Chapter 55: Hunter and Prey

In Azure Void City, within a quiet room at the Lin Residence, Lin Yun leisurely sipped a cup of spirit tea while holding a Jade Scroll containing a cultivation technique.

Taking a small sip of the spirit tea, he then seemed to enter into contemplation.

At that moment, a firm knock interrupted his thoughts. Upon receiving permission to enter, a black-clad subordinate hurriedly walked in.

"What's the rush, acting so flustered?" Lin Yun's thoughts were interrupted, and he asked with a hint of displeasure, a cold expression on his face.

"Master, just received intelligence that Wang Hong and his group have left the city," the subordinate replied hastily.

Hearing this, Lin Yun's expression eased. "Oh, is that so? Tell me more."

The subordinate organized his words and explained, "This morning, Zhang Lao Han, the pastry seller at the city gate, saw Wang Hong and a few people leaving the city. Although they were wearing hooded cloaks at the time, upon closer inspection, they were recognized."

"And you didn't alert them?""No, afterward, they split into several groups and left the city discreetly. I reckon they're gathering now, relieved that we didn't discover them."

"Hahaha!" Lin Yun burst into laughter. That group of people could be considered thorns in his side, a constant source of irritation. They had eluded him for a long time.

As the release of the sect mission approached, these people seemed to lose their patience.

Initially, he thought killing Wang Hong was just a casual matter, standing up for the cultivators in his family and maintaining personal dignity.

However, after Wang Hong killed several members of the Lin Family on the Life and Death Platform, it became more than just a personal matter; it concerned the dignity of his entire family.

In the following years, as he delved deeper into understanding Wang Hong, he discovered that Wang Hong was a lucrative target. This discovery excited him, multiplying his motivation to eliminate Wang Hong by more than tenfold.

A Qi Cultivation cultivator owning three shops in Azure Void City was astonishing. Apart from a remote little shop, the other two, the Spirit Wine Pavilion and Elixir Pavilion, were booming businesses.

Although Zhao's Pill Shop was officially managed by someone named Zhao Ning, after thorough investigation, Zhao Ning was confirmed to be Wang Hong's subordinate, still part of Wang Hong's team.

Even if he wasn't directly associated with Wang Hong, he had significant ties. If they captured them all, it wouldn't matter whose shop it was.

With over a hundred cultivators in the Lin Family, they had only one modest Elixir shop, primarily selling the family's own Elixirs and Spiritual Medicine. Occasionally, they purchased miscellaneous Spiritual Medicine from loose cultivators, but due to limited resources, their shop frequently faced shortages.

Observing these shops over the years, despite the good business, they never ran out of stock.

He believed that capturing these people would bring in a considerable amount of Spirit Stones. Through rigorous interrogation, he could unveil the source of the Spiritual Medicine, a significant accomplishment for the family.

With resources, the family could train more cultivators, gaining strength and acquiring even more resources.

He hadn't publicized this matter; he wanted to accomplish this feat alone. Inheriting the position of the family head in the future, he envisioned no opposition.

Thinking about the family flourishing under his leadership, Lin Yun felt exhilarated and confident.

"You, go gather thirty people in my name. Follow me out of the city, and we'll capture these people," Lin Yun, with a hint of ferocity in his cold and proud face, instructed.

"Young Master, according to Yin Wolf, although these people have low cultivation levels, their fighting style is peculiar, well-organized, and their cooperation is seamless, making them formidable," the black-clad subordinate cautioned.

"Yes, and that Yin Wolf, remember to bring him too. This matter started because of him, and he must come, whether he likes it or not."

After a moment of contemplation, Lin Yun added, "Gather fifty people, and each person will be rewarded with Spirit Stones ranging from twenty to a hundred, based on their cultivation level."

Lin Yun thought for a moment and added, "Also, immediately arrange for a clever individual to trace their route and mark it discreetly. Remember, don't alert them. Go and do it quickly."

"Yes! I'll handle it right away." The black-clad subordinate exited the quiet room.

After half a day passed, the black-clad subordinate reported that the personnel had been assembled.

