This Kid Might Be a Genius

"It's been a whole day and still no news. Do you think the kid messed up?" Elder Qing sat on a stool, hands behind his head, and said casually.

"Sigh, I knew I should have bet with you." He smacked his lips, feeling like he'd missed out on a good thing.

"Even you went on a long trip and came back, and there's still no news of that brat. I'm afraid he's already failed."

"Alas, what a pity for such a promising talent."

"'He who does not listen to the elders will suffer in front of them.' There's a lot of truth to that."

Elder Qing picked a peanut from the dish and put it in his mouth, chewing it slowly with a look of regret.

Black Hawk rolled his eyes, lifted his mask, and revealed his mouth.

He picked up the plate and ate all the peanuts in one go.

Ignoring Elder Qing's sharp, murderous gaze, he put his mask back on and said in a muffled voice, "You wouldn't bet with me, and now look, you've lost, haven't you?"

Elder Qing was speechless, and the two stared at each other.

Black Hawk suddenly laughed, "Elder Qing, why don't we bet again?"

"I bet the kid is fine."

"What?" Elder Qing retorted, his eyes wide with disbelief, as if he'd misheard.

Black Hawk repeated himself.

Elder Qing was even more confused, "You trust that kid that much?"

"Old man, stop the nonsense. Do you dare to bet?"

"Bet what?" Elder Qing stroked his chin, his gaze flicking to Black Hawk.

"Bet your Cyan Steel Sword?" Black Hawk said boldly.

Elder Qing's eyes showed hesitation.

His Cyan Steel Sword was a famous sword, worth a fortune.

It was forged from cyan steel fused with meteorite iron from outer space. The blade was sharp enough to cut through metal like mud, and it was comfortable to hold and had an excellent feel.

Without ten thousand taels of silver, it couldn't be bought!

"You're an old member of the Wind and Rain Pavilion, and you're not short of a Cyan Steel Sword," Black Hawk continued to persuade him.

"If I lose, hehe, I'll serve the Wind and Rain Pavilion forever. What do you say?"

"You brat, you only know how to play tricks. Who else would you serve if not the Wind and Rain Pavilion in your life?" Elder Qing glanced at him, and finally made up his mind, "Fine, I'll bet."

Black Hawk's face lit up instantly, his eyes narrowing into slits.

Just then, Lu Li stepped into the Wind and Rain Pavilion.

Elder Qing's smile froze.

On the other hand, Black Hawk's smile contorted his entire face, nearly bursting his mask.

"Little brother, you're finally back." Black Hawk was extremely enthusiastic and quickly got up to greet him.

This action left Lu Li bewildered.

Lu Li walked to the counter, looked at Elder Qing's gloomy and angry expression, then at Black Hawk's grinning face, and was confused.

Black Hawk composed himself, "Lu Li, how did the mission go?"

"It went well. I've killed two members of the Incense Fragrance Sect. Here are their ears."

Lu Li took out Gao Huaiyi and Zhang Tianlong's ears and handed them to Elder Qing.

Elder Qing looked at Lu Li with surprise, nodded, and put the ears away.

His gaze suddenly sharpened, "Kid, our Wind and Rain Pavilion has always had an inspection department. If you dare to slack off, I will not let you off."

"You will be hunted by the Wind and Rain Pavilion for all eternity!"

"Alright, you old scoundrel, can't you afford to lose?" Black Hawk sneered.

Lu Li finally understood that the two of them had been betting on him.

It seemed Elder Qing had lost the bet?

"Old man, hand over the Cyan Steel Sword first." Black Hawk was a little impatient now.

Elder Qing snorted coldly, but true to his word, he handed over the Cyan Steel Sword.

It was indeed a famous sword, exuding a chilling aura, its brilliance dazzling. The blade was carved with exquisite patterns that seemed lifelike.

The edge was thin and sharp, and the sword was exceptionally sturdy.

However, the Cyan Steel Sword was broken, only a piece the size of a palm remained.

