Chapter 84

Chapter 83. Late Arrival (3)

What is going on here?

How did a martial artist from the Taihuang Pavilion end up in the branch that provides funding for the Yin Ying Sect?

Could it be that the Master of the Taihuang Pavilion ordered it?

Perhaps to seek revenge after being humiliated by Gonma?

And did Jin Manzhong know about this and still choose to ally with them?

If so, that would be nothing short of betrayal.

‘Stay calm. I mustn’t show my emotions here.’

Xue Hui was internally conflicted, but he did not let it show on the surface.

He knew. It was still the time to wait.

There would be no harm in moving after everything had come to light.

Especially when the opponent had not yet revealed their true colors, it was crucial to act calmly at such times.

This was a lesson Xue Hui had learned countless times through his numerous brushes with death.

"Please take a seat."

Xue Hui sat down on one of the chairs as he was guided.

Plop.

As they faced each other, his eyes naturally fell on Jin Manzhong.

His body, bloated with fat, resembled a large pot.

His face, like a large rock, and his short limbs made his already obese figure look even more grotesque.

"Huh. Huh... It’s good to see you. We were just about to send a request to you."

Jin Manzhong sat opposite him and wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.

"A request?"

"That’s right. As you may have heard, we haven’t been able to meet the required payments to the Yin Ying Sect on time for the past few months. A nearby martial arts sect has been putting pressure on us."

"You mean the Changlong Sect’s leader?"

"That’s right."

Jin Manzhong’s face turned red. He took out his handkerchief again and wiped his forehead.

Squish. Squish.

After composing his rough breathing, he continued.

"About two years ago... I met the leader of the Changlong Sect when we took over an empty martial arts hall in the vicinity. However, in the past few years, his influence has noticeably grown."

"Hmm."

"Perhaps it’s because of the rumors that he teaches martial arts well. A few young masters from wealthy families have significantly improved their skills, and after that, word of mouth spread. From local thugs to nearby martial arts sects and merchant guilds, people who practice martial arts have been flocking to him. Recently, even martial artists from distant places have been coming."

"More people have joined, so the Changlong Sect’s leader needs more money?"

"That seems to be the main reason. With more mouths to feed, the number of people managing the protection fees in the area has increased, and with the territory expanding, they’ve started to covet our share. The shops, usury, rentals, and protection fees of the stores we manage..."

Sichuan Province is a place with well-developed law enforcement, but even so, there are still many vulnerable points.

In such cases, it’s usually the small checkpoints or martial arts sects in the vicinity that take charge, but with the Changlong Sect rising so rapidly, they seem to be taking control of everything.

Moreover, Bai Yangchuan is said to be well-versed in business.

It’s not just about expanding their influence; he also assigns tasks to capable disciples and ensures they receive a monthly salary, which has further expanded his power.

"Have you tried talking to them?"

"Of course. But from their attitude, it’s clear that a peaceful compromise isn’t possible. The amount they’re demanding is more than what we earn, so how can this be considered a negotiation?"

"Hmm."

"Moreover, if we back down once, they’ll demand even more in the future. The world of the upper echelons is like that of beasts; once you show weakness, they’ll tear you apart from all sides."

Jin Manzhong’s words made sense.

The branch of the Yin Ying Sect, due to the nature of its work, handles both legal and illegal activities. Therefore, conflicts with orthodox martial arts sects were inevitable.

Especially since they not only collect protection fees but also aim to generate direct profits, it’s natural that they would face pressure.

"That’s why I requested help from the Yin Ying Sect for this matter..."

"What was their response?"

"I was told to wait as it was an internal issue."

'This must be due to the incident with the Master of the Taihuang Pavilion.'

The deaths of the Four Great Squad Leaders came to mind.

Because of that, the Yin Ying Sect must have been in turmoil for a while. Things have become complicated.

"So, unable to wait indefinitely, I requested help from the headquarters again... and fortunately, there was a place willing to help us."

"Where?"

"Hongma Yuan. Given the urgency of the situation, we’ve been assigned a bodyguard first. For now, I want to ensure my own safety."

