Night fell. In the city of Qingzhou, the wind and clouds were treacherous, and killing intent quietly brewed in the shadows.
Chang Yanjiao had already laid down an inescapable net. This meticulously planned assassination operation was not meant to be a one-strike kill, but a layered weakening, plunging Chen Hui step by step into the abyss of death.
This was not only an assassination, but a cruel calculation. He wanted to make Chen Hui have no one to rely on, isolated and helpless, ultimately dying in a situation where no one could save him!
——
Within three days, there were three consecutive assassinations. Chen Hui's life was like walking on a blade's edge; every time, someone tried to take his life.
The first wave of assassins disguised themselves as remnants of the local rebel army, ambushing on the official road of Qingzhou, launching a surprise attack while Chen Hui was inspecting coastal defenses. Swords were drawn, and killing intent rose from all sides!
"Kill him!" A black-clad assassin shouted in a low voice. Dozens of cold lights pierced the sky, sword qi fierce, killing intent dense.
However, Chen Hui waved the judge's brush in his hand. Silver light flashed, and abacus beads shot out, accurately striking the opponents' sword-wielding wrists!
"Hiss—!"
The assassins' longswords fell to the ground on the spot. Chen Hui took the opportunity to flick the abacus beads. The tip of the brush in his hand was like a sword, thrusting directly at an opponent's jugular vein. Before the opponent could react, he was heavily struck and fell to the ground.
But this battle was not a complete victory. Although he survived this assassination, several personal guards were injured, and one was even lost.
This was exactly the result Chang Yanjiao wanted—weakening the protection around Chen Hui!
Just as the first wave of assassination had subsided, the second wave of killing intent had already surfaced.
——
At night, a commercial dispute suddenly broke out in Qingzhou City. Several merchant firms fought over maritime transport routes. The dispute quickly escalated, even turning into a street brawl.
On the surface, this chaos seemed like a fight between local gangs, but in reality, it was a trap secretly orchestrated by Chang Yanjiao.
When Chen Hui personally went to handle it in order to quell the chaos, the true killing move quietly descended—
"Prefect Chen, Qingzhou is the gateway of our Fist Gang. Here will become our springboard to step into the Shuntian Dynasty."
Fist Gang master "Rakshasa Fist" Yue Hai, leading more than a dozen Fist Gang martial artists, lurked in the chaos, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Yue Hai had a burly figure, wearing heavy brass knuckles on his hands. His "Hell Combat Technique" had reached the pinnacle of perfection. The moment he stepped onto the battlefield, a suffocating killing qi filled the air.
"Power is not spoken, it is fought for! This land of Qingzhou, our Fist Gang wants it!"
Yue Hai sneered, kicking off the ground. His figure charged forward like a fierce tiger, his fists carrying violent force, striking directly at Chen Hui's chest!
"Bang—!"
A strike like an iron hammer. Chen Hui had no time to dodge. A sharp pain came from his chest, and he was forced back several steps, almost losing his footing.
"Hehe, you can't even block the first punch?" Yue Hai raised his fist, a trace of shocking blood qi still remaining on it. "Prefect of Qingzhou? Nothing more than this!"
"The Hell Combat Technique is the fist of slaughter. It specializes in breaking protective inner strength, and specializes in hitting scholars like you!"
Yue Hai approached step by step, his fists flying, attacking frantically like a violent storm!
This boxing technique had no routine to follow. Relying entirely on instantaneous muscle explosion and ultimate destructive power, it was almost unpredictable!
Enduring his injuries, Chen Hui quickly calmed down, calculating the pattern of his opponent's movements, trying to find a flaw!
"...No, his attacks have a rhythm."
Yue Hai's "Hell Combat Technique" was not without a trace. After every set of attacks, there was an extremely brief charging motion!
"As long as I seize that instant..."
"Come on! Take another punch!"
Yue Hai laughed loudly, sweeping his fists, like twin dragons going out to sea, fiercely striking towards Chen Hui's head!
But right at this moment, Chen Hui sneered. He fiercely swung his judge's brush, and the abacus beads shot out rapidly!
"Smack!"
An abacus bead struck a joint on Yue Hai's shoulder!
"What—?" Yue Hai's figure stalled slightly, a minute sluggishness appearing in his movements.
"Now!"
