The enemy leader was confused by Li Huaixian’s words.
But the very next second, his eyes, hidden in the shadows, widened in shock as several mysterious and powerful figures appeared out of thin air.
His pupils shrank instantly, and a wave of pure terror clutched his heart.
“Th-They… it can’t be…”
Tianwen!
The most mysterious and powerful assassin organization in the Imperial Capital in recent years!
There were even rumors that the blades in the hands of Tianwen’s assassins were more deadly than the Book of Life and Death in the hands of the King of Hell.
Their most distinct trait—the terrifying Yanluo masks covering their faces—was enough to strike fear into anyone who saw them.
Tianwen’s fearsome reputation had spread far and wide over the past few years.
Countless powerful factions had been completely wiped out by them.
Many renowned experts had fallen at their hands.
And the leader of Tianwen—the one who had never once shown his face—had become a legendary figure cloaked in myth.
‘But why were they here?’
‘Could it be that another force wanted Li Huaixian dead as well?’
‘If so, then he would be fighting to snatch someone from the jaws of Tianwen.’
Just the thought sent a chill through his bones.
His hand clutched tightly around the black dagger at his waist.
Veins bulged across the back of his hand.
His black night-ops uniform was soaked through with cold sweat.
A retreat had already taken shape in his mind.
However!
The moment the thought of fleeing surfaced, the shadows across from him turned their gazes toward him in perfect unison.
His legs trembled instantly, and it felt as if all the strength had been drained from his body!
A crushing sense of danger made it clear—if he moved even slightly, the blade in their hands would pierce his throat in the blink of an eye!
One of the figures swept a cold glance over him, then lost interest and looked away.
He could feel it clearly—at this moment, in their eyes, he was nothing more than a lamb awaiting slaughter.
So many thoughts surged through his mind, all within the span of a heartbeat.
The black-clad shadows—death incarnate in the night—suddenly dropped to one knee before Li Huaixian.
“Master!”
“What shall we do with these people?”
The assassins knelt in a neat line.
The one in the center was slightly ahead of the others, his aura the strongest by far—clearly their leader.
His gaze was lifeless, his head lowered in obedience before Li Huaixian.
These Tianwen assassins, terrifying to everyone else, were now docile as tamed beasts in front of Li Huaixian.
For a moment, the atmosphere was deathly still.
The enemy leader was frozen.
The very assassins that made his blood run cold were now showing utter deference to Li Huaixian.
His shock deepened.
Tianwen’s leader had always been an enigma.
No one had ever seen his true face.
‘Could it be…?’
The thought struck him like a thunderclap.
His heart pounded violently in his chest.
Panic rose so fast he could barely endure it.
‘Could he really be—?!’
With great effort, he lifted his head.
His gaze toward Li Huaixian no longer held a trace of the contempt from before—it was pure terror now.
He no longer cared about maintaining appearances in front of his subordinates.
His head began to shake uncontrollably.
“No! That’s impossible!” he thought.
“How could it be?! This harmless-looking young man… could he really be the terrifying master of Tianwen?!”
Li Huaixian gazed quietly at the kneeling assassins before him.
Then, slowly, he turned his head toward the enemy leader.
A faint smile curved across that ethereal, unearthly beautiful face.
Hands clasped behind his back, a warm and gentle voice slowly rang out.
“Kill.”
“Leave none alive.”
The moment that single word left Li Huaixian’s mouth, the enemy commander finally reached his breaking point.
With a hoarse, desperate roar, he bellowed, “Retreat! Fall back now!”
But—it was already too late.
The moment Li Huaixian gave the order to kill, the fate of their enemies was sealed.
This was the authority of the Lord of Tianwen!
At his command, the assassins of Tianwen moved without hesitation.
Each one of them, like death incarnate, struck with merciless precision.
Within mere seconds, they caught up with the enemy assassins.
With perfect synchronization, their blades rose and fell in a silent dance. It was like a flawless performance in midair—no blood splattered, no screams rang out.
They all knew one thing: their master could not stand the sight of blood, nor the sound of chaos.
Li Huaixian watched the scene with great interest, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.
Tianwen truly was one of his proudest creations.
***
Before long, the leader of the Tianwen assassins returned.
He knelt on one knee and cupped his fists in salute.
“Master! As you commanded, all thirty-two enemies have been eliminated.”
Li Huaixian gave him a nod, then waved his hand.
“Excellent. Clean up the area. You may withdraw.”
At those words, the assassin leader—normally cold and expressionless—showed a flicker of excitement in his eyes.
In Tianwen, Li Huaixian was a god.
He was the supreme being every member worshipped and aspired to serve.
To be praised by their god—how could he not be moved?
“Yes, Master!”
Without another word, the Tianwen leader followed his orders and began to clean up the battlefield in silence before retreating.
Once the assassins were gone, Li Huaixian casually brushed the dust off his robes, then turned to the shadowed corner nearby and said calmly, “Come out.”
“Or must I invite you myself?”
His tone carried a hint of impatience as he spoke again.
Only then did a figure in purple slowly step out from the corner.
The woman had a graceful figure and a strikingly beautiful face.
Li Muxian walked forward with elegant, deliberate steps, her lovely eyes shimmering with suspicion.
As she neared, her pace quickened.
The calculating look she wore earlier melted into pure concern.
When she reached him, she grabbed his sleeve anxiously and asked, “Huaixian, are you alright? What happened just now? Are you hurt anywhere?”
As she spoke, her eyes welled with tears, and Li Huaixian couldn’t help but find it amusing.
‘Is there any point in asking questions you already know the answer to?’
Without a word, he calmly pulled his sleeve from her grasp and studied his cousin in silence.
Li Muxian began to look flustered.
She reached up to touch her cheek and gave an awkward smile.
“Why are you staring at me like that? Do I have something on my face?”
“Oh, nothing. It’s just getting late. I’m heading back now. You should get some rest too.”
With a brief bow, Li Huaixian turned and walked away, paying her no further attention.
Li Muxian watched his retreating figure with longing in her eyes.
Then, with a frustrated stomp, that longing twisted into something else.
‘Why… Why can’t you see how I feel about you?!’
She stood there for a while, then raised the hand that had clutched his sleeve, bringing it to her nose with an infatuated expression.
Her gaze turned resolute.
***
Once everyone had left, the path returned to silence.
Only then did Bu Qingge’s figure silently emerge.
Her shapely body lounged lazily across the branch of a tree.
One long, jade-like leg draped over the other as the silky hem of her robe spilled downward, showing off the gleaming curve of her pale, slender thigh.
Because of the way she reclined, her full chest looked even more pronounced.
A cold yet noble smile curved across her exquisite, regal face.
With fingers like scallions, she gently twirled a lock of her dark hair.
“I thought it was just his face that was attractive… but it seems his mind and strength aren’t bad either.”
“My disciple really does have an eye for people. Interesting…”