Night Raven Tower Assassin

Lin Zhao had spilled blood before, but fighting to the death in his own bedroom was a first.

He stared at the curled-up corpse on the floor and reached out to remove the Ebony Night Raven Mask carved from ebony wood—the head beneath had long since been smashed to pulp by internal force, its face a bloody blur beyond recognition.

"Bad luck! I'll have to change rooms tomorrow. This place has seen blood; I won't sleep easy here."

Frowning, he nudged the corpse with his foot, his heart full of doubts. "I've never known this man. He must be an assassin hired by an enemy. But I'm merely an Entering Martial Master of fifteen or sixteen, guarding this remote Lin Family Fortress. I've never made a mortal enemy. Who would spend a fortune to hire an Entering Martial Master to kill me?"

He paced the room three times, sorting through the experiences of both lives again and again. In his past life, he had been a company employee, cautious with every word and step. In this life, after inheriting the post of Hundred Household Commander, he had walked on thin ice even more carefully—he had neither seized a noble's ore vein nor blocked a martial merchant's road to wealth. How had he invited such a deadly calamity?

After turning it over every way he could, only three possibilities remained.

The first and foremost was Daoist Zhang of the Celestial Masters' Manor. Last time, the old Daoist had come calling, demanding a century's worth of Military Supply Tribute and seeking to forcibly purchase the fortress lands and iron ore mines at a low price. Lin Zhao had refused him outright.

That old Daoist appeared gentle, but his heart was ruthless. Perhaps he had borne a grudge and secretly dispatched an assassin to silence him.

The second possibility was Duke Wei Xu Qin's faction. Back then, the Lin family's two Jiangnan properties—Furong Manor and Iron Felt Mountain—had been forcibly seized by the "Bloody Hand General" Zhou Yan and the "White Shirt General" Wang Jun under Xu Qin's command.

On the surface, they had allowed him to return to the north. In truth, they likely feared that he would one day cultivate strength equal to his father's as a Peak Grandmaster Warrior and come back to reclaim his ancestral estate.

Better to cut the grass and pull up the roots before his foundations were secure, extinguishing the Lin family bloodline altogether.

"But if it really was them, why let me leave Jiangnan Prefecture in the first place? Wouldn't it have been easier to intercept and kill me on the road? The logic simply doesn't add up." Lin Zhao stroked his chin and muttered, "Could it really have been that old Daoist Zhang?"

The third possibility was the Wild Jackal Gang.

"No." He shook his head and dismissed it. "The Wild Jackal Gang is made up of outlaws. They should have gathered their men and attacked the fortress directly. Why hire an assassin? Martial men of the greenwood have always believed in 'bright blades and open spears.' When would they resort to such underhanded tricks?"

The more he thought, the more irritated he became. He slammed a fist onto the table, and his internal force shook the teacups into clattering wildly. "I've endured to this extent, yet they still refuse to let me go? I must uncover the one behind this! Once I find out... as long as I can beat him, I'll make him pay in blood! Otherwise, I'll never know peace day or night!"

The walls of Lin Family Fortress stood twelve feet high. Estate guards patrolled day and night, and three Mystic Arm Snow Apes were kept as living sentries. Yet this assassin had slipped inside without a sound. He was not only an Entering Martial Master but also highly skilled at stealth and concealment—whoever could command such an assassin was certainly no ordinary figure.

With that thought, Lin Zhao grabbed the poisoned Tiger Fang Dagger from the table and bent down to cut open the assassin's black fitted clothes. At the man's chest, a mass of raven-shaped black qi was slowly dissipating. Countless threads of qi, as fine as hairs, had plunged into his long-stilled heart like roots.

"Hmph! An internal qi seed! As expected, an Entering Martial Master!" Lin Zhao's gaze sharpened. "Anyone capable of hiring an Entering Martial Master as an assassin either has power, wealth, or both."

As the assassin's life faded completely, that raven-shaped internal qi seed gradually dimmed into nothingness.

This was Lin Zhao's first careful observation of another martial master's internal qi seed. His own took the form of a mystic dragon, wrapped in frigid internal qi. This man's, however, resembled a black raven and carried an eerie, sinister aura. Clearly, he cultivated an unorthodox breathing exercise.

He stripped the assassin of every piece of clothing and even inspected the soles of his boots. At last, he found a palm-sized thin booklet tucked into the lining of the man's inner garments.

