The leader of the Dark Blade Sect assassination team materialized in a hidden cave deep within the mountains.
His shadow-walking technique deposited him roughly on the stone floor. He staggered, coughing up blood. The injuries he’d sustained during his escape were severe.
Two other figures waited in the cave. They wore the sa dark grey robes, but their deanor suggested higher rank within the sect hierarchy.
"Report," one of them commanded coldly.
The leader forced himself to stand upright despite his wounds. "The mission failed. The target survived."
Silence fell across the cave like a blade. The temperature seed to drop.
"Failed?" the second senior mber repeated slowly. "You had four Golden Core cultivators against one poisoned princess. How did you fail?"
The leader’s jaw clenched. "We encountered unexpected interference. A young cultivator, only Qi Condensation Realm in apparent cultivation, but his actual combat power was far beyond that. He defeated two of our mbers easily and injured a third. I barely escaped with my life."
"A Qi Condensation cultivator defeated Golden Core experts?" The first senior mber’s voice dripped with skepticism. "You expect us to believe that?"
"I know how it sounds," the leader said through gritted teeth. "But I’m telling the truth. That boy used strange techniques I’ve never seen before. Our attacks would fail at the last mont, as if he could control them. It was like he turned our own power against us."
The two senior mbers exchanged glances. This was serious. If their subordinate wasn’t lying, then they’d encountered soone with exceptional abilities and secret techniques.
"The employer won’t be pleased," the second senior mber said. "We guaranteed success."
The leader bowed his head. "I accept whatever punishnt the sect decides. But I recomnd we don’t take another contract against that target. Whoever that boy was, he’s protecting her now. And he’s not soone we can easily deal with."
The first senior mber waved his hand dismissively. "That’s not your decision to make. Wait here for further instructions."
He pulled out a communication talisman and infused spiritual energy into it. The talisman glowed and then crumbled to ash as the ssage was sent.
Minutes passed in tense silence. The injured leader sat down to begin treating his wounds while the two senior mbers waited.
Finally, a response ca. Another communication talisman materialized in the air before them. The first senior mber caught it and read the ssage contained within.
His expression darkened.
"The employer wants a eting. Imdiately," he announced. "Prepare yourself. This won’t be pleasant."
---
anwhile, in a luxurious chamber within the Redleaf Kingdom’s royal palace, a figure sat in the shadows. The room was dark despite it being midday outside. Heavy curtains blocked the sunlight. Only a single candle burned on the table.
A communication formation on the floor suddenly activated. Light spiraled upward, forming the image of one of the Dark Blade Sect’s senior mbers.
"Speak," the shadowed figure commanded. The voice was distorted by a formation, making it impossible to identify the speaker’s gender or age.
"The assassination failed, Your Excellency," the Dark Blade Sect mber reported with a bow. "The target escaped with the help of an unknown protector. Our team was defeated."
The candle fla flickered violently despite there being no wind in the room.
"Defeated?" The shadowed figure’s voice was quiet but carried a dangerous edge. "I paid you an enormous sum. You guaranteed success. And now you tell you failed?"
"We encountered unexpected variables, Your Excellency. A young cultivator with abilities far beyond his apparent cultivation level interfered. Our leader believes he used so kind of secret technique or possessed a special physique."
"Excuses." The word cut through the air like a knife. "I don’t pay for excuses. I pay for results."
The Dark Blade Sect mber bowed lower. "We take full responsibility for the failure. However, we must inform you that continuing to pursue this target has beco significantly more dangerous. The protector she’s acquired is not an ordinary cultivator."
"I don’t care if she’s acquired protection from the heavens themselves," the shadowed figure snapped. "Princess Yue Lianhua must die. She cannot be allowed to return to the capital. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Your Excellency. But the contract price will need to be increased if you want us to continue. The difficulty has risen substantially."
"Fine. Triple the original paynt. But I want results this ti. Send your most skilled assassins. Use whatever thods necessary. I don’t care if it’s ssy or obvious anymore. Just make sure she dies."
"Understood. We’ll dispatch our elite team imdiately."
"See that you do." The shadowed figure leaned forward slightly, the candlelight briefly illuminating part of a face twisted with anger. "And if you fail again, the Dark Blade Sect will learn what happens to those who disappoint ."
The communication formation cut off abruptly. The Dark Blade Sect mber’s projection vanished.
The shadowed figure sat back, fingers drumming on the armrest of the chair with visible agitation.
"That foolish girl," the figure muttered. "If only she’d died quietly like she was supposed to. Now things will beco complicated. But no matter. Dead or alive, she won’t interfere with my plans."
The figure pulled out a different communication talisman and crushed it. A new ssage was sent to unknown recipients.
The wheels of conspiracy continued turning.
-----
Far to the south, in the Blue Rain Sect’s mountain headquarters, another young woman suddenly stood up from her ditation. Her eyes flew open, revealing irises identical to those of Princess Yue Lianhua.
This was Princess Yue Minghua, the Fourth Princess’s twin sister.
She clutched her chest, gasping. A sharp pain had just pierced her heart, a sensation that had no physical cause.
"Sothing’s wrong," she whispered. "Lianhua is in danger."
The connection between twins was mysterious but undeniable. Minghua had always been able to sense when her sister was in distress. And right now, that sense was screaming at her.
She burst out of her ditation chamber and ran through the sect’s corridors, heading toward the mission hall. Disciples bowed as she passed, but she ignored them all.
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