Chapter 20: Whispers in the Abandoned Town
🔹 Entering the Abandoned Town
The wind howled through the empty streets of Fengyang, a once-thriving border town that now lay in ruin.
I stood at the entrance, staring at the decaying buildings, their rooftops sagging under years of neglect. Faint banners fluttered in the cold night breeze, remnants of a past that had long faded.
Somewhere within these ruins, Gao Ren—the missing Fourth Division informant—had disappeared.
And I wasn't the only one looking for him.
I crouched low, my Hidden Blade strapped tightly to my forearm, scanning the streets.
This place was supposed to be abandoned.
So why were there fresh footprints in the dirt?
I exhaled silently.
My instincts told me this was a trap.
But I wasn't turning back.
🔹 A Town of Ghosts
Moving through the deserted streets, I kept my presence low, every step soundless.
There were no lights, no movement.
Just an overwhelming sense of being watched.
I passed what used to be a tea house, now half-collapsed, its wooden pillars barely standing. As I walked by, my hand brushed against something wet.
I looked down.
Blood.
Not fresh, but not old either.
I frowned and crouched beside the stain, running my fingers over the dried edges.
Someone had been injured here recently.
Maybe Gao Ren. Maybe someone else.
The footprints I had seen earlier led deeper into town, toward the ruined temple at the center.
As I stood, a sudden chill ran down my spine.
A whisper of movement behind me.
I spun—just as a dagger streaked toward my throat.
🔹 The First Attack
CLANG!
I raised my Hidden Blade, barely deflecting the strike in time. Sparks flew in the darkness as steel met steel.
The assassin was fast.
Before I could counter, he twisted mid-air, his second dagger already slashing toward my ribs.
I dodged, but not fast enough.
A sharp sting ran down my side as his blade grazed me.
I whipped my leg around, aiming a kick at his chest.
He flipped backward, landing smoothly, his black robes settling.
And he wasn't alone.
Two more figures stepped from the shadows, their movements silent.
Their stance, their precision—I recognized their training immediately.
Silent Blades Sect.
So, Wu Jian had already sent his men.
The assassin in the center tilted his head. "Ye Qing… your luck runs out tonight."
I smirked. "That's funny. I was thinking the same thing about you."
Then—I attacked first.
🔹 A Battle in the Moonlight
I lunged forward, my blade flashing.
The first assassin dodged, but not fast enough.
My Hidden Blade carved a deep cut across his arm.
He cursed, but before he could recover, I was already moving again.
The second assassin struck from behind.
I ducked low, his blade slicing the air where my head had been a second ago.
I twisted, driving my elbow into his ribs, then slammed my knee into his chin.
CRACK!
He staggered, spitting blood.
But the third assassin was already coming.
He dove from above, his dagger aiming straight for my heart.
Shadow Step!
I vanished—reappearing behind him.
Before he could react, my blade pierced his back.
He gasped, eyes wide—then collapsed.
The remaining two assassins hesitated.
I smirked.
They weren't expecting me to be this fast.
One of them gritted his teeth. "Damn it. Fall back—"
I didn't let them finish.
I closed the distance instantly, slicing through the first assassin's throat.
One left.
The final assassin turned to flee.
I let him run.
Because now, I knew where he was going.
The ruined temple.
And that meant—
Gao Ren was still alive.
🔹 The Ruined Temple
The assassin sprinted through the broken town, his black robes barely visible in the night.
I stayed on his trail, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, keeping my presence hidden.
He reached the temple ruins—a massive stone structure, cracked and weathered with time.
Then—he disappeared inside.
I landed silently, pressing myself against the temple's cold stone walls.
Voices.
Muffled. Low.
I slowed my breathing, listening.
"…He knows too much. We should kill him now."
A second voice, calm and composed: "Not yet. The Master wants him alive."
I frowned. The Master?
Who were they talking about?
I crept closer.
Inside the temple, five figures stood around a bound man.
His robes were torn, his face bruised and bloodied.
But I recognized him instantly.
Gao Ren.
And he was still alive.
🔹 A Dangerous Gamble
I had to act fast.
If they took him away, I'd lose my only lead on what was really happening inside the Demonic Cult.
I reached into my sleeve, pulling out a small smoke pellet.
A simple trick. But effective.
I hurled it forward.
BOOM!
Thick, dark smoke filled the temple instantly.
Shouts of confusion erupted as the assassins scrambled for visibility.
I moved.
Through the smoke, I dove toward Gao Ren, slicing through the ropes binding him.
He gasped, barely able to stand.
"Come on," I hissed, pulling him up.
But before we could move—
A voice cut through the chaos.
"You're bold, Ye Qing."
The smoke parted.
And a new figure stepped forward.
🔹 A New Enemy Appears
My instincts screamed.
This man wasn't like the others.
Tall and imposing, he wore deep crimson robes, his long black hair tied in an intricate topknot.
His face was calm. Too calm.
But his eyes…
They were pitch black.
And the air around him felt wrong.
Ding!
[Warning: Unknown Martial Force Detected!]
Name: ???
Cultivation Realm: ???
Threat Level: EXTREME
I clenched my fists. What the hell was this feeling?
The man smiled.
"You've been interfering for too long," he said.
My grip tightened on my blade. "Who are you?"
His black eyes gleamed. "I serve the one who will reshape this world."
I exhaled slowly. "The Hidden Master."
His smile widened. "Ah… so you finally understand."
Then—he raised his hand.
The air shook.
And in an instant—
The entire temple exploded in a shockwave of black Qi.
🔹 End of Chapter 20
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