Wei Ping said: “This time I admit my skills are inferior, and I willingly concede. Let’s stop fighting and have a proper talk.”

As the saying goes, “Among the three hundred and sixty trades, each has its master.” Setting aside professional discrimination, Lin Fei Yuan could be considered the top leader in the assassin trade.

In the cultivation world, many people appeared dignified and righteous on the surface, and many sects prided themselves as orthodox, taking it upon themselves to eliminate evil and uphold justice.

Therefore, many things couldn’t be done openly, and people who wanted someone killed found it inconvenient to do it themselves, thus the black market emerged.

If one were to rank black market assassins, Lin Fei Yuan would undoubtedly be number one, not only because he charged the highest price and had exquisite skills without ever failing a job.

It was also because he had people under him. Novice assassins would often bring gifts to visit him, submit a declaration of allegiance, and ask him to introduce them to a job.

Only then would they be considered officially open for business in the black market.

Given Lin Fei Yuan’s professional reputation, it would be rare for him to come alone.

With one hundred thousand, he could easily hire several people and divide the work.

“Wei Zhen Yu, what do you have to talk about with me?”

Lin Fei Yuan lifted his eyelids to look at him as if rolling his eyes at Wei Ping: “You gave me the layout of Thousand Canals Town and the defense map of Sky City. Without your cooperation, I couldn’t have hurt him.”

“Song Qian Ji was injured and then endured the lightning tribulation. If by great fortune he doesn’t die, when he wakes up, I’ll tell him that the dog wagging its tail by his side is the mastermind behind the assassination. I still have evidence of our meetings. Could you survive that?”

The worse Wei Ping’s expression became, the happier Lin Fei Yuan smiled:

“What’s with that look? Don’t think about searching for me. The evidence is in a place only I know.”

Wei Ping gripped the medicine bowl tightly.

To gain Lin Fei Yuan’s trust and get detailed assassination plans, he had indeed given the other party some “sweeteners.”

They had been acting with each other then, both saying half-truths and half-lies. But Lin Fei Yuan didn’t care about anything, while Wei Ping was different:

“I won’t kill you. But if I don’t treat you, you won’t survive the night.”

“Do you dare?” Lin Fei Yuan said with certainty, “Song Qian Ji wants me alive, you wouldn’t dare defy him.”

Wei Ping thought, if I weren’t afraid of angering Song Qian Ji, I would have ground ten thousand of you to dust and scattered you into the Thousand Canals waterways.

He suddenly smiled: “You’re right. My life is in your hands now, and your life is in mine. That’s fair. You pretend not to know me, and I’ll find a chance to let you escape. How’s that?”

“You still want to stay here? Cook and wash clothes for that Song Qian Ji?” Lin Fei Yuan exclaimed, “Ha, you’ve become addicted to being a dog!”

Wei Ping didn’t get angry: “I know what you’re waiting for. You’re hoping someone will set fires to create chaos and rescue you. I’m sorry to say, I’m the steward here, and during the recent inspection, I caught thirteen suspicious people. I tied them up with immortal-binding ropes and threw them into the temple… I forgot to tell you, the former temple is now Thousand Canals’ prison.”

“By now, it should be the third round of inspections. I’ve always believed it’s better to wrongly arrest ten thousand than let one escape. The city defenses are in my hands, and this courtyard is heavily protected by formations. Try if you don’t believe me.”

The mocking expression on Lin Fei Yuan’s face diminished slightly; he believed this statement from Wei Ping was true:

“Song Qian Ji doesn’t kill me simply because he wants to find out from my mouth who hired me and who my accomplices are. I’m familiar with the interrogation of assassins—severe torture, healing after beating, beating after healing. You want me to endure and not mention your name…”

Wei Ping understood: “I’ll find a chance to send you away as soon as possible, without letting you suffer too much. After all, having you stay here isn’t good for me either.”

Lin Fei Yuan slowly shook his head: “Not enough. If I’m to endure beatings and suffering, you need to add some money.”

Wei Ping gritted his teeth: “Name your price.”

“Where are the four people who came with me?” Lin Fei Yuan asked.

Wei Ping said: “They value their lives more than you do. They’ve already taken the medicine and are sleeping in the woodshed.”

