The Black Market.

Jin Yunxi walked deep into the Black Market, searching for the Life Alliance's stronghold.

Jiang Chen's guesses were correct. The Wanderers were divided into many factions, but fundamentally, they all had ways of contacting each other. These methods of contact were known only to them.

Jin Yunxi entered a small tavern.

She sat outside, waiting for a Servant to come over.

A Servant approached Jin Yunxi, smiling. "What will you have?"

"Bring a pot of tea. I'm here to see your Life Alliance's leader. A client asked me to deliver a few words to them. I'll leave right after speaking."

The Servant sized up Jin Yunxi, eyeing the sword at her side.

She immediately understood!

"Please wait a moment."

The Servant returned inside. Moments later, six people emerged from the building. Three sat next to Jin Yunxi, while the other three stood behind her.

"Life Alliance Helmsman of the Xileruo World, Qin Yiran."

"Heavenly Earth Association Helmsman of the Xileruo World, Jin Yunxi."

The two sides formally introduced themselves.

Qin Yiran asked, "I wonder, what business does Helmsman Jin have with me?"

"Today, a Swordsman came to my tavern. He sought me out and told me something that happened to him. Six Wanderers had tried to kill him."

Qin Yiran's brow furrowed tightly.

They had failed.

Jin Yunxi continued, "He wishes to know what grudge exists between him and your faction."

"As a Wanderer yourself, you naturally understand the grudges involved. We intend to kill him to save the common people. Surely, Helmsman Jin, you understand this?"

"I have never believed in such bullshit legends," Jin Yunxi stated flatly.

Qin Yiran asked, "So, those six are dead?"

"Yes."

The men behind Qin Yiran erupted in anger.

"Damn it! He killed several of our martial brothers!"

"This man is definitely the Swordsman from the prophecies! We must kill him; we absolutely cannot let him grow stronger!"

"After searching for so many years, we've finally found him! We cannot let him live!"

"It seems the prophecy is coming true! To protect all Wanderers, we cannot allow him to develop further!"

Qin Yiran asked, "What message did he ask you to bring?"

"If the grudge cannot be resolved, he is willing to meet you. You are to find a place where you can 'talk' with swords, to settle everything with swords."

"He also conveyed another point: grudges should not involve family. If family is dragged into this, it means all principles are abandoned, and he too will abandon his."

"Did he say anything else?"

"Three days from now, he will come to the Black Market, awaiting my reply."

Qin Yiran nodded. "Good. Tell him that three days from now, deep in the Black Market, we will be waiting for him. Then, we'll 'talk' with our swords."

Jin Yunxi stood up and turned to leave.

Qin Yiran suddenly spoke, "Helmsman Jin, do you really want to see him grow stronger? Do you want to see the Wanderers destroyed?"

"I have never believed in any legends," Jin Yunxi said. "If that day truly comes, I believe it would only be because he was forced into it. I can see his sincerity."

"Don't forget that the All-Gods developed the Swordsman Class specifically to counter us Wanderers."

Jin Yunxi remained silent.

This was the truth.

But you fools have already fallen into the All-Gods' trap. They just want to watch Swordsmen and The Fallen slaughter each other, finding this game amusing.

Jin Yunxi didn't voice these thoughts; instead, she silently left.

She knew that words were useless to those who believed in legends.

Everyone had their own willpower.

Jin Yunxi's words couldn't change anything, nor stop their actions.

She only hoped they would refrain from involving family; that was how a true Wanderer should behave.

The group watched Jin Yunxi leave.

"Damn it, the Heavenly Earth Association only looks after themselves, while we fight for the entire Wanderers' Alliance!"

"Forget it, we are not on the same path as them."

"What now? That Jiang Chen has issued a challenge."

"What else can we do? Of course, we face the challenge."

"Well said. We have never been afraid of anyone."

"It seems he really cares about his family. Let's just kidnap his family. According to our intelligence, he has an older sister and a female confidante."

"That woman, Angelina, is always by his side, making it difficult to act."

"What's there to fear? Didn't he say he'll come to fight in three days? When he arrives, we'll stall him, then kidnap his woman and force him to submit."

"And if he doesn't submit?"

"Then what's the hold-up? Kill his woman. She's just a Hero from the Alliance of All-Gods anyway."

Qin Yiran's eyes lit up. "An excellent idea! We'll do just that when the time comes."

***

「In the Dream Realm.」

Jiang Chen was feeling very irritable. Daphne seemed to notice his somber mood and said with a laugh, "Let me help you release some of that 'fire.'"

After speaking, Daphne slowly began to shed her clothes. Jiang Chen was startled.

They were, after all, in the Dream Realm, where an Incubus could change its gender at any time.

Daphne giggled. "Look how scared you are! It seems this has left a scar on your heart."

"No shit," Jiang Chen muttered, annoyed.

He had indeed been terrified at that moment. That was a bloody hermaphrodite!

Even though I enjoy some thrills, this is way too much! As a normal man, it's a bit hard to accept.

Daphne straddled Jiang Chen, settling onto his thighs.

Huh... she feels like a woman.

"Alright, I was just teasing you!"

"Get off."

"I won't."

"I don't have the energy for this."

"I'll give you some energy..."

Even though Daphne wasn't by Jiang Chen's side, she could enter his Dream Realm at any time. She had remembered Jiang Chen's Dreamspace coordinates since the first time she entered it.

It was as if she had copied a key that could open his Dream Realm door at any time.

***

「The next morning.」

Jiang Chen and Angelina entered the fissure to raise their Levels.

Seeing Jiang Chen yawning, Angelina asked, puzzled, "Didn't you sleep well last night?"

"No," Jiang Chen replied.

"Then why are you yawning?"

"It's normal."

"Only sleepy people yawn."

"Let's go. Time to keep raising our Levels."

「Three days later...」

Jiang Chen was in his room, sitting on the sofa, silently smoking. He was planning to attend a meeting tonight. Just last night, he had received a message: the three-day appointment was set. Deep in the Black Market, he was to face their challenge.

Jiang Chen naturally felt no fear for himself; his only concern was Angelina.

He couldn't possibly take Angelina to this meeting.

Although Angelina could provide BUFFs, they were dispensable to Jiang Chen. Angelina herself was his sole worry.

CREAK...

Arno entered. Seeing Jiang Chen smoking silently, he asked, "You were looking for me?"

"Just a small matter."

"Tell me."

"Tonight, I need you to do me a favor: protect Angelina."

Arno nodded. "Alright."

"Thanks."

"You're being too formal. We're friends. As long as I'm here, Angelina will be safe, unless they step over my dead body."

"The enemy will likely be The Fallen."

"Even if it were a God, it wouldn't matter."

Jiang Chen smiled faintly. That's a bit of an exaggeration.

Jiang Chen had some understanding of The Fallen. They had a creed: "Misfortune does not extend to kin." But Jiang Chen didn't trust them. Currently, only Arno, a Third-Stage Expert, could protect Angelina.

As for Arlene, forget it. That girl is so carefree; she doesn't have Arno's protective instincts.

Arno didn't ask anything, and Jiang Chen felt no need to explain.

They had a tacit understanding.

If it were Arlene, it would be different; that girl would surely pester me endlessly with questions:

Why protect Angelina? Where are you going tonight? Who is coming to assassinate you?

If she asked these kinds of questions, I wouldn't want to answer.

But Arno is different.

He's probably guessed.

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