Chapter 34 Assassination
Qi Rong quietly perused the sword techniques Lin Changning had discovered. Although the illustrations were somewhat rough, it was not difficult to recognize that it was indeed an exquisite sword technique, suitable for use in the military…
Thinking of this, Qi Rong felt uneasy again. The rubbing belonged to the Lin family, and it would be inappropriate to use it in the army without authorization. Judging from Lin Changping's words, he also valued this sword technique book quite a bit.
However, he was also very envious. Thinking this, Qi Rong hesitated and asked, "Could I borrow a copy to read? I think the swordsmanship is truly exquisite."
Before Lin Changning could reply, he interrupted, "I can give money."
Realizing it was inappropriate to say it aloud, he quickly added, "I could also give you one of my swords; could you lend me a rubbing of it?"
Lin Changning wasn't particularly interested in the money, but she was definitely envious of Commander Qi's knife.
Thinking of this, Lin Changning pretended to hesitate, and after a moment replied: "It was originally my father's heirloom, and it is really hard to part with it. But since you are grateful for the promotion, I will let you see another copy. I just hope that it will not be spread outside."
Qi Rong's bright eyes flashed with surprise as he raised his chiseled face: "Thank you for your help. The knife is yours, and I will have my guards present the silver later."
Lin Changning cupped his hands in thanks: "It would be impolite to refuse. Thank you for your command."
Qi Rong handed over his sword, tucked it into his robes, and smiled. Lin Changning was momentarily stunned by the commander's smile.
Only after the commander smiled did I realize that he didn't seem to be very old.
It's just that she usually keeps a cold expression and is quite fierce on the battlefield, which makes it easy for people to overlook her peach blossom face.
However, it must be said that Commander Qi's smile is quite handsome.
His features were sharp and distinct. Although he had been exposed to the wind and sun on the frontier for a long time, his face was still as beautiful as jade. His nose was straight and his thin lips were sexy. His smile was quite stunning.
The night had slowly deepened to an inky black, shimmering with a velvety sheen, with scattered stars dotting the landscape.
A few wispy clouds floated leisurely above the bright full moon. A gentle evening breeze dispelled the heat from their fight, and the sudden gust of wind brought a chill to their bodies.
Lin Changning straightened up, preparing to invite the commander inside for a seat.
Suddenly, something seemed amiss, and the commander beside him frowned.
The two men exchanged a glance and immediately became alert. Something was wrong. With the moon high in the sky, the night watchman should have already reached the east end of the city.
However, despite their long conversation, they did not hear the sound of the clapper.
So, the night watchman...
Not daring to alert the enemy, Lin Changning gripped the hilt of his knife and slowly walked through the doorway.
The door bolt was fastened tightly, but through the moonlight, the shadows of two or three people could be clearly seen seeping in through the gap under the door. Lin Changning gestured for silence and pointed to the doorway.
"Commander, how much silver would you be willing to offer for this sword technique of mine?"
Qi Rong gripped his knife, frowning. "How about three hundred taels?"
Lin Changning laughed heartily: "They thanked the commander over there."
Before Lin Changning could finish speaking, he flung open the door by lifting the bolt, and a flash of silver light instantly took the life of one of the spying people.
The small courtyard was surrounded by a tight net, with a dozen men dressed in black and carrying knives standing outside the door.
"Go to hell! You're a jerk!"
While cursing, Lin Changning swiftly and decisively dealt with the two or three people at the door.
Seeing this, the others immediately swarmed around and rushed into the courtyard. Lin Changning's alarm bells rang loudly; Shilang was still resting inside: "Shilang, there are thieves in the courtyard! Hide well..."
Qi Rong also stepped forward with his sword. The two stood back to back, their identical swords gleaming coldly in the moonlight, echoing their stern faces and exuding a chilling aura.
Qi Rong's eyes were as sharp as a falcon's, fixed on the shadowy figures around him.
"Who are you? And why do you intend to assassinate me?"
Without saying a word, the group charged forward again.
