The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 211 - 23: A Heartfelt Reward

Chapter 211: Chapter 23: A Heartfelt Reward

The spring tide brings rain that comes hastening in the evening.

At this time, it is not only the end of spring but also close to the rainy season of plum rains. As night falls on Lichi Town, torrential rain pours down.

In the small tavern of Lichi Town, during this heavy rain, there is an unusual bustle. The idle Jianghu people gather in the small tavern, talking idly and discussing the recent hot events.

Just a month ago, there was some casual chat about the old General Zhao Zhonglin, but now few speak of him. What’s recently caught the attention of the Jianghu is, from ten days ago, Qingxu, the prime disciple of True Martial sect, who broke through to the Divine Origin Realm—the first among the young generation of this era.

No matter what others think of Qingxu’s breakthrough, these ordinary members of the worldly society only see the surface, the immediate, seeing only Qingxu himself break through to the Divine Origin Realm, making him the leading figure of the younger generation.

So, as of late, the Zhenwu Sect has also gained significant fame. If someone now claimed they had defeated Qingxu, they would surely be considered as spouting nonsense by others.

However, in a small corner of this tavern, two people seem somewhat out of place compared to the other drinking customers.

One of the two is much like the other drinking Jianghu people, a bit down and out, quite unremarkable. But the person opposite him is quite conspicuous. Not to mention anything else, merely his stature reminds one of the idiom "no chance to escape even if given wings."

However, what’s curious is that such a conspicuous figure has gone unnoticed. That’s quite a marvel itself.

Qing Yu casually played with the wine cup in his hand and asked the man opposite him, "What’s this, Mr. Meng? You forego expanding the Northern Zhou Market and invite me to such a small town without escort. Is there something you’re involved in that can’t see the light of day?"

Faced with the provocation, Meng Yunfei simply nodded, "Indeed, there are matters unfit for the public eye. I’ve heard that a few days ago, the Azure Dragon Association robbed a shipment from the Wantong Escort Agency."

Hearing this, Qing Yu’s eyebrows rose slightly, "Was that your shipment? Mr. Meng, that seems quite underhanded!"

There was a hint of interrogation in his emphasized voice.

"It wasn’t our shipment," Meng Yunfei slowly shook his head, denying it outright.

But then he added, "However, we hope that Gong Ziyu can take on this shipment."

Of course, taking on the shipment did not mean taking over Wantong Escort Agency’s hands and continuing to escort the shipment, but rather to take care of a certain letter attached to the shipment and take on that business, the assassination contract for Xie Lang.

"After the matter is completed, Gong Ziyu will not only receive the reward for that business deal, but we will also offer an appropriate gift as thanks."

"Why?"

Qing Yu couldn’t quite grasp Meng Yunfei’s intention, as the Shadow Pavilion had no reason to kill Xie Lang. Only those with not-so-powerful backgrounds would be affected by the turmoil that scourged the world; powers like the Shadow Pavilion’s forces would not only remain unaffected but could even take the opportunity to profit, seizing a larger market while those unlucky ones were implicated.

"This is the Shadow King’s wish, and we must accomplish it," Meng Yunfei said.

"Shadow King, the supreme ruler of the Shadow Pavilion, why would such a major figure want to kill Xie Lang?" Qing Yu’s suspicion grew upon hearing these words. For someone as powerful as the Shadow King, desiring Xie Lang’s death would only require a flick of the wrist, and there would be millions willing to serve him. Why then would he need to resort to an assassin organization that had just recently surfaced?

The problem was, this also implicated the person who had covertly sent letters hiring Qing Yu earlier. From Meng Yunfei’s words, one could deduce that the Shadow Pavilion was probably unrelated to that sneaky individual.

"I still need a reason. The clients for the Wantong Escort Agency’s escort mission harbored no good intentions, with the mindset of crossing the river and tearing down the bridge. We have no desire to wade into these troubled waters." Qing Yu reiterated the need for a reason, he would not lift a finger without a proper one.

His tough stance caused some difficulty for Meng Yunfei, who hesitated briefly before eventually saying, "All I can say is, those who hired you are our enemies. After the deed is done, you don’t have to worry about anyone using the Azure Dragon Association as a scapegoat. Because the real murderer will be brought to justice, and no one will make a big deal out of looking for trouble with a knife after catching the true culprit."

The phrase "brought to justice" was interesting. It seemed that this unsavory client was most likely someone from the court, and moreover an enemy of the Shadow King.

This was a trap.

If Qing Yu was not mistaken, after Xie Lang’s death, the Shadow King’s people at court would directly reveal who hired the assassin, causing the unnamed client great grief. Zhao Zhonglin’s old subordinates and others involved in the Japanese incident would all turn their spears against that client.

In this way, indeed nobody would have the time to dig around for a small figure lurking in the dark.

"How much for the etiquette fee?" Qing Yu did not care about the reward the client would offer, as they had no intention of providing one but to silence him instead.

And once the Shadow King took action against them, there would be even less of a reward to speak of; if everyone were to die, they would have to go to the Underworld to ask for it.

Meng Yunfei, seeing an opening, happily said, "You won’t lose out. The Shadow King doesn’t shortchange those who serve him. I’ve heard that the Azure Dragon Association has recently been raiding for all sorts of treasure that is beneficial to Cultivation. Therefore, this time the Shadow King has decreed a Xuanji Jade Crystal as a token of gratitude for the assistance of the Azure Dragon Association."

The Xuanji Jade Crystal, essence of heaven and earth, gathered the Spiritual Energy of mountains, rivers, and streams—rarely found in the world. With this Xuanji Jade Crystal, Qing Yu could quickly progress to the Innate Nine Layers. Even upon reaching the Divine Origin Realm, the Xuanji Jade Crystal would still be of great benefit.

More importantly, the Xuanji Jade Crystal was pure concentration of the heavens and earth’s Spiritual Energy—not like an Elixir that produced medicinal toxicity and required Qing Yu to use the secret techniques of the Yin Yang Family to expel it.

It had to be said, this tempted Qing Yu.

"Agreed, but we must receive the reward before taking action, given the gravity of the matter. And we also need to guard against you harboring the same thoughts as that client."

"That’s not possible, not possible," Meng Yunfei shook his head energetically, "Xie Lang is not someone you can compare to Tian Bohu and Lin Tengyuan. You haven’t demonstrated the power to definitively kill him."

Then, Meng Yunfei spoke as if to explain further, "The Northern Zhou Market is not yet successfully developed, and the Shadow Pavilion would not move against us at this time, even if it had ulterior motives. Besides, the Xuanji Jade Crystal might be an unparalleled treasure to you and me, but to the Shadow King, it’s a mere trifle. You don’t need to worry about him breaking a promise."

"You said it yourself, for the Shadow King, it’s a mere trifle. But Xie Lang’s death is tied to the Shadow King’s major interests; otherwise, he wouldn’t be so cautious as to avoid using Shadow Pavilion’s top experts. How would it hurt to pay this small trifle in advance?

The Shadow Pavilion needs our help to develop the Northern Zhou Market, and we can’t afford the price of offending Shadow Pavilion’s forces. There’s absolutely no need to worry that we’ll take the reward and not do the job."

"Additionally, we can demonstrate the strength we should have..."

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