Assassination of Shen Fei

Three days later.

Deep into the night, at two in the morning.

West of Jinling City, the Shen family villa district.

The moon was obscured by thick clouds, plunging the entire estate into heavy darkness.

In the woods bordering the villa, a dark silhouette darted silently through the trees.

It was Ye Chen.

Clad in a tight black suit with soot smeared across his face, he melted completely into the night, practically invisible.

Three days.

He had spent three whole days preparing for this.

Day one was for scouting.

He mapped out the villa's exterior layout, the guards' patrol routes, and the blind spots in the surveillance system.

The estate was massive, surrounded by a perimeter wall rigged with infrared sensors and security cameras every fifty meters.

But even the most sophisticated security systems had flaws.

Ye Chen found a blind spot.

In the northeast corner of the estate stood a century-old locust tree, its canopy stretching over the wall. By leaping from the branches into the compound, he could perfectly bypass the overlapping coverage of two cameras.

Day two was for observing the hidden guards' shift patterns.

Between two and three in the morning, there was a gap during the shift change.

As the old shift retreated and the new shift took their positions, there was a window of about three minutes.

Three minutes.

More than enough time for him to break into the villa.

Day three, which was today.

He had arrived.

Crouching in the canopy of the old locust tree, Ye Chen's breathing was long and even, his heart rate steady at under fifty beats per minute.

This was the physiological control of a master assassin.

Though he wasn't a professional killer, twenty years of martial arts cultivation had granted him a level of bodily mastery far beyond that of ordinary men.

In his right hand, he tightly gripped the dark red Limit-Breaking Pill.

He hadn't swallowed it yet.

The time limit of one incense stick was far too precious; he had to consume it at the most critical moment.

His plan was simple.

Infiltrate the villa during the shift change.

Locate Shen Fei's bedroom.

Take the Limit-Breaking Pill.

Kill him in a single strike.

Then, evacuate Jinling before the pill's effects wore off.

Clean. Efficient. Leaving no trace behind.

Ye Chen glanced at the digital watch on his wrist.

1:58 AM.

Two minutes left.

He regulated his breathing, every muscle in his body entering a state of combat readiness.

1:59 AM.

He saw it.

In the shadows on the eastern side of the villa, two figures silently withdrew and vanished into the darkness.

The old shift of hidden guards was gone.

The window of opportunity had opened.

Ye Chen did not hesitate.

He tossed the Limit-Breaking Pill into his mouth!

The moment the pill slid down his throat, a violently explosive medicinal energy erupted!

It was like swallowing a miniature bomb!

The energy surged with devastating force, scouring through every meridian, every muscle, and every bone in his body!

Pain!

Agonizing pain!

Ye Chen clenched his jaw, not letting out a single sound!

His body trembled violently as thick blue veins bulged from his neck to his temples, his blood vessels looking as if they might burst through his skin!

His meridians expanded!

His dantian churned!

The true qi inside him skyrocketed wildly, as if it had been set ablaze!

Early stage of the Grandmaster Realm!

Mid stage of the Grandmaster Realm!

Late stage of the Grandmaster Realm!

Peak of the Grandmaster Realm!

Boom!

An invisible shockwave of qi blasted outward in all directions with Ye Chen at the center!

The branches and leaves of the canopy rustled violently, and even the thick trunk of the tree quivered!

Ye Chen's eyes snapped open!

Deep within his pupils burned two clusters of eerie blue flames!

That was the physical manifestation of overflowing true qi!

Only when someone truly reached the peak of the Grandmaster Realm would the true qi in their body become so overwhelmingly powerful that it leaked from their eyes!

Power!

Unparalleled power!

Ye Chen clenched his fist.

The air around his knuckles let out a muffled, explosive pop!

The sheer force of his punch shattered several nearby leaves into fine dust!

This was the power of a Peak Grandmaster!

It was more than ten times stronger than his previous early Grandmaster state!

Ye Chen took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging blood and qi.

One incense stick.

Roughly thirty minutes.

The countdown started now.

He leapt down from the canopy!

