Chapter 184: Bait

Shadow Butterfly was arranged to stay in a small courtyard in the Outer Sect of Biluo Palace.

The courtyard was quiet, planted with a few clusters of emerald bamboo, and it bore a slight resemblance to her residence in the Northern Wilderness back in the day.

Every morning, she would practice sword techniques in the courtyard; the sword moves were ruthless and sharp, carrying the unique force of the Northern Wilderness.

Fairy Biluo sent two female Disciples to guard outside the courtyard, nominally to take care of her daily life, but actually to monitor her every move.

Shadow Butterfly said nothing; she knew she was not yet fully trusted.

Su Yun went to see her every three days, asking the same question each time: "Have you remembered anything useful?"

Shadow Butterfly shook her head every time. Until the tenth day, she suddenly spoke up.

"I have remembered one thing."

Su Yun set down his teacup, his gaze narrowing slightly: "Speak."

"The person I met every time, although wearing a mask, had a long, thin, old scar between her right index and middle finger, as if cut by a sword, and it had turned white. I saw it exposed when she reached out to receive the Spirit Stone."

Su Yun asked: "Male or female?"

"Female, her voice was very thin, and she shouldn't be old."

Su Yun nodded and immediately had Fairy Biluo investigate. All female Disciples in Biluo Palace, Zixia Sect, Wanhua Valley, and Star Pavilion who had an old sword scar between their right index and middle fingers were to be listed.

Three days later, Fairy Biluo brought back a list with seven names on it. Su Yun had someone invite them to the main hall under the pretext that "The Palace Master has matters to discuss."

The seven female cultivators stood in the hall, with various expressions. Su Yun walked out from behind the screen, his gaze sweeping over everyone, finally landing on the female cultivator from Wanhua Valley.

Her name was Hua Yue, Mahayana Initial Stage, an Outer Sect Elder of Wanhua Valley, responsible for Spiritual Plant cultivation. She looked delicate and gentle, but she had been hiding her right hand in her sleeve.

Su Yun walked in front of her and said calmly: "Elder Hua Yue, extend your right hand and let me see."

Hua Yue's face instantly turned pale, and she subconsciously pulled her hand back. However, Su Yun had already gripped her wrist and pulled it out. That long, thin, white scar was clearly visible.

Hua Yue jerked her hand away, while simultaneously striking with her other hand; wood-type Qi, wrapped in the might of the Mahayana Initial Stage, struck directly at Su Yun's face. Su Yun raised his hand to block and tapped her on the center of her brow with one finger.

A golden light flashed.

Hua Yue's body suddenly stiffened, and the terror in her eyes quickly turned into obedience. She lowered her head and whispered: "Master."

Su Yun released her wrist, his tone calm: "Where is the Shadow Pavilion's stronghold?"

Hua Yue respectfully replied: "Three hundred li north of Biluo City, underground, there is an abandoned mine, which was converted into a temporary stronghold by the Shadow Pavilion. I meet there every time."

"Where are Shadow One to Shadow Six?"

"I don't know. I am only an outer member, responsible only for delivering messages and purchasing, and have never seen those Protectors. The one I meet is Shadow Four, Mahayana Middle Stage, who always speaks from behind a stone door in a stone chamber deep in the mine, never showing her face. She usually brings two Mahayana Initial Stage female death warriors with her."

Su Yun handed Hua Yue over to Fairy Biluo for custody, then went to find Shadow Butterfly. He showed the portrait of Hua Yue to Shadow Butterfly.

Shadow Butterfly recognized her at a glance: "It is her. The person I meet every time is this Hua Yue."

Su Yun nodded: "She has already been subdued by me. Now I need you to cooperate in doing one thing—continue to pretend to be a member of the Shadow Pavilion and go to the mine to deliver a message. Just say that the Qinghe Sect is unstable internally, and the old grievances between the Star Pavilion and Taixu Hall haven't been resolved, so they can take the opportunity to strike."

Shadow Butterfly hesitated for a moment, bit her lip, but still nodded: "Okay, I will go."

The next evening, Shadow Butterfly put on a gray cloak and left Biluo City. Su Yun concealed all his aura and followed silently behind her. His Late Mahayana Stage cultivation made him like a falling leaf, without a sound.

Shadow Butterfly dived into the secret passage in the rocky ridge. Su Yun did not follow inside, but circled to the other side of the mine, found a hidden ventilation shaft, and squeezed in sideways. After climbing for half an incense stick of time, he arrived above a stone chamber.

An oil lamp was lit in the stone chamber; Shadow Butterfly stood before the table, facing a tightly closed stone door.

