Assassination

Hu Jin Shen signed off on another paper. As the acting emperor it was his duty to manage the empire while his father is sick. In reality he had the empress standing behind him and guiding him along. That is not to say he wasn't learning. He certainly was, however it was more accurately to say his mother was doing the work for him.

'Another tax suggestion. You'd think with father's birthday and the 200th anniversary celebrations that no one will pull these stunts'. Hu Jin Shen was annoyed by the paperwork he had to do. Normally clerks and ministers will be around to help but his mother decided it was better to give him more experience.

He was currently sitting in his mother's office. Hu Wenxi's office had many death traps and is sealed without the emperor being there hence he couldn't use it. Despite their blood relations, the emperor's personal office was built to deny everyone but the emperor unless the emperor gave permission.

Hu Jin Shen felt there was no need for that. In recent days his father needed rest as was recommended by doctor Chu and Nan. The old ghost and his step-grandfather were premier medical professionals and also loyal retainers of the emperor. What's more they held no true loyalty to the Hu clan nor empire, they only served Hu Wenxi.

Hu Jin Shen stamped another paper. This was a request for more funding for a local government project that may benefit the empire as a whole. Qiang Mei Hua nodded her head on the side, Hu Jin Shen was a fairly skilled manager for a beginner.

Hu Jin Shen put the paper down and slumped his shoulders, "Is this what father goes through everyday? How does he ever find time to cultivate?" Qiang Mei Hua just chuckled.

"I do this everyday. Wenxi places more priority in cultivation then the actual governance of the empire. Normally I and you will in the future have hundreds of clerks to mitigate the work for you."

Hu Jin Shen glared at his mother, "Then why don't I have them?" His mother just laughed again. "If you did, you'd just leave the work to them and play".

"I do not play" Hu Jin Shen called out indignantly, "I train". That last part was whispered.

"In all honesty, the current workload is smaller then usual. If all the clerks were in the amount of work you'd receive is paltry. This way you get more types documents to experience"

Hu Jin Shen picked up another stack and starred at it, "It all blends together after a while". He placed it back onto his desk and began going through the pile. Hu Jin Shen was loyal to his parents, he would do the work placed on him. He also know his duty to the empire, hence he would continue to do his best.

SWISH!

A black shadow appeared before the mother son pair. This figure was dressed in an all black onesie with a blank black mask covering her face with short black hair. This woman's mask and faint marks of the number 5. This was a member of the Blades specifically Blade 5.

The woman's appearance startled Hu Jin Shen so much so that he got to his feat and prepared to attack. However before he could make a move the woman kneeled and spoke, "My empress, your highness"

"Speak who are you?" Aggressively questioned this woman. Ferocious Qi gathered in his palm and the shape of a wolf appeared. Qiang Mei Hua placed and hand on his shoulder signalling for him to stop. Confused Hu Jin Shen lowered his arm.

"Report" Qiang Mei Hua spoke to the woman. She looked at the prince however the empress nodded her head and signalled for the woman to continue. "There had been a situation your majesty, one that requires your immediate attention".

…

Qiang Mei Hua and Hu Jin Shen left the royal palace and wondered into the main street heading towards the right quadrant of the city. The imperial capital was built some 200 years ago and was planned in a circular shape with many sectors built into it. The location both royals were heading towards was the red light district.

To prevent questioning looks nor unwanted attention Qiang Mei Hua wrapped both of them in invisible Qi aura making themselves unnoticeable to all passer-by.

"So those are the Blades huh. Their stealth is truely magnificent" Hu Jin Shen complimented as he kept turning his head trying to find the Blades. Blade 5 had left with them along with several other Blades, however the moment they stepped out of the palace they disappeared. Without acknowledgement from his mother he would've believed they were all gone.

Hu Jin Shen's immortal senses was incredible for his cultivation realm. However these men and women were completely invisible. "Was it really necessary to spy in Hu Diyi?" Jin Shen turned to his mother. He wondered if his parents were too paranoid.

Qiang Mei Hua responded in kind, "He may be a fool but he is a troublesome meddling fool. Who knows what secrets he may stumble upon". Qiang Mei Hu quickened her pace and signalled for Hu Jin Shen to follow. Very quickly they arrived in front of a brothel. Hu Jin Shen frowned but did not comment, he knew everyone had to eat somehow.

Several Blades appeared and escorted them into the brothel. The owner and courtesans were all missing having been instructed to go home by the Blades. This way they had privacy to conduct their investigations.

After arriving into a VIP room Qiang Mei Hua took out an hour class. She injected Qi into it and turned it over. Immediately illusionary scenes appeared. These depicted them as in their current position however instead events flowed backwards. Slowly history was rewound.

Hu Jin Shen starred in wonder and exclaimed, "This is one of father's mirrors of the past". This was a treasure refined by Hu Wenxi, it could only be used once but it allowed one to view up to a years time in the past in a certain area. Its power was profound and even Human Immortals could not hide their actions.

In the cultivation world, many would be haxes were known, one could also resist and deactivate these abilities if they were strong enough. Hu Wenxi's mirror of the past was an example of this. Due to Hu Wenxi's strength, most Human Immortals cannot stop it.

As events moved backwards, Qiang Mei Hua was able to slowly see Hu Diyi and his friends return to this brothel. As it progressed along it suddenly stopped. The image also slowly disappeared. Qiang Mei Hua was wide eyed, shocked at this turn of events. Suddenly thin black rays materialised into nine knives and struck at the stunned empress.

This attack was so fast that even the Blades nor Hu Jin Shen did not notice. Qiang Mei Hua could feel her instincts screaming at her, trusting them she immediately bent forwards causing the first two knives to miss. She then channeled Qi into her body and deflected the remaining 7 knives with her hands.

Without stopping to catch her breath, the empress immediately released her power as a Human Immortal. This sent a shockwave that blew the building's roof outwards as projectiles. Her immortal senses caught a glimpse of a figure several buildings away. The projectiles covered into a long spear and truck out. However a sudden gaping maw materialised and swallowed the spear.

BOOM!

She immediately chased in pursuit arriving at the nearby buildings in less time then it takes to blink. She looked around and flexed her immortal senses to the max but caught nothing. The would be assassin had escaped. "What's going on?" Qiang Mei Hua immediately began theorising.

A moment later Hu Jin Shen and the Blades also appeared. "What has happened?" They asked but Qiang Mei Hua could only shake her head. She too had no idea who that figure was but she knew he was dangerous. "Get more Blades here to investigate".

"Um, your majesty" Blade 5 came forward. Qiang Mei Hua turned to her with a visibly annoyed expression, "What is it?". Blade 5 pointed at the roof next to theirs. There lied an invisible slumped figure. In her haste Qiang Mei Hua had not noticed. In fact when the Blades arrived they hadn't noticed until now.

After examining it they confirmed his identity. "This is Blade 9" Qiang Mei Hua could confirm this invisible corpse. