Chapter 50: The Turning of the Stars

Run!

Chu Yuan and Zhuo Qingfeng, old friends for many years, shared an unspoken understanding forged through facing life and death together. They both instantly made the same choice: to run.

However, they had barely taken a step when they found their bodies growing incredibly stiff, causing them to fall directly to the ground.

Poison!

They immediately understood they had been poisoned. At this moment, Zhuo Qingfeng and Chu Yuan finally realized why a dozen Six-Fan Gate experts had been killed without any struggle – a group of them together hadn't even had the chance to call for help.

"This poison is Poison Spider's most masterful creation. He spent nearly twenty years developing it specifically to counter martial arts experts. He devised numerous methods to create this unique poison, which is almost imperceptible to even the most skilled martial artists. While it can't be combined with lethal toxins to kill instantly, it has an extraordinary effect. It's called 'Zombie Powder.' In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, even a top-tier expert will find their entire body subtly permeated with the toxin, becoming paralyzed and stiff, like a zombie. They won't even be able to speak, leaving them utterly helpless and silently awaiting their demise."

Silent, it truly was silent. At this moment, Chu Yuan and Zhuo Qingfeng experienced this silent lethality firsthand.

"Master Zhuo, actually, your arrangements weren't flawed," Madam Wang said softly. "You arranged for people to leave the Wang manor during the day, and then had Master Chu's trusted confidants quietly depart at night. If even one person had successfully reached the county yamen, you would have succeeded. What a pity, though, that even the clues that made you suspect something was amiss at the Wang manor were provided by me."

Zhuo Qingfeng and Chu Yuan lay prone on the ground, their bodies utterly rigid. Only their eyelids could move, and they both saw helplessness reflected in each other's eyes.

Their plan had been sound. To avoid alerting their targets, they had quietly arranged for reinforcements, sending people in batches with Chu Yuan's handwritten order to the county yamen. Then, they would pretend to fall into a trap, extract the truth from Madam Wang, and finally apprehend everyone involved. This way, they could solve the case and clear Zhuo Qingfeng's name.

However, the villain's cunning had surpassed their righteousness. Their entire plan, from start to finish, had been part of the enemy's scheme. They had lost completely.

"Kill them."

Madam Wang spoke softly, then turned and walked towards the room. At the same time, two figures, dressed as guards, emerged from the darkness and rushed towards Chu Yuan and Zhuo Qingfeng, blades drawn.

Zhuo Qingfeng and Chu Yuan both closed their eyes, awaiting death. However, after a few breaths, nothing happened. When they opened their eyes, they saw the two charging guards standing motionless before them, frozen mid-stride.

The next moment, a streak of blood appeared on each guard's forehead. Their blades clattered to the ground, and simultaneously, their bodies went limp, collapsing face down.

Madam Wang, who was about to enter the room, heard the commotion. She turned around, a flicker of shock in her eyes.

Chu Yuan and Zhuo Qingfeng, still sprawled on the ground, heard a familiar voice: "Brother, why are Master Zhuo and Master Chu lying on the ground?"

"Perhaps it's cooler down there!"

Never in their lives had Chu Yuan and Zhuo Qingfeng found such sarcastically mocking voices so pleasant to hear. They recognized them. It was Gu Mo and his sister, Gu Chudon.

Madam Wang was astonished to see Gu Mo and Gu Chudon. "You two are still alive?" she exclaimed.

Gu Mo chuckled. "Did you think Poison Spider could kill me, or perhaps the assassins you arranged in the Red Maple Forest?"

After killing Poison Spider at the Red Maple Forest Tavern, Gu Mo and Gu Chudon prepared to rush to the Wang manor. However, as soon as they stepped out, they encountered dozens of assassins. After a fierce battle, which was why Gu Mo only arrived after nightfall, they happened to see Zhuo Qingfeng and Chu Yuan stealthily following a woman, so they followed suit.

"I thought I had overestimated your strength, but it seems I still underestimated you," Madam Wang remarked with a sigh. "However, after fighting your way out, you should have left. You shouldn't have come here."

"But I'm already here."

"Yes, you are."

The atmosphere grew incredibly heavy. The moonlight dimmed, as if pressed by the intense killing intent, quietly hiding behind the clouds. Only a few faint rays of light managed to struggle through, barely outlining the contours of the house and courtyard.

