Chapter Ten: The Assassins' Guild

Night fell, and a waning moon rose into the sky.
The jungle at night was shrouded in a mysterious veil, inspiring awe in all who entered.
“How satisfying.”
Inside the cave.
Qin Feiyang finally opened his eyes and stretched lazily. After sleeping so long, his body felt relaxed, and his spirits soared.
He checked his wounds.
Both the arrow injuries and the broken thigh were nearly healed.
“Medicinal pills truly are miraculous,” Qin Feiyang murmured, his face full of longing.
Indeed.
He aspired to become an alchemist.
After leaving the cave, he looked up at the waning moon, cold light flashing in his eyes as he muttered, “That nightmare has left me far behind. From now on, I, Qin Feiyang, will be your nightmare.”
Whoosh!
He strode forward, vanishing into the jungle.
“Hm? Was it just my imagination?”
Suddenly, he stopped beside a large tree, scanning his surroundings in surprise and suspicion.
Just now, he had vaguely glimpsed a white wolf, but in the blink of an eye, it had disappeared.
“It must be because I miss that white-eyed wolf—that’s why I imagined it…”
“White-eyed wolf, thank you for the pills. We’ll meet again if fate allows.”
Qin Feiyang muttered to himself, speeding off like a phantom in the night.
He still clutched three arrows in his hand.
He couldn’t bear to throw them away—not because they were precious, but because he wanted to repay his enemies in their own coin!
After Qin Feiyang left, beneath the tree, a dozen white wolves gathered.
“Woof woof…”
The wolf king let out a low growl.
One white wolf raced off in the direction Qin Feiyang had disappeared.
The wolf king led the others back to the wolf valley.
…
“It’s already dark—why hasn’t Feiyang returned?”
Beside the lake.
Old Yuan stood atop a large stone, gazing toward the entrance, worry clouding his aged eyes.
Suddenly,
A black shadow slipped through the entrance.
“It’s not Feiyang—it’s him!”
Old Yuan’s gaze sharpened, a cold expression spreading across his face.
Swish!
In the next instant,
He leaped, transforming into a streak of light, vanishing swiftly into the night.
He was flying!
If Qin Feiyang saw this scene, he would surely be shocked again.
Because only those at the Martial Emperor realm could fly!
In other words, Old Yuan was far from ordinary.
Moments later,
The black shadow stopped at the lakeside, sweeping his eyes over the ashes of the burned ruins.
“How strange…”
“Last night, I saw them perish in the fire with my own eyes…”
“But why did Elder Ma say they’re still alive?”
“And I don’t see them now, either…”
The shadow muttered to himself.
Yes!
He was the middle-aged man who set the fire last night.
“Since Elder Ma said so, I’ll look more carefully…”
The man entered the ruins and began searching.
Not long after,
Another black shadow, panting heavily, rushed into the lake entrance.
It was Qin Feiyang,
Carrying a black ox over his shoulder.
He had encountered it along the way, killed it, and brought it back for a rich supper.
“Old Yuan, sorry for keeping you waiting!”
Qin Feiyang shouted.
Under the hazy moonlight, everything was blurred.
He thought the middle-aged man in the ruins was Old Yuan.
“Qin Feiyang!”
Hearing the shout, the man spun around, murderous intent blazing in his eyes!
“You little brat, not even fire could kill you—quite the survivor!”
He sneered coldly, charging at Qin Feiyang with murderous fury.
“Hm?”
As the distance closed, Qin Feiyang gradually made out the figure.
Old Yuan wasn’t so burly!
This wasn’t Old Yuan!
He set down the ox, stuck the three arrows into the ground, and stood his ground, asking in a deep voice, “Who are you? Why are you here?”
The man sneered, “I’m the one who will take your life!”
“It’s you!”
Murderous intent surged in Qin Feiyang’s eyes.
He’d heard that voice just last night—how could he forget?
“Last night, you burned my and Old Yuan’s home. Tonight, I’ll take your life!”
He spoke with a chilling fury, charging at the man like an enraged lion.
“Aha!”
The man was startled.
The brat dared to charge at him?
Had the fire last night fried his brains?
“But this suits me fine. The quicker I deal with you, the sooner I can give Elder Ma a satisfying answer.”
He clenched his right fist, poised to strike.
Qin Feiyang was likewise gathering his strength in secret!
“Die!”
Both roared fiercely as they closed, shattering the tranquility.
Bang!
Boom!
Their fists crashed together.
At once,
Qin Feiyang was knocked back, a trickle of blood seeping from his lips.
“How is that possible?”
The man exclaimed.
He stood firm as a mountain, unmoved, but his face darkened.
“Weren’t you unable to cultivate?”
“How is your strength so great?”
“How could an ordinary person possess the power of six bears?”
He stared at Qin Feiyang in disbelief.
Meanwhile,
A white wolf appeared at the lake entrance.
It stood atop a boulder, its eyes gleaming green in the night.
“What’s a wolf doing here?”
Hidden in the shadows, Old Yuan frowned slightly.
