Chapter 559 - 240: Ominous Clouds Without Rain, Encirclement on All Sides (Part 2)

Even when the Great Li Dynasty unified the Four Seas, wielding dominance over the Eight Directions, in the territories of Huan City and Wind Valley, they still had to show deference to the Shenxiao Sword Sect. Those who came to govern had to first pay their respects at the mountain gate, present generous gifts, and obtain permission before they could administer their duties.

Otherwise, they could only serve as puppets.

And if it didn’t go well, even maintaining the puppet role would be precarious.

At any moment, they might choke on a sip of cold water, die an untimely death without even knowing how they perished.

Yet, this was something tacitly acknowledged by the Great Li Dynasty.

Besides collecting some symbolic taxes, the Court turned a blind eye to these two cities...

In the hearts of the people, they regarded this land as the Shenxiao Sword Sect’s private property.

"Shh! Lower your voice, look at that table, they think the same way as you, and there are Jade Sword Sect disciples among them."

Landlord Tan lowered his head and hunched his neck, resembling a turtle with its head retracted, looking somewhat wretched.

Lin Leshui didn’t mock him, but instead, he cautiously gazed toward the three youths by the east window of the hall.

The attire of Jade Sword Sect disciples was easy to recognize.

They habitually wore white robes, with a small blood-colored sword embroidered on their chests, each exuded a robust cultivation and an arrogant demeanor.

This was because the Jade Sword Sect had long been rampant in Huan City, unopposed and ever unrestrained.

Usually, if they got into an argument, drawing swords and killing people on the street was settled simply by throwing some silver coins, without worry of consequences.

Hence, in the eyes of the commoners, anyone who could join the Jade Sword Sect would burn incense, make offerings to their ancestors, feeling a bright honor upon their family.

Sometimes, becoming an official disciple of the Jade Sword Sect was even more prideful than passing the imperial examination at the scholar level.

At this moment, the sturdy Jade Sword disciple sitting in the prime northern position, his face flushed purple as he struck the table, causing cups and plates to jump, he angrily said, "If only those Sword Pavilion mice dared to confront us openly, instead of hiding and skulking..."

"If they fall into my hands, I will ensure they never return."

"Well said, Senior Brother Tang, please calm yourself, those sneaky scoundrels aren’t worth our concern.

If they do not dare to oppose us openly, it must be because they fear the Divine might of Shenxiao Sect’s Immortal Masters. Now they’ve only taken the initiative because they got a head start, but once the message reaches the sect, and the uncles and elders descend from the mountain, it will surely be their end."

"Exactly, what is King Ping, just an opportunist, even the Great Li Court’s troops, when they arrive at the foot of the Shenxiao Mountain Range, must behave. Who do they think they are?"

A middle-aged man dressed as a constable raised his cup toward the two Jade Sword disciples, nodding in agreement.

He downed the wine in one gulp, frowned deeply, exhaled the wine’s aroma, and just as he was about to set down the cup and grab a piece of pork head meat to counter the strong drink, he heard a hissing sound.

The sound of blood splattering in the air, a stench permeating the surroundings, almost causing him to vomit.

Looking to his side, he witnessed the two Jade Sword Sect disciples who had just raised their cups to drink; the wine still in their cups, but their motions were frozen.

Both had their heads tilted back toward the sky, with a jade feathered arrow lodged in their foreheads.

The front half of the Jade Arrow penetrated deep into the skull, reaching the brain, the tail feathers neatly trimmed, with the words "Celestial Heart" inscribed in bright red, capturing the eye.

"Ah..."

The middle-aged constable was startled significantly.

With a kick of his feet, both he and the chair toppled backwards.

Disregarding the filth on the ground, he rolled twice, madly crashing through the east window as he leapt out.

In mid-air, a flash of sword light passed by.

A bloodline appeared on the constable’s throat.

His body lost all strength, plummeting heavily from the third floor.

Thud...

Falling to the ground, triggering cries of astonishment all around.

The crowd scattered and fled.

The wind roared dramatically...

A woman clad in black, her face masked, wearing a gauze hat appeared on the flying eaves of the third floor.

A longbow partially visible on her back.

A blood-dripping sword in her hand.

She chuckled lightly, "So Jade Sword Sect disciples are nothing special, this woman is indeed one of those Sword Pavilion mice, if you have the guts, come and try."

Her eyes scanned the surroundings, her murderous aura palpable, causing everyone to lower their heads, not daring to look further.

Afraid to attract the attention of this bringer of death, fearing a sudden arrow or sword strike that they couldn’t handle.

Earlier, the Jade Sword disciple, bold in tone, with a blood-sword embroidered on his chest, symbolizing his official disciple status, considered a decent expert in the Jianghu.

Yet at the hands of this woman, he met his end without a sound, sent to the Yellow Springs.

His death, lighter than a goose feather, utterly devoid of value.

Why did he die?

Everyone drinking in the New Moon Tower understood.

Those few, after imbibing some horse urine, loudly cursed the Sword Pavilion mice, also mocked King Ping as an upstart, inviting their own deaths.

With such a clear precedent, who would dare stand out now?

Even in the city, even the innate elders of the Jade Sword Sect were either dead or in hiding, with Sect Leader Xiao Luo, the Grandmaster, beaten into uncertainty of life or death, healing secretly somewhere.

No matter how much faith anyone had in the Shenxiao Sword Sect’s Immortal Masters.

That distant water cannot quench the present thirst.

Facing a city full of bringers of death.

Even the boldest and most foolish would hold their tongue now.

The principle that silence is golden applies here perfectly.

Only after the masked Sword Pavilion female assassin had been long gone did Lin Leshui dare to lift his head, wiping the cold sweat heavily from his forehead, avoiding any glance at the bloody scene upstairs, and softly muttered, "When will the Shenxiao Sword Sect finally descend the mountain, these days..."