Impersonating a Baxia Dark Guard

The stinging pain in my back still lingered. Lin Zhao touched the hideous hole in the Dragon Pattern Armor on his body, his fingertips brushing against the cracked iron rings of the Fine Iron Chainmail lining. That Mystic Shadow's Mystic Iron dagger, tempered with poison, had actually broken through his four layers of defense. Was this the true qi condensation technique of a Grandmaster Warrior in the Heavenly Gang Realm?

"Although that old ghost's strength isn't as good as Baxia's, his precise control over detached true qi is more troublesome than Baxia's brute Blood Essence," Lin Zhao clenched his fist, Mystic Dragon True Qi circulating rapidly within him, suppressing the lingering fear. "Heart Guardian Seal, soft armor, Dragon Pattern Armor, chainmail – four layers of defense couldn't withstand a single blow. If not for my Mystic Dragon Aura being thick enough to directly counter the residual true qi, I'd probably be dead by now."

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, "As expected, high profit comes with high risk. I was too hasty when snatching the Dragon Yuan just now." The bone-chilling premonition he felt while climbing the Fine Iron railing of the training ground still made his scalp tingle – if not for the early warning from the Blood Poison Spider Technique's Intuitive Awareness, he might not have been able to activate the Heart Guardian Seal, his trump card, in time.

"That plain white shield looked fragile, but it actually absorbed seventy percent of the true qi's force. Otherwise, the dagger would have already pierced my heart," Lin Zhao steadied himself, his eyes regaining their sharpness. "I wore the Rakshasa mask in the chaos and used the Bone Softening Technique to alter my appearance and shrink my bones, so naturally, no one recognized me. When it's time to use a trump card, you have to be decisive. I can't just wait to die out of fear of exposure – in this Oirat capital, strength is the foundation of survival."

Tucking the Dragon Yuan securely into the cowhide secret pouch he wore close to his body, Lin Zhao quickly returned to the courtyard he had rented in the outer city.

As he turned into the alley, he saw flames soaring in the distance, the sounds of fighting and screams carried by the wind – Lanting Holy City had completely descended into chaos. The rebels and Fierce Wind Guards under Baxia had already clashed, and the gangs in the outer city were taking advantage of the situation, charging towards the inner city with their blades.

Those ruffians and martial artists who, in the past, dared not lift their heads under the strict laws of the "Guardian General of the Nation" and the Fierce Wind Guard, had all emerged now.

"I need to pack up quickly. I can't stay here any longer." Lin Zhao flipped into the courtyard, quickly packing his Cold Iron forging tools and the Green Falcon Technique manual. He then took out the Xuan Yao Pavilion Master Craftsman token. "But before I leave, I have to pay a visit to the Minister of Revenue, Ling Song's mansion – that Venerable Dragon Yuan Divine Statue cannot fall into the hands of the rebels like this."

He placed the Rakshasa mask on his face, covering most of his features.

Lin Zhao darted onto the rooftops like a civet cat, using the smoke and the cover of night to speed towards the Minister of Revenue's official residence in the inner city. The rebel uprising was a perfect opportunity to fish in troubled waters. If he missed this chance, it would be as difficult as reaching the heavens to approach Ling Song's heavily guarded mansion again.

Outside Lanting City, at the Mass Grave Hill's mourning hall, crows cawed noisily on the withered trees, the stench of decay mixing with the smell of blood, carried far and wide.

A pale figure stumbled towards it, it was Mystic Shadow, who had just escaped from the training ground.

He clutched his bleeding left shoulder, coughed up blood, and lifted a broken tombstone that read "Here Lies My Esteemed Father" in the back courtyard of the mourning hall. Beneath it, a hidden passage just large enough for one person to pass through was concealed.

"That monster Baxia! Is he at the peak of the Heavenly Gang Realm, or has he half-stepped into legend?" Mystic Shadow cursed through gritted teeth, his voice full of dread. "I wasn't this disheveled when I fought Prince Jing'an, Zhu Chenhao, back then!"

He bent down and crawled into the dark, damp passage. Only the phosphorescent light on the walls cast a faint green glow, barely illuminating the way.

After walking for about dozens of steps, the passage suddenly opened up – it was an underground cave modified from an abandoned ancient tomb, with a faint smell of poisonous smoke permeating the air.

More than a dozen assassins dressed in black night-walking clothes were guarding inside. Seeing him enter, they immediately knelt on one knee, "My Lord! Are you alright? Do you need us to apply the Bone-Setting Ointment immediately?"

"Just a minor injury," Mystic Shadow pulled off the Night Raven Mask, revealing a wrinkled face. The wound on his left shoulder was still bleeding. "You, go into the city immediately and find the best Bone-Setting Ointment and Bezoar Detoxifying Pills from Tong Ren Tang. I need to recuperate here.

Remember, under no circumstances can the secret cave's location be exposed – this is Night Raven Tower's last stronghold in Oirat. If the Fierce Wind Guard finds out, no one will survive!"

"Yes, sir!" The assassins dared not ask further questions and turned to leave through another exit leading to the outer city's sewers, leaving only two Peak Martial Master guards to watch the cave entrance.

Mystic Shadow leaned against the stone wall and closed his eyes, but the thought of Baxia's bloodshot eyes, capable of directly confronting a Pangolin Dragon, still made him tremble uncontrollably – there were probably fewer than five Heavenly Gang Realm peak Grandmaster Warriors like him in the entire world.

