Heaven’s Shadow

Chapter 188: Plotting with the Tiger

In the quiet forest, Bai Lian and Ah Tu, acting like thieves, crouched behind the large rock, sneakily watching the wild pheasant foraging ahead. The pheasant was beautiful, with pearl-like spots adorning its vibrant feathers. Its long tail feathers flicked up and down, tracing stunning arcs in the forest air.

After watching for a while, Ah Tu withdrew its head and turned to leave. However, a small, pale hand stopped it. Bai Lian, with a faint, ambiguous smile, gently wrapped her arm around Ah Tu’s neck.

For some reason, although Ah Tu usually distrusted and kept its distance from everyone except Lu Chen and Yi Xin, it had never reacted strongly to Bai Lian’s actions, even though they weren’t particularly close.

Even now, Ah Tu submissively let Bai Lian pull it back. Its single eye looked at her unnaturally beautiful face, reflecting a trace of unease.

Bai Lian sat down behind the rock, ignoring the dirt on the ground, smiling slightly. She leaned closer to Ah Tu’s ear and whispered, “I think you’re a unique dog, with some strange qualities that I can’t quite understand.”

Ah Tu tilted its head, seemingly wanting to leave again, but Bai Lian held it back.

Gazing into Ah Tu’s eye, Bai Lian showed no disgust or disdain for the now scarred and fierce-looking dog. Instead, her eyes contained a rare gentleness.

She softly said, “You were meant for more, Ah Tu.”

“I don’t understand why you don’t eat live creatures,” she continued, glancing through the rock’s crevice to confirm the pheasant was still there. Then she turned back to Ah Tu, saying, “You are the first demonic beast I’ve seen survive the blood food ritual. Do you know what that means?”

She clenched her fist and swung it in front of Ah Tu, saying, “In those filthy barbarian tribes, a beast like you has another name.”

“Divine Beast!” Bai Lian said cheerfully, gently patting Ah Tu’s head.

—

In Kunwu City, at Hei Qiu Pavilion.

Lu Chen stood up and said to Lao Ma, “It’s getting late. Keep an eye on things, and we’ll…”

Before he could finish, Lao Ma stopped him, saying, “Don’t go yet. There’s something else I need to tell you.”

“Hmm?” Lu Chen asked, “What is it?”

“I found He Gang,” Lao Ma said.

Lu Chen raised an eyebrow and sat back down, asking, “Where?”

“Right here in Kunwu City,” Lao Ma replied.

Lu Chen smiled and said, “Impressive! Your skills are even better than I thought.”

Lao Ma modestly replied, “You’re too kind. This is just my job, nothing extraordinary.”

Lu Chen snorted, “Hypocrite! No wonder people say all fat guys are the same.”

“Hey!” Lao Ma protested, “How can you just start insulting people? Not all fat guys are like that, even if some have wronged you!”

“I tell you, fat people have dignity too!” Lao Ma declared righteously.

“Oh, sorry,” Lu Chen said.

Lao Ma was momentarily taken aback, not expecting Lu Chen to apologize so straightforwardly. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he awkwardly chuckled and said, “Well, it’s nothing, really…”

Lu Chen smiled lightly, watching Lao Ma without saying anything. Lao Ma, feeling uneasy under his gaze, subconsciously took a step back and said, “What are you thinking? I’m warning you, don’t try anything funny. Fat people aren’t easy to deal with, you know…”

Lu Chen walked over, patted his shoulder, and sighed, “Lao Ma, it’s been my luck to have you by my side these past ten years.” He paused, then added, “Thank you!”

Lao Ma was stunned for a moment, then looked down slightly. After a moment, he suddenly laughed, though there was a hint of dryness in his laughter. “Thank me? Do you think I really wanted to stick around? I had no choice! You owe me a huge debt of gratitude after all these years…”

“Really? How much?” Lu Chen asked.

“Of course! I’ve helped you so many times, saved you so many times. If you were to pay me back in spirit stones, we could buy an entire street in Kunwu City!” Lao Ma boasted.

“Is it really worth that much? But somehow I feel like the two of us together couldn’t even afford a single shop in Kunwu City, let alone a whole street,” Lu Chen remarked.