Chen Hui pivoted on his foot, stepping close sideways, an incredibly precise brush tip striking directly at Yue Hai's temple!
"Buzz—!"
Yue Hai's vision instantly swayed, his body losing balance, staggering backwards!
"Time to end this!"
Chen Hui seized the moment, his twin brushes crisscrossing. One brush swept towards Yue Hai's neck, the other struck his heart!
"Pfft—!"
Yue Hai staggered several steps, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. Finally unable to hold on, he fell heavily to the ground!
——
Although Chen Hui successfully defeated the Fist Gang master, this battle caused him to suffer serious internal injuries, and this was only part of the killing trap!
When he came to his senses, panting, the firelight in the streets gradually went out, while in the distance, lurking in the darkness, there was still countless hidden killing intent...
The night was deep and dark. The city of Qingzhou was silent, yet within the Chen Manor, dark currents surged, and killing intent had arrived.
After the continuous assassinations, Chen Hui finally realized that the mastermind behind this killing trap must be Chang Yanjiao! Besides him, who else could hire so many assassins and masters in such a short time, and mobilize troops to pin down his personnel and operations?
He lay in the study, his wounds still unhealed, yet he continued to write tirelessly. He knew that this slaughter was not yet over; he was still trapped in a deadly situation.
"Liu Wenzhou... I hope you can make it back..."
Although he had already sent someone to deliver a letter notifying Liu Wenzhou to bring people for support, he already had a premonition that his chances of surviving were slim.
——
At midnight, killing intent struck suddenly!
A team of black-clad assassins infiltrated the Chen Manor like phantoms. Blades flashed, and the guards engaged them without hesitation.
"Protect the Lord!"
However, these assassins were all extraordinarily skilled. Sword light and arrows crisscrossed, the sounds of slaughter shaking the night sky.
"Lord Chen, it's no longer safe here, quickly go!"
"Qingzhou cannot be without you!"
Blood dyed the courtyard red. The loyal personal guards fell one by one. Knowing they were outmatched, they still fought desperately to protect the Prefect they revered!
Just as the last guard mistakenly thought all enemies had been eradicated—
"Bang—!"
A gunshot rang out. A dark figure flashed from the shadows. A headshot! The last personal guard crashed to the ground!
Black mist permeated, the smell of blood filling the night air. A cold voice sounded—
"Prefect Chen, this game... should end now."
Stepping on the blood of the dead, the Pirate Alliance's "Undead Hunter" Viego walked out slowly.
He held a gun in each hand, his figure elusive, uncatchable like a ghost. Killing intent surged like a tide!
"You are... 'Undead Hunter' Viego? Chang Yanjiao could actually hire you?"
"That's right," Viego smiled slightly, his twin guns spinning nimbly between his fingers, flashing with cold metallic light. "I am the undead, and you, tonight, will die under the gun of the undead."
Before his voice faded, his figure vanished instantly!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Gunshots rang out continuously. Viego's marksmanship was extremely fast. Twin guns crisscrossing, he shuttled through the night like an undead, bullets attacking from all sorts of bizarre angles, blocking all avenues of retreat!
Enduring the severe pain, Chen Hui dodged, the abacus beads spinning rapidly, calculating Viego's movement trajectory amidst the gunfire!
"...His footwork is not unsolvable."
Chen Hui observed calmly, finally discovering the key—
Although Viego's movements were bizarre like a ghost, his gunplay still required finding the best angle in an instant, and that brief pause was his only flaw!
"Not bad, to actually hold on until now."
Viego murmured, raising his twin guns. His figure instantly turned into afterimages, black mist permeating, countless phantoms crisscrossing in the night!
At this moment, he unleashed his self-created gunplay—
"Undead Phantom Gun Dance!"
Gunfire erupted from all sides, phantoms crisscrossed, gunshots thundered, killing intent running rampant!
This strike made it impossible for Chen Hui to completely dodge. Several gunshot wounds grazed his body, blood instantly dyeing his robes red!
"Bang—!"
The last shot struck Chen Hui directly in the abdomen. He ultimately couldn't completely avoid it, heavily wounded and falling to the ground!
Viego stopped his movements, slowly approaching, aiming the muzzle at his forehead.
"A pity, Prefect Chen. No matter how smart you are, you cannot escape the hunt of the undead."
