Chapter 459 - 455: Fear
Qin Li suddenly looked at Cao Hong and asked, "Assassinating those two Pill Nascent Soul Transformation realm Martial Artists—that happened after she died, didn’t it?"
Cao Hong gave Qin Li a strange look. "How did you know?"
Qin Li just smiled faintly and said no more. ’If he hadn’t been provoked to that extent,’ he thought, ’Cao Hong would never have gone so far as to disguise himself as a woman just to assassinate a Martial Artist of the Pill Nascent Soul Transformation realm.’
After a moment’s thought, Qin Li suddenly asked, "Do you want revenge?"
"More than anything," Cao Hong said, his teeth clenched.
"Good. Then come with me," Qin Li said.
...
Qin Li took no further precautions to prevent Cao Hong from escaping. He could sense the man’s bone-deep hatred for Lengqiu Palace.
He also didn’t bother seeking revenge on Wen Bin and the bald-headed young man. There was no need. Their strength posed no threat to him whatsoever. The main priority now was to head to Lengqiu Palace and find the eighth Ancient Map. Once he had it, he would hold the key to the Ancient Divine Temple.
With the key in hand, the decision of when to open the Ancient Divine Temple would be entirely his. As he thought of that ancient structure, a miraculous edifice that pierced the heavens, his heart filled not only with reverence but with overwhelming curiosity.
He was eager to see what lay hidden inside the Ancient Divine Temple, a place that seemed impossible for human hands to have built.
Qin Li and Cao Hong began their journey toward Lengqiu Palace.
Cao Hong returned the payment to the bald-headed young man, admitting he had failed to kill the target. However, he didn’t say anything more. Cao Hong knew the young man wouldn’t let the matter rest; he would certainly hire other assassins from the rankings to go after Qin Li.
When Cao Hong mentioned this to Qin Li, Qin Li just smiled faintly and didn’t say much. At his current realm, it was nearly impossible for any assassin to get close to him.
Along the way, Cao Hong hesitated for a moment before speaking to Qin Li. "Sir, about the assassin rankings... while they were likely put together by some bored busybody, most of the names on it are just that—names. The truly deadly assassins never become famous. A reputation is important for any profession, but for an assassin, it’s a liability. However, there is one person on that list who is an exception. If my former employer manages to hire him, you must be careful, sir. I’d hate for you to be killed by an assassin before I’ve had my revenge."
Qin Li chuckled. "So you’re saying that if you’ve already had your revenge, you wouldn’t mind if I were killed by an assassin?"
Cao Hong gave an awkward smile and nodded in admission. "You may not like hearing it, but yes, that’s exactly what I think."
"Very good. Honesty can be grating, but I have to admit, there’s something charming about a man who doesn’t lie." Qin Li paused, allowing the abundant Spiritual Qi in the air to flow into his body, gathering in his Dantian to nourish the Treasure Seal within. He looked at Cao Hong and said, "I don’t want you to die so easily either. So, once we’re inside Lengqiu Palace, you need to be careful. If we run into someone overwhelmingly powerful, or if a large group of Martial Artists is alerted, I might not be able to protect you."
Cao Hong said calmly, "Don’t worry, I can protect myself. Never forget, an assassin’s primary instinct is stealth." As he spoke, he glanced at Qin Li and thought, ’Unless I run into a monster like you, I doubt even Blood-Red Sunset, the number one assassin, could find me.’
"By the way, tell me more about this assassin ranking. It sounds interesting," Qin Li said casually, his feet never ceasing their movement. His steps were as fluid as flowing water. With no one else on the road, he could display his full abilities without reservation.
Cao Hong chuckled to himself. ’He sounds relaxed, but isn’t he still a little worried? I just wonder if that bald-headed young man will actually go through with hiring another assassin to kill Qin Li.’
"The man I just warned you about, sir, is ranked number one on the list. Very few people know his real name or what he looks like. He’s known by his moniker: Blood-Red Sunset."
"Blood-Red Sunset?"
"That’s right. It’s said he has a habit of striking at dusk on a clear day, just as the sun is setting. Over time, people started calling him Blood-Red Sunset. No one knows how many Pill Nascent Soul Transformation realm experts have died by his hand. And unlike me, he kills anyone. It doesn’t matter if they’re from a great clan or a major Sect, or if they’re women and children. As long as someone can pay his price, he has no scruples. For that reason, some also call him the Mad Killer."
As Cao Hong spoke, his gaze flickered with a mix of jealousy and disdain. "The man has no principles, no bottom line. No one knows where he came from. Many sects and families in the Land of the Far West have put a price on his head, but after all these years, he’s still roaming free. Every now and then, word spreads of another victim."
"The second-ranked assassin on the list also has no known name. Everyone calls him Nightfall. He prefers to strike in the dead of night. However, he has faded from the world of assassins for the past century or so. You almost never hear any news about him anymore."
