"Hmm!"
Li Nantian stared at the empty spot where the shadow had vanished. His eyes were calm as he focused his senses, trying to detect any trace of the escaped ninja, but there was nothing.
His expression darkened. He brought his bloodstained finger to his lips, tasting it. His eyes flickered, then turned bloodshot as if possessed. His senses sharpened.
At that moment, Fang Heng, who had left earlier, returned after hearing the commotion. He paled when he saw Li Nantian's state, but he didn't approach. Instead, he stood silently to the side.
Suddenly, Li Nantian shot out of the County Office like a bolt of lightning, heading for the city. Fang Heng immediately followed.
Outside the County Office
The injured ninja's face was ashen. Li Nantian's attack had severely wounded him. He could feel the blood in his body boiling as if it would evaporate at any moment.
The other two ninjas rushed to his side as he stumbled out.
But a powerful aura erupted from within the County Office, and a fist came hurtling toward them.
"Hold him off! I need to see Master! Urgent news!" the injured ninja shouted, his expression frantic.
He'd intended to relay the information he had overheard to his comrades, so they could inform Su Hao. However, his injuries were too severe, and he wouldn't last much longer. With the enemy bearing down on them, there was no time for explanations.
"Got it!"
One of the ninjas drew his sword, intercepting Li Nantian's fist.
The other ninja flung three kunai towards Fang Heng.
Fang Heng gracefully dodged the projectiles.
Seizing the opportunity, the injured ninja, reduced to a blur, vanished from the entrance of the County Office.
Boom!
The ninja who had blocked Li Nantian was sent flying, blood spraying from his lips.
Li Nantian's fist had connected.
"Go!"
The remaining two ninjas exchanged a look, then fled in different directions.
Li Nantian's bloodshot eyes blazed with fury. Crimson energy enveloped him, transforming him into a crimson afterimage as he shot towards the nearest ninja.
"Die!"
A surge of blood-red energy erupted from his palm, engulfing the ninja.
Before the ninja could react, the blood-red energy consumed him. His own blood seemed to surge uncontrollably, draining from his body. In the blink of an eye, he was completely drained, his lifeless body collapsing to the ground.
Meanwhile, Fang Heng, having evaded the kunai, noticed that the injured ninja had disappeared. His face hardened.
With a flick of his wrist, he snapped open a folding fan. The moment it unfolded, rows of sharp, thin blades appeared along its edge. With another flick, the fan shot towards the spot where the ninja had vanished.
A gust of wind brushed against the fleeing ninja's neck, causing him to turn his head.
Slash!
The razor-sharp blades sliced through his neck. The fan spun in the air, returning to Fang Heng's outstretched hand.
Fang Heng leaped, closing the distance between himself and the staggering ninja in an instant.
Blood gushed from the ninja's neck, but his eyes held no pain, no fear. It was as if he didn't care about his impending death.
Thump!
The ninja collapsed.
"Find that man! Don't let him leave Qingyuan County! He overheard our conversation!" Li Nantian ordered, his eyes still bloodshot.
He'd overused his blood poison to enhance his senses, and the backlash was starting. He needed to suppress it immediately before it spread further. He could only rely on Fang Heng to find the escaped ninja.
"What? He overheard us? Damn it!" Fang Heng's expression turned grim. He understood the gravity of the situation, but he also saw Li Nantian's condition.
"Sir, he's been poisoned by your blood arts. He won't escape Qingyuan County. You need to return and suppress the poison immediately. I'll gather men and capture him."
"You must find him! Otherwise, both our lives are forfeit!" Li Nantian said, his expression grave.
"Understood." Fang Heng nodded.
Meanwhile, Su Hao left the Welcome Spring House and walked down the bustling streets of Qingyuan County, unknowingly nearing the County Office.
Suddenly, his expression shifted.
He turned sharply, disappearing into a secluded alley.
A blood-soaked figure stumbled towards him. Su Hao could sense the man's life force fading, as if his very blood was evaporating.
He rushed forward, catching the ninja before he could collapse.
"My Lord... My blood... It's fading... No use..." the ninja gasped, weakly trying to push Su Hao away.
"What happened?!" Su Hao asked urgently.
"The County Magistrate Li Nantian... He's the leader of the Azure Cloud Stronghold… A Blood Cult member... I also heard him talking about their Branch Master… He's imprisoned in the Prefectural Governor's Office…"
The ninja's voice trailed off, his life force extinguished.
Su Hao stared down at the lifeless body in his arms, his face a mask of icy rage.
These ninjas might be manifestations of a card, but they were still flesh and blood.
The Ninja Card in his inventory shattered.
The ninja in his arms dissolved, disappearing without a trace.
Back outside the County Office, Lin Mong, Wu Xun, and Lu Xuan, alerted by the commotion, rushed out. Seeing Fang Heng, they hurried over.
"Fang Heng, what happened?"
Fang Heng turned towards them.
"We were attacked. Two assassins are dead. One escaped with injuries."
"Where are the bodies? I need to examine them for clues." Chen Xuan asked, glancing around.
"They were right behind me! Can't you even see that?!" Fang Heng snapped, turning back to where the bodies had fallen.
But to his shock, there was nothing there. The corpses had vanished.
"This…"
His face hardened. Could someone have taken the bodies right under their noses?
"Was this a warning?" he wondered.
But then he recalled the conversation the ninja had overheard. Information about their Branch Master had been leaked. If this interfered with the Branch Master's breakthrough, the consequences would be dire. They had to find that ninja.
He shook his head. No, if they had the power to pull that off, they wouldn't resort to such covert tactics.
"Forget the bodies. Seal off the city! We have to find that man!"
They had to silence the only loose end, the only one who had heard their conversation.
"Yes, sir!"
Lin Mong, Wu Xun, and Lu Xuan sprang into action, dispatching men to recall the off-duty constables. They had a fugitive to catch.