116: An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth: Dark web bounties

The timing of the magical delegation's arrival was just too coincidental.

Just after Qin Lang, by a stroke of luck, used his Chaos Power to undo the "Transformation Curse" on Lilith, these Westerners followed right on his heels.

If anyone claimed this was a simple academic exchange, Qin Lang wouldn't believe it for a second.

"Ofina..."

Qin Lang sat in his dormitory chair, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the tabletop.

That blonde, wavy-haired Western Saintess, although possessing the cultivation of a Fourth-Tier Great Archmage, was clearly not qualified to cast a curse on a royal of Lilith's level.

That so-called "Starry Sky Witch" was probably of a frighteningly high level.

Ofina might not be the caster herself, but she was definitely part of the "cat-seeking team" sent by that witch.

"If only this curse could 'act up' one more time."

Qin Lang glanced at Little White, who was sound asleep on the bed, and felt a bit regretful.

If Lilith could transform again, even for just a few minutes, he could pry a lot of information out of that tsundere princess.

"Ding-dong."

The communicator on the table suddenly vibrated.

Qin Lang picked it up and saw that it was from Luo Fei, the Dark Web assassin he had spared.

It was only a short line of text, but it carried a chill that sent shivers down one's spine.

【The employer has increased the bounty, totaling twenty cubic units of biological energy.】

【Several top-ranked lone wolves on the Dark Web have already accepted the order, be careful.】

Twenty cubic units.

That is, twenty thousand units.

Converted to federation currency, that's a full two hundred million!

Qin Lang's eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous glint flashing in their depths.

"The He Family really is willing to pay a heavy price."

To buy his life, were they trying to empty out their entire family fortune?

This much money was enough to make many Fourth-Tier Experts, who were stuck at a Bottleneck and in desperate need of resources for a Breakthrough, take the risk.

Not to mention those desperadoes who valued money over their own lives.

"Being on the receiving end of a beating is not my style."

Qin Lang sneered and replied to Luo Fei with a message.

【Teach me how to post a bounty.】

The other side was silent for a few seconds, then sent a string of complex coordinates and a special secret code.

【Ghost Market, Dark Hall.】

【You know the rules, only spot goods are accepted.】

Qin Lang put away the communicator and rummaged through his wardrobe for a black hooded sweatshirt.

"Little White, let's go."

He scooped up the Ragdoll cat, who was still fast asleep, and tucked it into his arms.

"I'm taking you somewhere fun."

The night in the Capital City was resplendent and bustling.

But in the shadows where the bright, flashy neon lights couldn't reach, another side of this city was hidden.

In the south of the city, at an old sewer entrance.

The air was filled with a nauseating smell of mold and rot.

This was one of the entrances to the "Ghost Market" and a gathering place for people on the fringes of society.

Qin Lang lowered the brim of his hood, his entire figure almost melting into the darkness.

Just as he walked into the dark, damp underground passage, a few ragged, dull-eyed vagrants surrounded him.

"Brother, lend us some..."

The scar-faced man leading them, waving a rusty dagger in his hand, hadn't finished his sentence.

"Get lost."

Qin Lang didn't even look up; he just flicked his finger lightly.

Bang!

An invisible burst of Qi shot out.

The dagger snapped in two instantly, the blade flying past the scar-faced man's ear and embedding itself deep into the concrete wall behind him.

The scar-faced man was so scared his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground.

"An... an expert!"

"Run!"

The others who had wanted to crowd around and get a share scattered instantly.

Hanging out in a place like this, having a good eye for people was the first rule of survival.

Qin Lang ignored these minor interruptions.

Following the route Luo Fei gave him, he navigated through the intricate underground pipes for over ten minutes.

Finally.

The path ahead suddenly opened up.

A massive underground plaza appeared before him.

It was brightly lit and deafeningly noisy.

There were no rules, no laws, only naked transactions and desires.

Some were peddling genetic potions of unknown origin, while others were hawking bloody furs just ripped from exotic beasts.

There were even people keeping scantily clad alien slaves in cages, with prices clearly marked.

