Eternal Saber

Chapter 452 - 58: Dealing with Loose Ends

Ye Taoyuan said, "This person’s name is Peng Shiquan. It’s said he was once the first disciple of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect, but was later expelled by the sect leader Mei Qingyuan."

"It’s said that he made many friends in the Jianghu, and recently returned to the Plum Blossom Sword Sect with people, fought with the sect leader Mei Qingyuan, won by one move, and seized the position of sect leader."

Chen Tang frowned and asked, "Changing the sect leader is a big event, how can it be so frivolous? As the sect leader of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect, Mei Qingyuan surely has some connections in the Jianghu and won’t just stand by, right?"

Ye Taoyuan shook his head and said, "The matter is a bit complicated. First, Peng Shiquan, after all, hails from the Plum Blossom Sword Sect. Although he was expelled, he wasn’t deprived of the sect’s martial arts. This time returning to the sect and taking the position of sect leader is considered an internal strife of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect, and outsiders should not intervene."

"Secondly, Peng Shiquan has made numerous acquaintances among the three teachings and nine streams in the Jianghu. Having seized the sect leader position, he has already gained recognition from some Jianghu forces, including the Master Xiaoyao of the Drunken Immortal Tower in the Capital City and Master Qingfeng of Songtao Temple."

Chen Tang was thoughtful.

The Master Xiaoyao represents the Drunken Immortal Tower, and Master Qingfeng represents the Buddhist Sect. These are the top forces in the Great Xia Martial World.

Gaining recognition from these two major forces makes any doubts from others likely inconsequential.

Ye Taoyuan continued, "Thirdly, it’s necessary to consider the attitude of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect disciples. Peng Shiquan has remarkable methods. Not long after taking over the position of sect leader, he gained the support of the vast majority of the sect’s disciples."

Chen Tang nodded.

Even the disciples of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect did not object, so outsiders are even less apt to step in.

Chen Tang asked again, "Why was he expelled from the Plum Blossom Sword Sect back then?"

"Unknown."

Ye Taoyuan shook his head and said, "Perhaps to save face for Peng Shiquan, Mei Qingyuan did not publicly disclose the reason at the time."

"However, Peng Shiquan did have some fame back then, once ranked in the top one hundred of the Wind and Cloud Ranking, and Mei Qingyuan had high hopes for him as his sect leader. He should be over thirty years old now, and being able to defeat Mei Qingyuan, who was in the Meridian Passage Realm, is proof that he hasn’t neglected his martial arts over the years, and his talent and methods are evident."

Chen Tang asked, "What are the plans of Langya Pavilion, are they preparing to send someone to congratulate him?"

"No."

Ye Taoyuan replied, "Peng Shiquan is considered an outcast of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect, and the reasons are unclear. Coupled with his irregular means of seizing the sect leader position, even if he temporarily takes over as the sect leader of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect, Langya Pavilion does not acknowledge it."

"Of course, Langya Pavilion would not openly state such matters, as for this invitation..."

Ye Taoyuan paused slightly and said, "Just throw it away later, as if it never arrived."

Something stirred in Chen Tang’s heart, and he suddenly said, "Aunt Ye, let me have this invitation."

Because of Chen Tang’s experience in adopting Zhiwei, being Zhiwei’s benefactor, and having once defeated Xia Yuanxian, thereby making great contributions to Langya Pavilion, the Shen family has long regarded Chen Tang as one of their own, and his form of address has also changed.

Referring to him with terms like senior would seem too distant. To Ye Taoyuan, just like a younger member of the Shen family, he calls her Aunt Ye.

"Are you going to the Plum Blossom Sword Sect?"

Ye Taoyuan saw through Chen Tang’s intentions.

Chen Tang nodded and said, "Originally, I was also planning to set off to the Medical Hidden Hall in Yuezhou these days, passing near Plum Blossom Peak, I intend to take a detour there. Having this invitation would make things a bit more convenient."

"Alright."

Ye Taoyuan handed the invitation to Chen Tang and asked, "Would you like me to accompany you over to have a look?"

"No need, no trouble."

Chen Tang smiled and said, "I’m just going to the Plum Blossom Sword Sect to see some friends."

Seeing Chen Tang so determined to go, Ye Taoyuan instructed, "Be careful on the road. If you sense any crisis, return to Langya Pavilion as soon as possible."

