77: Arrive in Blackwind City

The scent of blood permeating the mountain forest lingered, unable to dissipate for a long time.

The atmosphere was stiflingly oppressive.

Han Meng's originally heroic face was now ashen, his bloodshot tiger eyes fixed on the two cold corpses of his confidants not far away, his body trembling slightly from extreme anger and humiliation.

He had thought he had set up a foolproof, inescapable trap, but he never expected that the wretch he considered an ant would turn the tables on him in such an absurd and… humiliating way!

He tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead!

Not only did he fail to eliminate Lin Ye, but he also lost two of his most capable confidants and four elite dead warriors that the Han family had spent countless resources to cultivate!

This loss, even for the Han family, was enough to severely cripple him!

And the instigator of all this, the youth who should have been the 'prey,' was now hiding behind a rock with that useless Fatty.

However, he ultimately did not dare to openly lash out in front of Su Qingyue.

“Collect the bodies! Continue forward!”

He squeezed out this chilling command through gritted teeth, then no longer looked at Lin Ye, turned, transformed into a streak of light, and flew towards the deeper parts of the Black Wind Mountain Range without looking back!

That retreating figure was filled with panic and… malice… The atmosphere became even more bizarre on the journey ahead.

No one in the team dared to speak anymore.

Everyone was like a frightened bird, cautiously surveying their surroundings, and also cautiously… guarding against everyone around them.

The cold Killing Intent emanating from Han Meng and his remaining followers was almost palpable.

Su Qingyue, meanwhile, maintained a moderate distance from the group.

Her clear, cold eyes occasionally, subtly, swept over the silent, thin figure at the end of the group, a complex, unfathomable light flickering in her gaze.

Lin Ye, on the other hand, carried his “performance” to the end.

He always followed beside Fatty Wang, a “still-shaken” expression on his face, looking no different from the other terrified ordinary Disciples around him.

But in his heart, there was a profound calm, like an ancient well.

He knew this was just the beginning.

Han Meng's killing scheme would certainly not end so easily.

And next time, the opponent's methods would be even more ruthless, and even more… concealed!

The team continued to travel at high speed for nearly two more days.

Finally, on the evening of the third day, as the last rays of the setting sun were about to be swallowed by the continuous mountains, a huge city filled with wild and murderous aura appeared at the end of everyone's vision.

Black Wind City.

Completely different from the Immortal Qi-shrouded scenery of Qingyun Sect, this city was built entirely from an unknown, massive black rock, with city walls over ten zhang high, covered with traces of time from sword and axe blows, and dried, dark bloodstains.

The city gates were wide open, with most of the people entering and exiting being fierce-looking mercenaries or hurried merchants.

Everyone's face was filled with vigilance and indifference.

This was the famous lawless zone in Qingzhou—Black Wind City!

“Finally… finally here.” Fatty Wang looked at the imposing giant city before him, letting out a long sigh of relief, his nerves, which had been taut for two days, finally relaxing by half.

Han Meng ignored everyone's reactions, walking directly to the city gate and showing his Inner Sect Disciple identity token from Qingyun Sect to the guarding soldiers.

The few originally arrogant soldiers, upon seeing the token, immediately changed their expressions, instantly putting on respectful smiles, and personally welcomed everyone inside.

Upon entering the city, a denser, turbid scent, mixed with dust, alcohol, and a faint hint of blood, assaulted them!

On both sides of the street, shops stood in rows: taverns, weapon shops, Medicinal Pill pharmacies… everything was available, but the atmosphere was far from what the word 'prosperous' could describe.

Everyone walked in a hurry, their eyes vigilant, as if in this city, everyone was a potential enemy.

Guided by the soldiers, everyone passed through most of the city and finally arrived in front of a magnificent mansion that stood out from the surrounding wild architecture.

The City Lord's Mansion.

In front of the mansion's gate, a middle-aged man, dressed in brocade robes, looking around forty or fifty years old, with a refined appearance, was already waiting with a retinue of servants.

“Oh my! Have the Immortals from Qingyun Sect arrived?!”

As soon as the middle-aged man saw Han Meng and the others, his face immediately broke into a warm, enthusiastic smile, and he quickly stepped forward, bowing deeply to Han Meng, “Your humble servant, Qian Wanshan, City Lord of Black Wind City, respectfully welcomes all Immortals!”

His enthusiastic, almost fawning, demeanor finally eased Han Meng's face, which had been ashen for two days, by half.

“City Lord Qian, there's no need for such ceremony.” He waved his hand, speaking in a condescending tone, “We are here by the Sect's command to assist the City Lord's Mansion in eradicating the bandits entrenched in the Black Wind Mountain Range.

Please, City Lord, explain the specific situation to us in detail.”

“Yes! Yes!” Qian Wanshan nodded and bowed, quickly ushering everyone into the opulent main hall of the City Lord's Mansion.

Inside the hall, a lavish banquet had already been prepared.

