The tavern bustled with constant streams of patrons and waiters moving about. Dongbo Xueying had killed Baron Yin and his men without bothering to deal with the corpses at all. So, within a short while, a female servant ascending the stairs discovered the bodies.
She cried out in alarm and hurried downstairs to inform her employer.
“What! Baron Yin is dead on the third floor?” The stout tavern owner was momentarily stunned, feeling as though the sky had collapsed. After a while, he regained his composure, wiped the cold sweat from his brow, and swallowed hard, trying to calm himself. Having operated a tavern in the city for so long, he had seen many things and was well aware of the immense power of the “Flamefire Guild.”
“Finished, finished, we’re done for! If I can’t survive this crisis, I’m truly ruined.” The stout owner rushed upstairs with his men, staring at the two corpses by the private room door, the four corpses inside, and the bloodstains on the floor.
“Boss, what should we do?” one of his guards asked anxiously.
The tavern owner carefully examined the private room. All the scraps of clothing and the knives used for “artwork” had been destroyed by Dongbo Xueying, leaving no trace behind. He had intentionally avoided implicating the innocent young servant girl.
“Incredible! Two Starfall Guards were killed instantly! They didn’t even have time to resist,” the tavern owner muttered. “The killer must be at least a Silver Moon Knight! The window in the private room was locked from the inside, so the killer probably didn’t escape through it. Xiao Wu, quickly find out who came upstairs earlier, especially strangers or those who might be powerful!”
“Alright.” Another guard immediately went downstairs and returned shortly, whispering, “Boss, I asked around. Aside from our own servants, only a young man in black from the second floor came up.”
“A young man in black?” The tavern owner’s face changed slightly. “Where has he gone now?”
“He’s still on the second floor, eating and drinking. He’s sitting near the window, all alone.” The guard whispered.
The tavern owner was somewhat surprised.
“Xiao Wu, stay here and keep everyone from moving around. Also, completely seal off the third floor and prohibit anyone from coming up,” the tavern owner ordered. “The rest of you come with me.”
The tavern owner descended the third floor with one of his guards.
Arriving on the second floor, he scanned the area. Patrons on the second floor were mostly with friends, and the only one dining alone was Dongbo Xueying! Since he was seated by the window and wearing black, he naturally drew the tavern owner’s immediate attention.
As the tavern owner looked over, Dongbo Xueying raised his wine cup and smiled at him, causing the tavern owner’s heart to tremble. He forced a smile onto his plump face and quickly descended the stairs.
Behind the tavern.
“Fearless, even drinking there without a hint of panic? Could he have a grudge against the Flamefire Guild?” The tavern owner pondered for a moment before quickly ordering, “Xiao Qi, hurry to the Flamefire Guild and report that Baron Yin is dead, killed in our tavern’s third-floor private room. The killer is still drinking in the tavern!”
“Understood.” The guard immediately complied.
The tavern owner watched the guard’s retreating figure, his face filled with worry. He muttered, “Unexpected! How hard have I worked to run this tavern? Now caught up in such trouble. Sigh, I can only hope to survive this crisis and not be too heavily oppressed by the Flamefire Guild. Otherwise… I’ll have no choice but to fight to the death and take this matter to the Longshan Pavilion!”
He thought this way, but he knew clearly that even if he tried his hardest, he could only cause minor trouble for the Flamefire Guild. So he could only hope the Guild wouldn’t be too ruthless!
…
Soon enough.
Within just half an hour, high-ranking members of the Flamefire Guild arrived at the tavern’s third floor to inspect the scene. As they passed through the second floor, they saw Dongbo Xueying drinking there, and Dongbo Xueying gave them a faint, enigmatic smile.
…
Inside a luxurious hall at the Flamefire Guild headquarters.
The Guild Master, Nanmen Xin, sat at the head. Though he was already over ninety years old, as a Silver Moon Knight, he appeared middle-aged and exuded authority.
