230: Chapter 13 The Unfinished Assassination 230: Chapter 13 The Unfinished Assassination The Dachu Dynasty’s Northern Border Great Wall stretches for thousands of miles.
For hundreds of years, this Great Wall has been like a moat dividing the earth, keeping the Demon Country out of reach…
but this Great Wall is not the actual border of the country.
The real map of the Dachu Dynasty extends even beyond the area covered by the Northern Border Great Wall.
The first natural barrier between the Dachu Dynasty and the Demon Country is the harsh climate of the desolate Snow Mountains.
The second barrier is the magnificent Great Wall constructed by human effort.
Due to the construction of array patterns, many areas were left unfinished on this Great Wall, making it the Dachu’s second gate.
Before the Jiazi year, the extremely brutal “Mo Zhen Battle” took place when the Great Venerate of the Demon Race crossed the icy wilderness and launched an assault on the Northern Border Great Wall.
Over the long years, countless cultivators fought against the Demon Race at the Wall—
Although the war had ceased, the scars had not yet healed.
In the era of flickering war flames, Emperor Chu, who took over the dynasty, reflected deeply on the pain and explicitly stipulated in the laws that every few years, the Great Chu would initiate a “Northern Hunt”!
All sects and noble families were required to send their most elite young talents beyond the Northern Border Great Wall to the Snow Mountains to conduct the Great Hunt!
This action was to ensure that everyone remembered the suffering brought by the Mo Zhen Battle.
The Demon Country may have retreated, but it could regroup at any moment…
The Jiazi Battle had cost the Dachu Dynasty a terrible price.
Should they take it lightly,
The next lesson would only be more painful.
Besides, the Northern Hunt could also promote the might of Great Chu Country.
With the rule of the Demon Country in disarray after the death and fading away of Mo Zhen, no true “supreme being” had emerged.
Instead, several Great Venerates each dominated their territory, unwilling to yield to each other.
Thus, this so-called first natural barrier, bounded by Li Lan Mountain and Youyuan Mountain, had become the chessboard for these Great Venerates’ struggle for power.
This area lies at the northernmost part of the map of the Dachu Dynasty, and also marks the “endpoint” of the protective array patterns cast by the kingdom.
The ambition of the Demon Country to move southwards has never ceased for a moment.
While these Great Venerates may be fragmented, their intention to encroach is the same; they each send many demon spirits to Snow Mountain to hibernate, which allows for cultivation and seeking methods to break the formation.
As such,
The Northern Hunt has become a prime opportunity to “harvest” Demon Cultivators.
Of course…
Every Northern Hunt also results in casualties among Great Chu’s cultivators.
This is an open gamble.
For Great Chu, sending young cultivators to Snow Mountain for the “Northern Hunt” is a trial.
For the Demon Country, when these humans come to them…
they also have the chance to hunt and hone their own skills.
“So, are there people in the Imperial City who want me dead in the ‘Snow Mountain’?”
Xie Xuanyi raised an eyebrow.
“Previously, I roughly looked into the future using the ‘Fate Gold Thread,’ and I saw that your true calamity is not in the Imperial City, but a thousand miles away.”
Chen Jingxuan spoke calmly, “There might be some troubles in the Imperial City…
but in the end, these are just troubles.”
Upon hearing this, Xie Xuanyi fell silent.
Calamity?
Interesting…
Lin Yu’s challenge might seem trivial, but the murderous intent it could potentially provoke should not be underestimated.
“There is another matter,”
Thinking it over, Xie Xuanyi looked up and asked, “I want to know, how was the one who was sent by the Imperial City’s envoy Qing Sun to assassinate someone at the Sword Palace dealt with?”
…
…
In the remote outskirts of the Imperial City lies a secluded mansion nestled among the mountains.
Yuan Jimo dismounted and pushed open the wooden door.
Entering the courtyard without much conversation, two maids hurriedly withdrew.
As the head of the Imperial City investigators merely waved his sleeve, all the servants in the mansion retreated…
The moonlight was cold and clear, shining on the stone steps.
