Assassination

Within Yongle District, Li Huai took Su Xin straight to Jinsheng Gambling House.

Dai Chong was a compulsive gambler. Huang Bingcheng had already found out that Dai Chong spent every day at Jinsheng Gambling House.

Zhang Hong, who knew he had caused trouble, was also staying by Dai Chong's side, eager to please his boss.

Su Xin might have visited Yongle District before, but his memories had grown hazy since crossing over. So as he walked, he sized up everything around him—not out of curiosity, but to choose the best escape route after the assassination.

Su Xin wasn't acting on a reckless impulse by daring to assassinate Dai Chong. He had made this choice only after becoming ninety percent certain he would succeed.

Three days ago, he had already opened all thirty-six acupoints and officially advanced to the Post-Natal Initial Realm.

With all thirty-six acupoints connected, a Lesser Celestial Circuit formed within his body, and his true qi circulated without end.

Su Xin could now be called a true martial artist.

Third Master Hu had once said that none of the Flying Eagle Gang's thirteen leaders had opened all thirty-six acupoints.

So Su Xin guessed that the Green Bamboo Gang, whose strength was about equal to the Flying Eagle Gang's, was the same.

Dai Chong might have practiced internal cultivation, but he definitely hadn't opened all thirty-six acupoints and become a Post-Natal Initial Realm martial artist.

Besides, even if Su Xin had miscalculated and Dai Chong was in the Post-Natal Initial Realm, he still wouldn't fear him.

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

The sword technique was astonishingly lethal. Overcoming a stronger opponent was nothing unusual.

At the entrance to Jinsheng Gambling House, Su Xin said to Li Huai, "When I get close to Dai Chong, just stay at the entrance."

"Give me a reason." Li Huai frowned.

Su Xin's arrangement was obviously meant to have him cover the retreat. Li Huai wouldn't get to take part in the assassination himself, which left him quite disappointed.

"Take a look at your own face. If you go after Dai Chong, his men will stop you before you get within ten meters of him."

With Li Huai's dead-man's face, he might as well have the words "I'm a bad guy" carved right into his forehead. Anyone who saw him would feel uncomfortable.

If Su Xin sent him in, it wouldn't be an assassination. It would be a frontal assault.

Li Huai was speechless, but could only nod.

Su Xin's greatsword was too conspicuous, so he put it in a wooden case and handed it to Li Huai to look after. He hid his thin sword in his sleeve.

He was wearing a splendid brocade robe, with sleeves so wide that no one could tell a sword was hidden inside.

Su Xin looked every bit like a young master out for a good time. The instant he entered Jinsheng Gambling House, his whole demeanor changed.

The decisive, battle-hardened Boss Su became the dashing young master Su. Even Li Huai was taken aback.

At least, with that dead-man's face, he could never pull off such a transformation.

Jinsheng Gambling House was quite large, a third bigger than Boss Huang's former Shunde Casino.

Shouts and clamors filled the hall, making the whole place seem rowdy and disreputable.

Servants and pretty maids carried wine and snacks back and forth. Clearly, they had picked up the idea from Happy Forest.

Happy Forest's model had spread throughout Changning Prefecture long ago. Though the others couldn't copy it entirely because of the cost of real estate, they could still borrow some of its clever little tricks.

Su Xin grinned and gave a pretty maid a playful grope. Amid her coquettish protest, he took a jug of wine and ambled toward Dai Chong.

Dai Chong had a peculiar taste.

People with status and wealth usually gambled in private rooms, but Dai Chong liked playing with people amid the hubbub of the main hall.

At that moment, Dai Chong was playing pai gow with three others. Zhang Hong sat to his left, cautiously dealing him winning tiles.

The last time Dai Chong had beaten a member of the Flying Eagle Gang to death, he had managed to suppress the incident, but it had still forced him to apologize to the Flying Eagle Gang and lose face.

Boss Dai was moody and unpredictable. Things had quieted down for now, but if he lost at the table one day and got in a bad mood, he might remember the incident and take it out on Zhang Hong.

So lately, Zhang Hong hadn't had the heart to manage his own territory. He spent all day beside Dai Chong, hoping to keep his boss happy enough to forget what had happened.

Just then, Zhang Hong looked up and saw Su Xin weaving toward them with a wine jug in hand. He frowned and snapped impatiently, "Hey, you! Where are you from? You think you can come in here? Get lost."

Su Xin curled his lip in disdain. "What, does your family own this gambling house? These are the only empty tables in the hall. Why can't I sit here?

"Don't act like some big shot in front of me. If you've got the guts, go play in a private room upstairs. What kind of big man are you pretending to be out here?"

"Damn it! You looking to get yourself killed?" Zhang Hong slammed his hand on the table, furious.