However, in the next instant, a smile appeared at the corners of Chen Hui's mouth.
"You miscalculated."
As his words fell, Chen Hui fiercely swung his judge's brush, abacus beads shooting out!
"What—?"
Viego's muzzle trembled, his figure stalling slightly!
It was in this instant that Chen Hui, enduring the severe pain, fiercely leaped up, his judge's brush thrusting directly at Viego's throat!
"Pfft—!"
Blood splattered, Viego's figure suddenly stiffening!
However, just as Chen Hui thought this battle had ended, black mist suddenly permeated—
Viego's figure slowly dissipated, actually turning into nothingness like a ghost!
"I am the undead... I am immortal..."
A bone-chilling voice echoed in the night, like an endless curse.
——
Under the night sky, Chen Hui knelt alone in a pool of blood, his wounds gushing blood. Holding on with his last ounce of strength, he finally awaited Liu Wenzhou.
"You're here..."
Seeing him so heavily injured, Liu Wenzhou was deeply shocked, hastily stepping forward to support him: "Chen Hui! How could..."
"Listen to me..."
Chen Hui's voice was weak but still firm. He placed the notes he had spent years deciphering the final layer of the Wind and Thunder Underground Palace into Liu Wenzhou's hands.
"These... take them to Chen Wenbin... tell him... the future is for him to choose..."
Liu Wenzhou gripped the notes tightly, his eyes reddening: "You hand them to him personally! We can definitely save you!"
However, Chen Hui gently shook his head. He knew he had reached the end of his life.
"Lastly... tell Lin Wanying... we were designed into a trap... tell her to be careful..."
His last bit of strength finally gave out. A bitter smile appeared at the corners of his mouth, whispering softly—
"This chess game... ultimately... has reached the endgame......... Wanying...... Wenbin..."
As his words faded, Chen Hui slowly closed his eyes. Between heaven and earth, there was only the night wind and the unextinguished starlight in the distance.
Liu Wenzhou knelt on the ground, clenching his fists tightly, anger and sorrow intertwining in his chest.
At this moment, the story of the Prefect of Qingzhou reached its most tragic final chapter—
Mount Wu, a steep mountain range shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, was now immersed in the night rain.
Thunder rolled. Mount Wu Town was enveloped by darkness and heavy rain. Rainwater pooled into streams on the streets. Lightning flashed from time to time, illuminating the entire small town like a ghost realm.
When the Shushan crusade team led by Zhou Tianhuan arrived here, the night was already deep. The Mount Wu branch of the Blood God Sect was hidden within this mountain range. They originally planned to climb the mountain the next day for the crusade. However, they didn't know that this bloody battle would arrive early.
"The weather isn't right..."
Standing by the window of the inn, Zhou Tianhuan looked towards Mount Wu, his brows tightly furrowed. Thunderclouds rolled, the aura between heaven and earth carrying a bizarre killing qi, causing a premonition of unease to rise in his heart.
And his premonition quickly came true—
——
At midnight, wind and rain intertwined. The torrential rain beat against the roof tiles, as if to swallow the entire small town.
Right at this moment, a low Sanskrit chant sounded. Blood God Sect talismans emerged in the dark night. A cloud of dark red mist permeated around the inn, quietly seeping into the rooms of the Shushan disciples.
"Enemy attack!"
The Shushan disciples flipped up alertly. Yet in the next instant, countless blood shadows broke through the windows. Blades flashed, killing intent running rampant!
"Blood God Sect!"
In the dark night, the disciples and assassins of the Blood God Sect poured in like a tide, wielding bizarre blood fiend palms and cursing talismans, launching a fierce attack on the Shushan crusade team!
"Sword Array—Rise!"
The Shushan disciples reacted extremely quickly, rapidly forming the "Seven Stars Imperial Thunder Sword Array" in the chaos. Sword qi crisscrossed, building an iron-like defense line!
"Kill!"
The Blood God Sect assassins attacked for several consecutive waves but could not break the sword array, and could only continuously take turns probing, waiting for a flaw.
——
Outside the inn, Zhou Tianhuan was already fighting the Blood God Sect Branch Master, "Blood Drip Hand" Wuxi!
Wuxi was entirely wrapped in blood fiend qi, his hands scarlet like ghost claws. He executed the Blood God Sect's supreme killing move—the "Thousand Fiends Blood Rending Palm." Every palm strike brought up stormy blood-colored palm force, causing the surrounding ground to shatter continuously!
