Volume 1 Chapter 54: An Uninvited Guest
While Pei Lengxue followed the proprietress into the inner room to have her measurements taken, Ye Anping stayed in the shop, casually browsing the ready-made garments on display.
However, just as Pei Lengxue stepped into the back room, a sharp surge of killing intent suddenly came from across the street.
Ye Anping paused slightly, immediately turning his head in alertness.
Across the road, leaning against the wall of another shop, stood Zhuang Hu. He wore a bamboo hat pulled low over his face. When he noticed Ye Anping looking his way, he lifted the brim slightly with a finger, shot him a glance, then turned and walked into a nearby alley.
It was clear now—this man had been tailing them for some time. He had simply been suppressing his aura so well that neither Ye Anping nor Pei Lengxue had noticed.
"At a time like this…"
Ye Anping let out a soft sigh and glanced toward the inner room of the clothing shop. His junior sister would still need some time to finish measuring. After a brief moment of thought, he followed Zhuang Hu into the alley.
As for why Zhuang Hu had suddenly come looking for him—Ye Anping already had a rough idea.
Most likely, the man had secretly investigated his background. Seeing Ye Anping strolling through the market with Pei Lengxue just now, Zhuang Hu had probably realized he'd been deceived from the very beginning.
That much wasn't surprising.
His "shop owner" identity had never been particularly airtight. There were too many flaws. As soon as someone uncovered that he was the Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect, the disguise would collapse on its own.
Stepping off the brightly lit street and into the narrow alley, Ye Anping rubbed the bridge of his nose, letting his eyes slowly adjust to the darkness until he could barely make out his surroundings.
He walked deeper in, rounded a corner, and soon spotted Zhuang Hu waiting for him there.
As Ye Anping approached, Zhuang Hu spoke without preamble:
"How many feathers does the Golden Crow have?"
This was still a Seven Killers Sect street code—but not the kind used between a "shop" and a "hired blade." This was the code exchanged between killers themselves.
As for the reply—
Ye Anping answered calmly,
"One feather of gold, one of silver, and one of five-colored plumage. Three in total."
"..."
Seeing Ye Anping respond correctly once again, Zhuang Hu's brows furrowed tightly. His guard rose instantly as he asked bluntly:
"Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect—where did you learn the Seven Killers Sect's street codes?"
"So you did investigate me after all, Big Brother Zhuang," Ye Anping said with a faint smile.
Hearing himself still being called Big Brother Zhuang, Zhuang Hu let out a cold chuckle and joked darkly, "And you still dare call me that, Sixth Brother?"
"Well, we did swear brotherhood, didn't we?" Ye Anping replied with a grin.
Resting his chin in his hand, he pondered for a moment before asking curiously, "By the way, Big Brother Zhuang—when did you start suspecting me? From the very beginning?"
"When you answered the shop's street code, I was surprised," Zhuang Hu admitted.
"I thought it strange that the shop owner was just a kid, but I didn't suspect you. After all, not just anyone knows that code."
"And then…?"
"It was after we escaped from the Profound Star Sect's back mountain."
"..."
"I thought about it for a long time," Zhuang Hu continued.
"How my Seven-Star Spirit-Choking Formation was broken so easily. How my second brother and the others died. Your actions back then… In the end, I realized the problem was probably you."
"You're not wrong," Ye Anping nodded calmly.
"You said your name was Jiang Ziya, so I looked into it. There wasn't a single trace. But Ye Anping—that name, I found plenty."
As he spoke, Zhuang Hu raised his hand, forming a sword seal with two fingers.
A flash of spiritual light erupted.
In his right hand, a spiritual sword materialized out of thin air.
The next instant—
Shua—
A sharp, slicing sound cut through the air.
The blade lifted slightly, its edge coming to rest right beside Ye Anping's neck.
"..."
Ye Anping flicked his eyes toward the sword's surface, which reflected a cold silver gleam—but he made no move to dodge.
"You're not going to evade?" Zhuang Hu narrowed his eyes.
"If Big Brother Zhuang was clever enough to think of checking my background," Ye Anping replied calmly, "then that means you're not foolish enough to kill me outright."
"Heh." Zhuang Hu let out a cold laugh. "Do you know what kind of end awaits someone who impersonates a Seven Killers Sect storefront?"
Ye Anping nodded evenly. "In short—death."
"Correct," Zhuang Hu said, nodding in turn.
"And not a pleasant one. You'd be dragged back to the Seven Killers Sect, tortured under the wheel punishment to extract information, dismembered piece by piece, and finally die on some nameless mountain."
"Yes. I know."
"And so?" Zhuang Hu squinted.
"Big Brother Zhuang," Ye Anping said, shrugging lightly, "have you thought about why I would impersonate a Seven Killers Sect shop owner? Why I would lead you and the others into the Profound Star Sect? And why, in the end, I still brought you out of the Profound Star Sect's back mountain alive?"
"..."
"Does that even matter?" Zhuang Hu asked.
Ye Anping shrugged again, looking utterly relaxed.
