The gaze shifted from the ink-black saber to the assassins.
A wide grin.
The next moment, Ye Liuyun moved.
Phantom Mirage Nine Shadows.
With a single leap, Ye Liuyun split into several phantom copies, charging straight at the assassins.
The ones standing in front didn’t even have time to react. They just saw a blur before their eyes, then everything blacked out—they lost consciousness for good.
"Run!"
These folks made quick decisions.
Seeing the huge gap in strength, they instantly gave up any thoughts of fighting and scattered in all directions.
Now you decide to run? Isn’t it a little late?
Ye Liuyun hardly needed to do anything—just stood his ground and swung the saber.
Blazing Blade Skill paired with Cangyang Force.
"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!"
One blazing saber qi after another, like flames, slashed forth from Ye Liuyun’s blade, chopping at the assassins.
His way of attacking was almost like a cannon battery—just stand and deliver.
"Bang! Bang!"
Several assassins’ figures were sent crashing to the ground.
Very soon.
The whole backyard quieted down. After sheathing his saber, Ye Liuyun let out a slow, heavy breath.
Not from exhaustion, just from that satisfying feeling.
He’d always cultivated in peace before, and though he’d fought, those were just small scuffles. Nothing compared to today, when he spent his inner strength so recklessly.
Damn, that felt good!
"Sir!"
"Lord Hundred Households!"
Now, the Embroidered Uniform Guards who had retreated earlier came over.
Their gazes toward Ye Liuyun were full of respect.
Before, they respected him for his Hundred Households rank. Now, it was for his strength.
The Great Qian Dynasty always revered martial prowess—respecting the strong is basically in their bones.
Just as Ye Liuyun opened his mouth to speak—
A piercing, miserable scream suddenly rang out from a room not far away.
"Ah!"
Ye Liuyun recognized it—it was the Minister of Revenue’s voice.
"Hmm?" Ye Liuyun frowned slightly.
Something’s happened?
"Bang!"
The next moment, a figure was flung out of the room.
No surprise—it was Qi Yuanliang, the Southern Governor. Even now, you’re still pretending?
"They’ve murdered Lord Wen! We can’t let them get away!"
Qi Yuanliang, looking rather ’disheveled,’ glared angrily at the two Profound-level assassins backing out of the room. So, Lord Wen, the Minister of Revenue, had already met a mishap.
The others just assumed that Qi Yuanliang lacked the strength to hold off two Postnatal Martial Artists.
But Ye Liuyun’s eyes didn’t leave that Southern Governor for a second.
With Qi Yuanliang’s abilities, if he really meant business, those two Postnatal Martial Artists wouldn’t stand a chance. Yet the Minister of Revenue died—so the one who wanted him dead from the start was Qi Yuanliang, wasn’t it?
While Ye Liuyun pondered this—
The last two Profound-level assassins shared a glance, then leapt for the exit.
"You’re not escaping!"
Qi Yuanliang chased after them immediately.
Ye Liuyun also gave chase, only to—
The previously charging Qi Yuanliang was struck flying straight toward Ye Liuyun’s position.
Ye Liuyun caught Qi Yuanliang in his stride; as for the two Profound-level assassins, they took advantage of the moment and escaped.
Intentional? Deliberately letting those two assassins go.
Ye Liuyun didn’t bother pursuing—the real culprit was right beside him.
"S-sorry!"
Qi Yuanliang, breathing hard, stood up again, looking regretful as he faced Ye Liuyun.
"It’s all my fault. If not for me, those two never would’ve escaped."
"Rest assured, Brother Ye. I’ll explain everything myself and take all the blame for this incident. I won’t let you get dragged in."
Qi Yuanliang spoke with a sincerely remorseful tone.
Seemed like he really regretted letting the assassins run.
"In that case, I’ll leave it to you, Governor."
Ye Liuyun didn’t show much emotion. Since he’d said it, Ye Liuyun just went along with it.
"Er!"
Qi Yuanliang, still putting on an act of being exhausted, was clearly stunned by Ye Liuyun’s straightforward reply.
Really? That direct? You’re not even going to exchange polite words?
"N-nothing!"
He gave an awkward chuckle.
But soon recovered—Qi Yuanliang’s mentality wouldn’t be shaken by such things. He quickly composed himself.
Not only that, he looked at Ye Liuyun with admiration.
"Didn’t expect Brother Ye to be an Innate Martial Artist. It’s truly a boon for our Embroidered Uniform Guard to have someone so talented."
"You flatter me, Governor."
Ye Liuyun could tell the Southern Governor’s gaze had changed toward him.
Makes sense.
In the martial world, with the power of an Innate Martial Artist, you could easily be the leader of a small sect—that’s strength no one can ignore.
...
Today’s mission really ended in anticlimax.
So many people were here, yet the Minister of Revenue died anyway.
It’s obvious—the Cyan Robe Association is bound to make a name for itself after this.
Of course,
None of that affected Ye Liuyun. With Qi Yuanliang as the shield, blame wouldn’t reach him anyway.
Ye Liuyun was just pondering what Qi Yuanliang was really after.
Based on Ye Liuyun’s analysis, the one who killed the Minister of Revenue probably wasn’t a Cyan Robe assassin, but Qi Yuanliang himself. Looking at the reactions when those two assassins escaped—
Qi Yuanliang has ties to Cyan Robe Association?
This Great Qian Dynasty sure has deep, murky waters.
Just then—
"Hey, where’d you run off to?"
Si Nan glanced at Shi Sheng coming out of the backyard, asking with annoyance.
Sure, you went off fighting, but why were you nowhere to be found by the end?
If it weren’t for not finding Shi Sheng’s corpse, Si Nan would’ve thought Shi Sheng actually ended up dead.
"Uh!"
Shi Sheng, normally blunt, actually looked sheepish at Si Nan’s question.
Scratched his head as he explained,
"The backyard’s way too big."
"So?"
"I kind of got lost."
..."
Si Nan didn’t reply, just stared at Shi Sheng with dead-fish eyes. Lost? Are you kidding me?
Ye Liuyun also dropped his train of thought for the moment, raising his head and looking at Shi Sheng in amazement.
"But hey, I didn’t come out empty-handed."
Getting lost was embarrassing, but just then, Si Nan pulled out a box from behind.
Opened the box—inside, stacks of silver notes.
Just a glance, the smallest was five hundred taels each.
!!!
Si Nan was the first to react.
"You’re not Shi Sheng. Where’d you stash the real Shi Sheng?"
...