Chapter 58: The More I Think, The More Likely |
Even though the assassin struck from the air was severely injured, struggled to stand steady, and knew he was done for, his survival instinct remained strong. He still wanted to escape and flee, still hoping his accomplice would come to his rescue.
But the two he had attempted to assassinate gave him no chance to escape, truly kicking him when he was down. With one enemy pushed back in the air, the other on the ground immediately rushed in for the kill.
He swayed, trying to muster his last ounce of strength to fight back, but realized his opponent's offensive was unusual.
Shi Chun, who was charging, suddenly puffed out his cheeks and spat, spraying the undigested mixture of food and wine from his mouth towards the opponent's face.
The assassin was already exhausted, unable to think clearly. Unsure what kind of killing move this was, he met it with a full-strength palm strike.
Shi Chun, having spat out the mixture, rolled on the ground and then stood up, dodging the overhead strike. Saber light, like a waterfall, erupted with his rising momentum, slashing upwards from below, immediately sending blood spraying from the blade.
The staggering man was split into two, his face showing an expression of disbelief as he looked down, feeling intense pain and seeing his disemboweled body collapsing.
Wu Jinliang, who had been knocked flying by the impact, landed on the first-floor eaves.
The tiles he stepped on rustled to the ground. He grabbed onto a window, turning back just in time to see Shi Chun slash the assassin.
At the entrances of various shops, figures who had been huddled against the rain at night heard the noise and quickly emerged.
Some faster ones even witnessed the final moment of the execution in the street.
The Inn Worker of Anle Inn was one of them.
As soon as the commotion erupted, he immediately flashed out from behind the counter, witnessing it firsthand.
The carriage that had passed earlier hadn't gone far.
The person inside, who didn't want to be exposed, still pulled back the curtain due to the commotion behind, peering back and seeing their accomplice killed by a single saber strike, their face revealing utter disbelief.
Their heart cried out in alarm, "How is this possible? Those were two Third-Grade Immobilization Talismans!"
What did a Third-Grade Immobilization Talisman signify?
A First-Grade Talisman was enough for an Ordinary Person, unless they encountered someone with Innate Brute Strength, which might cause it to Disintegrate.
A Second-Grade Talisman could immobilize an Early Martial cultivator, but some Early Martial cultivators with Grand Attainment who were too Formidable, stronger than Normal People, might also Break Through the Restriction.
A Third-Grade Talisman could immobilize a High Martial cultivator, with a similar likelihood of Breaking Through the Restriction.
He had personally seen two Third-Grade Immobilization Talismans strike the two individuals. Given their apparent age, they shouldn't be over thirty, right? Had they already reached the Human Immortal Realm?
He felt this possibility was too unlikely.
Such Cultivation Talent was hard to find in the entire Cultivation World, let alone someone who had just come out of the Land of Exile. Nonsense!
It was true that Talismans could be of Poor Quality, but could both talismans have problems?
One talisman had an issue, and the Restricted Person immediately Removed the Restriction Seal from their accomplice?
In that instant, he had many questions, somewhat dumbfounded.
City Rules governed activities In the City. Having caused such a huge commotion, should they continue?
No matter what he thought, Shi Chun knew the huge Threat posed by that carriage and dared not Linger for even a moment.
After slashing the assassin, he immediately turned, without looking back, and Leapt Towards the Inn Gate.
As he rushed, he called out a Secret Signal in a low voice, "Flash!"
Wu Jinliang, standing on the first-floor eaves, immediately Rammed Through the Window, quickly lifting his Saber and flipping into the nearest Second-Floor Room.
The Inn Worker at the Main Gate moved aside, watching Shi Chun rush into the Main Hall and get back on his feet.
He was about to ask what was happening when Shi Chun, having stood up, immediately threw out an explanation, "It's an assassin, with accomplices in that carriage that just passed by!"
Although he didn't ask some questions, he could tell that this inn was definitely connected to the Demonic Path.
Firstly, Xiang Lan'er had deliberately chosen to Settle Down here, and secondly, he and Wu Jinliang had sat at the entrance for a long time earlier, personally seeing several guests who came to check in being refused, the reason being No Vacancies.
