Chapter 165: The King of Assassination

Twenty meters underground on the planet Tenuis, inside the planetary subterranean drainage system.

Zhang Wen had his left arm wrapped around Linoah and his right around the beautiful Countess Melissa, indulging in the bliss of being surrounded by two beauties.

If those people above ground who had been desperately searching for him could see how carefree he was now, they would surely be furious enough to burst a blood vessel.

But at this moment, no one could have imagined that Zhang Wen had actually infiltrated underground.

Every planet naturally had its sewage system, but people usually had a mental blind spot and rarely thought about it.

Zhang Wen, however, didn’t have that mental inertia. Back in his own world, he had watched enough war movies, and had put the concept of “tunnels” to good use.

Of course, the air here was a bit poor, but with two beauties by his side, it wasn’t that bad.

His hands weren’t idle either, gently reaching up to caress the smooth shoulders of Linoah and Melissa in the darkness.

If it had been anyone else doing this, either Linoah or Melissa would have fiercely resisted. But Zhang Wen happened to be their weakness—both of them, whether it was the soul dancer Linoah or the cold and proud Countess Melissa, not only didn’t mind his level of intrusion deep down, but actually longed for even deeper contact.

However, the current environment was simply not suitable, causing Linoah to inwardly pout at Zhang Wen.

“I never realized before that he was this impatient…”

In the wide, ring-shaped pipe space, Linoah’s cheeks flushed slightly red. Even though she knew Melissa couldn’t see her, she still felt shy. Although Linoah had once seduced men while disguised as a teacher at the academy, that was just part of a mission, very different from the deep involvement she felt now.

Under the touch of the man she truly fancied, her skin felt as if it had been set on fire.

Melissa’s reaction wasn’t much better than Linoah’s. But she wasn’t a shy maiden anymore. She had previously considered giving herself to Zhang Wen, so when she felt his mischievous hands moving from her shoulders to her shoulder blades and then sliding down to her sensitive waist, she still managed to suppress the urge to moan involuntarily.

While enduring Zhang Wen’s teasing, the two beauties inwardly scolded him for not knowing the appropriateness of the situation. They were still in danger, yet he was already this impatient. If they were in another environment, wouldn’t things get even more absurd?

But they were actually misunderstanding him. Zhang Wen was also bitterly smiling inwardly and didn’t feel like explaining much to them.

Zhang Wen himself was also hesitating and conflicted. Although he had temporarily escaped danger, he had merely jumped from one cage into another. Among those searching for him above, there were surely clever people who would soon discover he had slipped into the sewer. After all, the large hole he had dug to get in couldn’t be perfectly concealed.

What Zhang Wen was hesitating about now was—whether to take Linoah and Melissa right here? Of course, not out of impatience for lust, but for deeper reasons.

After recent intimate encounters with Kariteyner, Amelice, and Rofray, Zhang Wen had almost confirmed that sexual intimacy between men and women could accelerate the advancement of his Spring Water Technique. He had already reaped many benefits.

However, he had intentionally hidden this, even during the decisive battle for dominance in the southern region. Thus, almost no one knew that Zhang Wen’s current strength had already reached the transcendental level, no longer needing the temporary enhancement provided by the original stones.

But the current crisis couldn’t obviously be resolved by transcendental strength alone. Zhang Wen was considering whether consuming both Linoah and Melissa would further enhance his Spring Water Technique and battle energy?

He felt there was a good chance, but with the foul stench of the sewer filling his nose, in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to go through with it. In such an environment, neither he nor they would be willing to do anything with each other.

Shaking his head, Zhang Wen dispelled the thought.

“Let’s follow the water flow and see if we can find a safer place,” Zhang Wen gently patted the two girls’ behinds, earning a fierce glare from them. But in the darkness, Zhang Wen couldn’t see it.

The three followed the sound of the water, walking forward one step deep and one step shallow. Their shoes soaked in the sewage, the icy sensation making them frown, but under these circumstances, there was no room for fussing.

They had walked about a hundred meters forward when a pile of collapsed boulders blocked the sewer passage. This was the result of the previous battle aboveground, where the explosive battle energy had caused the destruction. Although the sewage could temporarily drain through the gaps in the rocks, humans obviously couldn’t pass through.

If Zhang Wen didn’t mind alerting those above, he could use his battle energy to blast through the massive debris, but clearly, that wasn’t an option now.

