"Hei Zuzhi, you are very bold."
That single casual sentence from Master Meng instantly silenced everyone. All eyes turned toward him. Master Meng appeared utterly mysterious, materializing out of nowhere without a sound, as though he could appear and disappear at will.
Hei Ming carefully studied Master Meng, using his spiritual sense to probe the man's depth. Yet what he sensed was merely a second-stage Heavenly King—lower than expected. His brows furrowed.
'Strange. Is he a master concealing his true strength?' Hei Ming wondered.
Several Hei Zuzhi elders exchanged glances, faint confusion written across their faces. Finally, Hei Ming spoke up.
"Sir, who are you? Where do you come from?"
Master Meng stroked his beard slowly, closing his eyes for a brief moment. His demeanor was calm and commanding, like a true expert.
"My name is Meng Dashi," he answered flatly.
"Meng Dashi?" Several people repeated the name in their hearts. It sounded weighty, enigmatic.
For a moment, Hei Ming seemed like a fool—utterly ignorant, like a newborn calf unaware of the tiger's bite. Even Hei Zuzhi's vast information network failed to provide an answer.
"You do not need to know where I come from," Master Meng continued with unruffled serenity.
Zhao Qi narrowed his eyes, attempting to piece together every possible explanation. He too had no idea who Master Meng was. For a fleeting second, he even considered whether Master Meng might be one of his own ancestors in disguise. Uncertain, Zhao Qi glanced at the elders behind him.
"Elders, do you know who this Master Meng is?"
"Uh… this…" Several elders hesitated, their faces uncertain.
"Sect Leader, we actually do not know either," one of the elders replied.
Silence fell like a heavy curtain, as though everyone had entered a competition to see who could remain the quietest. Only the wind rustling the leaves and the distant chirping of birds could be heard.
Hei Ming clenched his fists, his innate sense of caution springing to life. Among the five young masters of Hei Zuzhi, he was the most vigilant. It was no surprise that he had survived the most dangerous situations—charging forward without information was no different from suicide.
"Master Meng, are you trying to stop Hei Zuzhi?" Hei Ming's voice was steady, his sharp gaze locked onto Master Meng.
Master Meng opened his eyes and looked at Hei Ming. His gaze was calm, yet cold. That single look sent a wave of unease rippling through Hei Ming's heart.
Then Master Meng smiled faintly, and spoke softly, "A banana that is not eaten will feel wasted."
Hei Ming frowned. The words were simple, but carried an air of mystery. Experts of the highest level often spoke like this—wise, cryptic, and sometimes frustratingly hard to decipher. Only a few could truly understand such words.
'Damn it… why do I have to run into someone like this right now?' Hei Ming cursed inwardly, his fists tightening.
After weighing countless thoughts in his mind, Hei Ming finally chose to retreat.
"Hmph." He flicked his sleeve, turned around, and shot off into the distance. The elders nearby were stunned.
"Eh, Young Master, this.."
"Silence!"
The Hei Zuzhi elders were bewildered, but they quickly followed behind Hei Ming. He was their young master, the future pillar of Hei Zuzhi. Ordinary elders like them had no right to oppose his decision.
Everyone present widened their eyes in disbelief. The scene unfolding before them was like a fantasy. Hei Zuzhi, the most feared assassin organization on the Tianxian Continent, had suddenly retreated simply because of one man's words.
"Hey? Did I see that right? Did Hei Zuzhi just leave?" someone in the crowd exclaimed.
"Oh my heavens, Master Meng's presence alone was enough to intimidate Hei Zuzhi."
"Brother, slap me—tell me I'm not dreaming," said a skinny man with crooked teeth.
SPLAKK!!
"Ow!" The crooked-toothed man tumbled backward, a tooth flying out of his mouth.
Every gaze turned toward Master Meng. Fear and awe blended in their eyes. Master Meng had revealed himself as a hidden master in disguise.
At this moment, Wu Chen was also watching the mysterious expert. Deep inside, he was conversing with his master.
"Master, is that man very strong?"
"I do not know. But do not underestimate someone as plain as him. Even you, like a lost farmer, are not so simple," the woman within his ring said calmly.
"Uh… Master, could you phrase that a bit more nicely?" Wu Chen's tone carried a faint trace of hurt. Being called a "lost farmer" stung his pride.
The woman within the ring simply chuckled softly. "Hahaha… that was not what I meant."
