Free Web NovelChapter 571: Chapter 571: Tracking the Enemy (Part 1)
"Bring me five pounds of cooked beef, three small dishes, and a pot of wine!"
Zhang Yuan, who had just sat down, called over the waiter and ordered food and drink.
This tavern looked fairly clean, with a dozen or so tables inside, and dozens of patrons, making it quite lively.
Zhang Yuan had plenty of experience in the martial world and knew that places like this were the easiest to pick up news.
Most importantly, his hearing was exceptionally sharp, far beyond that of ordinary people, allowing him to clearly hear even the whispers in the farthest corners, often leading to unexpected gains.
Of course, the rumors circulating in these teahouses and taverns were a mix of truth and falsehood, requiring him to discern for himself.
One cannot take them at face value.
"Right away!"
The waiter diligently wiped the table and said, "Please wait a moment, the food and wine will be served shortly!"
Zhang Yuan nodded and then tossed a silver ingot onto the table: "The extra is for you."
The waiter was overjoyed, nodding and bending over, almost kneeling to this martial hero on the spot.
As the saying goes, "money makes the world go round," and under such a hefty tip, the food and wine Zhang Yuan ordered were quickly brought out.
Zhang Yuan picked up a slice of cooked beef to taste.
The flavor was surprisingly good!
At that moment, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a timid figure at the entrance of the tavern.
It was the same young man who had just tried to become his disciple.
Zhang Yuan sneered coldly.
It wasn’t that he had no sympathy.
But this guy had malicious intent, using the guise of becoming a disciple to cling to him for benefits.
Although Zhang Yuan did not have telepathy, his strong divine soul and keen senses gave him an instinctive judgment of people’s good and evil nature.
He had a considerable ability to discern between true feelings and false pretenses, truth and lies!
Zhang Yuan hadn’t expected that, after being kicked by him, the young man still hadn’t given up.
He regretted having thrown silver to the other earlier.
Thinking for a moment, Zhang Yuan beckoned to the young man lingering at the entrance.
The young man was overjoyed at the gesture and immediately rushed over, throwing himself to the ground: "Great hero, are you willing to take me as your disciple? Cough, cough!"
He coughed heavily twice, clutching his chest with a look of pain.
Zhang Yuan said indifferently, "Stop pretending. Let me ask you a question — answer it well, and I may spare your life."
The young man locked eyes with Zhang Yuan and instantly felt as if he were falling into a hellish abyss, terrifying images flooding his mind.
The Blood Evil Qi emanating from Zhang Yuan almost froze the blood within him!
The young man collapsed on the ground, trembling with fear in his eyes.
Zhang Yuan’s aura was released and then withdrawn, and he looked down at the young man and said, "In this He Kou Ji, who is the most well-informed?"
"It’s, it’s Zhao San’Er."
The young man couldn’t help but answer in a trembling voice, "His, his information is the most, the most reliable!"
"Very good."
Zhang Yuan nodded, tossing down another silver ingot: "Go find him and bring him here."
At this time, the young man barely regained his composure, hurriedly grabbed the silver, and fled from the tavern like a dog without a home.
He no longer mentioned anything about becoming a disciple.
"Esteemed guest, that rascal is nothing but trouble."
A passing waiter who had witnessed the scene lowered his voice and said to Zhang Yuan, "Make sure not to let him get to you."
Zhang Yuan smiled and continued eating and drinking.
Of course, he knew that the young man was no good, and he didn’t expect the young man to actually find Zhao San’Er.
In fact, at this moment, most of Zhang Yuan’s attention was already focused on the Red-eyed Crow.
The Red-eyed Crow was circling above He Kou Ji, closely monitoring the young man who had just escaped from the tavern.
The half-grown boy quickly darted into a nearby alley, leaning against the wall, panting heavily.
He was obviously terrified.
After a moment, the boy finally regained his composure.
He looked around, weighed the silver ingot he held tightly, and stuffed it into a crack in the wall beside him.
After hiding the silver ingot, the boy ventured deeper into the alley.
After a series of twists and turns, he finally came to a low row of houses and knocked on the door of one of them.
"Third Brother, Third Brother!"
The boy knocked as he called urgently.
The dilapidated wooden door abruptly opened, and a hand suddenly reached out from the darkness, slapping the boy’s head heavily.
"Are you calling for a ghost?"
"Ouch!"
The boy cried out in pain, clutching his head and complaining, "Third Brother, I have something very important to tell you!"
As soon as he said that, the hand from inside the room grabbed his clothing and yanked him in.
"What news?"
Inside the cramped room stood a lean man, with a sullen look, speaking to the boy: "If you dare to fool me, I’ll skin you alive!"
The boy swallowed and said miserably, "Third Brother, how dare I wrong you!"
He hurriedly recounted his encounter earlier, particularly highlighting the scene where Zhang Yuan killed the bald man.
Finally, he said, "Third Brother, this man asked me about you. I said I didn’t know, but he’s definitely still looking for you, so you’d better run for it!"
The lean man listened and his expression became uncertain: "Everything you said is true?"
The boy looked as if he was about to cry: "How dare I lie to you, this is such a big deal, you can go and ask around, I swear I didn’t lie!"
He was almost swearing on the spot!
The lean man released him and nodded, saying, "Then I misjudged you, consider it my debt to you."
The boy forced a smile: "You’re too kind, Third Brother."
But inwardly, he was secretly pleased.
No matter how cunning Zhao San’Er was, this time he had to swallow his own pride!
The lean man thought for a moment and asked, "You said that person is at Xu’s Tavern now?"
"No longer."
The boy was about to answer when suddenly a voice came from outside the door.
Upon hearing the voice, the cunning boy seemed to be struck by lightning, his lower body growing warm as he collapsed to the ground.
Meanwhile, the lean man’s expression changed dramatically, and he suddenly flung his hand, sending a series of concealed weapons out of the door.
But the hidden weapons he released vanished without a trace, making no impact at all.
Simultaneously, an invisible force enveloped the small room.
The lean man fell to his knees with a thud, overcome with fright: "Great, great hero, spare me!"
Zhang Yuan appeared at the doorway, smiling: "Don’t be afraid, I heard this kid say you’re the most well-informed person in He Kou Ji. I had him fetch you to inquire about something, but unexpectedly..."
Zhang Yuan shook his head, his gaze landing on the boy on the ground with eyes closed: "In the next life, be an honest child."
As soon as he finished speaking, the boy on the ground groaned, his head twisting one-eighty degrees.
He died instantly on the spot.
Simultaneously, his tightly gripped right hand fell slack, revealing a blue-tinted poison needle in his palm.
When Zhang Yuan’s gaze turned to the lean man.
The lean man was terrified out of his wits!
