Wind and Rain Pavilion Accepts Mission

"Oh, you're the ruthless young man Black Hawk mentioned?" Elder Qing sized Lu Li up from head to toe.

Lu Li nodded.

Just then, Lu Li suddenly heard Black Hawk's voice from the stairs: "Yo, I didn't expect you to be here so soon?"

Black Hawk strode over, his plump body making his night-traveling clothes bulge.

"Quick, quick, Elder Qing, give me my referral fee. I happened to spot a pill I liked upstairs and don't have enough funds on hand."

"Haha." He let out a few laughs, patted Lu Li's shoulder, and grew more appreciative of him: "You've come at the perfect time. With the referral fee, you can fill that hole."

Lu Li flashed a smile, observing Elder Qing and Black Hawk, reading their expressions.

It seemed the two were quite familiar with each other.

"Still the same impatient look," Elder Qing chided with a smile, taking out a silver note and handing it to Black Hawk.

Lu Li's peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the silver note; it was large.

Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a thousand-tael note.

He couldn't help but gasp.

Just for introducing someone, he received a thousand taels!

That was enough for an ordinary person to live a life of luxury for a lifetime!

The Wind and Rain Pavilion was indeed wealthy and powerful!

Then, Black Hawk, chuckling, took the silver note and went upstairs to purchase the pill.

"Weapons, pills, martial arts, whatever martial arts resources you desire, most of them can be bought at our Wind and Rain Pavilion," Elder Qing explained.

"I can see your aura is steady; you must have some skill."

Elder Qing continued to examine Lu Li, saying slowly, "However, to become an assassin for our Wind and Rain Pavilion, you still need to complete one mission."

"Consider it an assessment."

"But don't worry, even if it's an assessment, you'll still receive the normal reward."

With that, he opened a drawer and tossed out several pieces of paper.

The soft papers, like cards, spun and flew towards Lu Li.

They contained mission information.

The first paper listed a mission to assassinate a wealthy household in Cangyuan County, with a reward of three hundred taels.

"Cangyuan County is a neighboring county to Changfeng County, relatively far. Let's see the next one."

The second paper was a mission to eliminate bandits in Pingshan County, with a reward of five hundred taels.

"The rewards all start at a hundred taels. As expected, the Wind and Rain Pavilion is a place to get rich quick!"

Looking at the third paper, Lu Li's eyes flickered.

It clearly stated a mission to assassinate two members of the Incense Fragrance Sect named Gao Huaiyi and Zhang Tianlong.

It was noted that these two had already arrived in Changfeng County and entered the county town.

Both of them were at the Tendon-Refining Realm.

"Tsk, they finally found me," Lu Li thought fiercely.

"I'll take this mission," Lu Li immediately selected it and placed it before Elder Qing.

Elder Qing glanced at it and raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure you want to choose this mission?"

Lu Li hesitated. Seeing Elder Qing's meaningful expression, although the latter was only at the Tendon-Refining Realm, he didn't dare to be careless.

He cautiously inquired, "Is there something special about it?"

Elder Qing pointed to the mission order and explained, "Our Wind and Rain Pavilion has had assassins fall at their hands."

He paused and continued, "Although these two are both at the Tendon-Refining Realm, their strength is not as simple as it appears on the surface."

"Gao Huaiyi is skilled with a great saber, incredibly fierce, known as 'one saber strike, gold and stone break,' earning him the moniker Gold-Stone Blade."

"Zhang Tianlong is adept at poison; one careless mistake and you'll fall victim."

"Without the strength of the Organ-Refining Realm, you likely won't be able to take them down."

Elder Qing said, shaking his head.

"I suggest you switch to another mission. This one is better left for Black Hawk and the others at the Organ-Refining Realm."

Lu Li's brow furrowed as he listened.

But upon hearing that the Organ-Refining Realm could handle it, his worries instantly vanished.

Although he wasn't at the Organ-Refining Realm yet, he was practically there.

Completing the mission would be no problem!