"Don’t worry, Aunt Ye."

Chen Tang stood up, bid farewell to Ah Li and Ye Taoyuan,

and also paid a visit to Madam Su and Zhiwei before leaving.

Zhiwei tried to persuade him to stay, clearly reluctant.

If it weren’t for her sensitive identity, making it inappropriate to leave Langya Pavilion freely, she even wanted to follow Chen Tang to roam the Jianghu together.

After bidding farewell to everyone, Chen Tang and Ah Li descended the mountain, one person and one horse, heading towards Wu State.

Soon after leaving Langya Pavilion, Chen Tang sensed a trace of anomaly.

After reaching the Great Success of the Opening Acupoints Realm, Chen Tang had gained the ability of ’Heavenly Vision and Earthly Hearing,’ and with Entering the Divine State, his awareness of danger and murderous intent was exceptionally sharp, far exceeding ordinary martial artists!

He was being watched.

Moreover, the opponent was an expert!

The murderous intent was hidden extremely well, seemingly there yet invisible, on and off.

If it weren’t for Chen Tang having Entering the Divine State, he might not have detected the presence of the other party.

This gave him a sense of déjà vu.

Chen Tang didn’t show any outward emotion, just slightly glanced to the side at Ah Li, with an inquiring look in his eyes.

Ah Li nodded slightly.

There were hermits nearby!

If it were a Middle Concealment of the Fourth Grade, given Chen Tang’s current Cultivation Realm and sensory abilities, he would definitely be able to lock onto the other’s position at the first moment.

This person’s position was elusive, and the concealment methods were extremely high-level, likely an Upper Concealment!

Third Grade Meridian Passage Realm!

If they were in Qianzhu City, where Chen Tang was only Fifth Grade, facing an assassination by a Third Grade Upper Concealment, he would indeed have to be extremely cautious.

Now, he was already in the Great Success of the Fourth Grade Awakening Realm, with the Flood Dragon Armor protecting him, and also had a Third Grade Ghost Concealment by his side.

This Upper Concealment hidden in the shadows was no longer considered a threat in his eyes.

Chen Tang was just a little curious, who might have arranged for this Upper Concealment?

Was it Xia Yuanxian?

That’s a possibility.

Xia Yuanxian’s martial arts have parts clearly originating from the Three Eastern Sea States.

Not only does he possess inheritance secret techniques from the Moon Night Race of the Celestial Cauldron Continent but also the top-tier body technique from the Dongyi Race, Floating Light and Shadow!

Where did Xia Yuanxian learn his mystic skills?

A Mystic Master from Donglai Continent?

Or the Profound Celestial Sect?

Even though he incapacitated Xia Yuanxian with a kick that day, it’s evident that there are still many secrets hidden on this person.

Including the elixir pill he took, which can stimulate one’s potential, greatly enhancing a martial artist’s strength and speed in a short period!

The extent of this enhancement far exceeds many secret techniques known to Chen Tang.

Chen Tang once inquired about this with Ye Xuan, and even with his knowledge, he had never heard of such an elixir pill.

Chen Tang and Ah Li, void of concern, continued to gallop along the official road toward the direction of Plum Blossom Peak.

That Upper Concealment was extremely cautious and did not follow too closely.

Chen Tang still couldn’t determine the other party’s position.

In situations like this, with a solo assassination, the patience of a hermit is strong, and without absolute confidence, they won’t act rashly.

Oftentimes, they may even trail a target, lurking for ten days or half a month, as a common routine.

At dusk,

Chen Tang and Ah Li arrived at a county town named Yanliu County, still within the Capital City area. It appeared to be quite bustling, with people coming and going, a constant flow of traffic, and the streets and alleys exuded a strong atmosphere of fireworks.

Chen Tang and his companion found an inn to stay for the night and plan to set out again in the morning.

-----------------

As a hermit who emerged from the Hermit Continent, according to the arrangements of the Hidden Sect, Cai Xiao arrived in Great Xia more than a decade ago.

He has no identity.

Or rather, he can assume any identity.

Whether in any field or under any disguise, he won’t reveal any flaws.

This is a mandatory skill for a hermit.

Over the past ten-plus years, he has flawlessly executed multiple missions without a single failure!

This time, the mission he received was to assassinate a Fourth Grade Awakening Realm Martial Artist.