The booklet contained only five pages. Its cover depicted a raven shadow hidden in darkness, the ink so heavy it seemed nearly black, the style gloomy and uncanny.

"Raven Shadow Scroll." Lin Zhao read the words on the cover and casually opened it.

Its contents were half doctrine, half cultivation method. The first two pages extolled a deity called the "Netherworld Martial Venerate," claiming he governed slaughter, shadows, and concealment, serving as the martial patron god of killers and assassins.

The final three pages contained breathing exercise diagrams. The little figures posed in twisted yet nimble positions. It was precisely the "Bone Softening Technique" used by the assassin.

"Netherworld Martial Venerate? Never heard of him." Lin Zhao curled his lip dismissively.

Though faiths abounded in this high-martial Ming Dynasty, only a few were mainstream: the Three Pure Ones Martial Dao Deities revered by the imperial court; the "Mystic Heaven Martial Saint" of the Celestial Masters' Manor; the "Martial Mother Houtu" of the Earth Deity Temple; and the "Martial Lord Thunder Ancestor" of Thunderclap Pavilion—each was an Orthodox God supported by a powerful sect and countless martial masters.

Beyond those, the army worshipped "Martial Saint Guan Yu," wilderness mountain folk worshipped "Mountain God Martial Dao," and the Wild God Sect worshipped the "Wild God." Yet there had never been any title such as "Netherworld Martial Venerate."

It seemed that Night Raven Tower was merely a small underground organization. The deity it worshipped had yet to gain influence and was known only within assassin circles.

In the past, Lin Zhao had always scoffed at such mystical matters. But after witnessing the artifact-refining arts of the sorcerers and the strange beastly power of Mystic Arm Snow Apes, he could not help muttering inwardly, Since mystic dragons and snow apes like these strange beasts exist in this world, perhaps martial gods truly do exist as well?

Though he did not believe, neither did he take it lightly—as long as they did not provoke him, whatever others chose to believe had nothing to do with him.

When he flipped to the final page, Lin Zhao's eyes lit up. The diagrams for the Bone Softening Technique were astonishingly complete, clearly marking the breathing routes from novice martial master all the way to Entering Martial Master!

"Someone actually carries a complete breathing exercise around with him?" Lin Zhao could not help laughing.

Only later did he learn that this was Night Raven Tower's rule: assassins had to carry the Raven Shadow Scroll at all times. First, so they could recite prayers to the Netherworld Martial Venerate every day; second, so they could continually hone the Bone Softening Technique. This method had been created specifically for assassination. Once cultivated to the Entering Martial Master realm, it allowed one to shrink bones and alter one's shape. Combined with disguise techniques, it could let one infiltrate almost anywhere with ease.

Had the Night Raven Guest not underestimated Lin Zhao, believing him to be soft-boned and daring to attempt a close-range assassination, then with his Bone Softening Technique and stealth arts, even Lin Zhao as an Entering Martial Master might not have been able to keep him behind so easily.

Lin Zhao tucked the Raven Shadow Scroll into his robes, then collected the Night Raven Mask and Tiger Fang Dagger. He even took the assassin's packets of knockout powder and quicklime.

Then he dragged the corpse toward the Mystic Iron forge behind the fortress—the fire there had not gone out, making it perfect for destroying all evidence.

A long blade fell, chopping the body into several pieces before they were thrown into the roaring flames.

The fire crackled, and the stench of burning flesh quickly spread. Faintly, a wisp of pale black, raven-shaped qi seemed to rise from the flames, vanishing in an instant.

Lin Zhao narrowed his eyes and looked carefully. Only charred fragments of bone remained in the furnace. There was nothing unusual left.

"Heh. This Bone Softening Technique is rather more sinister than ordinary Breathing Exercises." He spoke lightly, but his heart remained calm. Reborn into this chaotic high-martial age, he had seen Mystic Arm Snow Apes and Mystic Mane Fierce Wolves. This minor anomaly was nothing worth fussing over.

Every breathing exercise he had seen so far was connected to rare birds and strange beasts: the Lin family's "Candle-Holding Mystic Dragon," the Stone Bear Guard's "Rock-Plate Giant Bear," Mystic Wolf Fortress's "Silver-Furred Frost Wolf," Duke Wei's Residence's "Mountain-Guarding Mystic Turtle," and the imperial family's "Five-Clawed Golden Dragon." Without exception, they used strange beasts as family crests and spun legends of "strange beasts bestowing cultivation methods" to flaunt the nobility of their bloodlines.

