Assassination

"Our situation... everyone understands it now, right?" At Zichuan Ning's home, Zichuan Xiu had gathered his subordinates Roger, Shirakawa, Chuan, and others to speak.

All the subordinates nodded affirmatively, indicating their understanding.

"President Commander Yang Minghua and I are mortal enemies – which side will you choose to stand on?"

Roger: "We originally had no enmity with President Commander Yang Minghua..."

Shirakawa: "But since he is your enemy, Lord..."

Chuan: "Then of course we will choose without hesitation..."

The three spoke in unison: "Support the President Commander, defeat Zichuan Xiu!"

"After enduring so much, we finally have a chance to repay!"

"Exactly, let alone Yang Minghua, if you, Zichuan Xiu, had a feud with hell..."

"We would also pledge allegiance to Yama, King of Hell, without hesitation!"

"Alright, everyone, don't be impulsive – I will give you the freedom to choose. I'll turn around and count to ten. Those who don't support me can just leave the room. Let's part on good terms. Anyone who remains after ten counts will be considered someone who firmly follows and supports me. Hey, Roger, you're running before I've even started counting, that's really not giving me any face!"

"Alright, I'm starting to count: One, three, five, six, eight..."

"No, no, you're counting too fast – and you're skipping numbers! I didn't even have time to run! Let's do it again!"

"One, two, three..."

"Ah, Chuan, I can't open this door!"

"Four, five,..."

"Damn it, that scoundrel locked the door!"

"We can't get out – he never intended to let us out!"

"Seven, eight..."

"Shirakawa, quickly get the master key to open the door!"

"I left the key in my room – there's no time! Roger, you're big and strong, smash the door open!"

"Roger, hurry and smash it, or it'll be too late – we'll fall into Zichuan Xiu's hands again!"

"Nine..."

"Bang!" (Roger's sound of smashing the door)

"It hurts so much, what is this door made of! It's so hard!"

"Ten!"

Zichuan Xiu turned around and explained, "This is a door made of safe material – it seems none of you left. I'm so relieved. True feelings are seen in times of crisis, and loyalty is recognized in openness. In this time of crisis, all of you have been so loyal to me, Zichuan Xiu, I'm so touched... I'm about to cry..."

Zichuan Xiu wiped his nose.

"Sir," the secretary knocked on Commander Lei Xun's office door, "Deputy Commander Di Lin requests an audience."

"Oh, I see." Lei Xun felt a bit displeased. That inexperienced brat Di Lin was increasingly favored by Yang Minghua. He became arrogant after winning a few battles against the Demon Race, becoming a deputy commander in his early twenties. He might even surpass my position in the future... He checked the time; it was already seven in the evening. In another hour, the curfew would begin, and the operation to surround the Commander-in-Chief's Mansion would commence. Why was Di Lin looking for him at this time?

"Please let him in."

Di Lin entered the office and respectfully saluted Lei Xun, showing none of his usual arrogance, which made Lei Xun feel a bit better.

"Di Lin, what time is it? You should be doing your proper business! – Did you need something from me?" (Lei Xun's idea of proper business was to hunt down Ge Yingxing.)

"Oh, sir, it's like this: during my time in the Far East, I had some gains while fighting the Demon Race, and I wish to present them to you as a token of my regard."

Lei Xun's tense face immediately softened, and his tone became much more amiable: "Oh, Di Lin, you are too kind, how thoughtful of you." (Who doesn't know you stripped the Demon Race bare in the Far East, making a fortune? Of course, you've profited greatly!)

"However, as a public servant, it is inconvenient for me to accept your kind offer!" (Don't try to fob me off with those worthless magic stones and flash jades – I don't want anything cheap!)

Di Lin revered Lei Xun as if he were a mountain towering above: "Commander Lei, your noble character is truly admirable to us juniors! However, these humble gifts were prepared for you alone, so please, for my sake, accept them!" He leaned close to Lei Xun's ear and whispered, "These are not things you see every day. I seized them from demon nobles who couldn't escape after I conquered Kashlaqi. They are absolutely priceless!" Di Lin said with a fawning smile.

(This kid knows how to handle things!) "Oh, Di Lin, you're really putting me in a difficult position... You know I absolutely never accept gifts (because they're too small)... Fine, I'll make an exception this time for your sake. What is it that's so special? By the way, this is a one-time exception, okay!"

Di Lin smiled mysteriously, "It will definitely be a one-time exception, sir. Would you please allow my servant in the reception hall to bring the items up?"

Lei Xun signaled the guards to let them pass.

Two soldiers, their hats pulled low, struggled to carry in an iron chest that was over half a person's height. Lei Xun calculated in his mind: it's this big, what could it be? Diamonds? Gold? Rare magical treasures?... Seeing how hard they were carrying it, it must be heavy..."

The chest was placed on Lei Xun's desk. Di Lin, acting very mysteriously, closed the office door tightly before gently unlocking the chest and saying with a smile, "You'll know when you open it, sir."

Lei Xun, unable to contain his curiosity, lifted the lid of the chest and was stunned: the chest was completely empty.

He mechanically raised his head to look at Di Lin, "You..."

A sudden change!

A soldier standing to his left suddenly drew his saber and swung it towards his neck – a common, arguably unskillful and unpracticed slash, its only remarkable feature being its speed! It was unbelievably fast, faster than lightning, swifter than light! Even more terrifying was that the attack came without any warning. There was no visible movement; in an instant, the gleaming blade was at Lei Xun's neck – as if the sword had materialized from thin air!

