Сhарtеr 1 (7/15)
The mеdiсinе shор owner loоkеd at the сorpsеs sсаttеrеd аcross thе ground and sneered, “Didn’t yоu wаnt pоison? Неrе it is. Whу arе уоu dоdging?”
Нan Yа Qi examinеd it сarеfully. “The рoison nеedles аrе unusuаllу hеаvу, not forgеd frоm ordinаrу irоn. Thе greаtеr the weight, thе fаrther thеy can bе shot. The nееdlе tips сarry a fаint bluе huе, like thе соlоr оf thе night sky. Тhis is thе Gong fаmily’s uniquе hidden weаpоn, ‘Мidnight Skу,’ isn’t it?”
Thе оwnеr сhuckled. “You’rе quite knowledgeablе.”
“The pоison has а blue tint, rеsеmbling the skу at midnight. Moreover, its toxicity acts extremely fast. Those struck don’t even have time to cry out before they die—silent as midnight, without a sound. Hence the name ‘Midnight Sky.’”
Han Ya Qi seemed to greatly appreciate such a dangerous and cruel poison, nodding as he described it.
Meanwhile, several assassins had silently appeared on the walls and roof of the medicine shop. They lay quietly on the roof, bows in hand, waiting for the right moment.
The owner narrowed his eyes. “Oh, I didn’t expect you to actually know.”
Han Ya Qi casually tossed aside the poison needle. “It seems our intelligence was correct. This is indeed a Gong family outpost.”
The owner’s expression instantly changed.
Arrows flew through the air. With the main gate tightly shut and the shop being inconspicuous, outsiders had no way of knowing about the hidden and dangerous battle raging inside. Medicinal herbs, crates, and winnowing baskets in the courtyard were shattered and scattered, leaving a scene of chaos.
The medicine shop owner collapsed, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. He reached up and pulled the arrow embedded in his shoulder.
Han Ya Qi looked down at him with a smile. “Still resisting?”
“Pah!” The owner spat the blood in his mouth onto the ground, his eyes filled with contempt.
A Wufeng Assassin drew his bowstring once more.
But Han Ya Qi waved his hand to stop him. “Hold! The living are more useful.”
Hearing this, the medicine shop owner gave a sinister, cold laugh, his teeth stained with blood. Seizing the opportunity, he quickly raised his hand and swallowed a pill hidden in his palm.
Han Ya Qi frowned, immediately rushing over to clamp the owner’s jaw shut, but it was too late. The owner’s face instantly turned ashen, his eyes wide open, as his body went limp and collapsed, lifeless.
Wufeng’s black-clad attendants filed in and began searching the entire courtyard.
Han Ya Qi stood beside the medicine shop owner’s corpse, his eyes cold as he spoke to the attendant behind him. “Search this place thoroughly. Pack and seal all hidden weapons and poisons, take them back to Wufeng, and inventory them for storage.”
The attendant reported, “We’re already organizing them. But the remaining number of hidden weapons found doesn’t match the income and expenses recorded in the ledger. It’s likely the Gong family members shipped them out early to rush back for the Bride Selection Ceremony.”
Han Ya Qi sneered. “The ceremony? Heh, the Gong family’s rare celebration will probably turn into a funeral.”
The attendant said, “They’ve always been strict and cautious in selecting brides, and the departure dates are always announced at the last minute. They’d never imagine that a Wufeng Assassin is hidden among the brides.”
“If Gong Huanyu really chooses her as a bride tonight, I suppose we’ll be in-laws, haha. Oh, wait—more like ‘ghost in-laws,’ haha…”Han Ya Qi suddenly thought of something, sharp as a predator suddenly catching the scent of a trap. He lowered his head to look at the already deceased medicine shop owner. Clearly, the body lying on the ground was motionless, without any pulse or breath. Yet, Han Ya Qi still drew the thin sword from the waist of the attendant beside him and cleanly, decisively thrust it into the corpse's chest.
With a soft thud, the thin sword pierced through.
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