As a Gold-Rank Assassin of the Heavenly Net, Qin Yu had spent over three months honing his skills in the Chu Dynasty. During that time, he had accepted more than a dozen assignments, all to kill corrupt officials and wicked cultivators who had committed countless crimes. He had carried out every assassination cleanly and efficiently. With his late-Xiantian cultivation, solid External Martial Arts, and the boost of a High-Grade Spirit Artifact, he had never failed. Gradually, he had made a name for himself within the Heavenly Net: Meteor. Whenever he struck, the Crimson Short Sword's spiritual light followed like a shadow, swift as lightning and impossible to stop.
Over the past three months, Qin Yu had not only honed his combat skills but also gathered a wealth of intelligence on the Chu Dynasty. He now had a general understanding of its court and the distribution of its cultivators. Using the Heavenly Net's resources, he had exchanged for plenty of healing pills and cultivation materials. His cultivation had steadily improved, and his body had grown stronger by the day; he was now just one step away from the pinnacle of External Martial Arts. Still, he had never forgotten Yun Ce's instructions. He kept his identity hidden and never revealed his connection to the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion. Even the leader of the Heavenly Net Branch knew him only as the Gold-Rank Assassin codenamed Meteor, not his real name or background.
That day, after completing an assignment to assassinate a grain official of the Chu Dynasty and exchanging his reward for cultivation resources, Qin Yu thought of his master and Xiao Hei at Cloud Mist Mountain. He also wanted to take the opportunity to find out how the Qin Family's preparations for the Conquest of Chu were progressing. So he quietly changed course and headed toward the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion. He wore plain blue clothes, with only his Heavenly Net gold token hidden inside his robe. The sword at his waist concealed its spiritual light, making him look no different from an ordinary young wanderer. Avoiding watchful eyes along the way, he safely reached the outskirts of the mansion.
Qin Yu knew the mansion was heavily guarded, and that his current identity made it unwise to appear under his real name. Taking advantage of the night, he used a movement technique to slip inside without a sound. He had grown up in the mansion and knew its layout by heart. Evading the patrolling guards, he made his way toward the inner courtyard. He knew that his father, Qin De, and his two older brothers, Qin Feng and Qin Zheng, usually discussed affairs there.
As he reached the pavilion on the western side of the inner courtyard, Qin Yu suddenly heard two familiar voices coming from inside. They belonged to his eldest brother, Qin Feng, and his second brother, Qin Zheng. His heart stirred. Slowing his steps, he quietly hid behind a willow tree beside the pavilion, held his breath, and listened to their conversation. Night had fallen, and a single oil lamp burned in the pavilion, its dim light stretching their shadows long across the ground. A heavy air hung around them.
"Second Brother, now that Xiang Guang has put Zhen Xu in charge of intelligence gathering across the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region, things have gotten a little difficult for us." Qin Feng sounded agitated, his voice full of helplessness. "Zhen Xu has a whole team of men under him, all skilled at gathering information. They're sharp and meticulous, and they're very good at what they do. The bigger our operations get, the harder it'll be to secretly move cultivators and stockpile provisions without him finding out. It'll be difficult!"
Qin Yu's heart tightened, and his fingers curled slightly. Xiang Guang was the emperor of the Chu Dynasty, an ambitious man who had long eyed the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion. The Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region were the foundation of the mansion's power and a key base for the future Conquest of Chu. With Zhen Xu in charge of intelligence gathering there, he was undoubtedly a thorn Xiang Guang had planted beside the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion to target the Qin Family's preparations for war.
"Don't worry, Eldest Brother." Qin Zheng's voice was steadier, though a hint of concern still showed through. "Father didn't leave without a purpose. He must have a way to deal with this. Perhaps he's already contacting people in secret or has a plan to counter Zhen Xu. We just need to keep doing our jobs as planned. Still, Zhen Xu really is a difficult opponent. He sticks to us like a leech, watching our every move. One careless step, and our plans could be exposed."
"How can I not worry?" Qin Feng sighed, his voice tinged with concern. "The Conquest of Chu draws closer every day. This is a crucial time for us to build our strength and gather intelligence. If Zhen Xu finds anything and reports it to Xiang Guang, Xiang Guang will surely make preparations in advance, and our situation will only get worse. Zhen Xu is also ruthless and cruel. If he gets hold of anything he can use against us, he'll immediately move against the Qin Family. The consequences would be unthinkable."
"You're right, Eldest Brother." Qin Zheng fell silent for a moment before continuing, "But Zhen Xu has plenty of guards, and his own cultivation is formidable. They say he's at the late Xiantian stage, and he also has several experts skilled at concealment and assassination at his disposal. Getting rid of him won't be easy. Father knows what a threat Zhen Xu is, but he hasn't found the right opportunity. If we make a move and fail, we'll alert Xiang Guang and put him on his guard."
Behind the willow, Qin Yu had already made up his mind. He carried the Qin Family's blood feud and had always wanted to help them in the Conquest of Chu and avenge his mother. Now Zhen Xu had become a stumbling block for the Qin Family, keeping a close eye on the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region and obstructing their plans. If he wasn't eliminated, he would surely cause the Qin Family even greater trouble in the future. Besides, as a Gold-Rank Assassin of the Heavenly Net, Qin Yu excelled at concealment and assassination. Zhen Xu was exactly the sort of target he was best at dealing with.