After exchanging blows a few times, Lin Changning noticed something was amiss. Although these men in black were using the curved swords commonly used by the Tartars, their swordsmanship was quite disciplined and they coordinated well with each other, clearly resembling a group of well-trained individuals.
This doesn't seem like a Tartar who kills and robs; it's more like a well-trained assassin.
"Commander, have you offended anyone recently?"
Qi Rong brandished his knife as he answered, "No, why do you ask?"
Lin Changning blocked the assassin's slash aimed at Commander Qi: "These people are clearly well-trained assassins. I didn't encounter them when I escorted the women of Commander Ma's family back. I suppose they're here for you."
Qi Rong shook his head: "That makes sense, but apart from the Tartars, I really haven't offended anyone."
Lin Changning casually slashed down an assassin: "It's not that I'm being nosy, but even if I offended you, I'm afraid the commander wouldn't know. Didn't we just kill Bai Changsui a few days ago?"
Qi Rong was momentarily speechless, then fell silent.
The assassins surged in like a tide, their movements swift and fierce, their targets aimed directly at Lin Changning and Qi Rong's vitals.
Lin Changning wielded his long sword like a nimble silver snake, the flashes of the blade carrying a chilling light.
The slashes were accompanied by a whooshing sound, their power immense, making it difficult for assassins to get close.
After cutting down several people nearby, she turned around, her knife moving with her, and with a move called "Autumn Wind Sweeping Leaves," the blade swept horizontally across the ground.
Several assassins who rushed to the front were unable to dodge in time and were hit one after another. They fell to the ground screaming and their blood instantly stained the cold earth.
Qi Rong was not to be outdone. He wielded his long sword with incredible speed and precision, creating an impenetrable and watertight defense.
Faced with the assassins' attacks, he remained calm and composed, parrying each attack perfectly and deflecting them one by one.
His gaze was firm and calm as he searched for the enemy's weakness amidst the flashing blades.
Suddenly, he seized an opportunity, took a step forward, raised his long sword high, and then swiftly slashed down, like a bolt of lightning streaking across the night sky.
An assassin was unable to dodge in time and was struck in a vital spot, falling to the ground.
Lin Changning exclaimed, "What an amazing commander!"
Qi Rong glanced at the purple-glowing blade that the assassin had dropped on the ground and frowned: "Focus on the enemy. The blade is poisoned."
Lin Changning narrowly dodged a knife, but was knocked two meters away by the blade: "Thank you for the reminder, Commander."
After saying that, he and Qi Rong stood back to back again, working closely together.
One of them launched the main attack, using his sharp swordsmanship and agile movements to constantly weave through the group of assassins, while the other used his sword to block the assassins' attacks. The two were superb in their swordsmanship and coordinated perfectly, and in no time they had taken down all the assassins.
Lin Changning kicked the last man over and stepped on the assassin's back: "Tell me, who sent you?"
Qi Rong wiped the blood off his hands with his sleeve: "No need to ask. They're assassins. I doubt we'll get anything out of them."
Before he could finish speaking, all the assassins around him instantly committed suicide.
Lin Changning frowned and stepped back, a look of doubt on his handsome face: "How did the commander know?"
Qi Rong sighed, a sense of sorrow welling up in his heart: "These people are here to kill me. Judging from their martial arts style, it's exactly the style of the Duke of Qi's mansion."
Although I've tried to cover it up a bit, the principle remains the same: I've practiced martial arts since I was a child, and nothing can fool me.
I'll have someone handle this later. Sorry for the disturbance today. I'll have someone send the money. Come find me the day after tomorrow for the big training session.
Lin Changning scratched his head, a sense of unease creeping into his mind. He was from a prestigious family, a private household, so giving orders must be quite difficult.
Thinking this, Lin Changning replied, "Yes, Commander. Let me see you off; it might not be safe on the road."
Qi Rong waved his hand, his voice coming from outside the door: "No need. There was only this one group of assassins today. You did very well. If you have some free time in the future, you can come and spar with me or my personal guards..."
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