A group of Moon Guardians gathered around him.
"Captain, are you alright?"
"Who was that expert?" Seeing the blood dripping from Long Er’s wounds, all of them showed concerned expressions.
"It's nothing, just a minor injury. I will be fine after some rest." Long Er's voice resonated with a deep timbre. "Third Brother, go notify the city guard immediately. Launch a citywide manhunt for this man."
"Fourth Brother, gather your men and scour the area for any traces of the assassin. Question any witnesses."
"Fifth Brother, investigate whether the victims are connected to the Bloodwolf Gang or not."
"Sixth Brother, visit the overseer and make arrangements to reassure the guests immediately." Long Er issued a flurry of commands in rapid succession. Apart from his duty as a guard captain, he held much authority within Moonlit Haven as a first-rate Adept.
"Understood!" The Moon Guardians respectfully acknowledged before quickly dispersing.
Long Er remained in place, deep in thought as he recalled the recent battle. Earlier, this master of stealth weapons had a chance to kill me.
If the final throwing knife had landed just three inches higher, he would have died without a doubt. An error in judgment? Long Er did not believe such a skilled stealth weapons expert would make such a rookie mistake.
There was only one possibility!
He didn’t want to kill me? But why? Long Er slightly furrowed his brows. Could this intruder be a formidable powerhouse who infiltrated the city? Perhaps he deliberately avoided provoking the wrath of my Moonlit Haven?
Eliminating an expert of this caliber using only stealth weapons is indeed no easy feat. Wu Yuan quietly walked in the darkness. At first, Wu Yuan did not want to fight the man to the death. But the opponent had pushed him too far, sparking his killing intent. He was no pushover, and retaliated with his strongest stealth weapon technique: Triple Knife Volley!
Under normal circumstances, Wu Yuan could execute this technique three times in succession. However, the previous fights had taken their toll on his body, pushing him to his limit. His fingers had trembled ever so slightly when he threw the last knife, causing it to veer off course. Instead of striking Long Er's head, it found its mark on his chest.
Fortunately, the expert from the Moonlit Haven was sensible enough not to pressure me further. Wu Yuan's frosty gaze flickered. Otherwise, as long as I managed to create some distance between us, the blood mist would have greatly alleviated my fatigue with time, allowing me to reenter the fray.
When Long Er appeared, Wu Yuan instinctively drew upon the blood-red mist billowing out from the Black Pagoda, rapidly assimilating it into his weary body to dispel exhaustion. This was the blood-red mist's most formidable attribute. As long as he continued to dispatch his enemies, Wu Yuan's endurance in battle would reach unimaginable heights.
Having evaded the danger, the mission can be considered complete. Wu Yuan pressed onward without slowing his pace.
Wu Yuan bolted several li in a single breath. After several breaths, he confirmed that no one was on his trail. Then, he circled a wide perimeter before determining his course and stealthily making his way toward the Pleiades Guild's base.
On the way there, Wu Yuan caught glimpses of city guards patrolling the streets with torches in hand, enforcing martial law, and rounding up the streets. Their efforts were destined to be in vain.
I’m close. Wu Yuan caught sight of the secluded street from afar and silently dropped down from the building.
He entered the unassuming coffin shop.
Deep beneath the concealed courtyard of the Pleiades Guild's headquarters, an intricate network of tunnels extended into unknown depths. Within these subterranean passages lay several sizable secret chambers.
Inside one of these hidden chambers, Custodian Qin and a young man cloaked in black robes were gathered, surrounded by scrolls.
"Custodian Qin, if I understand correctly, this Thousand Mountains possesses the potential to attain a four-star rank?" inquired the young man, his voice deep and somber.
"Yes," Custodian Qin responded solemnly, "He definitely has the strength of a first-rate Adept."
"Is that so?" The young man in black robes remarked dispassionately, "To be a four-star assassin, one requires the strength of a first-rate Adept, but not every first-rate Adept can become a four-star member."
"The strength of an assassin is but one facet, the key lies in mastering the art of assassination."
"Many affiliate members possess great strength, yet they're novices in actual assassination," the young man in black robes shook his head.
"Indeed, Branch Master," Custodian Qin concurred. In the realm of assassination, success hinged on killing one’s target!
"I've read the mission that Thousand Mountains accepted, he seems to be a rather conceited man," the young man said softly, "He dared to take on a three-star task, one of significant difficulty at that."
"I attempted to dissuade him," said Custodian Qin said helplessly.
"What do you think are the odds of him completing the task?" the young man in the black robe asked with a smirk.
"Between 30-50%," Custodian Qin hesitated, "However, even if he fails, his chances of survival should be around 80%."
"80%? It all depends on whether Thousand Mountains is a fool," the young man in black robes said indifferently, "If he brashly attempts an assassination inside the Moonlit Haven, he is doomed, regardless of the outcome"
"Doomed?" Custodian Qin was taken aback.
"I have just received news of Iron Tower Long Er's return last night," the young man in the black robe said lightly.
Custodian Qin's pupils contracted. Iron Tower Long Er? He was one of the top five experts in the Southdream Province! He had returned?
"Thousand Mountains is in peril," Custodian Qin's brows furrowed, "I hope he heeds my advice and patiently waits for Wang Xian to depart from the Moonlit Haven."
