Assassination

"Assassins!"

Liewen's expression turned cold as he drew his longsword.

These three assassins were quite formidable, each possessing the strength of a seventh-rank warrior. With their coordinated ambush, even an eighth-rank warrior would have found them difficult to handle.

But Liewen was no ordinary eighth-rank warrior.

Liewen swung his longsword while unleashing Draw Heaven and Earth. Under the pressure exerted on the surrounding space, the three assassins' movements immediately stalled.

Liewen's blade swept through them, killing two instantly. The third assassin's right hand, which held a dagger, was severed, and he collapsed to the ground.

With a wave of his left hand, Liewen released a stream of Light Battle Qi that scattered the smoke. He then pointed his sword at the assassin and said coldly, "Talk. Who sent you?"

The assassin said nothing. Dark red blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, and with a tilt of his head, he stopped breathing.

Liewen frowned. The man had taken poison and killed himself. He was clearly a well-trained assassin.

Liewen could not understand it. Over the past seven years, he had spent most of his time in the Magical Beast Mountain Range and had rarely been in Fenlai City. He had kept a low profile and had not provoked anyone. Why would someone hire assassins to kill him?

After thinking it over, the only people with a grudge against him that Liewen could think of were Helen and Danton of the Andrew Family.

"Ah!"

Startled cries came from outside the hall. Hearing the commotion, the servants had rushed over to see what was happening, only to be frightened by the corpses on the ground.

"They were assassins. Take the bodies away and bury them," Liewen ordered.

The servants obeyed, not daring to ask questions.

In their eyes, their master, Liewen, was also a mysterious man. He was absent from the estate year-round, and his whereabouts were unpredictable.

Yet none of them wanted to leave, because Liewen paid generously and gave them high wages. Moreover, he was often away from the estate, meaning they barely needed to attend to him and had little work to do.

With plenty of pay and little work, the servants were all quite satisfied.

After ordering the servants to bury the corpses, Liewen left under cover of night. He planned to investigate the Andrew Family.

Assassins had suddenly targeted him. Unless he got to the bottom of it, he would not be at ease.

Liewen infiltrated the Andrew Family estate. The strongest of its guards were only sixth-rank warriors, so they had no chance of detecting him.

Liewen was also familiar with the Andrew Family estate, and he soon arrived outside Helen's bedroom.

His half-brother Danton had died half a year ago, dying on top of a girl at Bishui Paradise.

Bishui Paradise was a famous entertainment venue in Fenlai City. The liquor was strong, the girls were soft, and Linley's brothers Yale and Reynolds often went there as well.

After Danton's death, Helen had temporarily taken control of the Andrew Family.

Light shone from Helen's bedroom. Liewen crept beneath the window and secretly looked inside.

Besides Helen, there was a white-haired old man in the room. He wore a black suit and a monocle over his left eye. His full head of white hair was combed immaculately, making it obvious at a glance that he was an old noble gentleman.

Liewen recognized the old man. He was Leonard, Helen's father.

Helen was also of noble birth, but her family could not compare with the Andrew Family. Within Fenlai City, they could only be considered minor nobility.

"Helen, rest assured. We spent so much money this time and had Saber send three assassins with seventh-rank strength. Liewen is as good as dead," Leonard said to Helen.

Hearing this, Liewen's gaze turned cold. So it really was them!

But Liewen was also puzzled. What was their motive? In the past seven years, he had never had any dealings with the Andrew Family.

"Father, I won't be at ease until I see his corpse," Helen said. "Before Joseph died, he gave him a letter of recommendation and cut off contact with him. Yet he graduated from Welin Warrior Academy five years ago and still has not used it. Clearly, he still covets the Andrew Family's wealth!"

Liewen suddenly understood. So that was what they thought.

Five years ago, Liewen had taken time to return to the academy and apply for graduation.

At the time, because he did not wish to join any faction, Liewen concealed his strength and graduated only as a sixth-rank warrior, drawing no attention.

Thinking about it now, that had also caused Helen to misjudge his strength. She believed that hiring three seventh-rank warriors would be enough to kill him.

"If only Danton hadn't died. His death gave Liewen an opening," Leonard sighed.

Hearing that, Liewen suddenly realized that after Danton's death, he had become the Andrew Family's first-in-line heir.

Danton was a lustful man, but apparently his seed was weak. He had left behind no descendants.

Liewen had never cared about the Andrew Family, so when he had heard of Danton's death, he had not considered the matter of inheritance.

Now that he thought about it, Helen feared that Liewen would inherit the Andrew Family and take the wealth in her hands. That was why she had hired assassins to kill him.

"Madam! Madam!"

Shouts came from the distance, and Liewen hurriedly retreated into the shadows of a nearby corner.

The Andrew Family's steward rushed into the bedroom, panting as he said, "S-Saber sent someone to notify us. The operation failed."

"It failed? How is that possible?" Helen and Leonard spoke in unison, both rising abruptly from their chairs.

"Saber said the intelligence was wrong. The target is at least an eighth-rank warrior, and he may even be a ninth-rank warrior."

"A ninth-rank warrior?" Helen wondered if she had misheard. "You're saying Liewen is a ninth-rank warrior?"

"Saber is demanding that we raise the price. Otherwise, they will abandon this mission."

The steward named a figure, and both Helen and Leonard fell silent. It was a price neither of them could afford.

"Enough. You may leave," Helen said dejectedly.

The steward left.

"Helen, should we ask Duke Paterson for help? Aren't you and him—"

Leonard did not finish the rest of his words.

Liewen heard Helen's resentful voice. "Don't mention him, that heartless man!"

Liewen had not expected Helen to be involved with Paterson. Paterson had attended Joseph's funeral, which had puzzled Liewen at the time. Now, it seemed there had been a reason for it.

Paterson truly was a lecherous man. He would even use his power to seize women he fancied.

Apparently, Paterson had merely wanted to have some fun with Helen.

Liewen had already obtained the information he wanted. Since he knew Helen had hired assassins to kill him, he would not be merciful.

Helen and Leonard were both ordinary people. If Liewen acted now, killing them would take no effort at all.

But after thinking it over, he still did not want to dirty his hands, so he decided to use another method.

Liewen left the Andrew Family estate and walked through Fenlai City's night.

Fenlai City remained exceptionally prosperous at night, especially Champs-Elysees Avenue in the eastern district, where lights blazed everywhere and voices filled the air.

Liewen returned to his own estate, disguised himself, and went out again.

He arrived in a commoner district and entered a shabby little tavern. Not long afterward, he emerged from it once more.

This small tavern was one of the strongholds of Blood Plum Blossom, one of the four major assassin organizations.

Since Helen had hired Saber's assassins to murder him, he would use the same method and hire Blood Plum Blossom, another of the four major assassin organizations, to carry out assassinations.

He gave Blood Plum Blossom three targets: Helen, Leonard, and the Andrew Family's steward.

All three were ordinary people, not great nobles or kingdom ministers. Blood Plum Blossom's price was not high, and Liewen readily paid the deposit.

Liewen returned to his estate and quietly awaited news from Blood Plum Blossom.