Chapter 176 Assassination, Openly

The Blood Rain Guards investigated the surrounding area for clues, but found nothing. At the same time, they also sent the four assassin corpses to the battalion headquarters, as these were key ‘evidence.’ The Blood Rain Guards would certainly investigate a case involving the assassination of a ‘Blood Rain Guard captain.’

A night passed, and dawn broke.

"咚咚咚." A knock sounded on the door.

Xu Jingming went to open the door and saw a team of more than ten people standing outside, all on horseback. The leader was a silver-haired old man, none other than the Fei family's guard team leader, ‘Protector Lu.’

"Lord Lu," Xu Jingming greeted with a bow.

Lu Shao and Chou Huayu were both Fei Qing's trusted aides. The two of them working together were a match for the Black Lotus Sect's Night Dharma King.

"Come with me to the Fei residence at once," the silver-haired old man said. "The Commander wishes to see you."

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

"Captain."

The five Blood Rain Guards who were nearby on the street also approached, looking at the team with some confusion.

"Go have breakfast. No need to stay here," Xu Jingming said with a smile.

"Alright!" The five Blood Rain Guards smiled; since their captain had spoken, they could relax.

"Drive!"

Xu Jingming followed the team, riding his horse in the direction of the Fei residence.

This made Xu Jingming sigh inwardly. Horseback riding was forbidden in the imperial capital! Even as a Blood Rain Guard captain, he didn't have that authority. But… obviously, the team dispatched by Commander Fei had that authority.

"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 Blood Rain Guards. Naturally, news of your assassination attempt would 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.

Fei residence's main hall.

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

"Brother Luo," Xu Jingming said, looking at him in disbelief.

Lying on the stretcher, Luo Baichuan was missing his left leg and 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 main seat, frowning slightly as he looked at Luo Baichuan, who was lying down, and Xu Jingming, who was standing.

"Both of you were attacked by teams of assassins last night," Fei Qing said. "Jingming managed to withstand the attack, 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 speculations."

"I was sleeping in my room when three assassins entered at the same time. I immediately picked up my weapon to resist. After only two or three moves, I had a leg and an arm severed," Luo Baichuan, who was lying there, said first. "They took my arm and leg and left, saying before they left to 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 think highly of me, sending a first-rate expert to assassinate me. I'm just a nobody."

"Commander Fei," Luo Baichuan said, looking at Fei Qing with longing in his eyes. "I want to know, who sent the assassins?"

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

"I was out that night, strolling around the imperial capital to enjoy the night scene. When I returned late at night, I discovered that enemies had infiltrated my residence. I could sense… nine auras were 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 fleeing, they attacked."

"With the help of five nearby Blood Rain Guards, I managed to hold off the nine assassins, and I was fortunate enough to kill four of them," Xu Jingming said. "It was only because of the constant arrival of Blood Rain Guards that the assassins didn't dare to delay. If I had relied solely on my strength, without any help, and the fight had dragged on, 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 be second-rate experts," Xu Jingming said.

Luo Baichuan's expression changed upon hearing this.

Nine assassins attacked Jingming, but Jingming was unharmed and even killed four of them.

But he, Luo Baichuan… had become disabled!

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

He had originally wanted to experience the prosperity of the imperial capital and make a name for himself. Who would have thought that soon after arriving in the imperial capital, he would lose an arm and a leg, making it difficult even to walk? His future was now bleak.

"…The first-rate expert I severely injured and captured actually committed suicide," Xu Jingming finished recounting the events. "A first-rate expert willing to die for his cause—I don't even know when I offended such an enemy."

Fei Qing nodded.

"Luo Baichuan, rest well in the residence and recover from your injuries," Fei Qing said, looking at Luo Baichuan. "You certainly can't be a Blood Rain Guard anymore. I'll arrange a simple job for you; just live your life well in the imperial 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, enthusiastic man! Luo Baichuan was very warm and talkative at the time; Xu Jingming would say one sentence, and Luo Baichuan would say ten.

In the past few months, even when severely injured and dying, Luo Baichuan had always been full of fighting spirit.

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

"Have you guessed?" Fei Qing asked, looking at Xu Jingming.

"I have some guesses," Xu Jingming nodded. "Able to cultivate first-rate experts willing to die, there are only so many forces in the entire imperial capital. You could count them on two hands. And telling Luo Baichuan to stay away from Miss Fei, it's probably only Prince Yan's estate."

"I also suspect Prince Yan's estate," Fei Qing nodded. "From today on, you must be careful. That Cheng Yanran arranged for an assassination attempt to fail once; 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. It'll be fine after this period of time; Cheng Yanran won't be watching you forever."

"Yes," Xu Jingming nodded.

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

Fei residence, a remote courtyard. Luo Baichuan was temporarily residing here, and two servants had been arranged to serve him.

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

Luo Baichuan turned his head slightly and said, "You be careful too! The imperial capital is prosperous, but it's also very dangerous. I imagined the prosperity of the imperial capital countless times in Lanyue City, and I came to the imperial capital with a slim chance of survival, but I ended up like this."

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

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

"Since you became a Blood Rain Guard, you should know how miserable the bottom of the imperial capital is. At least you still have servants to dress you and feed you," Xu Jingming continued to comfort him. "Commander Fei has also promised to arrange a simple job for you. You're still much better off than many people in the imperial capital."

"Much better off?"

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

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

"If you need my help in the future, feel free to come find me," Xu Jingming said.

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

Xu Jingming nodded slightly, then turned and left.

Luo Baichuan closed his eyes.

At this moment, he recalled the days in Lanyue City when he ate meat and drank wine heartily. Back then, he was also a prominent figure in the Black Axe Gang, commanding a large following…

******

Prince Yan's estate.

When the sun was high in the sky, Cheng Yanran finally got up with the help of his concubines, dressed in luxurious robes. The concubines looked at him with infatuated eyes.

After getting up, Cheng Yanran first rinsed his mouth, then sat in a pavilion to admire the garden scenery while drinking three-treasure porridge.

"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; for him, it was just a trivial matter he had casually ordered. Cheng Yanran continued to drink his porridge, casually asking, "Was it handled properly?"

"Luo Baichuan's side is no problem, he lost an arm and a leg," the woman in black said. "Jingming's side, we failed."

"Hmm?" Cheng Yanran frowned.

Failed?

"Failed to kill a Blood Rain Guard captain?" Cheng Yanran said coldly. "A bunch of trash."

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

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

"This Jingming is quite strong, top-tier first-rate strength?" Cheng Yanran read and nodded. "And he's also lucky. He wasn't home last night. Instead, he was able to fire a signal arrow first, gaining the advantage."

"What should we do next?" the woman in black asked, knowing her master'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 Blood Rain Guards quickly arrive?"

"Then let's wipe out this team of Blood Rain Guards," Cheng Yanran said casually. "From Jingming down, all thirty-three Blood Rain Guards, leave no one alive!"

"Yes!" the woman in black replied with a bow.

For Cheng Yanran, killing thirty-three Blood Rain Guards was like killing pigs and dogs.

"The Blood Rain Guards are scattered in various places, some on duty, some at home," the woman in black asked. "Once we make a move, we must act simultaneously everywhere! We'll have to mobilize at least a hundred experts. Now that His Majesty is very wary of our Prince Yan's estate… This time, it's not appropriate to send personnel from our Prince Yan's estate. We only have a few hundred people in the imperial capital openly."

"Let the Yellow Springs Gate take action," Cheng Yanran said casually. "The dogs we raise must occasionally be let out to bite people."

"Yes," the woman in black immediately obeyed.