The battle had been fierce, and bloody. In the end, only two Mist Eye Sect disciples had survived—Senior Sister ng and another man. Everyone else had died by Han Yu’s hand or that of his comrades.
If not for Han Yu’s Soul Skills, Soul Needle and mory Echo though they might not have survived at all.
And now here she was, walking confidently through the streets of Wujing City as if that incident never happened.
Han Yu kept his hood low and his presence subtle, careful not to draw attention. He stayed at a distance, just far enough to seem like an idle passerby. With the chaotic flow of marketgoers, beggars, traveling rchants, and hawkers, it wasn’t difficult to blend in.
Still, he stayed alert. Senior Sister ng exuded an aura that prickled against his spiritual senses like faint mist—soft, pervasive, but dangerous. When he brushed her aura with his own Spirit Sense, he imdiately pulled back.
Peak Qi Refining Realm.
It was close to the threshold of Core Condensation, a level where many cultivators gained their first true domain of power. And with the Mist Eye Sect’s infamous illusion techniques, Han Yu knew he couldn’t afford to be careless.
"If she uses that Locking Eye skill again..." he muttered to himself, "I might get caught in sothing worse."
Fortunately, he now had his mory Echo technique. That gave him a level of defense against mind-affecting attacks, but even so, a direct battle in the heart of Wujing City would only bring him trouble. Especially when he was undercover.
ng moved lightly through the streets, exchanging only a few words with other disciples she t along the way.
Most of their chatter was innocuous—discussions about their recent missions, a rare herb sale, the price of spirit pills rising due to demand.
Nothing that hinted at a conspiracy or covert operation. But Han Yu didn’t let his guard down. He felt like her aimless stroll still had a current of purpose to it, like soone buying ti until an appointnt.
Finally, after nearly two hours of trailing her through twisting alleys and looping roads, Han Yu’s patience paid off.
Senior Sister ng turned down a quieter lane and approached a two-story building nestled between a talisman shop and a vendor selling beast fangs. The building’s façade was simple, but clean—blue clay tiles on the roof, and a subtle warding array etched above the wooden doorfra. There was no sign, no inscription, nothing to indicate what purpose the building served.
But Han Yu’s instincts tingled.
He scanned the surroundings. Across the street, a tea shop stood with a clear view of the second floor. Without hesitation, he entered, tossed a silver coin to the server, and took a seat on the upstairs balcony.
"Jasmine tea," he said, though he had no real intention of drinking it.
From his perch, he had a perfect view of the upper floor windows in the building ng had entered. He slouched just enough to appear like a relaxed traveler, occasionally lifting the cup to his lips while his sharp eyes stayed locked on the windows.
And then, she appeared.
Through the narrow gap in the window’s curtains, Han Yu caught a glimpse of her seated across from a man.
His eyes narrowed.
The man wore long black robes, a design instantly familiar. They were the sa robes worn by Elder Wei—the Nascent Soul realm expert from the Mist Eye Sect who had let the investigation at the Slumbering Caldera and had also stopped the Fire Beast hoard.
But this wasn’t Elder Wei. This man was younger, perhaps in his late thirties, with narrow eyes and a sharp jawline. His presence was subdued, but sothing about him felt coiled—like a sword hidden beneath a scholar’s sleeve.
"Another elder?" Han Yu murmured. "Or perhaps an inner circle mber?"
From his vantage point, he couldn’t hear what they were saying, but their body language told part of the story. ng bowed politely, hands clasped in the formal greeting of subordinates. The man didn’t return the gesture. Instead, he gestured for her to sit, and she complied, pulling sothing from her robes.
A jade slip.
Han Yu’s heart rate ticked up.
Information. It had to be.
The man took the jade slip and held it to his forehead for several seconds, then placed it in his sleeve without comnt. They spoke for a while longer, and while the conversation was inaudible, the atmosphere was tense. At one point, the man narrowed his eyes and leaned forward, speaking low and sharp. ng bowed her head again, looking almost apologetic.
Eventually, the man stood and exited through the building’s side entrance. Han Yu didn’t dare move to follow. Not yet. Instead, he watched as ng remained inside, sitting silently by a small incense burner. She looked drained, the composure in her posture faltering just slightly.
"She delivered sothing important," Han Yu thought. "Sothing urgent enough for a direct eting."
His mind reeled with possibilities. Was it about him? About the failed ambush? About so common or routine activities of the Mist Eye Sect? Or could it be sothing entirely different—related to the Slumbering Caldera?
A flicker of temptation pulsed in his chest.
Should he try to interrogate her?
No. Not yet. Not in the city. Not when she was still fresh from a eting with a powerful superior.
Instead, he leaned back in his chair and took a real sip of his tea this ti.
ng was dangerous, but now he knew she was moving in interesting circles. If she had access to secret jade slips, maybe she also had access to the deeper techniques of the Mist Eye Sect—the kind he’d never seen before.
And maybe, just maybe, sothing related to the Needle Finger Alchemist.
"I’ll wait," Han Yu muttered, eyes locked on the window. "Let’s see where this thread leads."
He would follow her again when she left.
And if fate was kind, he might just unravel the secrets hiding behind those black robes.
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