The Playing Dead Method Was Great!

He had been inside this barrier for barely fifteen minutes, yet the mist-fine rain had already soaked his night clothes.

It was easy to imagine what would happen if he showed the slightest sign of anything amiss now. Whether he failed to obey the order to kill Ji Lianyi immediately or turned his blade on them, the rain clinging to his clothes, infused with Spiritual Power, would pierce his skin and instantly shred him into a bloody pulp!

Sigh. ꒦ິ^꒦ິ

How did I end up in something this melodramatic?!

Shen Leyan walked up to Ji Lianyi, aimed the dagger's tip at his neck, and blinked very slowly.

Get up! Fight back! Help me put on a show!

The blood on Ji Lianyi's lashes had yet to dry, and an unreadable glimmer flickered in his eyes. His well-defined hand, stained with blood that looked black in the night, slowly closed around the sword lying beside him. Then he jabbed its tip into the ground and used it as a cane to haul himself to his feet.

Even without looking back, Shen Leyan could feel the Peacock Gate assassins' gazes turn cold.

Afraid the Guardian would kill Ji Lianyi himself, he hurriedly spoke in a low voice.

"Guardian, Ji Lianyi is gravely wounded and has no strength left to fight. This is nothing but a bluff. I will take his head and present it to you at once!"

Several assassins nodded silently and spread out to block every possible escape route. It seemed they had no intention of stepping in themselves.

Shen Leyan breathed a small sigh of relief inwardly.

What happened next would depend half on their acting and half on fate.

Ji Lianyi, you'd better pull your weight. I've done everything I can to keep you alive.

Ji Lianyi's lips curved ever so slightly. His black hair, once tied up immaculately, had come loose during the night's fighting and flight. Stray locks fell across his forehead, hiding the look in his eyes. All Shen Leyan could see were beads of blood sliding down a face more captivating than many women's and dripping from his chin.

Ji Lianyi turned his wrist and assumed the opening stance of a sword technique.

Shen Leyan had to admit that he looked rather like a master swordsman making a tragic last stand.

Behind him, the Peacock Gate Guardian warned gravely, "A centipede doesn't stop moving even after death. Be careful."

Shen Leyan: "..."

Though they stood on opposite sides, he could still appreciate Peacock Gate's sect culture.

Look at how much their Guardian cared about newcomers, patiently offering guidance for fear that this "new disciple" might accidentally get himself killed during the assassination mission.

He made a show of circulating Spiritual Power, first turning leaves into blades to test Ji Lianyi's condition.

The Spiritual Power he poured into the leaves looked fierce, but it dispersed before touching Ji Lianyi, naturally making it seem as though Ji Lianyi had knocked them aside.

"Excellent," the Guardian said. "Cautious, neither reckless nor greedy for merit. Just what I would expect of a new disciple personally recruited by the Gate Master."

...Guardian, keep praising me like that and I'll really start thinking I'm a Peacock Gate disciple.

He couldn't keep stalling forever.

But there was no one to carry word back to the Cloud Radiance Sect Outer Gate and bring reinforcements.

Shen Leyan didn't dare use any flashy moves either. Peacock Gate was Great Xia's largest assassin organization, after all. Its disciples must have learned specialized movement techniques and assassination skills, and he knew none of their intricacies.

If he did too much and someone noticed he wasn't using Peacock Gate techniques, it would all be over.

Pale green Spiritual Power filled the dagger. The youth gathered his breath and lightened his step, like a keen sword revealing its edge for the first time. Without a single unnecessary movement, he lunged straight for Ji Lianyi's heart!

Ji Lianyi instinctively raised his sword to block.

Clang—

The dagger met the sword. Two streams of Spiritual Power collided, held at a delicate balance, then erupted in a crashing wave—

Leaves rained down around them.

Veins bulged on the back of Ji Lianyi's hand, and tiny bloody cuts split his fingertips.

The pale green glow of Spiritual Power at the dagger's tip grew stronger with every passing moment, until its cold gleam sank entirely into Ji Lianyi's black robes, narrowing into a deadly thrust—

Ji Lianyi's Spiritual Power instantly weakened. His face grew paler, and his throat bobbed as he desperately swallowed, but blood kept pouring from between his lips.

Shen Leyan gripped the dagger tightly and pushed it forward inch by inch under the watching eyes of the Peacock Gate assassins.

Only when Ji Lianyi's hand loosened, his sword fell to the ground, and his body collapsed forward did Shen Leyan stop.

Then he slowly crouched, following the direction of Ji Lianyi's fall.

The Playing Dead Method, understand?!

Before his gaze went unfocused, Ji Lianyi gave him an almost imperceptible nod.

Shen Leyan pulled out the bloodied dagger.

Steadying himself, he stood and offered the dagger to the Guardian with both hands.

