Star Tower

"Master, let me think this over. Right now, I can't say for certain who I've offended."

As for the Cai and Gu families, Cheng Yang intended to handle them himself. There was no need to alarm his master.

"Star Tower's assassins have always been elusive in movement and impossible to track. If they dared to break into our Chen Clan Martial Hall tonight, there is no guarantee they will not come again tomorrow." Chen Feiyi knitted his brows tightly and said in a deep voice, "Disciple, starting tomorrow, you will share a room with me.

"With your master by your side, I can protect you at once should anything happen."

He was truly deeply concerned for the safety of this treasured disciple of his.

"Thank you, Master." Cheng Yang accepted the kindness, but then remembered something else. "But my mother..."

He feared that if Star Tower's assassins could not find him, they would turn their hands against his family.

"You need not worry about that." Chen Feiyi waved a hand. "Though Star Tower is a gang of thugs who sell their lives for bounties, it is ultimately a colossal force spanning two nations, with strict internal rules. They only act against the bounty target and never implicate others."

Hearing his master say so, the stone in Cheng Yang's heart finally fell to the ground.

Cai Residence.

In the dead of night, Cai Qingwen lay flat on his bed, unable to suppress the curve of his lips no matter what he did.

"I only hope that when I arrive at the martial hall tomorrow morning, I'll hear that little beast Cheng Yang died a violent death."

He rolled over, his entire body burning with excitement at the thought of that scene. As for how he knew the location of Star Tower's branch and how he had placed the bounty, that traced back to his father, Cai Qiming. Years ago, his father had happened to save a Star Tower assassin by chance. To repay the debt of saving his life, that assassin had given the Cai Family the address of Star Tower's Qinglin County branch, along with an exclusive token.

Today, he had used that favor on Cheng Yang.

Yet when he thought of those hundred taels of silver, Cai Qingwen could not help but feel a stab of pain. That had been almost all the wealth he had accumulated over many years.

"Star Tower... don't you dare disappoint me."

He tossed and turned, unable to sleep through the night.

The next day.

With two heavy black circles under his eyes, Cai Qingwen entered the martial hall gates with his lackey Qian Biao. Before his feet had even settled, several hushed discussions drifted into his ears.

"Did you hear? Senior Brother Cheng was assassinated last night and nearly lost his life!"

"Damn, who was so bold as to attack a core disciple in the Chen Clan Martial Hall?"

"Who knows? But Master flew into a rage last night and said he would investigate it thoroughly. Whether he can uncover anything is another matter..."

"Sigh..."

Cheng Yang? That brat was not dead?

Cai Qingwen's pupils shrank sharply. His steps abruptly froze in place, his eyes practically bulging from their sockets.

How was that possible? With Star Tower making a move, assassinating a greenhorn who had only just entered Skin Tempering should have been a sure thing. How could they have failed?!

These two must be talking nonsense!

Cai Qingwen forcibly suppressed the panic in his heart and hurried deeper into the martial hall, intending to verify the truth himself. Yet before he had gone far, his steps nailed themselves to the ground.

Ahead, a familiar figure was walking toward him at an unhurried pace.

That face was calm around the brows and eyes, his steps composed, and his complexion was even a little better than it had been yesterday.

Cheng Yang...

He really was not dead.

Cheng Yang naturally saw Cai Qingwen as well. His gaze paused on his face for a moment before he stepped forward.

Cai Qingwen's expression stiffened slightly as he forced out an unnatural smile. "Junior Brother Cheng, is something the matter?"

"Junior Brother Cai," Cheng Yang said lightly, as though reminding him of some trivial matter, "I am now a core disciple. By the martial hall's rules, you should call me Senior Brother."

The smile on Cai Qingwen's face froze for a moment. His Adam's apple bobbed before he lowered his voice and changed his address. "...Senior Brother is joking."

Cheng Yang did not stop there. His gaze passed over Cai Qingwen and settled on Qian Biao behind him. "Junior Brother Qian, when you see a core disciple in the martial hall, do you not even offer a greeting?"

Qian Biao immediately tensed all over and stammered, "Senior... Senior Brother Cheng..."

Only then did Cheng Yang withdraw his gaze and look back at Cai Qingwen. His tone was as casual as if discussing the weather. "Junior Brother Cai, have you heard about my assassination attempt last night?"

Cai Qingwen's heart abruptly skipped a beat.

Did he know? No... only I and the people at Star Tower knew about this. There was no reason for him to suspect me.

He feigned calm and gave a dry cough. "I heard."