"If you'd truly thought it through, you wouldn't be holding a sword to my neck right now."
"..."
Zhuang Hu stared into Ye Anping's eyes for a long moment. At last, he withdrew his sword, his expression turning into a bitter smile.
"Go on," he said. "Explain."
"I impersonated a Seven Killers Sect shop," Ye Anping said plainly.
"As a Seven Killers Sect enforcer, it's only natural that you'd want my head."
"..."
"But what if I told you that the Seven Killers Sect is on the verge of annihilation?"
"Annihilation?" Zhuang Hu was visibly shaken.
"The Profound Star Sect has already marked the Seven Killers Sect as a thorn in its side," Ye Anping continued.
"Grand Elder Lei Wanjun has begun planning to wipe out the western region branch of the Seven Killers Sect."
"..."
"You didn't come to kill me to avenge your second brother," Ye Anping said calmly.
"You came because you're a Seven Killers Sect blade—doing what a blade does."
"But now that the Seven Killers Sect has become a sworn enemy of the Profound Star Sect… tell me—do you still want to remain in the Seven Killers Sect?"
"..."
Zhuang Hu frowned deeply. "You're a disciple of the Profound Star Sect?"
"No."
"Not?" Zhuang Hu was startled. "Then how do you know all this…? Forget it."
He shook his head and countered, "The location of the Seven Killers Sect's Heavenly Machine Fortress is a top secret. I've spent over forty years in the sect and have never even entered it. Even if the Profound Star Sect wants to eradicate us completely, it won't be easy."
"Is that so?"
Seeing Ye Anping remain utterly composed, Zhuang Hu's brows knit even tighter.
This person didn't resemble a fifteen-year-old in the slightest.
"Don't tell me… you know where the Heavenly Machine Fortress is?"
"Of course I do," Ye Anping said.
"And I can tell you. But Big Brother Zhuang, think carefully—do you really want to know where the Heavenly Machine Fortress is?"
"..."
Zhuang Hu hesitated.
He had been curious about the fortress's location for many years.
But he also knew one simple truth: some things in this world were not meant to be pried into.
The corner of Ye Anping's mouth lifted slightly.
"Senior," he said with a smile, "why not do me one more small favor instead?"
"At a time like this?" Zhuang Hu asked.
"I'm only doing this to earn a bit of spending money," Ye Anping said lightly.
"All it takes is a small favor from Senior Zhuang, and you'll earn seven thousand five hundred spirit stones. Wouldn't you like to think it over?"
Hearing this, Zhuang Hu studied Ye Anping's gaze once more, unease rising in his heart.
This boy had deceived him once already—there was no way he should trust him again.
No matter how many spirit stones were offered, logic dictated that he should cut all ties with this person immediately.
Under normal circumstances, that would be the correct choice.
But—
It was obvious that this youth possessed a maturity far beyond his appearance.
And he had already proven that he was anything but insignificant.
Knowing the Seven Killers Sect's street codes.
Leading five Foundation Establishment cultivators past the Profound Star Sect's grand formation and into the back mountain without anyone noticing.
"..."
Zhuang Hu narrowed his eyes slightly, suddenly realizing something unsettling.
Perhaps this boy, like himself, was merely a piece on a chessboard.
The difference was that Zhuang Hu was a pawn, while Ye Anping was a minister.
There had to be a major figure standing behind this youth.
Otherwise, how could someone of his age and experience know so much?
The boy spoke of asking him for help—but in truth, it was likely that the figure behind him wanted Zhuang Hu's assistance.
If he refused, death might very well be the outcome anyway.
Zhuang Hu clenched his teeth—then, after a moment, let out a helpless breath and asked:
"What is it?"
"Tomorrow afternoon," Ye Anping said, "at the Willow Moon Lake beside the Profound Star Sect. I'll hand Feng Yudie over to you. You'll take her back to the Seven Killers Sect to claim the bounty."
"...You're handing her over to me?"
"Yes. You'll be the one who delivers her to the Seven Killers Sect for the reward."
Zhuang Hu hesitated, but couldn't help asking, "…Why do you want me to take her in for the bounty?"
"Big Brother Zhuang," Ye Anping asked calmly, "do you really want to know why?"
"Tch…"
At that, Zhuang Hu clicked his tongue and waved a hand dismissively.
"I just want to know what happens after I do this," he said.
"Will you let me go? Or will you silence me?"
Ye Anping paused briefly, then went along with the flow and smiled.
"That depends on Big Brother Zhuang's performance."
Zhuang Hu thought for a moment, then asked, "What time?"
"High noon. The pavilion by Willow Moon Lake. I'll bring Feng Yudie there."
"I'll be there."
After nodding his agreement, Zhuang Hu turned and walked deeper into the alley.
Before long, his figure vanished into the shadows.
Only after Zhuang Hu's aura had completely faded did Ye Anping finally let out a long breath, relief washing over him.
Thinking that his junior sister had probably been waiting for quite some time, he hurried back toward the clothing shop.
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Link for character illustration:
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1PdkaxAXCm0CjLL3M58xxLd1KyiUxEjjh