181: Chapter 181 A Cunning Plan: The Liu Family of Zhenhai City?

Inside the Wind Thunder Tavern, the atmosphere was lively, with cups clinking and toasts being exchanged.

Zhou Heng and his four teammates sat around a table, feasting heartily and enjoying a rare moment of relaxation.

However, while Zhou Heng appeared to be boldly drinking and eating meat, chatting and laughing with his teammates,

his [Omniscient Eye]'s perception had already spread out like an invisible spiderweb, quietly covering the surroundings.

Those few scrutinizing and cold gazes coming from the corners were like flies landing on a spiderweb, clearly captured by him.

Without showing any emotion, he picked up his Tactical Watch and quickly typed a few words,

then covertly showed the screen under the table to Ji Cang and the others beside him.

Only a few short words appeared on the screen: "Tails, corner, three tables away, grey-clad."

Ji Cang's eyes narrowed slightly, and Lu Chenxin's hand holding the wine cup paused for a moment.

Chen Ye's chopsticks stopped on the roasted meat for an instant, and the smile on Bai Qianer's face also stiffened slightly.

None of them were mediocre; although their perception was slightly inferior to Zhou Heng's, they immediately noticed those ill-intentioned gazes after this reminder.

Zhou Heng quickly typed again: "Breath suppressed, killing intent restrained, well-trained. Not monsters, but humans. Turn the tables?"

The four of them immediately understood Zhou Heng's meaning.

The opponents were spying from the shadows with unknown motives; acting rashly might alert them or even cause chaos in the tavern.

It was better to pretend to be unaware and lure the snakes out of their holes.

Lu Chenxin nodded slightly, indicating his agreement with his eyes.

Ji Cang snorted coldly and clenched his fists, but quickly relaxed again, regaining his composure.

Chen Ye continued to eat expressionlessly, but his aura became even more restrained and cold.

Bai Qianer lowered her head, pretending to fix her hair to hide the trace of nervousness in her eyes.

"Aiya, this 'Ten Thousand Races Brew' is really strong! I'm feeling a bit lightheaded!"

Zhou Heng suddenly shouted loudly, his face flushed red as he slapped the table. "I can't take it, I can't take it anymore. I need to go out for some fresh air to sober up!"

He stood up wobbling and gave Ji Cang and the others a meaningful look. "Brothers, Qianer, you guys keep eating. I'm going out for some air and will be back in a bit!"

"Brother Heng/Old Zhou, are you okay?" Lu Chenxin and the others cooperated, showing looks of concern.

"I'm fine! It's nothing!" Zhou Heng waved his hand and walked toward the tavern's back door with "unsteady" steps.

That led to a relatively quiet back alley.

The owners of those gazes looked at each other, a flash of ruthlessness and the excitement of an opportunity appearing in their eyes.

Two of them rose silently, blended into the crowd, and followed toward the back door.

The remaining two stayed in place, monitoring Ji Cang's group of four.

Zhou Heng "drunkenly" pushed open the back door and entered the dim back alley.

The alley was narrow, piled with some junk from the tavern, and the air was filled with the smell of food scraps and sewage.

Just as he reached the middle of the alley, slight footsteps came from behind him.

Two men in grey martial attire with ordinary faces blocked his retreat.

Simultaneously, two other figures appeared at the alley's entrance ahead, flanking him from both sides.

The four of them had steady breaths, cold gazes, and efficient movements; they were clearly skilled.

"*Hic~*" Zhou Heng let out a drunken burp and turned around. His face still carried a "drunken" look, but his eyes instantly locked onto the four through the haze.

[Omniscient Eye] fully operational!

[Target: Unknown Human (Suspected Family death warrior)]

[Realm: Two in front - Transcendent Two-Star; two in back - Transcendent One-Star Peak]

[Status: Concealed, killing intent locked, energy restrained, tacit cooperation]

[Energy Attribute: Mixed, leaning towards Yin-Cold and Sharp-Gold]

[Skill List (Partial): Combined Attack Technique, Shadow Step, Armor-Piercing Blade Qi...]

[Weakness Analysis: 1. Individual strength is not high, relies on combined attacks; 2. Energy circulation has slight stagnation, suspected to have been boosted by drugs or secret techniques; 3. Minds are closely linked, can be broken through spiritual impact;]

Information flashed by.

Zhou Heng sneered inwardly. As expected, they were coming for him, and they were well-prepared. Four in the Transcendent Realm—what a grand gesture!

"Big brothers... *hic*... is something wrong?" Zhou Heng pretended to be scared, his body trembling slightly.

The leading Transcendent Two-Star death warrior was expressionless, his voice raspy:

"Zhou Heng? Someone wants to invite you to be a guest. Come with us obediently to avoid physical suffering."

"A guest? Who? I... I don't know you guys..." Zhou Heng continued to play dumb.

"Cut the crap! Do it!" The other Transcendent Two-Star death warrior barked, and the four of them moved simultaneously!

Their figures dispersed like ghosts, forming an encirclement.

Four sharp blade Qis carrying a cold aura slashed at Zhou Heng from different angles, sealing off all his space to dodge!

Their cooperation was indeed seamless, and their attack was ruthless enough!

If it were an ordinary Transcendent Three-Star, they might truly have met their end here!

Unfortunately, they were facing Zhou Heng!

"Sigh, I gave you guys a chance..." Zhou Heng sighed.

The drunkenness on his face vanished instantly, replaced by cold sharpness and a hint of playfulness!

Boom—!

