Chapter 6: Outsmarting the Phantom Thief Old Man

As they rounded the corner of the valley, Sikong Qimo's eyes narrowed sharply; the killing intent in the surroundings was not being concealed in the slightest.

To reach Feiyue City, where public resentment was at its peak, one had to pass through Penghai City. Unfortunately, Penghai City was quite difficult to traverse; those unwilling to make the journey to Feiyue City themselves were already impatient to take action.

The killing intent in his cold eyes grew thicker, and the people lurking in the surroundings could no longer restrain their tempers and swarmed forward.

As a breeze blew past, the swaying leaves caused the shadows on the ground to flicker, and the rushing black-clad men swung their swords down with ferocious glints in their eyes.

For a time, the sound of clashing weapons rang out incessantly. Although the number of attackers was slightly greater than Sikong Qimo's men, the outcome was decided after a brief, fierce struggle.

Although several guards had sustained injuries, the gap was vast compared to the scattered black-clad men lying on the ground.

"Master, look." Zhang Cheng, with his sharp eyes, pointed out the emblem on the edge of a black-clad man's sleeve as a warning.

Following Zhang Cheng's finger, Sikong Qimo saw a wolf totem outlined in gold on the sleeve of the black-clad man.

His brow twitched slightly as he asked, "Is this totem that of the War Wolf Alliance?"

Before his ascension, Zhang Cheng had accompanied him everywhere to observe the world and was very familiar with the affairs of the martial arts world; hearing his master's words, he nodded solemnly.

"Master, if the War Wolf Alliance has made a move, I fear the road to Feiyue City will be fraught with danger," Zhang Cheng said with a lowered head, filled with worry.

"Mm." Sikong Qimo nodded, his lips pressed tightly together.

Looking at the surrounding terrain, Sikong Qimo turned to Zhang Cheng and the Captain of the Guard, Li Han, and said, "Split into two small teams and set out. Meet me at the Divine Medicine Workshop in Penghai City."

"Master!" The two cried out in alarm upon hearing this. The Emperor intended to go alone; although it might serve to deceive others, what if something went wrong!

"My decision is made," Sikong Qimo said, leaving no room for argument.

Met with his master's gaze, the words they had intended to use to persuade him further were swallowed back down.

With his sword-like brows slightly raised, he moved with swift strides. Using a bit of lightness skill, Sikong Qimo left the dangerous area, leaving behind a curt command: "Everyone must arrive at the Divine Medicine Workshop within three days."

He was naturally a cold-natured person, but one could vaguely sense his concern for his subordinates within that seemingly domineering and uncompromising command. Having followed him for many years, Zhang Cheng and Li Han felt more worry for their master's solo journey than any slight warmth in their hearts from such a command.

"Eunuch Zhang, there is no time to lose; we must set out immediately as well," Li Han said, his rugged face etched with anxiety.

Zhang Cheng nodded, and they each led a small group of men to depart in different directions.

As night gradually descended, the patrols of the Yuling Sect became increasingly strict. Within the courtyard of the Sect Leader, Shangguan Keng, the defenses were even more layered and intense.

Every face was solemn; any slight movement would stimulate their currently sensitive nerves.

Long before this, under Jun Liuyi's arrangements, traps had already been laid around Shangguan Keng's courtyard.

Under the shroud of night, as a gust of wind blew past, a dark shadow flashed before the eyes of the guards.

A colorless and odorless powder also scattered and diffused through the air with the appearance of this shadow.

Time seemed to freeze there. As the powder fell, the guards, who had originally been startled, stood frozen in place, motionless.

A dark long robe fluttered down. Upon the black robe, an old man nearing fifty smiled cunningly. A small pebble flicked from his fingertip landed not far in front of the guard, and sure enough, the ground suddenly split open.

The Phantom Thief Elder gave a disdainful laugh. Looking at the ground that had suddenly cracked open due to the pebble triggering the switch, he casually tossed another pebble down.

As if sensing it, the bottomless pit suddenly contracted and closed.

Seeing that all the trap layouts were exactly as he had predicted, the smile of pleasure on the Phantom Thief Elder's lips deepened. Only after other traps were triggered one after another did he step into the main courtyard with satisfaction, heading straight for Shangguan Keng's bedroom.

The Cold Jade Pillow was most effective for the injured. The fact that the Yuling Sect Leader had not appeared for several months had long been rumored throughout the martial arts world. Furthermore, since the Cold Jade Pillow also aided internal strength cultivation, within the villa, only the Young Master, Shangguan Jun, besides him, had the status to possess it.

With such deductions, it was not difficult to guess its location.

Moreover, even if it wasn't in Shangguan Keng's hands, he had plenty of time to wander through and search Shangguan Jun's courtyard later.

A confident smile remained on the Phantom Thief Elder's face. He walked leisurely, as if he were strolling through his own backyard to admire the moon rather than breaking into someone else's home to steal.

Searching for the direction of the master bedroom, he pushed the door open slowly. A sudden burst of medicinal powder made him cough repeatedly.

However, this unexpected accident did not cause him to panic. He merely let out an indifferent snort: "Tricks of a small fry."

Thinking that sleeping powder combined with numbing powder could make him surrender unconditionally was surely underestimating the title of the Phantom Thief Elder.

The wine gourd held tightly in his hand was also splashed out the moment the powder fell, and a faint sweet fragrance spread through the air.

As the liquid was splashed out, the numbing effect on his body gradually dissipated.

He walked quickly toward the couch, only to see Shangguan Keng unconscious due to the effects of the medicine. He curled his lips into a smile and muttered, "The safer it seems, the more cautious one must be."

As he carefully examined the surroundings of the Cold Jade Pillow, a faint scent of medicinal powder vaguely entered his nostrils.

"Not good!" The Phantom Thief Elder's eyes suddenly widened. His body, which had intended to reach out and seize the Cold Jade Pillow, involuntarily stiffened.

Clearly, this room should have been filled with the effects of the medicine he had laid; even if there were toxins within, they should have been neutralized. How could...

Just as he was feeling frustrated and confused, a sound outside the room made his old face freeze.

Everyone in the villa along the way had been hit with his Paralyzing Powder for an hour; there was no reason for anyone to be conscious at this time, let alone have such a fast reaction to chase him.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, he suddenly bit his tongue hard, and the taste of blood quickly spread in his mouth.

His body, which had been feeling uncomfortable from the attempted assassination, was saved by this somewhat self-harming act.

Seeing that he had missed his opportunity, the Phantom Thief Elder could only rub his nose and leap out of Shangguan Keng's bedroom, departing along the route he had just scouted with practiced ease.

Facing searches coming from several directions, he confidently headed toward the small path on the right.

Only...

With a loud *thud*, a sealed iron cage suddenly dropped down. At that same moment, the floor beneath his feet also suddenly split open, causing his entire body to fall into the void.

With a bottomless pit beneath his feet and an iron cage confining his head, the Phantom Thief Elder's mood, which had originally been triumphant about escaping a disaster by using blood to neutralize the toxin, instantly plummeted.