Chapter 24: The Forest of Dark Night

The sudden appearance of the City Lord was indeed a great surprise to Lu Qingyun.

The other two assassins, upon seeing the City Lord, ceased their bickering and prepared to flee. Yet, despite their formidable strength, they found themselves utterly paralyzed. Lu Qingyun was no different; under the immense pressure, he too was unable to move a muscle.

The City Lord’s massive frame descended slowly from above, as if he intended to fill the narrow alleyway entirely. He scanned those present, fixed his gaze upon Lu Qingyun, and spoke in a low, rumbling voice: "Boy, I asked you a question. Why don't you answer me?"

Lu Qingyun shook his head slowly, his brow furrowed as he replied, "If I don't run, am I supposed to just stand here and wait for death?"

Lu Qingyun was not without fear; facing a City Lord of such terrifying power, he had no idea how to handle the situation. However, he knew clearly that since he might end up dead at this man's hands anyway, there was no need to act submissively. He knew the City Lord’s strength well; even if he begged for mercy, the man could end his life with ease if he so desired. The City Lord was tyrannical, but for the sake of his own pride, Lu Qingyun chose to live with his head held high. He would rather die standing than live on his knees. He had decided to be a man of mettle; regardless of the outcome, he would not let anyone look down on him.

The City Lord landed on the ground and began to walk slowly toward Lu Qingyun. His towering figure seemed to completely envelop the young man. Facing those two immense eyes, Lu Qingyun did not flinch.

"Did I say I wanted you dead?" the City Lord growled. "I only told you to find a way to retrieve that key. I never said anything about what would happen afterward, did I? I despise it when people try to second-guess my intentions, and I despise it even more when they defy me. That goes for everyone!"

The City Lord loomed over him, but Lu Qingyun stared back, eyes unblinking.

"What? Are you going to argue?" the City Lord asked in a low voice.

Lu Qingyun shook his head slowly. "Heh. Argue? What is there to argue about? It’s already done; I have nothing to say. You want to kill me? You can do it whenever you like. But I believe that no matter how far I push things, you won't kill me."

Lu Qingyun’s eyes were filled with confidence. The panic he felt earlier was merely a reaction to the City Lord’s overwhelming aura. Everything happening now remained within his plan; nothing had changed. The City Lord could not uncover the secrets of Fengyun Gorge on his own—he had to rely on Lu Qingyun. Lu Qingyun was the one chosen by the High Priest, and no one else had a chance.

The City Lord frowned deeply. "Boy, you’re that confident?"

Lu Qingyun nodded with a smile. "Of course. You’ve waited all these years—are you really going to wait another few hundred? What if the secret there disappears? Since I’m the one who has to uncover it, do you have any other candidates? Let’s be blunt: that’s the reality. If you want, you can just kill me."

Lu Qingyun was that certain. Even if the City Lord’s cultivation allowed him to live for centuries more, how could he possibly find another person recognized by the High Priest so easily? Having reached this point, Lu Qingyun was firm in his conviction, hence his current attitude.

The two assassins were stunned. They had never imagined such a situation, and Lu Qingyun’s way of handling things was vastly different from an ordinary person. Despite his mediocre cultivation, his courage was extraordinary.

Before the City Lord could respond, a graceful woman emerged from the other end of the alley. Everyone turned to look, their eyes filled with surprise. Lu Qingyun recognized her immediately: she was none other than Ye Jin, the head of the auction house.

Before she even reached them, her laughter rang out. "Heh heh heh. You were chatting so nicely just a moment ago—why the sudden silence? Did I interrupt something?"

Ye Jin looked at them with a smile, showing no signs of tension. "If you’re going to leave, now is the time. Or do you intend to stay here? Is this spectacle that entertaining?"

Aside from the old man and the other woman, the many assassins hiding in the shadows chose to flee immediately. In the end, only Lu Qingyun, the City Lord, and Ye Jin remained. Lu Qingyun looked at the two of them and offered a helpless smile. "Heh heh. It started with just two ordinary assassins, and now that it’s escalated to you two, it seems I really have no way out."

Lu Qingyun sat on the ground, leaning against the wall, enjoying the show. He watched the City Lord and Ye Jin with a smile, curious about the history between them.

Ye Jin spoke slowly, "City Lord, it’s been a long time. If I don't seek you out, do you never intend to see me? You’ve held a grudge against a weak woman like me for all these years over one small key. Now that the key is returned to you, is there really a need to hate me so much? Can’t we reconcile?"

Lu Qingyun had known there would be history, but he hadn't expected such an emotional entanglement. The City Lord turned his face away, saying coldly, "You are the woman who betrayed me back then. That I didn't kill you is my greatest act of mercy. You dare to show your face to me now? Are you not afraid I’ll kill you?"

Lu Qingyun watched from the sidelines like a bystander at a feast, his curiosity piqued by their argument. Ye Jin shook her head slowly, her eyes filled with complex emotions. As if recalling the past, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. "You abandoned me for the sake of power, and now you lay the blame on me. How ridiculous... Let’s talk about business. Enough of this boring talk. What do you intend for this boy to do? Do you expect him to face the High Priest all by himself?"

Lu Qingyun listened intently, hoping to glean useful information and clues.

The City Lord, facing her question, turned to look at Lu Qingyun. "I have forgotten how long I have waited. With both keys in our hands, they have served no purpose. I fear that if we wait much longer, the lingering consciousness of the High Priest will fade away entirely. Now is the best opportunity. Since such an outstanding young man has appeared, he is the only one who can do it."