"I have slain the crown prince of Great Xia!"

The Guardian nodded as he approached Ji Lianyi's "corpse." "You may keep that dagger as your reward."

Shen Leyan's eyelid twitched. "...Thank you, Guardian."

As the Guardian began examining Ji Lianyi's "corpse," Shen Leyan listened to his heartbeat. Each thud sounded like a drum, as though his heart might leap out of his chest and launch itself into outer space.

He prayed silently.

System, you'd better come through this time.

If the Playing Dead Method didn't work, Ji Lianyi and I will both die here today!

Perhaps only a moment had passed, or perhaps it had been ages. Just as Shen Leyan felt he would collapse from a heart attack if the Guardian didn't speak soon, the man finally dropped Ji Lianyi's body and stood.

A trace of approval appeared in his sinister eyes.

"Well done. Once we return to Peacock Gate, I will ask the Gate Master to reward your achievement."

Marveling once more at Peacock Gate's sect culture, Shen Leyan put on a look of overwhelming gratitude. "Thank you, Guardian! I will never forget your kindness in promoting me!"

The Guardian waved a hand, and the all-pervading drizzle abruptly stopped—he had withdrawn the barrier.

"Bring Ji Lianyi's corpse. We're returning to Peacock Gate."

The assassins bowed in unison. "Yes!"

Naturally, carrying the "corpse" fell to him, the "new disciple."

Shen Leyan hoisted Ji Lianyi's "corpse" onto his back and followed at the rear as they headed toward the edge of the Cloud Radiance Sect's barrier.

Judging from the earlier conversation between the "helpful big brother" assassin and the Guardian, several new Peacock Gate disciples were waiting outside the Cloud Radiance Sect's formation.

He absolutely couldn't meet them, or his cover would easily be blown. An extra new disciple appearing out of nowhere? Even an idiot would realize there was an infiltrator!

But they were out in the wilderness, heading in the exact opposite direction from the Cloud Radiance Sect Outer Gate. Unless something unexpected happened, they would only encounter Law Enforcement Hall patrols near the edge of the formation.

And those patrolling disciples would be at the Golden Core stage at most. They stood no chance against these Peacock Gate assassins.

Nor could he find a reasonable excuse to slip away with Ji Lianyi's "corpse."

What should I do?

At the front of the group, the "helpful big brother" assassin spoke with a hint of concern.

"Guardian, I'm afraid we must move faster. Ji Lianyi must have brought plenty of guards on this visit to the Cloud Radiance Sect. If those stationed at the Cloud Radiance Sect Outer Gate discover he's been gone too long without sending word, they'll likely ask the sect to search for him."

The Guardian grunted in acknowledgment. "We have the Saint-Tier Artifact bestowed by the Gate Master. It can break through any formation without a sound, and even the Cloud Radiance Sect's protective formation cannot stop us. As long as Sect Master Lu and those Confucian Grandmasters from the Imperial Palace don't intervene here, no one can stop—"

Before the Guardian finished speaking, a golden radiance as brilliant as the blazing sun suddenly lit up the dark night.

It was as dazzling as sunlight and as sacred as a Buddha's glow.

The light spread in rippling rings. Wherever it shone, everything seemed to awaken. Birds flew from the woods, insects chirped noisily, and flowers burst into bloom.

Then came a deep toll of a bell—ancient and lingering. The sound made their meridians tremble faintly and seemed to empty their minds of every thought, leaving nothing but its reverberations, like a divine decree descending upon them.

Shen Leyan narrowed his peach-blossom eyes, adjusting to the sudden brightness.

There was no question that whoever could cause such a commotion was no minor figure.

He knew it! Ji Lianyi hadn't died here in the original novel!

Even if his arrival had caused some butterfly effect, the expert meant to rescue Ji Lianyi would still come. Fortunately, the Playing Dead Method had bought them enough time for their rescuer to arrive before they left the Cloud Radiance Sect.

The Peacock Gate assassins' expressions changed drastically.

The Guardian's voice grew grave. "A Confucian Grandmaster from the Imperial Palace really has come... That's the Haoran Bell!"

"Guardian, do you mean the Haoran Bell that can suppress cultivation realms?!"

"Indeed. Wherever its toll reaches, the cultivation of all cultivators and demons is suppressed below the Nascent Soul stage. Moreover, it contains Heavenly Dao law power, utterly pure and yang-aligned. It directly counters the techniques we practice, so its suppression will affect us even more strongly."

"...Then what should we do?"

"Whether we return to Peacock Gate safely will depend on luck. But the crown prince of Great Xia is dead. Even if all four Confucian Grandmasters from the Imperial Palace came, they couldn't bring Ji Lianyi back to life!"

