Chapter 1: The Crimson Moon Appears, Yangzhou's Murderous Intent
The night of Yangzhou City, slicing through the crisscrossing network of rivers, was shaped into countless shards of inky jade, rimmed with shattered gold by the lights of the ten-mile Qinhuai River. A slender figure, like a wisp of smoke, passed over the rooftops, silently merging into the deepest shadows of the Grand Canal Governor's Mansion. A light veil veiled her face, revealing only a pair of eyes as cold as stars. She was the assassin of "Youquan"—Feiyue.
Tonight's target is Wei De, the Grand Canal Governor. He's a man of immense corruption, predatory behavior, and a long-time target on Youquan's must-kill list. However, Feiyue didn't take on this mission solely for the hefty bounty. Su Qinghan needs Youquan as a springboard to uncover the secrets hidden in the darkest corners of the Jianghu, searching for clues to the murder that wiped out her entire family so many years ago.
The Governor's Mansion was heavily guarded, with guards every three steps and sentries every five. Many poisonous traps and mechanisms were also deployed in the dark. For ordinary assassins, even approaching the high walls would be incredibly difficult, let alone infiltrating. But for Su Qinghan, this was no problem. She practiced the Su family's inherited light skill, "Treading on Snow Without a Trace," already renowned for its agility and grace. Improved by the Six Gates, it now possessed the ability to conceal one's presence and stay hidden.
Like a night owl, she tapped the eaves of a roof tile with her toes and glided silently several feet away, her figure always hidden in the thick shadows cast by the buildings. The patrol teams in the palace passed by, torches in hand. In the light, they could only see their own swaying shadows, unaware that a pair of cold eyes were watching them from above.
Su Qinghan was incredibly patient. She lurked in a lush, ancient locust tree for a full half hour, memorizing the routes of the three patrol teams, their handover times, and their blind spots. She even calculated changes in wind direction to ensure her scent wouldn't be detected by the guard dogs, who had a keen sense of smell.
Everything is ready.
She landed gracefully like a falling leaf, her feet making no sound the moment they touched the ground. She clung to the wall, keeping extremely low, perfectly exploiting her blind spot to avoid an oncoming patrol. Ahead lay a winding corridor, beneath which hung rows of brass bells. While seemingly decorative, they served as the most insidious alarm devices: if even a tiny thread were touched, all the bells would ring in unison.
Su Qinghan had anticipated this. She chose not to pass under the corridor. Instead, she took a deep breath, channeling her inner strength into her feet. She clung to the pillars outside the corridor like a gecko, using both her hands and feet to silently scale the beams. From above, the deadly threads, gleaming coldly in the moonlight, were clearly visible.
She was like a ghost walking on a spider web, accurately avoiding all traps, and soon arrived at the core area of the Governor's Mansion - Wei De's study, "Wentao Pavilion".
The attic was brightly lit, casting a portly figure on the window paper. It was Wei De. He seemed in a good mood, fiddling with a blood-jade ring and humming a tuneless tune.
Su Qinghan didn't rush to act. A good assassin not only needed superb martial arts skills but also the patience of a cheetah. She hid in the shadow of the rockery across from the study, peering through the gaps between the branches and leaves, calmly observing everything inside.
In the study, besides Wei De, there was also a middle-aged man who looked like a legal advisor.
"Sir, this is the filial tribute for this month, please take a look." The lawyer bowed and handed over a thick account book.
Wei De took the account book, flipped through two pages at random, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. "Well, that's good. Let them clean up their hands and feet and don't leave any handles. Recently, that Chief Constable Tie in the court has been like a mad dog, biting everywhere."
"Don't worry, sir. These are all old matters. The accounts are flawless. No matter how far his Six Gates' reach stretches, it can't reach our Yangzhou."
"It's better to be careful." Wei De casually tossed the account book into a locked rosewood box beside the desk and waved his hand impatiently. "Alright, you can go now. Remember, what happened tonight is known only to heaven and earth, and only to you and me."
"Yes, yes, I'll take my leave." The lawyer nodded and bowed as he retreated.
Wei De was the only one left in the study. He took out a bottle of fine wine from the secret compartment and drank it by himself, looking extremely relaxed.
The opportunity has come.