He still remembered his father saying that the Lin family's "Mystic Dragon" was a spiritual creature that brought light from chaos, a martial divine beast that saved the suffering and relieved the distressed.

But after cultivating the Mystic Wolf Breathing Technique and seeing the Night Raven Guest's raven-shaped internal qi seed, a suspicion gradually arose in Lin Zhao's heart. Could these strange beasts have been invented by people of old according to the forms taken by the internal qi of their Breathing Exercises?

This conjecture would have to wait until he had seen more cultivation methods and reached the realm of a Peak Martial Master before it could be verified.

He picked up the Tiger Fang Dagger and weighed it in his hand. It was about a foot long, with a pommel curved like a tiger fang and wrapped in non-slip copper wire. Its edge gleamed with a faint blue luster, clearly steeped in potent poison.

"This dagger is poisoned, so it must be stored carefully. Still, its craftsmanship is ordinary, mixed with only a little refined iron. With my current Third Rank perfected Martial Arts Blacksmithing skill, it won't be difficult to reforge it into a short dagger bearing a Pulse Protecting Pattern for self-defense."

He then examined the Ebony Night Raven Mask. Its inner lining was hemp cloth soaked in medicine. "This can block drugged smoke and dust. It's more practical than an ordinary face covering."

Finally, he glanced at the packet of quicklime, his brows drawing tightly together. "This move is vicious. If quicklime gets into one's eyes, even an Entering Martial Master would instantly lose all fighting strength. Fortunately, I reacted quickly last night and gave that assassin no chance to act. Otherwise, it truly would have been dangerous."

—After inspecting the assassin's belongings, Lin Zhao understood more clearly than ever that the mastermind was no ordinary person. "When Uncle Zhao returns from the Northern Garrison, I must ask him properly. In his youth, he traveled north and south and served as a military martial master. He has seen much and knows much. Perhaps he knows the details of this Night Raven Tower."

Unable to sleep all night, Lin Zhao simply sat on the bed and circulated the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique. The bedroom was far too conspicuous, with bright windows and wooden doors. It truly was not a place fit for peaceful rest.

He decided that very day to dig a hidden chamber beneath the administrative hall. Only Zhao Tieying would know its location. He would stock it with enough rations and Ink Flood Dragon Body Tempering Pills, then set up several Mystic Iron mechanisms. From then on, he would sleep there at night.

In troubled times, every additional measure of caution meant another measure of life.

As dawn began to break, Lin Zhao finished his cultivation, pushed open the door, and had barely reached the training ground when he saw a group of estate guards gathered around a corpse on the ground. It was Wang Er, the guard silenced by the assassin last night. His body had already frozen stiff.

"Young Master! Wang Er was killed while guarding the western wall last night!" The captain of the estate guards was deathly pale, his voice trembling. He had never imagined that someone could kill within Lin Family Fortress without making a sound. It was more terrifying than an enemy assaulting the fortress.

Lin Zhao swept his gaze over the blade wound on the corpse's neck and immediately understood, though his face remained impassive. "Cremate Wang Er first. By fortress custom, send his family two shi of wheat and five taels of silver as compensation. Say that he died in the line of duty defending the fortress. From now on, his family will be exempt from all corvée labor."

After giving the instructions to the steward, he turned toward the estate guards. Internal qi surged into his voice, making every man's eardrums ache. "No matter who the murderer is, I will investigate until the truth is laid bare and give Wang Er—and every one of you—an explanation! Starting tonight, double the patrols. Give every man a Mystic Iron Short Knife, and have the Mystic Arm Snow Apes patrol the walls in three shifts! Whoever dares slack off, do not blame my Three Talents Slash for failing to recognize friend from foe!"

He did not mention last night's assassination at all. After what had happened, he no longer dared trust anyone lightly. There might well be an assassin's accomplice inside the fortress. If word leaked that he had already been prepared, the next time, perhaps more than one assassin would come.

Rather than disrupting Lin Zhao's rhythm, the assassination made him even more eager to increase his strength.