The rules of the Hermit Continent do not need to be followed here.

Assassinating a Fourth Grade is as easy as turning a hand for him.

Yet even so, Cai Xiao remained cautious in his heart.

A crucial trait of an excellent and powerful hermit is never to underestimate any target!

Once a mission is accepted, it must be accomplished with the ferocity of a lion hunting a rabbit!

Moreover, it is said that this young man had once defeated Xia Yuanxian, who mastered Black Tortoise Dual Cultivation.

This one should not be underestimated.

After Chen Tang and his companion left Langya Pavilion, Cai Xiao quietly followed from the shadows.

From Langya Pavilion to Yanliu County, this young man and woman seemed remarkably relaxed, entirely unguarded, and oblivious to danger.

Cai Xiao did not rush to act but instead waited patiently for the right moment.

The official road is wide and the surroundings open, making it considerably challenging to strike silently.

Cai Xiao followed Chen Tang and his companion into Yanliu County, watching as they checked into an inn.

He strolled through Yanliu County and thoroughly understood its layout.

Every street and alley, where to hide, where to ambush, where to escape—all mapped out in his mind.

This is the ability of an upper hermit!

When he reappeared, he had transformed into a tattered beggar, exuding a sour stench, with one hand on a broken bamboo stick and the other holding a broken bowl, resting in a dark alley.

He was waiting for the prey to take the bait.

This particular alley was well-chosen, leading from the inn to Yanliu County’s most famous brothel.

As long as Chen Tang harbored any such intentions, tonight would be the end for him!

If he simply planned to rest quietly at the inn, Cai Xiao did not mind.

He would just take a different approach; there was no rush.

There is no curfew in Great Xia.

In the dead of night, the streets of Yanliu County had few pedestrians left.

Only the brothels and alleyways were brightly lit, with young women standing at the doors, beckoning to passersby.

At this moment, a tall and burly young man emerged from the inn and headed toward the alley.

Cai Xiao caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of his eye and chuckled coldly to himself.

Surely, a hot-blooded youth cannot resist temptation.

The man wasn’t even carrying his sword.

It showed that he perceived no danger and bore no precaution.

The plain-looking girl wasn’t with him.

The young man likely waited for the girl to fall asleep before sneaking out at this hour.

Cai Xiao merely spared a glance from the shadows and deduced pretty accurately.

The tall young man entered the alley, eyes fixed ahead, hardly noticing him.

In no time, the tall youth walked past Cai Xiao.

Cai Xiao’s gaze fell on the battered bamboo stick at his feet.

A sharp hidden saber was concealed within it!

A safer assassination would wait until after this person exerted himself, depleted, on the return.

But seeing his current demeanor, striking now seemed unproblematic.

Just as Cai Xiao hesitated, the tall youth had already walked past him.

Suddenly!

The tall youth halted his steps, turned his head, and shouted towards Cai Xiao on the street: "Hey!"

"Hm?"

Cai Xiao was taken aback.

This was somewhat unexpected for him.

He maintained his composure, pretending to be just awakened, looked up bleary-eyed, and asked, "Are you calling me?"

The young man grinned at him, revealing a row of white teeth, and said, "If you don’t make a move, you’ll miss your chance!"

Cai Xiao’s heart sank, his hand swiftly clutching the bamboo stick.

Pfft!

Following this, Cai Xiao felt an intense pain stabbing from his left rib!

An exceptionally sharp blade penetrated between the ribs above his left side, piercing his heart in an instant!

Precise angle, professional technique, a flawless assassination!

If it were him, even he would find it nearly impossible to achieve such perfection.

Cai Xiao felt his entire body go rigid, his life swiftly ebbing, his extremities icy.

He slowly turned his head.

At some point, a girl was standing beside him.

The girl’s features were exquisite, her cheeks slightly chubby in a baby-faced manner, looking somewhat cute, yet her eyes were like a calm lake, devoid of ripples, without a trace of emotion.

This girl looked somewhat familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere before.

Cai Xiao seemed to remember something and suddenly widened his eyes!

It was the girl beside Chen Tang!

He had been following Chen Tang all along, but had barely paid any attention to the girl, until she slowly withdrew the dagger from his heart...

She was also a hermit!

In Cai Xiao’s mind, only this thought remained.