Chapter 311: Chapter 131: Strategizing, Cultivating the Demon-locking Technique, and Recruiting Lu Tao

The bluestone path gleamed coldly under the moon. The dark silhouettes of houses on either side loomed like silent beasts, standing quietly in the night.

As she turned into a deep, secluded alley that was rarely traveled even during the day—

A faint, almost inaudible rustle of fabric cutting through the air instantly put her on alert!

Almost instinctively, her slender frame darted to the side. She pressed herself against the cold, rough wall, hiding in the shadows cast by the eaves and subconsciously holding her breath.

She cautiously peeked from around the corner, looking in the direction of the sound.

Not far away, on the roof of the building across the alley, a dark figure flitted past like a phantom!

The moonlight outlined his blurry silhouette. His movements were incredibly light, as if he were weightless.

With just a few light taps of his feet on the roof tiles, he crossed several dozen feet at an astonishing speed.

What was even more terrifying was that despite such swift movement, he made no sound at all—not even the faint rustle of a loose tile. It was as if he were treading on an invisible current of air.

Liang Yuhen’s heart tightened. She knew she had encountered an expert and dared not make a move, hoping he was just passing by and wouldn’t notice her.

The figure moved from the distance toward her, about to pass over the alley where she was hiding.

Just as he was diagonally above her, at the very moment the moonlight illuminated him more clearly—

Liang Yuhen’s gaze fell involuntarily upon his face.

A hideous, cold Evil Ghost Mask, radiating an intangible Evil Qi, leaped into her sight!

BUZZ!

Liang Yuhen felt as if her head had been struck by a heavy hammer, and a ringing filled her ears.

Her heart seemed to stop for a moment before it began to pound wildly with unprecedented force, making her chest ache. The THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! vibrated in her eardrums until they felt numb.

’It’s... It’s him!’

She hadn’t seen him since they parted ways outside the city that night, after she had left the thousand taels of silver at the designated spot as promised.

She had thought it was just a thrilling episode in her life, one that had come to an end.

But who could have known that in the days that followed, whether within the Iron Armor Sect or in the city’s teahouses, the legends of the "Ghost-faced Man" would be all she heard?

Legend said that he alone, in full view of everyone, had effortlessly slain three Spirit Awakening Realm disciples of the Moon Worship Sect with his sharp and peerless "Nine Blood Soul Blades." This had drawn the wrath of the Moon Worship Sect, which in turn had led them to slaughter the Blood Saber Sect!

Legend said he had helped the Seven Stars Gang defend against their enemies, not only repelling a joint attack from Seven Stars Castle and the Moon Worship Sect, but also personally killing two lofty Divine Power Realm experts!

These myth-like deeds spread like wildfire across the turbulent lands of Cyan Yang Ancient City, stirring up storms and branding themselves deep in her heart.

That once-vague, masked figure, embellished by legend, had become incredibly grand and mysterious. It had even... caused her to dream, more than once in the dead of night, of that fleeting glimpse.

’I never thought I would meet him again here tonight!’

An indescribable impulse surged through her entire body.

Almost without thinking, at the very moment his figure was about to pass over the alley, she shot out from the shadows. Unleashing her Body Technique, she chased after him in the direction he was heading.

Her Qinggong was already among the best of the Iron Armor Sect’s younger generation. Her slender frame was agile, her steps swift.

But the figure ahead was simply too fast. Like a Dark Night Elf, he widened the distance between them in just a few leaps.

Seemingly sensing her pursuit, the Ghost-faced Man tilted his head slightly during his next leap, his cold mask turning toward Liang Yuhen, who was chasing desperately below.

He didn’t stop, didn’t speak. Not even a trace of emotion could be felt from him.

His gaze merely swept past her, as indifferent as if he were looking at a pebble on the side of the road.

Then, he accelerated, vanishing into the distance as if melting into the night. Within a few breaths, he had completely disappeared behind the continuous line of rooftops, leaving no trace behind.

Liang Yuhen was forced to stop. She stood in the middle of the empty, desolate street, gazing up in the direction he had disappeared, her chest heaving from her ragged breaths.

A hot flush of disappointment, shame, and a strange fluttering excitement rushed to her cheeks, making her face burn.

She stomped her foot hard. The crisp sound echoed far in the quiet night, but it couldn’t extinguish the complex emotions swirling in her heart.

She couldn’t help but remember that night on the street—

He had thought she was dead and had crouched down, about to handle the corpse... but instead, he had given her two light squeezes.

Back then, in that life-or-death moment, she had felt only panicked shame and anger. But thinking back now, the sensation seemed to cross the gulf of time, becoming clear once more, bringing with it an indescribable, blush-inducing thrill.

The moonlight was still cold, and silence returned to the alley.

Only the young woman remained, her heart, like a placid lake, now utterly roiled by the fleeting image of the ghost-faced figure.

...

「The next day.」

The setting sun was like blood, dyeing the horizon a tragic, brilliant orange, but its warmth could not penetrate the dead silence of the Seven Stars Gang Headquarters.

The Seven Stars Gang, once one of the three major gangs, was now completely deserted, as if some invisible giant hand had wiped away all signs of life.

On the Martial Arts Arena, weapon racks were toppled over. A few patches of long-dried, blackened blood were stubbornly stained in the cracks of the bluestone tiles, speaking of the recent carnage.

The wind whistled through the empty corridors, rustling a few withered leaves with a mournful cry.

Though it was a warm breeze, it only added to the sense of ruin and desolation.

Inside a room, Chu Fan stood by the window.

Cyan Snake Xiaobai sat in a chair, braiding her hair.

The afterglow of the setting sun slanted in, casting a beautiful, tranquil scene as it fell upon the two of them.

[Spiritual Essence: 1126]

[Pollution Level: 10/100]

’Slaughtering the people of Seven Stars Castle and clearing out those ruins really made my Spiritual Essence grow at a flying pace.’

’But that strange "Pollution Level" has somehow crept up from 8 to 10!’

A thread of unease, like a venomous snake, gnawed at Chu Fan’s heart.

’Is it because I’ve killed too much, and the hostile energy has invaded my soul?’

’Is it because the Yellow Springs Death Qi is too dense and won’t dissipate?’

’Or... is it because of the "Demon Suppression Stele" on me?’