Chapter 980: Wanted

Sensing the aura of the sword wheel and the Devilish Flames of Nine Hells, Manager Liu was instantly terrified. Only now did he realize what kind of opponent he was facing. In panic, he channeled all his true essence into his life-bound astra.

The square mirror flared with blinding light, forming a protective barrier. Under its protection, the manager dashed madly toward the exit.

He no longer had the will to resist, only the desperate instinct to flee, the farther the better.

Boom!

The sword wheel struck the square mirror.

The mirror trembled violently, cracks spreading across the light barrier. The manager groaned and turned deathly pale. Before he could stabilize the mirror, the Devilish Flames of Nine Hells arrived.

Whoosh...

The devilish flames burned fiercer than the sword wheel. Black fire crawled over the entire barrier and seeped in through the cracks.

The manager frantically tried to repair it, flustered and desperate. Just then, another thunderous impact shook the air.

Boom!

A fist crashed into the mirror. Qin Sang’s figure appeared out of thin air.

Overwhelmed by the force, the manager screamed, his knees slamming hard against the floor as he spat a mouthful of blood. He tried to resist, but there was no chance left.

The Devilish Flames of Nine Hells broke through the shattered barrier, transforming into several chains of black fire.

The manager felt his consciousness blur. When he came to, he found himself tightly bound, unable to move. His Qihai was as still as dead water, his true essence completely sealed.

His face was filled with despair. Never had he imagined Qin Sang would suddenly attack him, nor that he would be so powerless, without even a chance to escape.

The battle ended swiftly, faster than lightning. On the first floor, the attendants were still laughing and chatting, utterly unaware.

Bang!

Qin Sang landed beside the manager, folding his wings as he looked down coldly at him.

Bai appeared inside the quiet room as well. He had secretly acted to suppress the battle’s disturbances. Glancing at Qin Sang, he remarked with some emotion, "You really do have too many enemies. You run into them wherever you go."

The manager opened his mouth bitterly. "Where did I give myself away?"

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

He no longer harbored any delusion of survival. He understood he had already been exposed.

"You shouldn’t have used Elder Zhou to deceive me." Qin Sang sneered. "You should know what I want to ask. Will you tell me yourself, or shall I make you speak?"

The manager fell silent for a while before sighing deeply. "I’ll talk. I only ask that you give me a quick death. It wasn’t my intention to harm you. Not long ago, the vice commissioner sent word that the merchant guild had secretly issued a wanted order for you. Every manager was instructed to report immediately upon spotting you, with an enormous reward offered. As for the reason, I have no idea. The vice commissioner merely said the order came directly from the guild itself, and I dared not disobey."

"The merchant guild is hunting me?" Qin Sang’s expression changed drastically at the shocking revelation.

He had always kept a distant but cordial relationship with the Qiongyu Merchant Guild. Only Elder Zhou maintained occasional contact. He had never clashed with the guild; in fact, he had even done them a few favors. So why would they suddenly put a bounty on him?

"Vice Commissioner Zuo already knows that you’re here and is on his way." Having resigned himself to his fate, the manager no longer tried to hide anything. Qin Sang didn’t even need to use soul-searching techniques; the man confessed everything in full.

As Qin Sang listened, his thoughts raced. The guild’s wanted order had only been issued recently, shortly after the closure of Seven-Kill Hall.

Before entering the hall, everything had been fine. But after his return and Elder Zhou’s death, the situation had taken a sharp turn for the worse. He had suddenly become a wanted criminal.

"The guild has confirmed Elder Zhou’s death. Is someone purging those loyal to him, or..." Qin Sang’s eyes flickered as a terrifying thought surfaced.

"Is it him?" He exchanged glances with Bai, both thinking of the same person.

The timing was too coincidental. They had just foiled the man’s plot in Seven-Kill Hall, and now retaliation came so swiftly.

"Our plan back then was flawless, without any loose ends. And later, with the Nine Phoenix King’s help, we left the hall safely. By reason, he shouldn’t have found you so soon. Think, do you have any other enemies? For the guild to obey so willingly, the instigator must be formidable, most likely a Spiritual Infant old monster," Bai said gravely.

Qin Sang fell into deep thought. "The Nine Phoenix King and Devil Qingzhu are unlikely. As for Landou Sect and Black Snake Mountain, they do have the strength. But I dealt with them under my true identity, not as Daoist Master Qingfeng. Unless the incident where I killed that junior brother from Black Snake Mountain was somehow exposed..."

Seeing Qin Sang remain silent, Bai couldn’t help but complain, "Just how many Spiritual Infant enemies have you made?"

Qin Sang sighed heavily. He had always acted discreetly and never provoked others without cause, yet somehow he kept attracting powerful foes.

"What now? That vice commissioner must know something. He’s a late-stage Core Formation cultivator, strong but not beyond our reach. Even if he brings a few subordinates, we can still take him down," said Bai.

Qin Sang hesitated. "I’m afraid he may have already reported to the one behind all this. If we stay, the one coming might not be him but a Spiritual Infant old monster. That would be courting death."

"Then we leave," Bai said decisively. "As long as we survive, we can uncover the truth eventually."

Qin Sang looked down at the manager lying on the ground, eyes closed and waiting quietly for death.

"You people were ruthless, so don’t blame me for being the same. I won’t leave empty-handed. Let’s collect some interest first." Qin Sang’s tone was cold with hatred.

Bai’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. There were few experts in this branch, and with the manager captured, the rest would be easy prey. Qin Sang didn’t wish to draw attention or stir up trouble with other forces, so he decided to quietly strip the branch bare.

Just as Qin Sang and Bai were about to split up, they suddenly sensed a Core Formation Realm cultivator entering the shop.

"Honored guest, please come in!" It was early in the morning, and the maids were full of enthusiasm in welcoming their first customer of the day.

The newcomer was a thin young man of short stature, looking frail and weak. He had come in haste, and before stepping inside, his eyes revealed anxiety and unease as he glanced back repeatedly, as if pressed by some urgent matter. At last, he clenched his teeth and stepped through the door.

Upon seeing the maid, the young man quickly steadied his breathing. His gaze grew calm and steady, gaining a touch of authority. Without a word, he took out a command token and waved it before her. "I wish to see Manager Liu."

Recognizing the command token, the attendant’s heart jumped. She quickly bowed. "Senior, the manager is currently upstairs in the quiet room, meeting an important guest."

Upstairs, Qin Sang and Bai exchanged a look.

"Someone from the Qiongyu Merchant Guild," Bai transmitted his voice.

Qin Sang nodded slightly, then moved his lips and perfectly imitated Manager Liu’s voice. "Daoist, please come upstairs."

The young man looked up toward the second floor and immediately strode up the stairs. The maid did not dare to stop him.

Creak!

The young man pushed the door open and entered.

Qin Sang had already set his ambush. The youth was only at the early stage of the Core Formation Realm, so capturing him would have been effortless.

Qin Sang was just about to strike when, to his surprise, the young man’s face suddenly lit up with joy the moment he saw him wearing the cloak. He blurted out in excitement, "Senior, are you Daoist Master Qingfeng?"