Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Assassin's Remnants

The man in the black robe turned pale and said, "You must be from the Miao region. May I ask whether you belong to the Golden Silkworm Sect or the Witchcraft Sect?"

Lan Wutong smiled and praised him, "I didn’t expect you to have such sharp eyes. I am the Protector of the Golden Silkworm Sect!"

The black-robed man hesitated for a long time before speaking in a low voice, "I was a killer for the Palace of Myriad Phenomena in Chang’an. Since Xue Huaiyi died, the palace was disbanded by imperial decree and we were all expelled. Those with connections found new paths, but those like us, with nowhere to go, were left behind. We killed countless people and made many enemies; now, surviving in the martial world is nearly impossible. Fortunately, our leader didn’t abandon us. He took us wandering across the land, doing work for hire. That day at the Shunfeng Inn, we were hired to kill someone. Actually, our target was you."

He fixed his gaze on Li Chongyuan. "The others were merely collateral damage."

Li Chongyuan demanded, "Who ordered you?"

The black-robed man gave a bitter smile. "Only our leader knows. We only carry out the killings and ask nothing else."

Ma Beifang asked, "Why are you here? Where are your other companions?"

The black-robed man replied, "There are no companions left. At the Shunfeng Inn, two Daoists suddenly attacked; I lost an arm and barely escaped. Knowing I was crippled, I could no longer be a killer. Besides, our failed mission made me fear our employer might silence me, so I hid my identity and took up petty highway robbery in the area. It kept me afloat for seven or eight years, unnoticed by the authorities. Then, last year, Shen Guangzi seized this mountain and recruited heroes; hearing the news, I joined. Hmph, even with only one arm, my martial skills surpass most, so I became the second-in-command of Tiger Tail Mountain. Recently, I saw a caravan pass by, not many guards and no experts, so I thought to make some easy money, but that woman intervened."

He glanced at Huang Shan and continued, "I fought her and remembered that our leader once mentioned the Falling Snow Sword Technique of Tianshan Sect. The young Daoist who cut off my arm at Shunfeng Inn used that same sword technique. I sensed trouble, wanted to leave, but then Shen Guangzi’s wedding came up. I planned to take advantage of the festivities to steal some money and slip away, but... alas!"

Huang Shan sneered, "Even if you wanted to leave, you couldn’t. I’ve been watching you on the mountain for days!"

The black-robed man was stunned. With his skills, going one-on-one against Huang Shan, he could only hold out for a few dozen rounds. Without help, he would surely be captured.

Lan Wutong asked curiously, "I’ve heard this so-called Tiger King marries a wife every month. Why aren’t there any women on the mountain?"

The black-robed man replied, "It’s true he marries monthly, but not for a bride to rule the mountain. It’s for alchemy. The marriage is just a cover. Shen Guangzi said he suffered greatly at the hands of a woman and wants to create a deadly poison to get revenge. But he’s never succeeded; many innocent girls have died in the process."

Lan Wutong sighed inwardly, feeling sorrow that so many innocent women died because Shen Guangzi sought revenge against her.

Li Chongyuan demanded, "Who is your leader?"

The black-robed man gave a bitter smile. "No one knows his origins, but his name is quite unusual: Nian Cixi."

Lan Wutong laughed, "That is indeed strange. I’ve never heard of such a figure in the martial world."

Ma Beifang took out the butterfly dart and asked sternly, "Do you know whose this is?"

The black-robed man examined it carefully. "This is our leader’s butterfly dart."

Lin Qingli sneered, "A grown man using butterfly darts—how shameful!"

The black-robed man said nothing, but suddenly shouted and, seizing the moment, secretly used his internal energy to unblock his acupoints. He leaped at Lin Qingli, the weakest among them, aiming to take her down with him. Lin Qingli raised her sword to block him, but his left sleeve wrapped around her sword hilt while his right palm struck down at her head. Li Chongyuan reacted swiftly, striking the acupoint at the back of his head.

At the same time, Ma Beifang thrust his sword straight through the man’s back. Li Chongyuan cried, "Spare him!" But it was too late; the sword pierced through his chest. The black-robed man gave a bitter laugh and fell dead.

On the mountain, aside from Shen Guangzi who jumped off the cliff, not a single bandit escaped.

The five searched the rear courtyard and found much gold and silver, then set the stronghold aflame and hurried down the mountain. When they left the borders of Suzhou, Ma Beifang suddenly said, "Everyone, the Palace of Myriad Phenomena is now just a name. Its people wander the martial world. If we travel together, finding them will be extremely difficult. Why don’t we split up, north and south? Whoever finds their whereabouts can inform the others in Chang’an and together we can strike them all at once. What do you think?"

Li Chongyuan knew that the black-robed man’s dying words had reopened old wounds. Though Ma Beifang didn’t hate him, he was unwilling to travel together. Still, Ma’s plan was wise. The world is vast, and aimlessly wandering might mean never finding their enemies.

He agreed at once. Ma Beifang said, "I’ll head north. In a year, regardless of the outcome, I’ll wait for you in Chang’an."

Li Chongyuan nodded, "I’ll go south, reach the Miao region, then turn north to Chang’an."

Lin Qingli and Lan Wutong naturally followed Li Chongyuan. Huang Shan and Ma Beifang, who had developed feelings for each other on Tianshan, were reluctant to part and went north together.

On the main road, they parted in tears, heading north and south.

Laizhou.

