Crack——
Each of the hidden assassins, including Bloodhand, felt a sudden buzzing in their heads before collapsing in unison. Some fell from the high walls of the alley, others from the rooftops nearby.
Not one of them drew another breath.
Each had been struck through the skull by a copper coin. Under the force of the The Power of Heaven and Earth (Celestial Power), these coins flew silently through the darkness, killing them all without a sound.
“I’d like to see how you plan to deal with this next,” Dongbo Xueying said, his figure flashing before vanishing into thin air.
Soon after, some spies cautiously approached the dark, secluded alley.
“No good.”
“This, this…”
“They were all killed by hidden weapons. The killer must have ambushed them, striking from the shadows.”
“Right, judging by the angle of the wounds, the killer must have been walking along the rooftops beside the alley, silently moving and ambushing them.”
After carefully examining the bodies, the spies determined the cause of death and rushed back to report.
…
As night fell, within the luxurious hall of the Feihuo Guild headquarters.
“The killer ambushed them and killed them all with hidden weapons?” Guild Leader Nanmen Xin’s face darkened. “Bloodhand led a group of elite assassins, each hiding with great care. Yet the killer still found them and struck first… It must be someone who can manipulate the The Power of Heaven and Earth (Celestial Power), using it to observe and discover them. Could this killer actually be a Named-Level expert?”
He had spoken confidently before, but in truth, Nanmen Xin believed the chances of the killer being a Named-Level expert were very low.
Why?
Because Named-Level experts were rare! Those who could achieve unity with Heaven and Earth (Celestial Harmony), the Named-Level experts, were fewer than ten in the entire Qinghe Prefecture, and each was well-known. The chance of an unfamiliar Named-Level expert suddenly appearing was extremely low.
He thought the killer was likely just a very skilled Silver Moon Knight who was adept at using hidden weapons, perhaps even using some special alchemical weapons to match the strength of a Named-Level expert. His team should be able to kill such an opponent. However, if the killer truly achieved Celestial Harmony, then carelessness could lead to success—but if the killer used Celestial Power to detect them in advance, failure would be normal.
“Guild Leader, what should we do?”
“What do we do now? Is he targeting our Feihuo Guild? Could he come to our headquarters?”
“Should we notify the Longshan Pavilion to ask for their protection?”
The guild’s upper echelons were thrown into panic.
“Stay calm!” Nanmen Xin barked.
“Return to your quarters and wait. Let’s see what happens next,” Nanmen Xin said grimly. “Let’s see what this Named-Level expert is really after!”
Immediately, Nanmen Xin quietly left headquarters and returned to a secret residence of his. Headquarters was now more dangerous, and he dared not stay there.
The night passed.
Dawn gradually approached.
That entire night, the guild headquarters suffered no attacks.
He stood alone in the courtyard, frowning in thought: “A Named-Level expert first killed Yin Guild Leader and his group. He deliberately stayed behind at the tavern, and then killed the men I sent! It’s clearly a provocation. He wouldn’t just stop here. Yet he didn’t attack us during the night… What exactly does this Named-Level expert want? Or could it be he bears a deep grudge against our Feihuo Guild?”
Anxiety.
A Named-Level expert who truly achieved Celestial Harmony and used ambush and assassination tactics was enough to throw the entire guild into chaos.
“We must deal with this trouble. I must call upon the elders!” Nanmen Xin quickly went to his backyard and summoned a five-star flying beast that was resting.
“Go.”
He leapt onto the back of the flying beast.
Crack——
The azure bird flapped its wings and shot into the sky, rapidly accelerating to its maximum speed.
…
At this moment, Dongbo Xueying was leaning against the roof of an inn, gazing at the eastern horizon where the sun was beginning to rise.
“Hmm? Nanmen Xin didn’t sleep all night and now he’s actually leaving Qinghe Prefecture on a flying beast? Is he going to seek help?” Dongbo Xueying mused. “Judging from the traces of my attacks, he should have deduced that I’m a Named-Level expert. If so, why would he still dare to seek help? Who is he seeking help from? Could it be that the Feihuo Guild has an even stronger force behind it?”
