Wang Li, however, had a different opinion. "We can't afford to be slow, Matriarch," he countered. "These gangs are testing the waters. If we don't retaliate swiftly, it'll embolden others. They'll see the Xia Family as weak and susceptible, and they'll launch further attacks.
Maybe it'll be the Spiritual Mine next, or the Red Iron Mine, another herbal garden, or even one of our strategic outposts with crucial array formations. We need to show them we won't tolerate these provocations."
A flicker of doubt crossed Xia Bingling's face. While his reasoning held some weight, she couldn't help but feel a prickle of apprehension. "But the herbal garden is heavily fortified," she argued. "Lu Mingfei wouldn't back them if it was easy pickings. They likely have powerful artifacts and formations guarding the place."
"Leave the formations to me," Wang Li replied confidently. "I can handle bypassing them."
"And the artifacts?" Xia Bingling pressed. "They won't have a chance to use them if we move fast enough," Wang Li said with a sly grin.
Confused, Xia Bingling raised an eyebrow. "Fast enough? What exactly do you have in mind?"
The sly grin on his face widened further. "Assassination," he declared, his voice dropping to a low murmur.
Xia Bingling stared at him, momentarily stunned. "Assassination?" she echoed, incredulous. "How do you propose we accomplish that?"
Wang Li's expression turned predatory. He leaned forward, his voice devoid of concern and brimming with a dark excitement. "Come with me, Matriarch. The two of us can handle this easily."
Xia Bingling's brows shot up, surprise battling with a spark of something else – an unexpected thrill. "Together?"
"Exactly," Wang Li confirmed. "We only need to eliminate eight of their strongest members – the leader, who's at the Nascent Soul Realm, and the seven late-stage Core Formation experts. The rest won't be a problem for us to handle afterwards."
He paused, letting the implication sink in. They were both Nascent Soul cultivators, Xia Bingling at the late stage and himself at the early stage. They wouldn't break a sweat taking down a handful of lesser cultivators.
"But why?" Xia Bingling found herself asking a question that surprised even herself. "Why risk yourself for the Xia Family?"
Wang Li's smile turned playful. "Think of it as an investment, Matriarch," he purred. "Isn't it only natural for me to protect the interests of the woman I love, your daughter Qingwu, and for you who is a delightful plaything of mine? "
Xia Bingling flushed a deep crimson, the words hitting her like a physical blow. His casual dismissal of their intimacy, his blatant use of her, ignited a firestorm of emotions within her. Anger, humiliation, and… a perverse thrill twisted in her gut.
Part of her wanted to lash out, to deny him the satisfaction of knowing she was affected. Another part, a darker, more hidden side, couldn't help but be intrigued by this dangerous proposal.
She stared at him, a battle raging within her eyes. Finally, she forced out a breath, her voice husky. "Fine," she conceded with a defiant edge. "But if this goes wrong, Wang Li, I won't hesitate to hold you personally responsible."
A triumphant grin spread across Wang Li's face. "Excellent," he declared, clapping his hands together with a flourish. "Let's plan the details then. We need to be swift and silent. This mission requires both our strengths."
The sun climbed higher in the sky, casting long shadows as Wang Li and Xia Bingling finalized their plan. Their voices were low and urgent, strategizing the best course of action. With the details hammered out, a tense anticipation hung in the air.
"Alright," Wang Li declared, a glint of steel in his eyes. "It's almost afternoon. Time to put this plan into action."
Fortunately, the rogue gangs' base camp surrounding the disputed herbal garden wasn't too far from the Xia Family Manor. Mounted on their respective flying swords, they embarked on the journey. The crisp air whipped through their hair as they soared through the sky. Six hours later, the target location came into view.
Lush greenery sprawled beneath them, enclosed by a shimmering barrier – the defensive formation.
Wang Li activated his Heavenly Fate Pupils, their unique ability allowing him to see through illusions and formations. A frown creased his brow. Xia Bingling had been right to worry. Three layers of formidable defensive formations encircled the garden, intricately woven to deter intruders.
He turned to Xia Bingling, his eyes intense. "Hold my hand," he instructed, his voice firm.
Xia Bingling bristled at the command, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face. However, she knew arguing would be a waste of time. With a resigned sigh, she reached out and grasped his hand, her touch cool and firm against his own.
A faint smile played on Wang Li's lips as he maneuvered his flying sword. Following the faintest energy fluctuation he could perceive, he weaved them towards the identified weakness. It was a precarious dance – one wrong move, and they'd trigger the entire formation. He could feel Xia Bingling's tight grip, a silent testament to her anxiety.
