"Kill!"
The next moment, an ancient voice echoed, and dozens of figures sprang from the forests on both sides.
Wielding sharp blades, they moved with incredible speed, instantly engaging the guards in combat.
"My lord, your prediction was spot on! There are indeed captors attacking!"
Mandala exclaimed in surprise.
However, she didn't rush into the fray. While not weak, she felt the pressure of such a group battle.
Ye Cangtian also made no haste to intervene.
He merely scanned his surroundings. With so many attackers, there must be a leader.
If he were to act before the leader appeared, he might scare them away.
His only option now was to wait.
"They've really come! Thank Heaven, thank Tian Can..."
Seeing the guards escorting the prisoner under attack, Xuan Sanqi's eyes suddenly lit up with excitement.
He had thought he was finished, but now someone had come to rescue him. It had to be Tian Can's doing.
This also meant the Ninja Clan hadn't abandoned him!
Still feeling touched, Xuan Sanqi saw a familiar figure appear within his sight. The person was extremely thin, slightly hunched, and an old man.
It was Duan Dao, the second-in-command of the Tian Can Tower.
"Lord Duan Dao, I'm here!"
Xuan Sanqi called out loudly, finally drawing Duan Dao's attention. He walked over with a faint smile.
The other guards, though they heard Xuan Sanqi's voice, were too occupied dealing with the attackers to extricate themselves.
They could only watch as Duan Dao approached Xuan Sanqi.
"Xuan Sanqi, you see the situation."
"These people can't hold out for long, and with your cultivation crippled, it's practically impossible to take you away!"
"If you understand what I mean, then don't waste any more time. This way, fewer casualties will occur..."
Uh!
Hearing Duan Dao's words, Xuan Sanqi's limbs turned cold.
When he saw the other person, his heart had filled with hope, but he never expected that instead of rescue, this person was here to kill him!
As for the reason, he knew it without being told.
Tian Can must have been worried he would leak information, thus affecting the Tian Can Tower, and decided to silence him.
He had already resolved to defend the Tian Can Tower to the death, only to be met with assassination. This filled him with resentment.
"Duan Dao, I've rendered countless services to the Eastern Isles. Do you really intend to act against me?" Xuan Sanqi asked, unwilling to accept it.
Duan Dao nodded helplessly and said, "There's no other way. Dead men tell no tales. Besides, this will save you a lot of pain. You should be grateful to me!"
"I'm grateful to your ancestors..."
Xuan Sanqi roared, but before he could finish, two more familiar figures appeared in his vision.
They were wearing guard uniforms.
The next moment, Xuan Sanqi sneered and said, "Duan Dao, he who does evil will surely perish. Your fate won't be any better than mine. Look behind you!"
Hm?
Duan Dao blinked in surprise, then turned his head, instantly startled.
Even amidst the surrounding chaos, with his senses, he could perceive everything around him. Yet, these two individuals had arrived silently behind him.
And one of them was extremely familiar – it was Mandala from the Tian Can Tower.
Strange, wasn't Mandala sent to Dawn's side?
Thinking of this, Duan Dao suddenly understood everything. The other person was Dawn, and only a Heavenly-tier powerhouse could approach him so silently.
Duan Dao's expression turned grim.
It seemed all of Tian Can's worries had indeed come true!
With that thought, he glanced at Mandala and said gloomily, "Mandala, why didn't you send any news about Dawn being among the group? Have you betrayed the Tian Can Tower?"
Hearing Duan Dao's words, Mandala trembled slightly and instinctively hid behind Dawn.
Duan Dao was the second-in-command of Tian Can, extremely powerful, rumored to be able to contend with Heavenly-tier experts.
Furthermore, Duan Dao was always ruthless, which made Mandala fear him greatly.
"Duan Dao, are you an idiot?"
"Just by looking at the guard uniforms we're wearing, you can tell we're on the same side. Doesn't it seem stupid to ask that question?"
Seeing Mandala's slight fear, Ye Cangtian stepped forward and said with disdain.
"You are right."
Duan Dao was still wary of Dawn, softening his attitude.
After a pause, he slowly spoke, "Dawn, how about we make a deal?"
"Are you trying to get me to suppress this matter?"
"What benefits can I get in return?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Cangtian understood the other's intention and asked playfully.
"You are correct, that's exactly it."
"As long as you agree to help, money and beautiful women will be provided by the Tian Can Tower immediately, and we won't disappoint you!"
Duan Dao didn't beat around the bush and nodded directly.
Now that Dawn had stumbled upon his act of rescue, it was certain the other party had guessed that the Tian Can Tower was a force of the Eastern Isles Ninja Clan.
Most importantly, it was difficult for him to stop Dawn, let alone kill him.
Therefore, to protect the Tian Can Tower, the best course of action was to buy off Dawn, thus keeping it hidden from the eyes of the Dark Association's high command.
Based on Tian Can's previous interactions with Dawn, he was an extremely greedy and lustful person, which was why he made such an offer.
"Money and beautiful women?"
"Are these comparable to the life and death of the Tian Can Tower?"
Ye Cangtian's face showed a playful smile as he spoke.
"Of course, there's more than that!"
Duan Dao reacted quickly and said, "In addition, the Tian Can Tower will be your absolute friend. As long as you have needs, the Tian Can Tower will provide unconditional support!"
"That sounds quite good."
Ye Cangtian smiled, then his expression turned serious, "But this condition doesn't move me. While the Tian Can Tower supports me, they also need me to clean up their messes. I don't like such dirty and tiring work."
"Then what do you want?" Duan Dao's face turned grim upon hearing this.
"Haven't you figured it out yet? I'm toying with you! Hahaha..."
Ye Cangtian mocked him mercilessly.
What was the Tian Can Tower? It was merely a force of the Ninja Clan. Collaborating with the Tian Can Tower would eventually lead to trouble, and it offered no benefit to China.
However, if he were to dismantle the Tian Can Tower completely, the credit would be his, and he would surely be rewarded by the Dark Association.
If nothing else, it would at least increase the Dark Association's trust in him!
"You, you... your ancestor!"
"Dawn, how dare you play me! I'll fight you to the death today!"
Duan Dao was instantly enraged by Ye Cangtian's words.
The next moment, he flashed and lunged towards Ye Cangtian, drawing his long saber simultaneously.
"Heh, enraged by shame?"
"But you only get to be angry if you have the ability!"
Ye Cangtian chuckled dismissively, then his figure flickered, and he moved to meet him, followed by a black light appearing in his hand.