Now that both the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique and Mystic Wolf Breathing Technique had reached bottlenecks, he devoted all his attention to the Three Talents Slash. If the Three Talents Slash had not been on the verge of breaking through to the Fourth Tier last night, and if his internal force had not been strong enough, he might not have subdued the Night Raven Guest in a single strike.

He had fully awakened to the truth: in this chaotic high-martial age, strength was the sole foundation on which one could stand and survive.

Had he not broken through to Entering Martial Master, even if he had noticed the assassin, he could only have stretched out his neck and awaited slaughter. It was the solid internal qi of the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique, the agile footwork of the Mystic Wolf Breathing Technique, and the Three Talents Slash on the verge of advancement that had allowed him to snatch back his life.

I chose the right path! Lin Zhao rejoiced inwardly. From now on, I must cultivate more Breathing Exercises. I must raise my strength, speed, sinews and bones, and endurance across the board. I must learn more life-saving techniques and become a true, solid martial hardman!

Even if the Breathing Exercises are not high-grade, I'll pile them up until I forge a body that blades and spears cannot pierce!

When I meet a powerful enemy again someday, I'll make sure he cannot even touch the corner of my clothes!

Over the next two days, Lin Zhao buried himself in the training ground, madly honing the Three Talents Slash. He swung his sword more than a thousand times each day. When tired, he swallowed an Ink Flood Dragon Body Tempering Pill to restore his internal qi; when hungry, he gnawed on a few wheat cakes. He did not rest at all.

That morning, just as the rising sun leaped over the peak of Qixia Mountain, Lin Zhao stood at the center of the training ground and drew a deep breath. Internal qi surged through his body like a tide toward his right arm. The Cold Steel Frost Condensation Sword in his hand hummed, and a faint mystic dragon aura shimmered over its blade.

Three Talents Slash!

He shouted low and slashed out with all his might. A sharp whoosh tore through the air, and as the blade cut forward, rings of visible internal-force ripples actually spread through the air!

In the next instant, internal force even more tyrannical than ordinary shocking force surged through the sword and smashed viciously into a half-finger-thick Mystic Iron plate.

Crack!

The Mystic Iron plate burst apart as though made of paper, rolling outward from the sword tip into a fist-sized gap. The cut was smooth as a mirror, while the Frost Condensation Sword continued humming as though celebrating the joy of its breakthrough.

[Three Talents Slash Proficiency +5]

[Three Talents Slash has broken through to the Fourth Tier! New effect unlocked: Basic Entangling Force (internal force can wrap around a blade, dispersing the internal force in an enemy's weapon during slashes and increasing armor-piercing ability by 30%)]

Lin Zhao suddenly raised his head, wild joy bursting from his eyes. "Entangling Force! Hahaha! I've cultivated Entangling Force too!"

This was precisely the ability Zhao Tieying had described as "internal force penetrating armor." With Entangling Force, ordinary Mystic Iron plate armor was as thin paper beneath his sword. Even if an Entering Martial Master wore armor, he could not block this strike!

What excited him even more was that he had mastered this move in only three years—whereas Zhao Tieying had spent a full decade cultivating Entangling Force back then!

"If not for the Proficiency Panel's help, with my aptitude, I would need at least fifteen years to touch the threshold of Entangling Force. I'm far inferior to Uncle Zhao." Lin Zhao was not the least bit arrogant, his heart clear as a mirror. "Everything I have today comes from this panel's unceasing accumulation day after day. It is absolutely not because my talent is extraordinary."

With a thought, the Proficiency Panel appeared before his eyes. Every line of text revealed solid progress:

-Lin Zhao

-Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique: Fourth Tier (231/20000), effect: Basic Mystic Dragon Defense (qi covering the body can block heavy blunt strikes and weaken injuries from sharp weapons)

-Mystic Wolf Breathing Technique: Third Tier (450/10000), effect: Basic Silver Frost Steps (footwork agility increased by 20%, silent movement across snow)

-Three Talents Slash: Fourth Tier (1/20000), effects: Advanced Shocking Force (internal force can shatter Mystic Iron), Basic Entangling Force (disperses force and pierces armor)

-Martial Arts Blacksmithing: Third Tier (6897/10000), effect: Guaranteed Exquisite (Pulse Protecting Pattern compatibility +30%)

-Beast Taming: Third Tier (Perfected), effect: Heart of Beast Taming (can command Mystic Arm Snow Apes to fight in coordination)