Chapter 2335: Chapter 2335 Suspicious
Ye Liuyun’s clone had already left the city. He brought Zhao Hu and Yu Yao along and headed straight for the tavern on the outskirts—the one frequently visited by Hei Feng.
This tavern stood just a short distance outside the city. Its interior was plainly decorated, offering no sense of luxury. However, it had a surprisingly large number of seats. When the clone and his companions arrived, several martial practitioners were already inside, drinking and chatting idly at their tables.
Those gathered here were mostly outlaws and mercenaries. Each one looked fierce and unruly, their language crude and filled with vulgarities.
To blend in, the clone hid his Golden Phantom Eyes. He, Zhao Hu, and Yu Yao also changed their clothing to resemble the typical garb of mercenaries. Zhao Hu’s loud, brash voice and Yu Yao’s silent demeanor made them even more convincing. Together, the three of them looked just like a small mercenary crew.
Their unfamiliar faces naturally attracted some attention when they entered. However, Zhao Hu handled it with ease. He cheerfully called over a server and ordered food and wine as if he were a regular. Then, without missing a beat, he began instructing Ye Liuyun on various ways to survive as a mercenary. He spoke confidently, drawing from his past experiences in the field.
Thanks to Zhao Hu’s convincing act, no one grew suspicious. The others simply assumed these were two seasoned mercenaries showing a newcomer around.
As the clone conversed with Zhao Hu, he remained alert. He quietly searched the tavern for any sign of Hei Feng. Before long, he noticed that the tavern was actually a two-story building.
The first floor was filled with scattered tables. All of them were occupied by rough men drinking and chatting noisily.
The second floor, in contrast, was made up of private rooms. These rooms were shielded by Formations that blocked Divine Sense detection.
The clone tilted his head slightly and activated his Golden Phantom Eyes. With a single glance, he saw that someone was indeed inside one of the rooms upstairs.
Inside the private room stood a young woman. She was dressed in a full set of black garments and was gazing out the window.
As if sensing that someone was watching her, she suddenly turned around and looked toward the door. In that instant, the clone immediately confirmed her identity—this woman was none other than Hei Feng.
He quickly averted his gaze, fearing that she might catch on and lock eyes with him.
At that moment, a new figure appeared outside the tavern. It was a martial practitioner dressed in a black robe, leaning heavily on a cane. His pace was slow and unsteady, each step deliberate.
The moment this martial practitioner showed up, the entire tavern fell silent. The martial practitioners who had been drinking and chatting instantly stopped talking.
"Huh? What’s going on?" Zhao Hu deliberately raised his voice in confusion.
"Keep it down if you want to stay alive!" a middle-aged martial practitioner nearby gave a friendly warning.
The clone took the opportunity to strike up a conversation. In a courteous tone, he asked, “Sir, who is that martial practitioner?”
"That’s the death-bringer, Killer Yue—the old freak!" the man replied, his voice barely above a whisper. It was clear that everyone here feared this martial practitioner deeply.
Yet, Yue didn’t enter the tavern. He stopped a fair distance away, trembling as he stood, breathing heavily. Then, in a hoarse voice, he slowly called out in the direction of the tavern, "Hei Feng...I came here just for you. If you don’t come out...I’ll be coming in!"
Although Yue hadn’t spoken loudly, everyone inside the tavern heard him loud and clear.
The clone quickly noticed a change in the atmosphere. The expressions of the surrounding martial practitioners shifted at once. Some even set down their wine cups, clearly preparing to flee.
"What kind of power does Yue possess that makes all these people so afraid?" The clone couldn’t help but wonder to himself.
A woman’s voice suddenly rang out from upstairs. "Yue, there’s no need for you to come in and scare everyone. I’ll come out instead!"
A moment later, the sound of a door opening echoed through the tavern. Footsteps followed as the woman descended the stairs.
"That’s even better," Yue replied in a calm and unhurried tone.
Inside the tavern, not a single person dared speak. The martial practitioners even shifted inward, making room for Hei Feng to pass.
