“This letter is from Misty Rain Tower.”
Zuo Qiuyang glanced at the swallow pattern in the lower-left corner of the letter and instantly jumped to his feet, a surge of murderous energy bubbling up all around him.
“Eh?”
Shang Wu squinted her apricot-shaped eyes and shot him a look.
With an expression full of ferocity, Zuo Qiuyang crouched down, hugging his head.
“Master, it seems he has some familiarity with Misty Rain Tower.”
“Understanding the intentions and movements of Misty Rain Tower will be beneficial for our plans,” Li Mo added, using both logic and emotion to persuade his master.
He waved at Zuo Qiuyang to come over and take a look since he couldn’t decipher the contents himself.
The letter bore what were likely secret messages from Misty Rain Tower, resembling pictographs that were incomprehensible without specialized training.
Zuo Qiuyang took the letter and began to read:
“You lot, have you lot not lost your wives?”
“In these turbulent times, you brothers are cooped up in Huai Shan Town, engaging in petty looting. When will you rise to prominence? With the opening of the Endless Trial, why not seize the opportunity to come out of hiding and join Misty Rain Tower, which can be your backing from now on?”
“My foolish brother, I have progressed further in the Observation Realm and secured a human slaughter position in Misty Rain Tower.”
As Zuo Qiuyang read this, his voice trembled, and his emotions surged.
He was sure that the sender of this letter was the very enemy who had slain his master.
It felt as if the enemy was within arm’s reach, igniting his fury.
“I know you’re anxious, but don’t rush,” Li Mo signaled for him to finish reading.
Zuo Qiuyang took a few deep breaths before continuing:
“Recently, I heard news that the traitor we killed a few years ago had a disciple who learned the techniques of Misty Rain Tower.”
“It’s only right to eliminate anyone attempting to learn my Tower’s martial arts. Just take him out and come to the old place to find me.”
“The Tower is preparing to set up a branch in Ziyang Mansion, and if you manage this, I will speak favorably for you before the branch master, helping you secure good positions.”
“—Laughing Amitabha.”
…..
The letter revealed a lot of information.
Li Mo and the others couldn’t help but ponder deeply.
“Misty Rain Tower is setting up a branch in Ziyang Mansion?”
No wonder they chose that place for the Endless Trial.
They’re just expanding their operations, aren’t they?
But Ziyang Mansion is on the edge of the Eastern Wilderness, hardly a bustling place, far from the chaos of Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
Why would the profit-driven Misty Rain Tower want to establish a foothold there?
“Not content with just holding the Endless Trial, they dare to extend their influence into Ziyang Mansion?” Shang Wu raised her brows. “I’ll find that branch master and make him regret the day he was born.”
Who dares to sleep by her side? This touches the bottom line of Qingyuan Sect.
No sect will tolerate an assassin organization establishing a foothold in their territory.
But Misty Rain Tower is cunning and has spies everywhere, like a slippery stick in a pile of dung. Even the Da Yu Dynasty and several major transcendent sects could never fully uproot it.
Destroy one base and another sprouted up soon after.
“Finding Misty Rain Tower’s branch won’t be easy,” Xiao Qian mused.
He picked up three iron swallows from the ground.
Zuo Qiuyang looked at the swallows with a hint of confusion.
These swallows were specially forged.
Once the Endless Trial begins, they would absorb a bit of internal energy once someone with talent dies.
If someone with talent dies, these swallows would shatter.
Yet these few were completely intact?
Could it be that Huai Shan San Sha perished from their own internal energy?
“Should we… pretend to be Huai Shan San Sha to infiltrate Misty Rain Tower?”
“We have just the right number of people if Zuo Qiuyang joins us,” Xiao Qian said with a sense of responsibility. Since they took on the sect’s task, he would give his all.
Zuo Qiuyang shook his head:
“I’ve trained in the No-Birth Techniques, I can’t hide my identity in front of Misty Rain Tower’s people.”
Upon hearing this, Li Mo’s peripheral vision caught the girl next to him, his gaze probing.
Had she considered becoming an emotionless assassin?
Ying Bing: “?”
At this moment, Zuo Qiuyang spoke again: “This probably won’t work. Those three are clearly well connected with Laughing Amitabha. If you meet, you’ll be exposed.”
“Unless… we k*ll Laughing Amitabha! Then no one will know we’re fake.”
Zuo Qiuyang’s eyes lit up, as if he had found his opportunity for revenge.
The other party was in the Observation Realm; only by teaming up with these Qingyuan Sect disciples could they possibly achieve this.
—
“Pleasure working with you.”
Li Mo smiled.
Helping the other party get revenge was a sort of investment, and they could complete the sect’s mission too.
There was no reason to refuse.
Next came the important question of how to find that ‘Laughing Amitabha’ hiding in the shadows.
“I’ll search in the city, but it shouldn’t take long to get results.”
“This person is extremely cautious.”
Zuo Qiuyang hadn’t yet rooted around for information since he just arrived at Ziyang Mansion.
But he still knew very little about him.
“Instead of us searching for him, why not let him come looking for us?”
Li Mo mused.
“If we pretend to be Huai Shan San Sha and rank highly in the Endless Trial, we might just lure him out.”
Zuo Qiuyang suddenly had an epiphany.
This Li guy from Qingyuan Sect was indeed sharp.
Why hadn’t he thought of that?
“Let’s make our name known at Qunyu Peak right now.”
“If we run into someone we can’t beat, call me.”
Shang Wu figured her disciple was no dimwit, so she couldn’t be bothered to think anymore.
She would strategize, and he would provide muscle as needed.
Perfect plan.
“Wait, how are we supposed to identify who has participated in the Endless Trial?” Xiao Qian spotted the flaw.
“Let’s set up this relay station properly; I have my methods,” Li Mo replied while consulting the map.
This relay station is the closest to entering Ziyang Mansion.
In other words, most people will pass by here to get into the mansion.
When the time comes, he just needs to use his Divine Eye to scope things out…
Zuo Qiuyang and Xiao Qian were a bit intrigued.
But since Li Mo said so, he surely had his ways.
So they did not doubt him, enthusiastically tidying up the scene.
Li Mo snapped his fingers, releasing his internal energy.
Instantly, the corpses on the ground turned to ash.
Ying Bing frowned slightly, seemingly displeased with the ashes swirling everywhere. She waved her hand, conjuring clouds to gather the remnants and raised them to the back garden, contributing to nature.
“These two’s internal energy…”
Zuo Qiuyang’s pupils trembled.
He thought he was exceptional among his peers, with few rivals in his realm.
But this pair of teenagers made him feel shaken just by their released internal energy.
Is this what Qingyuan Sect’s talents are like?
And also…
Why are you so skilled at obliterating evidence?
Well, look at that—they even make a fine boy-girl team.
Xiao Qian was setting chairs and tables right when he scratched his head.
“You guys think we’re forgetting something?”
“Nothing at all, what could we forget?”
Li Mo glanced around.
Everything was ash; what else could be forgotten?
There was absolutely no oversight.
…….
Meanwhile, at the center of Ziyang Mansion.
In the main hall of the mansion, people from various sects were toasting and celebrating at a grand banquet.
“By the way, where are the folks from Qingyuan Sect? Why haven’t they shown up yet?”
“Seriously, they’re right under their mountain, and it’s fallen to us to entertain.”
“Ugh, with Shang Wu leading, what more can you expect?”
The representatives of other sects exchanged discussions.
“Ah, the peace in Ziyang Mansion relies on all of you,” the local governor said, standing up to toast everyone.
“Governor Cui has spoken wisely.”
“Acting heroically is what we ought to do.”
