Shadowless Clan (Part 1)
“Shadow assassin?” The youth shook his head whilst sporting a friendly smile. “No, I am not.”
“Why did you take a girl hostage to force me to come here, then?”
“This one is Bai Yetian. He is here to discuss a matter with you,” introduced Bai Yetian, smiling politely.
“And that is?”
“Are you not curious how Sikong Qiwen managed to ascend to Spirit Severing Realm in such a short time span?”
Mu Yu couldn’t care less if he could win. If there was a way to win, it was worth listening to.
“You with the eight great sects?”
“Negative.”
“Good, I’ll cut to the chase, then. Sikong Qiwen and I aren’t remotely related. Hand over Mu Xin.”
“Please rest assured. She should have arrived safely at Mu Clan by now. I meant her no harm; I merely wanted to have a word with you.”
“You could’ve knocked on my doors. I don’t like this.”
“I do not want to reveal myself, yet Mu Clan has countless eyes on it.”
“That’s your problem. I don’t want to do business with you!”
“Correct me if I am wrong: you must have just met your cousin, Mu Qingfan. According to my knowledge, not even you can treat the injury Sikong Qiwen inflicted on him. Have you never questioned the nature of his injury?
“The energy is like nothing seen before. There is also fiend energy running rampant inside their bodies. From our investigations, Sikong Qiwen’s cultivation increases exponentially every sixth of each month. His spiritual energy and the fiend energy present in his victims are connected. It so happens to be that he went missing as a Golden Core Realm cultivator during a business trip for his clan right here.”
True, everyone thought Sikong Qiwen was a goner after his sudden disappearance. When he emerged again, his cultivation had increased by leaps and bounds.
Mu Yu could see the coincidences lining up, but he still couldn’t trust Bai Yetian. “Who are you people?”
“That is not something you need to know yet. The only hope you have of saving your cousin is working with us to get to the bottom of this.”
Mu Yu shot Bai Yetian a glare and turned to walk off.
Bai Yetian wiped his smile off his face and questioned, “What does that mean?”
Mu Yu raised his head slowly. “I don’t like your haughty tone or the method you used to lure me here, and you refuse to reveal your identity. Ask someone else to help.”
Spirit Severing Realm cultivator Bai Yetian aggressed, “Brother Mu Yu, do you refuse to work with us?”
“You need me to work with you?”
The two released their qi, trying to get in the other’s head. Noticing Mu Yu’s aura match his own, Bai Yetian switched back to a smile and stopped oozing out energy.
“I apologise for my poor manners. I now know how you fell Tian Kaiyu in one fell swoop.”
“How do you know about that when the eight great sects never mentioned it?”
“There are factions in the cultivation world that choose not to reveal themselves. It is folly to assume the eight great sects are representative of the entire world of cultivation. I have my ways. Allow me to introduce myself: I am part of Shadowless Clan.”
“I’ve never heard of that clan.”
Bai Yetian took no offensive to a response that typically would’ve earned the ire of spoilt brats. “Very few people know about us on Third Continent unlike Shadow Syndicate’s prominence. The reason for that is we exist to exterminate Shadow Syndicate.”
“Your faction opposes Shadow Syndicate?” Mu Yu suppressed his surprise from leaking into his tone.
“There is far more to Shadow Syndicate than they let the world now. They have influential backing and operate in ways that few can keep up with. To keep a long story short, the operations they are involved in are closely linked to events in the world of cultivation. I cannot divulge any more than that. I wanted to let you know that I am here to keep you safe from Shadow Syndicate’s Qing Ming.”
“Why are they targeting me instead of Sikong Qiwen or Tian Budai?” Mu Yu inquired with his brows together.
“You are being presumptuous. I assume you, like many others will, assume that two rich people hired Qing Ming. The employer who wants your head is Celestial Star Sect’s patriarch, Tian Yuehen.”
Mu Yu chortled. “Tian Budai’s father lack confidence in him?”
Mu Yu’s calm reaction impressed Bai Yetian. People who had emotional jerk reactions to everything simply couldn’t get much done.
“Not even Shadow Syndicate could locate you during the half a year you disappeared off the grid. Everyone suspects that you are the genius formation caster who took the tournament between Formation Sect and Talisman Sect by storm a few months ago. Naturally, Celestial Star Sect suspects you were the one who annihilated the forces they sent and speculate you are the new patriarch of Formation and Talisman Sect. Tian Yuehen is, in essence, purchasing an insurance policy,” elucidated Bai Yetian, hoping to read Mu Yu from the latter’s expressions.
Despite everything Bai Yetian mentioned, not even he was certain if Mu Yu really was the patriarch of Formation and Talisman Sect.
“Poor them, then.”
“Judging from your speed and the formation cast at Mu Estate, you must be Formation Sect’s Feng Mu.”
“Why should I trust you?” Mu Yu questioned, ducking the question.
“Shadow Syndicate always operates cautiously. Therefore, the employer is never exposed. People in Clearwater City are only aware of Qing Ming’s mission because I spread the word,” Bai Yetian enlightened with a smile.
“You?”
“Correct. I am trying to sabotage Qing Ming’s plan.”
“What makes you so sure he’ll be the one to kill me?”
“My superiors sent me to thwart Qing Ming’s plan. In exchange, I need you to help us find out what Sikong Qiwen’s secret is. We have more intelligence than you at the moment on all of your enemies. I doubt you can protect everyone in Mu Clan on your own.”
“I can deal with Qing Ming without your assistance.”
“This isn’t about you alone. I kidnapped the girl to remind you that, if we can harm your family, then Shadow Syndicate also can. Work with us, and we will ensure your family’s safety.”
“Is that a threat?” Mu Yu asked in a low voice, looking up from his lowered chin position.
“I am being realistic. You can’t keep your family inside your formation forever. If they’re going to live, they must leave it at some point. Our enemy is Shadow Syndicate, not Mu Clan. You made an enemy out of Celestial Star Sect; you know better than anyone that they aren’t weak.”
Bai Yetian gracefully flicked a token from his sleeve to Mu Yu and voiced, “Deliberate what I said. When you’re ready, inject your spiritual energy into the token, and I will receive your confirmation. I will use the token to tell you where to meet me. We can discuss the details, then.”
Mu Yetian disappeared in a flash.
Mu Yu grabbed the black token with “Shadowless” carved on and begun to mull over everything Bai Yetian mentioned.
Previous Chapter l Next Chapter
