Chapter 2007: Revenge

For this wedding, welcoming the bride was naturally the top priority. Fang Long specifically dispatched masters from the Yin-Yang Dao, along with guards from the Demonic Sect and the Ruthless Path, to escort her along the way. He was concerned that some irrational disciples within the sect might take drastic actions.

After all, Qiu Honglei was extremely popular within the sect, and now that she was marrying, some disciples might find it hard to accept.

However, no matter how drastic their actions, it was unfathomable that someone would directly assassinate the Saintess.

Just then, an assassin suddenly leaped out from the crowd. Everyone initially assumed it was merely a crazed admirer of the Saintess, intending to teach them a quick lesson.

To their surprise, the assailant's movement technique was too swift. Before the interceptors could form a cordon, the assassin slipped through a gap.

The Yin-Yang Dao masters among the guards finally reacted, drawing their weapons to intercept.

Alas, the assassin's sword was incredibly fast. Their weapons were only half-drawn when a red dot appeared on their foreheads; sword energy had pierced their brains, killing them instantly.

Immediately, the sword's momentum unchecked, it thrust directly into the palanquin, and a woman's shriek echoed from within.

The assassin did not hesitate for a moment. With a light touch of their foot, they transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the distance.

The entire process unfolded in mere blinks. Just moments ago, the many onlookers were lamenting the Saintess's marriage. Who could have known that in the very next instant, she would be assassinated inside her palanquin!

Shadow Pavilion!

The same name surfaced in everyone's minds.

Only the ace assassins of the Shadow Pavilion could achieve such a precise one-hit kill and vanish without a trace.

Normally, with the Saintess's cultivation, facing an opponent directly, even an ace assassin from the Shadow Pavilion wouldn't be able to instantly kill her.

However, today was her wedding day, and with guards all around, her vigilance was undoubtedly relaxed.

Moreover, her vision was obstructed by the palanquin, leaving her no time to react before the assassin's surprise attack killed her.

Many calm individuals in the crowd quickly pieced together the entire event, but a greater number of people were wailing in despair.

The Saintess was not only the goddess in the hearts of many male disciples but also a symbol of the sect itself. To think she had died here!

Many, frantic, rushed forward to check the situation, but the guard contingent, bound by their duty, dared not let anyone approach. They instinctively blocked the crowd, which quickly sparked outrage. Many began to curse, and some even started fighting.

As the scene threatened to devolve into chaos, a delicate voice suddenly rang out: "Stop!"

Everyone stiffened. They were all too familiar with that voice. Turning their heads, they saw a woman of exquisite beauty slowly approaching from not far away. Who else could it be but the Saintess?

Many were bewildered. If the Saintess was here, then who was the woman who had just died in the palanquin?

Qiu Honglei spoke with a touch of sadness: "My junior sister Pan had foreseen that someone might cause trouble during this wedding, so she suggested taking my place in the palanquin to draw attention. I was initially dismissive, but it turned out exactly as she predicted. It's a pity that in trying to save me, she sacrificed her own life."

She had been secretly following nearby, never expecting such a turn of events.

The original plan was for Pan Qiaoqiao to attend the wedding in her place, drawing out Lu Sanyuan and others, but unexpectedly, Pan Qiaoqiao died here.

Left with no choice, she had to reveal herself and continue as the bride. Saving her master was paramount. As for other matters, she believed Zu An would understand, since it wasn't a real wedding ceremony anyway.

By then, the guards had opened the palanquin's curtains. As expected, sitting inside was Pan Qiaoqiao of the Demonic Sect.

The demonic cultivators around were somewhat baffled. Weren't Pan Qiaoqiao and the Saintess always at odds? How could Pan Qiaoqiao sacrifice her life for her like sisters?

Had they been putting on an act for outsiders all these years?

But their acting was simply too convincing.

Although the matter was strange, no one delved deeper into it.

Most were simply relieved, as the Saintess was now safe and sound.

As for Pan Qiaoqiao, while she had some admirers, her popularity paled significantly in comparison to Qiu Honglei's.

Only the guards originally tasked with the escort were shocked, as they also had a duty to keep an eye on Qiu Honglei.

They hadn't even known when she had left!

They figured that Pan Qiaoqiao, that vile woman, must have colluded with her to help her escape.

However, if the Saintess had truly been killed, they would all have faced severe repercussions. Now, it seemed the outcome was favorable.

Soon, Pan Qiaoqiao's body was carried out, and another palanquin was found for Qiu Honglei to sit in.

The immediate priority was to safely deliver the Saintess to the wedding venue. As for everything else, it could be reported in detail later.

Meanwhile, the assassin moved like lightning, weaving through buildings. Along the way, they casually discarded their hat, mask, jacket, and other items into various corners, quickly transforming into an indistinguishable ordinary demonic sect disciple.

The corners of their lips curled slightly upwards, clearly pleased with the assassination.

Suddenly, their body trembled, and they looked up at a man not far ahead.

