The crowd scattered in fear.

The shopkeeper stood dumbfounded and helpless.

The shopkeeper's wife had already fainted in fright.

Seeing Chen Tang leap from the rooftop, the shopkeeper hurried forward, kneeling on the ground with a thud, and said, "Lord Chen, this, this has nothing to do with me. I don't know that person, what is this all about..."

The shopkeeper's face was pale, somewhat incoherent.

This couple had run the store in Wu'an County for a long time and didn't know Chen Tang before. It was impossible for them to have plotted against him years in advance.

Chen Tang knew this matter had nothing to do with the shop owner, so after asking about the limping attendant, he let them go.

He then asked the shopkeeper to prepare another serving of soybean milk and headed home.

As he returned home, he still had lingering fear from the recent incident.

Previously in Wu'an County, twenty Snow Thieves had set an ambush by the roadside, but even those twenty were no match for the threat posed by that limping attendant!

This person's cultivation shouldn't be too high.

Yet Chen Tang nearly perished at this person's hands!

In retrospect, fighting fearsome beasts in Three Thousand Snow Ridges seemed insignificant.

Everyone sat around the table, eating the breakfast Chen Tang brought back.

Chen Tang briefly recounted the earlier events.

Mei Nianzhi, Meng Liangyu, and the others all broke into a cold sweat for Chen Tang.

However, Qingmu's expression changed slightly upon hearing this!

Chen Tang quickly asked, "Do you recognize this limping attendant?"

"I don't."

Qingmu, with a serious expression, said in a deep voice, "But I've heard of people like them."

"Oh?"

Chen Tang showed curiosity and asked, "Who are these people? Is this limping attendant not alone?"

Qingmu said, "The Divine Land Continent, a hundred years ago when it was undivided into North and South, was the Great Xia Dynasty. The Great Xia was relatively inclusive, with many other tribes besides the Xia people. One of them was the Dongyi Race."

"The Dongyi people have their unique culture and cultivation methods, excelling in stealth, escape techniques, and assassination. Their assassination organization is called the Shadow Tower, hiding in every corner of the Great Xia Dynasty."

"It's said that the assassins of the Dongyi are called Hermits, divided into several levels: Lower Concealment, Middle Concealment, Upper Concealment, and Celestial Concealment, which can assassinate Grandmasters! The one who attacked you today should be a Lower Concealment."

"Usually, Shadow Tower's assassinations rarely fail. They have enough patience to wait months or even years until they have absolute confidence before striking."

"A Lower Concealment is enough to assassinate any Martial Artist from Ninth Grade to Sixth Grade. That you survived a Lower Concealment attack is quite rare."

Here, Qingmu glanced at Chen Tang, feeling a bit scared inside.

They almost ended up separated by life and death.

"No wonder, it's professional."

Chen Tang couldn't help but recall the limping attendant, that youthful yet polite smile.

If it weren't for the warning from the Wind Listening Technique, he wouldn't have noticed anything.

Even when that limping youth made his move, there was no sign of killing intent on his face or in his eyes, no flaws!

But, as the chubby old man had said,

A person's actions might be silent, might be disguised and hidden,

but once they move, the airflow around them is bound to change.

Chen Tang said, "I broke his elbow, and in the short term, he shouldn't be able to make a move again. Unfortunately, I couldn't catch him at that time; this guy, though limping, escaped very quickly."

Qingmu said, "The Hermits of the Shadow Tower all know some escape techniques. It's said that some Upper Concealments even know the Five Elements Escape Technique, allowing them to vanish without a trace using gold, wood, water, fire, and earth."

"Is it really that magical?"

Meng Liangyu clicked his tongue.

Qingmu shook his head, "My master doesn't really believe in these rumors. He once said that these Five Elements Escape Techniques are actually just some exotic techniques and fall within the realm of martial arts."

"My master also gave examples, like the Gold Escape Technique, which actually uses the sound from one's weapon and the refracting light to deceive and confuse the opponent, creating an opportunity to escape."

"The so-called Fire Escape Technique just uses some special powders thrown into the fire, releasing thick smoke to obscure vision."

Chen Tang said, "Such a large assassin organization actually managed to survive."

"A hundred years ago, the Shadow Tower indeed brought significant turmoil to the Great Xia Dynasty. Their only principle in assassination is money."

Qingmu said, "Anyone, any force, as long as it provides enough money, can hire them to serve themselves."

"But later, Emperor Wu, after unifying the Northern Divine Continent, detested the Shadow Tower, viewing them as the source of chaos, and began a widespread purge of its assassins."

"It's said that the Shadow Tower attempted to assassinate Emperor Wu dozens of times, all ending in failure. Emperor Wu also set an unprecedented record."

"Later, the Dongyi Race, under Emperor Wu's siege, found nowhere to hide. Nanxia wouldn't accept them either, so they fled eastward across the sea to an unknown location. It's unexpected to see a Hermit today in Wu'an County!"

Chen Tang, deep in thought, said, "It seems the Shadow Tower is about to re-emerge in the Divine Land."

If a Hermit was found in Wu'an County, it meant there could be many Hermits hidden in Qian Country, waiting for the right moment to move!

Chen Tang somewhat understood why Emperor Wu had purged the Dongyi Race.

The Shadow Tower was indeed a headache.

No one can be on guard all the time.