"Zhou Tianhuan! Your Shushan's Thunder Magic cannot break my Blood God Sect's Blood Fiend!"
"Is that so?"
Zhou Tianhuan snorted coldly, "Purple Firmament Sword Thunder!"
Thunder light exploded, sword qi crisscrossing. Thunder magic intertwined within the sword momentum, instantly slashing open Wuxi's blood qi, the power of thunder striking directly at his opponent's chest!
Wuxi abruptly retreated, a trace of apprehension flashing in his eyes.
The two fought to a standstill. Thunder light and blood shadows crisscrossed. Between heaven and earth, it seemed only this earth-shattering duel remained!
——
On the other side, Lin Wanying was besieged by the Blood God Sect Deputy Branch Master and a masked master.
The opponents' saber shadows were like lightning, their palm strikes bizarre, their moves swift and fierce. Every attack blocked her escape route!
However, Lin Wanying was not flustered at all. Her eyes were calm, her mind continuously calculating the rhythm and flaws of the enemies' attacks—
"Three moves, one change, gap on the left diagonal side..."
"Offensive transition requires a 0.5-second interval..."
"Whoosh!"
Her figure flashed, instantly dodging the combined attack of the two. The longsword in her hand reversed, a sword light thrusting back, striking directly at the masked master's throat!
"Damn it—!"
The masked master retreated in horror, a look of disbelief appearing on his face.
"How is it possible? How can she predict my movements?"
Lin Wanying didn't speak. Her sword edge flowed, suppressing the two, gradually gaining the upper hand!
——
Just as the Shushan Sect and Lin Wanying were about to stabilize the situation, a much stronger killing intent suddenly descended!
"Boom—!"
Four dark figures descended from the sky, charging into the battlefield with devastating momentum!
"Who's there!"
The Shushan disciples were horrified, but were crushed by these four masters in an instant. Several were heavily injured on the spot, the sword array shattering with a bang!
"These people... are not from the Blood God Sect!"
Lin Wanying looked in shock at these four suddenly appearing masters. Their cultivation methods were messy, but obviously not the Blood God Sect's style. Yet they were able to fight alongside the Blood God Sect. This was clearly someone deliberately sending support to the Blood God Sect!
And just as she grew vigilant, a woman in night-walking clothes quietly sneaked near, her speed bizarre, silent like a ghost!
Lin Wanying's heart jolted, but it was too late to dodge. The opponent landed a sneak attack palm strike directly on her back!
"Pfft—!"
"The Kaga Clan's Shadowless Invisibility...?"
Lin Wanying staggered backwards, blood flowing from the corner of her mouth, her face changing abruptly.
"Why would the Kaga Clan join forces with the Blood God Sect?!"
She questioned loudly. However, the black-clad woman merely sneered without answering. Her figure plunged back into the darkness, disappearing like a ghost.
——
Lin Wanying, injured, retreated back to the battle circle where the Shushan disciples were. The situation had gradually tilted in an unfavorable direction.
However, the true desperate situation had just begun.
As she prepared to fight again, a heavily burdened Shushan disciple slowly approached her, his eyes full of pain and struggle.
"Senior Sister... I'm sorry..."
"Huh?"
Before Lin Wanying could react, the opponent suddenly drew his sword and fiercely stabbed her abdomen!
"Pfft—!"
The sword blade pierced her body, blood sliding down the blade. Lin Wanying's pupils shook violently, her body trembling slightly. She turned back in disbelief to look at that disciple.
"Why...?"
That disciple looked pained, his eyes reflecting an unerasable gloom and fear. He whispered: "Someone once said... I must take your life to exchange for the lives of my entire family..." His tone was full of helplessness and sorrow, as if every word was piercing his soul.
"I... had no choice... I'm sorry..." After saying this, he raised his hand with difficulty, suddenly striking the top of his own head backhanded. His body immediately lost support, slowly falling, quietly closing his eyes.
Blood spilled from the corner of Lin Wanying's mouth. Her eyes revealed shock, pain, and a trace of desolation.
At this moment, she finally understood—this was not just an attack by the Blood God Sect, but a larger conspiracy, a conspiracy that dragged both her and Shushan into the abyss!
