Yexiao, branch leader of the Nether Pavilion, looked at the ordinarily dressed Lin Fan before him and couldn't help laughing.
"You idiots, what kind of look is that! This is obviously just a plain, unremarkable kid. That assassin possesses profound martial arts and incredible agility; if he were the real killer, would he let you bullies push him around here? You'd all have been dead long ago!"
"Indeed, branch leader makes a valid point." Hearing Yexiao's reprimand, Daoba instantly felt humiliated. "Branch leader, he really has nothing on him—he's a complete beggar! Yet he keeps running his mouth, claiming to be the boss's friend!"
"Hmph, what on earth was Sister Hong thinking, letting just anyone in? Get rid of him for me!" Daoba ordered.
"Branch leader! The boss mentioned that today, a mysterious guest of honor is coming to visit Elder Ge!" one of his subordinates whispered quietly in Yexiao's ear.
"A mysterious guest?"
"Oh, and branch leader, this black card was just found on this punk a moment ago, but we threw it in the trash can."
Yexiao looked at the little spotted pig hanging to the side, then back at Lin Fan. He increasingly felt that the youth before him was just a good-for-nothing. But when his gaze accidentally fell upon the trash can nearby, he was instantly drawn to the ten stars gleaming on its surface. The more he looked at the card, the more familiar it seemed.
Yexiao picked it up from the trash can and carefully examined the lettering on it: Blue Sky Black Card. When he clearly saw the golden character "Ge" engraved on the back, a shock ran through his heart.
Elder Ge's surname.
An extremely rare six-star black card!
The black cards issued by Elder Ge this time, based on the clues above, were held only by internal members of the Dragon-Tiger Gang and the Nether Pavilion. The Nether Pavilion had five black cards in total: held by the Poison King, the Shadow, the Intelligence Envoy, and regular black cards. Even Yexiao himself only held a two-star rank, while Elder Ge held a five-star black card. Anyone with two or more stars could freely enter and leave any premises of the Nether Pavilion and the Dragon-Tiger Gang. A five-star cardholder could attain the position of Elder in the Nether Pavilion!
Yet today, this card actually bore six stars.
In other words, judging by the current situation, the youth before him possessed a status higher than both Yexiao and Elder Ge—he was a terrifying existence capable of wiping out the entire Nether Pavilion with a single word! And these idiot subordinates of his had actually been reckless enough to put a knife to his neck!
Realizing this, Yexiao became even more certain. This ordinary-looking youth was undoubtedly the mysterious guest of honor invited by Elder Ge.
Yexiao's mind went blank; a bead of sweat trickled down his forehead. He swallowed hard, cold sweat breaking out across his spine, and even his hand holding the ten-star black card trembled uncontrollably!
"Oh—oh, dear! Big brother... Big brother, it's all a misunderstanding! Brother—no, Your Excellency!" Terrified, Yexiao wiped the stains off the card with his hand, blew it clean, and offered it back respectfully with both hands.
"I-I'm so sorry, Your Excellency! We country bumpkins have never seen the world and were completely blind!" With that, he dropped to his knees right in front of Lin Fan!
"Your Excellency, please spare us! You are Elder Ge's esteemed guest of honor! It was just a misunderstanding between our own family. These fools were blind and didn't recognize you!"
"Quick, untie that little spotted pig!"
The surrounding subordinates stood stunned for a moment before dropping to their knees as well!
Daoba had already grabbed a sack and some rope, walking over happily to finish off Lin Fan. Seeing the branch leader and the others kneeling in unison before Lin Fan, he barked, "Branch leader, what are you doing?! How can you kneel to this piece of trash?!"
Yexiao's eyes turned red with fury, his internal Qi surging. With a backhand motion, he slapped Daoba across the face, sending him crashing to the ground!
"You pig-brained idiot! Do you want to get us all killed? You knew he was the boss's friend—why didn't you let him through?!" Yexiao lunged forward, tightly grabbing Daoba by the neck. "You know my methods. Anyone who harms the interests of the Nether Pavilion must be eliminated!"
