Killing a Silver-Rank Night Raven Tower Assassin

Lin Zhao left Zhao Zhong's small courtyard and turned towards Xuanyao Tavern on the street corner.

The night rain had just stopped, and the bluestone flagstone road of Northern Garrison City was reflecting a cold, damp sheen. Moss grew thickly at the base of the walls, and a few faded short tunics hung from the crisscrossing clotheslines overhead. Broken oil-paper lanterns swayed in the wind, casting dim, yellow halos that stretched shadows long and short.

Just as he turned into a deep, narrow alley, he felt a chill on the back of his neck, as if a gaze like needles was piercing him—it was the martial intuition honed by years of life-or-death combat.

He spun around abruptly, but only saw the afterimage of a stray cat darting past the base of the wall. The area was deserted, with only the wind rustling fallen leaves.

His internal alarm bells rang loudly. Lin Zhao secretly circulated the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique, and the Mystic Dragon Qi Seed in his heart pulsed with his heartbeat. Wisps of black internal energy flowed through his meridians into his arms.

If one were to lift his outer robe at this moment, they would see the internal energy beneath the cloth armor coiling around his forearms like a living creature, fierce as dormant dragons—this was the phenomenon that appeared only when a top-tier Breathing Technique was cultivated to the Entering Martial Master realm.

"Whoosh!"

A sound of air being torn apart suddenly rang out. Lin Zhao looked up to see a black shadow lunging down from a tiled house on the side of the alley, a poisoned Tiger Fang Dagger in hand, gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light, aiming straight for his face!

The attack was as swift as a shooting star. He didn't have time to draw his Frost Condensation sword, so he could only raise his arm to parry.

"Screech—"

The coarse cloth outer robe split open with a sound. The Mystic Iron leaves embedded in the cloth armor scattered like shattered jade. The dagger's sharp edge grazed his skin, making a crisp sound like a blade cutting leather.

Lin Zhao felt a sharp pain in his arm, and his entire body was sent flying by the immense force, crashing heavily into a pile of garbage at the end of the alley. The stench of decay assaulted his senses, startling a swarm of rats into scattering.

"Good skill!" he gritted out, pushing himself up. Before he could even assess his injuries, three poisoned throwing knives tore through the air, their cold glints reflecting the residual light of the lanterns, sealing off all escape routes.

Lin Zhao urgently circulated the Mystic Wolf Breathing Technique, and the silvery-white internal energy of the Mystic Wolf Qi Seed surged into his legs. His body suddenly accelerated, shooting out of the garbage pile like an arrow released from a bow, scattering rotten vegetables and broken baskets everywhere.

Internal energy covered his palm like a shield. He swung his hand, batting away the throwing knives. With a "crackling" sound, the knives embedded themselves in the bluestone wall. The blue poison on the arrowheads seeped into the cracks in the bricks, leaving dark spots.

"Clang!"

The Frost Condensation longsword was drawn with a ringing sound. Lin Zhao pushed off the ground with his toes and lunged forward. His sword stance was like the Three Talents standing side-by-side, the "Three Talents Slash" he had practiced diligently for years.

The Qi Force generated by the sword blade surprisingly contained Entangling Force and Shocking Force—this was his unique technique, integrating the internal energies of both Breathing Techniques. The black Mystic Dragon Qi focused on defense, while the silver-white Mystic Wolf Qi focused on speed. The interweaving of these two internal energies made his sword moves both powerful and agile.

The black shadow hastily blocked with its dagger. With a crisp "clang," its wrist split open, and the dagger nearly slipped from its grasp. It let out a muffled groan, "What kind of evil force is this? How can a low-level Martial Master possess such internal energy?"

Before it could recover, its wrist twisted sharply, and the dagger thrust towards Lin Zhao's chest like a viper's tongue. The move was cunning and vicious, the signature "Netherworld Stab" of a Night Raven Tower assassin!

Only then did Lin Zhao see the attacker's appearance: a black night-traveling suit clung tightly to its body, and its face was covered by a bronze Black Raven Mask, identical to the assassin who had attacked him half a year ago!

"Night Raven Tower! It's you again!" Lin Zhao's eyes turned bloodshot. This assassin organization specialized in eliminating dissidents for the powerful. Their previous assassination attempt had failed, and they were still haunting him.

He didn't have time to ponder how his whereabouts had been exposed. He pushed both Breathing Techniques to their limit, internal energy steaming from his entire body, breaking free from the constraints of his robes—martial artists all judged realms by their internal energy. Such dense internal energy was usually possessed only by mid-level Martial Masters who had cultivated for over ten years.

