Chapter 3028: A Bounty Hunter

Lady Qin smiled as she heard Daoist Chu’s answer.

"Very well, I suppose someone of your status won’t short change us." She said before taking out a small jade token and holding it in her hand for a moment before sliding it over.

Daoist Chu held the token and read it with his Immortal Sense.

Within it she had written down the cost. As for why she hadn’t spoken it out loud?

There were certain etiquettes that needed to be followed, even when they were in a private setting. Daoist Chu was familiar with them and nodded before taking out a small pouch and handing it over.

She quickly picked it up, a smile appearing on her face.

Lady Qin leaned back in her chaise with her usual grace, one leg crossed over the other, her fingers delicately twirling the small pouch of Immortal Stones she had just received.

The glow of the Earth Flame lanterns shimmered across her face, accentuating the glint in her eyes that suggested what she was about to say was far from trivial.

"You’ve paid well," she said, her voice soft as ever, but laced with significance. "So I’ll give you something worth the price."

Daoist Chu gave a slight nod and gestured for her to continue. Meng Bai stood beside him, his expression alert with curiosity and a growing hint of concern.

Lady Qin folded her hands. "You two are not the only ones who’ve been searching for the missing High Elders from the Xian Sword Sect."

At that, Meng Bai blinked. "You... know their identities?"

Her painted lips curved into a faint smirk. "Please, young master. Do you think a pavilion such as this—under the Silver Raven Alliance—would operate without ears in every major sect, city, and clan?"

Daoist Chu’s gaze sharpened slightly. "Then you know who we are as well."

"I know enough to treat you with the respect you’re due," Lady Qin said diplomatically. "Which is why I share this at all. The ones searching for your elders... include a bounty hunter. And not just any bounty hunter."

Meng Bai frowned. "Why would a bounty hunter be after them? That doesn’t make sense. They’re from the Xian Sword Sect. One of the Three Great Powers."

Daoist Chu’s brows furrowed as well. "Even rogue powers know better than to chase down Immortal Realm elders from the sect. That would be suicide."

Lady Qin nodded slowly. "Exactly. Which is why it caught our attention."

Meng Bai’s jaw tensed. "Could it be the Ephemera Sect trying to be discreet... hiring someone through back channels?"

"That was my first thought as well," Daoist Chu admitted, his tone now clipped with suspicion. "A hired killer, perhaps... someone with skills to track and eliminate without leaving a trace."

Lady Qin gave a small shrug. "Perhaps. Or perhaps this bounty hunter has their own reasons."

"Who is it?" Daoist Chu asked plainly. "We’ll find out their motives ourselves."

Lady Qin leaned forward slightly, her elbow resting on a carved armrest as she rested her chin on her fingers. "That’s the curious part. The bounty hunter arrived in Ash Crown City roughly a month ago. And as of last week, we confirmed they’re still within the city walls."

"How can you be so sure?" Meng Bai asked.

"Because this bounty hunter is not your average blade-for-hire," Lady Qin replied, her voice dropping into a whisper-like murmur. "They are one of the most infamous and elusive individuals in the bounty circuit. They don’t take jobs lightly, and they rarely fail once they commit."

Her fingers tapped once on the wooden table beside her, producing a soft thud. "They specialize in tracking, in the truest sense. If your elders left even the faintest of traces, they will find it."

Daoist Chu narrowed his eyes. "What name do they go by?"

Lady Qin’s smile deepened as she gave the answer:

"They don’t use a name. Just a title... The Hooded Tracker."

The room fell into momentary silence.

Meng Bai’s lips parted slightly. "That sounds... ominous."

Daoist Chu rubbed his chin, his expression unreadable. "I’ve heard whispers of that name before. Rumors. Tales from mercenary companies and auction house dealers. Never saw proof the person existed, though."

Lady Qin nodded. "Most haven’t. But those that have lived to tell the tale never doubt it again. The Hooded Tracker is not one to boast or leave trails. They work alone. No known sect or clan affiliation. No known origin. Just... results."

Daoist Chu’s gaze sharpened. "So we find this tracker. If they’re pursuing the elders, they may have already found something we haven’t."

Lady Qin raised a brow. "I would advise caution. This one does not take kindly to being interfered with. Especially when they’re close to their prize."

"We’re not here to interfere," Daoist Chu said calmly. "Just... to clarify paths."

Lady Qin nodded, then stood slowly from her seat. "Then I shall arrange a way for you to locate them. But don’t expect them to be forthcoming. The Hooded Tracker doesn’t speak unless it’s necessary. They see, they find, and they vanish."

"Do they kill?" Meng Bai asked.

Lady Qin paused before answering. "They kill when needed. And they never fail twice."

The weight of her words sank in.

Daoist Chu and Meng Bai exchanged a glance.

"Then we’ll need to approach carefully," Daoist Chu murmured. "If this is the Ephemera Sect’s doing, we may be walking into a trap."

Lady Qin turned to the side, clapping once. A graceful young attendant entered the room and was handed a sealed envelope by the madam.

"Give this to the gentlemen tomorrow morning," she instructed. "They’ll know where to go."

The woman bowed and exited.

With a final glance toward Daoist Chu and Meng Bai, Lady Qin said, "Sleep lightly tonight. You may soon walk into the trail of shadows."

And with that, the meeting came to an end.

Meng Bai whispered as they exited, "Do you think this tracker’s dangerous?"

Daoist Chu didn’t answer immediately.

Only when they stepped under the starlit sky outside the pavilion did he reply, voice quiet.

"I think... everyone’s in danger if they’re here for real."

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