Chapter 5: The Assassination

Military-grade Force Rapid Crossbow!

This specialized weapon was designed for the battlefield, particularly to counter high-rank experts. It could fire multiple bolts at once. The moment even a single bolt strikes or explodes near the target, a chain reaction initiates, covering a range wider than the typical short-distance teleportation for most experts to evade. At this short proximity, the attack was essentially fatal.

However Qian Ye just took a single step forward; his silhouette suddenly shifted, becoming an illusionary trace, allowing him to evade the entire volley of bolts. He then extended one arm lazily, as if picking fruits from branches, sweeping one adversary from the air after another, casually casting them aside onto the ground.

Despite appearing to move at an unhurried pace, Qian Ye’s actual speed was beyond imagination. Before anyone could reach straight above where he stood, all airborne assassins had been “plucked” like ripe fruits dropping from their vines.

The fallen assassins ceased resistance immediately. They remained where they landed like sleeping figures peacefully asleep, making it impossible for anyone to identify exactly when or how Qian Ye incapacitated them.

Thus did the opening formation shatter effortlessly. The attendants and clerks inside the shops flanked the road, some feigned horror; while others subtly disguised their expressions. After a moment’s hesitation they collectively discarded whatever lay in their grasp and rushed away.

Qian Ye didn’t stop to distinguish friend from foe, letting loose wavelet-like projectiles with a flick of his fingers one after another. One impact on the attendants’ forehead opened deep, fingertip bloodholes that spewed dark crimson.

At a single turn, this lengthy street turned utterly lifeless.

From ahead stores, numerous clerks with heads leaning out to watch, now bore looks of utter horror. Bodies shivered faintly. A few stealthily shifted away into the store; others found their legs growing weaker, almost buckling beneath them and collapsing to the ground.

This was precisely the impact QianYe hoped for.

Amongst their midst were covert assassins hiding amongst regular employees — he simply had no need for differentiation and didn’t even take time to separate them. Killing through each shop in full view struck terror into any heart; the bold few, indeed, held little appetite to embrace certain annihilation.

The disguises required no interpretation: a handful retained unaltered martial wear beneath cloaks—others displayed visible family insignia embroidered within folds of outer robes; hastily prepared camouflage barely completed. The military deployment, having equipped just a solitary round of barrage launch systems before hurried concealment, had proved a hasty, unorganized ploy that failed its prime opportunity completely.

Walking steadily Qianye continued onwards and unflinchingly eliminated scores along with clerks indiscrimination – sealing their fate on this merciless path. Kicking one assassin’s body, the motion revealed unmistakably yet another emblem embedded hidden under his tunic lining.

He surmized that now—at this moment in Tidefall—the opposing powerful houses united their resolve, reluctant over allowing himself as Lord of this city-state; launching an ambush they fancifully envisioned as an inescapable deathtrap.

Though the street stretched, the vanquishment of the formation already saw its journey fractionally completed. Yet within shopfronts along again trembled under inner quakes; voices erupted at last into a spontaneous rush of panicked flight through rear accesses—an unstoppable tide defying even nearby reprimand or protest.

From the street terminus suddenly erupted three long whistles followed by two abrupt shorts ones.

Those who heard first were advancing combatants mid-assassination attempt upon Qian Ye who now found themselves startled before fixing last fierce stares and retreating towards the distant street-end. QianYe made no effort pursuing. Letting them escape left this road and accompanying establishments empty in an eyeblink.

Across its distant threshold massed several hundred in black, silent, and awaiting. QianYe advanced unchanging step-by-step—exiting the deadly alley unhurt.

From the gathered opposing throng emerged some into light. Exchanging glances, they moved individually closer before halting several steps ahead of rank. They possessed differing appearances—an elderly bearded man, one bearing a darker visage of a large man or one youth exuded gentle serenity in manner. Despite variance their gaze converged singularly—each fixated, unblinking upon Qian Ye with grim, killing fervor burning in their eyes.

Indeed, leadership representatives now standing bore the mantle of leadership from every colluding opposing clansmen gathered behind.

Their strategy revealed firmness too — quickly comprehending attrition failed outright they swiftly united every force to commit decisive final onslaughts. QianYe’s passing glance swept this opposing crowd—estimating the hundreds in terms of combat caliber—despite equipment shortcomings equating closely with over a hundred fierce Red Scorpion soldiers. Returning attention with mild disinterest onto their gathered leaders, QianYe finally spoke.

“You did indeed stake much in these people’s existence. Yet, you must expect significant loss when pitted directly against me. This begs question—what depth of hatred festers within your hearts to justify such grand mobilization towards my destruction.”