Xue Hui turned his gaze to the back.

A martial artist stood silently, his mouth closed.

His pale and neat appearance was that of a nobleman rarely seen in the area, with a cold expression and a luxurious sword at his waist, making quite an impression.

"What position do you hold in the Hongma Yuan?"

The man did not answer.

"Oh, he’s from the Wu Jiao, so he doesn’t have a specific position," Jin Manzhong quickly replied.

"Hmm."

Xue Hui nodded.

Technically, it wasn’t a wrong statement.

The Hongma Yuan has five corners, one of which is the Taihuang Pavilion.

However, what was more important was the connection this person had with the Master of the Taihuang Pavilion and the orders he had received.

"Don’t worry too much. If you give us a fair amount, he said he would leave after this matter is resolved."

"..."

Xue Hui slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

He felt a sense of unease.

But he soon relaxed his face and naturally changed the topic.

"How would you like me to proceed?"

"Hmm. In such cases, the best solution is..."

At that moment, text appeared in Xue Hui’s vision.

['You have received a mission from Jin Manzhong.']

○ Mission: Eliminate the leader of the Changlong Sect, Bai Yangchuan. However, there must be no witnesses.

Reward: Funding for activities in the Central Plains, desired equipment manufacturing (medium quality).

Mission Items: 1 Sealing Technique Scroll, a portion of a secret map (1/4).

"Eliminate the problem. That’s the most reliable method now."

Xue Hui frowned at Jin Manzhong’s words.

"Wouldn’t that invite a backlash? He’s from the Huashan Sect, right?"

"That’s fine. I have someone on the inside. As always, there are people in the orthodox sects who are well-versed in worldly matters. Haha."

Jin Manzhong formed a coin shape with his thumb and forefinger.

Xue Hui nodded.

Buying them off with money. So there’s no problem?

Certainly, there are always corrupt and greedy people in any organization.

But.

'Who are you trying to fool?'

In the current situation, it’s too convenient to believe that killing one person will solve everything.

Jin Manzhong definitely has some ulterior motive.

However, since he can’t figure out what Jin Manzhong’s intentions are, he’s just pretending to agree.

At that moment.

<Choose from the following options.>

▶ I will move immediately. (Accept the mission)

▷ I will consider other methods. (Postpone the mission)

▷ Before that, I have something to do. (Reject the mission)

'A crossroads!'

Xue Hui’s eyes widened.

The mission presented a choice.

As always, such choices in these situations were much more significant than usual.

'Reject the mission? Is there a way to not accept the mission?'

Xue Hui instinctively realized that accepting the mission was dangerous.

From his experience, these choices don’t always lead to the right answer immediately.

One choice can affect another, or certain situations must be experienced before the correct answer can be chosen.

'Shit...'

The problem is that there’s no way to know what will happen with the other choices without experiencing them.

Therefore, in the end,

Xue Hui had no choice but to accept the mission.

<You have chosen 'I will move immediately.'>

"Excellent! You’re a man of your word!"

Jin Manzhong, whose expression brightened, pulled out a letter as if he had been waiting for this.

Rustle.

It contained detailed information about Bai Yangchuan’s schedule.

"The times he eats, uses the restroom, meets people, and the details of his bodyguards are all recorded here. After you succeed, please come back here."

"..."

These were essential details for an assassination.

* * *

Four days later.

The hour of Hai (10 PM to 12 AM). The time when the leader of the Changlong Sect, Bai Yangchuan, goes to bed after a simple bath.

Jin Manzhong chose this time for the assassination.

Xue Hui also agreed.

Commonly, the easiest time for an assassination is when the target is asleep.

However, those who have actually carried out assassinations know the opposite.

High-level martial artists remain alert even in their sleep. In the quiet of the night, even the slightest sound can be magnified.

Therefore, Jin Manzhong chose the time just before the target falls asleep, about an hour earlier.

There was another reason: the secret information that Bai Yangchuan practices qigong just before sleeping.

It made sense.

Especially, everyone knows that the most difficult time for a