In the Lee Family's Flame City estate, inside an antique study.
Martin Lee set down the thick ancient tome in his hands, looked at the butler standing respectfully before the desk, and asked mildly, "How is Madman's injury?"
The butler replied gravely, "Doctor Duanmu has already treated Young Master Madman. He'll recover fully within a month, with no lasting effects."
Martin Lee nodded. "And what about the other matter?"
"The Black Gold Empire assassin has arrived in Southridge City and is tailing that little thief into the primeval forest, waiting for an opportunity to strike."
Black Gold Empire, Darkworld Syndicate, and the Knights of Bauhinia are known as the world's three great assassin organizations. Darkworld has the most killers, but their ranks are mixed; Black Gold Empire, on the other hand, only employs elite operatives—every assassin under their banner is a master.
Moreover, Black Gold Empire's success rate is terrifyingly high—currently at ninety-nine percent. Of course, hiring them also comes at a steep price.
As for the Knights of Bauhinia, they're a rather unique assassin group: they only target vicious criminals. If the target is a good person, no matter how much money you offer, they won't take the job.
"What about the assassin's strength?" Martin Lee pressed.
"You may rest assured, Master. The assassin is ranked ninth in Black Gold Empire and has reached Innate Sixth Layer."
Hearing this, Martin Lee nodded with satisfaction. "Let's hope you don't disappoint me this time."
............
After breakfast, with their packs ready, Ian Song's group set out again.
After a day of acclimatization, their pace today was much faster than yesterday. By sunset, they'd covered more than 150 li, and expected to reach their destination by noon tomorrow.
They set up camp, ate dinner, and left one person on watch.
The others each returned to their tents to rest.
Once inside his tent, Ian's expression turned cold. Since morning, he'd sensed someone secretly tailing them.
The stalker's tracking methods and stealth skills were top-notch—if not for Ian's Clairvoyant Vision, he wouldn't have noticed a thing.
It was a short, nondescript middle-aged man. Using Clairvoyant Vision to scan his body, Ian could tell almost for certain: the man was an Innate Sixth Layer martial artist.
Innate Sixth Layer is a whole different beast from Innate Fifth Layer.
Once a martial artist reaches the Sixth Layer, their true energy undergoes a qualitative leap and condenses into Innate Qi.
Innate Qi is incredibly powerful for both offense and defense. The shield formed by Innate Qi is so strong that even a missile might not break through it—just imagine how monstrous someone who can condense Innate Qi really is. (Note: The Innate realm is a martial arts stage with nine layers; the Sixth Layer marks a major power threshold in this world.)
That’s exactly why Ian Song hadn’t told Grace Jing and the others about being followed by a master.
He had a hunch that the person secretly tailing them was after him specifically.
But since the stalker hadn’t made a move all day, Ian guessed he was probably waiting for nightfall to strike.
Time ticked by, but the man lurking two hundred meters outside the camp still didn’t budge.
Ian couldn’t help wanting to ask, “Dude, what are you waiting for? Why aren’t you making a move yet?”
By four in the morning,
the man was still lying there motionless. Ian had to admit, the guy’s patience was seriously impressive.
This was the time when the human body was at its most exhausted.
Kobon Joichi had spent eight years climbing his way to ninth place in Black Gold Empire’s assassin rankings. He was proud of that—higher rank meant higher pay. For example, this job, taking out a young prodigy, came with a commission of a full hundred million US dollars.
But while he was secretly tailing and observing his target, Joichi kept feeling as if an invisible pair of eyes were watching him from the shadows.
He trusted his instincts.
Because of that unsettling feeling, he never made a move. He even suspected there was a hidden master secretly protecting the target.
Yet he could never pinpoint the existence of this supposed expert.
"Should I go for it or not?"
Joichi was seriously conflicted.
In the end, he chose to give up.
Trusting his instincts had saved him from disaster many times in his long career as an assassin.
"Damn it! Why did he just leave?"
Inside the tent, Ian was dumbfounded as he watched Kobon Joichi retreat. He had no idea what was going on in that guy’s head.
Once Joichi had retreated several kilometers, that eerie sense of being watched vanished.
Joichi immediately let out a long breath. Clearly, there really was a terrifying expert protecting the target.
If he couldn’t even spot a single clue, then the person guarding the target had to be exceptionally formidable.
“Damn employer, not telling me there was a powerhouse guarding the target!”
Cursing under his breath, Joichi contacted Black Gold Empire’s headquarters.
After Joichi repeatedly confirmed his story, Black Gold Empire relayed the message to the client and made clear their displeasure.
"Butler, did that matter go smoothly?"
Staring at his butler, who’d come late at night, Martin Lee asked in a low voice.
The butler forced a bitter smile. "Master, Black Gold Empire sent word—the kid is being guarded by a master, their assassin couldn’t get close!"
"Could it be that the Zhao Family sent someone to secretly protect that brat?" Martin Lee frowned, half talking to himself, half asking the butler.
"I’ve kept a close watch on the Zhao Family’s experts all this time, but there’s been no sign of anyone above Innate Sixth Layer making a move!" The butler’s face showed a hint of confusion as well.
"Every top clan has a thousand years of foundation—deploying a hidden piece is nothing to them! Looks like Old Man Zhao Changsheng used a secret trump card for that brat!" Martin Lee gritted his teeth.
"So what should we do next...?" the butler asked cautiously.
"If Zhao Changsheng’s using his hidden piece, then we’ll use ours!" Martin Lee quickly scribbled a note and handed the butler a black token. "Take this token to him. Tell him, if he kills that brat, the Lee Family and I will be even with him from now on!"
Seeing the name on the slip, the butler’s expression changed slightly. "Master, are you sure about using this person? Isn’t the price a bit too steep?"
"You’re too short-sighted! You have no idea how terrifying that brat’s talent is! Go, just do as I say!"
"Yes, sir!" The butler put away the note and withdrew.
Even though the expert had retreated, Ian still didn’t dare sleep.
What puzzled him was that, all the way until dawn, the man never showed up again.
After breakfast, everyone packed up and set out again.
"Hey, what’s that smell? It’s so fragrant!"
The outer-sect disciple leading the way took a couple of deep breaths, feeling instantly refreshed and clear-headed.
"I smell it too—so good!" Queenie’s eyes darted around, trying to find the source of the aroma.
"This scent..."
Ian narrowed his eyes. After breathing in the fragrance, he felt his true essence stir energetically. He was certain—the source of this scent had to be a legendary spirit herb.