The Expected Assassin

The Expected Assassin

Looking at the two pitch-black assassins, Su Yuntian's heart sank to the bottom.

Just as he had feared.

Since they dared to openly attack this place, they must have accomplices. The fighting strength of Nuoding City's Spirit Hall branch was likely no match for them.

After all, the strongest Soul Master in this Spirit Hall branch was only Ma Xiunuo, a level 31 Soul Elder.

Standing behind his older brother, Su Yuntian was anxious, but it was useless.

Su Yuntao understood the situation before them even better. He could only hope the other side would restrain themselves out of fear of Spirit Hall's reputation.

Unexpectedly, the black-clad man wielding a large Chopping Knife laughed. "You're just a two-ring Soul Grandmaster, yet you dare mouth off in front of me?"

As he spoke, two yellow and one purple soul rings lit up beneath his feet. Whether in number or quality, his soul rings far surpassed Su Yuntao's!

The Su brothers fell into even deeper despair upon seeing him reveal his soul rings.

Leaving aside everything else, his strength as a three-ring Soul Elder alone was enough to crush Ma Xiunuo and Su Yuntao. He did not even need any accomplices.

The other black-clad assassin said little, merely walking over to the window and blocking the brothers' escape route.

Su Yuntao's eyes glowed green. Just as he was about to attack instead of defend, Su Yuntian suddenly tugged at his sleeve from behind.

Then Su Yuntian stepped forward two paces and faced the two black-clad assassins.

"You came for me, didn't you?"

The assassin holding the Chopping Knife sneered. "You're a smart kid."

"If that's the case, then I suppose I have a chance to stay alive." Su Yuntian's mind raced as he carefully chose his words and tested their intentions.

"I can go with you, but you can't hurt my brother."

Su Yuntian quickly stated his condition.

Yet the man in black merely said, "You think you have the right to choose? You're nothing but fish on the chopping block, and you still want to negotiate with me? You think you're worthy?"

His words dripped with mockery, making Su Yuntian deeply uncomfortable.

The other black-clad man holding a Short Spear finally spoke. "Old Blade, stop wasting time. Finish this quickly."

So the assassin carrying the Chopping Knife was called Old Blade?

"I'll kill this eyesore first!"

Old Blade surged forward aggressively, clearly about to attack Su Yuntao.

Su Yuntian spread his arms, intending to shield Su Yuntao, but suddenly felt his collar tighten. Su Yuntao had already grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up.

Then Su Yuntian felt the floor vanish beneath his feet. The floorboards abruptly opened, revealing a secret escape passage.

Su Yuntao held Su Yuntian in his arms as the brothers rapidly fell with gravity's pull. Su Yuntian's vision went dark, and after a brief moment of shock, they landed in an underground chamber.

The mechanism above them had already closed again. As soon as Su Yuntao landed, he immediately turned the wheel beside him and locked it shut.

In the dim light, Su Yuntian watched Su Yuntao's series of movements and finally understood.

...Even if this was only a low-level Spirit Hall branch, it should still have the necessary weapons, equipment, and escape routes. With the brothers surrounded from both front and back, meeting up with Elder Ma Xiunuo was already a hopeless dream. Thus, Su Yuntao had made a swift decision, opening the secret passage to escape from here.

"Xiaotian, get on my back. Hurry!"

Su Yuntao carried Su Yuntian on his back and began weaving through the dark underground chamber.

Su Yuntian was still worried about Elder Ma Xiunuo and was about to ask when Su Yuntao seemed to read his mind. "If Ma Xiunuo isn't dead, he'll escape too. There's an entrance to a secret passage in his bedroom as well."

Su Yuntian gave a soft "Mm" and quietly asked, "Brother, can you tell which faction those people belong to?"

"No. There's too little information."

In the darkness, Su Yuntian could see nothing. He could only hear the brothers' breathing and his older brother Su Yuntao's footsteps.

He could also hear his own heartbeat. Thump, thump. It was the nervousness and fear rising from the depths of his heart.

He had never expected his Martial Soul awakening to attract assassins, and for them to come so quickly.

Were those assassins after the Key of Royal Law, or the Four-winged Angel Martial Soul?

Su Yuntian wanted to discuss it with his brother Su Yuntao, but could they successfully escape the black-clad assassins' pursuit?

Could he... survive?

After passing through several long underground corridors and turning several more corners, they finally saw a faint glimmer of light.

The brothers soon reached the inner side of the passage exit. After setting Su Yuntian down, Su Yuntao carefully investigated the area. Only after confirming there was no ambush outside did he open the hidden door, take Su Yuntian's hand, and climb out.

Once they reached the surface, their view suddenly opened up. Behind them stood Nuoding City's walls, while a sparse forest lay ahead.

Su Yuntian could not help but shudder. Spirit Hall's secret passage actually led directly outside the city?

If Spirit Hall ever wanted to capture Nuoding City in the future, couldn't they simply send troops through the secret passage, attack from within and without, and steal the crystal in one wave?

He could only silently praise Spirit Hall in his heart.

Having finally escaped the city, Su Yuntao let out a breath of relief. Just as he was about to rest against the wall for a moment, a figure suddenly emerged from the nearby grass.

"Don't panic. It's me, Ma Xiunuo."

Ma Xiunuo's aged voice rang out. He looked far worse than Su Yuntao. His Soul Master uniform was tattered, and blood continuously seeped from his left arm, staining his clothes a dark red.

Seeing this, Su Yuntao instinctively asked, "You fought them?"

"A level 36 Weapon Soul Master. His Martial Soul was a sword. He heavily injured me in just one move."

Ma Xiunuo's answer sent a chill down Su Yuntian's back... If his brother Su Yuntao had not decisively chosen to flee earlier, the two brothers would probably have been finished.

"Although we still don't know what they want, they sent out at least three Soul Elders at once. That shows they're determined to succeed. I don't think we can stop here. We need to keep running."

At that moment, Su Yuntian voiced his analysis.

Su Yuntao nodded and looked to Ma Xiunuo. "Elder, what do you think?"

Ma Xiunuo chuckled. "Xiaotian is right. But with my condition, I'm afraid I can't run very far. The only reason I held on until now was to see the two of you escape alive... cough, cough... Head east, to Suotuo City!"

Ma Xiunuo began coughing up blood and gripped a cylindrical Signal Flare with his still-functional right hand.

Only then did Su Yuntian notice that Old Master Ma Xiunuo's left arm hung limply at his side and had already lost all mobility.

"I'll head west. In half an hour, I'll ignite this Signal Flare and make the assassins think we're calling Spirit Hall for help."

From what he said, it seemed he intended to use himself as bait to protect Su Yuntao and Su Yuntian as they escaped?

Su Yuntian instinctively objected. "No! If we leave, we leave together!"

But Su Yuntao remained silent.

Ma Xiunuo looked deeply at Su Yuntian before finally saying, "The path of a Soul Master is more complicated than an ordinary person's life. It is filled with danger and challenges. I already have one foot in the grave. My death is nothing to regret."

"But Xiaotian, Yuntao, you must keep going!"

With that, he did not linger any longer. He turned and strode westward.

Would Ma Xiunuo die? Could Su Yuntian escape alive? Add it to your bookshelf to find out what happens next.