Chapter 1055: Chapter 1044: Formation!
The night outside Dragon City was as black as ink.
Ning Fan led three martial members of the Shadow Team forward, with a long rope trailing behind them.
The rope was dragging a black-cloaked figure tied up hand and foot.
“All that awaits you is destruction. The leader will avenge us, hahaha!”
The black-cloaked figure was in an extremely sorry state, his face covered in blood and dirt. As he spoke, his mouth struck a protruding stone on the ground again, smashing several teeth.
“Hmph, still spouting nonsense even at death’s door.”
The Shadow Team member using darts glanced back at the black-cloaked figure dragging on the ground like a dead dog, sneered coldly, and said, “Do you know why you’re still alive?”
“Of course, it’s so he can personally see his so-called invincible Blood Cross get completely destroyed in front of us!”
Before the black-cloaked figure could respond, another Shadow Team member chimed in, chuckling with ease.
“You’ll pay the price, Hell awaits you!”
The black-cloaked figure spat out a mouthful of blood, his face twisted into a sneer as he spoke.
“Noisy!”
A member of the Shadow Team frowned, stopped in his tracks, and kicked the black-cloaked figure in the jaw, knocking him out.
Ning Fan had no time to pay attention to the Shadow Team member’s actions. As everyone continued walking deeper, his breathing gradually became hurried, and his aura began to spread.
His eyes focused, and a solemn expression crossed his brow as Ning Fan stopped at the foot of the mountain described by the black-cloaked figure as the temporary headquarters of Blood Cross after walking several hundred meters.
“You all wait here for me, I can go in alone.”
Ning Fan carefully studied the peak standing before him in the night, resembling a black iron tower, and said in a deep voice.
“How can that be!”
The Shadow Team members panicked, and hurriedly said, “Our mission in the Shadow Team is to protect Mr. Ning. Mr. Ning, wait a moment, let a few of us storm in, and we’ll take down this so-called Blood Cross headquarters!”
“Exactly, there’s no need for Mr. Ning to take risks. The three of us are enough; a bunch of trash will make for good practice. Mr. Ning can rest here.”
“Absolutely right!”
The three Shadow Team members who came with Ning Fan looked relaxed, smiling as they said, “If Sister Feifei finds out we let Mr. Ning be in danger, we won’t have a good time when we get back.”
“Shut up, damn it!”
Seeing that the three Shadow Team members were oblivious to the approaching danger, Ning Fan, somewhat impatient, snapped them out of their banter.
“Either wait here or get lost. The Shadow Team doesn’t need members who ignore my orders.”
Ning Fan’s face was as calm as water, and he spoke sternly.
“Mr. Ning, please be careful…”
“If anything unexpected happens, call for help, and we’ll be there immediately.”
Ning Fan’s resolute attitude left the Shadow Team members unwilling to disobey. Although reluctant, they still obediently followed Ning Fan’s request and stopped at the mountain’s base.
The trio spread out to form a horned position, with the unconscious black-cloaked figure in the middle, watching Ning Fan blend into the dark mountain like a shadow.
Renowned names don’t come from mere words; Ning Fan knew that this infamous Assassination Guild in the Martial Arts World wouldn’t be as feeble as the Shadow Team believed.
Though the Shadow Team was powerful, they hadn’t experienced much peril and lacked a true understanding of the Martial Arts World’s brutality.
Walking along the mountain path, Ning Fan frowned in thought.
Shaking off irrelevant thoughts, Ning Fan continued forward.
By this time, the moonlight had completely vanished, and eerie calls echoed through the mountain forest, sounding like birds and beasts, but mixed with an uncanny atmosphere that instinctively invoked fear.
Ning Fan snorted coldly, activating the Eight Zen Decree Technique.
Under the influence of the Eight Zen Decree Technique, the creepy atmosphere dissipated instantly.
“They even set up formations in the mountains; no wonder there are always various rumors about this place, gradually keeping ordinary people from climbing the mountain, wasting its beautiful scenery and valuable herbs.”
Ning Fan raised an eyebrow, speeding up his pace as he flitted through the quiet, dark forest at an almost imperceptible speed.
Soon, Ning Fan’s body gradually blurred. Were any ordinary person observing, they might only see a gust of wind passing by and leaves swirling, but no trace of Ning Fan.
“Arrived!”
At the mountainside, Ning Fan stopped and walked towards a bare cliff.
There was no road here, but Ning Fan simply tapped the cliff with his leg and floated in midair like a loose rope.
“This is the place.”
While floating, Ning Fan accurately located the mechanism for the door described by the black-cloaked figure and kicked it. The immense force almost made the mountain tremble.
However, Ning Fan knew this was merely an illusion.
Due to the mountain’s interior being hollowed out by predecessors and the Blood Cross destroying the path leading here and adding some trick from Qimen Dunjia to hide their headquarters.
“Whoosh!”
The instant the mountain door opened, several sharp whistling sounds rang out simultaneously.
Ning Fan focused his eyes and saw several black crossbow arrows shooting directly at his face.
As if anticipating this, Ning Fan’s face showed no panic. His body suddenly fell backward, hooking his toes on a protruding stone, leaving him hanging upside down on the cliff.
“Is he dealt with?”
In front of the door, a hoarse voice sounded with a hint of panic, “The code isn’t right; could Black Fox have been taken out?”
“Go inform the leader, I’ll go check. Normally the body would have fallen, we should’ve heard an echo by now.”
Just as the two finished speaking, Ning Fan slapped the mountainside with both hands, instantly standing upright. With a forceful push from his toes on the stepping stone, he jumped, standing at the mountain gate.
“No need to search, the body you’re looking for is right here.”
Ning Fan smiled slightly, speaking gently.
“You… uh!”
The two in front saw Ning Fan appear like a ghost, their pupils instantly dilating. Before they could call for help, Ning Fan grasped both of their throats simultaneously.
“Crack.”
With a synchronized snap, Ning Fan laid the two gatekeepers on the ground, making them assume a sitting position against the cliff.
“I knew that black-cloaked figure still had secrets, I didn’t expect it to be about the door-opening code.”
Ning Fan snorted coldly, concealed himself, and stealthily made his way inside.