Feigned Death

The tragic outcome of the four men in black—one dead, one injured, and two fleeing—was also witnessed by the burly man wielding the giant axe.

He had already been struggling to hold his ground under Cui Yidao's stormy offensive.

Now, seeing his companions dead or fleeing, the bit of ferocity in his heart was instantly replaced by panic.

Cui Yidao was like a mad tiger, each strike of his blade heavier than the last.

He gritted his teeth fiercely, a flash of pain and resolve passing through his eyes.

"Ah!"

With a roar, the true qi around the burly man surged abruptly. The veins on his skin bulged like twisted roots, and tiny beads of blood even seeped from his pores.

This secret technique of overdrawing one's potential could forcibly elevate one's cultivation level for a short period.

But afterward, it would inevitably cause a massive loss of vitality, even damaging one's foundation.

Borrowing this explosive power, the heavy giant axe in his hands turned into a dark streak of light, swinging in a full circle and cleaving down!

"Clang!"

A deafening clash of metal rang out, sending sparks flying in all directions!

The force of this axe strike far exceeded the previous ones. Meeting it head-on, Cui Yidao was actually forced three steps back by the impact.

His knife-wielding right arm felt slightly numb, the webbing between his thumb and forefinger split open, and blood flowed down his wrist.

Meanwhile, having succeeded in his strike, the burly man had no desire to keep fighting and did not even wait to see the result.

Using the recoil force, his massive body leaped backward with unusual agility, and then he sprinted away without looking back.

His heavy footsteps pounded the ground with loud thuds, and in the blink of an eye, he disappeared around the corner of the alley.

"Trying to run?!"

The bloodshot in Cui Yidao's eyes deepened. The ferocity provoked by the enemy's escape made him almost lose his mind. With a low growl, he raised his blade to give chase.

His breathing was chaotic at the moment, but the sense of power brought by his enhancement remained; his mind was entirely consumed with slaughtering them all.

"Brother Yidao! Do not pursue a desperate enemy!"

Gu Chengyin's voice was like ice water splashed into Cui Yidao's boiling mind.

Cui Yidao's forward-rushing footsteps came to a sudden halt, pinning him forcefully to the spot.

He panted heavily, veins popping on the hand gripping the hilt, his chest heaving violently.

Gu Chengyin's voice echoed repeatedly in his ears, gradually suppressing that bloodthirsty impulse.

The redness in his eyes began to fade little by little, and his crazed battle intent was slowly overtaken by reason once more.

The enhancing effects of his breathing technique also began to rapidly recede.

Replacing it was a tidal wave of exhaustion and severe pain.

"Hah... Hah..."

Cui Yidao gasped for air in large mouthfuls, the clarity in his eyes finally fully restored.

He looked down at his own body. His clothes and armor were torn in multiple places, and wounds of varying depths were seeping blood.

The most serious one was on his left shoulder, deep enough to show bone—the result of being grazed by the giant axe.

Blood mixed with dust covered his resolute face.

With a clatter, unable to hold on any longer, he fell to one knee, using the long blade in his hand as a crutch.

The tip of the blade pierced into the bluestone ground, supporting his crumbling body.

Cold sweat mixed with blood rolled down from his forehead.

Gu Chengyin and Cui Zilu hurried over.

"Uncle Dao!"

Cui Zilu's voice carried a crying tone; she wanted to help him up but was afraid of touching his wounds.

Gu Chengyin moved faster. He squatted down, supported Cui Yidao's uninjured shoulder on the other side, and asked in a deep voice:

"Brother Yidao, are you alright?"

Cui Yidao raised his head, forcing a somewhat twisted smile onto his face. His voice was hoarse but still steady:

"To reply to Marquis Gu, this humble subordinate is fine. It is just that my true qi has been overdrawn, my internal organs have suffered some shock, and along with these flesh wounds, I need time to recover and regulate my breathing."

He paused, looked at Gu Chengyin, and added, "Marquis Gu's cultivation method is incredibly marvelous. If not for it, I am afraid this subordinate would have found it hard to resist."

