You're Strong But Now You're Mine

"In case Qingle Yin is also able to borrow the Sea of Consciousness of the Platinum Tower..."

"No need to worry about that, the Platinum Tower recognizes only one master, and no one else except the Principal can mobilize it, otherwise there would have been a Vice Principal position in the Imperial Academy long ago."

"How to deal with Lou Yinhai?"

"On that night, Lou Yinhai will be transferred to the Outer District of Yanjing. It would take him at least half an hour to return to the Academy, which is enough time for you to blow up the Platinum Tower."

"If the teachers residing in the Imperial Academy come to assist..."

"Feel free to act, but if possible, please show mercy. The teachers of the Imperial Academy are pragmatic and benevolent people, definitely not our enemies."

Each question was answered, and orders were given one after another. In just ten minutes, this shocking assassination plan took shape. The speed of the discussion also had a reason: they all tacitly ignored one important topic - how to retreat.

Because it was pointless to mention it.

Leaving aside the fact that causing trouble in Yanjing is already a death sentence, if Cha Huan really dies, having just one of the perpetrators escape Yanjing would be considered a disgrace to the military pillars of Yanjing.

Cha Huan has been the Principal of the Imperial Academy for more than twenty years, renowned all over, praised by everyone. Whether one dislikes him or respects him, his death must end with a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. Many of the military pillars of Yanjing were his students - they truly want Cha Huan dead, but avenging him afterwards is also genuine.

Moreover, although they are gathered for a common goal, these forces are also adversaries to each other. After all, everyone ultimately aims to take over Yanjing and seize the glory. Before Cha Huan's death, cooperation wasn't impossible, but after his death, helping each other would've been difficult. During escapes, they wouldn't attack each other, considering outsiders to be honorable.

Everyone had their own ideas about retreat: life and death are fated, and one must rely on their abilities.

"Then, it's settled." Yan Shang, the man from the heart of the lake, said, "The operation is scheduled for midnight three days later. The interception point for the interception group has been determined, and for now, the search group and executioner group will meet at the gate of the Imperial Academy. After returning, encourage your respective forces to push Qingle Yin as acting principal within the next two days, and try to suggest to Cha Huan that they are doing this because Qingle Yin has bribed them, making Cha Huan lower his estimation of Qingle Yin."

"If Cha Huan refuses to give in, proceed as planned; if he does, the two groups will merge and deal with both Qingle Yin and the Platinum Tower."

"I have no time or need to say anything else." Yan Shang surveyed the surroundings, his phantom gaze skimmed over the hidden assassins: "In the end, all our efforts might be an illusion under the radiance of the Holy Sword Shining. Even if we succeed, like the search for the sword in the academy, there will always be only one victor."

"I know there will be those who withdraw and refuse to participate, and others who will defect and side with the enemy, just to survive. This is reasonable since our goal is the longest history, the greatest glory, the strongest power in the world, the Holy Sword Shining. For two thousand years, besides the Imperial Family, no one else has even touched a fraction of it. Even we are only trying to lift its mysterious veil."

"Once successful, not more than five of you here will leave Yanjing alive."

"Why do we still commit this rebellious act? For our lord? For wealth? For the future?"

Yan Shang's voice from the heart of the lake was somewhat fuzzy: "Long ago, I've been chasing the Holy Sword Shining. It's something with no apparent benefit, instead bringing peril, yet I pursue it with enthusiasm, hardly ever thinking of giving up, wholeheartedly chasing after its lingering light."

"Why is that? Occasionally, when I regain clarity, I also ask myself this question, why am I obsessed with it? Why does my fervor towards it feel instinctual, even surpassing all desires?"

"After thinking long and hard, I found the answer." Yan Shang said: "Because the Holy Sword Shining should rightfully belong to me."

"I was born in a nation named Shining, listening to stories of Shining from a young age. My stable childhood was due to the protection of Shining. A society on the brink of collapse survived because of Shining; ambitious heroes feared Shining, ensuring peace in the nation. Millions of people gained a barely sustainable peace because of Shining."

"From the emperor down to the common people, it's interrelated with all things and beings under heaven. It's the origin of humanity, technology, and art; it's a national symbol, the aspiration of all beings."

"Since the Imperial Family dangled the Holy Sword Shining above each of our heads, they can't blame us for wanting to reach out and touch it."

