Chapter 358 - 216: Assassin

Chapter 358: Chapter 216: Assassin

The long sword was exceedingly sharp. Yao Zhizhang’s hand slapped forward, meeting no resistance.

He froze for a moment. A split second later, excruciating pain shot up from his palm, and he let out a piercing scream.

"AHH—what are you doing?!"

Yao Zhizhang clutched his hand, his fingers severed, and glared furiously at Xie Yuan.

"You dare to hurt me? You actually dare to oppose the Jinling Yao family! I’ll make you... Young man, I suggest you calm down and think about what you’re doing."

Seeing Xie Yuan’s impassive expression, his heart skipped a beat. He forcibly suppressed his anger, calmed himself, and tried to get the other two to calm down as well.

’These hotheads are the hardest to deal with,’ he thought. ’Once they lose their temper, they don’t think about the consequences. It’s foolish to get into a fight with them... especially these Martial Artists from backwater places. They’re ignorant and have no idea what an aristocratic family really is.’

Yao Zhizhang considered himself a man of noble status, completely different from these commoners. Yet he had to patiently try and coax them, which he found deeply humiliating.

Outwardly, his tone was conciliatory, but inside, he was grinding his teeth in hatred, thinking that once he was free, he would report this to the main family and make the two of them suffer a fate worse than death.

’Those who offend an aristocratic family can never be let off lightly.’

Xie Yuan knew what Yao Zhizhang was thinking without even looking. He said:

"Do you really think the Yao name is enough to intimidate anyone?"

Yao Zhizhang’s expression was grim and uncertain.

"Shi Yuan, listen to me, the Yao family..."

"Say no more. I know about the Yao family. I’ve even taught that Yao Tianchuan of yours a lesson. Forget that you’re just from a branch family—even if the main Jinling Yao family themselves dared to do these things, they would not escape my sword today."

Xie Yuan said no more, leveling his sword at Yao Zhizhang.

’Yao Tianchuan, the most famous genius of the main family’s younger generation?’

’He claims to have fought Yao Tianchuan, even to have taught him a lesson... How could that be possible?’

But seeing that Xie Yuan’s expression was not one of a braggart, and with the cold glint of the blade pointed straight at him, radiating unconcealed killing intent, Yao Zhizhang’s heart sank.

His face grew deathly pale, and he stammered with trembling lips:

"Who... who in the world are you? How could you not fear the Jinling Yao family? Impossible!"

"Don’t! We can discuss this! I’m from an aristocratic family; my family will pay a handsome price for my life! You’d better do things by the book! Otherwise, you will face the consequences!"

"Who in the hell are you! Do you dare give your name! What family’s scion is so brazen!"

Xie Yuan’s long sword paused for a moment. He said coolly:

"Then I’ll let you die with your eyes open. The one killing you is Xie Yuan, from Small Stone Village in Yunzhou. As for the lady next to me... heh, don’t you already know her name? She is Situ Qin."

"After you’ve gone to the underworld, feel free to send a dream to your Yao family to come find us and settle the score. Just make sure you don’t forget."

"!"

Upon hearing this, Yao Zhizhang’s eyes flew wide open. All color drained from his face, and every last shred of hope he had was extinguished.

’How could it be them?’

Of course he knew who they were. One was the madman who had killed a government official right in front of Su Xing, a story every official in Yunzhou knew.

The other was an even greater foe: the arch-enemy of the aristocratic families, the surviving daughter of the King of Pingxi. And just yesterday, he himself had boasted about capturing her...

A wave of immense regret washed over Yao Zhizhang. ’If I weren’t from an aristocratic family,’ he thought, ’might I have a chance to survive?’

But in the next moment, he could no longer ponder the answer.

Xie Yuan’s long sword swept down, cleaving off his head. Fresh blood spurted out, dyeing the wooden pillar crimson.

Seeing Yao Zhizhang’s head separated from his body, deader than dead, Xie Yuan still felt unsatisfied. He wished he could have killed the man twice over.

He flicked his long sword, shaking off the droplets of blood, then sheathed it and sighed.

"It’s unsatisfying how easily evil men die."

Situ Qin shook her head.

"Yao Zhizhang was just a pawn. The ones standing behind them are the real evil."

She understood the evil of the aristocratic families far more deeply than Xie Yuan. It was not merely a difference in position; she had simply witnessed too much of it over the years.

They could faintly hear a large group of government officials approaching from outside, but the two paid them no mind. They quickly searched the study, but upon seeing the ashes in the brazier, they found that, just as they’d expected, everything of value had been put to the torch.

The two exchanged a look and sighed in unison.

Thinking of the countless evil deeds of these aristocratic scions and the ruthless display of power from the mysterious and formidable Mr. Qian, Xie Yuan’s expression grew grim.

He suddenly raised his sword, dipped the tip in Yao Zhizhang’s blood, and wrote with swift, flowing strokes.

BANG! The government officials smashed the door open, only to find the study empty—

—save for the headless corpse of Yao Zhizhang and a line of flamboyant, bloody characters on the wall:

"Xie Yuan of Small Stone Village killed Yao Zhizhang of Jinling here."

...

「The Wu River glittered under the setting sun, its surface a brilliant expanse of shattered gold.」

Xie Yuan and Situ Qin strolled hand-in-hand along the Wu River. But as they looked upon the beautiful scenery, they could only think of the unknown number of bones resting below, and a sense of gloom settled over them both.

Xie Yuan sighed.

"We didn’t save anyone, we found nothing, and every lead has gone cold..."

From the farmstead to Yao Zhizhang to the boat gangs, every related location had either been burned to the ground or cleaned out in advance, leaving them without a single valuable clue.

It was the first time Xie Yuan had truly experienced the swiftness with which the aristocratic families operated.

Hearing the frustration in his voice, Situ Qin comforted him softly:

"Master Xie, don’t think that way. At least we uncovered the source of the disappearances along the Wu River over these past years, bringing justice and peace back to the people here."

Xie Yuan nodded grimly, still feeling frustrated.

"But if I had handled it better, perhaps fewer innocent people would have died."

Situ Qin’s expression grew serious. She turned to face Xie Yuan directly.

"Master Xie, I don’t think you understand."

"The powers behind this are, at minimum, two great aristocratic families: the Jinling Yao and the Yongyang Qian."