He felt an overwhelming urge to curse.

He had never imagined this would be the reason.

Because the Ghost Poison Elders had violated professional conduct by killing their employer, they had attracted three Innate Great Perfection experts. And as it happened, these three experts were then hired by the Ye, Huang, and Qin families... Their original plan was to lure the Assassin's Alliance into killing the Ghost Poison Elders, but they ended up shooting themselves in the foot!

"Forget it, just forget it." Xu Ke reined in his anger. After another long silence, he asked, "So, how do they plan to make their move?"

This was the crucial part.

Admittedly, a lineup of six Innate Great Perfection cultivators was formidable. But frankly, as long as he was careful here in Tianhai, they would never find an opportunity to kill him. He wouldn't make the same amateur mistake of running into an alley again.

Li Lang said, "It's simple. They plan to kill you on your way to the auction in Sui City!"

Xu Ke's head snapped up, his pupils contracting. "What did you say?"

How could they possibly know I plan to attend the auction?!

"They've prepared multiple scenarios, depending on which mode of transport you choose," Li Lang continued. "If you take a plane, you'll have to pass through the suburbs after leaving the Sui City airport. If you take the high-speed rail, the sheer volume of people at the station exit will swallow you whole... If you take a chauffeured car, they'll have already tampered with it. Even if you drive your own vehicle, they have ways to get you on the highway. Moreover, to prevent you from feigning death with some strange trick like before, they'll take your body. They intend to personally watch you burn to a crisp, ensuring you've completely vanished from this world."

Tang Yingchang's face had turned deathly pale. If this assassination plot was aimed at me, I'd be dead for sure. And this is all for Mr. Xu...

Xu Ke's expression was grim. These people are really hell-bent on killing me. Under a premeditated ambush by six Great Perfection experts, even with both Wang Wu and Tang Yingchang protecting me, my chances of survival would be zero... What's more, I never planned on taking Wang Wu and Tang Yingchang with me to the auction in the first place. That means when I set off for Sui City, I'll truly die without a grave.

At this thought, Xu Ke finally felt cold sweat soak his back.

But thankfully... Thankfully, I know now! Thankfully, I kept Li Lang alive, and he managed to get close to the Ye Family's inner circle after that last incident...

"Now, do you still think this information isn't worth the antidote?" Li Lang asked. Seeing Xu Ke's shocked expression, he finally felt a rush of vindication. He had been utterly humiliated by Xu Ke before. Now, at last, he was the one doing the shocking...

"It is," Xu Ke said, closing his eyes and letting out a slow breath. He nodded slightly. "But there's one thing I don't understand."

"What's that?"

"The auction didn't invite me. So how did they know I was going to the one in Sui City?" Xu Ke opened his eyes, a chilling light glinting within them.

The invitation Zhou Qingzhi had given him was in Zhou Hongsheng's name, not his. And while the auction rules required a transferee to provide proof of financial capability, he hadn't yet contacted them.

Those two points proved that the Ye Family and their allies couldn't have learned about my attendance from the auction house itself. That means there's only one other possibility...

Li Lang replied slowly, "Zhou Qingyong contacted Ye Yunfeng. He's the one who leaked it."

"So it was him." A thick, murderous intent began to rise in Xu Ke's eyes.

Regarding the invitation, besides Zhou Qingzhi, his sister, Ouyang Hao, and Tang Yingchang, who were all present that day, only one other person had made a brief appearance. Zhou Qingyong.

I can't believe Zhou Qingyong saw the invitation just because I had it next to me and decided to use it. He'll stop at nothing to kill me for the sake of Yihe Pharmaceuticals.

Then, Li Lang asked, "So, how are you going to verify if this information is true?"

"There's no need for verification," Xu Ke replied, shaking his head. "Someone with your intellect couldn't invent a lie with so many interlocking details."

Li Lang's face darkened, and he was about to get angry when his expression suddenly shifted to one of ecstatic joy. He looked up. "Then you'll give me the antidote?"

He assumed Xu Ke's words meant he was about to be freed. But Xu Ke's reply was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head. "Of course not."

"But you swore an oath!" Li Lang was on the verge of exploding.

"When I swore my oath, I said I would give it to you *afterwards*. Is it 'afterwards' yet?" A smile touched Xu Ke's lips.

"You're toying with me!" Li Lang roared.

Xu Ke ignored him, his fingers idly tracing patterns on the tablecloth. He suddenly looked up and smiled. "Let's order, shall we? We still need to eat."

"What are you doing?" Li Lang asked, bewildered and suspicious. How did he jump from talking about an ambush to talking about dinner?

"You've got to eat well to have the energy to work!"

When Li Lang left Ronghua Restaurant, his face was ashen with rage. Xu Ke had done nothing more than have a simple meal with him, saying nothing of substance. Li Lang was now filled with regret. I told him everything at once. If he really refuses to give me the antidote, there's nothing I can do...

After Li Lang left, Tang Yingchang asked in a low voice, "Mr. Xu, what are your plans?"

"Perhaps we should skip the auction and just hide out in Tianhai. Surely those Great Perfection assassins can't afford to waste their time waiting for us indefinitely."

Xu Ke chuckled. "That won't do. There's no guarantee the relic at the auction isn't a Dragon Essence Item."

"We could send someone to bid for it..."

"Only I can tell if it has Dragon Essence. I have to go myself," Xu Ke said, shaking his head.

Tang Yingchang fell silent, then frowned. "Then what should we do?"

If they absolutely have to go to Sui City, Mr. Xu is a dead man.

Xu Ke laughed heartily. "I have a plan." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"What is it?" Tang Yingchang asked, surprised.

"We're going to the Martial Alliance," Xu Ke said, getting to his feet.

Tang Yingchang was confused. "To find Alliance Leader Chen? That seems pointless, doesn't it?" In this situation, short of finding four more Great Perfection experts, nothing will help.

"Who said anything about finding him? We're going to find a scapegoat!"

"A scapegoat?" Tang Yingchang's eyes widened.

「Martial Alliance.」

"Mr. Xu, I was wondering why you called me here," Lin Zhongtian said, looking uncertainly at the suddenly-arrived Xu Ke.

I was resting comfortably in my hotel when Xu Ke suddenly told me he had something important to discuss and asked me to come to the Martial Alliance... What's going on? If he really had something important to discuss with me, why wouldn't he pick a private location? Why insist on the Martial Alliance, a place that draws the attention of every family in Tianhai?

"I need you to do something for me. It's very important," Xu Ke said flatly.

"What is it?" Lin Zhongtian unconsciously grew wary.

Xu Ke is acting so strangely. He's definitely up to no good.