“Qin Guang Wang, how brave you are.” Bian Cheng Wang’s tone was difficult to decipher as praise or blame: “You’ve just left the tiger’s mouth, and now you’re heading back into the wolf’s den!”

Qin Guang Wang emphasized once more: “Not me, us.”

Bian Cheng Wang said: “Wei Country might not be a good place.”

“When were we ever good people?” Qin Guang Wang laughed: “Back then, Zhang Linchuan could cause a stir in Wei Country. With you and me joining forces, what matter can’t be accomplished?”

Bian Cheng Wang had gone to Wei Country before, when they were initially hunting down Zhang Linchuan. He should have a certain understanding of Wei Country’s garrisons. However, that time they entered Wei from the southern border by land. This time, they were entering Wei from the northern border by water. Hearing the words, he was quite helpless: “The place where Zhang Linchuan initially caused trouble was Wan Sang Town in Mou City, Xin Lan County. You, my elder, are going to stir up trouble in An Yi City, which is the capital of Great Wei!”

So much time had passed, and Zhang Linchuan was already thoroughly dead. Yet, Bian Cheng Wang still remembered so clearly the places where he had roamed the world and stirred up trouble, showing how deep his hatred was back then.

Qin Guang Wang said: “But he slaughtered a town, while we are only killing one person. I don’t expect much reaction.”

Assassination, after all, is not a face-to-face duel. It’s not a situation where both sides exhaust their strength on an arena, fighting a life-and-death battle. It’s about succeeding in one strike and leaving, emphasizing doing the deed without leaving a trace. Even if your Wei Country is a divine ox of ten thousand zhang, if I secretly pluck a single hair and leave, how can it topple the country?

“Who are we killing?” Bian Cheng Wang asked.

“Wei Country’s Imperial Uncle, Zhang Shou Lian.”

“…Is the target important enough?”

“If he wasn’t important enough, there would be no need for you, Bian Cheng Wang, to take action.”

Bian Cheng Wang snorted.

Qin Guang Wang continued to add: “Zhang Shou Lian has a natural inclination for human milk and frequently plunders women. He destroys families without reason and is the first of the four evils of An Yi. Dying under the hands of the ill-fated is also considered a deserved death.”

“No, is this task just for me?” Bian Cheng Wang said leisurely: “I haven’t even agreed to go on the mission yet.”

“You are someone who can kill Dong Zhen with one sword. Who else besides you can handle such a heavy responsibility?” Qin Guang Wang said: “Your appearance fee is higher than mine.”

Bian Cheng Wang coldly laughed: “I don’t believe that. Let me see the account book of Hell No Door!”

Qin Guang Wang said honestly: “Of course, I still have organizational fees, intermediary fees, carriage and horse fees, labor fees, and aftermath fees.”

Bian Cheng Wang took a deep breath: “You really should walk the official path.”

Qin Guang Wang faintly smiled: “Is it hard to say I don’t want to?”

Yes. If the story had developed normally, if he had been born in a country that wasn’t so deformed, he should now also be a very excellent city lord, advancing rapidly on the official path.

If the story had developed normally, Bian Cheng Wang should also be a very good Dao student now. Perhaps in Xing Si, perhaps on Yu Jing Mountain… who knows?

Now, leaning by the window and looking at the long river, the rolling waves in front of him were somewhat similar to those surging past events. Bian Cheng Wang said, not understanding: “The current Wei Emperor is always known for his heroism. Will he tolerate Zhang Shou Lian doing evil for so long?”

That line, “Bi An bears Xi, which is the Wei gate; the Long River encompasses a square li, entwining the waist alone,” is a line with what kind of spirit? Even he had heard it. How could a heroic lord, capable of standing on Wang Jiang Tower and saying such majestic words to the central Da Jing Empire, with both civil administration and military achievements being extraordinary, tolerate a mere Zhang Shou Lian?

He didn’t feel that the identity of Guo Yong could play any role in front of the Wei Emperor. He also didn’t feel that the Wei Country Empress could interfere with the Wei Emperor’s decisions… how could such a person tolerate pillow talk?

