Volume One: The Turmoil of Yan and Yun Chapter Fifty-Five: Murder on a Rainy Night (Part Two)

Gathering the fortune of the nation accumulated over thousands of years, it was naturally not something mere Yin Radiance could shatter. The sword light, upon touching the imperial dragon aura, melted away like snow before the sun, finally dissolving into motes of white light that vanished into the torrential rain.

Thus, the operation of the Weeping Blood Pavilion was, for now, an utter failure.

“Though they laid many traps and forced us to reveal some of our cards, I still feel something is missing,” Du Gu Zhe murmured. “This is far from the Weeping Blood Pavilion I know. Their actions resemble not assassins, but men prepared to die.”

Indeed, the words “returned without success” were almost unimaginable for the Weeping Blood Pavilion. Even if the attempt was so hasty, there would certainly be more to it; by their standards, this was only one Star Severer and several Night’s Enders sent. This could not possibly represent the full strength of the Weeping Blood Pavilion in Ji Prefecture.

Their reputation seemed undeserved.

Was the name, built atop heaps of bones and long tomes of history, truly so hollow? Could it be so?

How then should those Yin Radiance, Void Dao, or even great Union Dao cultivators who fell by their hand see themselves?

“The one who ambushed us—I can sense nothing of him,” Feng Qi spoke suddenly. “Even with a Thousand Mile Tracker, I cannot find a trace. I don’t believe he’s left.”

In other words, he didn’t think the night was over.

That man had eluded both their senses—not merely because they had been inattentive.

The so-called Thousand Mile Tracker was a common tracking art. Feng Qi was still young, and in such extreme weather, it was no surprise he detected nothing.

“No matter how fearless an assassin may appear, when a strike fails, he’ll flee a thousand miles. Perhaps he ran,” Du Gu Zhe frowned.

Feng Qi glanced at him. “Then the Weeping Blood Pavilion’s reputation is nothing but a joke.”

Du Gu Zhe replied, “It’s only an assassin’s guild. An undeserved reputation is not impossible; the more renowned the assassin, the more silent his methods should be.”

Feng Qi shook his head. “Paper cannot wrap fire. Perhaps Your Highness should consider why, after all these years, this name endures unscathed.”

Du Gu Zhe pondered, then sighed.

The treacherous terrain of Xu Hai, the mix of powers, the long absence of imperial authority—these were secondary reasons.

The real reason was its might.

Only power could prevent destruction.

As they spoke, Murong Chengzhang finally overcame the Star Severer. His sword fell, blood spattering.

The rain fell like a curtain. He could not tell whether the dampness on his back was rainwater or cold sweat.

He had nearly been undone by an assassin lurking in darkness. Had it not been for the Emperor’s entrusted treasure, either of those two atop the roof could have perished—a disaster for both the world and themselves.

The team could perish, but not those two. No one wished to bear the wrath of the King.

As these thoughts occupied him, he failed to notice when a phantom appeared beside him.

The shadow stretched out a hand, forming a sword with its fingers, and effortlessly pierced Murong Chengzhang’s Yin Radiance, stabbing straight into his heart.

He coughed blood, his face a mask of disbelief.

Feng Qi and Du Gu Zhe finally reacted, startled.

“Blood Shadow Stealth... Is this the Young Pavilion Lord of the Weeping Blood Pavilion?” Feng Qi frowned. “No wonder the Thousand Mile Tracker sensed nothing. But why would the Young Pavilion Lord be in Ji Prefecture?”

Du Gu Zhe sighed, eyes locked on the phantom, alert as before a great enemy. Neither he nor Feng Qi acted rashly.

Murong Chengzhang’s death was certain; recklessness would only doom themselves. Moreover, they could not be sure of the phantom’s true level—a person who could shatter Star Radiance in a single blow must at least be an Adept of the Mind’s Upper Realm. If only of the Mind’s Middle Realm, he would need a weapon above Heavenly Rank to have even a chance.

“So the target was not you or me,” Du Gu Zhe said. “They waited for the right moment, set up multiple ambushes—hoping to kill the strongest in your southern-bound group in a single strike.”

