The wick of the lamp sputtered, dimming the light in the inn.
The innkeeper extended a hand, using a trimmer to adjust the wick. The dimly lit inn brightened considerably.
A gust of wind stirred the candlelight, and several figures lunged towards the upstairs rooms, their weapons already unsheathed.
Inside the room, Nan Gongyu’s eyes snapped open. His hand was already gripping his weapon. Xiao Man, who had been lying on the bed, sprang up, and several hidden projectiles shot out. The first wave of assassins to break in were repelled the moment they met, tumbling down the stairs.
Despite the initial setback, the assassins, accustomed to living by the blade, were not deterred. Instead, their bloodlust ignited, and they charged forward like men possessed.
Si Ye and the others had long sensed something was amiss. They leaped from their rooms and engaged the assassins. Two figures, like phantoms, infiltrated the room where Xiao Man and Nan Gongyu were.
Nan Gongyu drew his sword, blocking one of them. In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged several blows. The other assassin scoured the room for Xiao Man.
“Are you looking for me?” Xiao Man’s voice suddenly echoed from behind the assassin. His expression shifted slightly, and he instantly thrust his curved saber backward, but it met only air. However, the assassin immediately lunged towards Xiao Man, resolved to kill her.
Xiao Man parried his attacks with a dagger. Her assailant was a woman.
Slender and voluptuous, her impressive figure was discernible even in the darkness, exuding a unique allure.
“Jiu Yu Lou,” Nan Gongyu finally recognized his opponent. Wasn't this Po Jun, the top assassin from Jiu Yu Lou, whom he had severely wounded last time, forcing him to flee? Su Dan Novel Network.
“You choose the path to hell when the road to heaven is open,” the woman’s voice rang out. “My apologies to you both. We at Jiu Yu Lou take money for our services. Someone paid to have your lives taken. We were wondering how to find you, but you’ve conveniently walked right into our hands.”
“The Desolate God Inn is one of Jiu Yu Lou’s strongholds,” Nan Gongyu cursed his bad luck. They had stumbled onto Jiu Yu Lou’s territory. He hadn’t expected Jiu Yu Lou to also take a contract to kill Xiao Man.
Xiao Man was also puzzled, but she remained silent. The Fire Charm Poison had been bought from Jiu Yu Lou by the third concubine. Xue Jialuo might also be connected to Jiu Yu Lou. All this indicated that someone in the General’s mansion had a deep connection with Jiu Yu Lou.
“I didn’t expect Miss Xiao’s martial arts to be so exquisite,” the woman’s voice was seductive. “Truly worthy of being taught by Xiao Zhen himself.”
“Third Sister, let’s finish this quickly,” Po Jun’s voice was hoarse. Fighting Nan Gongyu alone was proving difficult. If Li San Niang joined forces with him, taking down Nan Gongyu would be a simple matter. Thus, he urged Li San Niang to deal with Xiao Man swiftly so she could assist him.
Li San Niang’s eyes turned cold, her aura instantly changing. “Miss Xiao, my apologies.”
Li San Niang, clad in red, moved like a phantom, striking directly at Xiao Man. She thought she had landed a killing blow, even believing she had stabbed Xiao Man. However, she had only struck an afterimage. Xiao Man’s speed was incredible, and her footwork was bizarre and unpredictable.
“What beautiful movement! Do you think you can escape by hiding? In this Desolate God Inn, all the assassins are from Jiu Yu Lou. Today is your day to die.”
A slight smile played on Xiao Man’s lips. Knowing the inn had issues, she wouldn’t be unprepared. Her movements were lightning-fast, leaving behind afterimages. Even with Li San Niang’s formidable skills, she couldn’t match Xiao Man’s speed, and instead, Xiao Man led her around the room, nearly causing friendly fire.
Xiao Man rejoined Nan Gongyu. They stood back-to-back, while Po Jun and Li San Niang sandwiched them between themselves. Their weapons moved towards the pair. Xiao Man and Nan Gongyu instantly changed direction. Xiao Man faced Po Jun, and Nan Gongyu confronted Li San Niang.
Li San Niang hadn’t anticipated Nan Gongyu would send Xiao Man to her death. In a moment of carelessness, Nan Gongyu kicked her away. Xiao Man, like an arrow loosed from a bow, charged towards Po Jun.
Po Jun let out a cold laugh. With a slight wrist movement, his sword lunged towards Xiao Man’s vital points. However, halfway through her charge, Nan Gongyu grabbed her ankle and dragged her back. Xiao Man seized the opportunity to unleash hidden projectiles.
Po Jun sneered dismissively. A mere trick, he thought, deflecting the projectile with his sword. But the projectile split into seven, aiming for his vital points. He was forced to defend himself to avoid being injured.
Xiao Man immediately produced a black porcelain bottle and threw it out the window. It exploded in the lobby below. Black smoke billowed from the bottle. Xiao Man then took out a package given to her by Si Ye and scattered its contents into the air. Po Jun thought it was poison powder, but it turned out to be a bag of flour, coating them in dust and blinding them.
“Go.”
Nan Gongyu slung an arm around Xiao Man’s waist and leaped into the air, breaking through the roof. Four figures followed, bursting through the roof. Xiao Man’s fire starter flew towards the inn below. With a roar, the inn erupted in a massive explosion, and the Desolate God Inn instantly turned into a pile of rubble.
Xiao Man and her companions vanished into the night. Po Jun and Li San Niang pursued them. Meanwhile, those inside the inn were incapacitated by the poison Xiao Man had thrown, and many more were killed by the sudden explosion. Only a handful survived the inn.
The innkeeper of the Desolate God Inn crawled out from the ruins. His face, devoid of emotion, was filled with hatred. “Nan Gongyu, Xiao Man, my Jiu Yu Lou will never rest until you are both dead! Send the order: you must kill these two, especially Xiao Man!”
They had thought Nan Gongyu and Xiao Man had walked into a trap and would surely not escape, especially with two top experts present. Yet, not only did they escape, but they also effortlessly destroyed their stronghold!
Nan Gongyu led Xiao Man in their escape through the night. Jiu Yu Lou had superior numbers, and even with their superior martial arts, they couldn’t withstand so many opponents. Therefore, the six of them split into three teams, heading in different directions.
Po Jun and Li San Niang, who were relentlessly pursuing, exchanged glances and each chose a direction to give chase.
They had originally planned to wait until the fifteenth, when Nan Gongyu’s poison would act up, before making their move. But Nan Gongyu had delivered himself to them, leaving them no choice. As long as they could keep Nan Gongyu occupied until the poison took effect, the two would be theirs for the taking.
The prerequisite was that Nan Gongyu could not escape their control.
Whether it was Po Jun’s good luck or bad, the man had casually chosen a team and picked the right one, following Xiao Man and her group relentlessly.
Xiao Man glanced at Po Jun, who was still relentlessly pursuing them, and frowned. “Let’s go into that forest.”
Nan Gongyu hesitated, his gaze falling upon the eerie, dense forest before them.
This was the Ten Thousand Ghosts Forest, fraught with peril. To enter meant a slim chance of survival. He looked back at Po Jun’s unyielding pursuit. If his poison took effect, Xiao Man would be no match for Po Jun, and their fate would be sealed.
Nan Gongyu gritted his teeth and led Xiao Man into the Ten Thousand Ghosts Forest.