"Let's wait and see, we'll hear news in a few days," the young man in the black robe nonchalantly said.
As the two conversed, someone knocked on their door.
"What's the matter?" Custodian Qin opened the door.
"Begging your pardon, Branch Master, Custodian," the voice of the masked man trembled with disbelief. "Thousand Mountains has returned."
"He claims to have completed his initiation mission and slain Bald Wolf Wang Xian."
"What?" Custodian Qin and the youth in black robes exchanged incredulous glances.
"You're certain there’s no mistake?" Custodian Qin asked with some skepticism.
"It should be correct, we have verified the face on the decapitated head," the masked man replied. "Moreover, the city guard is in uproar, it seems that something big just occurred in the Moonlit Haven, but the full reports have yet to arrive."
Custodian Qin and the black-robed youth exchanged another glance.
"How long has it been since he departed for the mission?" The youth's voice was a slow, deliberate whisper.
"Only three hours," Custodian Qin replied, his voice low.
The two fell silent, their minds racing. Was it possible to complete a three-star mission of such difficulty in just three hours?
"What? Isn't this the head of Sword Trickster Bai Yuxian, the second family head of the Bloodwolf Gang?" Custodian Qin exclaimed in shock. His eyes locked onto the masked Wu Yuan, then shifted to the second severed head held aloft.
"That's right." Wu Yuan spoke with detached nonchalance. "When I entered the Moonlit Haven to locate Bald Wolf Wang Xian, Bai Yuxian happened to be present as well, so I killed them both. I thought he might be of some use, so I brought back both heads."
Custodian Qin struggled to believe such an audacious claim, yet after carefully inspecting the face of the severed head, he could no longer deny the truth. He gave Wu Yuan a deep look.
"Something's not right." Custodian Qin remembered something, compelling him to inquire, "You mentioned infiltrating Moonlit Haven to execute your targets. Did you not encounter Iron Tower Long Er?"
"Long Er? Iron Tower Long Er, ranked 136th in the Jiang Continent Human Rankings?" Wu Yuan slightly furrowed his brows, "Is he a burly man who carries a crimson saber?"
"Indeed." Custodian Qin answered.
"I did encounter him. After I killed Bai Yuxian, we had a fierce fight. I feared that drawing the battle out over a prolonged period would attract the attention of the high-level martial artists in Cloudstride Sect, so I only had time to injure him before leaving the scene," Wu Yuan casually recounted.
"Had I been granted more time, I would have brought back his head as well." Wu Yuan spoke with an air of indifference, as if Iron Tower Long Er was hardly worth mentioning.
Custodian Qin was speechless, his mind spinning as he stared at Wu Yuan. He had held Wu Yuan in high regard before, but now he realized he had still sorely underestimated this newcomer.
Even Iron Tower Long Er was defeated?
Observing Wu Yuan closely, Custodian Qin couldn't detect a single scratch on him. The more he pondered, the more unfathomable he found Wu Yuan.
"Thousand Mountains, this matter is of utmost importance. I must report to the branch master," Custodian Qin solemnly declared. “Wait here for a moment."
"Very well." Wu Yuan nodded.
Custodian Qin hurriedly departed, leaving Wu Yuan to savor his tea.
The master of the Southdream branch of the Pleiades Guild? Wu Yuan's eyes flickered with curiosity as he quietly spread out his soul sense.
Within the hidden underground chamber.
"Bai Yuxian is dead, and even Long Er is wounded?" The young man in black robes was equally astounded upon hearing Custodian Qin's report. "Just how strong is this Thousand Mountains? Could he possibly be a Savant expert?"
"Branch Master, if his claims hold true..." Custodian Qin lowered his voice, "Even if he hasn't reached the level of a Savant expert, I'm afraid he is not far from it."
"Such formidable experts are unheard of within my Southdream branch," he lamented.
The young man in the black robe merely nodded slightly. First-rate Adepts? There were a few in the Southdream branch, including the branch master himself. But could they slay Bai Yuxian, injure Long Er, and leave unscathed? None of them could achieve such a feat!
"Custodian Qin, lead the way. I wish to meet him in person," the black-robed youth softly voiced, "Such an expert is of great importance."
Branch Master Qing? Wu Yuan looked at the black-robed man that Custodian Qin brought over.
Despite the mask concealing the black-robed man’s face, the pair of eyes revealed through the holes were enough to instill fear in anyone.
Custodian Qin stepped aside, allowing the two to speak.
"I have been informed of the situation by Custodian Qin. You have done an excellent job, Thousand Mountains," the black-robed man spoke with a gentle voice.
"Many thanks for your commendation, Branch Master," Wu Yuan replied indifferently.
"You have completed the initiation mission. According to our rules, you are entitled to either 80,000 silver taels or 40,000 merits!" Branch Master Qing announced.
"Additionally, as you have killed Bai Yuxian, a four-star mission within our branch, you can receive 240,000 silver taels or 120,000 merits."
"Though you didn't directly take on the task, you still brought back his head. Hence, I will consider the mission complete by my authority as branch master."
"However, there will be a deduction of ten percent for intelligence fees. In total, you can receive 288,000 silver taels or 144,000 merits."
"Now, the choice is yours. Would you prefer silver taels or merits?"