Hate Heart Demonic Art

Rainwater streamed down the tiles, forming a curtain of water.

Wu Qianhuan's hand, which was reaching for the wine pot, paused slightly. She looked up at Chu Qing:

"What did you say?"

Chu Qing looked at Wu Qianhuan and smiled faintly:

"You heard me, and you didn't mishear."

"...Why?"

"To kill someone."

"Kill who?"

"Tang Xi."

"Reason."

"I'm an assassin. Naturally, someone wants him dead, which is why I'm going to kill him."

Wu Qianhuan's smile turned slightly cold:

"Falling Rain Hall belongs to my Heavenly Dance City. The Great Hall Master is a honored guest of my father.

"Moreover, it's one of the main forces in my Heavenly Dance City...

"Do you think I would allow you to kill someone from my Heavenly Dance City within Heavenly Dance City?"

Chu Qing didn't even think:

"You will."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because he is not from your Heavenly Dance City."

"What proof do you have?"

"He is cultivating the Hate Heart Demonic Art."

In the exchange of questions and answers, the moment Chu Qing mentioned the words 'Hate Heart Demonic Art,' Wu Qianhuan's expression suddenly changed.

This was followed by silence. After a long while, Wu Qianhuan finally spoke:

"How can you be so sure?"

"I saw... a Hate Heart Person."

As soon as Chu Qing finished speaking, there was a cracking sound. Wu Qianhuan had crushed the wine cup in her hand.

The Hate Heart Demonic Art is a notorious demonic martial art in the martial world.

To cultivate this art, one must nurture a Hate Heart Person.

And the so-called Hate Heart Person is someone who utterly despises the cultivator.

Cultivators often plant a demonic seed on them using special methods, and then commit all sorts of horrific acts against this Hate Heart Person.

Killing their entire family, humiliating their wives and daughters – their actions are often unforgivable by natural law.

This is done to achieve the goal of letting hatred nourish the demonic seed. Once the Hate Heart Person's hatred reaches its peak, the demonic seed is considered to have transformed.

At this point, one can brutally dissect their heart, swallow it for cultivation, and their internal energy can advance by leaps and bounds.

This is also why Tang Xi clearly told Er Gou that he killed Er Gou's fiancée but didn't let Er Gou die.

If he had died, everything done before would have been in vain.

Wu Qianhuan let out a long breath and looked at Chu Qing:

"But... isn't this just your side of the story? How can I believe you?"

"You already believe me."

Chu Qing sighed:

"Tell me, what do you want?"

"I want to go with you."

"Alright."

"I absolutely won't be a burden to you, I... What did you say?"

Wu Qianhuan was still trying to persuade Chu Qing to let her go with him.

However, when she came back to her senses, she finally realized what Chu Qing had just said was... Alright?

She looked at Chu Qing in surprise:

"You... are you sure you didn't say it wrong?"

Chu Qing spread his hands:

"Young Miss Wu's martial arts are formidable. She's willing to lend me a hand. Why wouldn't I agree to such a good thing that fell from the sky?

"However, let's be clear beforehand. The commission is mine, and the reward is also mine. Young Miss Wu won't get a single silver coin."

There was some sincerity in his words. Wu Qianhuan was highly skilled in martial arts. Before Chu Qing obtained Ah Fei's Fast Sword and the Purple Mist Divine Skill, if he were to face her head-on, he would definitely have been beaten senseless and forced to flee.

Moreover, she wasn't the type of willful, arrogant, and burdensome young lady.

Having her there would only make tonight's assassination smoother.

And her coming along was also within expectations.

"...You think I care?"

Wu Qianhuan felt that this person's words were starting to be annoying again.

Chu Qing smiled:

"Besides that, we need to agree on three conditions."

"Which three?"

"First, everything on this trip must be subject to my command."

"Alright, and the second?"

"Second, everything on this trip must be subject to my command."

"...Is the third condition the same?"

