Chapter 49 The Aftermath

The Bloodrain Guards searched the surrounding area for clues, but found nothing. At the same time, they sent the four assassin corpses to the garrison; these were key pieces of ‘evidence’. An assassination attempt on a ‘Bloodrain Guard Captain’ would certainly be investigated by the Bloodrain Guards.

The night passed, and dawn broke.

"Knock, knock, knock." A knock sounded on the door.

Xu Jingming went to open it and saw a team of a dozen people on horseback standing outside, led by a silver-haired old man—it was 'Protector Lu' from the Fei family's guard.

"Lord Lu," Xu Jingming greeted with a cupped fist.

Lu Shao and Chou Hua Yu were both Fei Qing's trusted aides; the two of them combined could rival the Black Lotus Sect's Night Dharma King.

"Come with me to the Fei residence immediately," the silver-haired old man said. "The commander wants to see you."

"Alright," Xu Jingming replied knowingly, immediately stepping forward to mount a horse.

"Captain."

The five Bloodrain Guards who were nearby on the street also walked over, looking at the team with some confusion.

"Go get breakfast; there's no need for you to stay here," Xu Jingming said with a smile.

"Alright!" The five Bloodrain Guards all smiled; with the captain's orders, they could relax.

"Giddy up!"

Xu Jingming followed the team and rode towards the Fei family's residence.

This made Xu Jingming sigh inwardly. Horseback riding at full speed was forbidden in the capital! Even as a Bloodrain Guard captain, he didn't have that authority. But… clearly, the team dispatched by Commander Fei had that power.

"Lord Lu, what exactly happened?" Xu Jingming asked.

"You were attacked last night, weren't you?" the silver-haired old man asked.

"Yes," Xu Jingming nodded.

"You were personally recommended by the commander to join the Bloodrain Guards. News of your assassination attempt would naturally be immediately reported to the commander," the silver-haired old man said. "The commander also has some questions to ask you."

Soon, the team returned to the Fei residence.

Inside the Fei residence's main hall.

As soon as Xu Jingming entered, he saw Luo Baichuan lying on a stretcher. Luo Baichuan's complexion was pale, and his eyes were still numb and empty when he saw Xu Jingming arrive.

"Brother Luo," Xu Jingming said in disbelief.

Lying on the stretcher, Luo Baichuan was missing a left leg and a right arm; he lay there blankly.

"Brother Luo…" Xu Jingming began.

Luo Baichuan glanced at Xu Jingming, but his eyes showed no emotion.

At this moment, Fei Qing walked in and sat in the master seat, frowning slightly as he looked at Luo Baichuan lying down and Xu Jingming standing there.

"You two were attacked by teams of assassins last night," Fei Qing said. "Jingming managed to resist, but Luo Baichuan had an arm and a leg severed. They even took the limbs with them."

"Tell me the details," Fei Qing said. "The more detailed, the better. Also, tell me your guesses."

"I was sleeping inside when three assassins entered the room at the same time. I immediately picked up my weapon to resist, but within just two or three moves, I had my leg and arm severed," Luo Baichuan, who was lying there, said first. "They took my arm and leg and left, saying before they left that I should stay away from Miss Fei Xinlan."

Xu Jingming's expression changed slightly upon hearing this.

Stay away from Miss Fei Xinlan?

"The three assassins were very strong; I suspect one of them was a first-rate expert," Luo Baichuan said mockingly. "They really thought highly of me, sending a first-rate expert to assassinate me. I'm just a nobody."

"Lord Fei," Luo Baichuan looked at Fei Qing, his eyes filled with longing, "I want to know, who sent the assassins?"

Fei Qing didn't answer, but instead looked at Xu Jingming. "What was your situation?"

"I was out that night, strolling and enjoying the capital's night scenery. When I returned late at night, I discovered that enemies had infiltrated my residence, and I could sense… nine auras lying in ambush for me, so I immediately fired a signal arrow!" Xu Jingming said. "The nine assassins knew they were exposed, but instead of escaping, they attacked."

"With the help of five nearby Bloodrain Guards, I managed to hold off the nine assassins and was fortunate enough to kill four of them," Xu Jingming said. "It was only because Bloodrain Guards kept arriving that the assassins didn't dare to delay. If I had really relied on my own strength, without any help, and fought for a longer time, I'm afraid I would have lost my life as well."

"What was the strength of the nine?" Fei Qing asked.

"Three first-rate experts, and the other six should have been second-rate experts," Xu Jingming said.

Luo Baichuan's eyes changed when he heard this.

Nine assassins against Jingming, and Jingming was still in one piece, even killing four of them.

But he, Luo Baichuan… had become disabled!

"I'm still too weak," Luo Baichuan thought, feeling desolate.

He had originally wanted to see the capital's prosperity and make a name for himself. Who would have thought that he would lose an arm and a leg not long after arriving in the capital? He couldn't even walk properly, and his future was bleak.

"…The first-rate expert I severely injured and captured actually committed suicide," Xu Jingming said after recounting the events. "A first-rate expert dead soldier; I don't know when I offended such an enemy."

Fei Qing nodded.

"Luo Baichuan, you should recuperate in the residence," Fei Qing looked at Luo Baichuan. "You certainly can't be a Bloodrain Guard anymore. I'll arrange a simple job for you, and you can live a good life in the capital from now on."

"Thank you, Commander," Luo Baichuan said.

Being able to live was enough.

In his condition, what future could he have?

