Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Appearance of Wang Bao

Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Appearance of Wang Bao

The feeling of crisis descended too abruptly.

Shen An was caught completely off guard.

Everyone present turned pale with shock.

A terrifying surge of energy rolled in from behind Shen An. In an instant, the black mist was about to reach him.

Bai Weiwei and Mu Linqiu, seeing this, were stricken with alarm. They wanted to move to save him but were already too late.

At the same time, both sensed a murderous intent enveloping them. The others, who were merely onlookers, didn’t feel the same, but they too sensed something unusual.

It was clear the assailant was after Shen An.

In a flash, everyone stepped back a few paces, leaving space between themselves and the conflict.

Facing an unknown enemy, no one wished to intervene before the situation became clear.

Chu Dongwang hadn’t come this time. Perhaps, if he had, he might have chosen to act.

But now was not the moment for such considerations.

Shen An’s expression shifted subtly as the black current suddenly descended upon him.

He let out a muffled grunt and, in the same moment, brought his blade down, ending Master Yan’s assault.

He killed Master Yan first.

Immediately after, Shen An staggered and nearly collapsed forward.

Fortunately, he managed to steady himself and did not fall.

His face ashen, he turned to look behind him.

There, a man dressed in black was approaching at a measured pace.

As he advanced, he suddenly quickened, his speed increasing with every stride.

Shen An’s expression changed. He felt as though the very air around him had grown thick and still, his breathing ragged and strained.

In a blink, the man was upon him.

With a swift slash, the opponent’s dagger swept toward Shen An.

Shen An dodged by the narrowest of margins.

“Poisoned by me, yet still so quick? But this is the end of the line.”

The man’s face was concealed, his movements equally swift. After speaking, he closed in again.

Shen An’s eyes never left him.

In response, Shen An’s black iron blade flashed twice, striking out at his foe.

His swordplay appeared ordinary, wide and direct.

Yet the masked man was visibly startled and hurried to evade.

Behind him, two blade shadows suddenly appeared, splitting the ground in their wake and leaving a deep line across the earth.

The masked man was secretly alarmed. He dared not underestimate Shen An and wondered how he could still be so formidable even after being poisoned.

He knew he had to finish this quickly; he couldn’t afford to be drawn into a prolonged confrontation.

Dark mist gathered in his palm again as he struck at Shen An.

The two exchanged blows, and before long, Shen An’s face grew even paler.

Seeing this, the masked attacker’s heart finally settled. Shen An was poisoned—death was only a matter of time.

Despite his pallor, Shen An continued to parry blows while keeping an eye on Bai Weiwei and Mu Linqiu.

Luckily, their assailants had not managed to overcome them. Both women were still able to defend themselves.

As time dragged on, the masked man suddenly sensed something was amiss.

“Impossible! You were poisoned—how are you still standing?” he burst out in disbelief.

At this, Shen An’s face abruptly returned to normal. He struck the man away with one palm, and with the other hand, his blade slashed out.

The opponent blocked in haste, suffered a wound, and retreated several steps, no longer daring to approach.

“Poisoned? When did I ever say I was poisoned?” Shen An smiled, a look of innocence on his face.

When he had sensed the danger behind him earlier, knowing there was no way to evade, Shen An had quietly opened his spatial power and swallowed the black mist.

From then on, he used his energy to shield his hands during the fight, feigning weakness and letting his adversary believe he was poisoned—when in fact, he was not.

The masked man nearly spat blood. He had been thoroughly deceived.

Realizing he was no match for Shen An, he quickly signaled those attacking Bai Weiwei and Mu Linqiu.

They understood instantly and turned to retreat.

Just then, as they withdrew, Viper approached from afar. He glanced at the man fleeing from Shen An and narrowed his eyes.

“Boss, that’s the arsonist from the other night,” Viper announced.

Just by the shape of the man’s body, Viper had recognized him.

Shen An smiled, “Very well. I’ll leave him to you. He’s already injured by me and won’t be your match.”

Viper didn’t hesitate and stepped forward to block the man’s escape.

The other two, seeing their companion intercepted, didn’t even glance back. They knew that if they tried to help, they’d only court disaster.

Without a second’s hesitation, they turned and fled.

But suddenly, a nondescript man appeared ahead of them, bow in hand, arrow nocked and ready.

The two paused in surprise.

In the next instant, a sharp whistling cut through the air and their faces finally changed.

The arrow shot out, and in a blink, it struck one of them square in the chest.

With a dull thud, the arrow buried itself deep in his heart.

He didn’t even have time to cry out before he clutched his chest and toppled backward, lifeless.

With the first slain, Wang Bao visibly relaxed, looking exhausted.

The other, delayed for a mere moment, was soon overtaken by Bai Weiwei and Mu Linqiu.

Glancing at those present and seeing Shen An approach, he didn’t hesitate. He drew a dagger and buried it in his own chest, dying instantly.

Shen An turned his gaze to the last man still locked in combat with Viper.

“He’s one of the Dark Division. I didn’t expect them to come after us,” Mu Linqiu remarked, ignoring the man after his suicide and appearing at Shen An’s side.

“A member of the Dark Division?” Shen An showed little surprise at the news.

He had long suspected they wouldn’t let matters rest. Their attack now was only to be expected.

Soon enough, Viper finished off his opponent.

The man had already been wounded by Shen An and was desperate to escape, while Viper had spent the past days honing his skills.

Since joining Shen An, they had all received his guidance, each improving noticeably in recent days.

Shen An had no intention of leaving anyone alive for questioning. Now that he knew the Dark Division was behind this, there was only one solution—to uproot them completely.

He had promised to protect Mu Linqiu and Viper. Eliminating the Dark Division was the surest way, once and for all.

Once quiet returned, the others hurried over, concerned about Shen An’s injuries and asking if he was alright.

The scene was almost comical—a crowd of fair-weather friends. Shen An didn’t even spare them a glance as he turned to leave.

Even Mu Linqiu and her companions had no time for such people.

The bodies on the ground would be handled by others.

Wang Bao, bow in hand, walked up to Shen An.

“Boss Shen, you promised to treat me to something delicious—don’t forget!”

Shen An had quietly arranged everything before coming. He’d found Wang Bao and asked for his help, promising in return a meal better than anything served at the Imperial Grand Hotel.

Wang Bao had happily agreed.