While Pei Lengxue was in the back room with the shop owner, getting her measurements taken for her new outfit, Ye Anping had initially planned to leisurely browse the completed clothes in the store. However, as soon as Pei Lengxue had entered the back room, he felt a wave of hostility coming from across the street.
Ye Anping slightly tensed and turned his head to look.
Zhuang Hu was currently wearing a bamboo hat, leaning against the wall of a shop across the street. When he saw Ye Anping looking in his direction, he raised his hat slightly and gave him a meaningful look before disappearing into a nearby alley.
It seemed that this person had been following them all along, but he had been concealing his presence until now, which was why neither Ye Anping nor Pei Lengxue had noticed they were being trailed.
"Really? For him to appear at a time like this..."
Ye Anping sighed softly and glanced toward the direction of the back room where Pei Lengxue was getting her measurements. It would take some time, so he decided to follow Zhuang Hu into the alley.
As for why Zhuang Hu had suddenly come to find him, Ye Anping had a hunch.
Most likely, this guy had secretly investigated his background, and when he saw him shopping with Pei Lengxue, he realized that he had been deceived in the past.
It wasn't entirely unexpected.
His identity as the "shop owner" had never been too detailed, and there were too many loopholes. Once they found out he was the young master of the Hundred Lotus Sect, this false identity would crumble.
As he walked from the street into the dark alley, Ye Anping pinched his nose and gradually adjusted his eyes to the darkness, trying to see his surroundings clearly.
He walked deeper into the alley and turned a corner. There, he saw Zhuang Hu waiting for him.
When Zhuang Hu saw him approaching, he immediately asked, "How many golden crows are there?"
This phrase was still the secret code of the Seven Killers Sect, but it wasn't the one used between the "shop owner" and the "enforcer" on the street. Instead, it was the secret code used between "enforcers."
As for the next line of the code...
Ye Anping answered, "One is gold, one is silver, one is five-colored, totaling three."
"... ... "
Seeing Ye Anping respond to the enforcer's secret code once again, Zhuang Hu raised an eyebrow and became more alert. He straightforwardly asked, "The young master of the Hundred Lotus Sect, where did you learn the street-level secret code of the Seven Killers Sect?"
"Also, you still dare to call me 'Big Brother'? Little Six."
"Since we're sworn brothers, why wouldn't I dare?"
Ye Anping gave a wry smile, propping his chin on his hand. After thinking for a while, he curiously asked, "By the way, Big Brother Zhuang, when did you start suspecting my identity? Did you suspect it from the beginning?"
"When you responded to the street-level secret code of the shop owner, I was surprised but didn't suspect anything. After all, not just anyone knows that code."
"Then..."
"It was after we escaped from the back mountains of the Profound Star Sect..."
"..."
"I thought about it for a long time... Whether it was my Seven Star Entrapment Formation being easily broken, or Second Brother's death, or your behavior at that time, I finally realized that the problem may lie in you."
"Well, you're right."
"Before, you said your name was Jiang Ziya, so I checked that name, but there was no trace of a shop owner with that alia. However, I found quite a bit of information about the name Ye Anping."
With that, Zhuang Hu's hand formed a sword gesture.
A spiritual sword suddenly appeared in his right hand.
The next moment...
Swish!
A sharp sound of air being cut.
The sword was lifted and placed directly beside Ye Anping's neck.
"..."
Ye Anping glanced at the silver gleaming blade edge reflexively but made no move to evade it.
"You're not going to dodge?" Zhuang Hu narrowed his eyes.
"Big Brother Zhuang, since you've thought of checking my identity, it means you haven't become so foolish as to kill me outright."
"Heh..." Zhuang Hu sneered, "Do you know what fate awaits those who impersonate a Seven Killers Sect shop owner?"
"Death," Ye Anping replied calmly.
"Yes, and it's a gruesome death. They will be captured by the Seven Killers Sect, tortured using the wheel execution method, and finally die on an unknown mountaintop."