This immediately piqued Dongbo Xueying’s interest.
Swish.
Dongbo Xueying instantly transformed into a gust of wind, soaring into the clouds. He slowly flew between the clouds, following the azure bird and Nanmen Xin.
The azure bird was fast, reaching the speed of sound! Even a Named-Level expert could only watch helplessly, but to Dongbo Xueying, it was far too slow.
…
Riding the azure bird through the clouds for three hours, Nanmen Xin had long since left the borders of Qinghe Prefecture. He then descended, changed his appearance, and joined a merchant caravan, moving slowly for most of the day before switching to a horse and continuing along a rural road.
Dongbo Xueying followed patiently all the while.
His interest grew greater and greater.
“I’m sure to find something special!” Dongbo Xueying was becoming increasingly excited.
Riding his horse for just over an hour, Nanmen Xin arrived at a noble estate. There stood a grand family castle, covering nearly five miles, even larger than the Snowstone Castle. Of course, the current Dongbo Clan had expanded significantly beyond the original Snowstone Castle atop the mountain, building extensively at its base.
Hovering in midair, Dongbo Xueying watched from afar as Nanmen Xin entered the castle.
“Truly…”
Dongbo Xueying’s eyes gleamed.
His Celestial Power had already infiltrated the family castle, thoroughly scanning every corner.
“A truly big fish!” Excitement gleamed in Dongbo Xueying’s eyes. “It seems I’ll have to go on a killing spree!”
…
Inside the castle, traps were everywhere.
Nanmen Xin waited respectfully in a grand hall.
“Nanmen, Elder Zuo has summoned you,” said a Silver Moon Knight.
“Thank you, Brother Yue,” Nanmen Xin smiled. “When you visit my Feihuo Guild, I’ll treat you well. We haven’t gotten together in quite some time.”
“Now that demons have descended, our duties have grown heavier. Unlike you, Nanmen, I don’t have the luxury of leisurely managing a guild,” the Silver Moon Knight replied with a faint smile.
“Ahh, Brother Yue, you wouldn’t understand. Managing a guild isn’t easy either,” Nanmen Xin sighed.
The two soon arrived outside another hall.
Inside sat a robed elder, his eyelids drooping, exuding an invisible pressure.
“Greetings, Elder Zuo,” Nanmen Xin entered the hall with utmost respect.
“Hmm,” the elder in red robes responded indifferently before opening his eyes. “Nanmen, what is it? You should know I don’t have time for trivial matters.”
“Elder Zuo, the Feihuo Guild is in grave trouble,” Nanmen Xin quickly replied. “I had no choice but to come here for help.”
“Grave trouble?” Elder Zuo frowned. “The Feihuo Guild rose only after years of support under my guidance. I entrusted it to you. If anything happens… you’ll answer with your life, and I’ll face consequences as well.”
“I understand, I understand,” Nanmen Xin hurriedly replied. “The situation is like this.”
He proceeded to explain everything in detail.
He knew full well how intense the factional struggles were within. As a member of Elder Zuo’s faction, he had come seeking help immediately. If he waited until the Feihuo Guild was severely weakened, it would be too late.
“A Named-Level expert?” Elder Zuo frowned. “Who dares oppose me?”
“He doesn’t know the Feihuo Guild belongs to you, Elder Zuo. If he did, even with ten times the Courage (courage), he wouldn’t dare!” Nanmen Xin quickly flattered.
“Hmph, although he successfully ambushed the assassins you sent, he isn’t necessarily a Named-Level expert. He might just be a cautious and skilled Silver Moon Knight adept at assassination,” Elder Zuo sneered. “In any case, regardless of who he is, you’ll first try to negotiate. If negotiations fail, or if he demands too much, eliminate him. I’ll send two Bronze Envoys with you.”
“Excellent!” Nanmen Xin was delighted. He knew well how powerful the Bronze Envoys were. Two of them should be able to kill Si Lianghong. “That brat dared to provoke us. Soon, he’ll learn he’s messed with someone beyond his reach! Hmph!”
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