But he still came up empty.

"It seems the person hiding here knew they couldn’t fool me, so they left ahead of time."

He shook his head, not bothering to investigate further.

Since they had come prepared and were deliberately avoiding him, they certainly wouldn’t have left any clues.

Still, he searched the area just in case. Only after confirming there were no traces did he walk over to the man in black.

「At the same time, by a small river several miles away.」

A young man with a longsword was leaning against a large boulder, his gaze distant as he watched the river burble under the night sky.

A figure emerged from the darkness, came up behind him, and knelt on one knee.

"Young Venerable, it seems Fang Shuwen was just using the Seven-String Ancient Chapter to bait us out. That failed ambush must have been what made him turn back..."

"Are you suggesting this is my fault?"

The Young Venerable’s tone was ice-cold.

"I wouldn’t dare."

The man behind him quickly lowered his head. ’But he couldn’t help but feel the Young Venerable’s decision had been rash. Fang Shuwen killed Cao Jiuyin in two palm strikes, yet they only sent one red-robed man with about twenty others to ambush him. It was a gross underestimation of the enemy.’

But he only dared to think this, saying aloud instead:

"It’s just that now, the Seven-String Ancient Chapter has fallen into Ye Feihua’s hands... Young Venerable, you must make your next move quickly."

The Young Venerable mused for a moment before sighing softly.

"Ye Feihua’s Non-Flower Attraction is incredibly elusive, and she herself is unfathomable. This is indeed troublesome."

The man behind him paused, then said softly:

"But from her previous behavior, she seemed rather afraid of Wu Lingxiao and his people. How can she deserve to be called ’unfathomable’?"

"Afraid?"

The Young Venerable gave a faint smile.

"If she were truly afraid, she would have come to heal Wu Lingxiao the moment she got his message. She certainly wouldn’t be scheming for the Seven-String Ancient Chapter."

"And she used the Seven-String Ancient Chapter as the reward, yet conspired with Wu Changzai to take Wu Lingxiao’s life."

"You call that being afraid?"

"Besides, the moment Wu Lingxiao appeared, she did vanish without a trace. But she never went far, or else she wouldn’t have been able to show up next to Fang Shuwen."

"It’s clear she is utterly fearless, resolute in her goals, and full of tricks. She is anything but ordinary."

The man behind him fell silent. ’On second thought, he made a good point.’

’She claims to be afraid, but her actions are outrageously bold.’

’When you look at the whole situation, she... ended up the biggest winner.’

’It was frightening to dwell on. The more he thought about it, the more unfathomable she seemed.’

"Her Jinghua Pavilion is no ordinary place. It’s teeming with experts."

"And that whole crew... they’re all experts at burrowing."

"The Jin Ling is easy to find, but the Jinghua is hard to seek."

The Young Venerable let out a slow breath, his eyes filled with solemnity.

"But..."

The man behind him began softly, his voice full of apprehension:

"The plot at Zhuji Pavilion came to nothing."

"If we fail to get the Seven-String Ancient Chapter... I’m afraid it will be difficult to answer to His Lordship."

A mocking smile touched the Young Venerable’s lips.

"Zhuji Pavilion was always a disposable piece, something Uncle Long set up on a whim. We never actually expected them to accomplish anything."

"As for that other item... we’ll have to play the long game."

Having said this, both of them fell silent.

For they both knew that while the Black Death Sect may have been a disposable piece, it was an exquisite one.

If played correctly, it could have easily gotten them what they wanted. They just never expected an unforeseen variable to derail the entire scheme.

After a long moment, the man behind him tried to steer the conversation back.

"Young Venerable, what’s done is done."

"How should we proceed with obtaining the Seven-String Ancient Chapter? Please, give us your orders, Young Venerable."

"Rats hide in their holes, thinking they will never be discovered."

"Little do they know... there are plenty of ways to flush them out of the darkness."

The Young Venerable said softly:

"In two days, I will give you a list. Take some men and pay each of them a visit."

"In the name of Jinghua Pavilion, send them on their final journey."

"If the Jianghu is calm, then we shall be the ones to stir up a storm."

"Yes."

The man behind him heard this and immediately nodded in agreement.

After a moment of silence, the young man furrowed his brow slightly.

"Is there something else?"

"What should be done about that Fang Shuwen?"

"...Deal with him?"

The Young Venerable was stunned for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"Kill him, of course. Anyone who dares to stand in our way dies, even if they were the Heavenly King himself."

"I think you’re the right man for the job. Why don’t you take some men and bring me his head?"

"..."

The man behind him was silent for a long moment, then said helplessly:

"Young Venerable, the man’s Martial Arts are peerless. I... I’m afraid I would be no match for him."

"Then why did you ask!?"

The Young Venerable’s face darkened as he spoke.

"The Martial Arts of the Undead give one a fighting chance of escaping unscathed even from the likes of the Three Immortals, Two Kings, and One City Madman."

"With that move from tonight, he would have a decent chance of winning even against the likes of Wu Lingxiao or Murong Qingchen."

"And yet, look at how Fang Shuwen dealt with it."

"Deal with him... Do you have a death wish?"

"I spoke out of turn. Please, quell your anger, Young Venerable." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Hmph."

The Young Venerable snorted coldly.

"If you know, then get lost!"

"...But Qian Gong knows the location of the Vermilion Bird Hall Master. Should we not prepare for that?"

"Under the Divine Fire Seal... what do you think he could possibly say?"

"You are right, Young Venerable. In that case, Fang Shuwen is destined to find nothing. Your wisdom is profound, Young Venerable. I will take my leave."

With that, the man’s figure flickered and vanished into the night.

Leaving the Young Venerable alone, silently watching the churning river before him.