Following the steps she had rehearsed countless times in her mind, Zhao Zhilan carried them out methodically.
On the morning of the Dongpangohai Festival, she got up very early.
She had already arrived at the boatside to wait while the boatman and his sons were still having breakfast.
As usual, they travel by boat, go ashore, beg, and steal.
But unlike before.
That afternoon, a man with a soft, delicate voice came to her side.
"Who are you?" the man asked her.
Zhao Zhilan thought to herself, "This is a question that Xuanhua Palace is always asking."
“Nobody!” she replied.
“No. You are a descendant of the Great Xia royal family, Zhao Zhilan. When you think, you bite your lip and cannot lie.”
"Yes, I used to be her, a descendant of the Zhao family, but not anymore."
"Why are you here, liar?"
"To study, to serve the Faceless God, to become an assassin!"
"First, you must change your heart. The Faceless God's gift is not a child's game. You are going to kill for your own purposes and pleasure. Do you deny it?"
She bit her lip tightly. "I...I don't know!"
He slapped her.
The slap stung her cheek, and she had no idea why she was being hit.
"Why?" Zhao Zhilan asked.
“You’re lying! I can tell the truth from your eyes. Your eyes tell me you’re looking forward to tonight’s killing,” the man said. “Does the taste of murder taste sweet to you?”
She didn't know what the right answer was. "Maybe."
“That’s the problem!” the man continued. “Death is not a bad thing; it is a gift from God to end our desires and also to end our suffering.”
If your heart is restless and you crave killing, then you do not belong to Xuanhua Palace.
In the faith of the disciples of Xuanhua Palace, death is not a sweet thing.
We are not generals, not soldiers, not arrogant and smug thugs.
We do not kill to serve our masters, fill our wallets, or satisfy our vanity.
We never give this gift to please ourselves, nor do we choose to kill anyone. We are simply servants of the Faceless God.
“I know!” Zhao Zhilan answered through gritted teeth.
The man sighed. "They told me you've learned the ways of an assassin. Stealing in alleyways filled with the smell of fish, begging and stealing to earn money."
If this kind of lifestyle suits you perfectly, let us know, and we can provide it for you.
Alternatively, we can give you some goods and let you push a cart and sell them; you'll be very satisfied.
If you cannot find inner peace, it's difficult to become one of us.
Did I fail the test? Zhao Zhilan couldn't help but wonder.
“I have no heart. I am just an empty shell. I have killed people. If you would, I will try to find the peace you speak of!”
“All men must die, but the mind remains constant,” the man said. “You understand this, but you are too proud. A servant must be humble and obedient.”
“I obey. I can be more humble than anyone else.” Her words made him chuckle.
"But are you willing to pay the price?"
"What price?"
"It's you."
The price is everything you use and hope to have.
We took your eyes and then gave them back to you.
Next time we will take away your ears and let you walk in silence.
You are going to give us your legs, so that we can only crawl.
You cannot be anyone's daughter, wife, or mother.
Your name will become a lie!
She almost bit her lip again, but this time she held back.
“I’m willing to pay the price,” Zhao Zhilan said.
“Very well!” The man nodded. “Now, I will remove your face forever!”
"My face?" Zhao Zhilan exclaimed in shock.
"Heh! Do you really think you can kill that boatman without anyone noticing just by wearing a mask?"
Zhao Zhilan frowned. "You're right!" she said. "Then please give me a break!"
"Please follow me!" After saying this, the man left without a sound.
"Follow?" Zhao Zhilan was shocked. "How can I follow you?"
She wanted to say, "I am a blind girl, and I am in a foreign land!"
However, at this very moment...
A voice drilled into my ear, "Forgot? Listen carefully, smell carefully, find the clues!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhilan took a deep breath, composed herself, and listened attentively.
The boatman tattooed a servant-like mark on her arm, so that even if Zhao Zhilan escaped, she would be caught and brought back.
Therefore, he was not worried that Zhao Zhilan could escape.
"Still as a shadow!" she told herself.
Using the skills she learned at the training grounds, Zhao Zhilan quickly located the man's footprints and smelled his scent.
Walk slowly forward.
A passing carriage left deep ruts on the ground.
The boy leaped across, but the blind Zhao Zhilan was not so lucky. She tripped and fell to the ground, scraping one foot against a stone, scraping her knee, and slamming her toes into the hard mud.
She struggled to her feet, sobbing, her left thumb covered in blood.
She put her thumb in her mouth and sucked on it, only to find that half of her nail had been broken when she fell. Her hands were in excruciating pain, and her knees were bright red.
Adjusting my breathing, enduring the pain, I continued searching for the person's trail.
Soon, Zhao Zhilan caught up with the man.
"He's waiting for me!" she thought.
That is indeed the case.
The two walked one after the other for a long time before finally arriving at their destination.
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