He should have been busy cultivating in Zheng Shi Hall back then, and served as a door god for two years for nothing. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so strange about the situation in Wei Country; at least he would know Zhang Shou Lian’s background.

“He might have his reasons. If you’re curious, you can go and explore the answer yourself.”

Qin Guang Wang said: “I only promise you that what I told you is the truth, and killing Zhang Shou Lian will not violate your rules.”

Because this trip was to serve as a distraction for the “remnant killer who slaughtered the Tu Cai You family’s entire household” to escape. When there were waves in Wei Country, there was no need for martial law in Jing Country, and those Yan Luo who stayed on the Jing Country border could easily leave. So Bian Cheng Wang’s action was extremely important.

“What is this Zhang Shou Lian’s cultivation level?” Bian Cheng Wang asked.

“Barely about to open his Inner Mansion.”

“Then this task is very simple.”

“It’s precisely because it’s simple that I arranged it for you.”

Bian Cheng Wang thought for a moment: “Is it a real Inner Mansion realm? A genuine, real Inner Mansion? Not an Outer Building? Not a Shen Lin without hidden cultivation?”

“It’s a real, couldn’t-be-more-real Inner Mansion realm, I’m absolutely certain!”

“You sign your name and press your fingerprint.”

“Oh, it’s just a mere You Que, don’t be a frightened bird!”

Qin Guang Wang swore: “Where in the world are there so many Dong Zhen cultivators who hide their cultivation?”

There was some truth to these words. Bian Cheng Wang half-believed, half-doubted.

Qin Guang Wang turned his head to look back at the ship cabin and sent out his voice: “Then it’s settled, just as we discussed. Bian Cheng Wang will execute this task, Wu Guan Wang will be responsible for the preliminary intelligence work and receiving Bian Cheng Wang outside the city, and I will be responsible for checking for leaks and filling gaps, and receiving the two of you outside the Wei Country border.”

Bian Cheng Wang coldly nodded once.

Wu Guan Wang: ?

When did we discuss? Who discussed with me?

But meeting Qin Guang Wang’s expectant and confirming gaze, he could only forcefully utter an “um.”

Wei Country is located in a strategic position, looking north towards Da Jing, bordering strong Song to the west, and close to dominant Chu to the south. In the past, Xia Country stood to the east, but now there’s no need to worry about it, as it has become Qi Da Nan Jiang.

From ancient times, this place has been filled with constant warfare, and the military spirit is very strong. Leaving aside everything else, Bian Cheng Wang and Qin Guang Wang had only walked a few steps in this Wei Country border city and had already witnessed several fights. It was a matter of not agreeing on a single word before resorting to physical confrontation.

Wu Guan Wang had already gone to An Yi City one step ahead to do intelligence work. Bian Cheng Wang and Qin Guang Wang were also about to separate.

“In the matter of assassination, Wu Guan Wang is very professional. You can completely trust his professional quality.” Qin Guang Wang said.

“Only trust this?” Bian Cheng Wang asked.

“This doesn’t sound like a question you would ask.” Qin Guang Wang glanced at him, then said: “As long as you can maintain the strength to kill him at any time, he can still be considered reliable.”

“Then that’s quite reliable.” Bian Cheng Wang said.

“In the killer trade, talking about ‘reliable’ shows a lack of professional sensitivity.” Qin Guang Wang smiled: “After killing Zhang Shou Lian, you can leave directly. The reward will also be given to you later.”

Bian Cheng Wang actually had many questions he wanted to ask. But in the end, he only said: “Otherwise, why don’t we settle the reward now? You also know, in the killer trade, you can’t guarantee anything from morning to evening. In case something happens to you, I can’t possibly go to Yuan Hai to chase debt.”

Qin Guang Wang said with a smile on his face: “Ask something else.”

“Oh, alright.” Bian Cheng Wang thought for a moment: “Actually, there’s a question I’ve suppressed for a long time, and I’ve never known whether I should ask it or not, whether it’s appropriate or not.”

Qin Guang Wang said: “If you don’t know whether you should ask, then don’t ask, it’s quite rude.”

Bian Cheng Wang then asked: “That cousin of yours, where is she now?”