Sha Tonghai was a prominent figure in Laizhou. Once a pirate, he fought rival gangs fiercely in the waters of Lingdingyang. Bold and familiar with the sea, he defeated others and seized dozens of ships. After that battle, his reputation soared across the seas near Guangzhou, Shaozhou, and Chaozhou. Yet, seeing so many die, he grew weary and led his men north to Laizhou, establishing Tonghai Shipping Company.

He ran north-south shipping, occasionally venturing to Korea and Japan. Nearly a thousand sailors served under him, and his martial reputation lingered; not only pirates but even the prefect of Laizhou dared not take him lightly.

Despite his wild origins, he acted cautiously, strictly forbidding his men from disturbing locals. He hired many scholars as advisers, befriended court officials, and mingled well with local gentry. He spent generously to repair city walls and set up porridge kitchens. Thus, in Laizhou, both officials and common folk praised him, calling him "Master Sha."

At the rear of Sha’s mansion, music and festivities filled the air. A distinguished guest from Chang’an had arrived, one fond of music and dance. Sha Tonghai catered to his tastes, spending lavishly to hire renowned performers.

The actors appeared in full costume, each presenting their act. The guest watched with delight. He was young, handsome, and lacked the pampered air common among noble sons.

Sha Tonghai cautiously said, "Your Highness, these are the finest performers in the region. Do they suit your fancy?"

The guest was none other than Prince Li Longji of Linzi. Li Longji smiled, "Old Sha, you’re too formal. I’ve been a guest here for days, and already feel indebted. These performers are excellent, every bit as skilled as those in Chang’an. How could I not be pleased?" His use of "Old Sha" made Sha Tonghai beam. He called, "Bring the rewards!"

His men brought baskets filled with gold and silver. Li Longji tossed coins onto the stage like sand, and the performers bowed, chirping, "Thank you, master, for your generosity."

Just then, a man dressed as a guard hurried in and whispered a few words in Li Longji’s ear. Li Longji’s smile never faded. He nodded, signaling the guard to withdraw, then sighed, "Old Sha, I suddenly feel tired. I’ll rest at the inn. I brought a few jars of fine purple-gold wine this trip. Tomorrow—ah, not tomorrow, I need a full day’s rest. The day after, I’ll drink with you to our hearts’ content." With that, he departed, accompanied by many, heading straight for the inn.

After Li Longji left, Sha Tonghai did not return to the hall but followed winding paths to a secret study. Soon, a middle-aged scholar entered.

His name was Zhong Xian, once a failed candidate for the imperial exams. After repeated failures, he abandoned the classics and became an adviser. Sha Tonghai said, "Zhong Xian, you’ve accompanied me to meet many princes in Chang’an. In your opinion, what do you think of Prince Linzi?"

Zhong Xian replied, "Master, in my view, if you wish to rise in officialdom, relying on him is best. He has a vast and noble spirit, dragon’s energy between his brows, and a royal destiny. However..."

Sha Tonghai frowned, "If I help him claim the throne, wouldn’t it be easy for me to earn a red robe and become an official? Why hesitate?"

Zhong Xian said, "His gaze is sharp as a hawk and wary as a lone wolf. This means he can endure hardship but not share prosperity. As the saying goes, 'when the cunning hare is gone, the hound is boiled.' If you choose to follow him, remember these four words: 'Retire after success.' That way, you’ll enjoy royal favor and peace for generations. If you covet power, you may face disaster."

Sha Tonghai grumbled, "If I risked my life only to fail as an official, what’s the point?"

Zhong Xian laughed, "Don’t be hasty, master. When the world is first settled, he won’t discard his supporters. You’ll have three to five years in office, at least."

Sha Tonghai pondered for a long time, then gritted his teeth, "You’ve met many princes in Chang’an, both Wu and Li by name. According to you, he’s the only one worth it. Fine, I’ll bet once more—my life has always been a gamble!"

Zhong Xian said, "Just now, though Prince Linzi laughed and chatted, I sensed he had something on his mind—and it’s a big matter!"

Sha Tonghai was surprised, "He didn’t seem troubled when he left. How did you notice?"

Zhong Xian smiled, "It was the purple-gold wine that gave it away. This wine is made in the palace with a secret recipe. Though the recipe isn’t hard to find, the ingredients are rare and ordinary wineries can’t make it. More importantly, once brewed, the wine must not be shaken or it turns sour. In the palace, strongmen carry the jars to prevent any jostling.

That’s why purple-gold wine can only be made and consumed in the palace, rarely seen elsewhere. From Chang’an to Laizhou is over a thousand miles. If he really brought purple-gold wine, the journey would ruin it. How could he drink it here?

Prince Linzi must drink it often and know its properties. Why say such things? He must be distracted, hence the slip. Though young, during the performance, he watched with enthusiasm, yet stood with the steadiness of a mountain—his robe unmoving, waist steady. Clearly, his focus is strong. If someone with such composure misspeaks, it can only mean the matter is grave, likely something urgent from Chang’an."

Sha Tonghai asked, "Do you think he won’t come to drink the day after tomorrow?"

Zhong Xian smiled, "No need to wait. He’ll likely leave the city tonight."

Sha Tonghai asked, "What should I do?"

Zhong Xian replied, "This is your chance. Send dozens of agile and clever men with fine horses to wait outside the city. When Prince Linzi leaves, have them escort him. He’ll surely appreciate your thoughtfulness. But remember, between you and the prince, this must remain unspoken—never reveal it, or you’ll ruin everything."