Cao Hong sighed. "The third is named Tianya. Seeing him is like seeing the ends of the earth, a sign that your life’s journey is over. He’s still active in the Land of the Far West. The top three assassins on the list are all wanted by the major families and sects. People have even tried to lure them into traps by posting fake contracts, but no one has ever succeeded. In fact, those who try often suffer even greater losses. All three are mysterious and their movements are unpredictable. They are usually contacted through several intermediaries to accept a job and almost never meet their clients face-to-face."
Qin Li nodded. ’The Land of the Far West is a complex web of relationships, almost like a world of its own,’ he thought. ’A fundamental reason the East has never been as strong as the West is likely due to all the Mysterious Lands that isolate the families and sects from one another. While this has preserved the Martial Artist bloodlines, it has also caused the Eastern Martial Artists to become complacent and stagnant. Truly supreme experts rarely emerge there.’
’In contrast, here in the West, the assassination business is thriving. Under such pressure, many are forced to cultivate desperately, to break through their limits, to improve, and to chase after ever higher peaks of power!’
Cao Hong continued, "As for fourth place down to me at seventh, we don’t really interact. In terms of strength, it’s hard to say who’s truly stronger. The rankings are just based on the number and strength of one’s kills. Hmph, with my Three-Step Kill, I’d have no problem ranking fourth!"
From his tone, it was clear that Cao Hong didn’t think much of the assassins ranked fourth, fifth, and sixth. At the very least, he wasn’t afraid of them.
"Blood-Red Sunset, Nightfall, Tianya..." Qin Li murmured the names to himself and then smiled faintly. ’No matter how strong they are, they’re still just assassins. At their core, they are Martial Artists. Nothing to be afraid of.’
...
「Inside Tongtian City, at the headquarters of the Iron Palm Sect.」
Sect Leader Qiushuizi was looking down at Wen Bin, who was kneeling before him. Qiushuizi’s face was a mask of bitter disappointment, his eyes filled with it.
Qiushuizi had never married. He had adopted Wen Bin as an infant still in swaddling clothes. Though they shared no blood, their bond was like that of a father and son.
Qiushuizi had been grooming Wen Bin to be the future Sect Leader of the Iron Palm Sect. He hoped that once Wen Bin was ready, he could step down and dedicate himself fully to his own cultivation.
Over the years, Wen Bin had rarely disappointed him. He made friends easily, treated people with kindness, and was considered an outstanding member of Tongtian City’s younger generation.
Furthermore, his strength had already reached the Shattered Void realm, putting him on par with his peers from the great clans and major sects. Qiushuizi had even considered finding the right opportunity to propose a marriage alliance with the City Lord of Tongtian City, asking for his youngest daughter Li Wan’s hand for Wen Bin.
That way, even if the Iron Palm Sect couldn’t become a major power, Wen Bin’s future would be secure and free of worry.
But he never expected that this disciple, who was like a son to him, would do such a thing. To collude with the Hai Family for Top-Grade Spirit Stones, and to cheat the sects of Tongtian City no less!
Had anyone else in the Iron Palm Sect committed such an act, Qiushuizi would have executed them without hesitation and personally delivered their head as an apology.
But this... this was the disciple he loved like a son! He simply couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Yet the rage in his heart was uncontrollable. Qiushuizi trembled with anger, pointing a finger at Wen Bin. "Tell me," he demanded, "what is all this? How could you possibly get mixed up with the Hai Family?"
After the bald-headed young man’s failed attempt to hire an assassin to kill Qin Li, he had told Wen Bin he wanted to hire Blood-Red Sunset, the top-ranked assassin, to eliminate the meddling youth who had cut off their revenue stream. Wen Bin had finally started to feel afraid. It wasn’t just any fear; he suddenly realized that this affair could not be allowed to escalate. If it did, the bald youth could simply wash his hands of the matter and leave, and the Hai Family would never admit any involvement.
But what about him, Wen Bin? How could he ever show his face in Tongtian City again? Besides, he had learned that the meddlesome young man had already left the city. Since that was the case, why not just drop the matter? It would be better for everyone to live in peace.
But the bald-headed young man wouldn’t agree, insisting that the humiliation of being insulted to his face had to be avenged.
The more Wen Bin thought about it, the more terrified he became. He was afraid that if word of this ever got out, not only would he be ruined in Tongtian City, but he would drag down the entire Iron Palm Sect with him.
The City Lord’s Li Family would never tolerate him using their name to carry out such schemes, and they would certainly never tolerate him colluding with the Hai Family!
𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
Either one of those offenses was enough to bring ruin upon the entire Iron Palm Sect.
And so, overcome by deep-seated fear, Wen Bin had finally chosen to confess everything to his master, Qiushuizi. He knew his master would never stand by and watch the Iron Palm Sect be destroyed, nor would he stand by and watch his own disciple be utterly disgraced.
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Book Title: Super Immortal Doctor
He is a rookie doctor at the Yongcheng University clinic, a recent graduate just starting out in the world.
He is an immortal doctor of exquisite skill who has saved countless lives, a master of both Eastern and Western medicine.
When these two vastly different identities manifest in the same person, what kind of sparks will fly? (To be continued. If you want to know what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com. More Chapters, support the author, and support official reading!)