The West District of Qingzhou City,
the Misty Rain Tower stronghold.
Ever since Jing Ke and Yao Li garrisoned here, this out-of-thin-air pavilion had loomed like a silent giant, lurking deep within the alleys.
The ghost-face carvings on the upturned eaves cast a cold sheen under the sunlight,
and the killing intent swirling around the three large characters "Misty Rain Tower" on the lintel seemed capable of cleansing away all surrounding clamor.
Inside the council hall on the ground floor of the pavilion, Jing Ke and Yao Li sat facing each other.
Jing Ke wore a Black Robe, his expression stern, his fingertips unconsciously touching the dagger at his waist;
Yao Li was slender of build with eagle-sharp eyes, and he lowered his head to wipe a Short Blade whose gleam made half of his face flicker between light and shadow.
Jing Ke spoke first, his voice low,
"Counting the time, those few should have returned to the Eternal Night Space to report back long ago, so the Lord must have made arrangements by now."
"Although the stronghold is established, an empty pavilion is of little use; we must take on missions to operate."
Yao Li paused his wiping of the Short Blade, raised his eyes, and said, "Rushing won't help. The Lord has far-reaching plans, so he surely has his own arrangements."
Just as his voice fell, a commotion came from outside the courtyard. The two looked at each other and both stood up.
"They're here." Jing Ke's tone carried a trace of understanding.
At that moment, four figures landed in front of the Misty Rain Tower outside the courtyard.
They were none other than Nie Zheng, Zhuan Zhu, Yu Rang, and Cao Mo.
"Is this the place where we will hold command in the future?" Cao Mo looked up to appraise the pavilion, a trace of admiration flashing in his eyes,
"This place looks remote, but it actually gathers spiritual winds and stores qi, easy to defend and hard to attack. The site selection is truly exquisite."
"It also displays an extraordinary atmosphere, faintly possessing the momentum of a coiling dragon and crouching tiger."
While speaking, the pavilion doors creaked open, and Jing Ke and Yao Li came out to greet them.
"Brother Nie Zheng, Brother Zhuan Zhu, you've finally arrived!" A smile appeared on Jing Ke's face as he stepped forward to exchange pleasantries with them,
"And this is?" Jing Ke looked at Cao Mo among the four and asked.
Nie Zheng stepped forward and introduced him to Jing Ke: "This is Brother Cao Mo, a new companion summoned by the Lord. Like us, he ranks among the Eight Guards."
"Oh! So it's Brother Cao Mo, long admired." Jing Ke said courteously to Cao Mo.
Cao Mo cupped his fists in return: "Brother Jing Ke, Brother Yao Li, we are comrades from now on, so please give me your guidance."
Yao Li possessed a cold personality, yet he also nodded: "Living quarters have been prepared inside the tower. Follow me."
The six stepped into the tower, only to see that the first-floor hall was spacious and bright, with simple furnishings that still exuded majesty. Hanging in the very center was an ink-wash landscape painting.
Upon closer inspection, the mountains and rocks in the painting harbored hidden murderous intent, turning out to be a defensive diagram outlined with a formation.
Seeing that Cao Mo had just arrived and was not yet familiar with the Misty Rain Tower pavilions, Jing Ke introduced them:
"The stronghold is divided into three levels,"
"The first level is called the Listening Rain Hall, serving as the counter and reception area for welcoming visitors or handling affairs."
"The second level is called the Rainwatch Pavilion, which is the Misty Rain Tower's council and intelligence analysis area, with a built-in sandbox."
"The third level is called Wangyu Terrace, serving as the resting and cultivation place for high-ranking members of the Misty Rain Tower. Standing by the railing, one can overlook a radius of ten miles."
"The East Wing Tingyu Residence contains a hundred guest rooms, specifically for low and intermediate-grade cultivators of the Misty Rain Tower to reside in;"
"The West Wing Cooking Rain Pavilion is half tea house and half kitchen, available for everyone to rest and dine."
The group walked slowly along the covered corridor, their fingertips brushing against the dark patterns carved into the pillars,
feeling a faint Spiritual Energy flowing within them, which made it clear that the entire Misty Rain Tower was enveloped by a tower-protecting formation.
The six stepped into the main hall, and Nie Zheng took the lead, relaying Ye Junlin's deployments within the Eternal Night Space one by one,
from the wonderful utility of the bounty master and sub-steles to everyone needing to jointly garrison the stronghold and the arrangements for accepting missions, detailing every single matter.
After listening, Yao Li felt a flash of surprise in his eyes, which immediately turned solemn: "The master and sub-steles possess such a Divine Ability?"
"Those below the Land Immortal Realm cannot damage them, and they can also link for warnings and strengthen formations... With this item here, it saves a lot of trouble."
Jing Ke nodded in agreement: "The Lord's action is intended to let us accept missions in secret so as to avoid exposure!"
"Now that our six guards are gathered and the Misty Rain Tower stronghold is established, the top priority is to find a suitable place to set up the sub-stete according to the Lord's instructions."
"Then we also need to discuss our subsequent actions."
Yu Rang's gaze swept across the hall, and he said in a deep voice, "The most urgent tasks are, first: to find a suitable place in the Black Market to place the Bounty Sub-Stele."
"Second: we need to let others know that the Misty Rain Tower has opened its doors to take on jobs."
Hearing this, Jing Ke looked at the crowd and said in a deep voice,
"The Qingzhou City Black Market is the place with the most well-informed news,"
"As long as the news is spread out, within three days, it will definitely reach the Western Region."
"Brother Yao Li, you and I went to the Black Market last time, and you are quite familiar with it. You and I shall head to the Black Market together."
Yao Li simply gave a soft response: "Good."
Jing Ke continued, "Then the remaining brothers will stay behind to guard the stronghold first."
"Good! Then the four of us will temporarily stay and guard the stronghold, waiting for your news." Nie Zheng said.
The six had a clear division of labor, and in an instant they finalized the details.
Jing Ke and Yao Li then stood up. Their figures flashed like two wisps of cyan smoke, swiftly darting out of the Misty Rain Tower and galloping away in the direction of the Black Market.
Inside the Listening Rain Hall, Nie Zheng stared fixedly at the empty doorway, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.
Yu Rang walked up to his side and said in a deep voice, "Our Misty Rain Tower stronghold is formed, and the sky of the Eastern Region's assassin underworld is also due for us to rewrite."
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