[Wind and Thunder Twin Wings] erupted! Purple-gold thunderlight and azure wind vortices exploded instantly, lighting up the dim back alley as bright as day!

Those four cold blade Qis hit the wind-thunder barrier and melted instantly, like snow meeting a scorching sun!

"What?!"

"The intel was wrong! He's not drunk at all!"

The four death warriors were pale with shock! The aura Zhou Heng erupted with far exceeded their estimates!

"Now it's my turn!" Zhou Heng sneered, and [Thunder Instant Transformation] activated! His figure turned into a bolt of true lightning, instantly vanishing from the spot!

The next moment, he appeared behind a Transcendent One-Star death warrior!

"Rushing Thunder Thrust!"

The [godfall spear] was like a venomous dragon emerging from its cave—fast, accurate, and ruthless!

The [Evil-Slaying Divine Thunder] coiled around the spear tip had a natural suppression against cold energy!

Pfft!

The death warrior didn't even have time to react before his protective astral qi was torn apart like paper, and his heart was pierced through by a single thrust!

Silver-white thunderlight exploded, instantly destroying his life force! With eyes full of unbelievable terror, he slumped to the ground.

An instant kill!

"Fourth Brother!" The other three death warriors' eyes nearly split with rage! But they couldn't even see Zhou Heng's movements!

"Thunder Break!"

Zhou Heng's figure flashed again, his spear intent like a thunderous weight, sweeping through a thousand soldiers!

The violent power of thunder blasted the two death warriors who were trying to combine their attack, sending them flying into the wall. Their bones shattered, and they spat out mouthfuls of blood!

Only the leading Transcendent Two-Star death warrior remained! His courage failed him, and he turned to flee!

"Want to leave? Have you asked my spear?" Zhou Heng's voice sounded like a ghost's in his ear!

"Eye of Thunder Punishment: Settle!"

The vertical eye on his forehead opened, and the will of judgment descended!

The death warrior felt his soul stiffen, and his movements instantly lagged!

"Wind Burial Universe: Rending Wind!"

The [godfall spear] carried a destructive astral wind, silently sweeping across his neck!

A head soared into the sky, a look of extreme fear and regret frozen on its face.

From the moment Zhou Heng erupted to the end of the battle, the entire process took no more than three breaths!

Four well-trained and tacitly cooperative Transcendent Realm death warriors were completely wiped out!

Zhou Heng retracted his [Wind and Thunder Twin Wings], his breath steady as if he had just done something insignificant.

He walked to the body of the leading death warrior, and the [Memory Reading] ability of his [Omniscient Eye] activated, capturing the dissipating soul fragments.

Scattered memory images flooded into his mind:

...Accepting orders... Target is Donghuang First Team's Zhou Heng... Capture alive or... kill on the spot... Order came from... "Shadow"...

The superior is... Liu... Third Master Liu... Zhenhai City's Liu Family... connected with... "Shadow Heart Clan"... "Sea-Calming Bead Fragment"... Ghost Reef... is a trap...

The memory fragments were very messy, and key information was blurred by some kind of restriction, but Zhou Heng still captured several keywords:

"Liu Family," "Shadow Heart Clan," "Sea-Calming Bead Fragment," "Trap"!

"Liu Family?" Zhou Heng's gaze turned cold.

Zhenhai City's Liu Family was a local power with considerable influence, mainly dealing in shipping and minerals. Who would have thought they were actually in league with the Shadow Heart Clan?

And they wanted to deal with him? Was it because he had killed Ghost Core and ruined their plans?

Or was it because he was too prominent, causing some people to be wary?

"Interesting... very interesting..." A cold arc curved at the corner of Zhou Heng's mouth.

"I just wanted to eat a meal in peace, but you just had to force my hand. The Liu Family, right? Lackeys of the Shadow Heart Clan? You even dared to set a trap for me?"

He quickly cleaned up the battlefield, using thunder to completely purify the four corpses and all traces.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he straightened his clothes and wobbled back into the Wind Thunder Tavern through the back door.

"Yo! Brothers! Qianer! I'm back! The wind outside is strong; I'm pretty much sobered up now!"

Zhou Heng sat back in his seat with a grin, as if he had just gone out to relieve himself.

Ji Cang and the other three saw him return safely and exchanged glances. They all felt relieved but didn't ask much.

"Brother Zhou Heng, are you okay?" Bai Qianer asked softly.

"I'm fine, just dealt with a few blind little thieves who wanted to steal my wallet."

Zhou Heng said nonchalantly, picking up a skewer of Purple Electric Eel and taking a bite. "Mm! This stuff is still the best!"

Ji Cang and the others understood and said no more.

They knew that since Zhou Heng said this, the "tails" must have been taken care of.

After eating and drinking their fill, the five of them settled the bill and left the Wind Thunder Tavern.

Walking out of the noisy restaurant, the night sea breeze of Zhenhai City blew in, carrying a hint of coolness and saltiness.

Zhou Heng looked at the city with its flickering lights but surging undercurrents, his gaze deep.

"It seems this Zhenhai City... is even more lively than I imagined."

He thought to himself, "Liu Family... Shadow Heart Clan... Sea-Calming Bead Fragment... the trap at Ghost Reef..."

Each keyword swirled in his mind, weaving into a dangerous web.

But instead of fear, he felt a sense of excitement.

"Since you want to play, then I'll play with you to the end!"

A trace of a devious light flashed in Zhou Heng's eyes. "Let's see in the end who's the one being played!"

A new storm was already brewing in the darkness. And Zhou Heng was already prepared to flip the table.