> "Kill me? You'd better ask them if they agree first."
— Lin Zhou
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[1] The Assassins Arrive
Night draped low over the streets outside the Xiling Royal Manor, and suddenly, a layer of black fog rolled in.
Within the fog, footsteps echoed—uniform and heavy, like a hundred people marching in step.
Crown Prince Chiyan pushed open the manor gates, fire burning in his eyes. "The people from Qingqiu Terrace… are here."
Blood threads writhed in the night around Honglei, like a swarm of silent venomous snakes.
The Dragon Clan Saint Son summoned two young dragons, circling in the air with low growls.
Li Xinglan already had twelve talismans in hand, each with a single character written on the back—"Boom."
Lin Zhou peeked out. "With this setup… are they planning to wipe us all out?"
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[2] The Qingqiu Terrace Black List
Leading them was a killer whose face resembled a bleached skull, crow feathers draped over his shoulders, and eyes as black and lifeless as pits.
His voice was cold: "Black List Rank One—Bone Ferry. Tonight, I take Lin Zhou's life."
Behind him stood two others side by side:
Black List Rank Two, Mist Blade, who could turn fog into knives and kill without a sound;
Black List Rank Three, Eagle Eye, whose gaze could lock onto a target's soul—inescapable.
Bone Ferry's cold eyes swept toward the Xiling King. "Hand him over."
The Xiling King lifted his teacup. "Sorry, but the guest I invited is not someone I intend to let you take."
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[3] All-Out Protection
Crown Prince Chiyan drew his blade, stepping forward, the moment his blade's edge touched the ground, the paving stones cracked. "Anyone touches someone of mine—dies."
Honglei's soft laugh rang out, her blood threads instantly splitting into a hundred fine needles, pinning assassins to either side of the gate. "Want in? First taste my needles."
The Dragon Clan Saint Son flicked open his fan, and the young dragons dove, unleashing a storm of dragon breath.
Li Xinglan's voice was cold: "Shut the gates—release the talismans."
The next second, the gates slammed shut, and dozens of thunderfire talismans ignited all at once—BOOM!
Standing in their midst, Lin Zhou couldn't help muttering, "You're guarding me so tightly I feel bad even trying to dodge."
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[4] Bone Ferry's Probe
From within the smoke and flames, Bone Ferry stepped out—completely unscathed.
"Interesting." His hand extended, the bone blade within his palm stretching like a serpent, striking straight for Lin Zhou's brow.
Crown Prince Chiyan twisted his blade, intercepting the strike with a clash of sparks.
Honglei appeared behind Bone Ferry in an instant, blood thread winding around his neck, only for the bone blade to slice back and force her away.
Mist Blade dissolved into gray fog, slipping past the defenses toward Lin Zhou—
The Dragon Clan Saint Son's fan swept, and a wall of dragon breath forced Mist Blade back.
Li Xinglan's talismans flew, but Eagle Eye's gaze locked onto them mid-air, and their glow faded instantly.
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[5] Lin Zhou's "Passive" Counterattack
The battlefield locked into a tense stalemate.
Bone Ferry sneered. "If you truly are the Undying Guest, killing you once will prove it."
Lin Zhou spread his hands. "Sorry, I'm just not fond of pain right now."
But the next instant, a low-ranked assassin broke through the blockade, dagger stabbing straight at Lin Zhou—
Crack!
The assassin's wrist twisted at an unnatural angle, his body flung away by an invisible force, smashing through three pillars.
Silence fell for three seconds.
A shadow of gravity flickered in Bone Ferry's eyes. "…So you do have a curse guarding you."
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[6] The Counterattack
Crown Prince Chiyan laughed loud. "Perfect timing—"
His blade flared like fire, driving Bone Ferry back, the light reflecting red across the night.
Honglei's blood threads became a hundred lashes, snapping Mist Blade's hand bones apart.
The Dragon Clan Saint Son commanded the young dragons to lock Eagle Eye in place.
Li Xinglan slammed the rest of her thunderfire talismans to the ground—BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Within their protective ring, Lin Zhou watched the three top-ranked killers forced to retreat step by step and asked, "Want to keep one alive?"
Crown Prince Chiyan: "No need."
Honglei: "Leaving ashes is already merciful."
Dragon Clan Saint Son: "I prefer complete vaporization."
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[7] The Aftermath and a New Mystery
Moments later, the blood mist cleared from the courtyard. The three top-ranked killers were nothing but gray shadows amid the ruins.
The Xiling King slowly rose. "Young Master Lin Zhou… the curse on you is more than just protection."
Lin Zhou rolled his eyes. "I've said it before—I just want to farm."
But then, a strange woman's voice drifted down from the night sky—
"As expected… your aura is exactly as the legends say."
Everyone looked up to see a black-haired, sharp-eyed woman carrying a long spear, stepping through the air, her gaze cold as a world of ice.
Crown Prince Chiyan's brow furrowed. "…Why is she here?"