Assassination

In Yongle District, Li Huai led Su Xin straight toward Jinsheng Gambling House.

Dai Chong was a gambler; Huang Bingcheng had already scouted this out, confirming that Dai Chong had been spending every day at Jinsheng Gambling House lately.

Zhang Hong, knowing he had stirred up trouble, was also sticking by Dai Chong's side, serving him and trying to curry favor with his boss.

Su Xin might have visited Yongle District in the past, but his memories had grown hazy after transmigrating. As he walked, he scanned his surroundings—not out of curiosity, but to scout the best escape route for after the assassination.

Su Xin was not acting out of reckless impulse by daring to assassinate Dai Chong; he only made this choice because he was ninety percent certain of success.

Three days ago, he had already opened up thirty-six acupoints, officially advancing to the early stage of the Houtian realm.

With thirty-six acupoints connected, they formed a Small Heavenly Circuit within his body, allowing his internal energy to circulate without end.

The current Su Xin could finally be called a true martial artist.

Third Master Hu had once said that among the thirteen major heads of the Flying Eagle Gang, not a single one had opened all thirty-six acupoints.

Therefore, Su Xin guessed that the Green Bamboo Gang, which was similar in strength to the Flying Eagle Gang, was likely the same.

Dai Chong might have practiced internal arts, but he definitely had not opened thirty-six acupoints to become an early-stage Houtian martial artist.

Even if Su Xin had miscalculated and Dai Chong was indeed an early-stage Houtian, he would not be afraid.

At the same level, Su Xin, armed with Jing Wuming's Quick Sword, still had a ninety percent chance of killing Dai Chong.

The lethality of this sword technique was truly astonishing; it was nothing unusual for it to overcome a superior opponent.

Arriving at the entrance of Jinsheng Gambling House, Su Xin said to Li Huai, "I'll approach Dai Chong later; you just guard the door."

"Give me a reason." Li Huai frowned.

Su Xin's arrangement was clearly meant to have him cover the retreat, preventing him from participating in the assassination of Dai Chong, which left Li Huai feeling quite regretful.

"Look at your own face first. If you were the one to assassinate Dai Chong, you'd probably be intercepted by his men before you even got within ten meters of him."

With that deadpan face of his, Li Huai might as well have had the words "I am a bad guy" carved into his forehead; it made everyone uncomfortable just looking at him.

If he were the one to go, it wouldn't be an assassination, but a frontal assault.

Li Huai was speechless, but he had no choice but to nod.

Su Xin's heavy sword was too conspicuous, so he had packed it into a wooden box and entrusted it to Li Huai, while he hid his thin sword inside his sleeve.

He was dressed in a gorgeous brocade robe with oversized sleeves, making it impossible to tell that a sword was hidden within.

Su Xin looked just like a young master from some wealthy family out for a good time. The moment he stepped into Jinsheng Gambling House, his entire demeanor shifted.

He transformed from the decisive and ruthless Boss Su into the suave and dashing Young Master Su, which left Li Huai stunned.

At the very least, his own deadpan face could never pull off such a change.

The scale of Jinsheng Gambling House was not small, being thirty percent larger than Boss Huang's original Shunde Casino.

The main hall was filled with clamorous shouting, making the entire space feel somewhat foul and chaotic.

Attendants and beautiful maids moved back and forth carrying drinks and snacks; this tactic was clearly learned from Happy Forest.

The business model of Happy Forest had long since spread throughout Changning Prefecture. Although they couldn't copy it entirely due to space constraints, they could still adopt some of the more effective tricks.

Su Xin playfully pinched a beautiful maid, and amidst her coy protests, he grabbed a pot of wine and sauntered toward Dai Chong.

Dai Chong had peculiar tastes.

People of status and standing usually played in private rooms when visiting a gambling house, but Dai Chong preferred to gamble with others in the noisy main hall.

At this moment, Dai Chong was playing Pai Gow with three others. His predecessor was Zhang Hong, who was carefully feeding Dai Chong favorable tiles.

Although Dai Chong had suppressed the incident after the Flying Eagle Gang member was beaten to death last time, it had forced Dai Chong to apologize to the Flying Eagle Gang, causing him to lose face.

Their Boss Dai was temperamental. Even though things were fine for now, if he ever lost at the table and got into a bad mood, he might just remember that incident and give him a beating.

That was why Zhang Hong hadn't had the heart to manage his own territory lately, spending his days by Dai Chong's side, trying to keep his boss comfortable so he would forget the whole affair.

Just then, Zhang Hong looked up and saw Su Xin walking over, swaying with a wine pot in hand. He frowned and said impatiently, "Hey, where are you from, kid? Is this a place you can just wander into? Get lost."

Su Xin curled his lip, his expression full of disdain. "What's this? Did your family open this gambling house? Your table is the only one in the hall with empty seats, so why can't I come over?

Don't act like a big shot in front of me. If you've got the guts, go play in a private room upstairs. Why are you putting on airs here in the main hall?"

"Damn! You looking to die, kid?" Zhang Hong slammed the table in anger.

Dai Chong glanced at Su Xin and gestured with his chin to his subordinates standing nearby, signaling them to kick Su Xin out and teach him a lesson in manners while they were at it.