Wu Qianhuan felt her forehead starting to throb again.

Especially when she saw Chu Qing shamelessly nod his head, she felt this guy was truly detestable... even though she hadn't seen his face yet.

"After all, you're an outsider. If you don't listen to me and something goes wrong, I won't save you.

"So, for your safety, it's best that you listen to everything I say."

"...Okay."

Wu Qianhuan took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure:

"When do you need the defense map?"

"The sooner the better..."

Chu Qing looked at the rain falling from the sky:

"The heavens are helping us; tonight is the best opportunity."

"Come with me to the City Lord's Mansion."

Wu Qianhuan didn't even think and stood up directly, but Chu Qing didn't move.

She turned back to look at him, and Chu Qing waved his hand:

"How easy do you think it is to break into the City Lord's Mansion? Besides, if Young Miss Wu were to be a little dishonest and set up a trap there, wouldn't I be walking right into it?

"I'll wait for you here. Young Miss, go quickly and come back quickly."

"..."

Wu Qianhuan didn't want to waste any more words and soared away directly.

Chu Qing smiled slightly, looked at the dishes on the table, swallowed a little, but didn't move.

This woman had ill intentions. All the dishes on this table were his favorites.

Wu Qianhuan didn't return too quickly. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a figure in black appeared before Chu Qing.

Other than a pair of eyes, nothing was exposed.

She first carefully looked at the dishes on the table, and disappointment flickered in her eyes.

Then, with a flick of her hand, she threw a bamboo tube to Chu Qing. Chu Qing opened it and took out the map inside.

He looked at it carefully, praising as he did so:

"Your probing of Tang Xi at the Chu Family today was indeed not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

"This defense map is drawn so meticulously, and the annotations are incredibly detailed. It seems the City Lord's Mansion has long intended to deal with Falling Rain Hall."

"To repel external threats, one must first secure internal stability."

Wu Qianhuan snorted:

"The Valley of Ten Thousand Nights has been increasingly audacious lately, so war is likely imminent.

"Falling Rain Hall harbors malicious intent. Even if I didn't know Tang Xi was cultivating the Demonic Art and Liu Shijie was colluding with the Seven Iron Horse Thieves, they are still full of deceit and cannot be trusted.

"If war breaks out, they must first be brought under control.

"Even if they are not problematic, being prepared early is beneficial without any harm."

"Aren't you afraid of causing disunity?"

"That requires them to have a heart in the first place."

Chu Qing laughed when he heard this. Yes, no one should treat anyone else as a fool.

Wu Ganqi could sit firmly in Heavenly Dance City and isolate it from the surrounding turmoil, meaning he was definitely not just a brute who only knew how to swing an axe and chop people.

If someone was making small moves right under his nose, even if he hadn't discovered it, he would still be somewhat vigilant.

Didn't he come to Wu Qianhuan for this defense map today precisely because he was certain the City Lord's Mansion had long intended to deal with Falling Rain Hall?

Putting away the defense map, Chu Qing stood up.

"Let's go."

Falling Rain Hall was in the west of the city.

Right in the middle of West Street was a large courtyard that occupied a considerable area.

The two of them hurried through the rain under the cover of night, arriving outside the walls of Falling Rain Hall in just a moment.

Listening closely, after a short while, footsteps passed by.

They exchanged glances, then leaped up and landed inside the courtyard.

With the defense map in hand, entering the compound was like strolling through a garden. They knew exactly which locations were patrolled at what times, when the guards changed shifts, and how long the intervals were.

In just a moment, the two of them had made their way to Tang Xi's courtyard.

Standing carefully on the rooftop, Chu Qing reached out and lifted a tile.

Immediately, sounds of debauchery drifted out from the room.

Wu Qianhuan's face instantly flushed red. She couldn't help but look at Chu Qing, only to see a flicker of delight in his eyes.

Immediately after, she saw Chu Qing give her a look, meaning... act now!