Lin Yun arrived at a hall where many people were gathered in groups, chatting lively. Upon Lin Yun's arrival, the previously bustling hall instantly quieted down.

Satisfied with this, Lin Yun continued to maintain his usual aloof demeanor, striding into the hall.

Surveying the crowd below, among the fifty people, only a small portion were Lin Family disciples, while the majority were loose cultivators recruited by the Lin Family.

Among them was a Qi Cultivation cultivator in the later stage, an old man clad in a green Daoist robe.

This person was a loose cultivator practicing Wood Element cultivation techniques, skilled in using poison. He was known as Poisonwood Daoist Master and had a certain level of reputation among Qi Cultivation loose cultivators.

Apart from this later-stage cultivator, there were twenty cultivators in the middle stage of Qi Cultivation, and the rest were in the early stage.

Looking at the formidable lineup before him, Lin Yun felt like using a sledgehammer to crush an egg.

"Everyone, this time we're leaving the city to hunt down a group of small rats. The strongest among them is only a Qi Cultivation later-stage cultivator, two in the middle stage, and the rest are just small fries in the first or second stage of Qi Cultivation. So, this time, consider it as me, Lin, inviting you all out of the city for a stroll," Lin Yun said with a hint of mockery.

Instantly, laughter erupted from the crowd.

"A group of ants like these, I reckon Young Master Lin could handle them all by himself," a sharp-mouthed cultivator flattered.

"No, no! Young Master Lin is a person of noble status. Personally dealing with these ants would lower his status and soil his hands," another cultivator with angled eyebrows complemented, very cooperatively.

It seemed these two were usually in harmony; now they harmonized even more. While Lin Yun knew it was flattery, he still enjoyed listening to it.

Others who were resentful of having their lines stolen had to follow along. Those who secretly disdained the flatterers discreetly moved a few steps away to maintain some distance.

After the sharp-mouthed cultivator finished flattering Lin Yun, he turned to Poisonwood Daoist Master and said, "Senior Poisonwood, please go a bit slower when you act later."

Poisonwood Daoist Master looked somewhat displeased and gave him a sidelong glance, saying, "What do you mean?"

"You see, as soon as you make a move, those ants will be wiped out. Senior, please graciously leave one or two for us to show off our skills," the sharp-mouthed cultivator, skilled in flattery, said again, repeating the same content but with a different twist.

Poisonwood Daoist Master stroked his beard, smiling, "Alright, alright! I'll leave two for you to play with."

"I've heard that Senior Poisonwood has the demeanor of an elder. Seeing it today, it's truly admirable. We deeply admire you," the cultivator with angled eyebrows cooperatively added another round of flattery. Others followed suit, praising Poisonwood Daoist Master.

Seeing the lively scene, Lin Yun lightly coughed a few times. When everyone's attention focused on him, he spoke.

"Fellow Daoists, it's getting late. Let's quickly go and capture those rats. It might be troublesome if they run too far away."

"Yes, yes, we shouldn't waste any more time. Young Master Lin, please give the order," Poisonwood Daoist Master said in agreement.

"Alright! I won't say much. Let's depart now!"

A group of people, led by Lin Yun, walked towards the city outskirts, following the marked trail.

After walking twenty miles outside the city, at a three-way intersection, the team had to stop because the markings disappeared.

A cultivator who had been sent to track was waiting at the roadside. Apparently, after reaching this point, they lost track of the direction.

It was evident that the other party took measures to conceal their tracks, preventing pursuit.

At this moment, several experts in tracking volunteered from the team.

After observing the intersection for a while, they unanimously agreed to pursue the leftmost fork.

Although these people had covered many traces, with so many people passing through, they inevitably left behind some signs.

On the left, many grass stems showed signs of being trampled, and some branches and leaves were slightly bent forward. It was clear that a large group had passed not long ago.

"Hahaha! Truly like magic towering above, and the Dao towering even higher!" Laughter erupted from the crowd, and they continued to move forward, surrounding Lin Yun.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay