CHAPTER 15: THE BIG INCIDENT
Bai xieye walked away from the place, leaving behind the cold, lifeless corpse of the man in black. The nethermoon elixir was neatly tucked inside the sleeve of his robe, while his mind began to formulate his next plan.
In the distance, the woman who had been quietly observing the action was still standing transfixed.
Her eyes could not escape the young man's figure. There was something she could not explain... However... the more she looked, the more her heart sank into curiosity.
"Who exactly is this man?"
With light steps, the woman caught up with Bai xieye.
"Interesting," she murmured with a faint smile. "I didn't expect you to be this cruel."
Bai xieye did not turn his head. "You're still following me?"
The woman only smiled, as if she had already decided something in her heart.
In a luxurious residence in the city, a man sat with a cold expression. Sharp qi flowed and full of spiritual pressure strengthened from his body.
His name was shen wulong, a mid-stage core formation cultivator. The elder brother of the dead man in black.
In front of him an informant bowed with a frightened face.
"...You found the young master's corpse in the west alley, along with the two bodyguards who came with him."
BAM!
Shen wulong slammed into the table, shattering it instantly.
"Who did it?" He asked in a cold tone.
The informant gulped. "It's not known yet, but according to some witnesses, before the incident happened, a masked youth was at the same auction site as the young master..."
Shen wulong squinted. The masked youth...
Without hesitation, she decided to hunt down the mastermind behind her sister's murder.
Bai xieye knew that killing the man in black would definitely cause a wave of reactions. He had to move more carefully now.
Inside the dimly lit teahouse, Bai xieye sat across from the woman.
"What's your name?" He asked finally after a long time.
The woman smiled, as if waiting for this question from the start.
"Shen lingxi."
The name made Bai xieye raise an eyebrow slightly.
"You're from the shen family?"
"That's right, one of the eight major families in this city."
Bai xieye regretted his tea quietly. Interesting... If I can utilize his influence, it will be easier to investigate the situation in this town. And take revenge on the shen family.
Shen lingxi looked at her with interest. "You want something from me?"
Bai xieye smiled faintly. "I want you to help me find out about the shooting star sect."
Shen lingxi raised an eyebrow. "That sect? They're quite famous and powerful... What are you looking for?"
"Everything," Bai xieye replied. "Structure, strength, strongest members, and the possibility that they have secret treasures."
Shen lingxi gave a small smile. "And if I help you?"
Bai xieye looked at her deeply. "You'll be part of a grand plan you can't even imagine yet."
His piercing eyes made shen Lingxi's heart beat faster. For some reason, she couldn't refuse this man's request.
"Alright." she said finally. "I'll help you."
But out there, someone was already eyeing Bai xieye.
On the rooftops of the old buildings surrounding the city district, a dark shadow moved very quickly like a ghost.
The figure wore a pitch-black robe with a metal mask that revealed only a pair of piercing eyes. On its back, a long chain was coiled, with poison-stained sharp points at the end.
"Target found."
Bai xieye walked out of the teahouse leaving shen lingxi behind, steps quiet but alert. The night air felt colder than usual.
And that's when the first attack came.
TSSSSH!
The air crackled. A chain slid like a viper, piercing through the shadows and aiming straight for Bai xieye's throat.
His reflexes reacted in an instant as he leaned back, letting the chain pass right through his face.
TANG!
The end of the chain slammed into the dirt wall, causing a sharp clanking sound. From the rooftop, a masked figure leapt down, pulling back the chain with a smooth motion.
Bai xieye's eyes narrowed. An assassin....
The assassin did not speak. It simply swung its chains again this time at a higher speed, creating a deadly vortex of attacks that closed off all escape routes.
Bai xieye jumped backwards, dodging the split blades that drew in the air. However, he realized that fighting in a place like this was not to his advantage.
This passage was too narrow, with collapsed buildings all around. There was not enough room to maneuver freely.
He chose this place on purpose."
Bai xieye drew his sword the cold light from the blade flashed under the dim moonlight.
The assassin didn't give Bai xieye time to think any longer.
"Starfall chain dance."
The chain in his hand spun at an incredible speed, creating the illusion of multiple blades attacking from multiple directions at once.
Bai xieye moved quickly as he dodged the first two attacks, parried the third with his sword, then tilted his body to avoid the fourth.
However.
TSSSSH!
A chain blade managed to scratch his shoulder, leaving a bloody wound.
"Quick!" Bai xieye recognized his enemy's speed.
However, although it was fast, every technique had its weaknesses.
He began to analyze the rhythm of the chain's movement, noticing when the enemy attacked with a long swing and when he pulled it back to attack from another angle.
The first strategy:
Bai xieye tried to slash the chain with his sword.
TANG!
Sparks exploded as his blade struck the chain. The metal was not scratched in the slightest.
"Special metal...." Bai xieye realized that he had to change tactics.
The assassin saw that moment of hesitation and immediately launched his next attack this time more aggressively.
Bai xieye jumped to the side. Dodging the chain attack that glided quickly like a whip.
TSSSSH!
The end of the chain slammed into the wall made of bricks, creating a crack that greeted him.
"If I take a direct hit, I could lose a limb."
The assassin utilized his reach and speed advantage, not giving Bai xieye any room to counterattack.
However, every attack he made also revealed more information to Bai xieye.
One thing he realized:
Although the chain could move extremely fast, there was a split second where the enemy had to pull it back before launching the next attack.
"That gap... Just a moment, but enough to turn the tide."
Bai xieye prepared his counterattack.
He knew that a single mistake could cost him his life.
Bai xieye stood still, his sword still drawn. Fresh blood dripped from the wound on his shoulder. In front of him. The assassin stood tall, his chains shaking softly, reflecting the rising tension between them.
The assassin squinted. Bai xieye, who had only been dodging and parrying, now looked calmer.
"What is this kid planning?"
There was no time to hesitate. The assassin swung the chain again faster, fiercer, and more deadly.
TSSH! TSSH! TSSH!
The chain shot out like a flash of lightning, slashing through the air with deadly precision.
But this time, Bai xieye did not simply dodge.
"One... two... Three..."
He counted the seconds between each swing of the chain.
And the moment the assassin had to pull back the chain Bai xieye leapt forward!
"Now!"
[Dark crow nether traverse]
His feet hit the ground and his body instantly disappeared from where it was.
The assassin was shocked. He immediately pulled the chain faster but it was too late.
TSAK!
In a split second, Bai xieye was already right in front of him.
[Phantom sowrd - moonlit rend]
His sword flashed, a cold light split the air, targeting the enemy's neck.
The assassin moved his arm to parry.
TSAK!
Blood splashed out.
A long gash was carved into the assassin's arm, making him take a few steps backward with a gasp.
Bai xieye looked at him expressionlessly.
"The attack pattern has been completely read."
The assassin felt warm blood rush over his skin.
For the first time in this battle, he felt intimidated.
"He's not just strong.... She improved during the fight."
There was no other choice.
The assassin growled softly and changed his stance.
Bai xieye observed the change carefully.
The energy flowing from his opponent's body began to change.
The wind around them trembled, the pressure in the air increasing.
"He's hiding another technique?"
The assassin stomped one foot on the ground, the chain in his hand began to glow with a blackish-red light.
[Falling star chain - Eclipse bind]
In an instant, the previously supple chain turned stiff like a spear and glided at an unexpected speed.
Bai xieye barely had time to react.
TSSH!
One end of the chain managed to pierce his left shoulder, pinning him to the wall behind.
TUG!
His body jerked. Blood flowed from the deep wound.
But she did not have time to feel the pain.
The assassin pulled the chain back with full force.
TARAAK!
Bai xieye was thrown forward, momentarily losing his balance.
And in that moment-
The assassin was already darting towards him with a short knife raised, ready to stab his heart.
Before the knife could hit Bai xieye.
DRRR!
Something shot through the air and hit the assassin hard!
DORR!
The assassin bounced a few meters, falling to the ground with a loud noise.
Bai xieye immediately twisted his body, staring at the direction the attack came from.
At the corner of the hallway, a white-robed man stood.
His face was covered in shadow, but a golden light faintly emanated from his body.
"Who is he?"
The man's voice sounded cold.
"Caught too, huh.... The assassin from the shooting star sect."
The assassin who had attacked Bai xieye earlier coughed, blood dripping from his mouth.
It stared at the white-robed man with widened eyes.
"You... What are you doing here?!"
Bai xieye remained silent, but his eyes narrowed.
The situation that was originally just a one-on-one fight had now turned into something bigger.
Who was this man? And why did he refer to his enemy so specifically?