For these past few years, he had lived under an alias, racking his brains for ways to earn cultivation resources. Yet, his cultivation had remained stuck at the late Grandmaster stage, unable to make an inch of progress.
Meanwhile, Lin Hansheng had advanced to the Void Glimpse Peak long ago, becoming the undisputed tyrant of Baiyun City.
"I hate this!" Shi Yong dropped heavily to his knees, his forehead slamming hard against the ground.
"Yet I am weak and powerless, finding it difficult even to approach the Lin Family's estate."
"I admire the prestige of the Misty Rain Tower!... I beg you, milord, to grant me a way out!"
"If I, Shi Yong, enter the Misty Rain Tower, I will brave mountains of blades and seas of fire without hesitation. I only ask to exchange it for some cultivation resources, so that I might soon have the ability to butcher that traitor with my own hands!"
Jing Ke listened quietly, his fingertips resting against the dagger at his waist, his gaze carrying very few ripples.
Family feuds of this sort were things he had seen far too many of.
After a long while, he slowly spoke:
"The Misty Rain Tower indeed has need of manpower, and a temper like yours makes you well-suited to be a killer."
"You may be allowed to join, but there is one condition--"
His tone suddenly turned stern: "Once you enter the tower, you must abide by the tower's rules."
"If you dare to betray us, or ruin matters within the tower out of personal vendettas, Lin Hansheng won't need to make a move—I will take your head first."
Shi Yong jerked his head up, hope igniting in his eyes, and kowtowed heavily:
"This subordinate understands! If I harbor two hearts, may heaven strike me and earth destroy me!"
Jing Ke nodded and spoke again:
"The tower has rules. Mission points can be exchanged for resources, and they can also be used to trade for experts within the tower to make a move."
"If you handle your errands well from now on and accumulate enough points, even wanting to invite a Heavenly Killer to wipe out the Lin Family is not entirely out of the question."
Unexpectedly, Shi Yong shook his head, his gaze exceptionally resolute:
"Thank you for the kind intention, milord, but this grudge is one I must exact with my own hands."
"Lin Hansheng owes my Shi Family one hundred and thirteen lives. Only by snapping his neck with my own hands can I comfort the spirits of my clansmen in heaven."
Jing Ke was stunned for a moment, then a trace of appreciation flashed through his eyes, and he laughed heartily:
* * * "Good lad, you have backbone! For the sake of those words, if you truly make a move in days to come, I, Jing Ke, will accompany you on the trip and help anchor the field for you!"
Upon hearing this, Shi Yong was first startled, then went wild with joy. He kowtowed once more, his voice choking: "Th-thank you, milord!"
"Get up." Jing Ke raised his hand in a supportive gesture.
"Come back to the stronghold with me. From today onward, you are a Xuan character killer of the Misty Rain Tower. Do your job well and do not squander this opportunity."
"Yes!" Shi Yong stood up, his spine held ramrod straight. The scar on his face looked even fiercer in the setting sun, and though the hatred in his eyes had not dissipated,
it gained an added touch of certainty—he was finally one step closer to revenge.
Jing Ke said no more, turning and speeding toward the direction of Qingzhou City.
Shi Yong took a deep breath, suppressed his surging emotions, and followed closely behind.
The two figures, one ahead of the other, vanished into the gathering dusk.
Inside the Rainwatch Pavilion, after Yuan Tiangang reported to Ye Junlin on the handover matters concerning the Langya Pavilion,
he happened to look downstairs and see Jing Ke bringing back a robust fellow, realizing that this must be the Shi Yong who had begged to join.
"Lord Yuan, this is Shi Yong. Late Grandmaster stage, background is clean and above board, with a clear-cut grievance. He may be admitted as a Xuan character killer," Jing Ke briefly introduced.
Seeing this, Shi Yong hurriedly dropped to his knees in salute: "This subordinate, Shi Yong, pays respects to milord!"
Yuan Tiangang nodded, sweeping his gaze over the man and knowing instantly that Jing Ke's words were no falsehood. He said indifferently:
"Since you have entered the Misty Rain Tower, you must obey the rules."
"This subordinate obeys!" Shi Yong kowtowed once more.
"Jing Ke, take him down first. Arrange living quarters and a cultivation technique for him so he can get accustomed to the affairs as soon as possible."
"Yes!" Jing Ke immediately led Shi Yong toward the East Wing Tingyu Residence.
Watching Shi Yong's retreating back, Yuan Tiangang said to Nie Zheng and the others: "This kid is good material. Polish him up a bit and he'll amount to something."
Nie Zheng and the other killers smiled: "Give us a month, we'll definitely have him polished into shape."
At the East Wing Tingyu Residence, two hundred rooms were arranged in an orderly fashion, hidden among emerald bamboo and flowing springs, keeping the place tranquil and serene.
Jing Ke led Shi Yong through the winding covered corridors, pointing toward the contiguous row of dwellings as he said:
"There are two hundred rooms in total here. Pick one for yourself to live in, and from now on, this will be your resting place."
Shi Yong swept his gaze across them, seeing that every room was elegant, neat, and without any distinction of superior or inferior quality, so he casually selected one close to the bamboo forest and pushed the door open to enter.
The furnishings inside were simple: a table, a couch, and a landscape painting in ink wash hanging on the wall, imparting a sense of quietude.
"This room?" Jing Ke asked.
"Yes." Shi Yong nodded.
Jing Ke retrieved a copied booklet from inside his tunic. The three characters for Blood Slaughter Art on the cover exuded a grim, bloody energy as he handed it over:
"This is the first half of the Blood Slaughter Art. Take it and cultivate it first. This cultivation technique tempers the body through slaughter; the more you kill, the stronger you become. It happens to suit your temperament."
Shi Yong accepted the ancient tome, and as he skimmed through it, his pupils suddenly constricted—it was actually a Heavenly tier cultivation technique!
For an ordinary Grandmaster, obtaining a Mysterious tier cultivation technique was already a pipe dream, and even Heavenly Human Realm cultivators might never lay eyes on a Heavenly tier technique.
"This... this is too precious..." Shi Yong's voice trembled slightly.
"In the Misty Rain Tower, merits bring rewards."
Jing Ke said indifferently, "If you can render great service hereafter, the second half will be given to you as well."
Shi Yong gripped the ancient tome tightly, monstrous waves churning in his heart.
He had originally thought that joining the Misty Rain Tower would only allow him to trade for some ordinary resources, yet upon entry he had immediately obtained a Heavenly tier cultivation technique. Such generosity far exceeded his imagination.
"Oh, and," Jing Ke added, as if suddenly remembering something, "from now on, your code name will be 'Xuan Yi'."
"Xuan Yi?"
"Xuan character killers are ranked by strength. You are the first to be enrolled among the Xuan character killers, so for the time being, you are 'Xuan Yi'."
"If you are surpassed by someone who joins later, then the code name 'Xuan Yi' will be yielded to another."
Before you continue