I am about to die of old age, and I have awakened the character of longevity.

Chapter 51 Another Death
That night.

The nights in April were still very cold, and the wind in the forest felt as sharp as a knife on my face.

Xie An followed Zhang Lin, always keeping a distance of fifty meters.

Even at this distance, Xie An had carefully calculated it: it could ensure both his own safety and the accuracy of his archery.

Next, it depends on whether the Plum Blossom Monster will come.

As the night deepened, a large number of merchants and vendors followed the mountain road into the black market.

At first, these merchants were a little frightened, but after seeing the soldiers in Tiger and Wolf Sect uniforms patrolling the area, they felt much more at ease.

Xie An, hiding in the dark, roughly estimated the flow of people.

About 20% less than before.

Although business has declined, the decline is not significant.

As long as the situation does not continue to deteriorate, the Blood Ridge black market business can remain stable.

Xie An, the boss of the Xueling black market, can continue to stay here and develop peacefully.

If the Plum Blossom Monster continues to cause trouble, causing business to continue to deteriorate... that would be bad.

Thinking of this, Xie An did not dare to be careless. He opened his five senses and stared vigilantly at the direction of the mountain road in the distance.

This lurking lasted for several hours.

By the beginning of the You hour, the sky was just beginning to light up and the black market was closed. A large number of vendors and buyers had left, and the mountain path was filled with torches and a constant stream of people, making it very lively.

Xie An became more and more alert.

"When the market closes, many vendors who leave have made a lot of money. This is when the crisis is at its peak. We can't be careless for even a moment."

Xie An followed the thorn bushes and secretly shuttled between the two sides of the mountain road, but did not find anything unusual. After a while, the sky was bright and the mountain road became deserted again.

Only a few scattered patrols of the Tiger and Wolf Sect disciples remained.

The Plum Blossom Monster used to only attack merchants, but now that the merchants have all dispersed, there is naturally no reason for the Plum Blossom Monster to appear again.

Xie An walked out of the thorns and came to the mountain path to meet Zhang Lin.

Zhang Lin was in a good mood. "The Plum Blossom Monster didn't come to commit any crimes today. Perhaps the last time the Plum Blossom Monster killed and robbed people, it was just a sudden impulse, and it didn't intend to target our Blood Ridge Black Market."

Zhou Xing also raised the sword at his waist, "That's right. Our Blood Ridge Black Market is, after all, an enterprise under the Tiger and Wolf Sect. How dare the Plum Blossom Monster keep targeting it? It must be dying."

Xie An was not so optimistic.

Xie An's five senses were enhanced due to his practice of health-preserving exercises. He had witnessed Wei Dian's injuries in the hall last time. He knew that the Plum Blossom Monster was extremely powerful and brutal.

They even dared to seriously injure the incense master, so how could they be afraid of a Blood Ridge black market?
"Don't be careless, keep looking around to see if any vendors have been harmed." Xie An instructed Zhou Xing, and then returned to the villa in the black market with Zhang Lin.

Zhang Lin lit the stove, boiled water for tea, and chuckled, "Brother, you might be worrying too much. The Plum Blossom Monster didn't attack us today. It must have seen us patrolling together, so it didn't dare to act recklessly..."

Xie An said, "Even Master Wei Xiang was seriously injured by the Plum Blossom Monster. We should be more cautious. By the way, Brother Zhang, do you know what Master Wei Xiang's strength is?"

Zhang Lin didn't hide anything. "In recent years, Fragrance Master Wei has rarely come to the Blood Ridge Black Market, and my encounters with him have also decreased. However, three years ago, Fragrance Master Wei showed off his skills during the headquarters' test. At that time, he was already at the Great Perfection of the Bronze Skin Realm."

Three years ago, he had reached the Bronze Skin Realm.

This strength is not weak.

It's important to note that Fang Baiyu, the head of Baiyu Hall, is only a second-level Jingrou realm warrior. The four incense masters under his command should all be incredibly powerful. Xie An estimated that with his current strength, he should be able to compete with Wei Dian from three years ago.

As for how much Wei Dian's strength had grown three years later, Xie An was unable to estimate it.

However, another matter caught Xie An's attention.

"An examination at headquarters?"

Zhang Lin said, "Yes. The Tiger and Wolf Sect values ​​talent. Every three years, they hold an examination. Outstanding disciples from each branch have the opportunity to participate. Those who perform well can be promoted to deacons. Deacons who perform well in the examination can be promoted to Grand Deacon or Incense Master. Incense Masters who perform well in the examination can be promoted to Deputy Hall Master, Hall Master... and so on."

Xie An nodded in his heart and really liked the selection method of the Tiger and Wolf Sect.

It gave many old men or poor warriors with no background a chance to come forward.

However, Xie An also realized that this test was probably very strict. Otherwise, even such a powerful person like Wei Dian would not be able to get in and still be a master of incense. Of course, other reasons cannot be ruled out.

"The next test will be in three years. Unfortunately, I'm old and my strength hasn't improved much." Zhang Lin sighed helplessly.

Then, he looked at Xie An again, "It's you, old brother, who is still strong despite your age. In recent months, I feel that you have become more youthful and strong. Maybe in the training ground three years from now, you will soar to the sky."

Xie An smiled bitterly and modestly, "Brother Zhang, please don't embarrass me. I'm old. I just want to make a living. I hope the black market is peaceful and smooth. That would be a blessing."

Zhang Lin smiled and said, "Brother, you're efficient, honest, and handle things properly. Since you came here, the black market business has been growing at a noticeable rate. Everyone can see it. In the future, your future will be much better than mine."

Although Xie An also thought so in his heart, he still said modestly, "Thanks to Brother Zhang's help, the black market is so prosperous today. I hope the Plum Blossom Monster won't come to cause trouble again..."

Zhang Lin was all smiles. "Everything went smoothly today. The Plum Blossom Monster shouldn't come back again..."

Before he could finish his words, Zhou Xing rushed in from outside, breathlessly saying, "Deacon, the boss...something happened."

brush.

Zhang Lin stood up suddenly in shock, "What's going on?"

Zhou Xing's face turned pale. "Another stall owner was killed. A wooden red plum blossom was left at the scene..."

……

A mountain road intersection seven miles away from the Xueling black market.

A forty-year-old man fell to the ground, his head and neck separated, and blood dyed the area several meters around red.

Five or six black market guys armed with swords surrounded the area, preventing outsiders from approaching and protecting the scene.

"The Plum Blossom Monster attacks one after another..." Zhang Lin, who rushed over and saw this situation, was so scared that his face turned pale and the hand holding the handle of the knife began to tremble.

Xie An was calmer. He squatted down and examined the body for a long time before finally standing up. He glanced at the young men around him and ordered, "Zhou Xing, take the body back. The others should suppress the news and say it was a rebellion by mountain bandits and had nothing to do with the Plum Blossom Monster. Brother Zhang, please verify the identity of the deceased."

Seeing Xie An's well-organized arrangements, everyone felt more confident and less panicked, and began to follow his orders.

After half a day of visiting, Xie An finally got the identity of the deceased:

The itinerant vendor, whose name is unknown, who sells medicinal herbs, has been doing brisk business in recent days.

"Brother Zhang, what was the dealer who died yesterday selling?" Xie An tried to find the logic behind the Plum Blossom Monster's murder.

Zhang Lin was very discouraged. "The one yesterday was selling secret manuals, and his business has been booming recently. There's no connection between the two, no trace of it."

Xie An was not in a hurry. Instead, he sat on the armchair in the living room and thought carefully. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, "There are still clues to follow..."

(End of this chapter)