"No! No, I know I was wrong! Branch leader, spare me! I'll never dare do it again!" Daoba shook his head in terror. He had never expected that after mocking so many people on ordinary days, he would run into a supreme big shot today!
Daoba's face turned red and his neck swelled as he was choked, on the verge of passing out.
Lin Fan waved his hand. "Don't alarm the guest!"
Lin Fan straightened his clothes. Yexiao carefully untied the rope from the little spotted pig's legs and presented it into Lin Fan's arms. "I'm so sorry, little brother pig, so sorry." With that, he fetched a Chanel cake and offered it to the little spotted pig.
Yexiao personally retrieved a red blanket and draped it over the little spotted pig, tying it into a bow on top of its head. "Your Excellency, please hold onto this. Wherever you're going, we will escort you."
Lin Fan gave a light cough. "Alright, no need to escort me. If anyone asks about me, I expect you to know what should and shouldn't be said."
"Understood, absolutely, Your Excellency! I'll watch them myself—anyone who talks will have their tongue cut out!"
"Mm."
Lin Fan walked out calmly, holding the little spotted pig in his arms.
The moment he stepped out of the kitchen, all the tension drained out of him, and he collapsed limply into a nearby corner.
Coming toward him were two teams of assassins searching for targets, carefully scrutinizing everyone they passed. The first and second floors were bustling with people, seventy percent of whom were heavily made-up beauties dressed in sexy attire.
Lin Fan was about to step forward when he turned around and walked back.
He faced the little spotted pig and stroked its big pink ears. The little spotted pig was busy munching on the cake.
"Xiaohua! Stop just eating! Think of something!"
Having finished its cake, the little spotted pig turned around and trotted into a dim hallway. The moment it stepped inside, countless red ultraviolet lasers crisscrossed the air, and a chunk of the decorative flower on the little spotted pig's head was instantly sliced off!
Startled, Lin Fan hugged the pig and quickly retreated. Remembering what the people in the Nether Pavilion had said, he hurriedly pulled out the black card, and the ultraviolet beams automatically deactivated.
At the end of the hallway stood a brightly lit private room. Two masked men in black stood guard on either side of the door. A neat queue was lined up beside the large red double doors, presenting their black cards in an orderly fashion to enter. Everyone was dressed differently—some carried Chanel bags, others wore Versace suits or Prada dresses. Lin Fan glanced at his own reflection, turned around, pulled a bedsheet from a guest room, and draped it over himself.
He had heard every word of the conversation between the branch leader and his subordinates. Since he was a mysterious guest of honor, he had to stand out. With that thought, he plucked three leaves from a nearby vase, tucked them into his hair, and smeared some dirt from the vase across his cheeks.
Lin Fan held the little spotted pig as he stood at the back of the queue, just about to present his black card and enter, when two teams of assassins approached from behind. Leading them were Zhaozhao's mother, Liu Yuhua, and the Blood King Guardian of the Nether Pavilion. "Lin Fan! That's Lin Fan!"
"Catch him!"
Looking at the sign reading "Nether Pavilion General Assembly" above the private room ahead, Lin Fan's heart leapt into his throat.
"Hurry, get inside!"
Liu Yuhua and her subordinates rushed toward them. The guards at the door were highly alert; they slammed the door shut and immediately surrounded Lin Fan, drawing seven-star darts smeared with lethal poison from behind their backs.
Lin Fan held out his black card for them to see, but the guards didn't bother looking closer, plunging their daggers straight toward his chest.
Terrified, the little spotted pig let out a few grunts, dropped to the floor with a thud, and bolted backward.
"Xiaohua, you ungrateful wretch!"
Lin Fan dodged, pulling the bedsheet around him, but within seconds it was pierced full of holes like a hornet's nest.
He had practically reached the Nether Pavilion headquarters; only a single door separated him from finding clues about his sister.
At that moment, the frightened little spotted pig cowered in the corner of a planter, burying its face tightly against the wall, its little tail trembling outside.
Suddenly, a pair of delicate, well-proportioned hands reached out, stroked the little spotted pig's head, and scooped it up.
Accompanied by the crisp clicking of red high heels, a voice laced with displeasure rang out: "What on earth are you doing?! Since when has our internal security become so brazen!"