Dai Chong glanced at Su Xin, then gestured to the men standing beside him, signaling them to throw Su Xin out and teach him a lesson while they were at it.

Though Su Xin was dressed like a rich young master, Dai Chong paid him no mind.

There were plenty of wealthy merchants in Yongle District. Who would dare challenge him, a leader of the Green Bamboo Gang? If the boy got taught a lesson today, he'd only have himself to blame for not knowing his place.

But just as Dai Chong turned his attention back to the table, he suddenly felt a sharp glint flash at the corner of his eye. A chilling killing intent instantly enveloped him, like a bloodthirsty wolf baring its fangs at him!

Su Xin's sword was already out of its sheath.

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

That sudden thrust was like lightning, completely unguarded and aimed at one thing only: Dai Chong's throat!

Zhang Hong saw the sword. So did the gang members beside Dai Chong, but none of them could react in time.

After a month of practice, Su Xin's Quick Sword had reached thirty percent proficiency. Those small fry had no chance of stopping it.

Li Huai, keeping watch at the entrance and following the commotion inside, saw the thrust too.

It shocked him as well.

He used a sword, too, and was also known for his Quick Sword under Third Master Hu.

But compared with Su Xin's sword, his was not only slower, but also less ruthless and vicious!

At that critical moment, Dai Chong suddenly jerked his head aside. The dazzling sword slid past his throat, leaving only a thin streak of blood.

His heart pounded violently. Dai Chong felt no triumph at escaping the blow, only relief—the relief of having walked back from the gates of hell!

Su Xin had pushed speed, ruthlessness, and precision to their limits. If Dai Chong hadn't caught the sword's glint as he turned, and if years of fighting hadn't made him dodge on instinct, he would already be a corpse!

"Who are you!?"

Dai Chong immediately seized the Drum-Beating Gold Hammer beside him. Fear still lingered in his eyes.

Su Xin suddenly smiled. "I'm..."

Before he could finish, another lightning-fast thrust came at him, its angle treacherous and strange.

This time, Dai Chong was on guard. He wouldn't let Su Xin land such an easy hit again.

He swung the Drum-Beating Gold Hammer, bringing it down with the force of Mount Tai. If Su Xin didn't dodge, he might drive his sword into Dai Chong's throat, but he'd be smashed into a heap of flesh himself.

But to Dai Chong's surprise, Su Xin acted as if he hadn't even seen the hammer coming down. He showed no sign of pulling back.

Dai Chong had a fine position as a gang leader and had no desire to die alongside a nobody whose identity he didn't even know.

So he had no choice but to change his move at the last instant, raising the Drum-Beating Gold Hammer across his chest to barely block the thrust.

"Clang!"

A piercing clash of metal rang out, and both men's expressions changed.

A deep sword scar was clearly visible on Dai Chong's Drum-Beating Gold Hammer. The force behind Su Xin's sword had exceeded his expectations.

Su Xin's expression changed for another reason: he had judged Dai Chong's level correctly, but had overlooked one thing.

Dai Chong hadn't broken through to the Post-Natal Initial Realm, but he was incredibly strong—strong enough to be called a natural-born prodigy of strength.

The Post-Natal Initial Realm was a martial artist's first major hurdle, but it only brought a limited increase in strength.

Opening all thirty-six acupoints strengthened the bones and muscles and invigorated the blood, but that was about it.

At the Post-Natal Initial Realm, the pitiful amount of internal energy wasn't even enough to project true qi outward.

So although Dai Chong hadn't broken through to the Post-Natal Initial Realm, his natural strength made up for it. He was even stronger than some true Post-Natal Initial Realm martial artists.

Since ancient times, only peerless warriors had dared wield the Drum-Beating Gold Hammer.

Though Dai Chong was only strong enough to swing one Drum-Beating Gold Hammer, Su Xin's hand had already gone numb from that blow.

"Take the boy alive! I want to see who's trying to kill me!"

Dai Chong roared. Only then did the Green Bamboo Gang members in Jinsheng Gambling House react. They hurriedly drew their swords and sabers and charged at Su Xin.

The other gamblers screamed and fled, and chaos erupted in the hall.

Dai Chong was a gang leader, after all. He naturally had more than a few men beside him. Dozens of them came running in from around the gambling house, and Su Xin was glad he had brought Li Huai along.

Li Huai didn't disappoint him.

As the gang members charged at Su Xin, Li Huai suddenly struck.

His weapons were two short swords, only nine inches long—though they were more like daggers than swords.

Li Huai gripped them in reverse. His strikes were incredibly fast and just as ruthless, each thrust sealing a throat without exception.

No one had expected the assassin to have an accomplice.

Li Huai burst out of the crowd and killed four or five men in the blink of an eye.