Behind the mask, Zhou Bo'an's heart was greatly shaken. "The intelligence said this Lin Zhao is only sixteen and just entered the low-level Martial Master realm. How can he have such profound internal breath? Could it be that I've killed the wrong person?" But the arrow was already on the string. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, "Who cares who he is! I'll take his head back and report, and that five thousand taels of gold reward is what's real!"

The dagger thrusts came like a fierce storm, each strike aimed at a vital point, fully displaying the ruthlessness of a Night Raven Tower silver-ranked assassin.

However, Lin Zhao's basic swordplay had long since reached perfection. His parries, deflections, and slashes were executed in one fluid motion, even more seamless than Zhou Bo'an, a veteran who had been immersed in the martial path for thirty years—the advantage of the Proficiency Panel was evident at this moment. Every move was precise to the extreme, with no wasted motion.

"A mere fledgling!" Zhou Bo'an cursed inwardly. His body suddenly became elusive like a ghost, using the shadows in the alley to evade and counterattack. He pushed the Shadow Leopard Breathing Technique to its limit; his movement speed was comparable to the renowned "Trace of Snow Without a Mark" in the martial world.

In his opinion, although Lin Zhao's internal force was strong, his movement technique was ultimately his weakness. As long as he could drag it out until the opponent's internal energy was depleted, victory would be his.

But he hadn't expected that Lin Zhao had already cultivated the Mystic Wolf Breathing Technique. The Mystic Wolf Qi Seed was inherently swift, and with the "Rushing Wolf" effect, his speed was actually no less than his!

What was even more deadly was the Entangling Force of the "Three Talents Slash"—every time the sword and dagger collided, Lin Zhao's internal energy would follow the dagger, entangling his arm and making his meridians numb, precisely the nemesis of a fast sword.

"Seeking death!" Lin Zhao sneered. The Mystic Dragon Qi Seed erupted suddenly, and black internal energy covered his palm like liquid. He actually reached out and grabbed the incoming dagger!

"How dare you!" Zhou Bo'an was so shocked he almost lost his soul. He had never seen such a brave act of disarming an opponent empty-handed in his thirty years of roaming the martial world. "This dagger is coated with Seven Absolute Snake Venom; it can corrode even Mystic Iron armor. You are seeking your own death!"

Blood dripped from Lin Zhao's fingers, but his eyes became even sharper—he was determined to capture this scoundrel today and find out who was behind it all!

His five fingers exerted force abruptly. Zhou Bo'an felt a sharp pain in his wrist and could no longer grip the dagger. He had no choice but to let go and abandon his weapon. If he delayed any longer, he feared he would be dragged along with the blade.

"Madman! He's truly gone mad!" Zhou Bo'an was both shocked and enraged. He had used all his skills but could not defeat the opponent. Now that his weapon was lost, how could he dare to linger?

He rolled to dodge the longsword, pushed off the wall with his toes, and leaped onto the rooftop like a gibbon. The roof tiles creaked and rattled as he stepped on them, and in a flash, he was about to disappear into the night.

This fellow's movement technique was too fast. Lin Zhao quickly pursued him to the open area at the alley entrance. He saw the black figure sprinting along the continuous tiled roofs, about to dart into another dark alley.

His gaze deepened. He picked up the Tiger Fang Dagger from the ground and rubbed the Mystic Iron arrowhead fiercely against the blade—this was a quick-witted tactic he had learned from Zhao Tieying in the army, using a poisoned blade to sharpen the arrowhead, making it capable of piercing armor and delivering poison.

He drew his ox-horn bow until it was as full as the moon. As the bowstring vibrated, Lin Zhao poured all his Mystic Wolf internal energy into the arrow—the silver-white internal energy attached itself to the arrowhead, making the arrow fly even faster.

Just as the black figure was about to leap into the dark alley, he suddenly released the string: "Take this!"

The arrow whistled through the air like thunder, chasing after him with a sharp howl.

Zhou Bo'an, on the rooftop, let out a scream. Blood spurted from his shoulder, and he fell to the ground like a broken kite, crashing heavily onto the bluestone road. A crack appeared in his mask.

On the palm of Lin Zhao's hand, which had been cut by the dagger, a numbing and itchy sensation had already appeared, spreading along his meridians towards his forearm—he inwardly shivered, knowing that the Seven Absolute Snake Venom was taking effect.