"Spare me! According to Oirat law, assassins should be executed! Aren't you afraid of the Fierce Wind Guard's crackdown?"

In the back alley of Lord Zhou, the Minister of Revenue's mansion in the inner city, Lord Zhou lay sprawled on the ground, his official saber broken in two, a broken dagger still embedded in his chest, his blood staining his azure ninth-rank official robe.

His three guards lay dead on the ground, lifeless. A woman in a black fitted outfit stood before him – she was tall and slender, the muscles in her chest taut from years of boxing. She wore a Night Raven mask, and was Ji Xuanying, a Gold Rank Assassin from Night Raven Tower.

"Friends from Night Raven Tower, we can talk!" Lord Zhou gasped, his voice trembling. "How much did the rebels pay you? I'll pay double! No, triple! As long as you let me live, I still have half a box of Cold Iron ingots in my mansion, all yours!"

Ji Xuanying sneered, her soft steel sword glinting in the moonlight. "Night Raven Tower deals in ironclad contracts and abides by rules – once we take the employer's money, we must take your head. This will disrupt Baxia's rear." She shifted her feet, and her soft steel sword darted towards Lord Zhou's throat like a viper's tongue.

At this critical moment, a black shadow suddenly leaped from the rooftop, and the long sword in his hand blocked the soft steel sword with a clang!

"Who?!" Ji Xuanying retreated sharply, warily eyeing the person before her – he wore a Rakshasa mask, was powerfully built, and still had dust from the outer city on him. He had clearly rushed over from the chaotic area, and his vital energy fluctuations were not weak.

"Someone from Night Raven Tower?" Lin Zhao's voice was low. His gaze fell on the other person's Night Raven mask, a cold glint flashing in his eyes – it was someone from Night Raven Tower who had tried to assassinate him years ago. This feud had long been established.

"Indeed," Ji Xuanying gripped her soft steel sword, her tone warning. "This matter has nothing to do with you. Please step aside to avoid unnecessary trouble – although you have the strength of a Peak Martial Master, you may not be able to defeat me."

"Unnecessary trouble?" Lin Zhao suddenly roared, his voice shaking the leaves on the surrounding trees, causing them to rustle down. "People from Night Raven Tower, you dare talk to me about unnecessary trouble? The debt from back then, I'll collect it from you today! Take your life!"

Before his voice even faded, Lin Zhao took a step forward, his Mystic Dragon True Qi surging madly into his long sword. The sword body instantly rippled with a faint golden light – it was his signature sword skill, the Three Talents Slash.

"Buzz—"

The void seemed to be torn apart as the sword light, accompanied by a whistling sound, slashed towards Ji Xuanying!

"Not good! This is a tough opponent! This sword skill has at least a thousand pounds of force!" Ji Xuanying's expression changed, and she quickly swung her sword to block. But her soft steel sword was known for its agility; how could it withstand Lin Zhao's fierce true qi?

With a crisp "crack," the soft steel sword was directly split in two. The residual sword energy grazed her shoulder, leaving a wound that cut deep to the bone.

"Who exactly are you?! You dare to oppose Night Raven Tower in Oirat, aren't you afraid of being hunted?" Ji Xuanying was both shocked and enraged. She hadn't expected such a powerful Peak Martial Master to be hiding in the Oirat capital. She no longer lingered to fight and turned to leap onto the rooftop.

How could Lin Zhao let her escape?

With a flick of his wrist, the Mystic Iron dagger at his waist flew out, shooting towards Ji Xuanying's thigh with a "whoosh"!

"Thwack!"

The dagger accurately pierced her flesh. The anesthetic took effect instantly, Ji Xuanying's legs went weak, and with a scream, she lost her balance and fell from the rooftop.

Lin Zhao leaped up and stomped on her lower leg – with a "crack," the sound of bone breaking was clearly audible.

Ji Xuanying trembled with pain. Just as she tried to struggle and activate her remaining true qi, Lin Zhao grabbed her arm and twisted it violently – "Crack"! Her other arm also broke.

Under the dual effects of intense pain and anesthesia, Ji Xuanying's vision went black, and she fainted.

Lin Zhao looked down at Lord Zhou, who was still slumped on the ground. The man had already turned ashen and was trembling all over.

He picked up Ji Xuanying and walked into a nearby abandoned Oirat post station. He searched her body – aside from a few packets of sleeping powder, a spare dagger, and a Night Raven Tower assassin token, there was nothing else of use.

He threw Ji Xuanying into the post station's cellar, covered it with wooden boards, leaving a gap for ventilation, and only took her Night Raven mask, tucking it into his bosom. He then turned and walked out.

Seeing him emerge, Lord Zhou scrambled over, his voice choked with tears, "G-General, are you a secret agent of the Fierce Wind Guard under General Baxia, the 'Guardian General of the Nation'?"

Lin Zhao paused. His voice, from beneath the mask, remained low, mimicking the tone of the Fierce Wind Guard. "Don't panic. I am a secret guard under General Baxia, ordered to eliminate assassins in the city. Are you alright? This place is dangerous. Go to the inner city government office to take refuge as soon as possible – there are soldiers stationed there, and it's relatively safe."

After speaking, he didn't linger, his figure flashing as he disappeared into the night. With this Night Raven mask, perhaps he could infiltrate a Night Raven Tower stronghold and gather more information.