Chapter 8

"So, you just want to watch?"

"We need to kill him."

A sinister smile, uncharacteristic of his usually stern expression, spread across Zhang Mangqi's face.

"You have a good plan, I see."

"Brother, do we really need to get our hands dirty?"

"What do you mean? You're talking about assassins."

In response to Lu Yanming's question, Zhang Mangqi simply smiled.

"Isn't that what assassins are for? To be used in situations like this?"

"Assassins..."

A few deep wrinkles appeared on Lu Yanming's forehead.

It wasn't just because of his aversion.

Lu Yanming had turned the minor Iron Horn Sect in Gansu into the most powerful sect in Gansu and the dominant force in Lanzhou. In the process, he had used cruel and despicable methods, including the use of assassins. However, he had always kept these facts thoroughly hidden.

As a result, the Iron Horn Sect was perceived as a legitimate sect.

In reality, how it was perceived externally wasn't particularly important to Lu Yanming.

The problem was the Yuejian Sect, which continuously challenged the Iron Horn Sect.

The Yuejian Sect, backed by the Sichuan Tangmen, was now seriously threatening the Iron Horn Sect. Consequently, the Iron Horn Sect had no choice but to seek an alliance with the Huashan Sect and prepare to join the Righteous Alliance.

In other words, they were leveraging the internal conflicts between the orthodox Five Great Sects and the Five Great Families within the Righteous Alliance.

With the support of the Huashan Sect, the Iron Horn Sect had to present itself as a righteous sect.

This meant they couldn't act as freely as before.

Moreover, they couldn't afford to offend the Huashan Sect, with whom they had a direct relationship.

"Can you ensure there will be no repercussions?"

"It must be done without leaving any traces."

Zhang Mangqi's voice lowered.

"The world will see. They will see that anyone who opposes the Iron Horn Sect in Lanzhou will die."

"The Iron Horn Sect won't kill, but those who oppose it will not escape death, right?"

Lu Yanming fell into deep thought.

He had done everything to make the Iron Horn Sect the most powerful sect in Lanzhou. Of course, this included using assassins. Despite achieving this status, the world was unpredictable, so Lu Yanming and Zhang Mangqi maintained their connections with assassins.

"Will there be any issues with the Huashan Sect?"

"Even if they find out, they won't make a big fuss. We need them as much as they need us."

"Still, it's better they don't know."

"I understand, Brother."

"Though I regret not being able to tear him apart with my own hands... there are eyes watching us, so we have no choice. Do it as you see fit."

Lu Yanming's eyes glinted with a cold, murderous intent, despite his regretful tone.

"Why can't you tear him apart? You can even tear apart the limbs of a dead body."

Exhumation and dismemberment.

Inflicting punishment on a corpse that even death couldn't satisfy.

"Indeed, Brother Zhang. You know just where to scratch my itch."

"I've served you all my life. If I don't understand your heart, who will? Isn't that right, Brother?"

A cold smile spread across both Lu Yanming and Zhang Mangqi's faces.

That night, a messenger pigeon took flight from the Iron Horn Sect.

* * *

Knock knock.

The sound of a knock, and the chief steward, Hong Yan, entered.

"How did it go?"

"Just now, they took Lu Xiaofang from the Iron Horn Sect."

Yue Ying's tense expression relaxed slightly.

"What's his condition?"

"According to the doctor, he's past the critical stage."

Hong Yan's words brought a sigh of relief from Yue Ying.

"Since the wound was clean through the chest, there was no damage to any vital organs. He should be able to get up and move around after a few months of rest."

"Thank goodness."

With Hong Yan's report, Yue Ying finally felt a weight lift from her chest.

"At least one worry is off our minds. What's the Iron Horn Sect's reaction?"

"That's the thing..."

Hong Yan's voice grew heavy.

"Deputy Sect Leader Zhang asked for information on Ye Xiaoxie to be discreetly gathered."

Yue Ying's expression hardened at Hong Yan's report.

"Have they noticed us?"

"No, that's not it."

"Hmm—"

Yue Ying sighed in relief, thinking of Ye Xian.

A face so beautiful it made her heart flutter.

While she couldn't know the appearance of every man in the world, she believed that if anyone were to call him the most beautiful, no one would object.

But it wasn't just his beautiful face.

The red pupils in his ink-black eyes.

The red pupils, like rubies, evoked a strange emotion.

Yue Ying, whose heart was moved by his beautiful face, was truly stirred by the mysterious charm of his red eyes.

Her face, which had blushed, suddenly stiffened.