The man clad in black light armor went to the bedroom, stood with his hands behind his back, and silently watched through the window lattice at the emaciated figure on the bed.
Two months had passed.
No one would have imagined that the envoy Qing Sun, who had just returned from South Border with the heads of two Yin God venerables, was now reduced to being a “cripple.”
And the reason for all this.
Was merely Zhao Chunyang’s light pinch.
Even after he decisively severed an arm,
There was still residual Sword Qi wandering within Qing Sun’s body.
Although these wisps of Sword Qi were fine, they were extremely destructive, reversing up his body, piercing through channels, and shattering bones, inch by inch washing over the Fire Saint Body of this Yin God Realm being.
To counteract the Sword Qi,
One had to undergo “Fire Separation.”
As a result…
Qing Sun needed to face a second issue, which was the Fire Devouring caused by “Fire Separation.”
Medicinal pills, talismans, and Fire Qilin Armor could no longer suppress the increasingly fierce backlash.
“…”
Yuan Jimo watched his former friend with a sense of sorrow.
The mission to assassinate someone at the Sword Palace was extremely dangerous to begin with.
How could a mere Yin God contend against a Heavenly Person like Zhao Chunyang?
To have returned alive at all
Was considered a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.
“…Don’t look at me with that kind of pity.”
The emaciated figure on the bed heaved a breath, emitting a hoarse, disgusted voice.
Those maids and servants silently left.
Qing Sun knew it was Yuan Jimo who had come.
“Today’s tasks ended early, so I came to see how you are,”
Yuan Jimo took a stack of talismans out of his waist pouch and spoke evenly, “The talismans to suppress Fire Devouring should be almost used up, right?
I bought some from Fangyuan Workshop, these can suppress the Fire Devouring for another month.”
“I don’t need them.”
Qing Sun was swathed in bandages from head to toe, only his eyes were visible.
He was already too weak to walk.
During the day, he needed to wear thick Fire Qilin Armor to suppress the Fire Devouring.
And after nightfall, armor must be shed to release the body born of fire and combat the Sword Intent.
“If I don’t help you, who will?”
Yuan Jimo placed the stack of talismans on the windowsill, weighted it down with a flowerpot, and softly inquired, “I know you’ve been serving the Imperial Family all these years to uncover the truth behind the ‘Chi Lin Case’, but sometimes, you should think about yourself.
After years of life-and-death struggles, what do you have left besides a worthless life?”
That question struck at the soul.
Qing Sun silently gazed at the man before him.
As a special envoy of the Imperial City, he entered and exited the Imperial Palace and Holy Temples at will, without the need for a decree.
In terms of status, although not quite equal to the Head of the Imperial City, he was definitely one of the most specially appointed individuals in the Great Chu Imperial City, obeying only the Holy Empress herself.
But now…
He resided in the far outskirts of the Imperial City, within the silent mountains.
After the assassination attempt at the Sword Palace, with his meridians destroyed, he was discarded here like a useless piece.
The illustrious accomplishment of capturing two Yin Gods from the South Border dissipated like smoke, never to be mentioned again.
“I’ve heard that the Paperman Sect’s mission in the South Border has now been taken over by ‘Cang Mi’.”
Yuan Jimo slowly continued, “In a few days, perhaps you will leave this place with dignity.
Someone in the Imperial City has already started searching for a new ‘special envoy’.”
The withered figure on the bed began to tremble.
A low, hoarse sound came from Qing Sun’s throat, and he clenched his fists in anger…
perhaps because the Sword Intent left by Zhao Chunyang was too fierce, or perhaps because the cold reality was too cruel.
After a long time.
The bed returned to tranquility.
“Her Majesty…
should not treat me this way.”
Qing Sun’s voice was hoarse: “I survived the Sword Palace; I shouldn’t have to leave the Imperial City.”
“You should be grateful that the palace spared your life and that you can still reside here.”