It was clear—they feared her just as much as they feared Yue.
Hei Feng gave a sweeping glance across the first floor. Her gaze briefly lingered on Ye Liuyun and his companions. But then, without hesitation, she turned her attention to the old man waiting outside.
The clone considered using his Golden Phantom Eyes to assess Hei Feng’s cultivation. But in the end, he held back. He didn’t want to risk alerting her.
"Looks like Yue came to kill Hei Feng too. Better to let them fight it out first. Then I’ll strike the winner."
The clone silently assessed the situation. He didn’t feel anything particular toward these assassins. In his eyes, they were just mercenaries who killed for money. If they died, so be it.
But Hei Feng’s words suddenly piqued his interest.
"Yue, today they send you to kill me. But tomorrow, they might send someone else to kill you." Hei Feng’s crisp, clear voice rang out once more. She spoke casually as she walked toward him.
Yue gave a hoarse chuckle. "Heh... in our line of work, there is no tomorrow. We live day by day. What’s the point of thinking so far ahead?"
However, the clone began to ponder: "Is Hei Feng referring to how Stygian disposes of its own assassins?"
He immediately transmitted a question to Yu Yao through voice transmission. "Have you ever heard of Stygian purging their own assassins?"
Yu Yao shook his head and replied in the same way, "Never heard of it. And no one’s ever tried to kill me either."
Still, Ye Liuyun felt a bit unsettled. He hesitated. Part of him wanted to capture Hei Feng alive and interrogate her. He wanted to see if she was making things up or if she had real proof. After all, this involved his trust in Stygian. It was best to be prepared.
Hei Feng continued speaking as she approached the old man. "Sigh... at your age, you could have just faded from the world, lived quietly, and enjoyed your remaining years. Why insist on walking to your own death?"
"Heh... I’d love to rest, but I still need money to stay alive. That’s fate,"
Yue said, tapping his cane twice against the ground, as if lamenting the cruelty of destiny.
But just as he did, Hei Feng suddenly launched herself into the air. At the same moment, two massive hands made of earth burst from the ground and clawed at the spot where she had been standing—only to grasp empty air.
While suspended in midair, Hei Feng swung her arm. In an instant, dozens of black throwing darts formed from genuine energy shot toward Yue.
Though he appeared frail and feeble, Yue’s movements were lightning-fast. With his Golden Phantom Eyes, the clone clearly saw Yue vanish using spatial force, reappear behind Hei Feng and thrust his cane at her lower back.
But Hei Feng didn’t even glance back. With a swift flick of her wrist, she unleashed another wave of darts straight at him.
Yue shifted his position again. However, Hei Feng had already predicted where he would reappear. Her darts were already flying toward that spot.
Yue swung his cane, summoning an earthen shield in front of him. It held for only a moment before the darts pierced through it.
But that brief moment was all he needed. He managed to teleport again, narrowly evading the attack.
Hei Feng’s darts were unlike ordinary weapons. After being thrown, they didn’t fall to the ground. Instead, they looped back around and homed in on Yue again, forcing him into constant retreat.
Gradually, he was being pushed into a disadvantage.
Their duel was intense but restrained. Neither seemed to be going all out. Rather than overwhelming force, both relied on precision and skill. Despite the rapid exchange, neither had burned through much of their genuine energy.
The clone could tell that they were both holding back. After all, the tavern was full of dangerous outlaws. If the two assassins ended up severely wounded, it would only invite others to seize the opportunity and strike.
Just then, while still dodging darts, Yue suddenly shouted toward the tavern, "Friends inside, this is a rare opportunity! If anyone is willing to help me kill Hei Feng, we’ll split the profits evenly!"
The martial practitioners in the tavern only listened in silence. None made a move. No one wanted to jump into this mess.
"Sigh..." Yue let out a weary breath, sounding deeply disappointed in them.
Hei Feng’s momentum faltered slightly at that moment. She instinctively backed away, putting some distance between herself and Yue. Her aggressive assault immediately weakened.