“Five people left,” Lin Fei Yuan said coldly. “I don’t care what methods you use, but you must get us safely out of Thousand Canals within three days. Otherwise, you’ll die with me!”

“I won’t release you before Song Qian Ji wakes up,” Wei Ping took a deep breath, softening his tone. “When I left home as a young man, wandering the four seas, when I was so poor I had nothing, my first job was introduced by you. In a way, you’re half my teacher.”

“There’s no deep hatred between us; on the contrary, we have a connection, a debt of gratitude. This assassination was an accident. Things have come to this point, which neither of us wanted. There’s no need for a fight to the death.”

After saying this, he smiled with gentle eyes, just like when he served dishes for Song Qian Ji and said softly: “This medicine has cooled. I’ll brew another bowl for you.”

Lin Fei Yuan beckoned to him: “Come, come here.”

Wei Ping smiled and bent down, half his body passing through the light of the confinement formation.

Lin Fei Yuan suddenly snatched the medicine bowl from his hand: “I wouldn’t dare drink medicine brewed by my disciple!”

Lin Fei Yuan tilted his head back like drinking wine, gulping it all down, and returned the bowl: “It is cold, but at least it’s not poisoned.”

“Crash!”

Wei Ping flung his sleeve, knocking over the bowl: “Ungrateful!”

Porcelain shards scattered everywhere, candlelight flickering chaotically.

Lin Fei Yuan turned his head, his cheek cut by a shard, a line of blood flowing down: “The third day after Song Qian Ji wakes up.”

Wei Ping stared at the porcelain shards, his face alternating between ashen and pale. After a while, he crouched down to clean up the mess: “Fine.”

Lin Fei Yuan laughed heartily: “Look at yourself now, truly like a dog.”

“Bang!” Wei Ping slammed the door shut.

As he turned around, the cold moonlight illuminated his calm, unreadable eyes.

The nervous, anxious expression of a young man under someone else’s control instantly disappeared from his face.

He put his hands behind his back and slowly paced down the steps.

“I’ll send you out of Thousand Canals within three days, then kill you all cleanly,” he thought silently.

No matter who wants to kill Song Qian Ji, whether the mastermind behind the scenes or these daggers that pierced the curtain, I will eventually kill them all.

…

Ji Chen sat at the table, fiddling with the formation disk. He tried to concentrate but couldn’t help turning to look at the unconscious Song Qian Ji:

Finally, he threw down the formation disk: “Ji Chen, you’ve been floating on a few words of praise, thinking you’re a genius, something great? Look at this time, you’re still far from it! If your formations were stronger, would Brother Song have been injured?”

“Relying on Brother Meng? Brother Meng might not be around. Relying on Brother Wei? Brother Wei might be very busy. Relying on others isn’t as good as relying on yourself. You’re a formation master; the responsibility of protecting Brother Song and Thousand Canals falls on your shoulders. Have you remembered that?”

“Brother Ji!” A knock on the door interrupted his soliloquy.

Ji Chen opened the door and saw a disciple from the guard team, his mood anxious: “Has something happened at the entrance of the Immortal Official’s Mansion?”

He braced himself; at this crucial moment, if anything happened, he must step up.

The disciple lowered his voice: “A monk has arrived at the entrance, saying he was passing through Thousand Canals during his wanderings and wishes to visit Immortal Official Song.”

“Ask him to come back another day.” Ji Chen remembered Wei Ping’s instructions and was initially reluctant to entertain, but hearing the words “wandering,” his expression suddenly changed: “May I know his Buddhist name?”

“He calls himself Wuxiang.”

“Ah!” Ji Chen exclaimed joyfully, “Could the visitor be the ‘Miraculous Hand Divine Monk’ Master Wuxiang? Quickly, invite him in!”

The disciple turned to leave.

“Wait, could it be an impostor?” Ji Chen called him back, “I’ll meet him in the courtyard first.”

Master Wuxiang was renowned for his exceptional medical skills, his good name spreading far and wide. In recent years, he had wandered in all directions, reportedly treating both cultivators and ordinary people based on fate. Even if a sect leader wanted to seek his diagnosis and treatment, they could only encounter him by chance.

Ji Chen thought, could I be so lucky? Without having to go out and search desperately, one of the world’s top medical experts comes to my door to examine Brother Song.