Yuan Jimo sighed lightly and said, “Actually, returning to your position as a special envoy isn’t so difficult…
Spend some time reflecting on what exactly happened at the Sword Palace.”
Special Envoy Qing Sun was in such a dire situation.
Not because Zhao Chunyang had crushed one of his arms.
For a being of Qing Sun’s level, a Yin God Venerate, losing an arm was not a grievous injury…
Certain heavenly treasures within the Great Chu Imperial Family could fully regenerate a severed limb.
Although the Sword Qi left by Zhao Chunyang surged within Qing Sun’s body, it could be cleared out at a certain cost.
By that time.
He would still be the eminent possessor of the Fire Saint Body, capable of holding his ground in most battles within the Yin God Realm.
Of course…
to completely eradicate Zhao Chunyang’s Sword Intent.
Perhaps only the Qin Ancestor or the Holy Empress herself could achieve it.
At the very least, it would take a Yang God powerhouse like Wu Zhexian to offer Qing Sun a chance at “regeneration of a severed limb.”
But…
that chance has now been utterly obliterated.
Upon returning from the Sword Palace, the most crucial information, the results of the investigation, were entirely dismissed and forgotten.
As a result.
The Holy Empress lost the “reason” to “repair” him.
The special envoy of the Imperial City was a tool of the Great Chu Imperial Family, existing solely to prove their value to the Imperial Family…
Once such a tool was damaged, it had to be considered whether the cost to repair or replace it was greater.
And now, the scale that weighed “cost” has been shattered outright.
For Special Envoy Qing Sun to “survive,” he needed to prove he still had value.
He didn’t have much time left.
The Imperial City was seeking an appropriate new special envoy.
Once the new envoy was appointed, he would completely fall from grace, with no chance of turning things around.
“I heard…
Xie Zhen has come to the Imperial City.”
Struggling, Qing Sun sat up; a dim spark rekindled in his eyes as he stared intently at Yuan Jimo.
“You’re quite well-informed…”
The laughter was faint on the other’s face: “Not only has he arrived, but he also caused quite an uproar on his first day.”
“Give me a chance.”
Qing Sun’s voice was hoarsely: “I will complete that unfinished assassination in the Imperial City.”
Upon these words.
The wind in the courtyard suddenly picked up, the talismans beneath the flowerpot rustling loudly.
Yuan Jimo looked troubled as he said, “Brother Qing Sun, you should be clear about your physical condition…
With a severed arm, Fire Devouring, Sword Intent invading your body, your strength is far from what it used to be.
It seems you’re only fit to spar with those ‘pseudo-Yin Gods’ who have advanced by consuming elixirs.”
“Pseudo-Yin Gods are still Yin Gods…”
Qing Sun’s face was expressionless, his voice unwavering: “Xie Zhen is merely at Perfect Cave Heaven.”
“You must not underestimate him; he defeated Xie Sheng, who was at Perfect Cave Heaven, with a single strike.”
Yuan Jimo smiled and continued, “I fear even the Martial Sect’s senior brother is not his match…
I suspect even if a pseudo-Yin God took action, they might not be able to kill him.
Besides, Zhao Chunyang has already stepped in once recently, and now no one dares to provoke the Sword Palace.”
Qing Sun’s botched assassination attempt had caused Prince Jiangning’s mansion to hemorrhage resources.
The Great Chu Imperial City, both openly and covertly, had also paid a considerable price.
Qing Sun lowered his eyelids: “This time, once I take action, I will not leave any trace…
Whether I succeed or fail, I won’t let the Sword Palace suspect the Imperial Family.”
“No, no, no…”
Yuan Jimo shook his head, saying earnestly, “It seems you haven’t grasped my point.”
Qing Sun was taken aback.
“This is the Imperial City.”
Yuan Jimo spoke with profound meaning: “No matter what issues Xie Zhen has, in the end, Zhao Chunyang will only blame the Great Chu Imperial Family.”
Qing Sun murmured, “So?”
“In some time…”
Yuan Jimo enunciated each word, “The Northern Hunt will begin.”