From behind the stone door came a woman's thin, soft voice: "Shadow Seven, what news do you bring?"

Shadow Butterfly lowered her head, her voice respectful: "My Lady Shadow Four, there is a problem inside the Qinghe Sect. Disciples of the Star Pavilion and Taixu Hall recently had a fight in the Spirit Medicine garden, injuring over a dozen. Although Su Yun punished them, neither side is convinced, and they are busy mediating all day, with no time to manage other matters."

There was silence behind the stone door for a moment: "Is the news reliable?"

"Reliable. I saw it with my own eyes in Biluo City."

Another long silence followed. The stone door finally opened slowly.

A woman wearing a long black dress walked out, her long hair disheveled, wearing a silver-white mask on her face, revealing only a pair of deep purple eyes. Behind her followed two black-clad women also wearing masks, both at the Mahayana Initial Stage.

Shadow Four walked to the stone table, picked up a teacup and took a sip, her voice cold: "Shadow Seven, you did well. Continue to monitor, and report again if there is news."

Shadow Butterfly responded and turned to leave. Shadow Four suddenly stopped her: "Wait. The aura on your body is not right."

Shadow Butterfly instantly stiffened. Shadow Four walked in front of her, stared into her eyes, and said coldly: "You have been followed."

As soon as the words fell, Shadow Four struck Shadow Butterfly's chest with her palm. Shadow Butterfly closed her eyes waiting for death, but found that the palm did not land. A hand reached out from behind her, steadily catching Shadow Four's palm force.

Su Yun appeared from behind Shadow Butterfly and said calmly: "Shadow Four, long time no see."

Shadow Four's expression changed drastically, her figure retreated violently, and at the same time, she struck the oil lamp on the table with her palm. The oil lamp exploded, and the stone chamber plunged into darkness.

Su Yun raised his hand, and a golden light instantly illuminated the entire area.

Shadow Four had already retreated behind the stone door, with the two black-clad women blocking in front of her. Su Yun stepped forward, slapped one of them away with a palm, and tapped her brow with his other hand.

A golden light flashed.

The second black-clad woman's body stiffened and she lowered her head: "Master."

The first black-clad woman climbed up and tried to escape, but was kicked over by Su Yun, and his finger tapped her brow again.

The golden light flashed again.

Su Yun pushed open the stone door, and walked into the stone chamber behind. Shadow Four stood in the corner, her hands forming seals, purple-black lightning wrapping around her body.

Su Yun did not give her a chance to attack, stepped forward, and struck her shoulder with a palm. Shadow Four groaned, her figure staggered, and Su Yun's finger had already tapped her brow.

A golden light flashed.

The killing intent in Shadow Four's eyes quickly turned into obedience, and she lowered her head: "Master."

Su Yun withdrew his hand and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Although Shadow Four's palm didn't land solidly, the backlash of the Dark Thunder Art still caused him a minor injury. The dark thunder power of the Mahayana Middle Stage was indeed a bit tricky.

He had Shadow Four take off her mask. Beneath the mask was a delicate face of about twenty-five or twenty-six, with cold and beautiful eyebrows and eyes, and thin lips pressed into a straight line; she didn't look like someone who loved to smile.

Su Yun asked: "Where is the Shadow Pavilion's headquarters?"

Shadow Four shook her head: "I don't know. I am only responsible for the affairs of the eastern Immortal Realm; the location of the headquarters is only known to Shadow One and the Shadow Master."

"Where is Shadow One?"

"In the Taixu Mountains in the western Immortal Realm. She comes to Biluo City once a month to report to the Shadow Master. The next time is in ten days."

Su Yun nodded, his tone calm but with unquestionable confidence: "Then we wait. In ten days, she will deliver herself to our door."

He took Shadow Four and the two black-clad women and left the mine, returning to Biluo Palace. Shadow Four was arranged to stay in the small courtyard next to Shadow Butterfly, and the two black-clad women also moved in.

Fairy Biluo asked in a low voice: "Master, what are the arrangements for next?"

Su Yun smiled faintly: "Continue to wait. Wait for Shadow One to come, and subdue her. Then wait for the Shadow Master to come, and subdue the Shadow Master. I want to dig out the details of the Shadow Pavilion layer by layer."

Su Yun stood at the edge of the cliff, looking towards the Taixu Mountains in the west, his gaze deep.

Shadow One, Peak Mahayana Stage, is one small Realm higher than him.

But he was not afraid.

He had the feedback Qi of over a hundred thousand servants, the power augmentation from True Monarch Bingpo and the Blood-colored Girl, and a void node slowly rotating deep in his Dantian.

Once Shadow One comes, she shouldn't think about leaving.