39: Chapter 39 Bait

The night was as deep as ink.

Chu Mengxi sat on the roof opposite the Moyun Pavilion; she had been monitoring it continuously for three days and nights.

During these three days, the painter Artist Wu Daozi had shown no abnormal behavior, aside from sending his page out once to buy rice paper and pigments.

Her originally firm suspicions began to waver.

Could it really just be a coincidence?

Just at the moment her mind slightly drifted.

"Creak—"

The main door of Moyun Pavilion, which had been tightly closed for several days, suddenly and silently opened a crack.

A dark figure, like a wisp of green smoke, floated out from the crack in the door. With a few flickers, it vanished into the pitch-black night.

"I lost them!"

Chu Mengxi was startled and immediately gave chase, but the dark figure was extremely fast and its movement technique was eerie. Within a few breaths, she had completely lost its trail.

Chu Mengxi returned to the original spot with a grim face, feeling incredibly frustrated.

At almost the same time, Zhao Tie and Li Rui, who were responsible for monitoring Mr. Liu and the Iron-Armed Bear King, encountered the same situation.

Both targets had vanished from their sight at the same time in an extremely eerie manner.

All three surveillance routes had failed!

"How could this happen?!"

In the temporary meeting room, Chu Mengxi slammed her fist onto the table, her face filled with frustration and anger.

"These three suspects acted at the same time as if they had planned it! This is definitely no coincidence! There must be a connection between them!"

"But Boss, we've lost them now. The trail is completely cold!" Zhao Tie said, scratching his head in anxiety.

"No, it's not cold yet."

Just then, Lin Feng, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.

Everyone's gaze focused on him once again.

He slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping over the three people present before finally landing on Miss Ling Yueer.

"The best hunters often appear in the form of prey."

A profound and mysterious smile curled at the corner of Lin Feng's mouth.

"Now, it's time to bring out our most dangerous, yet most effective bait."

"Huh? Me?"

Miss Ling Yueer pointed at her own nose, looking completely dazed.

Chu Mengxi instantly understood Lin Feng's intention, and her expression changed drastically.

"No! I absolutely disagree! This is too dangerous! The Painted Skin Demon's target is girls like you. You're not going as bait; you're going to your death!"

"What's there to be afraid of!"

Miss Ling Yueer puffed out her ample chest, looking eager to try.

"With Brother Lin here, I'm not afraid. Besides, I want to personally avenge Sister Wan'er!"

She had a nearly blind trust in Lin Feng.

"Lin Feng, what exactly do you want to do?" Chu Mengxi stared at him with cold, phoenix-like eyes.

"It's simple."

Lin Feng took out a Talisman from his robe and handed it to Miss Ling Yueer.

"This is a 'Tracking Talisman.' As long as you are tainted by even a hint of the target's aura, I can find their location instantly, no matter where they run."

"Tonight, Miss Ling Yueer will act as she usually does, wandering the most bustling night market in the city alone. We will protect her from the shadows."

"The Painted Skin Demon hasn't struck for three days; it will surely act again. A perfect 'prey' like Miss Ling Yueer is an irresistible temptation for it."

Lin Feng's plan was simple yet insane.

He was using Miss Ling Yueer, the City Lord's daughter, to fish for that venomous snake hidden in the shadows!

"I still don't agree!"

Chu Mengxi's attitude remained resolute.

However, Miss Ling Yueer snatched the Talisman, tucked it into her robe like a treasure, and gave Lin Feng a sweet smile.

"Brother Lin, I'll do whatever you say!"

...

That night, Nanyan Prefecture's most bustling "Evernight Street" was brightly lit and teeming with people.

Miss Ling Yueer changed into a beautiful goose-yellow dress, moving through the lively crowd like a dancing butterfly.

She looked at the sugar figurines by the roadside one moment and clapped for the street performers the next; her innocent and romantic appearance drew many side-glances.

Within a hundred meters of her, Chu Mengxi, Zhao Tie, and Li Rui had already disguised themselves as ordinary passersby, silently distributed in various corners to keep her firmly protected in the center.

Their senses were heightened to the limit; not even a breath of wind could escape them.

Lin Feng sat atop the highest tavern, seemingly sipping tea leisurely.

But his perception, under the influence of the 110x Critical Hit, was like an invisible heavenly net covering the entire Evernight Street.

