Chapter Eleven: Shrouded in Mystery

The scenery of the streets flashed by in reverse as Chen Hongxu ran, seemingly very familiar with the area. Rounding a corner, his eyes narrowed at the sight of a wall nearly five meters high. Instead of retreating, he sprang forward, his body as light as a bubble, and leapt onto the top.

He stood upright on the wall, scanning his surroundings, then frowned and communicated with the Soldier Spirit: “I can’t sense his aura anymore. Can you try to find it?”

“Straight ahead, five hundred meters. That should be the northern district Su Xiaoxiao mentioned. Are you really planning to follow him?”

“Yes. This man is strange, but he doesn’t seem to mean us harm. Besides, our mission this time is probably to find a breakthrough through him. If we try to force the issue, I doubt the five of us together would stand a chance. Now that he’s invited me for some reason, he must have something to say that others can’t hear.” Chen Hongxu silently analyzed why Suning had sent him a message before leaving.

“Be careful. I need to think for a moment—this place... suddenly my memory is a bit muddled!”

With that, the Soldier Spirit abruptly cut off contact, and no matter how Chen Hongxu called out, there was no response.

He felt a strange unease, not knowing what it meant. Narrowing his eyes, he suppressed a sudden surge of irritation, leapt down from the wall, and ran towards the location the Soldier Spirit had indicated.

The northern district—according to Su Xiaoxiao, a place where no rules applied. Suning stood proudly in an open lot, his head slightly raised and hands clasped behind his back.

The lot was about the size of a basketball court. Apart from the long sword at Suning’s side, still dripping with blood, there was only a decapitated corpse.

Chen Hongxu arrived at a sprint, his gaze drawn to the corpse’s strange clothing and the fangs protruding from its mouth. He was secretly alarmed by how swiftly Suning killed, and became even more vigilant.

He stopped about ten meters from Suning, staring at his motionless back, pondering how best to broach the subject.

“You’re here?” Before Chen Hongxu could speak, Suning slowly turned, smiling shyly like a child, and explained, “I was in a bad mood today, and this vampire was an eyesore, so I killed him in passing.”

“You were so certain I would come?” Chen Hongxu replied coolly, showing no fear. This Suning was a madman who did as he pleased. If he showed even a hint of apprehension, who knew what this man would do next?

Suning smiled again, then casually picked up the long sword, swinging it until the blood had all flicked off. “You want to know something from me, and I from you. That’s why I sought you out, certain that you would come.”

“You said you wouldn’t reveal anything about Binglong. Besides, this is my first time here—what information could you possibly get from me?” Chen Hongxu was puzzled.

“Your first time?” Suning’s smile turned manic. He took a deep breath, the smile fading from his face, then said in confusion, “The aura is right, but the strength is vastly different. Could it be... how interesting.”

Chen Hongxu’s mouth twitched; he thought to himself that this man, like those who would die for Su Xiaoxiao, really was crazy.

Unwilling to waste more time, Chen Hongxu interrupted Suning’s ramblings: “You seemingly broke Zhang Shufang’s technique effortlessly, but I know that behind your nonchalance, you exhausted all your strength and suffered a severe backlash. Why?”

“Why?” Suning gave a self-deprecating laugh. “There’s not always a ‘why’. My control of power isn’t delicate enough, but I still strive for the perfect strike. Getting hurt is only natural. What’s interesting is that you’re a conspiracy theorist. With you around, Su Xiaoxiao certainly won’t be lonely.”

“So you really have suffered an incurable wound.” Chen Hongxu sighed. He didn’t press further; even a peacock wants to show its most beautiful side to its beloved—how much more so a person? And he hadn’t come here to interrogate him about everything.

“It seems I won’t find any answers I seek from you, at least for now.” For the first time, Suning’s expression turned serious. “You’re important to Xiaoxiao, so please, take care of yourself. As for this Blacklist mission, let it end here. Binglong is no longer someone you all can contend with.”

“Contend? Binglong is on the China Blacklist; why would we speak of contending?” Chen Hongxu was confused.

“There are countless legacies in the world, and China holds seventy percent of them. Yet, for a thousand years, not even China—with its unmatched quantity and quality—has produced a supreme master. Don’t ask me why; I don’t know. But many believe this barrier is the key to breaking through. Whether that’s true, who can say?” Suning shrugged.

Chen Hongxu did not understand the meaning of these words. Without giving him the chance to ask, Suning hefted his sword and staggered away.

“Remember, Binglong is not alone!” Suning’s warning echoed from afar, but he had already vanished.

The brief meeting with Suning had left Chen Hongxu’s mind even more muddled, but it was not without gain. At least one thing was clear—Binglong had betrayed them!

...

Inside the northern district, near the barrier, Suning stood beside a temple, tilting his head as if sensing something.

“Suning, must you meddle?” Atop the temple, a woman with a bewitching, otherworldly beauty lay lazily, her face cold as she spoke.

“What happens in Prague is none of my concern, and I won’t interfere. But if it involves Xiaoxiao, then I have no choice.” Suning’s voice was not loud, but it carried through the whole area.

“Green Snake?” The woman atop the temple was furious, glaring down at Suning. “A man I couldn’t seduce with all my charms actually likes a woman with no talent at all? And you call yourself the Sword Immortal of the Land—are you so blind for her sake?”

“Not blind enough. I’d give my life for her,” Suning replied gently.

As the two sparred with words, a proud man strode out from the temple, patting his forehead in exasperation and shouting up at the roof, “Su Daji, why argue with this blind man? If he wants to protect Green Snake, let him. It doesn’t clash with our plans.”

Su Daji nodded reluctantly, accepting his words.

Having gotten his answer, Suning sheathed his sword, smiled, and said, “Binglong, I’ll remember what you said.” Then he turned and walked away, step by unhurried step, with perfect composure.

Su Daji frowned, leaped down from the rooftop, and came to Binglong’s side. “Why compromise with the blind man? The three of us together can’t defeat him?”

“Defeat him?” Binglong sneered. “Do you think the title Sword Immortal of the Land is self-proclaimed?”

“Despicable!” Su Daji stamped her foot, jealousy in her voice. “What great deeds did Su Xiaoxiao do in a past life to have a third-rank master protecting her in this one?”

Binglong shook his head and ignored her, turning to re-enter the temple.

“Now that the Dao Fetus has arrived, should we invite her to join us tonight?” Su Daji called after Binglong’s retreating figure.

Binglong paused, shook his head, and said, “It’s not time yet.”

End of Chapter Eleven—The Mystery Deepens.