Xia Lun knew that facing a group of elusive assassins would leave them constantly on the back foot… Even if he and Aina could handle it, they might not be able to protect their other companions.
Moreover, if they took the initiative to strike, the advantage would be in their hands. Compared to unpredictable poisonings or ambushes, this approach was far more aligned with Xia Lun’s combat style.
"What if we destroy the assassination guild’s headquarters? Wouldn’t all the other assassins come after us for revenge?" Liyana voiced her concern.
Moke shook his head. "That won’t happen. The assassination guild operates similarly to the adventurers’ guild… Most assassins just take contracts for quick money and have no real loyalty to the organization. Only a handful are truly devoted to Mo Yi. If the headquarters is wiped out, the rest will scatter like rats."
In other words, Xia Lun’s straightforward plan of storming their base was entirely feasible.
The only catch was that pulling it off required overwhelming strength.
Xia Lun glanced at Aina.
After all, this wasn’t a mission from the adventurers’ guild—it was something he’d decided to do on his own, intervening in Moke’s affairs. Logically, he shouldn’t drag others into it.
"I’ll help," Aina nodded.
Xia Lun grinned.
With Aina by his side… he could rest easy.
"Xia Lun… are you really planning to charge straight into the assassination guild’s headquarters?" Even now, Moke still felt dazed after hearing Xia Lun’s plan.
"Shouldn’t be a problem, right, Xia Lun?" Musen couldn’t help but feel a twinge of fear. Though he knew Xia Lun’s strength was beyond comprehension, this time they were up against an entire organization.
"What’s there to worry about? These two are practically god-slayers…" Liyana, on the other hand, was completely at ease.
Moke and Musen exchanged a glance. At Liyana’s remark, they suddenly felt reassured.
Back in Olie City, they had witnessed the battle in the sky.
Just imagining Aina’s magic raining down on the assassination guild’s headquarters… the thought alone was terrifying.
"So, Moke. The address," Aina said calmly.
"Ah… the guild’s headquarters is at the border between the Human Race and the dwarven territories. It used to be a dwarven mine, but after the resources were depleted, they abandoned it, leaving behind an underground village," Moke explained. "After Mo Yi took over, he turned it into the guild’s headquarters and training grounds… He personally brings in orphans to train, though most don’t survive."
Xia Lun nodded slightly. So it was underground—no wonder it was so well-hidden.
Aina: "Understood."
…
For an assassin, a killer lurking in the shadows, the most important trait was a calm, unshakable focus—only then could they strike with lethal precision at the critical moment.
But Mo Yi was struggling to stay composed.
He had waited for days, yet Moke still hadn’t returned.
It was a blow to his pride… Before leaving, he had made his threats crystal clear.
Mo Yi’s expression darkened.
He had high hopes for Moke, who had inherited his talents flawlessly, possessing unparalleled potential.
Agility, sharp reflexes, and an androgynous appearance perfect for disguise and assassination…
The only flaw was that Moke’s true gender was male. If only he could master both genders like Mo Yi himself, it would have been perfect.
But Moke had no intention of inheriting his legacy.
Mo Yi wasn’t worried. He believed this was just a rebellious phase… Even if Moke continued to resist, Mo Yi had ways to break him.
No matter how strong his will, it wouldn’t last long under Mo Yi’s torture.
First, though, he had to be captured.
Mo Yi knew a witch who had helped him before, using divination to locate Moke.
But every time he sought her aid, she demanded an exorbitant price.
Once Moke was back in his grasp, he’d dispose of her too… He wondered if she could foresee her own death.
"Lord Mo Yi."
A voice emerged from the shadows beside him.
Mo Yi asked, "Hmm? Has Moke returned?"
"Yes, Lord Mo Yi. Young Master Moke has returned, but…"
"But?"
"He isn’t alone. His adventurer companions are with him."
Mo Yi frowned slightly, then smirked in disdain.
"What is he thinking? Does he believe a handful of adventurers can stand against us?"
In Mo Yi’s eyes, Moke’s actions were nothing short of leading his friends to their doom.
Gradually, Mo Yi regained his composure.
He knew Moke’s personality well—sentimental, emotionally driven. For Mo Yi, this wasn’t a bad thing; it made for easy leverage.
So Moke shouldn’t have done something like this… There must be more to it.
"Lord Mo Yi… do you feel like the temperature is rising?"
The shadow guard suddenly sounded puzzled.
Mo Yi’s expression shifted.
"BOOM—"
A deafening explosion erupted from above, shaking the ground as if the entire earth were being torn apart.
"What’s happening?"
"Who dares attack us here?"
The underground assassins descended into chaos.
Was this Moke’s doing? Had he actually brought people to assault their base?
Mo Yi laughed in fury, vowing to make the intruders pay dearly.
"Everyone, move above ground! Capture Moke alive—and for every one of his companions’ heads, a thousand gold coins!"
The underground erupted in frenzy.
Most gathered here were the type to do anything for money.
With such a bounty, even assassins unsuited for open combat surged forward, scrambling to claim the rewards before others could.
"Hummm—"
A series of crimson magic circles materialized beneath each of their feet without discrimination.
Then, annihilating flames consumed everything.
"There really are a lot of them," Liyana remarked, firing arrows in rapid succession.
It was like kicking a hornet’s nest—enemies poured out of the underground in droves.
But not all were greedy fools. Some emerged only to slip away quietly, clearly unwilling to get involved.
Even under Aina and Liyana’s relentless assault, a few managed to slip through with bizarre techniques, closing in on the group.
Musen stood guard beside Moke, grabbing an ambushing assassin by the head, knocking him out, and hurling him away.
Xia Lun’s blade flashed, and within moments, the ground was littered with severed limbs and blood.
"Rest in peace, all of you."