Chapter 232: Chapter 123: Just Because I Looked Back at You Once More in the Crowd (Part 3)

Then, after a stick of incense, the group appeared on Ten-Mile Slope.

Because it was still early morning, there was no one around.

From afar, they could see smoke rising from the Marketplace, and from time to time, they could hear the terrifying sounds of magic and explosions echoing.

Of course, they could also see many cultivators fleeing in all directions away from the Marketplace.

"This time, it really happened too suddenly and unexpectedly. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

When Xiaoyue mentioned that the Marketplace would soon be in chaos, I had some doubts, hesitating over the past few days about whether to leave with everyone.

Unexpectedly, the turmoil erupted ahead of time.

If it weren’t for you, I really wouldn’t know what to do."

Lu Wei’Er looked at the chaotic escape in the distance, where people occasionally attacked others publicly, accompanied by screams, and couldn’t help but remark with emotion.

This time, she truly felt like she had narrowly escaped a calamity.

In her heart, she indeed felt some gratitude towards the three.

"Sister Wei’Er, you are being polite."

Qian Xiaoyue tugged at her hand and said.

"Yes, Fellow Daoist Lu.

If anyone should be grateful, it should be me thanking you.

If you hadn’t suggested that I leave with you, I might still be running around in the Marketplace in confusion.

In the end, I probably wouldn’t even know how I died."

Fang Shitong also spoke up, then looked towards Zhou Changwang, and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhou has always been hostile towards me, probably because he discovered something in the past, right?"

"Hmm?"

Zhou Changwang glanced at him without speaking.

Qian Xiaoyue shivered slightly but moved a little closer to Zhou Changwang.

In fact, she was the first to discover Fang Shitong’s identity. Being in the wilderness and facing him, an actual Sixth-Layer Qi Cultivation practitioner, far surpassing her and Zhou Changwang, she naturally felt somewhat worried.

"I did engage in killing and looting in the past."

Hearing this, Lu Wei’Er’s face changed, and like Qian Xiaoyue, she moved a bit closer to where Zhou Changwang was.

Although she had deliberately kept a distance from him for a while following Qian Xiaoyue’s reminder, as time went on, she found that he wasn’t as vicious as she thought. Besides, he even saved her life this time, leading to a bit of reliance on him.

But with those words, she recalled Qian Xiaoyue’s prior warnings, and naturally felt some fear.

"But I’m not the Tribulation Cultivator you suspect."

Seeing this, Fang Shitong gave a bitter smile and quickly said, "Have you heard of the Cyan Leaf Alliance?

My junior apprentice and I actually joined the Cyan Leaf Alliance early on under our master’s guidance.

Our main source of income actually came from taking on assassination missions within the Cyan Leaf Alliance.

However, we don’t take on just any assassination mission; we generally target those with a bit of notoriety, people who act badly and behave in a mischievous manner.

At that time, my junior apprentice and I were together; he was in charge of gathering intelligence while I monitored the target and devised plans.

We were quite successful and somewhat known within Divine Wind Valley.

Half a year ago, my junior apprentice and I took on a mission to assassinate a Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer practitioner. Unexpectedly, it coincided with the Feng Family’s recruitment to settle in Fengming Dock Marketplace, and our target arrived there as well.

So we followed, and soon intercepted and killed the target on the outskirts of the Marketplace.

Perhaps it was this action that led to Fellow Daoist Zhou’s misunderstanding?"

"It might not be a misunderstanding."

Zhou Changwang replied noncommittally.

Qian Xiaoyue opened her mouth to say something but didn’t know how to start.

After all, she was the one who spread the news.

"During the chaotic night, out of curiosity, my junior apprentice and I entered the inner city of the Marketplace following most of the cultivators.

Unbeknownst to us, this led to my junior apprentice’s demise in the Marketplace’s inner city.

All because we glanced at a cultivator one too many times.

We had just entered the inner city when we saw a late-stage Qi Cultivation practitioner battling three Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer practitioners. We intended to retreat, but unexpectedly, the late-stage practitioner unleashed great power, quickly slaughtering the three and charging towards us.

We turned to flee, but due to the distance, my junior apprentice was hit by the opponent’s Flying Sword and died instantly, and hearing his screams, I didn’t dare look back... I had actually anticipated this day and was prepared for it.

Yet, when my junior apprentice died, I finally realized my own frailty.

To be honest, I was scared.

If you kill someone, others will kill you.

Who knows if the next target I try to assassinate doesn’t have the power to turn the tables on me?

So, I decided to quit.

During these past six months, I haven’t taken on a single assassination mission, and have rarely even stepped outside the Marketplace’s gate..."

As he spoke, Fang Shitong looked towards Zhou Changwang and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhou is wary of me, which is understandable.

But I believe there is no need for you to be overly cautious.

Even half a year ago, when my junior apprentice was still around, we wouldn’t casually attack ordinary cultivators."

"As cultivators, we must be cautious.

Fellow Daoist Fang, there’s no need to worry, as long as you don’t act with ill intent, I won’t do anything."

Zhou Changwang also spoke up.

This exchange between the two was candid, although it couldn’t completely eliminate the barrier, their relationship indeed eased a bit.