"Yes, I know."
"So?" Zhuang Hu squinted.
"Big Brother Zhuang, have you ever thought about why I pretended to be the shop owner of the Seven Killers Sect? Or why did I lead you and the others into the Profound Star Sect? Or why I safely brought you out from the back mountains of the Profound Star Sect?"
"...Does it matter?" Zhuang Hu frowned.
Ye Anping shrugged and replied casually, "If the senior has truly figured it out, then you wouldn't be pointing a sword at my neck."
"..."
Zhuang Hu stared silently into Ye Anping's eyes, then, with some reluctance, he retracted the sword in his hand and wore a wry smile. He asked, "Explain."
"I impersonated the shop owner of the Seven Killers Sect, and as a member of the Seven Killers Sect, it's only natural for you to come after my life."
"..."
"However, what if I told you that the Seven Killers Sect are on the brink of extinction?"
"Extinction?" Zhuang Hu was somewhat shocked.
"The Profound Star Sect now regards the Seven Killers Sect as their arch-enemy. The Profound Star Sect Elder Lei Wanjun is planning to completely eradicate the Seven Killers Sect from the Western Realms."
"..."
"Do you want to stay in the Seven Killers Sect now that they have become the mortal enemy of the Profound Star Sect?"
"..." Zhuang Hu furrowed his brow and squinted, "For you to know this information… Does it mean you're a disciple of the Profound Star Sect?"
"No."
"No? Then how do you know... Forget it..." Zhuang Hu shook his head, countering, "The location of the Seven Killers Sect Heavenly Machine Fortress is top-secret. Even though I spent over forty years in the Seven Killers Sect, I've never been there. Even if the Profound Star Sect wants to eradicate the Seven Killers Sect, it won't be that easy..."
"Is that so?"
Seeing that Ye Anping remained calm, Zhuang Hu furrowed his brow even more, realizing that this young man in front of him was not at all like an ordinary fifteen-year-old.
"Do you know where Heavenly Machine Fortress is?"
"I certainly do, and I can tell you, Big Brother Zhuang. But, do you really want to know where Heavenly Machine Fortress is?"
"..." Zhuang Hu hesitated.
He was indeed curious about the location of Heavenly Machine Fortress, but he also knew that some things should not be inquired about casually.
Ye Anping's lips curled slightly as he smiled, "Senior, how about doing me another small favor?"
"At this point?"
"I was just trying to make some money. Just a small favor, and you can earn 7,500 spirit stones. Won't you consider it?"
Zhuang Hu heard this and, after a moment of hesitation, asked, "What is it?"
"Tomorrow afternoon, by Willow Moon Lake next to the Profound Star Sect, I will bring Feng Yudie there for you. You can then take her to the Seven Killers Sect to claim your reward."
"You're going to hand her over to me?"
"Yes, and then you'll be the one to take her to the Seven Killers Sect to claim the reward."
"..." Zhuang Hu hesitated for a moment and couldn't help but ask, "Why should I capture her?"
"Big Brother Zhuang, do you want to know why?"
"Tsk..."
With this question, Zhuang Hu clicked his tongue softly. He waved his hand and asked, "I just want to know what will happen to me after I do this. Will you let me go, or will you silence me?"
Ye Anping pondered for a moment and then smiled, "That depends on Big Brother Zhuang's performance."
Zhuang Hu thought for a while and asked, "What time?"
"At noon, at the pavilion next to Willow Moon Lake. I'll bring Feng Yudie there."
"I'll be there."
After nodding in agreement, Zhuang Hu turned and walked deeper into the alley.
Soon, his figure gradually disappeared into the shadows of the dark alley.
Once Zhuang Hu's presence had completely vanished, Ye Anping breathed a sigh of relief and hurried back to the clothing store, realizing that his little sister must have been waiting for a while.
To see more of this story, please go visit my Tanslation Site - Galaxy Translation:
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