Wu Chen didn't respond, only pouted slightly. He was not the type to lose his temper over such a small matter. Even if his master had done it intentionally, he could never truly scold her.
Before long, many experts gathered around Master Meng, some trying to befriend him, others simply to offer praise.
Zhao Qi even leaped forward with hearty laughter.
"Hahaha! Master Meng, thank you for your aid. From this day forward, you are an honored guest of the Tianjue Sect!"
"Indeed! Master Meng's courage is something the younger generation should learn from!" several elders echoed.
"Master Meng is my idol!" someone shouted.
"Master Meng, do you accept disciples?"
"Master Meng, from today, your name will be recorded in history!"
Praises poured down like a torrential rain. In their eyes, Master Meng had performed a great deed. Hei Zuzhi was their common enemy, so their admiration was only natural. And indeed, Master Meng was a true expert in disguise—none of this was without reason.
Amidst this shower of compliments, Master Meng remained calm, as though fame and glory meant nothing to him. That very composure only made his presence more awe-inspiring. The atmosphere became lively once again.
---
Elsewhere, in a secluded grove surrounded by trees, Hei Ming and his group stopped. They were now far from the Tianjue Sect grounds.
"Damn it!" Hei Ming cursed, clearly frustrated. Yet he could not fully vent his anger.
"Young master, why did you…" one elder began cautiously.
"Master Meng is clearly an expert in disguise. You must understand what that means," Hei Ming replied sharply.
Several elders frowned. "But his aura was only that of a second-stage Heavenly King."
"Elders, you are long-time members of Hei Zuzhi. Do you think I am less intelligent than you?" Hei Ming's tone was biting. Only then did they grasp his meaning.
Powerful experts in disguise often suppressed or manipulated their cultivation, appearing weak while hunting their prey.
"Master Meng said that a banana not eaten is wasted," Hei Ming continued.
"I believe we are the bananas. If we remain uneaten, it would be a waste. Had we pressed forward, Master Meng might have killed us."
The elders fell silent, realizing they had never thought of it that way. But Hei Ming saw the danger as clear as day. Almost as if they had been indoctrinated into Hei Ming's cautious philosophy, the elders clasped their hands toward him.
"Thank you, Young Master, for saving our lives," they said with visible relief.
Hei Ming gave no reply.
Suddenly, a woman's voice came from nearby. "Have you finished your discussion?"
Hei Ming and the others turned their heads. A woman in black robes appeared at their right without warning. Their eyes widened, and they quickly clasped their hands respectfully.
"Greetings, Elder Yao Zhi."
The woman was Yao Zhi, one of the senior elders of Hei Zuzhi. She walked forward gracefully. Her black robe clung to her upper body, accentuating curves that were both alluring and deadly. Her short skirt allowed a glimpse of her smooth, jade-white legs. Each step she took was fluid and controlled, like a predator in perfect balance. The black feathers on her robe lent her an air of elegance tinged with danger. Her presence radiated lethal pressure, forcing Hei Ming and the others to remain on guard.
Hei Ming didn't dare act casually. "Elder Yao Zhi, I did not sense the target within the Tianjue Sect earlier. That is why we withdrew."
"Indeed, Elder Yao Zhi. And with Master Meng present, it would have been difficult to act," another elder added.
Yao Zhi's gaze fell on Hei Ming, her expression unreadable, as though their actions meant little to her. Yet behind that calm lay a hidden force that could drown an unsuspecting foe. Hei Ming understood well—women like Yao Zhi were not merely beautiful. They were deadly if underestimated.
"No matter your reasons, the fact that they were not detected is true. I could not sense them either," Yao Zhi said plainly.
"What? Could the information have been wrong?" another elder blurted out, shocked.
"Enough. Since they are not here, we will return and await news from Ying Zhen," Yao Zhi said with calm authority.
She raised her hand, and the air itself cracked like a shattering mirror, revealing a rift into the void beyond. Stepping gracefully into the rift, she vanished from sight, leaving Hei Ming and the others behind.
Understanding her command, Hei Ming and the elders departed at once, their vigilance unbroken. Though the world around them remained unchanged, Yao Zhi's presence lingered in their minds—beautiful, striking, and lethally dangerous.
Not long after, a woman clad in flowing purple robe appeared suddenly. A faint, knowing smile curved her lips before she too disappeared without a trace.
If Xue Yao had been there, she would have been utterly astonished.