Chapter 2: The candle is silent, the mantis is behind
Atop the beams, in the shadows, the night was like a lifeless sculpture, long since merged with the darkness. His codename was "Candle Shadow," the sharpest sword of the Tianji Pavilion. His gaze didn't even linger on the soon-to-be-captured governor, but instead fell with interest on the equally lurking figure outside the window.
He arrived earlier than her.
Half an hour earlier, just as night had cast a dark veil over Yangzhou City, Shen Ye had already arrived. For him, sneaking into the heavily guarded Governor's Mansion was no different from passing through his own courtyard. The "Lightless Heart Sutra," a secret technique passed down within the Tianji Pavilion, was the nemesis and ultimate destination of all stealth techniques. Reaching a high level of mastery, this technique could reduce one's breath, heartbeat, and even body temperature to an imperceptible level, as if completely assimilating with the inanimate objects around them.
He is not hiding in the shadows, he himself is part of the shadows.
Tonight's mission was simple and uninteresting: steal the embezzled account books hidden by Wei De, the Grand Canal Governor. The client was a prominent figure in the capital, and the Tianji Pavilion simply took the money and performed the task, never questioning the reasons. To him, this was just one of countless missions, no different in essence from beheading a sect leader or stealing a troop deployment map.
The goal is the ledger, not human lives. This is the mission's limitation, and also a manifestation of Tianji Pavilion's "precision service." Any extra effort is wasted.
He had calculated everything. In another quarter of an hour, when Wei De's alcohol had taken over and his mind was at its most relaxed, he would float down like a falling leaf, retrieve the account book within three breaths, and slip away quietly. The entire process would alert no one, clean and efficient, like a candle flame extinguished without leaving a trace of smoke.
However, the emergence of a variable disrupted his perfect script.
That slender figure suddenly entered his perception range.
Chen Ye's brow twitched imperceptibly. His Lightless Heart Sutra allowed him to sense even the slightest changes in his surroundings, including the presence of his fellow practitioner. The other person's breath-controlling technique was quite impressive, and his internal energy was steady and long-lasting. He was clearly a professional, rigorously trained practitioner.
The assassin from "Youquan"?
The name of this organization instantly popped up in Chen Ye's mind. Lately, this second-rate assassin organization has been quite active in the Jiangnan area, acting flamboyantly and taking on a lot of dirty work. Intelligence from the Tianji Pavilion indicated that "Youquan" had accepted the order to assassinate Wei De.
It seems that this is the person sent by "Youquan".
A flicker of contempt flashed across Chen Ye's eyes. Most of the assassins in Youquan were desperate criminals, employing a variety of martial arts techniques and acting crudely, relying solely on sheer ruthlessness. Training this man was a complete surprise.
He looked at the female assassin codenamed "Fei Yue", who was lurking in the tree for half an hour like a cautious cat, observing the movements of the patrol team.
"A bit of patience, not bad," Chen Ye silently commented. But that wasn't enough. For a true assassin, patience was only the foundation; the ability to grasp timing and exploit the environment was the key to success.
Then, he watched her float down like a falling leaf, clinging to the wall, avoiding the patrol. This swift and agile performance was surprisingly effective, but the murderous aura she exuded wasn't perfectly contained. If she had faced a truly top-tier expert, the fleeting glint of energy would have been enough to give her away.
Then came the Nine-Curve Corridor. Seeing the copper bells and hidden silk threads hanging below, a subtle smile curved the corners of Chen Ye's mouth. This was the Governor's Mansion's most prized device, a master craftsman's creation, and countless skilled warriors had fallen here. He wanted to see how this assassin from "Youquan" would handle it.
Will she choose to force her way in, or find another way?
The next moment, he saw the figure take a deep breath and climb up the column like a gecko.
"oh?"
Chen Ye's eyes finally showed a hint of genuine interest. This wall-climbing skill, like a gecko, required extremely precise control of internal energy. Any more and it would be lost, any less and it would make a noise. She did it perfectly, silently and effortlessly, as if walking on flat ground.
This is definitely not the kind of kung fu that a third-rate organization like "Youquan" can teach.
For the first time, Chen Ye began to doubt the identity of this female assassin. But he didn't delve into it. Matters outside of the mission had nothing to do with him. He was just a tool, a sword. Overthinking would only dull the edge.
He continued to observe.
The female assassin successfully crossed the corridor and hid behind the rockery opposite the study. This location was well chosen, as it allowed her to clearly observe the situation inside the house while also being perfectly concealed by the shadows of the rocks and trees.
At this time, the lawyer in the study bowed and took his leave, locking an account book into a rosewood box.
That's it. Shen Ye's eyes fell on the box, and his pupils shrank slightly.
After the master left, Wei De began to drink by himself, and his vigilance was reduced to the lowest level.
The time has come.
This is not only true for Shen Ye, but also for the female assassin.
Shen Ye could clearly sense that the originally calm aura behind the rockery suddenly became sharper, like a blade unsheathed, revealing murderous intent. Her target was Wei De's life.
This made Shen Ye a little unhappy.
His mission was to steal the account book. If the female assassin were to act now, regardless of success or failure, Wei De's death or scream would instantly attract all the guards. By then, the entire Wentao Pavilion would be surrounded like a bulletproof barrier, making his attempt to steal the account book quietly exponentially more difficult.
This would increase the risk of the mission and deviate from the perfect trajectory he had set.
This is something he cannot tolerate.
"Zhuying" of Tianji Pavilion never accepts flawed mission reports.
Countless response plans flashed through Shen Ye's mind in an instant.
Plan 1: Attack her directly and subdue her before she can strike. No, a fight between the two would make more noise, which would also alert the guards and expose me.
Plan 2: Strike before her and steal the account book. No, she's already set her sights on Wei De. If he were to show up, she'd be on her guard and likely attack. A fight between two heroes only benefits the fisherman.
Option 3: ...
His eyes swept out the window and finally stopped at the row of copper bells that the female assassin avoided when she sneaked.
A plan took shape instantly.
This would not only stop her, but also draw everyone's attention outside the house, creating a perfect window for action. And by the way... I could also see how this interesting colleague coped with emergencies.
He even thought of a deeper level. If Youquan's assassination attempt failed, not only would his mission be successful, but it would also make the client owe Tianji Pavilion a favor—after all, Tianji Pavilion had "conveniently" prevented an assassination attempt on Wei De.
Killing three birds with one stone. This is the style of the Tianji Pavilion.
He watched the female assassin gather her inner strength, seemingly preparing to unleash some kind of fingertip technique. The sharp energy had already reached its peak, only a split second away from exploding.
We can't wait any longer.
Chen Ye's eyes became calm, all emotions settled, leaving only absolute calmness and precision.
He couldn't let this female assassin's actions disrupt his plan to steal the account book. His fingers twisted a pre-prepared stone, his gaze piercing the darkness, accurately locking onto the bronze bell outside the study that served as an alarm. The opportunity was now.
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