41: The man in black
Hunting requires a lot of patience.
Han Yi focused his mind and quietly observed everything around him.
Wu Awei's last crime was in Changning Ward, ten days ago. Han Yi estimated that based on his pattern of crime, Wu Awei would likely be unable to resist acting again.
However, when choosing between Changle Ward and Changning Ward, Han Yi hesitated. Wu Awei committed crimes randomly each time, and he wasn't sure where the next one would be.
But Han Yi considered that Wu Awei's last crime was in Changning Ward.
Furthermore, the residents of Changle Ward were much wealthier than those in Changning Ward. Clearly, the girls in Changle Ward were a greater temptation for Wu Awei. Therefore, Han Yi crouched in Changle Ward.
The surroundings were so quiet that it seemed even the sound of grass swaying could be heard, but in Han Yi's ears, there was only the faint sound of his own breathing.
Could it be that tonight would also be wasted...
Although Han Yi had ample patience, after three consecutive nights with no results, he was inevitably a little discouraged.
"How about I go back and rest tonight?" Han Yi's thoughts turned.
This morning, Pan Sheng had come to find him and arranged to discuss the matter of being a nominal disciple with a Senior Brother from the inner sect tomorrow.
Just as Han Yi was hesitating, not far away, a Black-Clothed Man carrying a long sword appeared and disappeared like a ghost under the cover of night, flashing and moving on the rooftops.
This Black-Clothed Man seemed extremely confident in his disguise, as if it were impossible for others to discover him. From time to time, he would stop, lift a red tile, and seem to be peering into the house.
The Black-Clothed Man in the deep night was almost completely integrated with the darkness.
If not for the occasional moonlight shining in his pair of lustful eyes, ordinary people seeing a fleeting shadow would only think it was their own illusion.
However, in Han Yi's sight.
What he saw was a person with a value of '22~28' floating above his head, jumping around on the eaves of various houses in Changning Ward!
This scene was somewhat comical!
Han Yi perked up, his eyes slightly narrowed to only a small slit, focusing on observing the Black-Clothed Man.
"Is this that Wu Awei?" Han Yi was a little puzzled.
The wanted poster said that Wu Awei's strength was only at the early Lianxue Stage.
But in Han Yi's eyes, when this Black-Clothed Man didn't have a weapon, his overall strength had already reached '22~28', which was probably already at the late Refining Bone Stage!
Moreover, like him, the Black-Clothed Man only revealed a pair of eyes, and Han Yi couldn't identify him from the picture on the wanted poster.
"Never mind, looking at him, even if he's not Wu Awei, he's definitely not a good person." Han Yi's thoughts raced. "Capture him first!"
Most importantly, he looked at his own value, '51~53'.
To be safe, Han Yi put on the expensive lizard skin armor and wore black iron fists, causing his strength to suddenly increase from '42~47' bare-handed.
Unfortunately, to make things easier, he didn't bring his fine steel broadsword!
Otherwise, his own strength would be even higher!
But the current Han Yi was naturally more than capable of dealing with a person with a mere '22~28' value.
At the rooftop, this Black-Clothed Man seemed to have found his target, moved the tiles, and took out a bamboo tube-like device.
His cheeks were slightly puffed out, as if he was trying to blow something forcefully into the house.
Han Yi secretly circulated the 'Flying Swallow Kick'. He was as light as a swallow, silently approaching the eaves near the Black-Clothed Man.
The Black-Clothed Man was currently cupping his hand to his ear, seemingly listening for movement inside the house. He tilted his head to listen and only heard the increasingly heavy breathing inside. He couldn't help but reveal a trace of a smug smile.
Whoosh~
Just as the Black-Clothed Man was full of ambition and preparing to jump into the house from the eaves.
A faint sound of air being cut through was heard.
The hidden arrow shot about a meter behind the Black-Clothed Man, and only then did the Black-Clothed Man detect the attack.
But the Black-Clothed Man's reaction was indeed swift. He quickly lunged down, and the hidden arrow narrowly grazed the Black-Clothed Man's cheek, leaving only a shallow bloodstain. A few threads of blood flowed from the wound.
Swoosh, swoosh.
Before the Black-Clothed Man could get up, two more sounds of air being cut through attacked the back of his head. This time, the hidden arrows were like arrows shot from a strong crossbow, much faster and more powerful.
Clearly, the first attack was only to prevent the Black-Clothed Man from noticing.
"Ah!"
The Black-Clothed Man, unable to dodge in time, had no choice but to stack his arms to block. Instantly, blood splattered, and the Black-Clothed Man let out a tragic cry.
In the shadows, Han Yi shook his head. He was not very satisfied with the effect of the hidden weapon he threw.
A Lianxue Stage Martial Artist ambushing a Refining Bone Stage Martial Artist actually failed!
However, who told him he hadn't learned a specialized hidden weapon technique? These few hidden arrows were thrown purely with his brute force, so the effect was naturally mediocre.
Forget it, I'll rely on these iron fists!
"Damn it, who's ambushing..."
Before he could finish speaking, the Black-Clothed Man glanced back and discovered Han Yi not far behind him, sweeping towards the rooftop like a flying swallow.
The Black-Clothed Man was terrified. He had committed crimes several times in An Yan City and was extremely confident in his disguise and movement technique.
Moreover, he had been to Changle Ward several times, and the terrain was already clear in his mind. There were also people who had discovered him during previous crimes, but he had easily escaped, even toying with many Martial Artists and constables who pursued him.
But today, he was successfully ambushed, which meant that this person had already figured out his details and had been lying in ambush here for a long time!
"Retreat first!"
This was the only thought in the Black-Clothed Man's mind. His arm was injured now, so no matter how strong the person who came was, it was better to run.
The Black-Clothed Man's legs were like shadows, his position as elusive as a ghost. In the next instant, he appeared on the other side of the rooftop.
Under the moonlight, the slightly slanted red-tiled roofs formed curved and neat slopes.
In the hazy light, the Black-Clothed Man moved quickly on the eaves like a phantom that appeared and disappeared unpredictably.
And behind him, Han Yi was also light and agile like a swift, moving like the wind, following closely behind the Black-Clothed Man's figure.
At first, the distance between the two was only a few meters, but as time passed, the distance gradually widened, maintaining a distance of over ten meters!
"So fast!"
Han Yi frowned slightly, "The wanted poster said Wu Awei is skilled in swordsmanship. Did I really make a mistake?"
If only he could have poisoned the hidden weapons... His thoughts raced. Those few wounds just now would have been enough to seal the victory!
But for Refining Bone Martial Artists, their physical fitness far exceeded that of ordinary people. Ordinary poisons were useless, and the specially formulated poisons were not something Han Yi could know about.
Both of them were dressed in black, like civet cats, and when their feet landed, not even the slightest sound could be heard.
But the Black-Clothed Man was also secretly surprised. Although he had only learned half of the 'As Shadow Legs', it was a genuine Earth-grade martial art.
He had relied on the 'As Shadow Legs' to escape countless dangers, but today he had met an opponent in this unknown An Yan City!
"We're almost at the city wall!"
"This Black-Clothed Man wants to escape!"
Han Yi's heart was anxious.
In the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the two of them moved at lightning speed. In their chase and escape, they actually left Changle Ward and reached the foot of the city wall!