"Discussing the Dao with him, that might be worthwhile."

"Go then, go. But how does Senior Sister Lu view this?"

…Lu Ying saw that everyone had agreed, and if she were to refuse, it might seem a bit unfriendly.

Moreover, she was curious, and she noticed her senior and junior sisters were all looking quite eager.

Only Qing Yuan, the little girl, remained silent and withdrawn, with her head lowered as though in deep thought.

Time passed quickly, and before long, the night fell over Liu Feng County.

In this moderately bustling county, Ya Yue Building was considered the finest establishment. With singing and dancing, and an array of delicious dishes, it lacked nothing. Before the curfew struck at the first watch of the night, the building glowed brightly, with laughter and joy ringing within.

The second floor had been entirely booked by Qin Peng to host a banquet for the female Taoists from Yin Sword Mountain.

The female Taoists took their seats, and servant girls and attendants began to serve dishes one by one. The Taoists adhered to dietary restrictions, generally avoiding four types of food and especially refraining from meat. Thus, the dishes were primarily light and vegetarian—no beef, black fish, geese, or dog meat.

Qin Peng sat at the head seat, leaving the seat beside him empty, which was clearly reserved for the demon-slaying Taoist.

But the wandering Taoist Hou Kang had yet to arrive.

Among these cultivators from the mountains, they often spoke of purity and detachment, yet carried their own pride. Qin Peng, who had spent years as an assassin for Lifeng Pavilion, understood this well. Therefore, even though Hou Kang might not attend the banquet, Qin Peng showed neither anger nor impatience.

Qin Peng rubbed the rim of his cup with his fingers, cautiously scanning his surroundings once more.

From the moment he entered the second floor earlier, he had thoroughly inspected every corner—behind the screens, inside the vases, even leaping up to scan the rafters. His seat was right by the window, overlooking the river, ensuring that should anyone suddenly rise to attack him, he could escape through the window with a single motion.

On the sleeve of his robe, there was a small patch that appeared ordinary but concealed a four-inch-long throwing knife.

His foot rested against the leg of the table, ensuring that if someone unexpectedly ambushed him, a mere flick of his ankle would cause the entire table to flip up.

Having dealt in the trade of human lives, Qin Peng had always been meticulous.

Even the arrangement of this Liu Feng County residence had been carefully calculated.

Not long ago, after years of servitude to Lifeng Pavilion, Qin Peng had earned a promotion and was sent to Liu Feng County to establish a branch.

Though Liu Feng County lay on the periphery of Yin Sword Mountain's sphere of influence, it still required tact. To set up the branch, Qin Peng had to make acquaintances and establish a presence, which was part of the reason for hosting this banquet under the guise of demon-slaying to entertain the Taoists.

Ultimately, Hou Kang was irrelevant; it was the Taoists from Yin Sword Mountain who truly mattered.

As for those supposed distant relatives celebrating a housewarming—those were merely killers brought in from various places. They could not be seen by the people of Yin Sword Mountain.

The house in Seventeen Alley had been specifically chosen by Qin Peng. Its elevated position offered views of the county's scenery from the eaves, and being deep within a secluded alley made it ideal for hiding assassins. Coincidentally, it was only occupied by a lone bachelor. Killing him to turn the home into a "haunted" site allowed Qin Peng to invite the Yin Sword Mountain people to dispel demons and perform exorcisms—accomplishing multiple goals at once.

And killing Li Heng had been the simplest job Qin Peng had ever done.

Li Heng was an ordinary man, whose parents were both deceased. He had failed to marry and lived alone in the world, leaving no one to avenge his death. There were no worries about blood vendettas, nor did the matter entail much trouble.

Compared to the blade-clashing, blood-soaked battles of the past, it had been so unimaginably easy.

Hou Kang still hadn't arrived.

The female Taoists at the table began murmuring amongst themselves.

"Do you think he won't come after all?"

"Finishing a task and slipping away, keeping hidden despite accomplishments?"

"He's probably just making excuses; otherwise, why would he accept the invitation?"

...

Lu Ying listened to the noisy voices and sighed inwardly. Her senior and junior sisters' skills in cultivating their hearts and minds were truly lacking.

Compared to the Taichua Goddess she had once met, they fell far short.

But upon reflection, it wasn't surprising. The Goddess's unwavering resolve in pursuit of the Dao and her profound Daoist affinity—remaining unshaken even if Mount Tai crumbled—were already beyond the reach of ordinary individuals. She had forged her own path, sought no union with Dao partners, and had even taken Chen Qianhu as her alchemical furnace.

Lu Ying sighed softly again, feeling that her senior and junior sisters were leagues away from the Taichua Goddess. As for herself, she could barely aspire to be her shadow.

As these thoughts crossed her mind, Lu Ying glanced around and noticed that Qing Yuan was still as composed as ever. She seemed to contrast starkly with the other female Taoists, exuding an air of serene detachment. Lu Ying couldn't tell which peak this junior sister belonged to.

Lu Ying deeply admired her and had been extending extra care toward her in recent days.

Tap, tap.

Footsteps echoed lightly yet deliberately outside the second floor.

The group turned their heads at the sound, and they saw a figure slowly appear—carrying a sword on his back and a blade at his side.

Lu Ying froze in place,

How could it be him?!

Her thoughts stirred in alarm, and a sudden sense of danger welled inside her—a manifestation of Yin Sword Mountain's Alerting Heart Skill.

Qin Peng, hosting the banquet, stood up, raised his cup, and stepped forward enthusiastically, saying:

"Hou Kang Daoist, you're finally here. We've been waiting for you for quite some time."

"Hmm."

"Please, please, come take a seat. That seat has been reserved for you." Qin Peng gestured toward the vacant spot.

"Since Mr. Qin is hosting tonight, it would be impolite for me to decline. Though, I left in such haste the other day; I don't believe I caught your name."

The man cupped his hands, yet he didn't rush to sit down.

Seeing this, Qin Peng thought to himself that this was merely a rootless, wandering Taoist. Telling him his name posed no issue, especially since his presence was the key to ensuring the Yin Sword Mountain Taoists attended the banquet.

Because of him, everything had proceeded smoothly.

Just as easily as killing Li Heng.

Perhaps it even signified smooth sailing and imminent success in the days to come.

"My name contains a single character—'Peng,'" Qin Peng said, feeling a surge of pride. He raised his cup and recited casually: "The great roc rises with the wind, ascending to the skies in one sweep…"

Splurt!

At the instant his words fell, a chilling sound pierced the air—the sound of a blade driving into flesh. Qin Peng widened his eyes in horror, his body collapsing weakly downward.

"Thank you. Now that I know your name, it makes it easier to search your soul," said Chen Yi.

Qin Peng felt a coldness in his abdomen, his assassin's body convulsing. Blood pooled and flowed out, leaving Lu Ying and the other Taoists frozen in shock. None of them—no one—had foreseen this turn of events.

"…You…who sent you…Which family…" Qin Peng's voice tore at his throat.

"No one sent me."

"Not…not possible. Who's behind you…"

Qin Peng grew weaker, seeing the man wipe the blood off his blade as his own lifeforce ebbed away.

Killing Li Heng had been the simplest job Qin Peng had ever done.

And so, even at the brink of death, he couldn't believe it.

That he had died because of the simplest job he'd ever done.

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