Black Hawk's expression changed drastically, and the smile shifted to Elder Qing's face.

"I forgot to mention, the Cyan Steel Sword is broken. Do you still want it?"

"How... how did it break?" Black Hawk's voice trembled, his heart bleeding.

The veins on his fat hand bulged, clearly enraged.

Elder Qing sighed, having lost it while crossing blades with a formidable foe.

He patted Black Hawk on the shoulder. "Otherwise, do you think I, Elder Qing, would have transferred to this place?"

Black Hawk, just about to bicker with Elder Qing, fell silent, his anger instantly dissipating.

"Is there anything I can help with?" Black Hawk asked.

Elder Qing shook his head and sighed.

The atmosphere suddenly turned heavy.

Black Hawk looked at Lu Li, smiled, and took the small fragment of the Cyan Steel Sword. "Haha, this old man is cunning; he's played me again."

The silence was dispelled.

Elder Qing snorted coldly, reaching for a peanut on the plate, only to realize it was empty.

Only then did he look at Lu Li. "The bounty for the two was five hundred taels, but since he injured one of our Wind and Rain Pavilion assassins, the Pavilion has adjusted the difficulty rating and added another two hundred taels."

Elder Qing casually pulled out seven banknotes, each worth one hundred taels.

He then glared fiercely at Black Hawk, making up the remainder of Black Hawk's referral fee.

He then provided another portion according to the previous reward.

Lu Li watched as Black Hawk collected another referral fee, feeling somewhat surprised.

He gained a new appreciation for the sheer wealth of the Wind and Rain Pavilion.

"Lu Li, congratulations. You are now an official assassin of our Wind and Rain Pavilion."

Elder Qing said solemnly.

"Thank you, Elder Qing."

"Oh, right, there is one more thing." Lu Li had been distracted by Elder Qing and Black Hawk, but he suddenly remembered the ear in his pocket.

"This is the ear of the Wang Family head, Wang Ju."

"Hm?" Elder Qing looked at him in surprise, his deep eyes fixed on Lu Li. "You slaughtered Wang Ju?"

Having established the Wind and Rain Pavilion in Changfeng County, he was naturally aware of the city's power dynamics.

The Wind and Rain Pavilion had its own intelligence network, after all.

Lu Li nodded.

No sooner had he spoken than a man in black arrived with swift, light-footed movement, whispering into Elder Qing's ear.

This black garment was entirely different from those of the other assassins; a blood-red dagger was embroidered on the chest as part of the uniform.

Clearly, the man was a member of the Wind and Rain Pavilion.

After a while, the man in black retreated.

Elder Qing nodded slightly, looking at Lu Li with profound astonishment.

It did not last long, however, before it was replaced by a look of admiration.

"Not bad. Killing someone in the Organ-Refining Realm is enough to make you a Bronze Rank Assassin of the Wind and Rain Pavilion."

"Bronze Rank Assassins receive a ten percent discount on all resources purchased from the Wind and Rain Pavilion."

"Kid, congratulations. You are now qualified to choose a moniker for yourself."

Lu Li pondered for a moment; he hadn't expected the Wind and Rain Pavilion to be so strict that even official assassins lacked monikers, only those of Bronze Rank and above.

"Blood Ghost," Lu Li replied.

Elder Qing nodded slightly, taking out a bronze plaque and carving something onto the back while smiling. "Just like your mask."

After a moment, Elder Qing handed the bronze plaque to Lu Li.

It was cold and hard to the touch, with the three characters for "Wind and Rain Pavilion" engraved on the front, and his moniker, Blood Ghost, on the back.

Afterward, Elder Qing waved his hand, signaling that Lu Li was free to leave.

Lu Li took his leave and went upstairs with Black Hawk to purchase resources.

Elder Qing opened his eyes, watching Lu Li's retreating figure with a look of shock on his face.

"This kid is no simple character; I fear he is a genius!"