Qin Guang Wang was stunned for a moment, then laughed: “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” Bian Cheng Wang’s eyelids lifted slightly.

“I really don’t know.” Qin Guang Wang became a bit more serious: “After Chu Jiang Wang sent her away, I never asked again. Life is a continuous branching road. She and I just happened to walk a segment together. I admit that the experiences on that segment of the road are everything, but now we are already walking on different roads. I only know that she is still living in some corner of the world, but that is already unrelated to me.”

“You are always a very sober person.” Bian Cheng Wang nodded, then turned and walked away: “Goodbye.”

Qin Guang Wang waved his hand casually and watched Bian Cheng Wang walk into the crowd.

Before he completely merged into the crowd, he suddenly asked: “If, just in case, something really happens to me?”

Bian Cheng Wang didn’t turn back, his voice cold: “A killer being killed, isn’t that very normal?”

Qin Guang Wang asked again: “Suppose, I’m just supposing. Suppose something happens to me while your reward hasn’t been settled yet?”

Bian Cheng Wang silently continued to walk forward. After his figure disappeared, he finally left a sentence: “Then I will use my methods to chase the debt.”

Qin Guang Wang patted his shoulder. Then he also turned around. He understood that Bian Cheng Wang was advising him, but he was a person who didn’t listen to advice. Just as he suggested a path for Bian Cheng Wang to walk, Bian Cheng Wang also didn’t listen. He decided to delay this reward, delay it until Bian Cheng Wang takes the initiative to come and find him, then he will see if he is in the mood to settle this. The mountain city named ‘Nan Wei’ is an important border town of Wei Country. Since its construction until now, its long-term military imaginary enemy has been Chu Country. So the military equipment is abundant, and you can see traces of battle everywhere. The most ancient profession in the world is trading other people’s lives.

A killer, by depriving others of their lives, gains the material guarantee for their own survival. So every step they take is on the edge of a knife. He went against the crowd, walked out of this city alone, and left the territory of Wei Country alone.

The wind in the southern region seems to be more unrestrained than in other places. It always comes head-on, unwilling to yield. Long before, he left his hometown like this, alone.

He was always walking, actually with no clear direction, but he wanted to see the long river again. So he came to Duan Wen Bridge, the ninth town of the Long River Nine Towns. The sound of the waves when sitting on the boat was far less clear and magnificent than when heard on Wen Bridge. Perhaps it was precisely because the Nine Towns suppressed this present world’s ancestral river, and only on the Nine Bridges above could one feel this intensity. With the prestige of the human emperor from ancient times, and the flood force of the human path, even with the Nine Towns as bridges, and building viewing platforms, they still could not make this river obedient. This is why there have been successive generations of Yellow River meetings.

It is truly vast beyond compare. On this great bridge, people are like ants. Looking up at the bending sky, it is boundless. Looking down at the long river, it is vast and boundless. And the sound of the waves is like thunder, the yellow earth pours into the sky river.

How vast is the world! And how narrow is his own place within it. These years, his footprints have spread throughout the world, but his view is still limited to his childhood. Once Qing, Su Mu Qing, and the Xia Cheng he innocently loved.

Just like he built Hell No Door with his own hands, he walked out a new path in the narrow realm of curse techniques. But curse techniques themselves always remind him why he would walk on such a rugged road.

He didn’t know how long he had been walking, when his footsteps stopped. From the fresh water vapor of the long river, above the huge bat-shaped Wen carving, it agilely wandered. Then it gathered into a ball of vague fog, and within the fog, a voice actually came out: “You seem to be waiting for me?”

“Just so.” Qin Guang Wang stopped his footsteps and said faintly.

The river wind fiercely rolled up angry waves, sending out a grand roar, but when it swept onto the Nine Towns above, it instantly became gentle again, lightly winding around his clothes. And his long hair hung quietly, not moving with the river wind.

“You are very confident.” The voice in the fog said.

Qin Guang Wang was very calm: “Guest, you have broken the rules.”

“Ha, rules?” The fog evaporated, seemingly laughing.

Qin Guang Wang didn’t mind, and said to himself: “All the rules of Hell No Door were set by me.”

