The lord of Yuecheng didn't find out until the next day that the head of the guards, Li Yang, had died.
He had taken two experienced Transcendents to track down an ordinary person, but they had been unsuccessful.
The lord of Yuecheng was furious and sent people to inquire, only to discover the bodies of three Transcendent cultivators near the border of Yuecheng.
The deaths of three Transcendents' subordinates were not a big deal, even if they died while trying to capture an ordinary person. It was understandable that some political enemies had made a move to use Qin Nianmin as a pawn to strike at him and his forces.
This kind of thing was not uncommon.
But what truly frightened the lord of Yuecheng was that the three Transcendent cultivators who were pursuing Qin Nianmin seemed to have died from a plague.
Their appearance was almost identical to that of those who had died from the plague.
Transcendent cultivators had always been the main force against the plague, and could even be said to be the only direct force.
But now, could this "plague" actually affect and harm Transcendents?
If even Transcendent cultivators were at risk, one could imagine how dire the situation would become!It was just impossible to determine whether this situation was truly caused by the plague, or if the virus had infected them after death, or if it had been intentionally "arranged" by someone.
Because it was an isolated case, there was no definitive conclusion.
But the lord of Yuecheng dared not be negligent and immediately reported to the Rizhao County government.
Because the epidemic had begun to affect him, and even though he was a powerful Transcendent, and held a high position, he was now at risk.
When it involved his own safety, it was no longer about how many people had died in a certain town, or how many people were infected... Death was no longer just a cold number on paper.
It seemed to have reached his doorstep, bringing with it the sound of fear.
So this time, he was faster and more decisive than anyone else.
...
Although the plague had spread to Chiyi County, it was still relatively shallow. At least in the city of Cangfeng, public sentiment was relatively stable.
They had set up roadblocks in the direction from Rizhao County, strictly prohibiting people from Rizhao County from entering.
Tianxia Tower was located in the northern part of Cangfeng City. It looked more like a bustling restaurant than an assassin organization from the outside.
There was a constant stream of people coming and going, making it quite lively.
For an assassin organization, this was certainly strange. But considering that an assassin organization with such a flamboyant name as "Tianxia Tower" had also produced assassins like Su Xiuhang, it was not difficult to understand why an assassin organization would be set up in a bustling area.
"Having walked the rivers and lakes for so many years, there must be some people who disgust you. There must be some things that are hard for you to forget. But you have a good temper, or... you have too many concerns! So you can't do it."
When Jiang Wang entered Tianxia Tower, a person approached and said this to him.
This person looked quite ordinary, the type that would be hard to find in a crowd, and in a sense, he fit the identity of an assassin quite well.
"So?" Jiang Wang asked.
"So you need us!" This person patted his chest and said with great pride, "Our Tianxia Tower is powerful, with many strong individuals, and countless ruthless people. We are skilled in all kinds of weapons and martial arts. We have been in business for three years and are worthy of your trust!"
"...So your Tianxia Tower has only been open for three years?" Jiang Wang was not too surprised that Tianxia Tower had only been open for three years, but it was even more surprising that an assassin organization could last for three years.
"Three years is not short!" This person said, "They say that one life gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things. Three years is equivalent to countless years, my friend!"
Jiang Wang's mouth twitched. Did an assassin organization like this also have waiters?
"That's right," Jiang Wang said, "There is indeed a person who has made me very angry."
"Come! Please follow me, sir!" This person suddenly raised his voice and leaned in close to Jiang Wang, saying, "Our organization is very particular about rules. When discussing business, we must not do so in a crowd, to protect the privacy of our clients!"
This sounded quite reasonable.
But...
He led the way, taking Jiang Wang through the crowded hall and into a private room, where they sat down.
Listening to the clear and distinct noise from outside, Jiang Wang was very skeptical about what kind of privacy such poor soundproofing could protect.
But this person spoke eagerly, "Sir, please give us the task!"
He seemed so eager, as if he hadn't had a client in months.
"What should I call you?" Jiang Wang asked politely.
"Just call me Ace," this person said, "Sir, please give us the task!"
"Oh, Ace," Jiang Wang continued politely, "What position do you hold in Tianxia Tower?"
"When you enter our tower, we are all brothers. Although I am the number one assassin in the eastern region, I don't stick to my identity. I run errands, serve guests, and occasionally do other things!" Ace said, then suddenly changed the subject, "Sir, what task do you have for us?"
"..."
This strong sense of unreliability made Jiang Wang silent for a while before he could continue the conversation.
After gathering his emotions, he said, "There is a person who insulted me and then ran away. I am still angry and full of hatred!"
"This..." Ace said somewhat awkwardly, "Just because someone insulted you, you want to hire an assassin to kill him?"He was even ready to leave his seat, thinking to himself, what a trivial matter this was. Could it possibly turn into any significant business? Such a waste of time!
"I'll offer twenty Dao Yuan Stones," Jiang Wang added indifferently, "as a deposit."
"That's outrageous!" Ah Ce slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "What's the name of that little thief, and where does he live? I will take his head for our guest!"
"Su Xiu Xing," Jiang Wang said.
Ah Ce awkwardly sat back down. "The Su family, is it?"
Jiang Wang watched him with interest. "How come, Ah Ce, you don't recognize him?"
"I do recognize him..."
"Why not call him out directly and let him have a chat with me? How about that?"
"To be honest," Ah Ce said, "this person has already betrayed the organization and is no longer with Tian Xia Lou!"
Jiang Wang expressed his surprise, "For such a powerful assassin organization like Tian Xia Lou, don't you hunt down the traitors to their death?"
"That's where you misunderstand, guest. We at Tian Xia Lou are in the business of assassination; we have to make money from killing. Who would pay to kill Su Xiu Xing? We can't do business at a loss."
"Even if it's to chase down a traitor?"
"Even if it's to chase down a traitor."
"Quite principled," Jiang Wang nodded, then pointed to himself, "but now you have me to foot the bill, don't you?"
"Uh..." Ah Ce finally seemed a bit embarrassed but still managed to say, "He's now mixed up with another organization, and it's not easy to deal with. After all, there's a certain camaraderie among fellow practitioners. As the saying goes, leave a line, and it's easier to meet in the future!"
"Oh..." Jiang Wang feigned sudden realization, "Is that organization too much for you to provoke?"
Ah Ce said indignantly, "That's Hell's Gateless. They're mad enough to kill a general who guards the border of a nation!"
This was the second time Jiang Wang had heard of Hell's Gateless. It seemed that Yin Guan had done well for himself after leaving You Nation, but as Zhong Xuan Sheng had said, it was like dancing on the edge of a knife.
It was indeed surprising to Jiang Wang that Su Xiu Xing could infiltrate Hell's Gateless; he didn't seem to have the kind of talent that Yin Guan would value.
Jiang Wang sighed, "In that case, I can only temporarily let go of this archenemy."
"Such is life, full of disappointments," Ah Ce said pretentiously, then asked, "Guest, think again, isn't there anyone else who has cursed you?"
Jiang Wang: "..."
End of the chapter.