“Uh… that’s not important!” Lao Ma said, brushing off the awkward point. He seemed suddenly very happy, with a broad smile on his face. He laughed heartily, wanting to slap Lu Chen’s shoulder but then pulled back, perhaps thinking it wouldn’t be very manly.

He took a couple of steps aside, took a deep breath, then turned back, smiling, “Enough talk. What should we do with He Gang?”

Lu Chen pondered for a moment and said, “Keep an eye on him for now, but don’t make any moves.”

In the silent forest, Bai Lian and Ah Tu crouched behind a large rock, sneakily watching the wild pheasant foraging ahead as if they were thieves. The pheasant was beautiful, with pearl-like spots adorning its vibrant feathers, and its long tail feathers created stunning arcs as they moved.

After watching for a while, Ah Tu retracted its head and turned to leave. However, a small, pale hand stopped it. Bai Lian, with a faint smile, gently held onto Ah Tu’s neck.

Although Ah Tu usually distrusted and avoided everyone except Lu Chen and Yi Xin, it never reacted strongly to Bai Lian’s actions, despite not being particularly close to her. Even now, Ah Tu submissively let Bai Lian pull it back. Its single eye reflected a trace of unease as it looked at her unnaturally beautiful face.

Bai Lian sat down behind the rock, ignoring the dirt on the ground, smiling slightly. She leaned closer to Ah Tu’s ear and whispered, “I think you’re a unique dog, with some strange qualities that I can’t quite understand.”

Ah Tu tilted its head, seemingly wanting to leave again, but Bai Lian held it back.

Gazing into Ah Tu’s eye, Bai Lian showed no disgust or disdain for the now scarred and fierce-looking dog. Instead, her eyes contained a rare gentleness.

She softly said, “You were meant for more, Ah Tu.”

“I don’t understand why you don’t eat live creatures,” she continued, glancing through the rock’s crevice to confirm the pheasant was still there. Then she turned back to Ah Tu, saying, “You are the first demonic beast I’ve seen survive the blood food ritual. Do you know what that means?”

She clenched her fist and swung it in front of Ah Tu, saying, “In those filthy barbarian tribes, a beast like you has another name.”

“Divine Beast!” Bai Lian said cheerfully, gently patting Ah Tu’s head.

—

In Kunwu City, at Hei Qiu Pavilion.

Lu Chen stood up and said to Lao Ma, “It’s getting late. Keep an eye on things, and we’ll…”

Before he could finish, Lao Ma stopped him, saying, “Don’t go yet. There’s something else I need to tell you.”

“Hmm?” Lu Chen asked, “What is it?”

“I found He Gang,” Lao Ma said.

Lu Chen raised an eyebrow and sat back down, asking, “Where?”

“Right here in Kunwu City,” Lao Ma replied.

Lu Chen smiled and said, “Impressive! Your skills are even better than I thought.”

Lao Ma modestly replied, “You’re too kind. This is just my job, nothing extraordinary.”

Lu Chen snorted, “Hypocrite! No wonder people say all fat guys are the same.”

“Hey!” Lao Ma protested, “How can you just start insulting people? Not all fat guys are like that, even if some have wronged you!”

“I tell you, fat people have dignity too!” Lao Ma declared righteously.

“Oh, sorry,” Lu Chen said.

Lao Ma was momentarily taken aback, not expecting Lu Chen to apologize so straightforwardly. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he awkwardly chuckled and said, “Well, it’s nothing, really…”

Lu Chen smiled lightly, watching Lao Ma without saying anything. Lao Ma, feeling uneasy under his gaze, subconsciously took a step back and said, “What are you thinking? I’m warning you, don’t try anything funny. Fat people aren’t easy to deal with, you know…”

Lu Chen walked over, patted his shoulder, and sighed, “Lao Ma, it’s been my luck to have you by my side these past ten years.” He paused, then added, “Thank you!”

Lao Ma was stunned for a moment, then looked down slightly. After a moment, he suddenly laughed, though there was a hint of dryness in his laughter. “Thank me? Do you think I really wanted to stick around? I had no choice! You owe me a huge debt of gratitude after all these years…”

“Really? How much?” Lu Chen asked.

“Of course! I’ve helped you so many times, saved you so many times. If you were to pay me back in spirit stones, we could buy an entire street in Kunwu City!” Lao Ma boasted.