No matter how fierce the Gold-Stone Blade or how potent the poison, in the face of absolute strength, they are nothing but fleeting clouds.

"I'll take this mission," Lu Li confirmed.

"You certainly have guts," Elder Qing chuckled, though it was unclear whether he was expressing admiration or mockery.

"Newborn calves are not afraid of tigers; that is exactly what this is."

"Young man, if you don't listen to the advice of your elders, you'll suffer for it soon enough. Why not reconsider?"

Lu Li shook his head. "This junior has absolute confidence that he can kill both targets."

Elder Qing shrugged and stopped speaking, waving a hand to signal that Lu Li could leave.

"Oh, a word of advice: there are some powerful figures not on the mission list, but if you kill them and bring back their heads, you can also rank up."

"The assassins of our Wind and Rain Pavilion are also divided by grade."

"Right, pick a mask and choose a moniker," Elder Qing said, tossing over a few masks.

Lu Li looked them over and selected a blood-red ghost mask. "I shall be called Blood Ghost."

Elder Qing gave a slight nod.

"Many thanks, Elder Qing!" Lu Li said, then turned and left.

Elder Qing tapped his fingertips against the tabletop, watching as Black Hawk happened to descend at that moment, and beckoned him over.

"Didn't you say this kid was in the Tendon-Refining Realm? How does he have the confidence to take on a mission involving the Incense Fragrance Sect?"

"What?" Black Hawk was stunned. He had intended to take that mission himself; he hadn't expected a newcomer like Lu Li to snatch it up.

Black Hawk rubbed his large head, feeling exceptionally puzzled.

The last time he saw Lu Li exert his full strength, it was indeed at the Tendon-Refining level.

He had seen Lu Li act with ruthless precision and recognized him as a talent, which was why he couldn't help but recommend him and earn a referral fee in the process.

Seeing the blank look on his face, Elder Qing scoffed, "It seems you won't be getting the rest of your referral fee."

The referral fee consisted of two parts: one when the referred person arrived at the Wind and Rain Pavilion to accept a mission, and the other upon completing a mission to become a formal assassin.

"Tch, I still believe in him," Black Hawk said, recovering from his daze.

"In my experience, someone this ruthless and cold-blooded certainly isn't lacking in the brains department."

He glanced at Elder Qing and continued, "The last person who called him a calf is likely being torn apart by beasts right now."

"Hey, you bastard, are you cursing me?" Elder Qing snapped, displeased.

Black Hawk laughed. "Shall we make a wager?"

"No wager," Elder Qing sneered.

Black Hawk looked at Elder Qing with suspicion. "Didn't you just say he was bound to lose? Why are you afraid to bet now?"

"Sigh, how have you become so timid in your old age?"

Elder Qing was not annoyed, instead shaking his head with feigned disappointment. "I feel there is merit in your words, so I have chosen to believe in the lad."

Black Hawk was stunned, wishing he could slap himself across the face.

"Old fox!"

By the time Lu Li returned to Changfeng County, it was the dawn of the following day.

It's a good thing I had Hu Niu; otherwise, the time spent traveling back and forth would never have been enough. It seems helping Hu Niu break through is also a matter of priority.

Huh, the snow is getting heavier.

In the twelfth month, the snow fell like goose feathers, swirling in the air and obscuring his vision.

As the snow intensified, the skeletons along the roadside became increasingly numerous.

Lu Li entered the city, his mood complex as he looked at the scenes surrounding the shantytown.

The streets had less excrement than before and no longer reeked of rot.

However.

Rows of gaunt, ragged people huddled by the roadside, begging.

Those who froze or starved to death were immediately swarmed and scavenged.

They were like zombies.

A woman clutched her child tightly, watching the surrounding crowd with wary, predatory eyes.

She was terrified that her child would be snatched away to be eaten.

In the distance, the "human meat" shops had very little business.

"In chaotic times, people eat people, but now even the human meat shops have no business."

"The streets are clean only because people can no longer afford to eat."

Lu Li sighed and continued deeper into Changfeng County.

Feeling the predatory gazes of those watching him, he quickened his pace.