A swarthy dark face man grunted in contempt. “Ah yes… Qian Lord! So imposing already upon reaching half of today: grave harming Commander Du, burning Du’s estate with fire consuming entire house walls while even summoning heads of all other noble families to personally pay respects in his audience court. I perceive ‘respective formal greeting’ nothing less of a pretense masking an attempted extermination upon all families in attendance. Surely such is your plot.”

A faint curl crept QianYe’s mouth. “That thought process does little to alter consequences.”

A youth of serene grace then calmly spoke, “Your lordship… prior during past eras when Master Luo yet walked this soil, the noble families always found respect in mutual cordial dealings extended toward. Now however you initiate your arrival wielding deadly authority, wielding fear… perhaps it was not… well-advised.” Elder with white-flecked hands upon wispy goatee, interjected.

“Your Honoured Lordship, circumstances do irrevocably shift. Ever since Celestial Imperial Armoured Hosts withdraw with Evernights’ retreat, none maintain dominance once held. Why indeed must your honored status cling persisting toward a hollow title? Departure upon your hand would find my associates here swiftly assembling generous offerings, with satisfactory compensation in content guarantee sealed upon parting. Moreover—Tidefall alongside its distant sister-city Qing Nan would forever stand in unity: kin in arms, mutual protectors within this Eastern Seabound Haven we might together find our shared felicity? What say you lord?” Their proposal hung in silence before QianYe scanned slowly over those who dared oppose him at that moment.

“You truly assume these few numbers standing behind suffice for opposing me directly?”

“The determination fueling our resolve lies not merely in lives sacrificed! Even in failure—we may yet strip flesh from living bones at points of confrontation! When that hour strikes, your own existence remains tethered within Tidefall—escaping entirely from its confines impossible!” boomed the dark skinned man in reply.

“A firm sense of resolve?” QianYe offered slight amusement. “Well well—I suspect once these bodies lay in heaps their house lords shall at last arrive with due compliance. No question their summons shall now arrive promptly upon this hall of mine.”

Their complexion immediately grew sombre as they assumed formation—seek preparation defense upon command signal. Yet in blink Qian Ye himself vanished.

In an instance, overwhelming weight struck without warning, pressing spines threateningly. With scarcely prepared defenses, the graceful youth buckled at the knees, his legs barely keeping upright. Others similarly suffered their expressions twisted under panic—already guessing at implications: how could their family disciples behind withstand equal crushing force?

Simultaneously came streaking vermilion arcs from nowhere, like invisible needles beneath clothing—an odd sensation, like having inner blood sucked from limbs suddenly hollowed.

They exchanged alarmed fearful glances instinctively gathering and circulating force to defend, desperately looking round to assess their forces. And then… a shock. Hundreds of martial followers that formed their main body—lay scattered corpses sprawled randomly, not one among hundreds left standing. Streams of red threads receded steadily into where QianYe’s figure stood alone.

Whirlpool force plus life-drain assault formed dual terrors for annihilating mass enemies and in this case once again proved decisive. Unfortunately the aristocratic lineages here at Tidefall possessed narrow vision when weighing possibilities, estimating that the very most QianYe could possibly have killed with overwhelming skills may reach five or so at any instance—even a divine general slaying merely dozens repeatedly. In comparison to their expectation where hundreds could wage war through ten rounds against even an elite enemy.

The loss here represented nearly one-third of their martial might across entire households—clearly altering Tidefall City power balances upon such sweeping annihilation within a single stroke from Qianye.

The clan heads faced horror compounded anger yet now sensed internal depletion worsening, craving collapse into slumber upon the ground. Defending was out of question, maintaining self-awareness barely within strength; all that kept them remaining upright lay sheer force of will—if once asleep… revival appeared uncertain.

With utmost focus the leaders poured effort into channelling Force vortex into sustaining circulation, staunching injuries. Inspection upon injury spots revealed tiny pinpricks—the only anomalies across bodies. Beneath one minute spot lay a nearly hair width diameter hole directly piercing heart regions—spilling out their own inner force. Each man shivered upon discovery—understanding that if any hole grew slightly larger death’s threshold approached without hesitation.

Instead Qian Ye spared no effort executing a follow-up finishing movement. Merely departing. Those heads left behind exchanged wary expressions, speaking nothing aloud. Their complexion remained drawn and bleak, recognizing grave wounds—perhaps irrevocably altering hard acquired expertise within. Return paths left uncharted with uncertain possibilities of even maintaining war captain grade power upon regaining footing in their houses.

