Chapter 54: Uninvited Guest
While Pei Lianxue went into the back room with the proprietress to be measured for clothes, Ye Anping was planning to casually browse the finished garments in the shop. However, just as Pei Lianxue entered the back room, Ye Anping felt a killing intent emanating from a shop across the street.
Ye Anping paused slightly and immediately turned his head cautiously in that direction.
Brother Liang, now wearing a bamboo hat, was leaning against the wall of a shop across the street. When Ye Anping looked at him, he pushed his bamboo hat up with his hand, gave him a look, and then walked towards an alley next to the shop.
It seemed that this person had been following him and Pei Lianxue all along, but had been concealing his aura, so neither of them had noticed they were being tracked.
“At this time…”
Ye Anping sighed softly, glanced towards the back room of the tailor shop, knowing his junior sister would need some time for her measurements. After a moment of thought, he followed Brother Liang’s footsteps into the alley.
As for why Brother Liang suddenly sought him out, he had a few ideas. He figured this guy must have secretly investigated his background and, seeing him out shopping with Pei Lianxue, had finally realized he had been tricked. It wasn’t exactly an unexpected development. His identity as a “shop owner” was never very well-constructed, with too many flaws. Once they discovered he was the Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect, his false identity would crumble.
Entering the dark alley from the street, Ye Anping rubbed the bridge of his nose, allowing his eyes to gradually adjust to the darkness, barely making out his surroundings. He walked towards the depths of the alley. After rounding a corner, he saw Brother Liang waiting for him.
As Ye Anping approached, Brother Liang spoke directly, “How many feathers does the Golden Crow have?”
This was still a recognition phrase from the Seven Kill Gate, but not one used between an “agent” and a “shop,” but rather between “agents.” As for the next part of the phrase…
Ye Anping replied, “One feather is gold, one feather is silver, one feather is of five colors, totaling three feathers.”
“…”
Seeing Ye Anping respond correctly to the agent’s phrase again, Brother Liang’s brows furrowed, and he became vigilant. He asked directly, “Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect, how did you learn the Seven Kill Gate’s street phrases?”
“The Young Master of the Hundred Lotus Sect? It seems Brother Liang secretly investigated me.”
Hearing Ye Anping still call him “Brother Liang,” Brother Liang sneered and asked mockingly, “You’re still calling me brother, old sixth.”
“We’re sworn brothers, aren’t we?”
Ye Anping gave a wry smile, rested his chin on his hand, and pondered for a moment before asking curiously, “Speaking of which, Brother Liang, when did you start suspecting my identity? Or did you suspect me from the very beginning?”
“When you responded to the shop’s street phrase, I was indeed surprised, thinking the shop owner here was a child. However, I didn’t suspect you. After all, not everyone knows these phrases.”
“So…”
“It was after we escaped from the back mountain of the Xuan Xing Sect…”
“…”
“I thought about it for a long time… whether it was my Seven Star Suffocating Spirit Array being easily broken, the deaths of my second brother and the others, or your actions at the time, I finally realized that you were likely the problem.”
“Yes, you’re right.”
“You previously said your name was Jiang Ziya, so I looked into it, but found nothing. However, for the name Ye Anping, I found quite a bit.”
As he said this, Brother Liang made a sword-finger gesture. A flash of spiritual light appeared, and a spirit sword suddenly materialized in his right hand.
The next moment—
*Swish—*
A whooshing sound. The sword rose and was placed against Ye Anping’s neck.
“…”
Ye Anping glanced at the sword’s surface, reflecting silver light, but made no move to dodge.
“You’re not dodging?” Brother Liang narrowed his eyes.
“Since Brother Liang could ascertain my identity, it shows that Brother Liang isn’t foolish enough to kill me directly.”
“Heh…” Brother Liang sneered, “Do you know the consequences of impersonating a Seven Kill Gate shop?”
Ye Anping calmly nodded and replied, “In short, death.”
“Yes, that’s right.” Brother Liang nodded. “And a brutal death. You’d be taken to the Seven Kill Gate, subjected to torture until dismemberment, and finally die on some unknown mountain.”
“Yes, I know.”
“So?” Brother Liang narrowed his eyes.
“Brother Liang, have you figured out why I impersonated a Seven Kill Gate shop owner? Why I led you and the others into the Xuan Xing Sect? And why I safely brought you out from the back mountain of the Xuan Xing Sect in the end?”
“…Does it matter?”
Ye Anping shrugged, his expression relaxed as he replied, “If your esteemed self had truly figured it out, you wouldn’t have a sword at my neck.”