“Is it really worth that much? But somehow I feel like the two of us together couldn’t even afford a single shop in Kunwu City, let alone a whole street,” Lu Chen remarked.

“Uh… that’s not important!” Lao Ma said, brushing off the awkward point. He seemed suddenly very happy, with a broad smile on his face. He laughed heartily, wanting to slap Lu Chen’s shoulder but then pulled back, perhaps thinking it wouldn’t be very manly.

He took a couple of steps aside, took a deep breath, then turned back, smiling, “Enough talk. What should we do with He Gang?”

Lu Chen pondered for a moment and said, “Keep an eye on him for now, but don’t make any moves.”

Lao Ma nodded, “But He Yi is still investigating the matter. What should we do?”

Lu Chen replied, “Let him investigate. It might even draw out some hidden players.”

“Alright, just be careful.”

Lu Chen thought for a moment and said, “But we can’t completely ignore it either. Have someone keep an eye on him, so we don’t lose track of him when we need to act.”

Lao Ma nodded, “No problem. But what do you mean by ‘act’?”

Lu Chen smiled, “That depends on He Yi. If the timing is right, using his most cherished brother against him might lead to some unexpected results.”

Lao Ma gave him a look and agreed.

After a brief silence, Lu Chen smiled wryly and asked, “Do these words make me sound like a born villain?”

Lao Ma reassured him, “There’s no clear right or wrong. We’ve shed our share of blood over the years, but I’ve always felt that what we’ve done was right.”

Lu Chen stared into Lao Ma’s eyes and asked, “Is that really what you think?”

Lao Ma nodded confidently, “Yes, that’s what I believe. I think you, me, and Lord Zhenjun have never done anything wrong.”

Lu Chen took a deep breath and nodded, “You’re right.”

—

“Alright, I’m leaving.”

“Take care. Be careful on your way.”

“I’ll find a chance to go down the mountain in a few days,” Lu Chen said.

Lao Ma saw him off at the entrance of Hei Qiu Pavilion and said, “No problem. Just take care and don’t force yourself.”

Lu Chen smiled and turned to leave. But Lao Ma suddenly remembered something and asked, “Oh, about that three-eyed monster bug you mentioned earlier.”

“Why? Did you think of something?” Lu Chen turned to look at him.

Lao Ma shook his head, “No, not really. I’m just curious. If that monster bug was as vicious as you said, and it encountered you that night, there must have been a fierce battle, right? What was the outcome?”

Lu Chen closed his eyes for a moment, then shrugged, “The bug was indeed tough and aggressive. It caught me off guard and almost got me. But I managed to fend it off with a short sword, and after a few rounds, the bug couldn’t handle it and fled.”

As he spoke, Lu Chen’s hand, hidden in his sleeve, gently rolled a hard, rough, charred stone with faint scars in his palm.

Lao Ma looked disappointed and said, “Really? Didn’t the bug leave anything behind? Bones, remains, or pieces? It would make it easier to track it down. By the way, it seems you’re recovering well. Even if your cultivation is gone, your combat skills are still impressive.”

Lu Chen remained silent for a moment, then smiled and said, “No, it didn’t leave anything.”

—

“Slowly approach it, and bite its neck…”

Bai Lian’s voice echoed softly through the quiet forest, reminiscent of the blood-soaked scene when they first met.

Ah Tu’s breathing grew heavier.

Bai Lian watched Ah Tu, a hint of excitement in her eyes. It was the kind of joy a girl might feel seeing her favorite toy, tinged with a strange cruelty.

“Go ahead, go ahead. You’re different from other demonic beasts. They should all be groveling at your feet.”

“You are a rare Divine Beast, Ah Tu!”

“Go, kill it, and drink its blood!”

Ah Tu slowly turned its head, its single eye reflecting the image of the pheasant. A flash of red passed through its eye, yet there seemed to be a trace of struggle.

“After you start killing and drinking blood, the power of the blood food ritual will truly grow within you, making you stronger than any other demonic beast,” Bai Lian whispered softly, her voice gentle but with a hint of demonic allure, as if a voice from the underworld.

Ah Tu suddenly looked ahead.

No one knew if the crippled black dog understood Bai Lian’s words at that moment, but its eyes turned completely red.

Blood red! (To be continued…)