Nonsense, Full! They knew very well, living there, that while they weren't sure if all other rooms were empty, they could confirm many rooms were empty.
Without saying more, he believed the Inn Worker would handle it. He then used Flash Movement directly towards Xiang Lan'er's room, knowing Feng Chi was inside Xiang Lan'er's room, and that Feng Chi was a Master, seeking her Protection.
Along the way, he bumped into Wu Jinliang, who was jumping down the stairs. Without Shi Chun needing to call out, Wu Jinliang immediately followed, Dragging the Saber, occasionally looking back, his Large Flat Saber always on Guard for anything behind them.
"Are you alright?" Shi Chun still asked with concern, referring to the incident where Wu Jinliang had been knocked flying by the assassin's Dagger.
"I'm fine.
I was Numbed by Shock, but I've Recovered. Hehe, I think we Eliminated a Master!" Wu Jinliang chuckled.
Shi Chun understood his meaning. You Knew Upon Clashing; the opponent was definitely not of the Early Martial Realm, but High Martial.
For the first time in their lives, the two had Eliminated a High Martial Cultivator, which should have been cause for celebration. But Shi Chun couldn't be happy, knowing that they had merely Exploited a Loophole, Killing the opponent when they were Caught Off Guard.
The two rushed to Xiang Lan'er's Room Door. Seeing it still tightly shut, they sensed an Anomaly; it was impossible not to hear the commotion outside.
Clang! Shi Chun directly Kicked Open the Door, and the two fingers he had tucked into his Money Pouch simultaneously pulled out a piece of Tanjin for Illumination. The room was empty; Not a Soul in Sight, and they hadn't seen Feng Chi leave while they sat at the entrance.
Wu Jinliang immediately asked, "Can your Right Eye see?"
He thought his companion must have been nervous just now and wanted him to Investigate with his Right Eye.
Shi Chun shook his head.
After being immobilized just now, his first reaction was to Cast a spell to Remove the Restriction Seal, completely forgetting about being nervous.
Now was not the time for Nonsense, he said in a Low Voice: "Let's go, let's find a place to hide first.
The Madam will surely have a way to Deal With this."
The assassin had accomplices after all, and he worried about Subsequent Assassination attempts.
Their Cultivation Level was Too Low; who could endure someone Throwing Immobilization Talismans right off the bat? At the very least, they needed to hide where the Killer couldn't easily find them.
"Upstairs."
Wu Jinliang, who had just come down, immediately called out, leading the way.
They dared not go outside, fearing someone might be waiting.
The two then hastily ran back upstairs Barefoot, not even bothering to put on their shoes, which were still left outside the door, including Shi Chun's Saber Sheath.
The two ran upstairs, directly drilling into the Attic of the Roof.
They sat on the Beam, Crouching Under the Roof Tiles, Occasionally even Lying prone on in the Gaps in the Eaves to check the commotion On the Street outside.
After settling down temporarily, Wu Jinliang began to Whisper, "Could it be those two Broads from the Demonic Path who did it?"
"Nonsense."
Shi Chun expressed Disdain, knowing full well this couldn't have been done by Feng Chi and the others. If Feng Chi wanted to kill them, there was no need to Beat Around the Bush.
Wu Jinliang: "Cen Futong's uncle?"
Shi Chun: "Even less likely. We aren't the Murderers.
If his uncle truly wanted to Take Revenge, he would at least ask us who the killer is. Would randomly killing someone count as revenge? They Must Be Sick, more like."
Wu Jinliang thought so too, "Then that's strange.
We just got out of prison; we haven't had time to Form Enmity with anyone in the Outside World, nor do we have any Enemies there. Even if we had enemies, those we Offended are long gone by now, busy surviving.
Who would wait around for us to Take Revenge on them, and it's even more impossible for them to use Immobilization Talismans; how expensive are those?"
What was an Immobilization Talisman? To a Cultivator, it could be considered a Super Weapon, something that could Decide Life and Death in an instant during a Fight. How could it be cheap?