Seeing that Cui Yidao was clear-headed and speaking coherently, indeed not seeming to be in life-threatening danger, Gu Chengyin finally felt relieved.

He nodded. "It is good that you are fine. Thanks to Brother Yidao."

Seeing Cui Yidao begin to meditate in place to recover.

Gu Chengyin let go, stood up, and looked back at the alley that was already a complete mess.

The bluestone slabs were covered in dark red bloodstains. The injured man in black had already been taken away by his companion, leaving only a few pools of fresh blood.

And the most shocking sight was the corpse in the middle of the alley that he had sliced in half at the waist.

Cut into two segments, its internal organs spilled out, and a thick smell of blood permeated the air.

Cui Zilu did not even dare to look at it. Seeing that Cui Yidao was not in serious trouble, she fixed her gaze firmly on Gu Chengyin's face.

Gu Chengyin's eyes narrowed slightly, his thoughts spinning rapidly.

This assassination came abruptly, yet it was within reason.

But no matter who sent them, this failed assassination undoubtedly gave him an excellent opportunity.

Gu Chengyin squatted back down in front of Cui Yidao and suddenly asked:

"Brother Yidao, do you know the method of feigning death?"

Cui Yidao was guiding the remaining true qi in his body to nourish his damaged meridians. Hearing this, he opened his eyes.

He pondered for a moment and replied cautiously, "Does Marquis Gu mean... the kind of secret cultivation technique that can disguise one's state as death and deceive others' probing?"

"Exactly." Gu Chengyin nodded.

Cui Yidao mused for a moment and slowly said, "True methods of feigning death are extremely rare and are mostly unpassed secrets. This subordinate does not know them."

Then he changed the subject: "However, due to mission requirements in my early years, this subordinate once learned a Turtle Breathing Technique."

"When this technique is circulated, it can lower the heartbeat, breathing, and even body temperature to a near-stagnant state, looking no different from death on the outside."

"Unless an expert proficient in medical theory examines it for a long time, it is very difficult to see through it immediately."

Gu Chengyin's eyes lit up. "When this Turtle Breathing Technique is running, is your consciousness dormant, or can you maintain perception of the outside world?"

Cui Yidao affirmed, "I can perceive it, but the perception becomes extremely blurred, as if separated by a thick veil, and I cannot make any physical reactions."

"But if someone comes close and touches me, or if there are loud noises and true qi fluctuations around, I can still faintly detect them."

"Good! That is enough!"

Gu Chengyin clapped his hands, a look of a forming scheme appearing on his face. "Brother Yidao, I need you to circulate this Turtle Breathing Technique and act out a play with me."

"Act out a play?"

Cui Yidao frowned tightly, his gaze involuntarily drifting toward Cui Zilu, who was tightly gripping her sleeves and staring unblinkingly at Gu Chengyin.

The meaning was obvious: he was a guard of the Cui Manor, and his primary duty was to protect Cui Zilu's absolute safety.

Although the assassins had retreated for now, there was no guarantee they did not have a backup plan.

Agreeing to Gu Chengyin's request would inevitably mean temporarily leaving his guard post, which violated his primary duty.

Gu Chengyin understood Cui Yidao's concerns and similarly turned his gaze to Cui Zilu.

Cui Zilu had originally been immersed in the thrilling slaughter just now.

Now, seeing both of their gazes fall on her, especially Cui Yidao's questioning look, she immediately understood the crux of the matter.

With almost no hesitation, Cui Zilu made a decision.

She let go of Gu Chengyin's sleeve, put on a serious and solemn expression, and spoke righteously to Cui Yidao:

"Uncle Dao, what are you looking at me for? Since Big Brother Chengyin says so, he definitely has his reasons!"

"Just do as Big Brother Chengyin says! You must do it well!"

But the hesitation on Cui Yidao's face did not dissipate. He said in a low voice, "But Eldest Miss, the Master..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he was crisply interrupted by Cui Zilu.

"Double your salary!"

Cui Yidao was stunned.

Cui Zilu quickly added, her little face brimming with a look of utmost generosity:

"Plus three months of paid leave! No, make it half a year!"