"How did you hear about it?" Cheng Yang's indifferent gaze fell on his face.

"I heard it from the other disciples in the martial hall." Cai Qingwen wore just the right amount of concern on his face. "The criminals are running rampant. Was Senior Brother seriously injured?"

"I am fine. Thank you for your concern, Junior Brother." Cheng Yang smiled faintly. The smile was gentle and harmless, yet it was especially grating in Cai Qingwen's eyes. "Junior Brother Cai, Junior Brother Qian, if there is anything you do not understand in your martial cultivation in the future, feel free to come ask Senior Brother for guidance."

With that, he did not linger and simply turned to leave.

Guidance...?

Cai Qingwen stood rooted in place as a flush of humiliation and anger rapidly surged to his ears, climbing from his neck all the way to his cheeks. He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, his chest heaving violently several times.

"Cheng Yang—you dare humiliate me like this?!"

Qian Biao silently edged half a step backward, not daring to even breathe loudly.

After Cheng Yang had walked more than ten paces away, the curve at his lips faded.

Those words just now had been less a warning than a test. Unfortunately, Cai Qingwen was a deeply calculating man, and his control over his expression was watertight. He had not revealed the slightest flaw. Cheng Yang did not consider himself some interrogation genius; it was normal that he could not see through him. Thus, he did not dwell on it and let the matter pass with a few casual jests.

After breakfast and a short rest, he threw himself into stance training.

His condition today was not bad.

If nothing unexpected happened, he should be able to break into the Muscle Tempering Realm in one stroke.

Night fell.

Cai Qingwen left the Cai Residence alone, passing through streets and alleys, taking turn after turn, until he finally stopped before a dilapidated tavern.

The tavern's facade was mottled and aged, while the lantern beneath the eaves swayed as though it might fall at any moment, exuding an air of deliberately crafted desolation.

But Cai Qingwen knew that mysteries lay hidden within.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside.

"Stop there, sir. This establishment is closed. Please drink elsewhere." A waiter dressed in rough hemp clothes approached, extending a hand to stop him. His tone was stiff.

Without another word, Cai Qingwen took a pitch-black iron token from his robes.

The iron token felt heavy and cold to the touch. Its surface was engraved with intricate patterns that glimmered with a faint, sinister sheen beneath the dim yellow light.

The waiter's gaze swept over the token, and his expression changed slightly. He immediately stepped aside to make way. "Please proceed upstairs, sir."

Cai Qingwen climbed the stairs and entered an inconspicuous small room on the second floor. The room was simply furnished, with only one table and two chairs. A woman sat behind the table. Her figure was graceful, her face obscured by lamplight, impossible to make out clearly. Only her eyes were visible, cold as frost and snow, without a trace of warmth.

"The person I wanted killed—your Star Tower failed." The moment Cai Qingwen opened his mouth, it was an accusation, his tone carrying barely restrained fury. "I need an explanation."

The woman's expression did not stir in the slightest. Her voice was as bland as a bowl of cooled boiled water. "Assassination missions are always half success, half failure. Failure is nothing unusual."

"Then return the money." Cai Qingwen slapped the table.

"Star Tower does not issue refunds." The woman refused cleanly and decisively, without even lifting her eyelids.

Cai Qingwen took a deep breath and suppressed his surging anger. "Then send another assassin. Kill that man for me."

Unhurriedly, the woman opened a thin dossier at her side and swept her eyes across a line of text. "The person you wish to kill, Cheng Yang, is currently the seventh core disciple of the Chen Clan Martial Hall... His identity has been confirmed. If you wish to act a second time, you must pay again."

Cai Qingwen had come prepared. Before leaving the residence, he had borrowed one hundred taels in banknotes from his father. No matter what, he had to make Cheng Yang die.

That "guidance" from this morning was the greatest humiliation he had suffered in his life.

The woman gave the banknotes he offered a faint glance, then withdrew her gaze, her tone as flat as ever. "The price to kill Cheng Yang is now one thousand taels."

"What?" Cai Qingwen nearly lost his footing. "Are you kidding me?!"

"The difficulty of a second assassination differs from the first." The woman explained unhurriedly. "The Chen Clan Martial Hall is now on guard, the target's vigilance has increased, and the difficulty of striking has risen sharply.

"One thousand taels is worth the price."

The money he had brought, one hundred-odd taels, was nowhere near enough...

Cai Qingwen held the hundred-odd taels in banknotes, his fingers trembling slightly.

The woman raised her eyes and looked at him, her gaze as indifferent as though she were looking at a dead object.

"If you do not have enough money, please go downstairs."