Lu Qingyun remained curious about their past, but the burden he now carried was far heavier than he had anticipated. He had originally thought that after transmigrating and possessing a powerful Martial Soul, he only needed to cultivate slowly to reach the pinnacle of the continent and become a hegemon. Like the novels he used to write, he expected that even with a bumpy road, he could overcome obstacles and grow steadily. Perhaps he would even meet a few benefactors to provide him with great help. Turning danger into safety was supposed to be a common occurrence. Unfortunately, he had been dealt a massive challenge the moment he stepped outside.

Against such a powerful enemy, even if he could fully utilize the Azure Dragon Martial Soul, with his current cultivation, he probably wouldn't last a second. The pace was too fast; it gave him no opportunity to level up.

"So, you have both decided to control my fate just like that?" Lu Qingyun asked coolly. He knew his worth, which was why he was so unyielding. If he were of no use, surely his life would be worthless on this continent. Power was supreme; only those with true strength lived long. Lu Qingyun hadn't even shown his full potential yet; he was simply doing what needed to be done.

Ye Jin looked at the young, handsome Lu Qingyun, her eyes filled with a touch of pity. "If he had another ten or eight years to cultivate, he would surely gain greater strength. It’s a pity—this young man’s fate is jagged, bumpy, and full of twists and turns. Even if he tries his best to resolve this, it seems difficult to achieve a good result."

Lu Qingyun felt this woman was far too pessimistic. The task hadn't even begun, and she was already spouting such discouraging words. He looked at the City Lord, who looked back at him. The City Lord’s ring glowed, and he produced a garment as thin as silk.

"Take this."

Lu Qingyun took the garment and felt it had no weight at all. It was slippery to the touch—definitely no ordinary item. Lu Qingyun didn't know what it was, but Ye Jin remarked in surprise, "Sigh... men really can't be trusted. I begged you to give this Silk Treasure Armor to me back then, but you wouldn't."

"Boy, you’ve struck gold. This is no ordinary treasure. It is immune to fire and water, invulnerable to all poisons, and impervious to ordinary weapons. Even ancient divine artifacts cannot harm you in the slightest. However, it can only block an attack from an ancient divine artifact once. I think that should be enough, right?"

Watching the envy in her eyes, Lu Qingyun smiled at the City Lord. "Many thanks. Are there any other instructions?"

Before departing, Lu Qingyun needed to be clear about his true mission. He felt that if it were merely a matter of retrieving two keys, there would be no need for such a grand display. Everything the City Lord and Ye Jin had done was likely just a test for him. He had passed their trial, and now he would continue to work for them. However, judging by their eyes, they seemed to feel that Lu Qingyun’s only shortcoming was his strength. If his cultivation were higher, he might be able to bring them more benefits. But in this world, how could anything ever be perfect?

If things were too perfect, perhaps the task itself would be impossible to complete.

The City Lord threw him a map. It was exquisitely crafted from pure silk, with every route and landmark embroidered by hand. It felt heavy in his hands; the material was clearly top-tier.

"You cannot go directly to Fengyun Gorge yet. You must retrieve something else first, located in the Dark Night Forest outside the city. There are many restrictions there, but fortunately, your cultivation is low enough to enter. You must find these three herbs marked on the map."

The City Lord said nothing more. Lu Qingyun looked at the markings on the map. Through the skills he had learned from his system, he realized these were not ordinary herbs. He let out a cold laugh.

"Heh. Interesting. No wonder you gave me such a good treasure—you were afraid I’d be poisoned? These are top-tier toxic herbs on this continent. Are you sure you want me to go get them?"

The City Lord nodded slowly. "There is one more person accompanying you. Meng Li, come out!"

Lu Qingyun turned to see Meng Li, carrying an ancient zither, appearing before them.

"Why is it you?" Lu Qingyun asked, puzzled. He had thought that if anyone were to accompany him, it would be Xu Feng, or perhaps Fatty Wang and the others. He had never expected it to be Meng Li.

She looked at Lu Qingyun with eyes devoid of emotion.

The City Lord said in a deep voice, "Bring back what I want, and I will return your father to you. If you cannot ensure his safety, don't bother coming back."

Meng Li and her father had come to deal with the City Lord, but they hadn't expected the City Lord to be so powerful that he would strike first. Meng Li simply acknowledged the order without another word.

Everything was set. Lu Qingyun hadn't expected his next destination to be the Dark Night Forest rather than Fengyun Gorge.

[Ding! The Dark Night Forest is home to top-tier demonic beasts, toxic miasma, swamps, and countless dangers...]
[City Lord's trial passed. Reward: a small amount of cultivation. You are a combat weakling—please prioritize your safety!]

Hearing such a prompt from the system for the first time, Lu Qingyun felt a strange sense of being moved. He even had a sudden desire to rid himself of the "combat weakling" label as soon as possible.

"Let’s go," Lu Qingyun said calmly. "The sooner we leave, the sooner we return."

Before leaving, he smiled and cautioned the City Lord, "City Lord, I hope that when I return, my friends are all safe." He knew that Fatty Wang and the others would not be able to leave easily; the City Lord would certainly use them as leverage.

The City Lord ignored him and vanished instantly. Ye Jin, standing to the side, laughed. "He is the City Lord, after all; he has his reputation to maintain. Don’t worry, they will be fine!"

Lu Qingyun smiled in thanks and set off toward the location on the map. Meng Li followed behind him in silence. Just as they were nearing the city gate, Meng Li spoke coldly from behind him:

"Running dog!"

Lu Qingyun had been busy calculating his next move, but at those words, he stopped dead in his tracks. He turned around slowly, a smile curling the corners of his mouth.

"Heh. A running dog?"

"Then why are you coming with me? What does that make you?"

"I’m tired from walking. Why don't you play a tune for your master?"