Zhang Wen slightly furrowed his brow, quickly calming down and pulling Linoah and Melissa’s hands to turn back. This path was blocked; they had to check the other end.

He hoped there was still time.

Zhang Wen couldn’t help but feel anxious now, after all, it wasn’t just about himself anymore, but also the two women who had gotten involved to help him. No matter what, he didn’t want to drag them down.

He had to find an escape route before the Empire’s Eagle Guards and others discovered them.

Not just for himself, but more for these women who were devoted to him.

His pace unconsciously quickened, his left and right hands tightly clasping Linoah’s slender fingers and Melissa’s warm ones. They clearly felt Zhang Wen’s mood and followed his steps closely.

But just as the three turned back and walked about thirty meters, they could go no further.

Although it was pitch black ahead, Zhang Wen’s sensitive intuition told him—danger!

Without hesitation, his hands tightly pulled Linoah and Melissa close to him, preventing them from advancing further.

This subtle body language immediately made the two women realize—the worst had happened.

In the darkness, their gradually adjusting vision could make out a vague black shadow standing calmly, like an inanimate rock.

A faint killing intent was released along with the figure’s voice.

“You must have some skill to detect my presence…” the shadow said coldly, “If you come with me quietly, I, Shadow Mei, swear on my name, I will spare the women by your side.”

Shadow charm?!

Zhang Wen didn’t know who Shadow魅 was, but Linoah and Melissa did. Their bodies reacted instinctively, shivering slightly as if chilled.

Their fingers instinctively tightened, conveying their tension to Zhang Wen.

Shadow Mei, one of the top three assassins recognized by the two great empires. A legendary assassination weapon said to serve Lord Black!

So far, no one is known to have escaped Shadow魅’s pursuit and assassination.

In some ways, Shadow魅 might even be more terrifying than the killing machine Gao Long. His existence was a threat far beyond what Gao Long could ever match.

Ranked among the top three assassins in the galaxy—the King of Assassins!

Just thinking about it was enough to send chills down one’s spine.

With no way forward or back, how would Zhang Wen choose?

He calmly broke free from Linoah and Melissa’s attempts to hold him back. His right fingers slightly moved, and the steel slid out from his sleeve, forming into a classical Chinese longsword. The cold blade faintly emitted a chilling glow in the dark space.

He had already expressed his decision through action—he would never surrender.

Shadow魅’s pupils constricted, gathering light in the dimness to see his opponent more clearly.

This person was very different from those he had encountered before!

Not only had he dodged his long-range sniper shot, but he even dared to confront him? Such an arrogant fellow was a first for him.

In Shadow魅’s mind, the opponent should have been grateful and surrendered immediately after receiving his promise of not killing them. Yet he dared to resist?

As the King of Assassins, Shadow魅’s expertise was not merely limited to long-range sniping. If he lacked equally formidable close-quarters combat skills, he wouldn’t have been able to survive every encirclement following his assassinations and maintain his flawless record of killing his targets and escaping unscathed.

Besides his cautious nature, his strength was naturally the most critical factor.

Just as Black Lord had sent several transcendental-level warriors and assistants on this assassination mission—all of whom were now stuck outside—Shadow魅 had infiltrated the sewer unnoticed and was the first to discover Zhang Wen’s trail.

His strength was unquestionable.

“Troublesome fellow. If it weren’t for Lord Black wanting you alive, I’d finish you off in three seconds.” A cruel smirk curled his lips as the assassin struck first. A pair of dark spikes, as black as the night, slashed towards Zhang Wen’s body in an upper and lower motion with his forward charge.

The entire movement made no sound, almost without any warning. The left spike aimed at Zhang Wen’s knee, while the right targeted his shoulder socket.

Either strike would render Zhang Wen half incapacitated.

His movements showed no particular flair, the only characteristic being speed! Almost matching Zhang Wen’s full-speed Ghost Steps, in a flash, the figure and the hidden attack had already closed in.

Assassins differ from warriors; they will stop at nothing to complete their mission. To avoid alerting other competing “predators,” Shadow魅 refrained from using his battle energy, but the spikes were coated with a powerful anesthetic, enough to take down several mammoth beasts. Just a touch would be sufficient for the target.

This was the first time Shadow魅 had to strike twice at the same target; in previous missions, he usually finished off the target with a single strike. Zhang Wen was indeed an exception. However, Shadow魅 believed that his luck had finally run out.

But, another exception occurred!