The white wolf glanced at Qin Feiyang and the man, a fierce gleam passing through its eyes, then turned and sprinted away, vanishing into the mountain stream.
Except for Old Yuan, neither Qin Feiyang nor the man noticed the wolf.
Steadying himself, Qin Feiyang wiped the blood from his lips and quipped, “Surprised already? You’re in for more!”
He took out ten Body Refining Pills and swallowed them all at once.
A surge of energy rushed through him, swiftly tempering his body.
Calmly, Qin Feiyang said, “Your strength isn’t much greater than mine. If I’m right, you’re just a Seven-Star Warrior.”
“‘If I’m right?’”
The man paused, then sneered, “You sound quite dismissive.”
Qin Feiyang grinned, “Not just ‘seemingly’—I mean it.”
“Haha…”
The man burst into wild laughter.
“You brat, arrogance comes with a price!”
He suddenly roared, his aura surging as his massive hand swung toward Qin Feiyang.
“Who’s afraid of who?”
Qin Feiyang laughed boldly, charging at the man without fear, and they battled fiercely.
At first,
Qin Feiyang was at a disadvantage, overwhelmed by the man’s attacks.
Yet he was like an indomitable cockroach—every time he was thrown or knocked down, he rose again to fight!
The longer he fought, the braver he became.
His aura grew ever stronger!
By contrast, the man began to grow flustered and disorganized.
“Damn, he must have just taken Body Refining Pills. He’s using this fight to quickly absorb their energy and break through to Seven-Star Warrior!”
The man finally realized Qin Feiyang’s intent.
“I won’t let you succeed!”
He roared, hair bristling, and punched at Qin Feiyang’s face with all his might.
Boom!
At the same moment,
Qin Feiyang’s aura erupted like a volcano, reaching a new height!
—Seven-Star Warrior!
“The real battle begins now!”
His aura was unstoppable, his gaze sharp as lightning.
He met the man’s punch head-on, their fists clashing thunderously!
Bang!
Both were thrown back, blood spurting from their mouths.
“You brat, I’ll kill you!”
The man was furious, each punch whistling with thunderous force.
Qin Feiyang remained silent, but the corners of his mouth curled in a mocking smile. No matter how powerful the man’s blows, he never retreated, meeting force with force!
The man grew impatient, unable to kill Qin Feiyang, and his mistakes multiplied.
Hundreds of breaths passed.
Both bathed in blood.
But most of the blood on Qin Feiyang was the man’s.
One was restless, even considering retreat.
The other was calm, his fighting spirit boundless.
The outcome was clear.
Bang!
At last,
Qin Feiyang struck the man’s chest with a palm. With a crack, several ribs fractured!
Spurt!
Blood sprayed from the man’s mouth as he was flung several meters, crashing to the ground.
Fierce light shone in Qin Feiyang’s eyes as he strode over, stomping hard on the man’s chest.
This time,
His entire chest caved in!
“Ah…”
The man’s agonized screams echoed through the night, lingering endlessly.
Qin Feiyang looked down at him coldly, saying, “Last night, Old Yuan vowed to kill you within three days. I will do exactly that!”
“No, no, no…”
“Don’t kill me! I was just following orders. Please spare me!”
The man pleaded between bloody gasps.
“Ma Hongmei’s orders?”
“Yes, Ma Hongmei wants you dead, but there’s someone above me. If you promise not to kill me, I’ll tell you everything.”
“You—I must kill. As for those above you, whoever comes, I’ll kill them all, whether singly or in pairs!”
Qin Feiyang declared with unyielding spirit, pressing down with his foot. The man’s heart exploded, blood splattering everywhere.
“Feiyang, Old Yuan can finally say with certainty: you’ve truly grown up.”
Old Yuan’s voice sounded from the darkness.
Qin Feiyang turned toward the voice, seeing a shadow emerge from behind the bushes.
“Old Yuan!”
He rejoiced, hastening to greet him.
He’d feared for Old Yuan’s safety, but now, seeing him unharmed, he felt at ease.
Qin Feiyang bowed his head, apologetic. “Sorry, Old Yuan, for worrying you again.”
Old Yuan smiled, “Silly boy, no need to apologize. If you’re late, you must have had matters to attend to. I won’t blame you.”
Qin Feiyang scratched his head, “Thank you, Old Yuan.”
Old Yuan shook his head with a chuckle, gazing at the dead man, and spoke solemnly, “Feiyang, he belonged to Black Demon Stronghold—a group specializing in assassinations. Every member is a desperate outlaw. Give them enough gold, and they’ll kill anyone.”
“Black Demon Stronghold?”
Qin Feiyang raised a brow. “So you’re saying Ma Hongmei bribed them?”
“Certainly. They’re ruthless mercenaries, only interested in profit,” Old Yuan replied, then continued, “But they’re very trustworthy. They have a rule: if a mission fails, they’ll keep sending assassins until the target is dead!”
[Well, these two chapters took eight hours to write and revise. Old Meng is exhausted, but shamelessly calls for your recommendation votes, brothers and sisters—spare me one, won’t you?]