In his previous life, such potent venom would require an antidote, but in this high-martial-arts world, only internal energy could expel poison, along with detoxification pills.

Daring not to delay, he circulated his Mystic Dragon Qi Seed. Black internal energy, like fine threads, enveloped the infected blood, forcefully expelling it from the wound, where it splattered on the ground, forming dark purple bloodstains.

He then took the water skin from his waist and repeatedly washed the wound with clean water—fortunately, when he had circulated internal energy to protect his body earlier, it had blocked most of the venom's power. The wound was not deep, and the amount of poison absorbed was limited.

Moreover, the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique itself had detoxification effects. The Mystic Dragon Qi Seed in his heart trembled slightly, continuously consuming internal energy and converting it into "Pure and Turbid Qi," which swept through his meridians like a cleansing, dispelling the last traces of numbness and itching.

In just a moment, his palm regained its sensation, although his face had become somewhat pale due to the excessive exertion.

He simply wrapped the wound with a strip of cloth and swallowed a piece of unleavened bread to replenish his energy. Lin Zhao slipped out of the alley under the cover of night, his figure like a ghost trailing behind Zhou Bo'an—he knew very well that when the assassin was hit by the arrow, the Seven Absolute Snake Venom on the arrowhead must have also contaminated his wound. Although he didn't know if the other party carried a detoxification pill, as a silver-ranked assassin of the Night Raven Tower, his cultivation was at least mid-level Martial Master. This amount of poison should not be fatal.

With that arrow, he had intended to pierce the other party's heart, but the assassin's perception of danger was far beyond ordinary people. At the critical moment, he instinctively dodged sideways, narrowly avoiding a vital blow.

"He's been shot and poisoned; this is when he's at his weakest." A cold glint flashed in Lin Zhao's eyes. He pushed his Mystic Wolf Step to its limit, his figure becoming a mere blur in the night—tonight, this threat would be eliminated!

The secluded courtyard at the end of the alley was as silent as a tomb. Zhou Bo'an stumbled into the courtyard, propping himself against the wall. He bolted the door from the inside and wedged it shut with a Mystic Iron bar before slumping to the ground, clutching his back.

The arrowhead was deeply embedded below his left shoulder blade, barely half an inch from his heart. Blood had already soaked through his black martial arts uniform, forming a dark red stream on the ground.

"Damn Lin Zhao! He's a master archer! Why did that damned intel fail to mention his archery was this formidable!" Zhou Bo'an cursed through gritted teeth, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

He was a silver-ranked assassin from Night Raven Tower, ordered to assassinate this minor Centurion from Lin Family Fortress. He had thought Lin Zhao was merely a spoiled brat relying on his family's influence, who, even if he knew some martial arts, would be no match for a mid-level Martial Master like himself.

Who would have thought the opponent not only possessed profound internal energy but also possessed such divine archery skills? If he hadn't reacted in time, he would have died on the spot.

"Fortunately, he's been hit by the Seven Absolute Snake Venom; he must be weakened now. Once I remove the arrowhead and apply the wound medicine, I'll go back and finish him off!" A ruthless glint flashed in Zhou Bo'an's eyes. Enduring the pain, he pressed down hard on the fletching of the arrowhead with his left hand and gave a forceful shove—with a squelch, the barbed Mystic Iron arrowhead pierced through his right ribcage, bringing with it a foul-smelling bloody froth.

The pain surged like a tide, and his vision went black, almost causing him to faint. Yet, a sinister smile curled his lips as he gritted his teeth, "I'm a silver-ranked assassin from Night Raven Tower, after all. This wound won't kill me!"

As he struggled to rise, he felt his body stiffen—a cold numbness was spreading from his chest. The Mystic Leopard Qi Seed, pressed against his heart, vibrated violently, as if resisting the poison's invasion.

"No! It's the Seven Absolute Snake Venom!" Zhou Bo'an's face contorted in shock. He quickly held his breath and concentrated, suppressing the churning Blood Essence. He knew better than anyone that although a mid-level Martial Master could expel poison with internal energy, strong emotions would only accelerate the poison's attack on the heart. Once the poison entered the heart's channels, even the highest cultivation would be useless.

"Netherworld Martial Venerate above, protect your subordinate through this ordeal!" he prayed fervently. The Mystic Leopard internal energy in his dantian surged like a stream, flowing through his meridians and coiling around the poison, slowly guiding it towards the wound.

