Few in the martial world of Xiushui Commandery knew that the Life-Reaping Tower's Eighth-Rank silver-medallion assassin, "Blood-Eyed Snake," was actually a trio made up of Blood Hand, Spirit Eye, and Black Snake.
When Spirit Eye withdrew from the crowd and arrived at a dilapidated courtyard north of the Ancient Market Town, he found both his companions already gathered there.
All three wore black robes and bamboo hats.
Black Snake leaned against a corner of the wall, cradling his sword, and asked, "You didn't find an opening just now?"
"No." Spirit Eye rubbed his eyes and smiled wryly. "Never mind not finding an opening-even if there were one, I wouldn't recommend striking now. Experts surround him on every side. Any one of them could easily kill all three of us."
He possessed a gift for spiritual sight, allowing him to see many things ordinary people would miss. He was the trio's "eye," responsible for observation and planning.
"What do we do now?"
Blood Hand's voice was rough and thick, tinged with agitation. "A Fourth Rank expert holds the fort at the Zhengyang Martial Academy, constantly sweeping the entire grounds with Divine Sense. We don't dare take a single step across that forbidden line. Today, he finally came out, yet we still can't find a chance to strike. There are only nine days left until the agreed deadline."
Making fools of themselves was one thing. The real problem was having to pay.
The two hundred taels they had deposited with the Life-Reaping Tower would be forfeited.
Assassination paid well, but they also spent lavishly in their daily lives and could never put much aside.
Spirit Eye sighed. "Now I finally understand why the client offered the astronomical price of thirteen hundred taels of demon silver for him. But rest assured, brothers. I