An Jiu discarded the corpse and swiftly left the scene.
The blood-red signal flare abruptly put the resting Crane Control Army on high alert.
"Team Tian-A, reinforce immediately!" the Shadow Guard Commander of the Crane Control Army called out sharply.
The red signal flare indicated an attack by formidable enemies, signaling a desperate situation. The six ninth-rank experts of Team Tian-A vanished into the darkness, while the remaining Crane Control Army members silently gathered, awaiting further orders.
The Shadow Guard Commander issued no further commands.
Before long, the assassins of Team Tian-A returned.
"Sir, Teams Di-Mao and Di-Xu have been completely wiped out! The signal was sent by Team Di-Mao's captain," one assassin reported succinctly, then added, "Among the six, Team Di-Xu's captain was killed by a hidden weapon. The other two members—one had their throat slit by a sword, the other had their neck snapped. Team Di-Mao's captain also had their neck broken, while the other two were killed with a single sword strike to the throat."
Another assassin added, "Judging by the scene, there were no more than three attackers."
Hidden weapons, a single sword strike to the throat, and snapped necks—each kill was executed with ruthless efficiency, instantly taking out six seasoned Crane Control Army assassins. It was hard to imagine that this could be the work of a single person.
"To think there are such masters on this island!" the Shadow Guard Commander muttered in surprise. "Increase each team to ten members and continue the search."
"Sir, perhaps I shouldn't question orders, but at this point, I can't hold back," the captain of Team Tian-A spoke up. "If this were truly to save The Emperor, we would gladly die a thousand deaths. But is broadcasting news of His Majesty's critical illness really something the Crane Control Army should be doing?"
If they lost their lives, what use would that legendary medicine be? If the Crane Control Army were truly only after the medicine, no one in the world would dare challenge them so brazenly. The fact that the targets resisted to the death clearly suggested there was more to this.
The Shadow Guard Commander was well aware that the order was questionable, but what right did he have to challenge a command from his superiors? "If you know you shouldn't ask, then don't ask!"
The captain of Team Tian-A replied coldly, "Sir, we may only know how to kill, but we're not fools!"
The Shadow Guard Commander snapped, "Do you think I'm a damn fool?! But we have no choice but to carry out this order! Because The Emperor truly is on the verge of death! Do you understand what will happen to us if His Majesty passes?"
A new emperor brings new ministers. Whether it's the Crown Prince or the Second Prince, each has their own personal Shadow Guards. Whoever ascends the throne will replace the existing Crane Control Army with their own trusted guards. Those who remain will face a brutal purge—comply and live, resist and die.
The Crane Control Army's restructuring was unlike that of the imperial court. It was marked by their signature ruthlessness, where life and death hung by a thread. The higher-ups had all been implanted with Gu poison, and the new emperor would use them to cleanse the lower ranks first. The first to suffer would be men like them!
Silence fell over the group.
Those unfamiliar with assassins often assumed they were reckless with their lives. But only they themselves understood—the more lives they took, the more they cherished their own, because they knew just how fragile life was.
Death extinguishes a life like a snuffed candle. Once gone, there is nothing left.
After a long silence, the captain of Team Tian-A asked, "Will this medicine truly save The Emperor?"
"An eighty to ninety percent chance," the Shadow Guard Commander replied. "After all, few have witnessed the efficacy of the blood essence of the medicine man. But the Crane Control Chronicles records it, and it's considered credible."After a pause, he continued, "This medicine man was meticulously raised by the Liao royal family, investing all their manpower and wealth. The efficacy of his blood is incomparable to ordinary medicine men."
Faced with such a conclusion, even if the assassins were unwilling, they had no choice but to follow the orders of the Dark Capital Yu Hou and begin searching the island in groups of ten.
The Dark Capital Yu Hou took out a small box from his pocket. Hesitating for a moment, he handed it to the leader of Team A. "The insects in this box can detect the scent of the medicine man's heart blood. Take it..."
When he first received this box, he had already harbored suspicions. These were insects with a particularly keen sense of smell, not uncommon in the martial world. However, using them was troublesome—they had to be fed food infused with the scent they were meant to track for a period before they would develop an interest in it. How could the Crane Control Army possess such insects specifically trained for the Liao royal family's medicine men?
The Dark Capital Yu Hou had already guessed that either the Dark Capital Commander or the Deputy Dark Capital Commander was a Liao spy. These two were the top leaders of the Crane Control Army, and the Dark Capital Yu Hou had found no trace of evidence.
He decided that once the medicine was found, he would personally deliver it to the palace.
The night rain fell softly.
The forest was enveloped in impenetrable darkness. An Jiu crouched on a tree branch, recalling the earlier battle.
The meditative state she had entered at the beginning was profoundly mysterious, as if she had woven a net with her mental strength. Once prey entered this net, they could no longer use their own mental strength...
The thrill of the hunt was intoxicating.
An Jiu savored the lingering sensation, slowly spreading her mental strength with closed eyes.
Once again, she was submerged in darkness. The chaotic ripples of mental energy around her surged and clashed like disordered water waves. An Jiu frowned, her temples throbbing with pain. After enduring for a moment, she opened her eyes to a field of crimson.
Twenty martial arts masters of varying ranks had simultaneously intruded into the net she had woven. It was as if the prey was too heavy, tearing the net apart. At the moment of rupture, she felt as if a drill had pierced her temples, the pain searing into her eyes.
Just as An Jiu's mind was reeling from the agony, a crossbow bolt sliced through the darkness toward her.
An Jiu leaned back, hanging upside down from the tree as the bolt grazed past the tip of her nose.
A dozen figures approached silently, their sword blades reflecting chaotic flashes of cold light. A few others followed, holding lanterns under umbrellas, illuminating the scene clearly. An Jiu's figure was now exposed to all.
Her petite frame was clad in a close-fitting outfit, with only her blood-filled eyes visible—a terrifying sight at first glance.
Cornered by over twenty attackers, An Jiu felt a mix of fear and uncontrollable excitement.
The insects in the box began to stir restlessly. Sensing this, the leader of Team A spoke up, "After searching far and wide, we find it effortlessly. Hand over the blood essence of the medicine man. Don’t force us to act."
"It's Gu Jinghong," An Jiu corrected solemnly.
"Gu Jinghong?!" The leader was stunned.
Gu Jinghong had always held the most prominent position on the Crane Control List, his reputation formidable. No one could have imagined that such an invincible assassin was actually someone else's medicine man!
"Whoever it is, hand over the medicine!" The leader unsheathed his sword, his killing intent erupting.
This was like a signal—everyone assumed a stance ready to attack!An Jiu stood at the center, gripping a Tang sword in one hand and an umbrella handle in the other. Her vision was blurred by a crimson haze that obscured all outlines. Closing her eyes, she snapped the umbrella open with a bang, sending water droplets and fine silver needles scattering in all directions.
"Seize her!" With the squad leader's roar, over a dozen men lunged forward. (To be continued...)
PS: I'm trash
Taking leave
Got held up by evening matters, won't finish before midnight today. Requesting leave in advance. (To be continued...)
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