The air in the cell seemed to freeze solid. The two Shadow Sha assassins were like venomous snakes eyeing their prey, their killing intent practically dripping from them. The young man had his back to the wall. The thread of bright purple vitality within him was boiling like a kettle about to whistle, yet no matter what, it couldn't break through that last sliver. He watched helplessly as the poisoned dagger and the dark blue short blade drew closer. He was probably already planning where it would be safest to reincarnate in his next life.
Now!
In the shadows of the passageway, Xu Qian's eyes were as sharp as a cat's after spotting a fat mouse. What he clutched in his hand wasn't some divine weapon, but his afternoon's "masterpiece"—a crude slingshot made from a Y-shaped branch and a sturdy elastic band salvaged from an old pair of pants. As for the ammunition, he'd carefully selected a suitably sized pebble, then "thoughtfully" wrapped it in several layers of rags. The rags were soaked in a super knockout potion he'd concocted by adding aconite juice. Its smell was moving, and its effects even more so.
He held his breath, his arm steady as an old dog's, and took aim at the black-clad leader, whose vision had only just begun to clear and who was grinning as he raised his dagger toward the young man's neck.
Target locked... right eye... wind speed negligible... distance... who cares! Take this!
His finger let go!
"Whoosh—!"
The rag-wrapped pebble, carrying Xu Qian's "warmest hopes," tore through the dead silence at an absurdly tricky angle, heading straight for its target!
"Pfft!"
A dull thud, accompanied by the faint sound of liquid splattering.
Bull's-eye! A perfect hit!
Xu Qian nearly shouted, "Beautiful!" He watched the black-clad leader clutch his right eye and unleash a squeal uglier than a pig being slaughtered. Juice smeared across his face as he staggered around in circles like a drunk, then toppled to the ground with a thump, his hands and feet twitching involuntarily.
Done! The effect is incredible! Looks like I haven't lost my touch! Xu Qian was overjoyed. He was happier than when he'd broken through to the Houtian Late Stage. The Qing Nang Handbook really is reliable. This aconite juice mixed with stinking bracken-root powder packs a serious punch!
This sudden "immortal descending from the heavens" left both people in the cell completely stunned.
The other injured assassin: "???" (Who am I? Where am I? Why did the boss suddenly start dancing and then lie down?)
The young man: "!!!" (What just happened? Which passing immortal took pity on me and stepped in?)
The young man had weathered his share of storms, so his confusion lasted only an instant. The bright purple vitality within him, already just one step from breaking through, was jolted by the sudden turn of events. Like a spring kicked hard, it erupted with a boom!
A faint purple wave of aura, carrying the might of a ruler (literally), spread out from him. It had little power to harm, but it was excellent at intimidating people!
The injured assassin had been warily watching the passageway, trying to figure out which bastard had ambushed his boss. The wave of aura swept over him, making his mind reel and his gaze go blank.
The young man seized that 0.01-second opening and displayed astonishing combat instincts. He hooked his foot, and the dark blue short blade that had fallen when the boss went down flew into his hand. The motion was as fluid as if he'd rehearsed it countless times. Then, without even looking, he whipped it backward!
"Shhk!"
As if it had eyes, the blade struck the dazed assassin right between the brows, painting a spot of red!
The assassin fell straight down, still pondering the philosophical question, "How did I die?" Flat on his face.
In the blink of an eye, the tables had turned!
Leaning against the wall, the young man panted hard, feeling as if his body had been completely drained. He looked in disbelief at the two assassins on the ground (or one and a half, for now). Then his sharp eyes swept toward the passageway where Xu Qian was hiding, like a searchlight snapping on.
He couldn't see anyone, but the strong sensation of being watched told him that a master—or some shameless schemer—was right there!
His mind raced with guesses. Was it someone sent by the emperor? A third brother's backup? Or... some old monster hiding in this godforsaken place, just watching the show for fun?
In the passageway, Xu Qian slowly lowered his hard-won "divine weapon" of a slingshot, keeping his achievement hidden.
Perfect! One stone, two birds—no, one pebble took one down, and the other got so scared he killed himself. That move was at least king-level!
He thought smugly, thoroughly pleased with his "cautious" handiwork. He'd neither revealed his strength nor failed to accomplish his goal, and he'd even tested his homemade concoction along the way.
As for the young man's searching gaze? Xu Qian didn't care in the slightest. What are you looking at? Never seen a living Lei Feng before? Ever heard of doing a good deed without leaving your name?
His attention was now completely fixed on the two "spoils of war" on the ground.
Professional assassins from Shadow Sha! They must have good stuff on them! Cultivation methods? Manuals? Poison recipes? Maybe even silver notes!
His eyes sparkled in the darkness, just like a dragon that had spotted treasure.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
And this "oriole" hadn't just watched a splendid show and saved his (possibly) future long-term meal ticket. Now, he was getting ready to go down there... and loot the bodies!
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