Time passed, minute by minute.

One hour...

Two hours...

As the night grew deep and the pedestrians on the street gradually thinned out, that cunning Painted Skin Demon had still not appeared.

"Could it have sensed something?"

Zhao Tie felt somewhat anxious.

Just then.

"Yueer!"

A voice as warm as jade came from the street corner.

A handsome young man dressed in white, holding a folding fan, was walking toward Miss Ling Yueer with a look of pleasant surprise.

"Li... Li Tianyu?"

When Miss Ling Yueer saw the newcomer, the smile on her face stiffened slightly.

The newcomer was the eldest son of the Li Family, the number one Family in the prefecture city, and also her nominal fiancé, Li Tianyu.

"Yueer, it's so late, why are you here alone? It's so dangerous!"

Li Tianyu walked to Miss Ling Yueer's side, his words full of concern.

"I... I came out for some fresh air."

Miss Ling Yueer replied perfunctorily.

"I see. It just so happens I have nothing to do either. Why don't I accompany you for a stroll?"

Li Tianyu smiled like a spring breeze.

In the shadows, Chu Mengxi's brow furrowed slightly.

Li Tianyu's appearance had undoubtedly disrupted their plan.

But she couldn't easily step out to drive him away. After all, the Li Family's influence in Nanyan Prefecture was such that even the City Lord's Manor had to show them some respect.

However, just as Li Tianyu's hand was about to touch Miss Ling Yueer's shoulder.

A flash of disgust and alertness suddenly crossed Miss Ling Yueer's eyes.

She inconspicuously took half a step back, avoiding Li Tianyu's touch. At the same time, she silently crushed the 'Thousand-Mile Soul-Chasing Talisman' in her hand.

"You aren't Li Tianyu!"

Miss Ling Yueer's voice, though not loud, was full of certainty!

"Oh?"

The smile on 'Li Tianyu's' face remained unchanged. "Why do you say that, Yueer? If I'm not Li Tianyu, who else could I be?"

"Although Li Tianyu is an annoying hypocrite, he is a germaphobe and never uses any incense... but you have a very faint, yet disgusting smell on you!"

Miss Ling Yueer said coldly, "This smell is exactly the same as what I smelled on Sister Wan'er!"

"Hahaha... Hahahaha!"

'Li Tianyu' suddenly burst into loud laughter, and that face as warm as jade began to twist and melt in an extremely eerie fashion!

In the blink of an eye, he transformed from a graceful Young Master into a terrifying demon dressed in a blood-colored robe, with an exotic face that was neither male nor female!

The Painted Skin Demon!

"I didn't expect that even though I hid so well, I would still be discovered by a little girl like you! Truly... what a pleasant surprise!"

The Painted Skin Demon stuck out its scarlet tongue and licked its lips, its exotic eyes filled with greed.

"Since you've found me out, I won't pretend anymore. This skin of yours is more perfect than all my previous collectibles! Today, you are destined to become my most outstanding masterpiece!"

Before its voice finished echoing, its body blurred, turning into a blood-colored shadow that lunged straight for Miss Ling Yueer!

"Audacious Prodigy! Do not dare be so insolent!"

Chu Mengxi, Zhao Tie, and Li Rui shouted in unison as they rushed out from the shadows. Three sharp attacks in a triangular formation blocked all of the Painted Skin Demon's paths of retreat!

However, the Painted Skin Demon revealed an eerie smile.

"Just with you three pieces of trash?"

Its body twisted incredibly in mid-air, actually splitting into three identical blood-colored phantoms that met the trio's attacks!

Boom!

The trio's full-strength strike only managed to shatter the three phantoms!

The Painted Skin Demon's true body had already appeared behind Miss Ling Yueer like a ghost, a pale hand reaching for the back of her neck!

"Not good!"

The expressions of Chu Mengxi and the others changed drastically. By the time they wanted to help, it was already too late!

Miss Ling Yueer was also pale with fright; she hadn't expected this monster to be so powerful!

At this critical moment.

"Die!"

A flat voice tinged with a hint of impatience sounded in the Painted Skin Demon's ear like ice from the nine netherworlds.

The Painted Skin Demon felt a terrifying killing intent, enough to freeze the Soul, instantly lock onto it!

It whipped its head around, only to see a brilliant blood-colored lightning saber glow that seemed capable of slaying the stars, already right before its eyes!