His body drew a nearly invisible black arc in midair before landing silently on the grass just inside the wall.

No alarms were triggered.

He had perfectly evaded the surveillance blind spot.

Hunching over, Ye Chen moved rapidly along the wall.

The main building of the villa was fifty meters away.

It took him less than ten seconds to cross the distance.

He was as fast as a gust of wind.

Reaching the exterior wall of the villa, Ye Chen pressed himself against it and listened closely.

It was dead silent inside.

No footsteps, no voices.

At two in the morning, everyone in the villa should be sound asleep.

Ye Chen found his way to a second-floor window.

He had confirmed during his scouting that this window belonged to a guest room, which was usually unoccupied.

Channeling his true qi to his fingertips, he precisely severed the window lock.

Soundlessly.

The window swung open, and Ye Chen vaulted inside.

The guest room was pitch black.

His feet touched the carpet without making the slightest noise.

Standing in the dark, he circulated his true qi to sense the auras in his surroundings.

A Peak Grandmaster's perception range was incredibly vast; any vital signs within a hundred-meter radius could not escape his detection.

First floor, two auras.

Faint and steady.

Likely servants.

Second floor, at the end of the hall, one aura.

Moderate strength, breathing evenly.

Sleeping.

That was Shen Fei's master bedroom.

Ye Chen had verified the location beforehand.

He sensed no auras from any hidden guards.

The shift change window was still open.

Perfect.

Ye Chen silently slipped out of the guest room and into the hallway.

The corridor was lined with thick carpeting that flawlessly absorbed his footsteps.

The lights were all off.

Only at the end of the hall did a faint sliver of light spill from the crack beneath a door.

The master bedroom.

Ye Chen's heart began to race.

Not from nervousness.

From excitement.

He had waited for this moment for far too long.

Ever since the day his engagement was broken and Shen Fei had humiliated him to his face.

Ever since Su Qingxue had locked arms with Shen Fei and refused to even look at him.

Ever since the moment he was forced to kneel in public.

All the hatred, the humiliation, the bitter resentment—it would all come to an end tonight.

Shen Fei, you are a dead man.

Ye Chen closed in on the master bedroom, step by step.

Twenty meters.

Fifteen meters.

Ten meters.

Five meters.

He stood before the door.

He took a deep breath.

He gathered one hundred percent of his true qi into his right hand!

The full-force strike of a Peak Grandmaster!

This palm strike could cleave even solid steel in two!

Ye Chen suddenly raised his leg!

Boom!

He kicked the bedroom door open!

Under the force of a Peak Grandmaster, the solid wood door shattered like flimsy paper, splinters flying everywhere!

Ye Chen charged into the bedroom!

His right palm was poised to strike, true qi channeled to its absolute limit!

And then, he froze.

All his killing intent, all his true qi, all his pent-up power completely solidified in that instant.

There was no one in the bedroom.

The bed was perfectly made, the blanket folded impeccably.

There were no signs of anyone having slept there.

Shen Fei was not here.

Ye Chen's pupils shrank violently!

His eyes frantically swept across the entire bedroom.

Empty.

The wardrobe was closed, the bathroom door was open, and it was empty inside too.

Shen Fei wasn't in the bedroom!

But that was impossible!

He had clearly sensed an aura just moments ago!

Right in this exact spot!

Breathing evenly, just like someone asleep!

But now there was nothing!

Was that aura a fake?!

Ye Chen's back was instantly drenched in cold sweat!

Right at that moment, his gaze fell upon the desk in the bedroom.

On the desk sat a cup of tea.

The tea was still steaming.

Freshly brewed.

Beneath the teacup was a slip of paper.

White paper, black ink.

The handwriting was neat, the strokes bold and powerful.

Ye Chen walked over and looked down at it.

There were only a few words written on the note.

"Been waiting for you for a long time."

Ye Chen's scalp went numb!

He spun around abruptly!

In the hallway behind the bedroom, the lights flickered on.

Not just one.

All of them.

Snap, snap, snap, snap!

