Free Web NovelChapter 667: Chapter 259: The Fierce Dragon Crosses the River
The Gold Market is not a taboo of the Black Market; it’s a taboo of the hidden world. Who dares to eat their fill and then seek protection fees from the Gold Market? Who protects whom?
"Elder Hua, the Gold Market must be collected, but it all has to be done step by step," Dragon Ridge said solemnly.
"Captain Dragon, who can’t talk pretty? I, on behalf of the Hundred Martial Hall, will make a stance. As long as Captain Li can obtain the management fee from the Gold Market today, the Hundred Martial Hall will completely cooperate with the Night Patrol in the Black Market from now on," Hua Qianzhan said, suddenly changing his tone. "If Lord Li fails, then the Night Patrol must never come to the Black Market again, and moreover, Lord Li must compensate everyone for their losses today. This constitutes the third test."
There was a great deal of commotion around, surprised at how things turned out to this point; who could handle this? Even if the Church Court were to come, it would be useless. It was a deadlock.
Feili suddenly nudged Patir, "Are you still betting?"
Patir shook his head gravely, "I’ve already won."
"Tsk, this time it’s 1 for 2, if you still dare to stand by Li Xin," Feili laughed. "Of course, if you’re scared, forget it."
Patir licked his lips and glanced sideways at the delighted Feili, slightly smiling, "Don’t cry if you lose, I’m betting 200."
"Can I join?" Hong Ban leaned over to ask.
"Get lost!" Feili huffed coldly, "Alright, I’ll take your two hundred."
Li Xin said nothing, glanced at Hua Qianzhan, and headed towards the Gold Market, followed by Meng Po and other Shadow Owls and the eight captains, with onlookers from the Silver Market and Copper Market trailing behind. Many were visiting the Silver Market for the first time, let alone the Gold Market, unknown to them.
The crowd reached the end of the Silver Market, facing a fog blockage with no response; without an invitation, no one could enter the Gold Market.
"Lord Li won’t bluff us with no one inside, right?" Hua Qianzhan laughed, leading others to jeer and laugh.
Li Xin glanced at Hua Qianzhan, pulled out a rustic bell which emitted a crisp sound when shaken.
...
?
No change occurred, laughter erupted from the crowd. Now it seemed too late to play tricks?
"Lord Li, summoning dogs here? This is the Gold Market; even Angels have no presence here, what are you?" Hua Qianzhan mocked.
All Night Patrol present were tense for Li Xin, as they had no jurisdiction in the Black Market, not to mention the Five Great Sanctuaries in the Gold Market. Night Patrols were human; they felt reverence and fear. Despite the disbelief, a tiny shred of hope lingered.
Li Xin remained calm, patiently waiting—death being an excellent training ground indeed.
Just as Hua Qianzhan prepared to mock further, the fog suddenly rolled up, revealing a passage. A towering figure in a black cloak emerged—scythe of death hanging behind—slowly floating forward.
In an instant, silence engulfed the scene; whispers ceased sharply, all bodies tensed. Dragon Ridge and others widened their eyes; never mind the Night Patrol, even Secret Castle Association members like Nalan Port and Hong Ban were speechless. They knew Li Xin was special, but even within Secret Castle, he was just one among many. What was happening now?
More so for the onlookers from the Copper Market, the crowd stared incredulously at the spectacle before them.
The Immortal!
The Secret Castle’s Immortal!
Nalan Port and others’ eyes brimmed with unrepressed envy, fear, and disbelief. Why, why could he summon the Immortal?
The Secret Castle Association has been passed down for thousands of years, never heard of before!
Avogadro~~~
As if a voice from the netherworld emerged, the Immortal arrived before Li Xin, soul fire burning in the eyes, disregarding others entirely.
"I’m here representing the Night Patrol to collect the monthly management fee from the Gold Market," Li Xin stated.
The Immortal remained still, gazing quietly at Li Xin. The surrounding crowd hardly dared to breathe, a suffocating oppression spreading ceaselessly—palms sweating. No one wanted to entertain the idea of the Immortal perhaps cutting Li Xin down with one scythe, not even standing against the Battle Angel’s sword seemed worthwhile in front of the Immortal.
Li Xin felt slightly apprehensive. Unsure if he had made himself clear.
The Immortal slowly extended his massive left hand, palm open, revealing five pouches.
Li Xin secretly breathed a sigh of relief, composedly receiving the five pouches from the Immortal’s hand. Their jingling was music to his ears; at this moment, everyone stared unblinkingly.
Duke of the Adventurer Association restrained his excitement—what explosive intel! For centuries, never heard anyone could collect management fees from the Holy Land, let alone all five at once. frёewebηovel.cѳm
Thankfully, Duke contemplated his interactions with Li Xin, perceiving no misconduct. The Adventurer Association long deemed the Five Great Sanctuaries as restless, plotting something, particularly the Secret Castle—a millennial puzzle—they surely harbored ulterior motives, and now the truth unraveled step by step.
All in front of Li Xin!
What nonsense, Hua Qianzhan’s eyes almost popped out, sweat pouring instantly.
Just as everyone thought the matter settled, the Immortal extended his right hand again, empty this time.
Li Xin hesitated, then realized, placing a Gold Coin in the Immortal’s hand—compensation for messenger fees of the other four houses—nodding gently.
This scene etched deeply into everyone’s memory, likely indelible for eternity.
The Immortal secured the Gold Coin, turned back to the Gold Market, as the fog surged once more behind.
The Red Moon in the sky shone especially vivid moments later as Li Xin turned around to face everyone, gesturing the folded finger salute with the right hand, "Under the moonlit night, the Night Patrol’s rules are the rules!"
All Night Patrol raised their chins high, executing the folded finger salute.
Hua Qianzhan’s face froze, utterly defeated. He prided in devising these three challenges as unsolvable, exceedingly reasonable, yet he had been utterly managed. Looking at Li Xin now, deep anger and doubt arose; he had investigated Li Xin, known to be timid, skilled in adapting to changing winds—courteous even with servants—once losing to Yan Tianguang in Canon Law School assessments.
Had he been plotting all along?
"Captain Li, we admit defeat, from now on, the Hundred Martial Hall will no longer meddle in Black Market affairs," Hua Qianzhan said, regaining his proud demeanor as Elder.
Li Xin nodded, stepping from the shadows to the foreground starting today.
Just as Hua Qianzhan was about to leave, Dragon Ridge suddenly called out, "Hold on, Elder Hua, there’s still something unfinished."
Hua Qianzhan frowned, smirking at Dragon Ridge, "Captain Dragon, what do you mean?"
Dragon Ridge looked at Hua Qianzhan, "Officially, only the Shadow Owls were involved in this action. How did Elder Hua know we’d act collectively with the Night Patrol?"
Dragon Ridge stared at Hua Qianzhan, whose expression didn’t change, "Guesswork." freēwēbηovel.c૦m
"Heh, Elder Hua certainly foresaw everything," Dragon Ridge swept past the seven captains at his rear, "Only the eight of us knew about the action, even Captain Li didn’t know we were coming."
Hong Jiu, Li Chao, and others’ faces changed drastically. Above all else, traitors were most detested—this was a battle concerning the life and death of the Night Patrol, and someone leaked the information?