Shortly after, an elderly monk followed the guard team disciple into Song’s courtyard.

He wore a half-worn golden-red kasaya, with a string of prayer beads on his chest, emanating warmth, standing out prominently in the unmelted snow.

The old monk was tall, with a kind face, a slightly white beard and hair, a smile at the corners of his mouth, and eyes deep yet calm.

Ji Chen carefully examined the visitor by moonlight, confirming there was no shape-changing magic, and was overjoyed. He bowed and said:

“Junior pays respects to the Master. I have been remiss, which is inexcusable.”

The old monk nodded with a smile: “You are too kind. When you were a child, you liked to climb trees in Fengming Court. I even held you once.”

“That was so long ago, yet the Master still remembers!” Ji Chen was moved, “Back then, my father had extensive connections and often invited friends to feast at Fengming Court… Anyway, Master, what brings you to Thousand Canals?”

“Wandering in the mortal world, there’s no place I cannot go.” The monk said, “This humble monk has heard that after Friend Song became the Immortal Official of Thousand Canals, he brought life back to dead lands, accumulating boundless merit, thus during his tribulation, he was protected by merit golden light. I’ve come specifically to visit this Friend Song. Might it be convenient to see him?”

“To be honest, your timing is perfect!”

They desperately needed a physician with miraculous healing skills, and Ji Chen replied without thinking, “Of course…”

“It’s not convenient!” A voice suddenly interrupted, somewhat rudely cutting him off.

“Brother Wei?” Ji Chen turned around, momentarily stunned.

Wei Ping strode forward, inserting himself between Ji Chen and the visitor, coldly saying:

“You’ve come at an inopportune time, so it’s certainly not convenient.”

If he were hosting a guest, he was being too impolite.

“Amitabha.” The old monk didn’t take offense, chanting a Buddhist phrase.

He quietly looked at Wei Ping. His gaze contained no killing intent, yet there was a sense of scrutiny.

This made Wei Ping feel extremely uncomfortable as if all the disguises on his face had been washed away by the moonlight, revealing the true face of Wei Zhen Yu.

Ji Chen hurriedly introduced the two: “Brother Wei, you don’t recognize the Master? This is the Miraculous Hand Divine Monk, Master Wuxiang. Master, please don’t take offense. This is the steward of the Immortal Official’s Mansion, Friend Wei Ping.”

Before he finished speaking, the joy on his face suddenly froze.

He heard Wei Ping’s voice transmission:

“After the lightning tribulation, Thousand Canals was sealed, with no entry or exit allowed. Have you checked the entry and exit recordings of the four city gates? Have you seen any monks? Where did this person come from?”

The north wind howled in the winter night, blowing through the high and low flower frames. Beneath the snow, flowers and trees withered, leaving only bamboo branches creaking.

Plum blossoms drifted in the wind, swirling around the three of them.

Ji Chen shifted his feet slightly, silently stepping out from behind Wei Ping, his hand in his sleeve gripping the formation disk, ensuring that the formations of Song’s courtyard were running normally, the formation materials were solid, and the spiritual energy was abundant.

Without Wei Ping explaining further, he understood what the other meant.

He didn’t want to believe that the highly respected Master Wuxiang had sinister intentions, but given the special circumstances, he couldn’t take even the slightest risk.

Ji Chen couldn’t help but wonder, if the visitor had infiltrated Sky City after Thousand Canals was sealed, what were his intentions?

If he had arrived in Thousand Canals before the lightning tribulation and truly admired Song Qian Ji’s boundless merit as he claimed, how could he have watched the assassination take place and the situation become chaotic?

The biting wind was cold, and Wei Ping’s cold sweat was already streaming down.

He had a premonition that this Wuxiang was definitely not just at the Small Vehicle realm as he appeared to be.

Ji Chen and Wei Ping exchanged a quick, silent glance, their hearts pounding like drums.

Before them was a powerful figure whose intentions were unclear.

Behind them was the unconscious Song Qian Ji.

…

In less than half a night, news of Song Qian Ji’s lightning tribulation and breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm had spread throughout the cultivation world.

Most cultivators initially refused to believe it, even feeling devastated:

“Song Qian Ji, isn’t he just someone who writes and plays chess? How long has it been since the Star-Picking Bureau and the Hero’s Letter?”

“Wasn’t he said to have a frivolous nature, enjoying writing and scholarly pursuits, playing chess, cultivating flowers, a romantic scholar, but with weak cultivation and no interest in practicing?”

“Most importantly, isn’t he only fifteen or sixteen this year? Is the position of ‘Midnight Manjusri’ as the unrivaled first genius of his generation going to change hands?”

Not only was Thousand Canals sleepless tonight, but outside Thousand Canals, many people stayed up all night waiting for news, or directly mounted flying magical tools to rush over, wanting to see if it was true, what the youngest Nascent Soul cultivator looked like.

But Thousand Canals County was temporarily closed, not welcoming visitors, and forcing entry would undoubtedly mean breaking ties.

Most cultivators chose to gather in Hongfu County next to Thousand Canals to observe.

Among them were some people of considerable status, forcing Hongfu Immortal Official Liu Hong Shan to painfully part with his treasured amber jade liquid wine to entertain guests.

But “The Wind and Snow Formation Song” was no longer played. The song was good, but since the last time when he entertained Song Qian Ji, whenever he heard this song, he felt complex emotions.

He had set aside his status to befriend Song Qian Ji, which was for his breakthrough to Nascent Soul. Who knew that before he could break through, that surname Song youngster would break through first?

What was this about? It didn’t make sense.

Fortunately, not everyone was Song Qian Ji.

At the banquet, both the host and guests were joyful.

The guests competed to praise the host: “I heard that Hongfu and Thousand Canals have been on good terms for generations, and you and Friend Song have a deep friendship. Could you perhaps introduce us, so we can meet the youngest Nascent Soul cultivator?”

“Friend Liu, you must be close to breaking through to Nascent Soul too, right? Song Qian Ji breaking through at such a young age is half due to his talent, and half due to your daily guidance.”

Liu Hong Shan, since leaving Huawei Sect to become an Immortal Official in the mortal world, had been resentfully dealing with ordinary people every day. When had he ever been flattered by so many high-ranking cultivators with status?

For a moment, he felt as if he could fly to the heavens, and with the wine’s influence, he patted his chest and promised: “Although Thousand Canals has locked its doors, if I visit personally, he will give me this face. Whoever wants to see him, come with me tomorrow, and I will let you meet him!”

He then arranged accommodations, keeping the guests in Hongfu.

After the guests closed their doors and set up sound-isolating formations, the misty drunkenness in their eyes instantly disappeared.

“This Song Qian Ji is too hard to kill, and Chen Hong Zhu is too hard to marry!”

Wei Zhan Yang rested his chin on his hands, sighing lazily, “Father, although Huawei Sect seems prosperous now, with Xu Yun about to break through to the Divine Transformation realm, and the Zhao clan firmly bound to them, I heard recently that Xu Yun sent people to search for lotus in the depths of the Dead Sea, which means he likely has hidden injuries…”

The middle-aged cultivator beside him coldly snorted: “Don’t think your father doesn’t know. You dislike Chen Hong Zhu for not being beautiful enough or not having a gentle enough personality. You’re afraid she’ll whip you. You still have your heart set on the first beauty, Immortal Lady Miao Yan.”

“Marrying any female cultivator is still marrying, right? Father underestimates me. I’m thinking, perhaps we shouldn’t board Huawei Sect’s ship. If we want to get support from a major sect, wouldn’t Celestial Sound Gate be better?”

The middle-aged cultivator slowly poured a cup of tea, asking in return:

“I didn’t know we had boarded any ship. If successful, our family gets spiritual stone veins and mines and gain Huawei Sect’s support. You would be the greatest contributor, and the next family head would be none other than you.”

“If it fails, the one who went to Thousand Canals County was the wandering cultivator Wei Ping, and the one who wanted to assassinate Song Qian Ji was also him. There’s no such person as Wei Ping in our family genealogy.”

Wei Zhan Yang exclaimed with an exaggerated expression: “But Wei Zhen Yu is still my brother by blood!”

“Have you forgotten? With Wei Zhen Yu gone, marrying Chen Hong Zhu falls to you. The position of family head is the same.”

Wei Zhan Yang suddenly smiled: “Just joking. I don’t have a brother in Thousand Canals.”

