broken Sky City, the slums bathed in an eerie quiet. Shen Tian stood at the threshold of his shack, his sharp gaze sweeping across the filth-ridden streets. The city was shifting, the undercurrents of power beginning to swirl around him.

The Black Hounds' failure had sent a message. But it was not enough.

He had no intention of waiting for them to strike again.

Shen Tian inhaled deeply, the crisp night air filling his lungs. His body was still weak, but the Void Shadow Sutra had given him an advantage—one that he would refine until it became second nature.

If his enemies wished to hunt him, he would become a phantom.

A shadow that could not be caught.

Jiang Hao arrived shortly after, his expression unreadable as he leaned against the doorway.

"You're planning something," he said flatly.

Shen Tian smirked. "Am I that obvious?"

Jiang Hao scoffed. "You don't sit still. And you don't wait for trouble to find you."

Shen Tian didn't deny it. Instead, he gestured for Jiang Hao to follow. The two moved through the alleys, their steps soundless against the dirt-covered streets.

They did not speak. Words were unnecessary.

Jiang Hao had come to understand something about Shen Tian—his actions spoke louder than anything else. And tonight, he was moving toward something.

Their destination became clear soon enough.

A rundown tavern, half-collapsed, its walls marred with grime and faded carvings of a forgotten era.

It was a meeting place.

A gathering of those who lurked in the shadows of Broken Sky City.

And tonight, Shen Tian would step into their world.

Inside, the air was thick with smoke and the scent of cheap liquor. Dim lanterns flickered against the walls, casting long shadows over the room.

At the center sat a group of figures—mercenaries, killers, those who thrived in the chaos of the slums.

And at their head, a man with silver hair, his sharp eyes carrying the weight of a predator.

Liu Feng.

A name whispered in the backstreets, a man known for his influence over the underworld.

The moment Shen Tian and Jiang Hao stepped inside, all eyes turned toward them. The low murmur of conversation stilled, the air growing tense.

Liu Feng leaned forward, his lips curving into an amused smirk.

"Well now," he drawled, "looks like we have unexpected guests."

Shen Tian met his gaze without hesitation.

"I hear you deal in information," he said smoothly. "I'm in need of some."

Liu Feng chuckled. "Is that so?" He gestured toward an empty seat. "Go on, then. Impress me."

Shen Tian sat without hesitation, Jiang Hao standing at his side, tense but silent.

Liu Feng studied him for a moment before speaking again. "You're the one who embarrassed Zhao Kun, aren't you?"

Shen Tian tilted his head slightly. "That's what people say."

Liu Feng chuckled. "And yet, you don't look like a man who should still be breathing after something like that."

Shen Tian only smiled.

Silence stretched between them before Liu Feng leaned back. "Alright, I'll humor you. What do you want to know?"

Shen Tian's gaze darkened.

"The Black Hounds. Who sent them after me?"

Liu Feng exhaled, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Straight to the point. I like that." He tapped his fingers against the table, contemplating. "The Black Hounds are attack dogs, but they don't bite without a master's command."

He leaned forward, his voice dropping lower.

"You've caught the attention of someone beyond the slums."

Shen Tian's eyes narrowed.

"Who?"

Liu Feng smirked. "A noble house."

Jiang Hao stiffened beside him.

Shen Tian, however, remained calm.

"Which one?"

Liu Feng's gaze sharpened. "House Zhao."

A name that carried weight in Broken Sky City.

A name that spelled danger.

Outside the tavern, the night air was thick with tension.

Jiang Hao exhaled sharply. "A noble house? That's worse than I thought."

Shen Tian's mind was already working, piecing the situation together.

Zhao Kun was nothing but a brute, a pawn in the grander scheme of things. But if his family had taken an interest, that meant Shen Tian's existence was no longer just an inconvenience.

It was a problem.

A problem they intended to erase.

Jiang Hao glanced at him. "What now?"

Shen Tian's expression was unreadable.

"Now," he murmured, "we start preparing for war."

The next few days passed in a blur.

Shen Tian threw himself into training, refining the Void Shadow Sutra until his presence became as fleeting as the wind. He strengthened his control over the Phantom Veins Sutra, drawing in every trace of energy he could find.

Every moment was spent sharpening himself for what was to come.

Because war was coming.

And he would not be caught unprepared.

In the depths of Broken Sky City, behind the towering walls of wealth and corruption, a man sat within the opulent halls of House Zhao.

His expression was calm, his fingers tracing the rim of his tea cup as he listened to the report before him.

A servant knelt at his feet, voice trembling as he spoke.

"The Black Hounds have failed."

The man sighed, placing his cup down with a soft clink.

"I see."

The servant hesitated. "What are your orders, my lord?"

For a moment, silence reigned.

Then, a soft chuckle.

"Send someone else."

He leaned back, a slow smile forming on his lips.

"This time, make sure they don't fail."

Far away, Shen Tian felt a shift in the air.

A storm was brewing.

And he was ready.