Returning to city lord halls Qian Ye proceeded toward assembly chamber where he seated himself, waiting silently for gathering noble family heads. Granting exactly one hour remained—he had torched Du Mansion, smashed ambushes lining long street still having reserved but fifteen minute’s grace window remaining. No efforts were wasted towards cleansing hidden spies lingering near perimeter as he surmised long street combat details reached the aristocracy already; testing reactions remained part of intrigue as time ticked onward.

Suddenly loud screech of sudden brakes broke from beyond lordship’s gates, footsteps quickened thereafter. Then orderly announcements rang with ceremonial heralding as royal palace guards greeted guests.

Without delay a flushed-faced elder barreled forth past open thresholds. He stole one glance at QianYe, then immediately bowed lowly with great sincerity before introducing.

“Lord of Tidefall, Liu family clan patriarch Liu Minlun arrives—bearing homage toward esteemed Viscount’s service!”

LiuMinlun barely had lifted himself upon conclusion before Qianye’s figure abruptly appeared directly infront assisting him to full standing posture, smiling while replying. “Lord Minluln, indeed, speed outpaces schedule. Official timing remains unreached!”

At his words, commands flowed. “Bring forth a chair for Lord Liu.”

Upon this order guards fetched in a single sturdy wooden chair. At QianYe’s gesture they positioned it within empty chamber space before departing.

This chair’s proximity lay immediately at the lower right hand of throne seat—a place of great honor. A stunned excitement battled LiuMinlun expressions, tempered by humility.

Beforetime in grand council, long-standing yet unwritten rule governed rank: closeness to lord’s main high seat correlated with the family strength of noble clansmen.

Seating this close ranked top three most powerful family seats within all Tidefall.

In reality, the Liu household never ascended beyond lower-tier middle ranking status within Tidefall: a house battered by repeated conflicts due to poorly defended territory positions, their standing dwindled recently close to being expelled entirely from noble city circle. With no choice remaining Liu made high bet gamble to pledge allegiance, hoping to secure survival via this singular decisive gamble. Now offered this seat, this token showed clear QianYe satisfaction; though it also seated itself atop eruptive conflict zones like open volcano vent.

Swallowing hard LiuMinlun finally sat firmly, resigning heart: what choice remained but accept this challenge? In this moment—hesitant passivity held same consequence as reckless aggression: one blow inevitable fate.

From palace gate once more a chariot arrived carrying further family heads joining others led orderly through chambers by chamberlains, no dissent rose among their ranks since QianYe’s earlier sword blow gravely injured DuYun; slaughtering fifteen of the opposition, seriously injuring hundreds of military guards.

Arrival proceeded unchallenged.

The family heads moved through a transformed landscape, unfamiliar attendants and faces—those acquainted wore compliant countenance, leaving many to quietly speculate amongst their minds. Inside assembly, they now acted far more respectful during entrance rites than previously customary. QianYe merely remained seated but nodded slightly allowing reception of homage before calling servants forth to arrange seatings following Liu in orderly succession rows behind.

This continued unremarkably until arrival of more family heads who received further placements. This time no rising stood required—Qian merely signalled raising his hands briefly acknowledging without formalities.

Earlier seated aristocrats caught onto this protocol shift, noting QianYe had not considered martial strength when arranging seating but prioritized punctuality alone. Amongst earliest arrivals many like LiuMinlum bore weaker martial backgrounds and had simply sought political survival, recognizing the killer standing before had defeated and killed DuYun easily.

Qian merely feigned detachment, hand resting upon armrest in appearance of medidation. Seated, he kept quiet while watching chairs filling row upon row.

For some arriving families placed in forward rows, discomfort mounted: families of modest power suddenly finding seats growing metaphorically uncomfortable—shifting anxieties betraying growing nerves.

After some more arrivals, it neared precisely the final appointed deadline. At length arrived four more lords entering in groups of four.

Their four houses had strong power backgrounds compared to earlier lesser lineages yet these arrivals seated comparatively further behind ranks. All four bore restrained fury behind their calm expressions; scanning entire chamber, their glances shifted between each other before each nodded silently and walked wordlessly onto their designated benches without protest, despite growing sense of affront and injustice.

After this period elapsed further, one figure, a majestic broadshouldered man swaggering with imposing presence strolled into halls.

His name resounded clearly through his herald:

“Lord Gaomingtang of Gao arrives!”

Murmur swirled amidst gathered assembly chambers.

Gao family remained an indisputably top 5 family power force residing firmly inside Tidefall’s aristocracy—once even during Lord General Luo era did Gao family leaders often skip court sessions at city lord command.

But today?

None expected this: QianYe didn’t even bother looking up, responding without any courtesy at all.

“Timing elapsed. You may remain standing… and wait your turn at the back.”