On the rooftop, a figure appeared: a man with a full head of white hair, his posture as upright as an ancient pine, exuding an air of grandeur in his proud stance. His simple grey robe could not conceal his imposing presence, like a deep pool or a towering mountain. His sleeves fluttered gently in the wind, flapping softly as if containing boundless power. It was the Golden Blade Assassin, White-haired Elder.

Next, at the other end of the rooftop, a middle-aged man in a scholar's robe appeared. He had an elegant demeanor, holding a writing brush in his right hand and a book in his left. He was the renowned Golden Blade Assassin, the Scholar.

Directly above the rooftop, a white-clad swordsman appeared, wearing a ghost-face mask. It was Silver Fox, Yunzhou's top assassin, also known as the Golden Blade Assassin, Recluse.

"Are there more?" Gu Mo asked calmly.

"Is this not enough?" Silver Fox replied.

"That's Silver Fox," Gu Chudon reminded him.

"Silver Fox, Recluse," Gu Mo nodded. "If it's just the three of you, then I'll make my move. Silver Fox, my goal is your head, for the bounty."

"Many want my head," Silver Fox stated. "But I remain Yunzhou's top assassin."

Gu Mo chuckled. Honestly, a while ago, he had truly been intimidated by Silver Fox. The thought of that unimaginably fast sword had made him feel he couldn't muster the courage to face Silver Fox alone. But now, of course, there was no fear.

In that instant, Gu Mo suddenly moved. He drew his Tang blade, appearing like a dragon emerging from the sea, a swift blur of motion carrying a fierce wind, striking directly at Madam Wang.

Madam Wang, however, remained unhurried. She shifted sideways, casually shedding her cloak and flicking it. This action unexpectedly deflected most of the Tang blade's force. Simultaneously, dozens of throwing knives shot from her cloak, like a swarm of locusts, flying towards Gu Mo.

Gu Mo quickly leaped backward, evading the flying knives. Just then, Silver Fox, with his unparalleled lightness skill, was the first to attack. He appeared like a ghost in mid-air, his long sword thrusting directly at Gu Mo's throat.

Gu Mo chuckled. He circled his hand in a single palm strike, unleashing a mighty force. A dragon's roar echoed as he executed the "Hundred Miles Shock" technique, directly meeting Silver Fox's sword. With a resonant "嗡" sound, Silver Fox's extraordinary long sword, though not breaking, bent like a full moon bow under the impact. Sand and pebbles scattered from the shock, and Silver Fox was sent flying backward, his arm tingling.

In that very instant, the White-haired Elder seized the opportunity. His five fingers formed claws, striking like a sudden storm. The claw shadows overlapped, dazzling the eyes. Each strike produced a tearing sound in the air, capable of shattering stone with a single claw.

Immediately after, the Scholar also attacked, sweeping his brush horizontally. With every flick, ink splashed out in bizarre attacks, cutting towards Gu Mo's vital points like invisible blades.

Gu Mo moved with agile steps, following the Bagua formations, weaving through the attacks of the two. Silver Fox, having recovered from Gu Mo's palm strike, attacked again with his sword. His lightness skill was excellent; even with Gu Mo's maxed-out "Ladder Cloud Soaring" technique, he admitted his agility was slightly superior but his speed was marginally inferior.

Silver Fox's sword closed in. Gu Mo, however, remained unhurried, standing firmly. As Silver Fox's sword approached, he suddenly twisted his palms. Silver Fox's long sword seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, instantly changing direction and piercing the Scholar standing nearby, striking him in the chest.

The Scholar's eyes widened in disbelief. Silver Fox was also shocked, and at the same time, the White-haired Elder, who was clawing at Gu Mo, discovered to his horror that he was uncontrollably grabbing Silver Fox's neck.

Thwack!

The White-haired Elder's claw technique was unparalleled, possessing the power to split mountains and shatter stone. This one claw tore away more than half of Silver Fox's neck.

The White-haired Elder was stunned. Before he could react, Gu Mo's hand movements changed again. To the White-haired Elder's even greater horror, his left claw moved to grasp his own throat. Instantly, his five fingers plunged into his throat and pulled, rupturing and tearing out his windpipe.

All three fell heavily to the ground, their eyes filled with shock and incomprehension.

This was using their own methods against them: the Shifting Stars technique!