The lights down the corridor illuminated one after another, spreading toward him like dominoes falling from afar!

The glaring light lit up every corner of the hallway.

Two figures stepped out from the shadows on either side.

Silent and soundless.

Like two unsheathed blades.

On the left, Ling Shuang.

Clad in a black, tight-fitting combat suit, gripping a short sword that glinted with cold malice.

Her face was like ice, radiating a chilling intent to kill.

On the right, Ling Xue.

Dressed the same, with four hidden throwing needles pinched between the fingers of her right hand, and a dagger held in a reverse grip in her left.

A hint of bloodthirsty excitement danced in her eyes.

The two flanked him, sealing off both directions of the corridor.

Ye Chen's escape route was completely blocked!

His mind raced!

It was a trap!

A setup from the very beginning!

The aura in the bedroom was fake!

The shift change gap was fake!

The blind spot in the surveillance was deliberately left there!

Everything was designed to lure him in!

Shen Fei knew he was coming from the start!

No, not just knew!

Shen Fei had invited him here!

That note, that hot cup of tea—they were clearly telling him:

I know every single move you make.

You think you're the hunter.

But from the moment you set foot in this villa, you were the prey.

Ye Chen's teeth ground together audibly.

He forced himself to stay calm.

Peak Grandmaster!

He was currently at the Peak Grandmaster realm!

So what if he walked into a trap!

He recognized these two female assassins!

They were the twins!

On the day the engagement was broken, he had sensed their strength: Peak Connate realm!

Peak Connate against Peak Grandmaster?

That was a difference of two major realms!

He could take them both out with one hand!

Just as Ye Chen was about to strike, Ling Shuang moved.

She stepped forward, her short sword slashing down!

The blade wind was fierce!

Ye Chen sneered, casually blocking with his right hand.

Bang!

The two forces clashed!

Ye Chen's smile froze.

The power behind that strike far exceeded his expectations!

That wasn't Peak Connate!

That was clearly the power of a Grandmaster!

And not early Grandmaster either!

At least mid-Grandmaster!

How was that possible!

The last time he saw them, they were only Peak Connate!

In just over twenty days, they had both broken through to the Grandmaster realm?!

Before Ye Chen could process this, Ling Xue attacked from the flank!

Four throwing needles left her hand!

The sound of them piercing the air was sharp and ear-splitting!

Ye Chen dodged sideways; three needles grazed his sleeve, but the fourth sank into the outside of his left arm!

A sharp pain flared!

Ling Xue followed the needles, closing in rapidly, her dagger thrusting straight for Ye Chen's throat!

Ye Chen leaned back to avoid the strike and swept his right leg out!

Ling Xue jumped to dodge, while Ling Shuang filled the gap from another angle!

The sisters' coordination was flawless!

One attacking, one defending, one orthodox, one unorthodox—the timing of their strikes was precise to the millisecond!

Trapped in the hallway, Ye Chen was struggling to fend them off!

He was a Peak Grandmaster, yes, and in a one-on-one fight, neither would be his match!

But against two mid-Grandmasters working together with such perfect synergy, he found himself unable to gain the upper hand!

Worse still, his time was running out!

Nearly ten minutes of the Limit-Breaking Pill's duration had already passed!

Only twenty minutes left!

In twenty minutes, his cultivation would drop back to early Grandmaster, followed by three days of weakness!

By then, he wouldn't be able to withstand a single blow from these two assassins!

He had to end this quickly!

Ye Chen let out a furious roar, his true qi surging wildly!

He held nothing back!

The full power of a Peak Grandmaster erupted without reservation!

A shockwave swept through the corridor!

Paintings were blasted off the walls!

The carpet was ripped from the floor!

Ye Chen launched a palm strike at Ling Shuang!

Ling Shuang raised her sword to block!

Bang!

She was shoved back five or six meters, her feet plowing two deep trenches into the carpet!

The webbing between her thumb and index finger tore, blood seeping out!

But she didn't fall!

Gritting her teeth, she steadied herself!

The instant Ye Chen committed his full strength to Ling Shuang, Ling Xue struck from behind!