Zu An likewise surveyed him. "Brother, that was quite a fast sword you wielded just now," he remarked.

The assassin was actually rather handsome, with a fair complexion that suggested a life spent away from sunlight, yet they were purely human, not like a dark elf.

Having heard about the incident, Zu An had rushed over. Though the assassin was swift, they could not outpace him.

His initial plan was to discreetly follow the assassin, hoping to uncover clues about the Shadow Pavilion.

The Shadow Pavilion was simply too mysterious; even the Embroidered Uniform Guards had only fragmented knowledge of them.

However, after half a day of pursuit, he realized the assassin wasn't heading to any secret Shadow Pavilion strongholds. Instead, they changed their attire and disguised themselves as an ordinary demonic sect disciple.

Having no more time to waste, he decided to reveal himself and confront them directly.

"How long have you been following me?" the assassin asked, though merely to mislead. The moment the words left their lips, they moved like lightning, appearing before Zu An in a blink. A slender sword, unsheathed unnoticed, was thrust directly at Zu An's brow.

Just moments ago, two seasoned Yin-Yang Dao masters had lost their lives to this very sword, unable even to draw their weapons.

However, the assassin's pupils suddenly constricted. Their ever-victorious swift sword had been stopped, lightly pinched between two seemingly ordinary fingers as if it weighed nothing.

Under normal circumstances, if anyone dared to be so arrogant as to pinch their sword, their sword energy would undoubtedly sever those two fingers, allowing the long sword to then pierce their brain.

Yet now, no matter how much force they exerted, the sword in their hand could not advance an inch.

Alarmed, they decisively abandoned their sword and retreated swiftly. As an assassin, they had always scoffed at the notion of "the sword lives, the man lives; the sword dies, the man dies."

For an assassin, the most crucial thing was to preserve their own life; only then could they hope to complete their mission.

While the sword was important, what did it amount to compared to one's life?

Perhaps due to the terrifying pressure from the person opposite, they had never felt so fast, moving even half again as quickly as when they assassinated the Saintess.

Even so, they dared not relax in the slightest. Simultaneously, they scattered a handful of poison powder behind them and activated all the life-saving magical artifacts they had accumulated over the years.

If only they had one breath of time, they could disappear into the alley ahead, change their appearance, and blend into the crowd, making it impossible for the opponent to find them again.

But their body suddenly trembled, and an unprecedented terror flashed in their eyes. Their pressure points had been struck.

What kind of terrifying monster was this person? How could their cultivation be so heaven-defying?

Zu An withdrew his fingers and approached them again. "I just have some questions for you; no need to run so fast."

The strength the opponent had just displayed was no less than that of the chief disciples from the various sects participating in the Daoist Grand Competition on Purple Mountain. Judging by their age, they seemed younger than many chief disciples, yet possessed such cultivation. The Shadow Pavilion was indeed unfathomable.

Seeing the young assassin's astonished expression, Zu An smiled and casually sat on a nearby stone. "What is your name?"

The young assassin's lips were tightly sealed, clearly unwilling to speak.

"You won't even answer such a simple question? Believe it or not, I can send you to the Yin-Yang Dao. The people there don't just fancy beauties; they're also quite interested in handsome young men like yourself," Zu An sneered.

Rage value from Jing Li +110,110,110...

"So, Jing Li, is it?" Zu An chuckled, having deliberately provoked him. "Who said powerful cultivators must adhere to rules?"

The young man's expression drastically changed. "How did you know my name?"

"I have my ways," Zu An said calmly. "Now, tell me what position you hold in the Shadow Pavilion. With your current cultivation, I doubt you're just a foot soldier."

The young man's expression flickered, but he kept his mouth tightly shut.

Zu An frowned slightly. "My patience has limits. I have other methods to learn everything about you, but that would require crippling your cultivation, a sight I imagine you'd never wish to see."

He then activated the Gluttonous Sky-Swallowing Art and slowly approached him.

Feeling the terrifying oppressive aura, the young man's expression shifted. He clearly sensed that the other party was not making empty threats.

He took a deep breath. "I am not from the Shadow Pavilion."

"Are you still trying to quibble at a time like this?" Zu An snorted. "Everyone can see you're from the Shadow Pavilion."

"That's the effect I wanted," Jing Li replied.

A thought stirred in Zu An's mind, and he had a hunch. "Continue," he prompted.

Jing Li looked at him with a complex expression. "If I tell you, will you let me go?"

"As an assassin, you shouldn't be asking such a naive question," Zu An chuckled.

Jing Li sighed. "If it were anyone else, I naturally wouldn't ask. However, your cultivation is the highest I have ever witnessed in my life. I believe you are not a person who goes back on their word."

"No need to flatter me. Just speak," Zu An said.

Seeing that he hadn't made a promise, Jing Li actually felt a sense of relief. "Because I have a deep-seated hatred for the Shadow Pavilion, and I need to seek revenge against them!"