The cheapest Immobilization Talisman seemed to start at tens of thousands of Gold.
Otherwise, why would Shi Chun try so hard to get into Wukang Mountain? It was nothing more than wanting to Secretly Learn Skills and Get Rich, while also gaining a bit more Self-Preservation Ability.
"Not to mention Immobilization Talismans are too expensive, and they can even command Masters of the High Martial Realm…" Wu Jinliang paused, then almost simultaneously with Shi Chun, turned to look at him, evidently having thought of the same potential Enemy Faction.
Shi Chun also suspected this, but still frowned, "With your Mother's insight, she said the matter was over, that the Qi family wouldn't trouble us anymore, so it should be about right. Besides, we're already in the Outside World.
If the Qi family wanted to move against us, they wouldn't need to use Immobilization Talismans, would they? Just send any Master, and it would be solved."
Wu Jinliang, however, didn't agree, "Then tell me, counting everything, besides the Qi family behind Shen Youkun, who else has the Ability and Energy to Deal With us? This is Linkang City, controlled by Wukang Mountain after all.
No matter how Arrogant the Qi family is, openly Killing here isn't appropriate, is it? Didn't you see it was a Silent Assassination? They don't know when we'll leave here."
Hearing him, Shi Chun thought and thought, and indeed, he truly couldn't think of anyone else.
Only the Qi family would do such a thing and had the corresponding Ability to do so. The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and he couldn't help but start cursing, "Damn It, are they Never-Ending?"
Wu Jinliang spat, "What's There to Be Afraid Of? What are we now? We are Demonic Path Cultivators now! We even dared to rebel against the Heavenly Court; would we be afraid of their Qi family?"
Shi Chun nodded slightly, "Since they insist on us Facing Life and Death, then there's no need to be polite.
When we see Feng Chi and the others later, we'll Slander the Qi family, saying that they want to Ruin Our Plans, and let the Demonic Path Attack the Qi family!"
Wu Jinliang Deeply Agreed, nodding, "That's exactly how it should be done. If they don't let it go, we need to think carefully about what to say, and find a way for the Demonic Path to Fight to the Death with them!"
Outside the inn, behind the Roof Ridge of a House diagonally opposite, a Gaunt Man in Green Robes stood On the Tiles, his deep gaze fixed in the direction of the Anle Inn.
Outside the inn, a Crowd had already gathered from afar to Watch the Excitement. The Disheveled Old Man had arrived at some point, mingling at the edge of the crowd, listening to the eyewitnesses' discussions while also examining the Corpse on the ground.
The Carriage that carried the Murderers eventually left the Scene of the Incident. The commotion had grown too large, and without permission, the people in the carriage dared not continue to Act Recklessly.
The Carriage headed straight for a spot beneath the City Wall. After the man inside alighted, he Leaped Movement onto a Pavilion at the corner of the City Wall.
Bian Weiying was still there, the wine and dishes cleared away. At the Railing Area, her long hair was Spread Out, fluttering freely in the wind, Gazing into the Distance towards Wukang Mountain's Mountain Gate for a long time.
It was unclear if she was waiting for news or concerned about her Older Brother's movements.
The man who entered Inside the Pavilion was clearly a bit nervous, but he still recounted the Course of Events of their Failed attempt.
Bian Weiying Suddenly Turned, her disheveled hair blowing across her face. She said in disbelief, "Two Third-Grade Talismans couldn't even immobilize them?"
The man replied, "I suspect a Master in Secret provided Help, Breaking Through the Restriction Seals on them, and Severely Injured Old Liu, which led to Old Liu dying at their hands."
"Master? A Master capable of Breaking Through Third-Grade Immobilization Talismans? Excellent, things are getting more interesting!" Bian Weiying smiled, shaking her long hair back, revealing a clear face.
"This is my Territory. Since Assassination Failed, then let's Do It Openly.
Gather Forces and go Arrest them directly. Once Captured, no need for further words, Immediately Kill them to prevent Mountain Intervention.
Let's go, I want to personally see what kind of Master will emerge!"
(End of Chapter)