Soon, attendants carried the stretcher out. Xu Jingming looked at Luo Baichuan's current state and recalled the first time he met Luo Baichuan, that tall and enthusiastic man! Luo Baichuan was very warm and talkative back then; Xu Jingming would say one sentence, and Luo Baichuan would say ten.

Even when seriously injured and on the verge of death, Luo Baichuan had been full of fighting spirit for the past few months.

But now, Luo Baichuan had completely changed, becoming numb and despairing, with no fighting spirit left.

"Have you guessed?" Fei Qing looked at Xu Jingming.

"I have some guesses," Xu Jingming nodded. "Being able to train first-rate expert dead soldiers… there are only so many forces in the entire capital; you can count them on two hands. And telling Luo Baichuan to stay away from Miss Fei, it's probably only Prince Yan's Residence."

"I also guess it's Prince Yan's Residence," Fei Qing nodded. "From today onwards, you have to be careful. That Cheng Yanran arranged for an assassination attempt that failed; knowing his personality, I'm afraid he won't give up."

"Won't give up?" Xu Jingming's expression changed.

"Yes," Fei Qing nodded. "Be careful every day; things will be better after this period. Cheng Yanran won't keep staring at you all the time."

"Yes," Xu Jingming nodded.

Fei Qing got up and left. Xu Jingming bowed slightly and then went to find Luo Baichuan.

In a remote courtyard of the Fei residence, Luo Baichuan was temporarily residing, and two servants were arranged to serve him.

"Brother Luo," Xu Jingming saw Luo Baichuan lying on the bed. "Is there anything I can help with?"

Luo Baichuan turned his head slightly and said, "You be careful too! The capital is prosperous, but it's also very dangerous. I imagined the capital's prosperity many times in Lanyue City, and I came to the capital after going through countless dangers, but I ended up like this."

"Brother Luo, suffering is also living a lifetime, and being happy is also living a lifetime," Xu Jingming comforted. "How you live your life ultimately depends on your heart."

"My heart?" Luo Baichuan closed his eyes, not wanting to say anything more.

"Since you've become a Bloodrain Guard, you should know how miserable the bottom of the capital is. At least you still have servants to clothe and feed you," Xu Jingming comforted. "Commander Fei has also promised to arrange a simple job for you. You're still much better off than many people in the capital."

"Better off?"

Luo Baichuan lowered his head to look at his severed arm and leg. "Like this?"

Xu Jingming also knew that it wouldn't be easy for the other party to come out of it, after all, the blow was too great.

"If you need my help in the future, just come and find me," Xu Jingming said.

"Back then, you, me, and Qiu Tong, we were all invited by Miss Fei to come to the capital," Luo Baichuan looked at Xu Jingming and said, "Qiu Tong lost a hand, and I lost an arm and a leg… I hope you can escape this misfortune and live well, live gloriously, in this prosperous and dangerous capital."

Xu Jingming nodded slightly and then turned to leave.

Luo Baichuan closed his eyes.

At this moment, he recalled the days of eating meat and drinking heavily in Lanyue City. Back then, he was also a prominent figure in the Black Axe Gang, with hundreds responding to his call…

******

Prince Yan's Residence.

When the sun was high in the sky, Cheng Yanran finally got up with the help of his concubines, put on his gorgeous robes, and the concubines looked at him with fascination.

After getting up, Cheng Yanran first rinsed his mouth and then sat in the pavilion to admire the garden scenery, drinking Three Treasures Congee.

"Your Highness," a woman in black walked over.

"Hmm?" Cheng Yanran raised an eyebrow, looking at his subordinate.

"The assassination has results," the woman in black said softly.

"Oh."

Only then did Cheng Yanran remember that it was just a small matter that he had casually ordered. Cheng Yanran continued to drink his congee, asking casually, "Was it done properly?"

"Luo Baichuan's side is fine; he lost an arm and a leg," the woman in black said. "Jingming's side failed."

"Hmm?" Cheng Yanran frowned.

Failed?

"Killing a Bloodrain Guard captain, and you still failed?" Cheng Yanran said coldly. "A bunch of trash."

The woman in black respectfully placed a dossier from her arms onto the table. "Your Highness, this is a detailed dossier. Of the nine assassins we sent to deal with Jingming, four died, including a first-rate expert."

Cheng Yanran's face darkened, and he picked up the dossier to read it carefully.

"This Jingming is quite strong, with top-notch first-rate strength?" Cheng Yanran looked at it and nodded. "And he's also lucky; he wasn't home last night. Instead, he was able to fire the signal arrow first, gaining the upper hand."

"What do we do next?" the woman in black asked; she knew her son's personality.

Once he started something, he wouldn't easily admit defeat or give up.

"Hmph."

Cheng Yanran looked at the dossier. "Once the signal arrow is fired, the surrounding Bloodrain Guards quickly arrive?"

"Then let's wipe out this team of Bloodrain Guards," Cheng Yanran said casually. "From Jingming down, all thirty-three Bloodrain Guards—leave none alive!"

"Yes!" the woman in black cupped her fist.

To Cheng Yanran, killing thirty-three Bloodrain Guards was just killing some pigs and dogs.

"The Bloodrain Guards are scattered in various places, some on duty, some at home," the woman in black asked. "Once we make a move, we have to do it simultaneously everywhere! We'll have to mobilize at least a hundred experts. Now that His Majesty is very wary of our Prince Yan's Residence… It's not suitable to send personnel from our Prince Yan's Residence this time. We only have a few hundred people on the surface in the capital."

"Let the Yellow Springs Gate do it," Cheng Yanran said casually. "The dogs we raise occasionally have to be let out to bite people."

"Yes," the woman in black immediately obeyed.