"The Holy Sword Shining does not solely belong to the Ming Imperial Family."

Yan Shang from the heart of the lake made a gesture of his right fist against his chest: "It belongs to me."

"And to you all."

"After death, don't be in a rush to leave. Prepare a feast below. If anyone survives to witness the Holy Sword's splendor, when we gather again below, don't hold back your words, so that we predecessors who fell on the way would know how magnificent the object of our pursuit was."

Yan Shang cupped his fists towards everyone, and a hoarse laugh echoed from the Curse Hunter's side: "Haha, you coward who hides your face, claiming you have no time, but you still rambled on with a lot of useless nonsense!"

"I ask for the Corpse Hunter's forgiveness." Yan Shang chuckled with bitterness.

"But your last line had some sense," the Corpse Hunter sneered, "It's just that the Blasted Scale Wine from Canglan District, you foreigners won't be able to withstand it alive, let alone drink it when dead, lest you disperse into the wind and lose your soul."

"What's Canglan's turbid drink worth? The ale from my Tianji can melt ice that's lasted a millennium!" mocked 'Food as Immortal' from the Brotherhood loudly.

"The lamb from Youyun, it'll make you swallow your tongues," the Grass-cutter suddenly interjected.

"How can a banquet be without noodles? The tri-gun noodles from Three Guns Sect are enough to make ghosts of all of you from overeating." Yan Fenqiu chimed in and agreed.

Noticing all eyes on him, Leyu blinked and said: "Then I recommend iced honey Five-Flower Tea."

If Leyu had a brief sense of intellectual superiority earlier from fooling them, he now held no disdain for this group.

They had no crafty intentions, so it only took them ten minutes to devise this mad assassination plan; their resolve was set in stone, each a bloodthirsty fanatic, still fearless even knowing certain death was ahead.

In this world, Leyu wasn't the only one daring enough to risk everything recklessly.

"Then, let's hope that when the wine goes cold and the dishes chill, we still wouldn't have attended the meeting below."

Yan Shang from the heart of the lake cupped his fists and spoke: "Everyone, live well, meet the Holy Sword Shining before you die."

With a splash, Yan Shang turned into a spray of water and merged into Jingxin Lake.

After a moment of silence, three figures emerged from Curse Hunter's side, swaggering over the wall and leaving. Having heard Yan Shang's introduction of Curse Hunters, no one dared to act against them - winning or losing would only invite a curse, a net loss no matter what.

Taking this opportunity, Leyu detached himself from the fake mountain, nimbly slipping out of Jindian Xiao House, making his way back to the Imperial Academy along the path he came.

However, he hadn't gone far when the sound of trailing footsteps became distinctly audible from behind!

What the heck?!

Weren't we supposed to eat, sleep, and hang out at Cha Huan together? You promised so convincingly just now, and now you're backing out?

Le Yu dared not linger, abandoned any attempt to hide, and dashed into a dark alley. However, the lighting in Yanjing was so good that even the darkest alley had some light. The person behind him suddenly sped up, a fierce wind sounded by his ears, and Le Yu's hood was sliced with a tear. He felt a sudden tug backward, as if the air itself was pulling at him!

Biting Battle Technique · Desolate Bite Universe Chant!

Right hand neutralizes the sword light with Universe Chant, left hand delivers a heavy blow with Desolate Bite to the head!

Le Yu turned with the momentum of the strike, smacking the attacker's long sword aside, and his left fist tore open the attacker's hood, revealing a sinister and rough northern face!

By sheer luck, he won this bout, but Le Yu didn't dare stay a moment longer. He struck with a palm, unleashing a blast of light to retreat: "Grass Cutter Messenger, I've no beef with you, why—"

"No beef?!" The attacker growled, "Old General Yucan, at sixty-five, was preparing to retire in peace, but got killed by you Hidden Sword Assassins, and you say no beef?!"

Le Yu spat—how long has he been living it up, only to fall this low? He just finished flaunting using the identity of a Hidden Sword Assassin, and karma instantly struck back!

"I don't even know him!"

"The old general didn't know the Hidden Sword Assassin either!"

The Grass Cutter Messenger brandished the long sword and chased him, slashing from afar: "You can't escape!"