Shen Leyan silently remained at the back of the group, trying his best not to draw attention.

Guardian, your words really do shape reality. You've truly mastered the art of tempting fate.

"Even a Confucian Grandmaster wielding the Haoran Bell will need time to find us. The Cloud Radiance Sect's formation is just ahead. Hurry!"

Shen Leyan spotted the hidden sentry post guarding the Cloud Radiance Sect's protective formation in the distance.

With the Haoran Bell capping everyone's cultivation at the Nascent Soul stage at most, the Cloud Radiance Sect disciples on guard might stand a chance against the Peacock Gate assassins.

If they could stall for a while, the Confucian Grandmaster would arrive.

"You two, scout ahead and see whether any Cloud Radiance Sect disciples are patrolling here."

"Yes, Guardian!"

Two assassins darted into the distance.

As the Haoran Bell's tolls grew louder, the Guardian's expression grew increasingly grim.

Shen Leyan could roughly guess what that meant: the Confucian Grandmaster was close to finding them.

"Who's there?!"

"Send a Cloud-Piercing Arrow to notify the Law Enforcement Hall elders! Someone is attacking the Cloud Radiance Sect!"

The two assassins began fighting the Cloud Radiance Sect disciples on guard.

The Guardian's face was thunderous. "Useless fools! The Haoran Bell scared them witless. They couldn't even scout without being discovered!"

Dong—dong—dong—

Each toll rang louder than the last.

Shen Leyan was only in the middle Qi Refining realm to begin with, so the Haoran Bell didn't suppress his cultivation. Aside from a slight ache in his ears, he felt no discomfort.

But the Guardian's Spiritual Power grew erratic, and he abruptly spat out a mouthful of blood.

"The Confucian Grandmaster has found us..."

Thinking fast, Shen Leyan flung Ji Lianyi's "corpse" to the ground and cupped his hands, speaking with fearless resolve. "Guardian, please take the Saint-Tier Artifact and leave first! I am willing to cover your retreat!"

The Guardian's eyes shook at those words!

"Do you know what covering our retreat means?!"

"I should repay your kindness in promoting me, Guardian!"

"Good! You deserve the greatest credit for tonight! When I return, I will certainly ask the Gate Master to reward you!"

The Guardian's eyes grew moist, but he didn't stand on ceremony. Taking several assassins with him, he shot toward the Cloud Radiance Sect's formation.

Shen Leyan stood where he was and watched them break through the formation and disappear. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and let out a long breath.

Playing an undercover agent really isn't easy!

He turned to find Ji Lianyi's discarded "corpse" and patted his cheek. "Your Highness? Your Highness? You can stop playing dead now. The Peacock Gate assassins have left."

After several breaths, Ji Lianyi slowly opened his eyes, coughed weakly for a while, and spat out a little bloody froth.

"Throw me down one more time... and I probably really will die."

Shen Leyan couldn't help laughing. "I was too busy worrying whether the Peacock Gate Guardian would suspect me to think about anything else. That Confucian Grandmaster or whatever came to rescue you, right?"

"No."

"Huh?!"

"She probably came to see whether I'd managed to die." Ji Lianyi's lips curved mockingly as he said calmly, "Don't worry. She doesn't truly want to save me, but she won't attack me either."

Shen Leyan was about to speak when he noticed Ji Lianyi staring at a particular spot in the woods, so he followed his gaze.

Beneath the golden radiance of the Haoran Bell stood a young woman wearing official robes embroidered with cranes.

Her face was striking, her features open and well-proportioned. She looked only five or six years older than them, but her eyes were nothing like those of a young person.

"Your subject, Ning Weimo, greets Your Highness."

"Spare me the empty formalities," Ji Lianyi said. "Medicine. Then go capture those Peacock Gate assassins for me."

Ning Weimo handed over a white jade porcelain bottle. Before leaving, her gaze lingered for a moment.

Shen Leyan didn't meet Ning Weimo's eyes and simply kept his head down.

Ji Lianyi suddenly braced a hand against the ground and straightened his back, his tone turning slightly cold. "Lady Ning, there's no need to look at him. He had nothing to do with the attack on me. Besides, he has a Cicada Song Pavilion Token. You should know Sect Master Lu's temperament."

Ning Weimo seemed to smile. "You're worrying too much, Your Highness. I merely thought this child had good aptitude."

With that, she vanished into thin air.

The sound of the Haoran Bell receded with her.

Unable to make sense of the hidden barbs in their exchange, Shen Leyan decided not to bother thinking about them.

"Why didn't you ask her to treat your injuries first?"

"If she treated me, I'd worry about her tampering with my meridians. This bottle of medicine is enough."

Your imperial family really is complicated.

Shen Leyan opened the bottle and brought it to Ji Lianyi's lips. "Then take it."