Although Su Xin was dressed like a wealthy young master, Dai Chong didn't take him seriously at all.

There were plenty of rich merchants in Yongle District, but who dared to challenge a major head like him? If this kid got beaten today, he only had his own lack of eyes to blame.

But just at that moment, as Dai Chong turned his gaze back to the table, he suddenly felt a sharp edge graze the corner of his eye. A cold, murderous intent instantly enveloped him, as if a bloodthirsty wolf were baring its fangs right at him!

Su Xin's sword had been unsheathed.

No one saw how that thin sword appeared in his hand.

That sudden strike was like a bolt of lightning, without the slightest concealment, and its target was singular: Dai Chong's throat!

Zhang Hong saw this strike, and the few gang members beside Dai Chong saw it too, but they were completely unable to react in time.

After a month of practice, the Quick Sword, which had reached 30% proficiency, was simply not something these small-time characters could stop.

Li Huai, who had been guarding the entrance and keeping a close watch on the movements inside, naturally witnessed this strike.

This strike also left Li Huai exceptionally shocked.

He also used a sword, and under Third Master Hu, he was likewise renowned for his fast swordplay.

But compared to Su Xin's sword, his was not only insufficiently fast, but also lacked the same ruthlessness and viciousness!

In this split second of life and death, Dai Chong's head jerked violently to the side. This stunningly brilliant strike grazed Dai Chong's neck, leaving behind only a bloody gash.

With his heart pounding violently, Dai Chong felt no triumph at having dodged the blow; he felt only relief—the relief of having walked through the gates of hell and returned!

Su Xin's strike had pushed speed, ruthlessness, and viciousness to their absolute limits. If it hadn't been for Dai Chong catching the glint of the blade's reflection the moment he turned his head, combined with his years of combat experience allowing him to dodge instinctively, he would likely be a corpse by now.

"Who are you!?"

Dai Chong immediately gripped the Drum-Beating Gold Hammer at his side, his eyes still filled with lingering terror.

Su Xin suddenly smiled and said, "I am..."

Before the words had even faded, a lightning-fast strike attacked once more, its angle tricky and bizarre.

Having been caught off guard once, Dai Chong naturally would not let Su Xin succeed so easily again.

He swung the Drum-Beating Gold Hammer in his hand, the momentum of a mountain crashing down descending instantly. If Su Xin did not dodge, even if he managed to plunge his sword into Dai Chong's neck, he himself would be smashed into a pulp of flesh and blood.

But to Dai Chong's surprise, Su Xin acted as if he hadn't seen the hammer descending at all, showing no intention of pulling back his strike.

Dai Chong was living a good life as a high-ranking leader; naturally, he did not want to perish together with a guy whose identity he didn't even know.

Thus, he was forced to change his move mid-swing, holding the Drum-Beating Gold Hammer horizontally across his chest to barely block the strike.

"Clang!"

A piercing sound of metal clashing rang out, and both men's expressions changed simultaneously.

On Dai Chong's Drum-Beating Gold Hammer, a deep sword mark was clearly visible; the power behind Su Xin's strike exceeded his expectations.

As for what made Su Xin's expression change, it was that while he had correctly gauged Dai Chong's strength, he had miscalculated one point.

Dai Chong had indeed not broken through to the early stage of the Houtian Realm, but his own physical strength was immense—he could be considered naturally gifted with divine power.

The early Houtian stage was the first hurdle for a martial artist, but its boost to one's strength was limited.

Opening thirty-six acupuncture points could make one's tendons and bones sturdy and their qi and blood vigorous, but beyond that, there was nothing else.

At the early Houtian stage, that pitiful amount of internal energy couldn't even achieve the projection of true qi.

Therefore, even without breaking through to the early Houtian stage, Dai Chong's innate divine strength compensated for this, making him even stronger than some genuine early Houtian martial artists.

Since ancient times, those who dared to wield Drum-Beating Gold Hammers were peerless, fierce generals.

Although Dai Chong could only swing one of the Drum-Beating Gold Hammers with his strength, Su Xin's hand had already gone numb from this single collision.

"Capture this brat alive for me! I want to see exactly who it is that wants me dead!"

Dai Chong roared, and only then did the Green Bamboo Gang members at Jinsheng Gambling House react, hurriedly drawing various blades to charge at Su Xin.

The other gamblers screamed and fled toward the exit, and the scene instantly descended into chaos.

Dai Chong was a high-ranking leader after all, so he naturally wouldn't have only these few people around him. Dozens of men ran over from around the gambling hall one after another, which made Su Xin feel fortunate that he had brought Li Huai along this time.

And at this moment, Li Huai did not disappoint Su Xin.

Facing the gang members rushing toward Su Xin, Li Huai suddenly struck.

His weapons were two short swords, only nine inches long; rather than short swords, it would be more accurate to call them two daggers.

Li Huai held the swords with a reverse grip, his speed of attack extremely fast and equally ruthless; every strike was aimed at the throat, without exception.

No one had expected that this assassin would have an accomplice.

Li Huai, who had suddenly killed his way out from the crowd, took down four or five people in the blink of an eye.