"Why go to such lengths........."
She whispered softly, her gaze cold and desperate.
The wind and rain did not cease. The night of Mount Wu, dyed red with blood, became a true night of blood...
At the peak of Mount Wu, heavy rain poured, lightning flashed and thunder rolled, illuminating the residual shadows of the fallen Shushan disciples.
Lin Wanying was heavily injured, blood dripping along her sword blade onto the muddy ground. The Shushan disciples suffered heavy casualties. Blood mixed with rainwater, converging into red streams on the mountain path.
"Hahahaha!"
Blood God Sect Branch Master "Blood Drip Hand" Wuxi stood outside the encirclement of the Shushan disciples, a mocking smile on his lips. His entire body was shrouded in blood fiend qi, his hands refined into scarlet, demonic palm shadows.
"Surrender, Shushan has no chance of winning! Today, Mount Wu will be your burial ground!"
He looked around, his tone gloomy and cold: "Aren't you who call yourselves righteous tired of carrying false benevolence and righteousness? Why risk your own lives to protect those who are definitely going to die? Kneel quickly, offer sacrifices and surrender your souls, and you can join and become the glory of the Blood God Sect!"
Zhou Tianhuan gripped his sword hilt tightly, his gaze sharp like a blade, entirely unmoved.
Although the Shushan disciples were heavily injured, no one responded. They stood behind Zhou Tianhuan. Even though their bodies were stained with blood, their swords had not yet broken, their knees had not yet knelt.
"Idiots dreaming!"
Zhou Tianhuan shouted angrily, "Shushan disciples, would rather die than surrender!"
Wuxi's smile stalled, his eyes cold and sharp. The Blood God Sect disciples beside him surged forward again, pressing closer to the Shushan crowd step by step.
And on the other side, several black-clad, expressionless masters stood quietly in the darkness. They had not yet made a move, but gave off an incredibly oppressive sense of threat.
These people had nothing to do with the Blood God Sect. Their target was someone else—
Lin Wanying.
——
"Elder, you don't need to care about us. We can't escape, but you can leave, and avenge us later!"
"We already have no way of retreat. Shushan cannot be without you!"
The disciples shouted, blood dyeing their sword edges red. They knew that in this battle, no matter what, they would hardly survive. Zhou Tianhuan's departure could at least notify their fellow Shushan disciples and help them seek revenge in the future!
However, Zhou Tianhuan merely shook his head. His eyes were firm as a mountain, yet revealed a trace of unavoidable determination.
"How could the sword of Shushan's 'Soaring Cloud Sword' abandon Shushan disciples to live alone?"
At this moment, he closed his eyes. Over sixty years of accumulated noble righteousness tumbled and surged within his body. In the face of life and death, he decided—
Burn his life, to forge a glimmer of survival!
"Five Thunders Orthodox Magic—Ascension Technique!"
Boom—!
Thunder burst in the sky. Thunder light condensed into form on his sword blade. Violent sword qi merged with the thunder, making his entire being seem to transform into a descending Sword Immortal of Thunder!
His aura doubled at this moment. He was like the core of a storm, his white robes fluttering in the thunder light, his sword qi like roaring thunder!
"Kill!"
Zhou Tianhuan swung his sword. A massive phantom of a thunderous sword descended from the sky, crashing down and cleaving open the Blood God Sect's encirclement!
Wuxi's pupils shrank violently, his footsteps retreating: "How is it possible—this is a forbidden technique that burns one's lifespan!"
However, Zhou Tianhuan had disregarded everything. His sword swept across all directions, leading the remaining Shushan members, striking down enemies while retreating with the force of a thunderbolt!
——
The violent thunder slashed through the Blood God Sect's front lines. The Shushan disciples gritted their teeth and followed closely, finally carving out a bloody path amidst blood and mangled corpses!
But, when they recovered their senses, they discovered—
They had nowhere to retreat. They were standing on the cliff of Mount Wu!
Below was a thousand-zhang abyss, filled with dense fog, the bottom unseen. There was simply no way to retreat further!
The Blood God Sect assassins and the Kaga Clan assassins pressed closer step by step. They had no choice but to fight to the death!
——
Lin Wanying was heavily injured, unable to fight anymore, but she still gritted her teeth and held on, holding her longsword, standing guard among her fellow disciples.
