The Black Book: Seven Deadly Sins

On the other side, seeing the enemy without a trace of hesitation turning around to flee, a crazed, unhealthy bloodlust flickered in Zhu Haomiao's eyes, and a sinister grin involuntarily curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Who gave you the courage to turn your back on me?"

With a beckoning gesture, the blood-stained dagger lying on the ground bounced into the youth's palm, its blood-soaked blade emitting a sharp, thin light like cicada wings.

[Armor Breaking Force·Triumph]!

[Flying Brilliance·Star Fall]!

He raised his hand and flung it, a beam of light shot straight towards the burly man attempting to escape like a white rainbow piercing the sun.

Just as he was about to leap over the inner courtyard wall, a sinister and fierce whisper reached his ears, making the burly man instinctively turn his head, shivering instantly.

A dagger gleaming with cold light stabbed straight at his back, scaring him into hurriedly raising his knife to block it.

Clang!

The power attached to the dagger was not immense; the burly man easily deflected it, yet he noticed a grain-sized nick at the spot where the blades collided.

Such concentrated and sharp True Qi!

Realizing yet another terrifying aspect of the youth, the burly man's heart tightened, unwilling to linger any longer.

Yet, within the brief instant taken to turn and block, the youth, who had been meters away, seemed to instantly appear behind him, his five fingers like eagle talons aiming for his back.

Seeing the gleaming Qi Force on the youth's fingernails, the burly man's scalp tingled, forcing him to turn and engage in combat.

But he didn't expect the youth to just feint with exaggerated attacks, forcing him into a defensive stance. The youth's clawing figure halted two meters away, pulling his fingers like a sword fiercely towards himself, as if manipulating something invisible.

The burly man hadn't figured it out when a bone-chilling premonition assaulted his mind. Without hesitation, he instinctively turned, slashing with his knife, cutting the sinister and cold dagger like a venomous snake.

Didn't I just knock it away earlier?

Why is it...

Damn it!!!

After the instinctive reaction, the burly man's pupils shrank to needlepoints, realizing he had defenselessly turned his back to the enemy!

Instinctively trying to turn around, but scarlet fingers devoid of smoke or flames already pressed against his neck.

Fengchi!

Dazhui!

Tianzong!

Fengmen!

Xinyu!

......

Fingers imbued with [Armor Breaking Force·Triumph] pierced the flesh like steel needles, the apertures on the back were poked into dense, bloody pits by the fingertip, [Penetration Energy·Thunderbolt] and [Sealing Demon Power·Soul Devouring] were released directly within, drilling into his meridians and organs without any weakening.

The burly man was like being ravaged by a machine gun, trembled violently before going rigid, allowing the youth to wipe the blood off his hands on him.

Walking to the burly man, Zhu Haomiao tore off his mask, revealing an unfamiliar face as expected.

"Who sent you?"

The burly man's lips oozed thick, black blood as he spoke bitterly.

"I don't know."

"Good, I like people with spines like yours!"

Zhu Haomiao smirked, raised his hand, and a dagger shimmering with cold light drew an arc, gently hovering a few centimeters above his palm, emitting a chilling high-frequency vibration hum.

Buzz buzz buzz~

Witnessing this extraordinary scene, the burly man's gaze turned vacant.

This isn't telekinesis!

In an instant, a thunderous term flashed through his mind.

Object Control with Qi!

The legendary profound skill even difficult for [Upper Three Grades] to master was seen in a green-haired youth?

More terrifying was seeing his ease, indicating he had integrated this skill into his instincts!

This was the notorious wasteful spendthrift outside?

"Heh heh~"

It turns out when someone is utterly speechless, laughter comes unbidden.

The burly man let out a bitter chuckle, sighing deeply.

Such mental fortitude, such patience, losing to him really isn't unjust...

Watching the youth fiddling with the dagger, preparing for interrogation, the burly man sighed in relief.

"No need to torture me, I truly don't know. If you promise me a quick end, I can tell you the only clue I have."

Hearing this, Zhu Haomiao hesitated for a few seconds and nodded.

"Alright, I promise you."

With these words, the burly man promptly spoke, "The contact is in the eastern alley."

Swish~

Without hesitation, Zhu Haomiao turned into a shadowy specter and darted towards the North Gate, taking a large circle before sneaking into the eastern alley from the other end.

"Why hasn't the fire started yet?"

A silhouette clad in black stood on tiptoes, eagerly staring in the direction of [Pingyang Marquis Mansion], oblivious to the ghostly shadow quietly approaching behind.

Suddenly, a rich metallic scent reached his nostrils, and before the black-clad man could react, a bloody hand covered his mouth and nose.

"Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm!!!"

Amidst the fierce, suffocated struggle, Zhu Haomiao pressed a palm against his back, [Soul Devouring] force surged, rendering him instantly silent.

Grabbing the black-clad man, Zhu Haomiao returned to [Pingyang Marquis Mansion] and encountered the belated servants in the backyard.

"Young master, we heard noises in the backyard. Are you alright?"

Seeing these elderly women and children, Zhu Haomiao nodded helplessly.

"I'm fine. Go light the candles in the hall. I'm going to interrogate this thief."

Raising his hand slightly, it was only then that they noticed he was holding a shadowy figure, gasping in shock.

Ignoring the startled servants, Zhu Haomiao returned to the small courtyard and dragged the stiff, immobile burly man to a brightly lit hall.

Tearing off the black-clad man's mask, a faintly familiar face full of flesh appeared before him.

"Hmm?"

Upon careful recall, Zhu Haomiao gradually remembered, the first day he arrived in the Illusion Realm, the debt collector forcing him to sell [Pingyang Marquis Mansion]!

"I remember you, you're from the Transportation Pavilion..."

Seeing the burly man kneeling beside him, the man with a fleshy face finally began to understand what had transpired.

But then, more questions flooded his mind.

How could a seventh-rank and two eighth-ranks fail to deal with a poisoned green-haired youth...

This surefire, overkill operation, why would it fail?

Instinctively, the man's gaze drifted to a trembling figure not far away, unable to restrain his outburst of frustration.

"I knew it! You, old undying, didn't poison him at all!"

"You dare to betray me! Your son is dead, your whole family will perish!!"

Amidst the fierce, venomous roar, everyone's eyes followed the man's gaze towards the trembling elder.

"Uncle Qin, our Li Family did not treat you poorly..."

Sitting in the main seat, Zhu Haomiao cast a spectral gaze, the heavy pressure enshrouding the room, frightening Qin Changzhong into bowing with a thump.