Ye Tian's words made Ye Feifei realize something was wrong. The Shadow Celestial Dragon Team was based in the Imperial City; their sudden appearance in a small place like Lisha City was indeed strange.
'Could they really be here to assassinate someone? Who in all of Lisha City would warrant a personal visit from the Shadow Celestial Dragon Team's Black Iron Guard? The Patriarchs of the three great families? My father?' Ye Feifei wondered.
The thought gave her a start. "Brother Tian, do you think they're targeting the three Patriarchs? If so, my father could be in danger. I want to go back and check on him."
As she finished speaking, beads of cold sweat had unknowingly formed on her forehead. Such a reaction could only come from genuine anxiety.
Ye Tian pondered for a moment, then looked up at the sky before speaking slowly. "Feifei, you're overthinking things. This Black Iron Guard's appearance here might be a coincidence. The person he was after probably isn't one of the Patriarchs."
"This Black Iron Guard was only at the Second Vein Fifth Layer. Any of the Patriarchs could have easily slain him, so it's impossible that he was here to cause them trouble. It was most likely someone else."
Ye Feifei glanced at Ye Tian, thinking what he said made sense. 'If this Black Iron Guard wasn't here to trouble the Patriarchs, then who was he after? Who was he trying to assassinate? And how many of them came this time?'
'Could he have come to assassinate Brother Tian? He's certainly offended his fair share of people. Those inside the Ye Family might not dare to act, but you can't say the same for outsiders.'
Ye Feifei clearly remembered how Ye Tian had taught the two young masters of the Qin Family a harsh lesson at the market, causing the Qin Family to lose face.
However, the Qin Family and the Ye Family wouldn't dare to fall out openly, especially since it was common knowledge in Lisha City that Ye Tian had become the Ye Family's resident genius.
Dealing with Ye Tian directly would be difficult, so hiring the Black Iron Guard to secretly make a lethal move against him was a very real possibility.
At this thought, Ye Feifei grew even more nervous. She couldn't help but glance at Ye Tian. "Brother Tian, if they weren't targeting the three Patriarchs, then it's very likely they were after you! Don't you think?"
Ye Tian smiled faintly. "I'm just a nobody. Who would waste money hiring a Black Iron Guard from an assassin organization to kill me? Feifei, aren't you letting your imagination run wild?"
"I know you're worried about me, but try not to jump to wild conclusions! Besides, so what if he was here to kill me? The guy's dead now, isn't he? What's there to be afraid of?"
Ye Feifei rolled her eyes at Ye Tian. "Alright, I get it! Since everything is handled, what should we do with his body?"
"Boss, leave it to me! This is quite the delicacy! It's been so long since I've eaten human flesh! Can't let it go to waste!" The voice of the Eight-winged Golden Scale Python suddenly echoed in Ye Tian's mind.
Ye Tian's expression changed instantly. 'This creature is so twisted,' he thought. 'It actually wants to swallow that guy whole.' However, he found it hard to refuse. The Eight-winged Golden Scale Python was an ancient species, so such a bloodthirsty penchant was to be expected. Besides, it would save him the trouble of burying the body himself.
"Brother Tian, what's wrong?" Ye Feifei asked. "You look unwell. You're not actually worried about the Black Iron Guard, are you?"
"No, I'm not worried about the Black Iron Guard," Ye Tian laughed. "I wouldn't be afraid even if those Golden Guards you mentioned showed up. I have Ye Lin protecting me, not to mention a top-tier expert like Elder Qing. Anyone who tries to harm me would just be courting death, right?"
"Then why do you look so unwell? Were you injured earlier?" Ye Feifei asked, sensing that Ye Tian had something on his mind.
"Ye Lin said it's been a long time since he's eaten human flesh, and he wants to swallow that guy. The idea just turned my stomach a bit, but I didn't want to spoil his fun, you know?" Ye Tian explained.
A flicker of surprise crossed Ye Feifei's face. "Well, let him enjoy his delicacy! We should get back to the cave and check on the Three-leaf Golden Ganoderma. Let's not forget our purpose here."
With that, Ye Tian and Ye Feifei entered the cave, while the Eight-winged Golden Scale Python reverted to its original size and swallowed the Black Iron Guard's corpse in one gulp.
A moment later, the Eight-winged Golden Scale Python shrank down again and flew back into the cave. "Thanks, Boss! That really hit the spot!"
"Alright," Ye Tian said with a laugh. "You mentioned you have a Divine Power that can hide the Three-leaf Golden Ganoderma. Let's see it! I'm really curious!"
Ye Feifei also looked toward the Eight-winged Golden Scale Python, sharing Ye Tian's curiosity, though she didn't express it.
This time, the Eight-winged Golden Scale Python didn't change its size. Instead, it flapped its wings, thin as a cicada's, and danced above the Three-leaf Golden Ganoderma. After circling a few times, it came to a stop.
"Boss, it's done!" said the Eight-winged Golden Scale Python. "Soon, you won't be able to see it anymore!"
Ye Tian was stunned for a moment. He didn't understand what the Eight-winged Golden Scale Python meant, as he could still see the Three-leaf Golden Ganoderma growing peacefully right where it was. The only change was that the Energy fluctuations it emitted had become much fainter.
A few breaths later, the Three-leaf Golden Ganoderma in front of them suddenly vanished. It disappeared into thin air, leaving both Ye Tian and Ye Feifei utterly dumbfounded.
"Ye Lin, what's going on? Where did the Three-leaf Golden Ganoderma go?" Ye Tian immediately asked. If this was one of Ye Lin's Divine Powers, it was truly miraculous.
"Boss, the Three-leaf Golden Ganoderma is still there," the Eight-winged Golden Scale Python explained. "I just cast my clan's Illusion Technique, making it invisible to you. No one whose strength is below the Four Veins realm will be able to see it!"
"I see. You're incredible, Ye Lin!" Ye Tian said. "Now that the matter of the Three-leaf Golden Ganoderma is settled, I can relax. Here are two of its leaves—one for you, and one for Feifei. I'm going to start my Cultivation as well!" As he spoke, the leaves he had just picked reappeared in his hand.
The Eight-winged Golden Scale Python showed no hesitation. When Ye Tian tossed it a leaf, it swallowed the piece of the Three-leaf Golden Ganoderma in one gulp! It then obediently retreated to a corner of the cave to digest the Energy.
"Brother Tian, you should keep the Three-leaf Golden Ganoderma for yourself! I don't need it right now," Ye Feifei said.
"Silly girl," Ye Tian laughed. "I don't need this at all. I'm the Young Master of the Shen Li Palace; I have plenty of treasures. My strength is just too low to break many of their Restrictions. So don't worry about me."
Ye Feifei wanted to refuse, but seeing the insistent look in Ye Tian's eyes, she had no choice but to accept it.
"Feifei, you can consume the Three-leaf Golden Ganoderma here," Ye Tian said with a laugh. "I'm going to head outside. We've been here this long and I still haven't practiced my Martial Skills. Time waits for no one!"
He walked right out of the cave without waiting for her to agree, leaving Ye Feifei with a sweet feeling in her heart.
Not long after Ye Tian stepped outside, the sound of several figures cutting through the air suddenly echoed from behind him, accompanied by voices.
"Hei Shisan was supposed to be here, but we've been searching for ages and can't find him. Hei Shiyi, do you think he could be hiding in that cave up ahead?"
Ye Tian's heart leaped in alarm. 'Hei Shisan? Hei Shiyi?' he thought. 'Are these newcomers more of those so-called Black Iron Guards?'