Qian Wanshan personally filled Han Meng and Su Qingyue's cups with fine wine, then sighed, a 'distressed' expression appearing on his face.

“To be honest with all Immortals, my Black Wind City has truly suffered unspeakably for the past month!” he said mournfully, “Those bandits, who appeared out of nowhere, are utterly ruthless.

They not only plunder merchants but have also repeatedly descended the mountain to harass the city's common people! Your humble servant has dispatched troops to encircle and suppress them several times, but alas, those ruffians are powerful, and our Mortal army is truly… powerless!”

He spoke with tears in his eyes, his emotions sincere, perfectly portraying a City Lord who loved his people but was helpless.

“Therefore, your humble servant dares to implore all Immortals to take action, to rid my Black Wind City of this menace! And restore peace to my people!”

With that, he bowed deeply to everyone once more.

“City Lord Qian, rest assured.” Han Meng drained his cup of fine wine, a look of arrogance on his face, “Mere bandits can be annihilated by us Qingyun Disciples with a flick of a finger!

You just need to tell us the location of their lair.”

“Good, good, good!” Qian Wanshan, as if he had seen a savior, was so excited he became incoherent, “To show my sincerity, and to reward the hard work of all Immortals, your humble servant… is willing to issue a commission in the name of the City Lord's Mansion!”

He clapped his hands, and a butler immediately came forward, holding a golden tray.

On the tray was a commission written on fine silk, bearing the official seal of the City Lord's Mansion.

“For all Qingyun Sect Disciples participating in this bandit suppression mission, regardless of final success or failure, each person shall receive… ten Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!”

“If the bandit leader is successfully eliminated, my City Lord's Mansion is willing to add… one thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones! To be distributed among all Immortals as you see fit!”

One thousand… Mid-Grade Spirit Stones?!

As this number was announced, the hall instantly erupted in an uproar! Even Han Meng's tiger eyes immediately burst forth with a fervent glow!

“City Lord Qian, is that true?” he asked, somewhat disbelievingly.

“True! Absolutely true!” Qian Wanshan patted his chest, a look of generosity on his face, “Mere material possessions, how can they compare to the safety of my city's people?!”

“Good!” Han Meng slammed the table, any lingering doubts in his heart long since washed away by this immense temptation! “City Lord Qian, rest assured! Within three days, I, Han Meng, will personally bring the bandit leader's head before you!”

For a time, the entire hall was immersed in an atmosphere filled with greed and fanaticism.

Almost all the Disciples were overwhelmed by the exorbitant reward.

However, amidst this clamor, there was one quiet corner.

Lin Ye sat silently in his seat, not touching any of the food or drink on the table.

His dark eyes calmly watched Qian Wanshan, who was now fraternizing with Han Meng, perfectly portraying a City Lord who “loved his people like his own children.”

His face was as still as an ancient well.

But in his heart, a towering wave had already been stirred!

Something was wrong!

From the moment he stepped into this City Lord's Mansion, a faint, extremely subtle sense of unease had always lingered in his mind!

City Lord Qian's smile, though bright, always felt like it lacked a touch of warmth.

His distress, though sincere, always felt like it lacked a genuine, heartfelt sorrow.

“System!”

With a thought, he issued a new command in his mind!

“Is there… any secret technique in the Mall that can discern human hearts?”

[Searching for host… ]

[Search complete! Recommending auxiliary secret technique: “Micro-Expression Analysis” (High Grade Mortal Rank). Exchange price: eighty contribution points.]

[Secret Technique Effect: By analyzing subtle changes in the target's facial muscles, the frequency of eye blinks, and unconscious body language, it can accurately determine their true inner emotions and detect lies.]

“Exchange!”

Lin Ye did not hesitate!

[Exchange successful! contribution points deducted. “Micro-Expression Analysis” has been automatically recorded and is merging with “Basic Reconnaissance Technique”… ]

[Fusion successful! “Basic Reconnaissance Technique” has been upgraded! New [Emotion Analysis] module added!]

As the System's prompt faded, Lin Ye felt a cool sensation in his eyes!

He once again turned his gaze towards Qian Wanshan, who was still speaking animatedly!

“Basic Reconnaissance Technique, activate!”

Buzz!

Before Lin Ye's eyes, the entire world once again transformed into a virtual space composed of countless data streams!

And Qian Wanshan's originally refined face was instantly decomposed and quantified in his eyes!

Every blink of his eyes, every curve of his lips, every movement of his Adam's apple when he spoke… everything was precisely captured by the System and rapidly analyzed!

Finally, a cold, emotionless virtual panel precisely hovered above Qian Wanshan's head!

[Target: Black Wind City Lord, Qian Wanshan] [Cultivation: Qi Refining Realm Seventh Layer] [Emotion Analysis: Nervousness (30%), Hypocrisy (50%), Fear (10%), and… a very deeply hidden trace of… Cruelty (10%)!]

[Analyzing speech… ]

[Ding!]

[Comprehensive Judgment: The probability of the target's current statements being lies is… ninety-five percent!]

Indeed!!!