Chapter 387 - 238: Yun Qing
Fang Yue had already returned quietly to the carriage. He didn’t dwell on the matter, instead continuing to prepare for his next move.
He knew his main task was to investigate Zhou Tiande’s identity and background. Everything else was secondary.
As night fell, Fang Yue slipped away from his temporary lodging and headed to Zhou Tiande’s residence to investigate.
Using his Stealth Technique, he easily evaded the patrolling guards and slipped into the residence without a sound.
The residence was deathly quiet, as if uninhabited.
Fang Yue scanned his surroundings, searching for any useful clues.
He arrived at a study, gently pushed the door open, and stepped inside.
The study was filled with bookshelves, piled high with various books and scrolls.
Fang Yue quickly scanned the shelves, trying to find any information about Zhou Tiande.
However, after searching for a long time, he found no useful clues.
Just as Fang Yue was about to leave the study, he suddenly heard a faint sound. He spun around, on alert, only to find that the study window had been opened.
A Black Shadow darted in through the window, landing before Fang Yue. The man wore a black robe and a mask, revealing only a pair of cold eyes.
"Who are you? Why have you broken into the Zhou Family residence?" the black-robed man asked coldly.
Fang Yue’s heart skipped a beat; he knew he’d been discovered. He quickly composed himself and stared coldly at the black-robed man.
"Who I am isn’t important," Fang Yue retorted. "What’s important is why you’re impersonating Zhou Tiande."
’I was attacked by a man in a black robe before, so the real Zhou Tiande would definitely recognize me. But this person clearly has no idea who I am.’
’So, this man must be an impostor.’
The black-robed man froze, apparently not expecting such a question. He was silent for a moment before speaking slowly:
"It seems you know a great deal. But so what if you do? Now that you’re here, don’t even think about leaving alive!"
As he spoke, a powerful Qi burst from the black-robed man’s body. With a flicker of movement, he transformed into a Black Shadow and lunged at Fang Yue.
Fang Yue was prepared. He dodged the black-robed man’s attack with a quick flash of movement. At the same time, a Longsword appeared in his hand as he launched a counterattack.
The two clashed in an instant, and the sounds of a fierce battle immediately filled the study.
The black-robed man was powerful. His Body Technique was strange and unpredictable, making him a tricky opponent for Fang Yue.
’Still, this man is just an impostor. He’s a far cry from the one I encountered before.’
Although the black-robed man was strong, Fang Yue was no slouch either.
His Fist Technique was fierce and his Body Technique was agile, and he soon found an opening in the black-robed man’s defense.
During one exchange, Fang Yue landed a punch on the black-robed man’s shoulder. The man grunted in pain and stumbled back several steps.
Fang Yue gave him no chance to recover, pressing his advantage with another attack.
The black-robed man was now injured and his strength greatly diminished. He could no longer stand against Fang Yue.
After a few rounds, the black-robed man was forced into a corner by Fang Yue.
His face was pale beneath the mask, and his eyes betrayed his fear. He knew there was no escape.
"Who are you, really? And why are you impersonating Zhou Tiande?" Fang Yue demanded coldly.
Leaning against the wall, the black-robed man’s breathing grew heavy and ragged under his mask.
He looked up at Fang Yue, his eyes showing a hint of resentment and anger, but it was overshadowed by helplessness and fear.
"I... I didn’t really want to impersonate Zhou Tiande."
The black-robed man said with difficulty, a bitter tone in his voice, "I was only following orders. I was sent to guard this residence and stop anyone from getting close to the truth."
Fang Yue frowned. He didn’t fully believe the man, but he had a feeling he wasn’t lying either.
"Ordered by who? And what truth are you guarding?" Fang Yue pressed.
The black-robed man was silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.
Finally, he took a deep breath and said slowly:
"I don’t know who’s behind this. I just received my orders and came here to carry them out. As for the truth... I don’t know the details, but I do know that this residence hides some deep secrets."
A thought struck Fang Yue. He realized the man probably didn’t have any more information.
But from the man’s words, he could confirm at least one thing: this residence was definitely connected to Zhou Tiande’s identity and background, and it concealed an even deeper secret.
"If you don’t know anything else, then you’re useless to me," Fang Yue said coldly, raising his Longsword again.
The black-robed man’s face went pale with terror. "Wait!" he yelled. "I may not know the whole truth, but I can tell you what I do know!"
Fang Yue paused, the tip of his blade freezing at the man’s throat. He stared down at him coldly. "Speak!"
The black-robed man swallowed hard and said slowly, "I once heard my orders mention that this residence is connected to an organization called the ’Shadow Association.’ They’re a mysterious and powerful group, said to hold many secrets unknown to the world."
"The Shadow Association?"
Fang Yue’s brow furrowed. "What kind of organization is that? And what does it have to do with Zhou Tiande?"
The black-robed man shook his head. "I don’t know the specifics of their relationship, only that the organization is connected to this residence. If you really want to uncover the truth, you should probably start with them."