In the blink of an eye, Zhang Wen’s longsword in his right hand actually struck last but arrived first. With a lightning-fast circular motion and flick, it strangely drew Shadow魅’s right spike to collide with his left spike, sparking a shower of sparks.

Without a trace of battle energy, what sword technique could manipulate his movements like this?!

Shadow魅 felt as if he had seen a ghost. Years of training had already become second nature to him, and he instinctively sprang upward, clinging to the sewer ceiling like a bat. His feet acted like suction cups, attaching him to the top as he hung upside down, head pointing downward and feet upward. Moving with lightning speed, he aimed straight for Zhang Wen’s temples.

At the same time, his feet moved, maneuvering his inverted body with incredible speed and eerie agility.

This was only half of Shadow’s combat prowess. By intentionally restraining his battle energy, Shadow’s offensive power was at least halved, yet his attacks remained unstoppable. Throughout the entire empire, the number of individuals capable of withstanding such an eerie assault could be counted on one hand.

Zhang Wen, however, effortlessly deflected the attack with a swing of his sword.

The longsword clashed with the twin spikes, lightning-fast exchanges countless times, sparking a string of dazzling, blinding sparks.

Linoah silently channeled her spiritual energy into a cannon, but due to the incredible speed of Zhang Wen and Shadow魅’s movements, she couldn’t pinpoint the right moment to intervene.

Melissa similarly drew the short sword hidden in her boot, lowering her center of gravity, her eyes fixed on the battle, ready to support at any moment.

Zhang Wen’s figure moved as swiftly as a phantom, and so did Shadow魅. Both were renowned for their speed. In this unique environment, to avoid drawing the attention of more powerful enemies, they had to restrain their battle energy and rely solely on speed and skill to fight.

Equally swift, like a hare springing and a falcon diving.

Within just a dozen seconds, the two sides exchanged fierce blows. Countless sparks flew like fireflies, creating a beautiful scene beneath which lurked heart-stopping danger.

A slight misstep could result in blood splattering. At this point, it was no longer a matter of who would capture whom alive; one side was giving their all, while the other was fighting with all their might for themselves and the women they loved!

Like two ferocious beasts locked in a life-or-death struggle!

Shadow魅 let out a suppressed roar of fury! Despite possessing transcendental-level strength, he was forced to confront Zhang Wen on the latter’s own terms, and what infuriated him most was that he couldn’t even defeat the opponent!

He could no longer endure!

A surging battle aura suddenly erupted from his body, like a lighthouse in the night, bursting forth with dazzling starry arc lights, rapidly expanding.

Assassins were most skilled in utilizing the environment. Shadow魅 decided to unleash his battle aura in the darkness. Although it might attract the attention of other powerful beings, if he was fast enough, he could defeat Zhang Wen and leave first.

In fact, the sudden burst of bright battle aura in the darkness was like a flashbang to Zhang Wen and the others, causing a brief blinding effect. This was the opportunity that Shadow魅 created for himself.

Shadow魅’s body transformed into a meteor, hurtling towards Zhang Wen.

Fast! Fast enough to almost exceed the limits of visual perception!

Ferocious! Like a bloodthirsty beast lunging at its prey!

In an instant, even the air was torn apart, transforming into a white wave trailing behind the assassin’s afterimage, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

Caught completely off guard, Linoah and Melissa both cried out in pain and instinctively closed their eyes and retreated.

Zhang Wen was also momentarily blinded by the sudden burst of light, nearly bringing tears to his eyes. However, he forced himself to suppress the instinct to retreat and firmly stood his ground.

He couldn’t retreat! Retreating would expose Linoah and Melissa to the assassin. The now-maddened assassin would show no mercy towards them.

Without holding back, Zhang Wen let out a long roar, and silver battle energy spiraled outward like a nebula. The sword in his hand simultaneously erupted with countless brilliant rays, meeting the assassin’s fatal strike head-on.

A sound of countless tiny impacts filled the air. Zhang Wen’s ultra-high-speed sword flashed out thousands of strikes in an instant, each one landing on the assassin’s twin daggers, purely by intuition. It was like the Wing Chun technique of blindfolded sticking hands from his previous world.

Once martial arts skills reach a certain level, even without sight, one can completely predict the opponent’s attack trajectory through touch and intuition, achieving unexpected effects.

This was the first time Zhang Wen had fully unleashed himself after advancing his Spring Water Technique to a higher level. Even during the previous encounter with the disguised swordswoman Misaya at the Kasares Star Arena, Zhang Wen had held back because he knew he wasn’t in any real danger.