All customers can only place orders at the scattered ‘Mo He Beng Gong’ locations. Each ghost shed preliminarily screens the tasks: then the nearby Niu Tou, Ma Mian, Judges, and Meng Po pick them up and execute them.

“All tasks that require mobilizing Yan Luo must first pay a partial deposit to each ghost shed.”

“Then I will centrally select the tasks. After I confirm them, the task contract is established, and the little ghosts then collect the final payment from the client.”

“Each ghost shed and each external organization assisting in task execution are completely independent of each other, with absolutely no intersection. I also always have one-way contact with each external organization.”

“Theoretically, clients should not find me, or any one of the Yan Luo.” He looked at the group of fog in front of him: “Of course, nothing is impossible in this world. You always have your methods. Or rather, all of you?”

“Interesting.” The voice in the fog said with an uninterested tone: “Your organizational structure is very complete. You are a rare talent. I think the fact that I found you has given you quite a few clues… It doesn’t hinder me from seeing, what else do you know?”

“I don’t know anything, and I don’t want to know anything. You also best not let me know anything.” Qin Guang Wang’s mask was lightly hooked at his waist, seemingly staring blankly at the surging waves on the other side of the bridge: “We are just in an employer-employee relationship. I guard the rules of the killer trade and maintain the reputation of Hell No Door. Outside of tasks, we have no necessary intersection, and there shouldn’t be any.”

“Very reasonable.” The voice in the fog laughed: “But have you confirmed that you have the qualification to speak reason? At this moment, in front of me?”

Qin Guang Wang also laughed: “Seeing the You family as a thorn in the side, and not being convenient to take action on the surface, you can still deprive my Yin Guan of the qualification to speak reason… The people in Jing Country who meet these conditions might not be too many. Until now, I still don’t know who you are, who you all are, but when encountering danger, it’s inevitable to have some absurd guesses. If I die here, these absurd guesses will spread throughout the world.”

“You are becoming more and more interesting!” The voice in the fog said: “Let me think, how do you plan to make those absurd guesses spread throughout the world? Rely on those so-called Yan Luo? Yang Country’s last generation prince Yang Xuan Ce, the number one construct ‘Evil Gentleman’ Ling Wu Feng from Song Country, the rune genius Nai Di Sheng who defected from Ju City… Or are you still hoping that I will say their names?”

This indifferent voice was not loud, but it was like the Square Jun Qing: “Do you think they still have a chance to do so?”

Qin Guang Wang’s face did not change: “There’s no need to deceive me. You can say the names of all the Yan Luo. You can find each and every one of them and kill them—if you actually know.”

The voice in the fog became easier instead: “You are very confident. Which Yan Luo makes you so confident?”

Qin Guang Wang said: “What gives me confidence is every ghost shed that can already survive independently. It is the vast majority of ‘Mo He Tang Gong’ that don’t belong to Hell No Door but are part-time task transfer points, and have already taken root everywhere. It is the painstaking effort I have put into this organization over the years. Of course, you can think it is a certain Yan Luo.”

The voice in the fog said: “Do you think I will worry about this level of threat?”

Qin Guang Wang said: “Of course you won’t worry, and there’s no fear. You just don’t want to cause more waves… Why?”

“Hahahaha, young people nowadays are really… much more cunning than we were back then!” The voice in the fog said: “Good! Then I will ask you a few questions, and I will let you go after you answer.”

“No, no, no.” Qin Guang Wang, at this moment, actually shook his head. He stood in the center of the huge stone bridge, with his own order. He looked at the fog in front of him and said: “Before this, I need to ask you something first. Why would I take such a task, why would I risk stopping in front of you today, it is because I hope you can solve my many years of puzzle.”

“What if I don’t answer?” The voice in the fog asked.

“Hell No Door does business at a clear price. We don’t do good deeds, and we don’t make friends.” Qin Guang Wang said: “If you don’t answer my question, how can I answer yours?”

A light laugh came from the fog: “Then you ask.”

Qin Guang Wang’s face was expressionless, but he said word by word: “That big Wang Ba of Tian You Zhi Guo, why can he lie there so happily?”

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