“Yin Master, how did he die? Tell me everything you saw clearly,” Nanmen Xin narrowed his eyes, his gaze icy.
Within the Flamefire Guild, there were those dedicated to commerce and those responsible for martial power.
As the Grand Guild Master, Nanmen Xin controlled everything.
As for Baron Yin… although his personality was twisted, he was exceptionally skilled in business, helping the Flamefire Guild’s operations flourish.
“Yin Master and his men were all killed by hidden weapons,” one of the reporting elderly men, a thin figure, quickly said. “Including his two Starfall Guards! The hidden weapons were found too—they were copper coins! And they were standard-issue coins.”
“Standard-issue copper coins?” Other Guild leaders nearby gasped.
“Yes, standard-issue copper coins!” the thin man continued. “From their standing positions, Yin Master and his men were all upright, even having drawn their weapons, clearly preparing to face an enemy. Yet they were instantly killed one by one! There were no signs of battle or destruction inside the private room, meaning the two Starfall Knights didn’t even have the chance to fight back! Preliminary assessment suggests this is an extremely powerful Silver Moon Knight who specializes in hidden weapons, possibly even a Named Knight.”
“An extremely powerful Silver Moon Knight or even a Named Knight?” Nanmen Xin frowned.
Who?
Who killed them? Was it a personal vendetta or a targeted attack on the Flamefire Guild?
Although the Flamefire Guild was powerful, it didn’t have any Named-level experts. If they truly faced a Named-level opponent… it would indeed be quite troublesome!
“Now we can almost confirm the killer is that young man in black,” the thin man continued. “When we went to the tavern, the young man in black was still there, even smiling at us… deliberately provoking us.”
“Daring to provoke us?” Nanmen Xin’s expression darkened. “Very well, since they’ve come knocking, the Flamefire Guild won’t back down. Bloodhand!”
“Present.” A muscular man with scars on his face stood up.
Bloodhand commanded the Flamefire Guild’s most formidable martial force.
“Take your best men, and bring three sets of God-Killing Crossbows!” Nanmen Xin’s face twisted with menace. “Whoever dares provoke the Flamefire Guild—our guild has thrived for centuries. We won’t let any random lone wolf mess with us. Hmph, even if it’s a Named-level expert, we’ll take them down!”
“Understood!” Bloodhand’s eyes gleamed with savage excitement.
The God-Killing Crossbows were terrifying weapons devised by alchemical mages, capable of threatening even Named-level experts. Each set cost a staggering 600,000 gold coins to produce! And they weren’t simply available for purchase—they were military-exclusive weapons, strictly forbidden from leaking outside. However, major factions like the Flamefire Guild could still obtain a few. The fact that they could deploy three sets at once showed the immense power of the Flamefire Guild.
…
As night gradually fell.
Dongbo Xueying finally stepped out of the tavern. Every move of the Flamefire Guild was under his surveillance. For example, the flower-selling girl by the roadside, the beggar child on the street corner, and the couple among the crowd—all were spies placed by the Flamefire Guild! These spies were specifically stationed here for surveillance.
“He’s coming out!”
“He’s entering the Five Forks Alley.”
Five Forks Alley was a very secluded and sparsely populated lane, which delighted the Flamefire Guild members. After all, the Empire’s laws were no joke, and they dared not directly ambush someone in a bustling street.
“He’s practically asking for death. Get ready. A Named-level expert manipulating the forces of heaven and earth poses a great threat. So, as soon as he enters our ambush zone, use the God-Killing Crossbows immediately to bind him first!” Bloodhand ordered, his face twisted in cruel anticipation. “Daring to provoke the Flamefire Guild so brazenly, hmpf, soon you won’t be so arrogant anymore!”
Soon enough.
From the far end of the dark alley, a young man in black approached.
“He’s here!” Bloodhand’s eyes gleamed.
Suddenly, the young man in black looked up and glanced in their direction, grinning. His teeth were startlingly white.
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