Assassination

"Assassins!"

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

These three assassins were not weak; each possessed the strength of a level 7 warrior. If they launched a surprise attack together, even a level 8 warrior would find it difficult to handle.

But Liewen was no ordinary level 8 warrior.

Liewen swung his longsword while simultaneously unleashing Draw Heaven and Earth. Under the pressure of the surrounding space, the movements of the three assassins instantly stalled.

Liewen's blade swept past. Two of them died instantly, and the right hand of the third, who was holding a short blade, was severed before he collapsed to the ground.

Liewen waved his left hand, releasing a burst of light battle qi to disperse the smoke. Pointing his sword at the remaining assassin, he said coldly, "Speak. Who sent you?"

The assassin did not speak. A trickle of black-red blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, his head tilted to the side, and he breathed his last.

Liewen frowned. The opponent had committed suicide by taking poison; it seemed they were highly trained assassins.

Liewen could not understand it. For the past seven years, he had spent most of his time in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. He hadn't spent much time in Fenlai City, and he had kept a low profile, never provoking anyone. Why would someone hire killers to target him?

After thinking it over, the only people he could think of with any grudge were Helen and Danton of the Andrew Family.

"Ah!"

A cry of alarm came from outside the hall. The servants, having heard the commotion, had run over to check the situation and were startled by the corpses on the floor.

"They are just some assassins. Take the bodies away and bury them," Liewen ordered.

The servants obeyed, not daring to ask any questions.

In their eyes, their master Liewen was quite mysterious; he was away from the mansion year-round, and his whereabouts were always unpredictable.

However, none of them wanted to leave because Liewen was generous and paid them high wages. Furthermore, since Liewen was rarely at the mansion, it meant they didn't have to serve him, making their work very leisurely.

With good pay and little work, the servants were very satisfied.

After ordering the servants to bury the bodies, Liewen left under the cover of night. He intended to go to the Andrew Family to investigate.

Having been targeted by assassins, he wouldn't be at ease until he found out the truth.

Liewen snuck into the Andrew Family mansion. The strongest guards of the Andrew Family were only level 6 warriors and could not detect him at all.

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

His half-brother Danton had died half a year ago, passing away in the arms of a girl at Bishui Paradise.

Bishui Paradise was a famous entertainment venue in Fenlai City; the wine was strong, the girls were alluring, and Linley's brothers, Yale and Reynolds, often went there.

After Danton died, the Andrew Family was temporarily managed by Helen.

The lights were on in Helen's bedroom. Liewen crept under the window and peeked inside.

In the room, besides Helen, there was an elderly man with white hair, wearing a black suit and a monocle over his left eye. His white hair was combed meticulously, making it obvious at a glance that he was an old noble gentleman.

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

Helen also came from a noble background, though her family could not compare to the Andrew Family and was only considered a minor noble family in Fenlai City.

"Helen, rest assured. This time we spent so much money to have Saber send three level 7 assassins; that Liewen will surely die," Leonard was saying to Helen.

Hearing this, Liewen's eyes turned cold. It really was them!

However, Liewen was also puzzled. What was their motive? For the past seven years, Liewen had never had any contact 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 ties with him. But he graduated from the Welin Warrior Academy five years ago and hasn't used it to this day. It's clear he is still coveting the wealth of the Andrew Family!"

Liewen suddenly understood. So that was their line of thinking.

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

At the time, not wanting to join any faction, Liewen had hidden his strength and graduated only as a level 6 warrior, which did not attract any attention.

Thinking about it now, this had led Helen to misjudge Liewen's strength, believing that hiring three level 7 warriors would be enough to kill him.

"If only Danton hadn't died. With Danton gone, it gave Liewen an opportunity," Leonard sighed.

Upon hearing this, Liewen suddenly realized that after Danton's death, he had become the first in line to inherit the Andrew Family.

Danton was a man of loose morals and lust, but it seemed his seed was no good, as he had left no heirs.

Liewen had originally not cared about the Andrew Family, so when he heard the news of Danton's death, he hadn't thought about the succession rights at all.

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

"Madam, Madam!"

Shouts came from afar, and Liewen quickly retreated into the shadows of a corner.

The butler of the Andrew Family rushed into the bedroom, gasping for air as he said, "The... the Saber organization sent someone to notify us that the mission failed."

"Failed? How is that possible?" Helen and Leonard said in unison, standing up from their chairs at once.

"The people from the Saber organization said that the intelligence was wrong. The target's strength is at least that of a level 8 warrior, and it is very likely he is a level 9 warrior."

"A level 9 warrior?" Helen wondered if she had misheard. "You're saying Liewen is a level 9 warrior?"

"The Saber organization is demanding that we increase the payment; otherwise, they will abandon this mission."

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

"That's enough, you may leave," Helen said dejectedly.

The butler left.

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

Leonard did not finish the rest of his sentence.

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

Liewen had not expected Helen to have an affair with Paterson. Paterson had attended Joseph's funeral, which had puzzled Liewen slightly at the time, but now that he thought about it, there was a reason.

That Paterson was indeed a lecherous man who would even use his power to seize women he took a fancy to.

It seemed that Paterson had only wanted to play with Helen.

Liewen had already obtained the intelligence he wanted. Since he now knew that Helen had hired assassins to kill him, he would not be soft-hearted.

Helen and Leonard were both just ordinary people; if Liewen were to act now, he could kill them both without the slightest effort.

But after thinking about it, he did not want to dirty his own hands and decided to use another method.

Liewen left the Andrew Family mansion and walked through the night in Fenlai City.

Fenlai City at night was still incredibly prosperous, especially Champs-Elysees Avenue in the East City, which was brightly lit and bustling with noise everywhere.

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

He arrived at a commoner district, walked into a dilapidated little tavern, and walked out again shortly after.

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

Since Helen had hired assassins from the Saber to assassinate him, he would use the same method and hire the Blood Plum Blossom, also one of the four major assassin organizations, to carry out the assassination.

He gave the Blood Plum Blossom three targets: Helen, Leonard, and the butler of the Andrew Family.

The three of them were all ordinary people and not major nobles or ministers of the kingdom, so the price quoted by the Blood Plum Blossom was not high, and Liewen readily paid the deposit.

Liewen returned to his mansion and waited quietly for news from the Blood Plum Blossom.