However, the Kaga Clan assassins had never given up pursuing her!
"Die, Lin Wanying!"
Several shurikens broke through the air, mixed with the explosions of fire thunder talismans. She was powerless to dodge, her entire body flying backwards under the impact of the flames and shurikens, blood gushing wildly from multiple wounds all over her body!
"Hahahaha, you're still not dead like this?"
The black-clad woman of the Kaga Clan chuckled lightly, her hands forming a seal. Blazing flames emerged in her palms. This was the Kaga Clan's strongest "Blazing Explosion"!
"Killing you is finally worth the reward of this transaction."
She struck out with a palm, the flames instantly wrapping around Lin Wanying's abdomen—
"Boom—!!"
The flames exploded, blood splattering!
Lin Wanying's figure was blasted away by the flames, her entire body thrown straight into the canyon abyss!
"Wanying!!!"
Zhou Tianhuan abruptly turned his head, but it was too late to act. He could only watch helplessly as her figure, engulfed in flames, plummeted to the bottom of the thousand-zhang cliff!
——
"Kill!"
Just as the remaining Shushan disciples were on the verge of destruction, a sharp shout resounded through the clouds—
"The Shushan Discipline Hall is here!"
Discipline Hall Elder Feng Daoshan leading the Shushan reinforcement troops finally arrived!
"Shushan disciples, kill!"
With his command, the Shushan disciples instantly rallied. Seeing this, the Kaga Clan assassins immediately retreated from the battlefield. The Blood God Sect, seeing the Shushan reinforcements arriving, also knew they couldn't wipe out the opponents today. Wuxi sneered, flicked his sleeves, and said:
"You got lucky today! We will fight another day!"
He glanced down the cliff, his eyes gloomy and cold: "She is dead. We fulfilled that person's request, so now he owes us. Hehehe, the Cult Master should be free of another restriction, the Holy War is near!"
Immediately, he led the remaining Blood God Sect members and quickly retreated.
——
After the Blood God Sect retreated, the Shushan disciples finally had time to recover their senses. However, Zhou Tianhuan remained motionless.
He stood by the edge of the cliff, looking at the night sky pressed down by black clouds. The violent wind roared, as if the entire Mount Wu was wailing.
His body trembled slightly. His hands clenched into fists, fingernails piercing his palms, yet he remained oblivious.
"Wanying..."
His gaze pierced through the wind and rain, looking into the bottomless darkness, his heart a dead silence.
——
Once his proudest and most beloved disciple, had now fallen into the abyss, her life or death unknown.
At this moment, Zhou Tianhuan knew he had lost her.
"Wanying...... Was I wrong........."
The heavy rain continued to fall, the thunder deafening. The entire Mount Wu seemed to sink into endless sorrowful wailing.
And he could only stand silently by the edge of the cliff, watching the darkness swallow everything...
Liu Wenzhou rode his horse at a gallop on the official road leading to Mount Wu. The night wind was like blades, slicing across his cheeks, yet it was far less than the anxiety and unease in his heart.
He was late.
When he met the Shushan disciples on the way, those heavily injured swordsmen all looked sorrowful, their eyes full of guilt and helplessness.
"Wanying..."
When he heard the news that Lin Wanying had fallen into the abyss of Mount Wu, her fate unknown, he only felt a shock in his heart, a chill penetrating his bone marrow.
"Why didn't you protect her!?"
Liu Wenzhou angrily questioned Zhou Tianhuan, his voice carrying uncontrollable sorrow and blame.
"I... did my best."
Zhou Tianhuan said in a low voice, his tone carrying an indescribable agedness. His eyes were exhausted, his face pale, his entire being seeming to have aged ten years.
"Ascension Technique?" Liu Wenzhou stared at him, his heart jolting violently, finally understanding Zhou Tianhuan's condition.
Burning over sixty years of cultivation and lifespan, his martial arts were completely ruined.
Liu Wenzhou clenched his fists tightly, anger and sorrow intertwining in his chest. Ultimately, it could only turn into a long sigh.
"I arrived too late..."
——
"Wanying... left this notebook, asking me to give it to Chen Wenbin if anything unexpected happened."
Zhou Tianhuan took out a blood-stained notebook from his robes, slowly handing it to Liu Wenzhou.
"She said these records might help him go further."