When eating or sleeping, there will always be moments of relaxation.

Once targeted by a Dongyi Hermit, they might never have a peaceful day again!

However, Chen Tang thought to himself, this Lower Concealment appeared today and was injured by him, so in the short term, he wouldn't act again.

Hence, it might not be a bad thing.

If he had waited until Pingzhou's governor rebelled, and Wu'an County mutinied, it would be chaotic, and by then, if the person struck, he might not even know how he died.

...

Noon.

A completely black carriage rolled into Wu'an County.

Inside the carriage sat two people.

One of them was the Hall Master of the Black Water Gang in Wu'an County, Du Yinfeng.

The other seemed like a noble young man, dressed in white, youthful in appearance, with a fair face, slender eyes, and very thin lips. He lightly lifted the curtain of the carriage window, looking outside with a flickering mischievous light in his eyes, as if searching for prey.

Xiao Xun, the Young Leader of the Black Water Gang!

Du Yinfeng softly asked, "Young Leader, shall we proceed directly to Baihua Tower?"

"Is the meeting arranged?"

Xiao Xun asked.

Du Yinfeng said, "It's already arranged; they should be arriving soon."

"Then let's go directly."

Xiao Xun said indifferently.

Shortly after, the carriage stopped outside Baihua Tower.

Led by Du Yinfeng, Xiao Xun made his way deep into Baihua Tower, where they could see a Chrysanthemum Pavilion from afar, already prepared with wine. Three people were seated inside.

Xiao Xun approached the Chrysanthemum Pavilion with a smile.

Seeing Xiao Xun approaching, the three also stood up.

"Young Leader, long time no see."

"Young Leader Xiao."

"Brother Xiao."

The three greeted Xiao Xun.

"Brother Huo, Observatory Master Song, Captain Tan, please have a seat."

Xiao Xun cupped his hands in return.

The three in the Chrysanthemum Pavilion were Huo Zinan, the heir of the Huo Family, Observatory Master Song Wood, and Azure Dragon Department Captain Tan Wujiu!

Huo Zinan smiled and said, "After so long, Brother Xiao finally comes to Wu'an County, we thought you had forgotten about us."

"How could I?"

Xiao Xun said, "No matter who I forget, I wouldn't forget Brother Huo."

He waved his hand, and Du Yinfeng immediately took a wooden box over a foot long from the hands of a personal attendant and handed it over.

Xiao Xun pushed the wooden box in front of Huo Zinan and said, "This is a weapon I found from the palace, aged, yet as sharp as ever. I offer it as a gift to Brother Huo."

Huo Zinan opened the wooden box to find a sheathed dagger inside.

He picked it up and drew it out!

Swish!

A dazzling cold light!

Song Wood and Tan Wujiu felt their eyes brighten and couldn't help but silently praise, a fine weapon!

Huo Zinan was delighted, smiling broadly, said, "In that case, I'll graciously accept."

Song Wood asked, "Did the Young Leader enter the palace and see the Black Water King?"

"Of course, I did."

Xiao Xun said, "I had received news from Brother Huo long ago, knowing that the Eldest Princess of Qian was in Wu'an County. Yet, I needed to enter the palace to meet the king and request his orders to deploy troops; hence, the delay."

"Is the Black Water King preparing to deploy troops?"

Huo Zinan eagerly asked.

Xiao Xun nodded slightly, smiling, "The decree has been issued, and Brother Huo can expect good news."

Xiao Xun turned and took a fist-sized box from the personal attendant, handing it to Song Wood with a smile, "This is a gift prepared for Observatory Master Song."

"What is it?"

Song Wood asked curiously.

"Observatory Master, why not open it and take a look."

Xiao Xun smiled.

Song Wood opened the box to find a pigeon-egg-sized ice block inside, seemingly ordinary, yet emanating waves of cold air.

As soon as the box was opened, everyone around couldn't help but shiver from the cold.

Xiao Xun said, "This is Profound Ice formed by the condensation of Spiritual Qi from heaven and earth. Useless to martial artists or ordinary people, but it should aid the Observatory Master in cultivation."

Song Wood, having already recognized the item, his eyes flashed with brilliance.

With this piece of Profound Ice, he had the opportunity to break through and reach the Qi Condensation Eighth Layer!

"Young Leader has thought of everything."

Song Wood nodded with a smile, appearing calm, yet already overjoyed inside.

Pausing for a moment, Xiao Xun said softly, "Actually, my rush to Wu'an County is not solely because of the Eldest Princess of Qian."

"Is it because of that Chen Tang?"

Huo Zinan said with a grin.

"Exactly."

Xiao Xun glanced at Tan Wujiu and said, "This Chen Tang killed members of my Black Water Gang and provoked me. This person must die; no one can protect him!"

Tan Wujiu remained expressionless, his eyes void of any ripple.

Xiao Xun clapped his hands.

Du Yinfeng immediately stepped forward and presented a square box.

Xiao Xun handed this box to Tan Wujiu and smiled, "Lord Tan, this is a gift prepared for you."

"Gold, silver, jewels, Tan has no interest in them, and spiritual objects from heaven and earth are useless to a martial artist."

Tan Wujiu said coolly.

"Lord Tan, don't be quick to refuse. Why not open it and take a look?"

Xiao Xun's smile remained unchanged.

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