“…”
Brother Liang stared silently into Ye Anping’s eyes, then regretfully withdrew the sword, a wry smile on his face. He asked, “Tell me.”
“I impersonated a Seven Kill Gate shop owner, and you, as an agent of the Seven Kill Gate, have every right to take my head.”
“…”
“However, what if I told you the Seven Kill Gate is about to be wiped out?”
“Wiped out?” Brother Liang was slightly shocked.
“The Xuan Xing Sect now regards the Seven Kill Gate as a thorn in their side. Elder Lei Wanjun has already begun planning to eradicate the Seven Kill Gate from the Western Regions.”
“…”
“You want to kill me not for revenge for my second brother and the others. You are simply acting as an agent of the Seven Kill Gate, hence seeking my life. Now that the Seven Kill Gate has become mortal enemies with the Xuan Xing Sect, do you still want to remain with them?”
“…” Brother Liang frowned and narrowed his eyes, “Are you a disciple of the Xuan Xing Sect?”
“No.”
“No? Then how do you know… Never mind…” Brother Liang shook his head and retorted, “The location of the Heavenly Mystery Fortress of the Seven Kill Gate is a closely guarded secret. I’ve been with the Seven Kill Gate for over forty years and have never entered it. Even if the Xuan Xing Sect wants to completely eliminate the Seven Kill Gate, it won’t be easy…”
“Is that so?”
Seeing Ye Anping’s continued composure, Brother Liang’s frown deepened. This person clearly didn’t act like a fifteen-year-old.
“You don’t mean to tell me you know where the Heavenly Mystery Fortress is?”
“Of course, I do, and I can tell Brother Liang, but Brother Liang, have you really considered if you truly want to know where the Heavenly Mystery Fortress is?”
“…”
Brother Liang hesitated. He had been curious about the location of the Heavenly Mystery Fortress for many years, but he also understood a principle: some things in this world should not be inquired about lightly.
Ye Anping’s lips curved slightly into a smile. “Senior, why not do me another small favor?”
“At this point?”
“I was just trying to earn a little money. With just a small favor from Senior Liang, you can earn seven thousand five hundred spirit stones. Won’t you consider it?”
Upon hearing this, Brother Liang examined Ye Anping’s eyes again and found himself in a dilemma. This young man had tricked him once, so he couldn’t possibly trust him again. No matter how many spirit stones he offered, he absolutely could not get involved with him again. Logically, this was the way it should be.
However—
It was clear that this young man possessed a maturity beyond his years, and he had already proven himself to be no ordinary person. Knowing the Seven Kill Gate’s phrases, and being able to bypass the Xuan Xing Sect’s sect formation with five Foundation Establishment stage cultivators to enter the back mountain undetected.
“…”
Brother Liang narrowed his eyes, suddenly feeling that this young man was likely just a pawn on the chessboard, much like himself. He was a “pawn,” while Ye Anping was a “minister.” This young man definitely had a powerful figure behind him, otherwise, with his experience and age, how could he know so many things? The young man asking for a favor was likely a request from that powerful figure. If he refused, he would probably die.
Brother Liang gritted his teeth, but after a moment, he relaxed his jaw with a hint of helplessness and asked, “What?”
“Tomorrow afternoon, at Willow Moon Lake next to the Xuan Xing Sect, I will hand Feng Yu Die over to you there. You take her to the Seven Kill Gate to claim the reward.”
“…You’re handing her over to me?”
“Yes, then you will deliver her to the Seven Kill Gate to claim the reward.”
Brother Liang hesitated for a moment before asking, “…Why should I be the one to capture her for the reward?”
“Brother Liang, do you want to know why?”
“Tsk…”
At this question, Brother Liang clicked his tongue slightly, waved his hand, and simply asked, “I just want to know, what will happen to me after I do this? Will you let me go? Or silence me?”
Ye Anping paused slightly, then took advantage of the opportunity to smile and say, “That depends on Brother Liang’s performance.”
Brother Liang pondered for a moment and asked, “What time?”
“Noon, at the pavilion beside Willow Moon Lake. I will bring Feng Yu Die there.”
“I’ll be there.”
After nodding in agreement, Brother Liang turned and walked towards the depths of the alley. Soon, his figure gradually disappeared into the shadows of the dark alley.
After Brother Liang’s aura completely vanished, Ye Anping let out a sigh of relief, thinking his junior sister must have been waiting for a long time. He hurried back to the tailor shop.
