Boom!
Dark clouds gathered thickly, followed by a loud thunderclap, while flashes of lightning suddenly appeared.
Sudden rain plummeted from the sky, hitting the black tiles which, guided by the curvature, interwoven and gathered at the eaves into dangling curtains of water.
Li Che, having transformed his appearance and concealed his aura using the “Dragon Elephant Vajra”, walked on the rain-drenched bluestone pavement of the Inner City, splashing the water under his feet.
This was weather suitable for killing.
Li Che walked slowly, his eyes lowered, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, and carrying a big guy behind him, step by step.
A fire gradually ignited within him.
Although more than two months had passed… the fire had not only not gone out but had become even more intense.
That night, although he had killed Zhao Chuanxiong, killed Guo Zhan, and killed three Blood Exchange Experts from the Spirit Infant Sect…
Li Che remembered that Si Mubai was supposed to personally capture Xi Xi…
If it weren’t for the intervention of the powerful, and the severe injury he sustained…
Li Che could hardly imagine the danger of that night.
So how could he forget?
How could the fire in his heart be extinguished?!
At this moment, he was headed towards the Golden Splendor Pavilion, where Si Mubai, after being seriously injured, had holed up in the Si Mansion for a long time, as if he had completely disappeared.
But Li Che had been waiting for him to be unable to bear the solitude and to come out.
Most young masters, after enjoying the hedonistic lifestyle, find it difficult to settle down to endure lengthy periods of tough cultivation in solitude.
As expected, Li Che finally heard that Si Mubai had booked a luxurious private room at the Golden Splendor Pavilion half a day earlier and had arranged for the best Oiran of the pavilion to accompany him for drinks…
Was Si Mubai really unable to bear the solitude?
If he dared to leave the Si Mansion, that meant his injuries must have improved.
But thinking worst-case scenario… with such fanfare and even reserving a private room in advance, was it too high-profile, or could it be a trap set by Si Mubai?
Li Che didn’t dwell on it.
Si Mubai wanted to kill Xi Xi, wanted to use Xi Xi as the Spirit Child to lure others… Now injured, he might be even less likely to let things go.
Last time, the Si Family plotted against the Xu Family, causing all of the Divine Cultivators from the Xu Family to be recalled back to the Divine Cultivation Institute, making the Xu Family more cautious. It would be difficult for the Si Family to repeat their old tricks.
Which meant that continuing to stay in the Xu’s Courtyard in the Outer City with its very low security was far more dangerous than entering the Divine Cultivation Institute.
The Divine Cultivation Institute provided at least short-term security without concerns.
If the Spirit Infant Sect were to break out completely, then it would be dangerous. By then… Li Che would certainly find an opportunity to whisk Xi Xi away.
This was another consideration for sending Xi Xi to the Divine Cultivation Institute apart from proactively nurturing her divinity.
And thus, Li Che could free up his hands…
Even if it was a baited trap set by Si Mubai with himself as the bait… he would still give it a try.
If there were a trap set by Si Mubai… Li Che felt that it was probably not prepared for the Bull Demon… The Bull Demon… probably didn’t have the qualifications to force a Divine Cultivator to use himself as bait to set a trap.
It was probably meant for the Divine Cultivator who had injured Si Mubai.
If that was the case… even better, stirring the waters to catch fish, was what Li Che liked best.
No matter what, having missed the opportunity to kill Si Mubai previously, now that Si Mubai had left the house, it was Li Che’s only chance.
Whether it was an opportunity intentionally given or not, Li Che wanted to give it a try.
…
…
The security at the Golden Splendor Pavilion was much more formal than the last time he killed Lei Chunlan, with a patrol guard composed of Quenched-Bone Warriors, side knives at their waists, their Qi and blood intertwining like a huge net.
However, Li Che, now possessing a stronger “Slumbering Dragon Elephant” breath-concealing ability, nearly completely erased his presence, concealing his Qi and Blood to the point where he seemed almost like a dead man.
Entering the Golden Splendor Pavilion as an ordinary person, Li Che took a seat in the great hall and ordered some wine and dishes.
The Golden Splendor Pavilion was renowned for three specialties: its wine, dishes, and Oiran.
Li Che, now having ample funds, didn’t mind spending, and the wine and dishes were soon served.
Si Mubai probably hadn’t arrived yet. Entering early allowed him better preparation and setup.
Eating and drinking, Li Che was calm and collected.
Suddenly, a gentle breeze arrived, and a gray-robed old man took the seat across from Li Che.
“Young man, drinking alone seems so lonely, would you join this old man for a few?”
The old man said with a smile.
Li Che’s eyelids slightly lifted, and he was momentarily taken aback.
Ever since he had trained in martial arts, Li Che’s memory had become extremely strong, and this old man’s face… seemed vaguely familiar; he had seen it before.
He recalled that when he first obtained the Dao fruit of the “Pure Heart”, and had felt watched on the street, he had seen this old man with a big-headed little boy who sported Nezha braids by his side.
Hmm? Although the big-headed little boy wasn’t there, Li Che could still vaguely remember the old man’s face.
That feeling of being watched combined with today’s encounter…
Coincidence?
