Actually, the investigator at the time had thought the same thing as the boy did now. He believed the villagers' claims of innate superhuman strength were nothing but exaggeration, but in the end, he had still recorded the information.
"Likes going down to the river to catch fish in the morning." A cold glint appeared in the boy's lifeless eyes. He folded the file and tucked it inside his shirt.
"Shadow!" he cried. A yellow Soul Ring suddenly appeared around him. It flashed, and his entire body seemed to pour downward like liquid, melding into the tree's shadow until there wasn't a trace of him to be seen.
His goal was to make Jiang Chen's death look like an accident. If Jiang Chen went down to the river to catch fish, all the better.
But if Jiang Chen stayed inside all day, he would have to sneak into Holy Soul Village that night.
He knew countless ways to kill someone, all of which could make Jiang Chen's death look accidental: a fire, a venomous snake, a misstep into a well...
The boy waited patiently, like a hunter waiting for his prey, without a hint of emotion.
He had started killing at the age of six. After all these years, he had become utterly stone-hearted. He felt no guilt, even about targeting a six-year-old child.
Still, he couldn't help feeling a little regret. Innate Full Soul Power, an unparalleled genius, the hope of the whole village... what a shame.
It wasn't long before a little figure emerged from the entrance to Holy Soul Village and hurried toward the tree.
It was Tang San, who went up the mountain to cultivate every single day without fail. He moved lightly, covering three meters with each step, the distance between them differing by no more than a hair's breadth.
After traveling some distance from Holy Soul Village, Tang San unleashed his full speed, darting past the tree like a gust of wind.
The hidden assassin recognized that he wasn't the target, but Tang San's astonishing display still startled him. This skinny boy, who looked only five or six, was unbelievably fast—practically a monster.
His speed was nearly on par with that of the assassin, who was at the nineteenth level.
If the assassin hadn't been hidden, he would surely have noticed that his usually calm eyes were now filled with shock.
But his professionalism as an assassin kept him from giving off the slightest fluctuation of aura. Concealing one's presence was an essential skill for every assassin.
Tang San flashed past the tree without noticing anything unusual and, under the assassin's cold gaze, continued toward the mountain in the distance.
The boy continued to wait patiently, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment.
At last, another small figure emerged from Holy Soul Village. It was Jiang Chen, heading out to forage that morning.
Having just finished a night of cultivation, Jiang Chen wasn't as impatient as Tang San. He ambled toward the river.
Cultivation made him feel good, but he still needed to relax now and then. The early morning, when all things awoke and birds sang amid fragrant flowers, lifted the spirits more than anything.
"The king sent me to patrol the mountain, to catch Tang San for breakfast..."
Jiang Chen hummed as he strolled past the tree at an unhurried pace.
Suddenly, the song stopped. He halted, looking puzzled.
His nostrils twitched slightly. He sensed the presence of a stranger somewhere nearby.
But he scanned his surroundings and saw no one else.
Jiang Chen slowly walked into the tree's shade, pacing back and forth through it several times.
"Strange. Is my sense playing tricks on me?" Jiang Chen murmured.
In the end, he shook his head and left, still puzzled. Whether his senses were failing him or not, catching fish came first. He still had to go back and train later.
After Jiang Chen disappeared from sight, a shadow suddenly emerged from beneath the tree. It gradually became clearer, taking the shape of a boy.
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