“A clever plan. But how could they know we couldn’t call for aid from Yanbei? After tonight, the Prefect of Ji will surely strengthen defenses. Their chance to make another move here is slim. We need only wait three days for reinforcements from Yanbei—what then?”

Du Gu Zhe shook his head.

Feng Qi too was puzzled.

Feng Qi mused, “But what if we cannot summon reinforcements from Yanbei?”

Du Gu Zhe gave a dry laugh. “Yan Yun and Ji Prefecture are far apart, yes, but to a Yin Radiance master, it’s only two days’ journey.”

Feng Qi pressed on, “And what if we go south to Wuyang? How long would that take? Could it be they wish to draw the backbone of Yanbei away?”

Du Gu Zhe’s expression darkened as he realized the implication.

Meanwhile, the phantom gradually faded, dissolving into a thread of blue smoke.

At the instant it vanished, the golden dragon behind Du Gu Zhe let out a piercing roar. The air grew as heavy as cement. At the same time, Feng Qi’s figure flickered out, and amidst the storm, a passage was carved through the rain by sheer speed. Through that passage, the phantom of a tiger howled, leaping skyward.

The rain halted abruptly, revealing a human silhouette.

The spectral tiger bit down precisely on the figure’s right shoulder, and blood arced through the rain like a crescent moon.

Only then did the tiger fade. Feng Qi stood, spear in hand, its tip piercing the man’s shoulder blade. The immense pressure seemed to find release, flooding into the man’s body, bones shattering with a dreadful sound.

Yet he uttered not a groan. Through the black hat, Feng Qi saw a pair of clear eyes.

Those were not the eyes of a killer.

Unless his heart was utterly clear—committing countless crimes without a care.

“The Tenth Layer of Tiger’s Break, the Seventh Layer of Regal Authority Descends... The top two on the List of the Elegant—your reputations are well deserved. In this game, let’s say I’ve lost.”

Feng Qi raised a brow at these words.

Before he could speak, the man laughed softly. Then, the weight on his spear vanished into thin air.

Only half a black robe hung from the tip.

From below came Murong Xue’s sobs.

Looking down, he saw the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister’s household cradling Murong Chengzhang’s corpse, overcome with grief.

...

...

“The six barbarian tribes have gathered an army of one hundred and twenty thousand, launching a three-pronged assault from Tong Pass to Wang Hai Pass. Among them, a dozen or so small tribes, nearly two thousand strong, have infiltrated past the passes, slaughtering more than twenty villages along the way. King Yanbei is furious—he’s ordered martial law on the border, and all generals must return to their posts at once. No one is to move without leave,” Shui Dongliu said to Feng Qi. “Your Highness, I advise against seeking aid from King Yanbei at this time.”

Feng Qi sighed.

Du Gu Zhe frowned, then glanced at him. “Surely Yan Yun has more than eighteen elite riders?”

Feng Qi replied, “As for Yin Radiance experts, Yanbei is not lacking. Just the princely household alone boasts ten.”

After a pause, he added, “The problem is, no one can guarantee nothing will happen to Magmu and Qi Lan.”

Du Gu Zhe asked, “Magmu and Qi Lan are far from the border—why would anything happen?”

Feng Qi sighed, looking to Shui Dongliu.

Shui Dongliu understood and quickly explained, “Recently, the five provinces of Bohai have suffered a locust plague. The King of Bohai ordered his troops north to eradicate them—they passed Kaifeng just today.”

Du Gu Zhe was stunned, almost incredulous. “You suspect the royal uncle?”

Feng Qi thought, So the Emperor banishing you wasn’t just for show—it truly was exile. Otherwise, how could you be so in the dark?

He glanced at Shui Dongliu, who felt wronged, thinking, If those above won’t let me tell the Crown Prince about Bohai, what can I do?

He refused Feng Qi’s silent demand with silence.

Feng Qi simply closed his eyes and turned away.

The Crown Prince silently took a gold ingot, half the size of a fist, from his storage pouch and placed it on the table.

Shui Dongliu’s eyes lit up. “I’ll go seek Lord Ink’s instructions at once.”

...