The dagger flashed with a cold light!

Aimed straight at Ye Chen's back!

Ye Chen sensed the killing intent behind him, but he couldn't turn in time!

He only managed a half-step sideways as the dagger slashed across his right ribs!

A bloody gash!

Blood sprayed out!

Ye Chen grunted in pain and slammed his right elbow backward!

Bang!

Ling Xue was sent flying, her back crashing into the wall, a trickle of blood escaping her lips!

But she merely wiped her mouth, flipped back to her feet, the battle lust in her eyes burning even brighter!

The three of them engaged in a frantic melee in the hallway!

The booming sounds of true qi clashing rolled in waves!

The walls cracked!

The ceiling lights shattered and fell!

The corridor was practically reduced to ruins!

Ye Chen grew increasingly desperate!

He didn't have much time left!

He had to finish them off and find Shen Fei!

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the stairs at the end of the hall.

Unhurried.

Steady and composed.

As if taking a stroll in his own backyard.

Ye Chen's gaze snapped toward the sound!

Shen Fei descended the stairs.

He wore a white button-down shirt, sleeves casually rolled up, holding a slender, golden, needle-like object.

His face was calm.

His pace leisurely.

It was as if the life-and-death struggle happening in the hallway had nothing to do with him.

The moment Ye Chen saw him, his eyes turned completely red!

His enemy!

Right in front of him!

Less than twenty meters away!

Ignoring Ling Shuang and Ling Xue, Ye Chen turned and charged at Shen Fei!

Channeling all his true qi into his right palm!

The killing blow of a Peak Grandmaster!

"Shen Fei! Die!"

His voice was completely hoarse, the roar sounding like it came straight from hell.

But Shen Fei didn't retreat.

He just stood there, watching Ye Chen charge.

Then, he raised his hand.

The golden needle in his grip caught the light, reflecting a blinding, cold gleam.

The Meridian-Sealing Needle.

A single-use consumable bought from the System Shop for five hundred Destiny Points.

One strike would seal all the target's meridians for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

Ye Chen closed the distance to a mere three meters.

Ling Shuang and Ling Xue chased after him from behind!

Ling Shuang's short sword slashed toward Ye Chen's lower back!

Ling Xue's needles shot toward the back of his knees!

Ye Chen was forced to split his attention!

His body instinctively twisted sideways, his right hand parrying Ling Shuang's blade, his left foot kicking away Ling Xue's needles!

But in that split second of distraction!

Shen Fei struck!

With extreme speed!

His figure blurred in Ye Chen's vision for a fraction of a second!

Though a Connate's speed couldn't match a Peak Grandmaster's, Shen Fei wasn't aiming for a head-on clash!

He just needed an opening!

The opening created when Ye Chen was distracted by the twins!

The golden Meridian-Sealing Needle traced a golden arc from Shen Fei's hand!

It pierced accurately into an acupoint dead center on Ye Chen's back!

The Dazhui point!

The central hub controlling all the body's meridians!

Ye Chen's movements ground to a halt!

His eyes widened to their absolute limits!

It was as if someone had hit the pause button on his body!

An icy power exploded from the Dazhui point, surging with lightning speed to lock down every single meridian in his body!

His true qi was severed!

What had been a raging torrent instantly became a stagnant pool!

The power of a Peak Grandmaster vanished without a trace!

Ye Chen's knees buckled, and he collapsed heavily to the floor!

He propped himself up with his hands, gasping desperately for air!

He tried to circulate his cultivation, but his meridians felt like they had been filled with concrete—completely blocked!

He couldn't channel a single trace of his qi!

"How... how is this possible..."

Ye Chen's voice was incredibly hoarse.

He had no idea what kind of trick Shen Fei had used!

A single, tiny needle had reduced him from a peak Grandmaster to a worthless cripple!

Shen Fei stood before him, looking down at Ye Chen as he knelt on the ground.

His gaze was as indifferent as if he were watching a dying ant.

"Ye Chen."

Shen Fei's voice was quiet.

"You're too late."