This was the Ghost Market.

The dark side of the world.

Qin Lang looked straight ahead and walked directly through the crowded throng.

During this time, a few blind thieves tried to target him, but he quietly snapped their fingers.

Passing by a begging stall, Qin Lang paused.

It was a disabled child with broken legs, lying on the ground with a broken bowl in front of him.

Not far behind him, a few burly men were staring this way with fierce eyes.

Qin Lang frowned.

These villains who exploited sympathy for profit were even more detestable than assassins.

He flicked his finger slightly.

A few extremely subtle wisps of Chaos Qi flew out, precisely piercing the fatal points of those burly men.

Without a sound.

The burly men collapsed limply, as if they were drunk.

As for whether that child could escape, it would depend on his own luck.

After finishing this, Qin Lang arrived in front of a black building without any signage.

The Dark Hall.

Two masked guards stood at the entrance, exuding a heavy scent of blood; they were clearly top-tier experts at the Peak of the Third-Tier.

Qin Lang walked up and took out a drawing he had prepared in advance from his pocket.

It was a picture of a broken moon.

He tore the drawing in half in front of the guards.

Then, on the remaining half, he tapped three dots with his finger.

This was the universal secret code for the Dark Hall.

It meant—I want to buy a life.

The guards exchanged glances and stepped aside to clear a path.

"Please."

Entering the Dark Hall, the light suddenly dimmed.

The air was filled with a stifling, murderous aura.

A hoarse voice, like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together, sounded from behind the counter.

"What are you buying?"

It was a person wrapped entirely in a black robe, their face obscured.

Qin Lang did not waste words.

He pulled a heavy bag from his embrace and slammed it onto the counter with a "bang."

The opening of the bag loosened.

Revealing the high-purity biological energy blocks inside, which emitted a faint blue glow.

A full six cubic units.

The black-robed person's breathing visibly stalled for a moment.

This was a big deal.

"I want to kill two people."

Qin Lang's voice was as cold as ice, without a hint of warmth.

"The He Family, He Ye."

"The He Family, He Qian."

The black-robed person was silent for two seconds, seemingly checking their records.

"People from the He Family?"

"This price... is very fair."

"He Ye, Third-Tier Early Stage, bounty of two cubic units."

"He Qian, Third-Tier Peak, bounty of four cubic units."

"Deal."

Qin Lang pushed the bag forward.

"I want to add one more condition."

"I want to see the results tonight."

The black-robed person let out a strange laugh and reached out to take the bag.

"As long as the money is there."

"Never mind tonight."

"I can even ensure they don't live past dinner."

Meanwhile.

The Capital City, the He Family residence.

In the brightly lit hall, the atmosphere was suffocating to the extreme.

He Family Patriarch He Zhen sat in the main seat with a livid expression.

Sitting below him was He Qian, who had been severely injured by Qin Lang on Liuyun Island.

Although he had been treated and his life was not in danger, his broken arm would take at least half a year to fully recover.

This meant that he was essentially finished for the upcoming Secret Realm assessment.

"Damn Qin Lang!"

He Qian slammed his good hand onto the table, his eyes filled with venom like a mad dog.

"Dad! Has that bounty been posted?"

"I want him dead!"

"I want to tear him into ten thousand pieces!"

He Zhen nodded with a gloomy face.

"Rest assured."

"Twenty cubic units of biological energy."

"Even a Fourth-Tier killer would be tempted."

"Once he gets into the Secret Realm, that will be the day he dies!"

The surrounding He Family executives also chimed in, cursing Qin Lang through gritted teeth.

As if cursing him hard enough would make Qin Lang drop dead.

"Daring to touch someone from my He Family, he truly doesn't know what death is!"

"Once that little beast is dead, I'm going to hang his corpse at the city gate for all to see!"

Just amidst this chorus of calls for blood.

A young member of the He Family suddenly stumbled into the hall.

His face was pale, as if he had seen a ghost.

"Pa... Patriarch!"

"It's bad!"

"Something terrible has happened!"