What's more, Qin Yu was now at the late Xiantian stage. Even if Zhen Xu was at the same level, Qin Yu had a High-Grade Spirit Artifact at his side and three months of practical experience with the Heavenly Net. Dealing with Zhen Xu and his men wouldn't be difficult. No matter how many guards Zhen Xu had, Qin Yu was confident he could kill him without a trace. He would neither reveal his identity nor alert the enemy.
A sharp glint flashed in Qin Yu's eyes, and a faint killing intent stirred around him before he instantly suppressed it. He knew better than to act rashly. First, he had to learn Zhen Xu's movements and background, then devise a careful assassination plan. Holding his breath, he continued listening to Qin Feng and Qin Zheng, hoping to learn more about Zhen Xu.
"Zhen Xu is in the prefectural city of the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region right now. He's taken over a residence there and has more than twenty guards, all at the peak of the Houtian stage. He also has two early-Xiantian cultivators at his command," Qin Feng said. "He's extremely cautious and rarely leaves the residence. Even when he does, he takes a large number of guards with him. Getting close to him is nearly impossible."
"On top of that, Zhen Xu has planted informants in towns across the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region to keep a close watch on the Qin Family's movements. He's even discovered quite a few of the cultivators we've moved in secret," Qin Zheng added. "If Father hadn't taken precautions and hidden some of our strength in advance, he would probably have already exposed many of our plans to Xiang Guang."
Qin Yu committed every word to memory. Zhen Xu's movements, guards, and habits had already formed a clear picture in his mind. He began to plan. Zhen Xu's residence in the prefectural city of the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region was his lair, heavily guarded and unsuitable for a direct assault. Qin Yu would have to infiltrate it in secret and strike while Zhen Xu was unprepared, killing him with a single blow. That was exactly the kind of silent assassination a Heavenly Net killer excelled at. And with some knowledge of the region's terrain, Qin Yu had a good chance of success.
After listening a little longer, Qin Feng and Qin Zheng ended their conversation and went their separate ways. Qin Yu waited until their figures had vanished completely into the night before emerging from behind the willow. He looked east, toward the prefectural city of the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region, and clenched the Yan Chi Dagger. Its warmth brushed his fingertips, and his gaze was resolute.
"Zhen Xu, you're obstructing the Qin Family's Conquest of Chu and spying on their every move. Today, I'll take your life and remove this thorn from their side!" Qin Yu told himself, his voice cold and unwavering. He knew this assassination would not only help the Qin Family but also sharpen his combat skills and test the results of his three months of training.
Qin Yu didn't linger. He put on his mask, used his movement technique, and slipped out of the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion without a sound, heading for Zhen Xu's residence in the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region. Through the night, his figure darted along like a ghost, moving at great speed. The crimson sword in his hand flickered in and out of sight, its faint spiritual light glinting like a blade in the dark, poised to strike the hidden enemy.
He didn't send Yun Ce a message or inform Qin De and his two older brothers. He wanted to complete the assassination through his own efforts, prove how much he had grown, and live up to Yun Ce's instructions and the Qin Family's expectations. He knew the assassination would not be easy. Zhen Xu was cautious and well-guarded, but Qin Yu was not afraid. His late-Xiantian cultivation, the boost of a High-Grade Spirit Artifact, and the practical experience he had gained with the Heavenly Net were his greatest sources of confidence.
Along the way, Qin Yu pressed on day and night, racing toward the prefectural city of the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region. As he traveled, he worked out his assassination plan, considering how to infiltrate Zhen Xu's residence, avoid the guards, strike with a single fatal blow, and escape unharmed. He thought through every detail, leaving nothing to chance. He knew that one mistake could not only ruin the assassination but also expose his identity and bring even greater trouble to the Qin Family.
Meanwhile, in the courtyard on Cloud Mist Mountain, Yun Ce sat cross-legged. His divine sense quietly extended outward, and he sensed Qin Yu's movements. A faint smile touched his lips, and a look of anticipation crossed his eyes. He had already known that Qin Yu had slipped into the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion and had heard Qin Feng and Qin Zheng's conversation. He also knew that Qin Yu was now heading toward the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region, and had guessed what he intended to do.
"Zhen Xu..." Yun Ce murmured. A wisp of pale purple True Fire coiled around his fingertip. "He'll make a good opponent. This is a perfect opportunity for Qin Yu to temper himself further and see just how much he's grown over the past three months." He wasn't worried about Qin Yu's safety. Zhen Xu's guards were no match for Qin Yu. Besides, Yun Ce had left a trace of his spiritual awareness on Qin Yu. If Qin Yu faced real danger, he would step in at once.
In the prefectural city of the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region, Zhen Xu's residence was heavily guarded and brightly lit. He sat in his study, reading the intelligence his subordinates had brought him, a cruel smile curling his lips. He had long sensed that the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion was making moves, and knew Qin De was secretly preparing for war, but he had yet to find conclusive evidence. He calculated that as soon as he uncovered more clues, he would report them to Xiang Guang. Xiang Guang could then prepare in advance and crush the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion's desire to rebel once and for all.
Zhen Xu had no idea that deadly danger was closing in on him. Through the dark, a young figure raced toward his residence, a blade already poised to strike. All it needed was the right moment to slice through the night and take his life.
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