She was reminded of the chilling moment when Ye Xian had moved against Lu Zichou earlier. Despite this, she hadn't fully realized it, and her cheeks were still flushed.

"Miss?"

Hong Yan's voice snapped Yue Ying out of her thoughts, and her expression hardened.

"Chief Steward Hong, be careful with your words."

Yue Ying's sharp tone made Hong Yan quickly shut his mouth and look around.

"What should we do?"

"Use assassins."

"Given the Iron Horn Sect's past actions, it's likely they will."

Yue Ying's words were met with a nod from Hong Yan, who had already anticipated this.

"Hand him over."

A heavy voice.

"Only by doing so can we avoid harm to our own. Only by ensuring our own safety can we protect the sect."

After a moment, he continued.

It was a reasonable point, and Hong Yan nodded.

"I understand... But should we not give him a warning?"

Regardless of the situation, the commotion was caused by Yue Ying.

"Regardless of the situation, we should. I will inform him."

"Before that..."

Hong Yan quietly handed over a folded piece of paper.

"It's about Ye Xiaoxie."

Yue Ying's brows furrowed as she unfolded the paper.

Name: Ye Xian.

Age: Twenty-six.

Martial arts level: Between second and first class, but his true strength is unknown based on his conflict with the Iron Horn Sect.

Background: Traveled to the Western Regions with his parents at a young age, entered Lanzhou two days ago via Yumen Pass. Said to have grown up in the Western world.

Notable points: All information—name, age, background—is self-reported and lacks objective verification. Only his entry into Lanzhou via Yumen Pass is confirmed.

As Yue Ying read, her brows furrowed.

There was nothing.

Even though there was information, it was as good as nothing.

Even a high monk from Shaolin would find it hard to uncover anything.

It strangely provoked her.

She had examined him closely during their private meeting but found nothing.

Despite his seemingly second-class internal strength, his bold and cold actions and demeanor, and his calm attitude in the face of the Iron Horn Sect's deputy leader, were perplexing.

Though she owed him a favor, public and private matters must be kept separate.

"Take more time to investigate him. Especially look into connections with the Evil Cult or the Demon Alliance. There must be something."

No one could escape the eyes and ears of the Haomen. They would surely find something if they searched the world.

"I will."

With that, Yue Ying stood up.

"To Ye Xiaoxie..."

After giving all her instructions to Hong Yan, Yue Ying went down to the third floor where Ye Xian was staying.

Third floor, Ye Xian's room.

Ye Xian was lying on his back, looking at the ceiling.

'Miss?'

A faint smile appeared on Ye Xian's face as he looked at a room on the fourth floor, slightly offset from his. As he listened to their conversation, his smile deepened.

At the word 'assassin'...

Ye Xian slowly got up from his bed.

To greet Yue Ying, who was coming to see him.

Swish—

In a dark room.

A small, folded piece of paper was unfolded under the light of a lamp.

The request.

Ye Xian, twenty-six, currently staying at the Moon Tower in Lanzhou.

Must be killed, and the body delivered.

Reward: 500 taels of gold. Advance payment: 100 taels.

The cheap, yellow paper burned and disappeared in the flame.

"It's been a while. The request from the Iron Horn Sect... "

The assassin disappeared into the darkness.

* * *

The next day.

A mosquito buzzed around Ye Xian's face, making a sound that would irritate anyone.

When Ye Xian extended his thumb, the mosquito landed on it. It could have bitten him, but it just sat there quietly. It was a common mosquito, but it had a unique feature.

Its eyes.

The mosquito's eyes were as red as Ye Xian's.

"Excuse me, sir."

A voice, weary and timid, followed by the cautious opening of the door.

Creak.

As the door opened, a gentle ray of sunlight entered.

The mosquito, which had been flying around Ye Xian, darted into his sleeve to avoid the sunlight.

A middle-aged servant, looking worn out, entered the room cautiously.

"May I clean the room, sir?"

The servant bowed deeply.

"Go ahead."

The servant, wary of offending Ye Xian, began cleaning the room carefully.

'...'

Ye Xian's red pupils glinted as he watched the servant.

The servant's weathered face and subservient actions were typical of a servant.

But Ye Xian detected a scent of blood that others would not notice.

A faint, indelible scent of blood, like a scar that would never fade. And the darkness within.

Ye Xian stared intently at the middle-aged servant. His red pupils grew even redder.

'Hmm—'

Ye Xian's eyes held a sense of admiration.

Behind the weathered face of the middle-aged man, a youthful, almost boyish face appeared in his field of vision.

The mask, made of thin leather, was so intricately crafted that it was almost a work of art.

# 9