Su Qinghan's eyes instantly sharpened. She calculated the angle and distance, then pulled three thin steel needles from her bosom. These were the Six Sect's secret hidden weapons, the "Three-Inch Nails," infused with a deadly poison that inflicted a fatal blow, designed to destroy the body's protective Qi. If she could launch the needles through the slit in the window paper, striking Wei Zhongxian squarely on the back of his neck, her mission would be accomplished. The entire process would take no more than three breaths.
She adjusted her breathing, slowly channeling the internal energy of the Canglang Jue to her fingertips, concentrating all her energy and spirit on the impending strike. The surrounding sounds of insects and wind seemed to fade away at that moment. In her world, only the obese figure and her fingertips about to thrust remained.
However, something strange happened.
Just as she gathered her inner strength into her fingertips, ready to deliver a fatal blow, a faint aura, like a feather, brushed past her senses. A shiver sank in her heart, and all her movements froze instantly. A companion! Furthermore, this being was far more powerful than anyone she had ever encountered.
The aura was so faint that if she hadn't lived on the brink of life and death for years, her perception far surpassing that of an ordinary person, she wouldn't have been able to detect it. This frightened her and made her break out in a cold sweat. When had the other party arrived? Where was he lurking? She hadn't even noticed! This showed that the other party's aura concealment skills far surpassed hers.
This was unimaginable. Her "Treading on Snow Without a Trace" combined with the "Canglang Jue" made it clear that even if the Six Gates Chief Constable Tie Wuqing himself came, he wouldn't be able to get within ten feet so quietly.
Who is this person? Is he a friend or an enemy?
Su Qinghan didn't dare to act rashly. In an assassin's duel, victory or defeat depended on a single thought. If she acted rashly without being able to determine the opponent's position or intentions, not only would the assassination fail, but she might also be killed.
She froze in place, holding back her inner strength as she concentrated on sensing the source of that breath.
"despair."
An extremely slight crisp sound came from the roof of the study, like a small stone falling on the tiles.
Although the sound was soft, it was particularly clear in the quiet night.
"Who is it!" De in the study jumped up from his chair like a frightened bird and shouted in horror.
"Protect the emperor! There's an assassin!"
Almost at the same time, the guards' shouts rang out from all directions in the courtyard. Torches instantly became as bright as daylight, and dozens of agile figures rushed out from the darkness, surrounding the entire "Wentao Pavilion".
Su Qinghan said to herself, "Oh no!" She knew that tonight's assassination attempt had completely failed.
It was that mysterious colleague! He'd deliberately made a noise, alerting the guards! Why would he do that? What good would it have for him to sabotage his own mission? Was he sent by another organization, deliberately trying to disrupt things?
Countless thoughts flashed through her mind, but she had no time to think. If she didn't leave now, she would be unable to leave.
Su Qinghan made a quick decision, turned around, and rushed into the darkness behind the rockery like a civet cat, preparing to retreat along the same route.
Just as she pulled away, she caught a glimpse of a shocking scene out of the corner of her eye.
A dark, ghostly figure dangled from the shadows of the study's beams. His movements were incredibly swift, and before the guards' attention was drawn to the window, he had already landed beside the rosewood chest. With a soft click, the sturdy copper lock snapped. The figure reached into the chest and pulled out an account book. Then, with a flicker of smoke, he slipped out the window on the other side, disappearing into the night after a few rises and falls.
The entire process was so smooth and swift that it was dazzling. From appearance to disappearance, it took only two breaths. None of the well-trained guards noticed the real intruder in the study.
Su Qinghan's heart suddenly sank.
She finally understood. The enemy's goal wasn't Wei De's life at all, but the account book! He had sabotaged her assassination attempt simply because he didn't want her to alert the enemy and prevent him from stealing the account book!
Such quick movements and such precise calculations!
Not only was this man's martial arts skills terrifyingly high, but his scheming was also extremely deep. He treated himself as a chess piece, a discarded piece used to attract everyone's attention!
A strong sense of frustration and humiliation washed over Su Qinghan. Ever since her debut, whether as the Su family's daughter, the Six Gates' Divine Constable, or even Youquan's Feiyue, she had never been manipulated so easily.
She looked into the distance in the direction where the shadow disappeared, and for the first time, a flame of anger and curiosity ignited in her cold eyes.
Who is this person?
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