But this time was different! The murderous intent bursting forth from Shadow魅 caused Zhang Wen’s hair to stand on end. He had no choice but to give it his all.

“Boom!”

It sounded like rain hitting banana leaves, or something vibrating and booming.

In the blink of an eye, the figures crossed paths. Shadow魅 took a few steps forward, gazing at the twin daggers in his hands, now reduced to dust. He barely had time to let out a muffled roar before his body twisted in anguish toward Zhang Wen. Mid-twist, countless tiny sword wounds erupted across his body, and he collapsed in a strangely contorted posture.

It was probably something neither Shadow魅 nor Lord Black could ever have imagined—the third-ranked assassin in the galaxy, the Shadow King who had even left the killing machine Gao Long helpless in a direct confrontation, the assassination king whose assassination techniques and battle skills had reached the peak of transcendental level, had died pathetically here.

Died silently and unnoticed.

How would those important figures who had been assassinated by him and the leaders of organizations that feared the Shadow King feel about this?

All of this happened in a brief moment. Linoah and Melissa had just regained their vision when they witnessed this shocking scene.

The King of Assassins had been instantly killed by Zhang Wen with his eyes closed!

This… this was just too absurd.

Linoah covered her mouth in shock, while Melissa, uncharacteristically, opened her red lips in astonishment, pointing at him with her hand still holding the short sword.

However, no one, including Zhang Wen, was shocked for long about this. Because something even more shocking was about to happen.

“Boom! Boom!!”

With several explosion sounds, beams of battle aura pierced down from above, blasting several huge holes into the sewer. Then, the sunlight from outside brought along the figures of several powerful individuals descending.

The final battle between Shadow Mei and Zhang Wen, with their last burst of battle energy, had finally been detected by these powerful individuals.

About ten meters ahead, the Empire’s fang Lei Miu was smiling as he took off his white gloves. However, his smile now looked somewhat bitter. Lei Miu was known for his cleanliness, and this was his first time in such a filthy environment. If not for the frantic orders from his superior, Misaya, he would have preferred to wait outside for Zhang Wen to come out on his own.

Twenty meters ahead stood two young men dressed in red form-fitting battle suits.

Melissa leaned close to Zhang Wen and quietly introduced them to him.

“They are the top-ranked bounty hunters in the Alliance, twin brothers who are both transcendental-level fighters. Their nickname is—Kage.”

At the same time, about eight meters behind Zhang Wen and Linoah, a man wearing a white cloak crouched halfway down. In such a dark environment, he was even wearing a pair of wide-rimmed sunglasses, making one wonder if he could even see the surroundings, or if he was blind?

Similarly, Linoah whispered in Zhang Wen’s ear.

“That man is the third-ranked transcendental-level warrior of the Society, Guangyu Zhi Lukas. His presence here likely means that the fourth and fifth-ranked warriors have also arrived…”

The Society claimed to have ten transcendental-level warriors, and Zhang Wen was familiar with one of them, the weakest one at the bottom of the ranking, known as the Flame Demon Agate.

Even Agate, the weakest, was extremely strong, so Zhang Wen couldn’t imagine how powerful this current one must be. At the very least, he wouldn’t be inferior to the Thunder God Omega.

In addition to these individuals, from further distances in the sewer, more warriors and strong individuals continued to drop in.

Judging from the situation, Zhang Wen had absolutely no chance.

Just dealing with Lei Miu and the transcendental-level warriors from the Society, and the Alliance’s bounty hunters would be more than enough to overwhelm him.

Not a single chance!

“There’s another powerful one over there…” Melissa anxiously whispered in Zhang Wen’s ear, “Can you see him? Hanging upside down on the ceiling, just like the previous assassin. He’s a federal assassin! Ranked second on the interstellar assassin list, he’s even more formidable than the former Shadow魅. His nickname is ‘Satsujin.’ He always attacks directly, going straight to his target’s doorstep and wiping them out. Even if there are ten or a hundred enemies, he still fights in exactly the same way.”

Zhang Wen was already bitterly smiling.

Being targeted by so many terrifying figures made him feel like the flesh of the monk Tang! He was probably going to be torn into pieces and shared among them…

At this moment, what else could he do but smile bitterly?

Despair was no longer enough to describe the current predicament. But Zhang Wen truly felt very unwilling.