The minutes stretched into an eternity. Time seemed to slow down as they skimmed the periphery of the defensive array. His senses were on high alert, every twitch of his muscles a calculated response. Finally, after what felt like an hour (but was probably closer to thirty minutes), they breached the first layer.
Relief washed over him, a momentary wave of euphoria. But he didn't let his guard down. Two more layers remained. He repeated the process, his piloting even more precise as he had a better sense of the overall structure now. Thankfully, the second layer's weakness resided not far from the first, allowing for a relatively seamless transition.
The final layer proved the most challenging. The energy flow here was denser, more intricate. It took several minutes of careful maneuvering, testing the limits of his control, before they finally slipped through the last barrier. With a sigh of satisfaction, Wang Li deactivated his Heavenly Fate Pupils, the world returning to its normal visual state.
They landed softly within the herbal garden, a silent infiltration complete. The air was still, the only sound the chirping of unseen insects. Turning to Xia Bingling, Wang Li offered a genuine smile. "You can release my hand now, Matriarch."
Xia Bingling released his hand, her body swaying slightly from the sudden change of balance. She looked around, taking in the lush greenery of the garden. They had infiltrated it, bypassing the defenses without a sound.
Wang Li adjusted the strap of his satchel, a pouch containing several vials filled with potent poisons and silent sleep inducers. "Let's start with the easier targets," he suggested, his voice a low murmur. "Taking down the late-stage Core Formation members first will thin their ranks and make dealing with the Nascent Soul leader easier."
Xia Bingling nodded in agreement. Their combined Nascent Soul cultivation put them at a significant advantage against late-stage Core Formation experts. Splitting up would allow them to cover more ground and expedite the process.
A silent exchange of nods marked their decision. Xia Bingling disappeared into the maze of herb patches, her movements as graceful as a phantom. Wang Li followed suit, melting into the shadows cast by the buildings.
The herbal garden teemed with life, unsuspecting residents oblivious to the deadly dance about to unfold. Wang Li stalked his prey, a rogue cultivator cultivating in a secluded area. With a flick of his wrist, a vial sailed through the air, shattering on the unsuspecting man's neck. The poison worked swiftly and silently, the man collapsing without a sound.
Two down, five to go.
Meanwhile, Xia Bingling used her knowledge of the garden layout to her advantage. She identified a lone cultivator guarding a particularly rare herb and lured him away with a fabricated commotion. Ambushing him in a blind corner, she ended his life with a swift strike of her spiritual energy.
The hours ticked by, punctuated by the occasional strangled cry or muffled thud. Wang Li silently dispatched another target, a particularly burly man who was indulging in a tankard of ale. He slipped a sleep inducer into the drink, watching as the man slumped forward, oblivious to his impending demise.
Four down, three to go.
Xia Bingling found her fourth target in a secluded tent, meticulously studying a map. With a silent move, she entered the tent, intending to surprise him. But a loose floorboard betrayed her presence. The cultivator spun around, his eyes widening in shock.
Before she could react, a guttural roar erupted from his throat. "Intruder!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the otherwise quiet garden.
A wave of panic surged through Xia Bingling. Her carefully crafted plan had crumbled in an instant. The alarm would alert the entire camp, including the Nascent Soul leader. She cursed under her breath, drawing her sword with a practiced hand.
The sound of the alarm cut through the air – urgent clanging bells and frantic shouts. From his position, Wang Li heard the commotion and recognized it as Xia Bingling's location. She must have messed up.
Without hesitation, he surged forward, his speed propelled by a burst of spiritual energy. Leaving a trail of dust in his wake, he raced towards the source of the sound, a knot of dread tightening in his stomach. He couldn't afford to lose Xia Bingling, not just for the mission's sake but… well, he wouldn't admit it out loud, but he wasn't entirely heartless.
Reaching the tent, he found Xia Bingling standing in the center, her crimson blade dripping with blood, her face a mask of annoyance. However, his focus wasn't on the deceased cultivator at her feet, but on the enraged faces surrounding them.
Soon, Wang Li pushed away all the gang members surrounding that tent to approach Xia Bingling and stood next to her.
"Get out of here!" Xia Bingling stared at him. "I can hold them back!"
Wang Li ignored her, his eyes scanning the scene. Other cultivators were converging on the area, their faces contorted in a mixture of fear and fury. But the most concerning sight wasn't the approaching reinforcements; it was the figure emerging from the largest of the nearby buildings.
A tall, imposing figure clad in dark robes strode out, his aura radiating a palpable power. This was it – the Nascent Soul expert, the leader of this ragtag gang. A bead of sweat trickled down Wang Li's temple. The plan had gone sideways, leaving them facing not only the remaining late-stage Core Formation members but also a full-blown Nascent Soul cultivator. There was no time for second-guessing.
He had to act, and act fast.