The sword fell, and the invisible light blast it slashed through the ten-meter distance. Although Le Yu dodged it, the space the sword light passed through briefly formed a vacuum, causing a backward pull he couldn't resist, being pushed toward the Grass Cutter Messenger by the atmospheric pressure. The Grass Cutter Messenger, entering the vacuum domain, was propelled like a meteor to attack Le Yu!

In one retreat and one advance, it looked as if Le Yu was voluntarily crashing into the tip of Grass Cutter Messenger's sword!

Damn! This move is almost scientifically magical!

Seeing that he was about to be killed due to his hair color, Le Yu immediately activated the 'Veil of Strife' to create absolute darkness and escaped the slash.

In the darkness, the voice of the Grass Cutter Messenger sounded again: "You can't escape, because..."

Le Yu stepped out of the dark realm, just a few steps away from leaving the alley.

But he stopped.

Because at the alley entrance stood another Grass Cutter Messenger, also holding a long sword.

"Grass Cutter Messengers, sworn to eradicate all Hidden Sword Assassins, to avenge the old general." The Grass Cutter Messenger behind Le Yu said venomously.

"Holding the Veil of Strife, it seems you have quite a relationship with that leader." The second Grass Cutter Messenger's voice was cold as steel: "Killing you, stealing the Divine Weapon, must surely cause that leader a lot of heartache!"

Le Yu suddenly remembered that Huxin had been persuading the Grass Cutter Messenger to stay calm and not get excited.

He thought the Grass Cutter Messenger was just naturally bloodthirsty or had a grudge with others. In hindsight, the Grass Cutter Messenger must have realized who he was and couldn't suppress the urge to yank all his white hair out!

What Le Yu didn't know was that this wasn't the first time he was hunted down because of his Hidden Sword Assassin identity. On the night Xuanzhu County burned, the reason the Peak of Perfection Iron Sir wouldn't let go of his pursuit was that he had brandished the Soul Purification Demon Sword, getting himself identified as the assassin leader.

Even an Iron Sir, a deserter from the Ta Bai Army working for Wanghai Gong for money, was willing to pursue the assassin leader over the old general's death, proving the old general's esteem within the Ta Bai Army. If Le Yu had known this, he would've been alert upon hearing the Grass Cutter Messenger's name.

"You can try running," the Grass Cutter Messenger sneered, "Grass Cutter Messengers excel at uprooting every trace."

"Run? No need."

Le Yu directly pulled out a small pistol and fired a signal flare into the sky, then shouted loudly:

"Fire! Someone's started a fire! Come quick, put it out!"

The two Grass Cutter Messengers were stunned for a moment, seemingly encountering such a shameless and clever opponent for the first time, then immediately went to kill Le Yu. Le Yu barely twisted his body, incurring minor injuries in exchange for driving them back with Desolate Bite, and then hurriedly vaulted a wall to flee.

Just as the Grass Cutter Messengers were about to give chase, suddenly a thunderous voice erupted from the alley entrance:

"Statistical Department here! Surrender now, everyone inside!"

With the voice came a gunshot. The Grass Cutter Messengers exchanged glances, cursed under their breath, decisively abandoned the chase for the Hidden Sword Assassin, and turned to flee.

Did Yan Statistics arrive so quickly?

Hiding in the corner of the wall, Le Yu dared not move, intending to leave only after Yan Statistics departed; he didn't want to meet them with his current skin condition unless absolutely necessary. However, after a while, no footsteps echoed through the alley, as if the previous thunderous shout was an illusion.

Le Yu suddenly realized something, immediately stood up, and continued his escape. Yet, at this moment, he heard a familiar teasing voice above him:

"So pathetic, like a stray dog. How should I address you in the future? Sword Sheath Qin Le Yin, Stray Dog Qin Le Yin, or... Hidden Sword Assassin Qin Le Yin?"

Le Yu raised his head with a face full of black lines.

He saw Xianchan Chenchen sitting on a tree branch, her little legs swinging in the air, a cute face wearing a mocking smile, arms crossed, looking down at him arrogantly.

Le Yu silently climbed onto the wall to stand, while Raccoon Slave followed suit, but due to the height difference, even though he was on a higher branch, he still had to look up to Le Yu.

"Good evening, Plump Cheek Xianchan."

"Same to you, Little Dog Qin."