Tang Dynasty Demon Suppression Division

Li Yuan suddenly looked up, his sharp gaze sweeping across the street outside the car window.

The streets were lined with shops, and pedestrians thronged the area. The sounds of vendors hawking their wares, chatting, laughing, and the noise of vehicles blended together, and there was nothing unusual about it.

Is it just my imagination?

Li Yuan frowned slightly.

No, that's not right.

The near-instinctive intuition about danger honed in his previous life on the battlefield rarely goes wrong.

Someone is watching him.

He subtly withdrew his gaze, his face remaining calm as he casually replied to Wu Yu, though he was secretly on guard.

It seems this holiday won't be very peaceful.

……

Meanwhile, in a private room on the second floor of a teahouse not far from Hongxiuzhao.

The window was slightly ajar, and a middle-aged man with a sinister look in his eyes curled up in a cruel smile.

"The target has been spotted. We're in the third carriage, heading towards the Red Sleeve Pavilion in the East Market," he said in a low voice.

There was no one else in the room, but he seemed certain that someone could hear him.

"Hongxiuzhao is located in a busy area with many people and eyes, so it is not advisable to act there. According to the plan, we should wait until their gathering ends and they go home before we make our move."

"The target this time is Li Yuan. We must not cause any unforeseen complications. As for the others, if they are in the way, they can be eliminated as well, but we must leave no survivors."

"Shadow Assassins Team One and Team Two are responsible for tracking and monitoring them, and knowing when and how they leave the store."

"Groups three and four, take your positions at the pre-arranged ambush locations."

"The fifth group is responsible for perimeter security, intercepting any possible interference, activating the city's hidden network, and creating incidents when necessary to attract the attention of the Imperial Guards and the Demon Suppression Division patrol teams."

One cold, ruthless command after another was conveyed through his whispers.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, licked his lips, and spoke in a sinister tone, his eyes gleaming.

"A level nine genius? Heh, what a pity. Geniuses... are always destined to die young. If you have to blame someone, blame your bad luck for blocking the path of the Holy Race and provoking the wrong person."

"Enjoy your last feast, Li Yuan... The moment you step out of Hongxiuzhao will be your death day."

"To die at my hands, Shadow Demon, is a worthwhile end for you, hehehehe..."

The windows of the private room were silently closed.

The street below the teahouse remains bustling and vibrant with traffic.

Unbeknownst to anyone, a deadly trap has been quietly set, waiting for its prey to step into it.

Inside the Tianzi Pavilion at Hongxiuzhao, delicacies abounded, and the aroma of fine wine filled the air.

A group of teenagers sat together, laughing and joking.

Chu Yunhe brought the imperial gift of Jade Liquor, which was mellow and long-lasting. Yu Ling'er also bought many of the finest pastries and candied fruits from Chang'an City, which were sweet to the core.

As for Jin Duoduo, he was also very wealthy and generous, serving up delicacies as if they were free.

The group toasted and drank, their youthful spirits soaring high.

They chatted about the thrilling moments during the assessment, dreamed about the future, and occasionally cracked jokes and teasing, creating an extremely lively atmosphere.

The atmosphere was just right, and Li Yuan drank quite a bit of wine. He sat back down by the window with his glass in hand, the sticky feeling following him like a shadow.

Yu Ling'er walked over, smiling, and raised the fruit wine in her hand to him: "Brother Li, thanks to you this time, here, let me toast you again."

Li Yuan smiled. Among the group of teenagers in the Tian Shu class, he was a special person. Nominally, Yu Ling'er was the class monitor, but in reality, he was the backbone.

This collaboration, in particular, laid the foundation for his role as a team leader.

He raised his glass, smiled, and gently clinked it against hers. Taking advantage of the opportunity to lean closer, Yu Ling'er suddenly raised an eyebrow and asked softly.

"Brother Li, is something on your mind?"

Li Yuan was slightly startled. He thought he had concealed it well, but he didn't expect that Yu Ling'er would still see through it.

This girl seems lively, cheerful, and carefree, but she is actually very thoughtful. I was right to recommend her as class monitor.

"It's nothing, I was just thinking about some personal matters. It's alright, don't let me spoil everyone's fun."

He smiled slightly and took a sip of the wine in his glass.

Yu Ling'er blinked, instinctively feeling that Li Yuan wasn't telling the truth, but she didn't press him further and could only nod.

"If anything happens, Brother Li, remember to let us know. We're good partners."

"must."

Li Yuan nodded, feeling a warmth in his heart.

This sincere friendship among classmates is especially precious in a world full of deceit and treachery.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the banquet gradually drew to a close, with everyone's faces flushed with a slight buzz, still feeling the enjoyment of the occasion.

Just then, the door to the private room was gently pushed open, and a slender figure in crimson red leaned against the door, a smile on her beautiful face.

Who else could it be but Liu Hongyan?

"Instructor Liu?" everyone exclaimed, and quickly stood up.

Liu Hongyan waved her hand, gesturing for them to sit down. Her phoenix eyes swept over the messy table with cups and plates, and her red lips curved slightly.

"It seems you ate well. I happened to be passing by and heard that you were celebrating your victory, so I came up to take a look."

"Put this meal on my tab."

"Huh?" Everyone was stunned for a moment, then burst into cheers.

"Long live Instructor Liu!"

"A tutor is the best!"

"Thank you very much, Instructor Liu!"

A hint of a smile flashed in Liu Hongyan's eyes, then she said seriously, "During the annual leave, you must not neglect your cultivation, and you must not cause trouble. I will be assessing you after school starts."

Upon hearing that there would be an assessment, everyone's faces immediately fell, which made Liu Hongyan's smile even deeper.

"Alright, be careful on your way home." After saying that, she gave Li Yuan a meaningful look and turned to leave.

This little incident reignited everyone's spirits, and they had a lively time. Seeing that it was already late at night, they finally got up unsteadily and prepared to leave.

At the entrance of Hongxiuzhao, a dozen young men and women stood arm in arm, reluctantly saying goodbye.

"Brother Li, the New Year is approaching. If it's inconvenient for you at home, why don't you come to my house for the New Year? My parents would certainly welcome you."

Wu Yu put her arm around Li Yuan's shoulder and extended a warm invitation.

Li Yuan was touched and patted Wu Yu's hand: "I appreciate Brother Wu's kindness, but I have some personal matters to attend to. If I have time after that, I will come to bother you again."

"Then it's settled." Wu Yu was a little disappointed, as he genuinely regarded Li Yuan as an older brother.

"Goodbye, Li Yuan." Chu Yunhe casually cupped his hands in greeting.

Shen Lian, holding his sword, nodded to Li Yuan as a farewell, then turned and strode away.

Before long, everyone had dispersed, leaving Li Yuan alone at the entrance of Hongxiuzhao.

He composed himself, gazed at the bustling street, and, as if still wanting more, began to wander aimlessly.

Li Yuan walked with his hands in his sleeves, stopping and starting, and soon he left the bustling East Market. The number of pedestrians around him gradually decreased, and most of them were walking hurriedly, obviously heading home.

Several figures trailed behind him, following patiently and unhurriedly.

"Boss, he's heading in an increasingly unusual direction. Should we make our move?"

One of the Shadow Assassins licked his lips, unable to contain himself any longer.

"No rush, just follow along and watch out for any academy members following us."

Yingmei stood with his hands behind his back, feeling that things were going too smoothly. In any case, he decided to be cautious.

"Ghost Realm, manifest!"

He activated his innate ability to detect, covering a radius of several dozen feet around Li Yuan.

Under the Ghost Realm, nothing can be hidden, and any master will be revealed without a doubt.