Liu Wenzhou took the notebook. The moment he opened it, his fingers trembled slightly.
Recorded inside were exactly Lin Wanying's deductions, mechanistics notes, and martial arts insights over the past few years. She once said that mathematics and martial arts were no different. And this notebook was perhaps her final gift to Chen Wenbin.
"Is she really dead?" Liu Wenzhou asked in a low voice, his voice sounding like he was forcibly holding onto a hope that refused to be shattered.
Zhou Tianhuan was silent for a moment. Ultimately, he merely looked towards the bottomless cliff of Mount Wu, clenching his fists tightly amidst the heavy rain, and whispered:
"Her life or death is no longer up to us."
He looked at Mount Wu in the thunderstorm, as if wanting to imprint this mountain peak that had swallowed his proudest disciple. Then he turned around, walking slowly towards the direction of Shushan.
"I am powerless to fight anymore. From now on, I will retreat into Shushan, studying the Daoist scriptures, never to emerge until death."
This Shushan Thirteenth Elder had decided to stay away from the martial world from then on.
——
When the news reached the capital, Minister of War Chang Yanjiao sat in his flickering candlelit study, holding a newly delivered secret letter in his hand, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward.
"Chen Hui is dead, Lin Wanying died without a burial place."
He laughed, laughing heartily, laughing wantonly.
This chess game had finally concluded.
The Qingzhou strategy was set, this time it finally went according to his plan. The general trend of the world was already in his grasp!
"Loyal official, a man who loved the people, ultimately still threw his life away for nothing."
His voice carried a faint sigh, yet without the slightest bit of pity.
"In this world, ultimately, it is the smart people who live the longest."
He slowly stood up, walked to the bookshelf, reached out and took down a dust-covered booklet, looking at the map of the Shuntian Dynasty and surrounding areas hanging nearby.
Next, his goal was bigger. It was not just Qingzhou, but to take another step up in the court, hijacking imperial power, and even the authority of State Preceptor Chang Jin!
"This time, the Mandate of Heaven should be on my side. This is a giant step for me in taking power over the world."
——
State Preceptor's Manor
When State Preceptor Chang Jin received the news of Chen Hui's death, he merely quietly closed the report in his hands, his eyes slightly closed, speechless for a long time.
"Ultimately, still too late?"
He knew deeply that Chen Hui's death represented not just the fall of a loyal official and a man who loved the people, but represented another imbalance of power between the Ministry of War and the court.
Qingzhou would fall into the hands of the Ministry of War, and Chang Yanjiao's ambition could probably no longer be suppressed!
"If Qingzhou is lost, the factions in the court will lose balance again. This is unfavorable to His Majesty's control."
He slowly got up, soon entering the inner hall of the imperial palace, speaking slowly to the Emperor who was deep in thought sitting in the study:
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of War has controlled Qingzhou. I'm afraid the overall situation of the court will experience variables. How to counterbalance this requires deep thought."
The Emperor frowned tightly, his gaze flickering under the candlelight.
"State Preceptor, what you mean is..."
"Chang Yanjiao's next step will be to seize even more authority from your hands."
At this moment, the Emperor revealed a look of apprehension, raising the corners of his eyes to look at Chang Jin: "Then according to the State Preceptor, how should we respond?"
Chang Jin said slowly: "Retreat to advance, lure the snake out of its hole."
"If he wants to control Qingzhou, let him take a step further, and then... at the most critical moment, completely crush him."
The Emperor's eyes gradually turned cold and sharp, his fingers gripping the dragon desk tightly. A purple aura emanated from his body, producing an obscure force field within five feet. After a long time, he finally nodded slowly.
"What the State Preceptor says is reasonable, I understand. It is time to notify them to take action........."
——
Under the night sky, Liu Wenzhou spurred his horse wildly, clutching a few notebooks of Chen Hui and Lin Wanying tightly in his arms. The sound of the wind whistled past his ears, his fists involuntarily clenching.
These two plots of machinations and slaughter ultimately took away his old friends. But he knew there was still one person who did not know all this, and was waiting for him—Chen Wenbin. He had to know everything that had happened, had to know the truth behind this slaughter and calculation.
In the distance, the night was heavy. The thunderstorm on Mount Wu had ceased, but the entire martial world, in the not-too-distant future, would become even more confusing and unpredictable because of the events of these past few days.......