This process was more perilous than removing the arrowhead. With every bit of internal energy he circulated, his chest felt as if it were being pricked by needles. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead, hitting the ground and leaving damp spots.

After an unknown period, with a mouthful of black blood spewing from the wound, Zhou Bo'an finally gasped for air, his face as pale as paper.

He staggered to retrieve Night Raven Tower's secret "Detoxification Pill" and swallowed it. Then, he thickly applied wound medicine to the injury. As an assassin, carrying life-saving medicine was commonplace. However, even after the pill entered his stomach, it only alleviated his discomfort by thirty percent. He surmised that the intertwined poison and injuries had greatly reduced the medicine's efficacy.

"Hoo... I've managed to save my life. Netherworld Martial Venerate has indeed protected me..." He leaned against the wall, panting. Before he could finish speaking, a deafening "BOOM" echoed from outside the courtyard gate—the heavy wooden door had been kicked flying. Amidst the flying wood chips, a burly figure, exuding white mist, stood at the entrance. He adjusted the Rakshasa mask on his face, his cold eyes fixed on Zhou Bo'an. It was Lin Zhao, who should have been succumbing to the potent poison!

"You?! How could you..." Zhou Bo'an's pupils contracted, and he nearly jumped up in shock. He had clearly seen Lin Zhao ingest the Seven Absolute Snake Venom with his own eyes. How could he be standing here completely unharmed?

His answer was four whistling arrows.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Four arrows fired in rapid succession, like shooting stars chasing the moon, too fast for the eye to follow. They shot towards his arms and the knees of his legs.

Zhou Bo'an had just expelled the poison, and his internal energy was largely depleted. How could he possibly dodge?

With several dull thuds, the Mystic Iron arrowheads pierced through bone and embedded deeply in the ground, pinning his limbs firmly to the bluestone tiles.

"Ah—!"

A piercing scream tore through the night sky. Zhou Bo'an's limbs throbbed with excruciating pain, rendering him unable to stand. He collapsed with a thump, his limbs twisted at grotesque angles, his eyes filled with horror and unwillingness.

The Rakshasa mask slowly approached, casting a shadow over Zhou Bo'an's face. The voice from beneath the mask was bone-chillingly cold: "Speak. Who hired Night Raven Tower to assassinate me? Tell me the truth, and I'll grant you a quick death."

Lin Zhao stepped on his chest, the Mystic Iron spikes on his boot digging into the flesh, making it hard for him to breathe. "If you don't speak, I don't mind showing you whether an assassin without his manhood can survive."

"You... you lunatic!" Zhou Bo'an was both shocked and enraged. Just as he was about to curse, he heard a crisp "crack"—his pupils contracted, the color drained from his face, and excruciating pain shot up from his lower body. His vision went black, and he almost bit through his teeth.

"Ah—! I'll talk! I'll talk!" He finally broke down, his voice cracking with tears. "I really don't know who the employer is! Night Raven Tower has always operated in secrecy. Assassins only deal with the organization's brokers and never know the employer's identity! That's right, the broker who dealt with me will come to this courtyard tomorrow morning to collect the final payment. If you want to ask, ask him! If I've lied even half a word, may lightning strike me! Please... give me a quick death!"

His heart turned to ash—his limbs were crippled, rendering him a broken man. His lower body had been injured, and he was no longer a man. Living like this was more agonizing than death.

Lin Zhao's eyes remained unfazed. With a swing of his Cold Moon Sword, Zhou Bo'an's head rolled to the ground, his eyes wide open in disbelief.

He then dragged the dismembered body to the woodshed, piled firewood on top, and set it ablaze. In the roaring flames, the mangled remains gradually turned to ash, leaving no trace behind.

Afterward, he meticulously searched the courtyard and finally found a hidden compartment beneath the sleeping mat. Inside was a locked Mystic Iron chest.

Circulating his Mystic Dragon internal energy to his fingertips, he sliced through the lock chain like a sharp blade. With a clang, the iron chest sprang open—dazzling golden light rushed out, almost blinding him. The chest was lined with red silk, piled high with over a hundred taels of gleaming gold ingots, and a stack of silver notes with a denomination of one hundred taels each. The total amounted to over twenty thousand taels!

Looking at the chest full of gold and silver, Lin Zhao's breathing quickened. A look of ecstasy flashed in his eyes: "This counter-assassination has not only eliminated a threat but also yielded this windfall. Truly, fortune favors the bold! With this money, buying Pangolin Dragon Essence and training cavalry is one step closer!"