Jun Yelan spun the two knives in his hands and attacked the assassins before him.
With a single move, he rendered them incapable of fighting, leaving them only able to lie on the ground.
These assassins had fought Jun Yelan before, but they had never seen him in such a state, and they were startled. They instinctively feared him, their weapon-wielding hands trembling, making them unable to compete.
Jun Yelan had no time for these people. His gaze fell upon Bai Gezhu. He had been raised by Bai Gezhu, and a confrontation between them was inevitable; only one of them would survive.
Bai Gezhu saw the killing intent in Jun Yelan's eyes, his pupils contracting slightly. But he was the one who had personally taught Jun Yelan martial arts, knew Jun Yelan's weaknesses, and advanced to fight him with anger.
Jun Yelan swiftly shot out his knives, then retracted them, slicing Bai Gezhu's arms and legs.
Instantly, Bai Gezhu was covered in wounds. Recalling Jun Yelan's previous actions, he roared, "I never imagined a puppet would have a day to fight back, but if I die, I'll take you with me."
"Jun Yelan, you should give up."
"Never!" At this moment, Jun Yelan had made up his mind, for himself and for Lan Yan behind him. He had to win this battle and eliminate all future trouble.
He continued to attack Bai Gezhu.
But Bai Gezhu had been practicing martial arts for years and knew Jun Yelan's weaknesses, dodging each attack.
The two fell into a stalemate.
Lan Yan stood by, her eyes full of worry. Jun Yelan's body had suffered too much torment, and now was not the right time for a fight, but there was no turning back.
She remembered the marks she had seen in the secret passage. If those marks were left by Bai Gezhu, it would prove that Bai Gezhu's martial arts practice had gone awry.
So she shouted, "Bai Gezhu, are your martial arts just for show? You can't even compare to a finger of Jun Yelan. You're too weak, no wonder you usually just run your mouth."
The other assassins looked at Lan Yan, thinking she had gone mad to dare speak to Bai Gezhu like that.
Hearing this, Bai Gezhu became even more enraged, his whip trembling. He glared at Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan, however, curled his lips, "Yan'er is right."
Seeing this, Lan Yan continued to shout, "Bai Gezhu, you are a much worse master than your disciple. Even with his injuries, Jun Yelan is stronger than you. You look like you're finished, you should just give up."
"If you beg for mercy now, we might spare your life." She looked at Bai Gezhu's ashen face and smiled triumphantly.
Bai Gezhu had never begged for mercy in his life, especially not in front of Jun Yelan.
Seeing Jun Yelan closing in, and with Lan Yan's words constantly goading him, a pressure gradually built in his chest, and his eyes became clouded.
Jun Yelan's eyes darkened. He moved his knife, cutting through Bai Gezhu's whip and directly wounding his wrist.
"You!" Bai Gezhu looked at the blood on his wrist, his pupils suddenly dilating with blood. He attacked Jun Yelan like a madman. "Just a puppet, daring to act so arrogant here."
Jun Yelan remained calm, noticing Bai Gezhu's many flaws. He lightly moved his knife, enough to inflict more wounds on Bai Gezhu.
"Even a mere knife has its day to fight back."
Bai Gezhu's face contorted, and he attacked Jun Yelan with even more ferocity. He refused to believe Jun Yelan possessed such skill.
Jun Yelan spun his knife again, severing Bai Gezhu's wrist and ankle tendons, and said coldly, "You have already lost."
As the words fell, Bai Gezhu leaned back, collapsing onto the snow, his blood spreading across the white expanse.
His eyes were filled with disbelief. He cried out, "No, what I've longed for hasn't been realized yet, how can I be harmed by a knife!"
"My lifelong ambition was to control both the Assassin's Pavilion and the Flower Pavilion simultaneously, making those in the court fear me. They will regret expelling me from the imperial city; I am their true master."
Jun Yelan stood before him, cold, and said, "For your selfish desires, you have harmed so many. It is time for you to repent."
He crouched down, inserted his knife directly into Bai Gezhu's chest, without a trace of hesitation in his eyes.
Bai Gezhu froze, staring at Jun Yelan, and then burst into laughter, "The fate I meet today is the fate you will meet tomorrow." With his death, those who coveted the Assassin's Pavilion would emerge.
The Assassin's Pavilion would then be plunged into a bloodbath, but alas, he would not live to see it.
"That day will not come. Even if it does, I am willing to bear it." Jun Yelan increased the pressure on his hand, watching Bai Gezhu breathe his last.
The man who had tormented him for so many years was dead, yet he felt no elation, only an unusual heaviness.
Lan Yan walked to Jun Yelan's side, crouched down, and hugged him. "Yelan, it's all over. I will stay with you from now on."
"Yan'er." Jun Yelan lowered his head, leaning into Lan Yan's embrace, his expression lost.
"He trained so many knives, only to die by a knife in the end. He called me a puppet, and indeed I was. But from now on, I am Jun Yelan, the Jun Yelan beside Lan Yan."
Lan Yan smiled, stroked Jun Yelan's head, and nodded. "Good. You are Jun Yelan, and I am Lan Yan. It is enough that we have each other."
She knew Jun Yelan had suffered greatly, and she would do everything in her power to treat him well in the future.
Jun Yelan's lips curved upwards. He hugged Lan Yan tighter, burying the past, and looking forward to a new life.
For him, this was the best possible ending.
However, the other assassins were still alive. Seeing that Bai Gezhu was dead, they were suddenly at a loss. They all knelt, facing Jun Yelan, and cried, "Jun Yelan, we are willing to recognize you as the new Pavilion Master!"
Jun Yelan did not look up, nor did he even glance at them, completely uninterested.
The assassins then looked to Lan Yan, their eyes pleading for help. They could see that only Lan Yan could manage Jun Yelan.
Lan Yan shifted her gaze, but she had not forgotten what these assassins had done before. She looked at Jun Yelan, firmly clasped his hand, and said, "Whatever choice you make, I will support you."
Jun Yelan smiled and nodded, lifting Lan Yan's hand and pressing a kiss to her hand. "Yan'er, I have no other desires now. Let us leave here."
He did not want anyone or anything else to interfere with Lan Yan.
Lan Yan respected Jun Yelan's decision and smiled faintly. "Alright, let's go."
She and Jun Yelan walked forward, but the assassins behind them remained kneeling, calling out, "Jun Yelan, we were forced into it. We know we wronged you and are willing to die to atone. But there are still many people in the Pavilion, their lives are innocent."
After speaking, they offered their weapons and lowered their heads.
Jun Yelan stopped, tightened his grip on Lan Yan's hand, and did not look back. Many emotions swirled in his eyes. Thinking of the children he had adopted, he fell into a moment of hesitation.
Lan Yan sensed Jun Yelan's change and did not rush to leave.
She turned Jun Yelan around, and seeing his surprise, she smiled. "I'm not in a hurry. Just think it through. And Yelan, you have the ability to do so."