Li Che’s fingers tightened around his wine cup forcefully.
He then calmly continued drinking with the old man.
“Old sir, have some dishes,” Li Che said warmly, gesturing with his hand.
“Young man, I should have come to see you earlier. Last time I helped you by intercepting that ‘Angry Cry Town Ghost’ and accidentally got targeted. In order to kill the one who targeted me, I went to a Mysterious Temple outside the city… Unfortunately, I didn’t kill him, only crippled him, and also got involved with a reawakening Temple God for a while.”
The old man put down his cup, grinned, picked up a piece of vinegared pork slice, and spoke.
Mysterious Temple? Temple God?
Professional terms… Li Che didn’t understand.
But that didn’t stop Li Che’s heart from tightening.
This old man… was he the divine cultivator who had made his move that day?!
“Young man, I admit I misjudged you at first glance… Your secret technique for concealing your qi and blood cultivation is somewhat impressive.”
“However, don’t blame this old man for the oversight, for Observation Skill reveals divinity, not qi and blood…” the elder murmured to himself.
Suddenly, his gaze, deep and penetrating, landed on Li Che.
“Breath Concealment Bone Tempering, the surprise attack can indeed be effective for annihilating some mindless martial artists, yet to become a great hero, to eliminate the evil in this city… it is far from enough.”
“Leave now, young man.”
“The bait today is too significant, even with your secret technique’s Blood Exchange Expert power, you are unable to grasp it.”
“After this matter concludes, I will come to find you and provide you with an opportunity… As for this city, on the brink of collapse, all that needs cleaning will be cleaned, all who must leave will have gone.”
Having spoken, the old man fell silent again, quietly drinking his alcohol.
Li Che’s heart pounded as if beating a drum!
“Senior, this Si Mubai wants to kill my daughter, I… I merely wish to protect her.”
Li Che’s voice was hoarse as he said solemnly.
His words implied, he wanted to fish in troubled waters, intending to kill Si Mubai.
Upon hearing this, the old man’s eyes lifted and he began to smile.
“Do you know who was crippled by this old man…?”
Li Che shook his head slightly.
The old man laughed heartily, took a sip of his drink, and whispered mysteriously:
“That old thing from the Si Family who had forged a Divine Foundation…”
“Senior is valiant, I take my leave.”
“Another day, junior will await Senior’s honor in devastation.”
Li Che decisively stood up, cupped his fists, and left.
The old man watched Li Che’s retreating figure, carrying a huge black cloth, leaving without any hesitation, and chuckled while stroking his beard.
“A teachable lad.”
…
…
The torrential rain cascaded down from the heavens.
In the streets and alleys of the Inner City.
Li Che stood rigid and still, rain falling like columns, as if thousands of arrows were shooting into the human world, watching a luxurious carriage marked with the Si Family emblem slowing to a stop in front of the Golden Splendor Pavilion.
Watching the pale-faced Si Mubai being helped into the pavilion by two Meridian Martial Artists, whose qi and blood nearly materialized outside their bodies.
Li Che’s expression was cold.
The mysterious elder had told Li Che that he had crippled the Si Family’s Divine Foundation, to the Si Family…
The sky had fallen!
Now with Si Mubai acting as bait… who was being lured?
Probably those forces wishing to swallow the Si Family!
In short, the mysterious elder had already warned him that this fishing and feasting session… was not something he could interfere with.
“Crippling isn’t killing… Which means, with Si Mubai as bait, might the Si Family’s Divine Foundation possibly be behind this, planning a final battle before his demise to settle the Si Family’s troubles?”
“So, is it highly likely that there will be a battle of Divine Foundations?!”
“A battle of Divine Foundations, indeed troublesome.”
“However… I’m not going to battle a Divine Foundation.”
“Ignore the storm and wind, the conspiracies and plots…”
“I’m only interested in Si Mubai.”
Li Che whispered softly.
“Who is that mysterious elder? Could he possibly be a powerhouse from the Spirit Infant Sect? Most likely not… then it must be either from the Imperial Court or… someone from Divine Sect!”
“However, no matter which side’s powerhouse…”
“He said my cultivation has only reached Bone Tempering Major Accomplishment… This indicates he might not see through the ‘Dragon Elephant Vajra’ Breath Concealment, thus… this bait, I can still take a bite out of.”
Like that Zhao Chuanxiong, how happily he eats.
“Expert in eating bait, Bull Demon is.”
Li Che murmured, even if he couldn’t eat it…
He still needed to witness Si Mubai’s death.
Boom!!!
As he finished murmuring, he suddenly looked up…
Only to see inside the Golden Splendor Pavilion, a tremendous divine force burst forth, countless particles stirred ripples, causing all the rain that had fallen into the Golden Splendor Pavilion to hang inverted back to the heavens!
Cracking and popping in mid-air as if frying beans.
All manner of divine anomalies energetically burst forth, ensnaring the entire Golden Splendor Pavilion!
It had begun…
Li Che watched solemnly.
His whole presence became more concealed, he pressed into a corner of the alleyway, merging with the darkness, added to the rushing rain…
As if he had disappeared from this world.
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