A Man Like None Other (Jared Chance) novel Chapter 5999

By late morning the sunlight felt metallic against the tiles of Jade Immortal City, and even the pigeons circled lower, wary.

At the main avenues he found ranks of Jade Immortal Manor guards in teal armor, their clipped breaths rising like steam off sharpened steel.

They had closed every archway in the outer wall except a single side gate, and anyone walking through it was peeled open by questions and runes.

Patrols now moved ten strong instead of three, each led by a High Immortal Realm Level Four officer whose gaze combed pedestrians like fingers seeking loose threads.

The teleport dais at market square was wrapped in ward-wire; anyone approaching it met a gauntleted forearm across the throat before finishing the request.

"What happened? Why the lockdown?" Someone behind Quentin muttered, voice cracked thin by caution.

"No clue—rumor says the city lord's estate erupted last night."

"Shh, keep it down! Those guards will gut you for curiosity."

"Haven't seen this many blades in centuries. Maybe a dignitary is coming—or maybe something worse already arrived."

The street performed a nervous ballet—robes whispering, heads tilting together, eyes scattering the moment a helmet turned their way.

Jade Immortal City had slept in peace too long; now the pressure in the air felt like the hush before thunder tears the roof off.

Word drifted in like dusk smoke: neighboring sects barred their doors, recalled every wandering disciple, and waited behind locked halls.

Jared heard the whispers, but they brushed the edge of his thoughts and settled there, a low thrum of confirmation rather than surprise.

*****

The bamboo around the lodge quivered, sheathing the courtyard in pale green shadow.

From where he sat, Jared felt the city's pulse change—guards’ boots striking stone in quicker rhythm, the breeze carrying clipped orders that did not belong in a garden.

Luther tilted his head, eyes narrowing through the slits between swaying stalks.

"They moved fast," he muttered.

"The Turner brothers disappear and Jade Immortal Manor panics—look at them. Patrols clog every street, gates shut behind us. This dragnet is for us."

Monkey’s face drained to the color of ash; his hands worried one another so fiercely Jared expected sparks.

"S-Senior… what now? The city gates, the teleport array—everything's sealed. How do we get out?"

Panther’s shoulders hunched, as if he could already feel the net tightening.

"Jade Immortal Manor wouldn't thrash this hard just for two dead executioners. That old cur Quentin must have sniffed something uglier."

Lyza turned toward Jared; his stillness seemed to draw every plea, every decision.

"Senior, fresh intel just came in."

"Their internal probe now targets two strangers who asked about Soulfall Slope in the Knowledge Pavilion a few days back."

"They're sweeping the city in secret. Our hideout is good, but not forever."

Jared opened his eyes; the pond-water calm inside them had not stirred.

"Expected."

"Quentin’s no fool. The Turner brothers lead straight to Mr. Morse. Lockdown and hunts are the obvious ripples."

He paused, gaze sliding to Lyza.

"You said you could muddy the water—make him chase ghosts. How far along?"

Lyza straightened, relief sparking across her features.

"Our people already seeded rumors through a chain of unreliable go-betweens tied to outer court enforcers. First thread says the Turner brothers learned dirty secrets about Manor resource deals—so they got silenced. Second points a crooked finger at elder enforcers unhappy with Quentin’s grip; revenge, pruning his wings, that sort of poison. Third, whispered softest, hints the stones at Soulfall Slope might be crumbling—maybe the Soul-Refining Grand Array, or its crystals, is sick. Trails are twisted enough that no one traces them back quickly. Paranoid as he is, Quentin can't ignore any of it—especially the last. The Soul-Refining Crystal is his heartbeat." Jared nodded once, approving.

"Well played. His worst nightmare is Soulfall exposed and crystals failing."

"Rumors of internal knives will make him hoard his trusted few, maybe even leave the manor to lay hands on the thing himself." Luther glanced at Jared.

"You think he moves tonight?"

Jared’s gaze cooled, calculating.

"The cordon chokes outsiders, but securing his secrets presses harder."

"If he plans to brief Julian, he'll first visit one place…"

Lyza’s eyes lit like struck flint.

"The secret vault where he locks the Soul-Refining Crystals!"

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify