Chapter 1076: Assassination in the Dead of Night

That night, Yan Nantian left the Tang Manor.

Unbeknownst to him, however, a figure was tailing him.

It was Ruyi.

When she had asked him that day why he had come to Shangjing City, Yan Nantian had simply brushed her off. Ruyi had kept this in mind, not expecting him to head out in the dead of night.

"Sneaking around like this—he doesn't seem like a good person at all."

Ruyi muttered to herself, then continued following him.

Yan Nantian remained careful along the way, keeping a close eye on his surroundings. Under the cover of night, he made his way to the Kangping District.

He then entered a brothel.

Tossing out some silver, he headed upstairs.

Seeing this, Ruyi was deeply puzzled.

All this sneaking around just to experience the local flavor?

Yan Nantian arrived upstairs and met with a certain woman.

Qingshui was playing the Qin, and several other guests were seated in the room.

When Yan Nantian walked in, Qingshui was visibly startled.

Not long after, a maid stepped forward to apologize. "Our lady is feeling a bit unwell today, my lords..."

The guests were disappointed, but they did not make a scene. Every brothel in the Kangping District had some big shot backing it, so they did not dare act out of turn.

Once the room was cleared, only Yan Nantian remained.

The maid invited him in.

He found Qingshui waiting for him.

"Qingshui greets Master."

Yan Nantian sat down and asked, "How are the others doing?"

Qingshui replied, "To answer Master, they are all hiding in Shangjing City, awaiting your orders."

Yan Nantian nodded and said, "It is not time yet. I came for another matter."

Qingshui was startled but did not dare to speak.

Yan Nantian asked, "I heard there is a tunnel beneath Shangjing City connecting the palace to the outside. Do you know of it?"

Qingshui looked bewildered.

Yan Nantian continued, "I also heard that someone who looks exactly like me sneaked into that secret tunnel today."

Qingshui froze for a moment, looking at Yan Nantian.

Yan Nantian only added, "Search for this person in Shangjing City. I want to see exactly who is dressing up as gods and playing with ghosts."

Qingshui, however, said, "Master, this is no trivial matter. If that person truly looks exactly like you, Qingshui asks that you leave Shangjing City immediately!"

Yan Nantian replied, "I have my own plans."

Qingshui lowered her head and simply said, "Yes..."

Having finished his business, Yan Nantian departed.

Just as he walked out of the brothel and entered an alley, Yan Nantian suddenly felt a chill behind him.

A few footsteps echoed.

"Not good..."

Yan Nantian's heart skipped a beat.

A hidden weapon slid from his sleeve into his palm.

There were four people targeting him. One was up on the roof, while the rest were behind him.

"Hum."

The ringing of a blade echoed.

Yan Nantian abruptly spun around and hurled a Flying Blade.

"Thwack."

Instantly, one person collapsed to the ground.

Yan Nantian immediately ran deeper into the alley.

This place was narrow, offering no room to maneuver. If he was blocked from the front and back, the chances of capsizing a boat in a gutter were quite high.

Suddenly, the footsteps behind him grew hurried.

Yan Nantian tried to lead them to an open area.

He ran, but his pursuers followed relentlessly.

Unexpectedly, someone had already been waiting in the alley for a long time.

Not only did he fail to lead them to an open space, but Yan Nantian also found himself unable to advance or retreat.

"Step, step..."

The attackers in front of him tightly gripped gleaming Long Sabers.

There was movement above the alley as well, meaning he could not go up either.

Yan Nantian caught a familiar scent off these people.

"North Desert People..."

He remembered this gamey stench all too well.

There was no mistake!

Why were there North Desert People in Shangjing City?

Yan Nantian silently cursed the city guards. To think that right at the foot of the emperor, security would be as leaky as a sieve.

Furthermore, these people definitely had not been hiding in Shangjing City for long. They must have arrived recently, or else their stench would not be so pronounced.

"Take him alive."

As the words fell, several of them swarmed forward to attack.

It was at this moment that a voice rang out.

"Master!"

Qingshui had realized something was wrong and chased after him just in time.

With a Short Blade in hand, she killed a man with just a flick of her wrist.

She carved her way in from the outside of the alley.

Seeing this, Yan Nantian also made his move. Catching a Flying Blade dropping from his other sleeve, he threw himself into the fray.

Instantly, the sounds of battle echoed through the alley.

Qingshui's martial arts were exceptional. Facing three or four burly North Desert People, she did not fall to a disadvantage. Twisting her agile body, she slew another man with a single strike.

The clash of saber and sword rang out in the alley.

One by one, the attackers fell, but Qingshui's green dress was soon dyed crimson.

It did not take long for Qingshui to fight her way through and rendezvous with Yan Nantian.

Yan Nantian's gaze flicked over, and he saw that Qingshui's arm was injured and dripping with blood.

Standing back to back, Qingshui said, "I will cover Master's retreat!"

Yan Nantian nodded, and the two faced the thugs from the front and rear.

Thanks to Qingshui fighting as if her life meant nothing, they managed to carve out a bloody path.

Six or seven corpses lay haphazardly across the alley.

"Master, go quickly!"

Yan Nantian shot a deep look at Qingshui. Filled with resentment but with no other choice, he had to leave first.

Qingshui gasped for air, her body covered in wounds. The arm holding her short sword trembled, the skin between her thumb and index finger long split open from the impact.

And she still had to face three more attackers.

Yan Nantian fled out of the alley.

Only then did Qingshui breathe a sigh of relief. As she raised her head again, her eyes held the resolve of someone ready to die.

Yan Nantian had also sustained injuries. He pushed on, fleeing toward the alley exit.

However, he had forgotten about the person hiding on the roof above the alley this whole time.

As he ran, a figure dropped down into the alley.

A curved blade slashed at him!

Startled, Yan Nantian threw himself into a roll, barely dodging the strike.

In the dead of night, the curved blade scraped against the ground, sending sparks flying.

"Rip..."

The hem of Yan Nantian's clothes was sliced open.

He froze for a moment, then hurriedly stood up to steady himself.

He was panting heavily, his strength thoroughly spent.

The curved blade looked exceptionally chilling under the night sky. Now, Yan Nantian had nowhere left to run.

He wheezed, his wounds aching so fiercely he could not even grip a Flying Blade anymore.

Yan Nantian's gaze sharpened.

It looked as if he was prepared to fight to the death in the very next second.

Yet before he could make a move, the sudden, shrill whistle of a Sword echoed from behind him.

"Duck!"

Yan Nantian jolted and instantly ducked his head.

"Swoosh!!"

A longsword streaked right over his head.

Immediately following was a sickening squelch.

"Gah..."

The longsword buried itself deep into the chest of the North Desert Person. The curved blade dropped to the dirt, and after a brief struggle, the attacker collapsed, his breathing silenced forever.

Yan Nantian looked back.

He saw Ruyi standing there with her arms folded, looking at him with utter helplessness.

Drained of all strength, Yan Nantian slumped to the ground.

He gasped for air, grabbing Ruyi's hand, and said, "My subordinate is still deeper in the alley. I owe you a favor..."

Ruyi merely replied, "She's fine."

Yan Nantian let out a long sigh of relief, then promptly passed out.

Ruyi shook her head helplessly. She had no choice but to carry the unconscious Yan Nantian back to the Tang Manor.