Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!

Chapter 396 - 388: Pursuit and Assassination

Yang Hua nodded with a grim expression and said, "I didn’t want to encounter the Dark Pavilion either, but the reality is that it is the Dark Pavilion."

The Dark Pavilion is a renowned assassin organization in the Jianghu.

The top-ranked assassins on the Assassin List are all from the Dark Pavilion. Of course, the Dark Pavilion has made many enemies, and many wish to eliminate it swiftly. However, the Dark Pavilion has many bases, and even if one or two are destroyed, it’s like a mere drop in the ocean. No one knows where its headquarters are. Ten years ago, the Dark Pavilion almost disbanded due to internal strife, but it was rumored that the new Pavilion Master’s efforts prevented its collapse.

The current Dark Pavilion may not match its former glory but remains a top power. It is said to have dozens of Void Realm experts and hundreds of Dark Realm experts, with strict management. It suits assassins better than the previous Seven Dark Pavilion, as it doesn’t involve itself in Jianghu disputes and only kills for money, making it acceptable to both the Righteous and Evil Sects, thus avoiding the previous generation’s fate of being hunted across the Jianghu.

The Dark Pavilion is feared for its persistence. Every operation follows the client’s request by sending assassins, and if they fail once, they try again until the mission is complete, sending stronger assassins each time.

It’s highly likely that Void Realm experts may arrive next.

Yang Bingbing looked at the Dark Pavilion’s token, her heart in turmoil. She wasn’t foolish; she knew what kind of existence the Dark Pavilion was.

She understood that the Yang Yuan Escort Agency trying to oppose the Dark Pavilion was like a mantis trying to stop a cart—suicidal.

She realized that this escort mission had long exceeded what the Yang Yuan Escort Agency could handle. If they didn’t pull out promptly, not only would they be in danger, but the whole agency might get dragged in.

But she couldn’t fathom why such a powerful entity would be involved over a mere child.

To hire the Dark Pavilion meant dispatching ten or so Dark Realm experts, indicating that the mastermind behind the scenes was certainly not simple.

According to information from the agency, the boy was merely an illegitimate child who had lived in the countryside for years without incident, but trouble arose when he returned home.

Knowing his niece’s character, Yang Hua advised, "Bingbing, you must understand that we can’t get involved in this. The Dark Pavilion won’t stop even if the first attempt fails. Last night involved several Dark Realm experts. Next time, stronger ones will come. By then, it’s not just about the escort—our lives may be at stake."

Yang Bingbing glanced back at the child huddled by the fire.

Her heart ached. The recent events had been terrifying, even for her, let alone a child. The brutality of the Jianghu, with its flashing blades and sudden death, shouldn’t involve this child, who had lived a modest life despite having all necessities met.

She gritted her teeth and spoke with determination, "Uncle Hua, you take the brothers from the Escort Agency and leave. Yang Yuan Escort Agency won’t be involved in this anymore, but I must go, even if it means death. Otherwise, I will never have peace."

She pressed her lips and continued, "I know this is very immature of me. Don’t worry; I won’t implicate the Escort Agency. Once you leave, announce that the Yang Yuan Escort Agency failed in its duty. I won’t use the agency’s name, so it won’t be affected. Since the opponent hired the Dark Pavilion, they don’t want to escalate matters. If someone must die, it will only be me."

The snowy forest at night appeared more sinister and terrifying, with dark shadows seemingly haunted by ghosts dancing among the trees.

The surrounding stillness seemed to merge with the night; without the glint of cold steel, nothing could be seen.

They fled, exhausted, as they neared the city gates.

But black-clad figures blocked their way completely.

Yang Bingbing and Yang Hua stood back to back, shielding the boy, but unfortunately, it was only a temporary relief. Neither Yang Bingbing nor Yang Hua could go all out while protecting the child, putting them at a disadvantage.

Holding her sword, Yang Bingbing had already lost most of her hope.

Facing a dozen assassins and a Void Realm expert in a stalemate with Uncle Yang, she had no chance against all these foes.

The stabbing pain in her chest made it difficult for Yang Bingbing to breathe. Looking at the terrified child, she sighed, unable to comfort him, as she herself awaited death.

Yet, gazing at the tall figure, guilt filled her heart, and she said gravely, "Uncle Yang, I’m sorry for dragging you into this."

With a gentle smile on his pale face, Uncle Yang replied, "Silly child, why say such things now? Your father saved my life, and we’ve been like brothers for so long. I don’t have children, but I’ve watched you grow up—you’re like a daughter to me. How could I let anything happen to you?"

Yang Bingbing’s eyes welled up, and she choked, "Uncle Hua, let’s be family again in the next life."

Earlier, Yang Hua suggested dropping the mission, but Yang Bingbing couldn’t abandon it, proposing to go alone and send the others back.

Yang Hua, unwilling to see more brothers die, agreed and accompanied her.

"I’ve escorted for half my life, and this should be the last one. I won’t regret dying this way."

"Kill!"

At that moment, a black-clad assassin shouted, and four assassins charged from four directions. Yang Hua quickly swung his blade, blocking one, kicking another, but then another assassin’s sword aimed at Yang Bingbing.

The strike was extremely cunning, prepared with great strength.

Even Yang Hua would struggle to block it, let alone Yang Bingbing, who lacked a major realm.

Seeing the powerful force rushing towards her, she accepted her fate.

Witnessing the situation, Yang Hua shouted and rushed to save her.

The black-clad assassin thought he was rescuing, intercepting him in panic. But Yang Hua cleverly drew a weapon from his waist, threw it to block the lethal strike on Yang Bingbing.

Though the hidden weapon reduced much of the force, Yang Bingbing was still knocked down by the powerful Qi Force, injuring her internally.

The chaos exposed a flaw. The lead assassin slashed down, creating a wound on Yang Hua’s arm, causing his sword to drop. Another sword swept across, and Qi Force cut a bloody line on Yang Hua’s chest, sending him flying with the powerful force, rolling on the ground and coughing blood.

Yang Hua swallowed an Elixir.

"I’ll hold them off. Bingbing, take the child and go."

"No, we leave together."

Yang Bingbing roared, memories of her times with Uncle Yang flashed in her mind—the days of escorting with her father, his guidance, accompanying her fishing, collecting bird eggs, and roasting wild chickens in the woods.