An Jiu dropped the corpse and swiftly left the scene.

The blood-red signal flare suddenly put the resting Crane Control Army on high alert.

“Team Tian-Jia, provide support!” the Crane Control Army’s Dark Governor called out.

The red flare signaled an attack by a powerful enemy and a dire situation. Six ninth-tier experts from Team Jia vanished into the darkness, while the rest of the Crane Control Army silently gathered to await further instructions.

The Dark Governor issued no further orders.

Soon, Team Tian-Jia’s assassins returned.

“Sir, all members of Teams Di-Mao and Di-Xu are dead. The signal was sent by Mao Team’s leader,” one assassin reported concisely, then continued, “Of the six, Xu Team’s leader died from hidden weapons. One team member had his throat slit, another had his neck broken. Mao Team’s leader also had his neck broken, while the other two had their throats slit.”

Another added, “It seems there were no more than three attackers.”

Hidden weapons, throat-slitting, neck-breaking—the kills were swift and clean. Six experienced Crane Control Army assassins were instantly slain. They couldn’t imagine one person accomplishing all this.

“To think such experts exist on this island!” the Dark Governor exclaimed, slightly surprised. “Increase each team to ten people and continue the search.”

“Sir, perhaps I shouldn’t question orders, but I can’t help it now,” Team Tian-Jia’s leader asked. “If it’s truly to save His Majesty, we’d gladly die a thousand deaths. But is it the Crane Control Army’s duty to spread the news of His Majesty’s grave illness so widely?”

If life itself was lost, what use was an extraordinary medicine? If the Crane Control Army was simply after the medicine, surely no one would dare challenge the entire army so boldly. The opposition’s unyielding resistance indicated hidden motives.

The Dark Governor knew the order was problematic, but what right did he have to question his superiors? “If you know you shouldn’t ask, then don’t!”

The team leader coldly replied, “Sir, we may be killers, but we’re not fools!”

The Dark Governor exploded, “You think I’m a fool? But we must follow this order! His Majesty is at death’s door! Do you understand what will happen to us if he dies?”

With each new emperor came new courtiers. Both the Crown Prince and the Second Prince had their guards. Whichever ascended the throne, their trusted guards would replace the existing Crane Control Army. The current guards would face a complete overhaul—comply and live, resist and die.

The Crane Control Army’s reform differed from previous dynasties. With their customary bloody and ruthless style, life and death hung by a thread. The upper echelons were all implanted with gu poison. The new emperor would use them to purge the lower ranks first, and they would be the first to suffer!

Everyone present fell silent.

Those unfamiliar with assassins might think them fearless, but only they understood that the more they killed, the more they cherished life, knowing how fragile it was.

Death extinguishes all, leaving nothing behind.

After a moment of silence, the team leader asked, “Will this medicine truly save His Majesty?”

“There’s an 80-90% chance,” the Dark Governor replied. “Few have witnessed the effects of a medicine person’s heart blood firsthand. However, the ‘Crane Control Records’ mention it, which is quite reliable.”

He paused, then added, “This medicine person was carefully nurtured by the Liao royal family, sparing no effort or expense. The efficacy of their blood far surpasses that of ordinary medicine people.”

Hearing this, the assassins, though reluctant, had no choice but to follow the Dark Governor’s orders and begin searching the island in groups of ten.

The Dark Governor pulled out a small box from his pocket. After a moment’s hesitation, he handed it to the team leader, saying, “The insects in this box can smell the scent of the medicine person’s heart blood. Take it…”

When he first received this box, he had been suspicious. These insects, while not uncommon in the jianghu, were tricky to use. They needed to be fed food soaked in the target scent for some time before developing an interest in it. How could the Crane Control Army have insects trained to track a Liao-cultivated medicine person?

The Dark Governor suspected that either the Crane Control Commander or the Deputy Commander was a Liao spy. These two were the top leaders of the Crane Control Army, and he couldn’t find any traces of evidence.

He decided that once the medicine was found, he would personally deliver it to the palace.

The night rain pattered steadily.

In the impenetrable darkness of the forest, An Jiu crouched on a tree, recalling the recent battle.

The meditative state she had entered at the start was mystical as if she had woven a net with her mental energy. Prey entering this net’s area could no longer use their mental energy…

The thrill of this hunt was exhilarating.

An Jiu, savoring the lingering sensation, closed her eyes and slowly expanded her mental energy.

Darkness enveloped her again. The surrounding mental fluctuations rippled chaotically like water, converging and clashing. An Jiu frowned, her temples throbbing. She persisted for a moment, but when she opened her eyes, all she saw was blood-red.

Twenty martial artists of various ranks simultaneously broke into An Jiu’s mental net. Like prey too heavy for the net, it snapped. In that instant, she felt as if an awl had pierced her temples, and her eyes stung.

As An Jiu’s head pounded in confusion, a crossbow bolt pierced the darkness towards her.

An Jiu leaned back, hanging upside down from the tree. The bolt barely grazed her nose.

More than a dozen people silently closed in, their sword blades reflecting chaotic flashes of light. A few others approached with umbrellas and lanterns, illuminating the scene clearly and exposing An Jiu to everyone.

Her lithe body was wrapped in a sleek combat outfit, only her blood-filled eyes visible, presenting a terrifying sight at first glance.

Surrounded by over twenty opponents, An Jiu felt a mix of fear and uncontrollable excitement.

The insects in the box began to stir. The team leader, sensing something, spoke up, “After searching far and wide, we’ve found you without effort. Hand over the medicine person’s heart blood, and don’t force us to take action.”

“It’s Gu Jinghong,” An Jiu corrected seriously.

“Gu Jinghong?!” The team leader was shocked.

Gu Jinghong had always held a prominent position on the Crane Control list, renowned throughout the land. No one could have imagined that such an invincible assassin was someone else’s cultivated medicine person!

“Whoever you are, hand over the medicine!” the team leader unsheathed his sword, exuding killing intent.

This served as a signal, and everyone assumed attack stances!

An Jiu stood in the center, one hand gripping her Tang sword, the other holding her umbrella handle. Her vision was a blur of red, making it impossible to discern shapes. She closed her eyes, and with a loud pop, her umbrella opened, scattering water droplets and fine silver needles in all directions.

“Take it!” At the team leader’s low roar, over ten people lunged forward.