Lei Xun was also a first-class master. Facing such a terrifying blow, he could only react instinctively: he leaned to his right, subconsciously raising his left hand to block.

With a "swish," his left hand was severed at the wrist. The blade's momentum was slightly checked, and it sank deep into the carotid artery below his neck.

Almost simultaneously, a soldier to Lei Xun's right lightly punched his shoulder—so lightly that Lei Xun barely felt it. But immediately, a numbing sensation spread from his shoulder, instantly encompassing his entire body. All of Lei Xun's blood vessels, acupoints, and breathing were frozen and solidified in an instant. Even the small amount of True Qi he had gathered to counterattack was sealed off. Who possesses such powerful and overbearing martial arts? At this moment of life and death, Lei Xun could only think of one name. Since Sterling had arrived, his death was certain. But at least he had to notify those outside. Lei Xun mustered his last bit of strength, intending to shout.

But he only felt a coolness in his throat, unable to utter a single sound. Di Lin's sword had flashed into his throat, severing his trachea.

The last image before Lei Xun's consciousness blurred was Di Lin, holding a blood-dripping sword, grinning as he looked at him. He suddenly felt: This scene is so familiar, as if I've seen it somewhere before...

Lei Xun, the Zichuan Family's top expert and the once illustrious commander of the Central Army, died standing rigidly, his eyes wide open. Whether he understood the reason for his death at the moment of his passing would forever remain unknown.

The entire assassination process took less than a second. It was only then that the left hand, severed by Zichuan Xiu, fell to the ground with a "thud."

Zichuan Xiu withdrew his blade, and Sterling stepped back. Both were seasoned warriors who had killed before. However, resorting to such a sneak attack and overwhelming odds made them feel—in short, they didn't want to meet Lei Xun's wide-open eyes!

Di Lin, however, seemed relaxed. He wiped the blood from his sword on Lei Xun's uniform and said with a low chuckle, "Top expert? We killed him like slaughtering a chicken. Look at him, his eyes are still wide open in death!"

Sterling whispered, "Retribution! Deputy Commander Dre and Flag Bearer Deco can finally rest in peace."

"Hey, Sterling, don't curse me. I killed Deco. If you let him rest in peace, then..."

Sterling shot him a look and didn't reply. The death of that young man had always been a thorn in Sterling's heart...

Zichuan Xiu, listening at the office door, turned back and said, "They haven't discovered anything outside yet."

All three breathed a sigh of relief. This was the Central Army's headquarters. If Lei Xun had let out even a slight scream or any sound of a struggle had carried outside earlier, the Central Army, filled with countless experts, would have made it impossible for them to escape, no matter how skilled they were.

The rest was easy: put Lei Xun's body into the iron box, and wipe away the bloodstains from the struggle. This was easy because under Sterling's Ice True Qi, Lei Xun's blood had frozen before it could even flow out. They pried open the secret compartment in the desk, finding the commander's seal and the Central Army's troop deployment tokens. The secret compartment also contained a lot of cash and precious treasures. Someone naturally wouldn't be polite about it, but Sterling stopped him, saying, "No! We didn't kill Lei Xun for personal revenge—doing this would insult our mission!"

Zichuan Xiu replied solemnly, "Yes." He put the items back, secretly taking half of them.

The three then swaggered out carrying the iron box. No one questioned them. Di Lin walked ahead with an arrogant air; who would dare to cause trouble?

After leaving the Central Army headquarters, the three breathed a collective sigh of relief, only to discover that their sweat had soaked through their thick uniforms.

The streets were sparsely populated and desolate, likely because the curfew was about to begin.

"We need to split up now!"

Sterling looked at Zichuan Xiu uneasily. "Axiu, your mission is the most dangerous. Why don't you take charge of commanding the Imperial Guard, and let me..."

Di Lin also nodded. "I also think Axiu is too risky—let me do it. I'm Yang Minghua's confidant, they won't suspect me for a while..."

"No need!" Zichuan Xiu said to Sterling. "Second Brother, you are the backbone of the Imperial Guard. Yang Minghua plans to attack the Commander-in-Chief's Mansion tonight—it cannot be without you there!"

"Big Brother, those fifty thousand Far East Army soldiers only obey your command—you cannot leave either."

"Therefore, I am the only one who can do this."

"Big Brother, remember this: the red light is the signal! When you see three red lights on the city wall, bring your troops in immediately!"

The three clasped hands tightly. "See you tomorrow!" It was a very ordinary parting phrase, but could these three brothers, each carrying a mission with an uncertain outcome, truly see the sunrise of the next day together?

Sterling finally couldn't hold back. "Axiu, is there anything you want me to tell Miss Ning? She's always had a thing for you..."

Zichuan Xiu thought for a moment. "Yes, yes... Tell her to stop wearing those mini-skirts. Her figure is like a matchstick, not sexy at all, and it doesn't suit her. Also, tomorrow morning, tell her to cook me egg porridge at home—put in more eggs. Don't always use one ton of rice, one ton of water, and one egg. I'm so sick of it... Oh, Big Brother, Second Brother, where are you two going? I haven't finished! Tell her to quickly return those yellow books she's hiding, or I'll really get tough with her! I'm serious..."