Chapter 790: The Chaotic Organization Appears

They had thought Dongfang Qing’s arrival would allow them to eliminate Shen Bai and conquer Beast Village in the process. They never expected the Chaotic Organization would abandon them completely.

“It’s actually quite normal for them to abandon you.”

Shen Bai spoke slowly.

Upon hearing this, the Shopkeeper and his numerous staff members turned their gazes toward Shen Bai.

Shen Bai continued, “To the Chaotic Organization, Beast Village is nothing more than a minor experiment. What they want is to see if a Refuge, as impregnable as an iron fortress, can be infiltrated.”

“It seems they’ve succeeded. Beast Village is one of the most common Refuges, so naturally, they won’t sacrifice a Peak Realm expert for it.”

A look of anguish crossed the Shopkeeper’s eyes. “But if we fail, we’ll be exposed! It’ll be incredibly difficult for them to infiltrate again.”

Shen Bai shook his head. “You underestimate your own organization. The fact that they could hunt down all the Refuges during the Era of Ten Thousand Cities, forcing them to flee like stray dogs, is proof enough of their power.”

“To them, the people of the Refuges are just a group of losers who ran away. They have plenty of other methods. You are all just pawns to be sacrificed.”

In truth, the Shopkeeper had already suspected this when Shen Bai spoke his first sentence; he just hadn’t wanted to believe it.

But after Shen Bai finished speaking, the Shopkeeper and his men fell completely silent.

Shen Bai raised a hand. “Since they’ve abandoned you, how about you work with me and explain the situation in Beast Village? Perhaps I can offer you a way out of this alive.”

This was precisely why he hadn’t attacked them yet.

‘Since their own side has given up on them, if I offer them hope in their moment of despair, I might be able to make them work for me.’

“Lord Shen, you are brilliant and your methods are extraordinary. We are no match for you.”

The Shopkeeper slowly rose to his feet.

Then, he began to radiate the aura of the Celestial Spirit Realm.

“But we also know what the Chaotic Organization plans to do next, and what it requires of us.”

Shen Bai frowned. He could sense that something was off about the Shopkeeper and his men.

The men, too, began to reveal their auras, pushing their Qi to its absolute peak.

“The Chaotic Organization plans to kill you with a borrowed knife.”

The Shopkeeper started walking toward Shen Bai.

“Here in Beast Village, there are three experts at the Peak Realm: the Clan Leader and the Elders of the two factions. If we fight Lord Shen, we will draw their attention. At that point, there will be no escape for you.”

Shen Bai’s brow tightened. “Your organization has already abandoned you, yet you’re still willing to die for them. Such loyalty is a rare thing.”

He understood now. They planned to start a fight with him, using the fluctuation of their auras to attract the people of Beast Village and expose his presence.

‘No matter how you look at it, I killed two members of Beast Village. Even if they belonged to the Conservative Faction, I’m still the outsider here.’

‘If I really draw the attention of the villagers, I’m afraid there will be even greater trouble ahead.’

Shen Bai wanted to continue lying low here and find more Deceitful Objects. He had no intention of revealing himself now.

At this thought, Shen Bai raised his Longsword and shook his head slightly. “A pity. You seem to have overestimated your own strength.”

As his voice fell, Shen Bai’s figure vanished.

They wanted to expose him, but they were far too weak to be worthy of the task.

…

「On the street outside.」

Guo Qi stood there, waiting patiently.

He didn’t dare wander off, because Shen Bai had explicitly told him to wait on this street.

He didn’t even consider telling the people of Beast Village about Shen Bai.

After all, what Shen Bai had done back in the canyon had been far too shocking for Guo Qi.

Guo Qi was terrified that if he disobeyed, Shen Bai would find him and slaughter him on the spot.

He was just a traveling merchant; there was no need for him to be offending people, least of all Shen Bai.

So, Guo Qi really did stay put, just as he was told.

‘At least,’ he thought, ‘as long as I do what Shen Bai says, my life won’t be in danger.’

Time trickled by. In the blink of an eye, the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn had passed.

Just as Guo Qi was debating whether he should go inside the chamber of commerce to check, a person suddenly appeared before him.

Guo Qi started, asking in surprise, “Shopkeeper, why have you come out?”

The man before him was indeed the shopkeeper of the chamber of commerce. But wasn’t he supposed to be meeting with Shen Bai right now?

Why was he out here?

After Guo Qi asked his question, the Shopkeeper clapped him on the shoulder and spoke.

“Follow me.”

Although he had the face of the chamber of commerce’s Shopkeeper, the voice was Shen Bai’s.

Guo Qi froze for a moment, then immediately realized that Shen Bai must have used his Change Appearance technique to take on the Shopkeeper’s form.

Though Guo Qi didn’t know why Shen Bai had done this, he didn’t hesitate. He followed Shen Bai back into the chamber of commerce.

Shen Bai stood behind the counter, pretending to tally the accounts. “So,” he said, “how’s my disguise? Not bad, right?”

Guo Qi watched Shen Bai skillfully go over the ledgers and said with amazement, “Brother Shen, you’re a dead ringer for the Shopkeeper.”

Shen Bai just smiled and shook his head, reminded of his old life as a pawnshop keeper. This sort of thing was second nature to him.

After a moment, Guo Qi asked another question. “Brother Shen, where is the chamber of commerce’s Shopkeeper?”

“Dead,” Shen Bai said flatly, closing the ledger.

“Dead?”

Guo Qi’s eyes widened, his face a mask of utter disbelief.