Hate Heart Demonic Art

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

Wu Qianhuan paused slightly as she reached for her wine flask, looking up at Chu Qing.

"What did you say?"

Chu Qing smiled faintly as he looked at Wu Qianhuan.

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

"...Why?"

"To kill someone."

"Kill who?"

"Tang Xi."

"The 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.

"Luoyu Hall is Luoyu Hall of my Heavenly Dance City. The Grand Hall Master is a honored guest of my father.

"He is also one of the main powers in Heavenly Dance City...

"Do you think I'll allow you to kill someone from Heavenly Dance City within Heavenly Dance City?"

Chu Qing replied without hesitation:

"You will."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Because he isn't from your Heavenly Dance City."

"What proof do you have?"

"He is cultivating the [Hate Heart Demonic Art]."

In the midst of their exchange, the moment Chu Qing spoke the words 'Hate Heart Demonic Art', Wu Qianhuan's expression changed drastically.

Silence followed. After a long while, Wu Qianhuan finally spoke.

"How can you be sure?"

"I saw... the Hate Heart person."

As soon as Chu Qing finished speaking, a cracking sound was heard. The wine cup in Wu Qianhuan's hand was crushed by her.

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

To cultivate this art, one needs to nurture a Hate Heart person.

A Hate Heart person is someone who despises the cultivator to the bone.

The cultivator often plants a Demonic Seed on them using a special technique, and then commits all sorts of heinous acts against this Hate Heart person.

Killing their entire family, defiling their wives and daughters, their actions are often beyond the pale of heavenly justice.

This is to allow the Hate Heart person's hatred to nourish the Demonic Seed. Once the Hate Heart person's hatred reaches its peak, the Demonic Seed is considered formed.

At this point, they can cut open the heart, swallow it, and cultivate. Their Internal Energy Technique can advance a thousand miles in a day.

This is also why Tang Xi, despite telling Er Gou that he killed Er Gou's betrothed wife, did not let Er Gou die.

If he died, all the previous efforts would have been in vain.

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

"But... isn't this just your word against his? How can I believe you?"

"You already do."

Chu Qing sighed.

"Tell me, what do you want?"

"I want to go with you."

"Alright."

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

Wu Qianhuan had intended to persuade Chu Qing to take her with him.

However, after snapping back to reality, she finally realized that Chu Qing had just said... alright?

She stared at Chu Qing in disbelief.

"Are... are you sure you didn't say the wrong thing?"

Chu Qing spread his hands.

"Miss Wu is highly skilled and willing to lend me a hand. Why would I refuse such a stroke of luck?

"However, let's be clear from the start. The commission is mine, and the reward is also mine. Miss Wu won't get a single piece of Silver."

This was spoken with some sincerity. Wu Qianhuan was highly skilled. Before she obtained the Swift Flying Sword and Purple Cloud Divine Skill, Chu Qing would have been utterly routed if he faced her head-on.

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

With her around, tonight's assassination would only go more smoothly.

Her accompanying them was also within his expectations.

"...You think I care?"

Wu Qianhuan felt he was starting to get on her nerves again.

Chu Qing smiled:

"Besides that, we need to establish three rules."

"Which three?"

"First, for everything on this mission, you must listen to me."

"Fine. Second?"

"Second, for everything on this mission, you must listen to me."

"...And the third rule is the same?"

Wu Qianhuan felt a vein throbbing on her forehead again.

Especially when she saw Chu Qing shamelessly nod, she found him 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 own safety, you'd best do exactly as I say."

"...Alright."

Wu Qianhuan took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm:

"When do you need the defense map?"

"The sooner the better..."

Chu Qing looked at the rain falling from the sky:

"Heaven favors us. Tonight is the best opportunity."

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

Wu Qianhuan stood up without a second thought, but Chu Qing didn't move.

She looked back at him. Chu Qing waved his hand:

"The City Lord's Mansion isn't that easy to infiltrate. Besides, if Miss Wu were to do something underhanded, setting up a net within the mansion, wouldn't I be walking right into a trap?

"I'll wait for you here. Miss Wu, please be quick."

"..."

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

Chu Qing smiled slightly, glanced at the dishes on the table, swallowed hard, but didn't move.

This woman had ill intentions; all the dishes on the table were his favorites.

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

Apart from their eyes, no part of them was exposed.

She first took a careful look at the dishes on the table, a look of disappointment flashing in her eyes.

Then, with a flick of her wrist, she threw a bamboo tube to Chu Qing. He opened it and took out the blueprint.

He examined it carefully, praising as he looked:

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

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

"To resist external threats, one must first pacify internal ones."

Wu Qianhuan snorted:

"Ten Thousand Night Valley has been getting more rampant lately. I expect this conflict is imminent.

"Luoyu Hall harbors ill intentions. Even if they don't know Tang Xi is cultivating demonic arts, and Liu Shijie is colluding with the Iron Horse Seven Bandits, their actions are suspicious and untrustworthy.

"If war breaks out, we must control them first.

"Even if they have no ulterior motives, preparing in advance is beneficial in every way."

"Aren't you afraid of causing disunity?"

"That would require them to have the intention first."

Chu Qing smiled upon hearing this. Yes, neither of them was foolish.

Wu Ganqi could firmly hold Heavenly Dance City and keep the storms from afar at bay. He wouldn't be a mere brute who only knew how to swing an axe.

If someone was making small moves under his nose, he would be vigilant even if he didn't discover them.

Didn't she come to Wu Qianhuan today for this defense map precisely because she was sure the City Lord's Mansion had long intended to deal with Luoyu Hall?

After putting the defense map away, Chu Qing stood up.

"Let's go."

Luoyu Hall was in the west of the city.

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

The two of them, taking advantage of the night and the rain, rushed along and arrived outside the walls of Luoyu Hall in just a moment.

They tilted their ears to listen, and after a short while, heard footsteps.

They exchanged glances before leaping into the air and landing inside the courtyard.

With the defense map in hand, the two of them entered as if strolling through a garden. They knew exactly which positions were patrolled at what times, when the guards changed, and the intervals between them.

In just a moment, the two had already reached Tang Xi's courtyard.

Carefully stopping on the rooftop, Chu Qing reached out and lifted a roof tile.

A wave of seductive music immediately came from the room.

Wu Qianhuan's face instantly flushed, and she couldn't help but look at Chu Qing. She saw his eyes sparkling with delight.

Immediately after, she saw Chu Qing give her a look, which meant... make your move!