He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and then spat it into the flower pot: “Pah, Liu Hong Shan, this poor wretch, is this even worthy of being called tea?”

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Wei Zhan Yang immediately became alert, while the middle-aged cultivator’s expression remained unchanged as if he had expected it: “Come in.”

The visitor was dressed as an ordinary person, face covered in dirt, looking weary from travel.

The middle-aged cultivator asked: “How’s the situation?”

“Thousand Canals urgently sealed its doors because Song Qian Ji fainted in the street after his lightning tribulation…”

“I knew it wasn’t that simple! Heaven has eyes!” Wei Zhan Yang slapped the table and rose, laughing loudly: “Was he struck dead?!”

The messenger wiped his sweat: “No, he didn’t die. He had merit golden light protection.”

“Merit golden light?!” Wei Zhan Yang was shocked, “Can just one Thousand Canals County nurture merit golden light? This must be heaven’s will. I told you Chen Hong Zhu would be hard to marry.”

The middle-aged cultivator said: “It’s just a show of force. He must have tribulation-passing treasures left by some powerful backer. Go back and find out more about the situation, see if Lin Fei Yuan is dead or alive.”

“The formations are very strict now, I can’t get in,” the man said nervously. “Even if I could deceive the formations, Steward Wei is checking for suspicious people. When Song Qian Ji first had his incident, I took advantage of the chaos to rush out, racing against time, barely escaping the city defense team to get out of Thousand Canals County…”

Wei Zhan Yang kindly helped him up: “You’ve worked hard.”

“I wouldn’t dare say that. It’s my honor to serve the master and young master.” The man anxiously tried to please him: “Those three Foundation Establishment Pills…”

“Of course, of course.” Wei Zhan Yang took out a porcelain bottle with his left hand, attracting the man’s attention, then suddenly struck out with his right palm.

“Crack!” A crisp sound, like breaking a wine glass.

The man couldn’t even cry out before his body went limp and he fell silent.

His skull was shattered with one palm, though the corners of his mouth still bore a hopeful smile.

“No improvement.” The middle-aged cultivator coldly looked on: “How many times have I told you, can’t you do it more cleanly?”

Saying this, he brought out a crystal lamp and lightly flicked the wick.

A miserable scream sounded in mid-air, followed by a flash of fire. The weak soul attempting to escape burst into flames, instantly turning to ash.

Wei Zhan Yang flicked the dust from his clothes: “Even if Lin Fei Yuan failed and died, what is Wei Zhen Yu waiting for? Song Qian Ji is now unconscious, and Meng He Ze isn’t by his side. I’ve met Ji Chen before; he’s a brainless young master.”

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became: “The Immortal Official’s Mansion and Thousand Canals County might already be in Wei Zhen Yu’s hands. Wei Ping can try again to kill Song Qian Ji.”

The middle-aged cultivator said: “Wei Zhen Yu’s mind is acting up again. Take some people and wake him up.”

“Yes, Father.” Wei Zhan Yang stood up, smiling and bowing.

…

Dark clouds drifted over, blocking the cold moon.

The dim candlelight in Song’s courtyard flickered in the wind.

The old monk’s kasaya flew up like a red flower.

He stepped forward, smiling and asking: “What might be inconvenient?”

Wei Ping suddenly felt pressure coming at him like endless ocean waves.

Only when facing the ancestral elders in his family had he felt similar pressure. As for the Calligraphy Saint and Chess Ghost, they didn’t like to display their pressure.

I’m still too weak, unable to protect those I want to protect. Wei Ping gritted his teeth to endure, laughing bitterly in his heart. If I had known this day would come, I wouldn’t have wasted so much time.

Although Ji Chen didn’t feel the pressure, seeing Wei Ping’s deathly pale face, he loudly said:

“Master, it’s already late tonight, Brother Song has already retired!”

“Is that so?” The old monk turned to Ji Chen.

Ji Chen’s heart trembled as if pinned in place by two deep gazes, unable to move.

The visitor had ill intentions.

The north wind cut to the bone, making Song’s courtyard seem about to collapse.

Wei Ping’s fingers moved slightly within his sleeve, while the disciples of the guard team outside the courtyard stood ready in formation.

At this critical moment, a voice came from inside the house:

“I’ve woken up. If the Master wants to see me, please come in.”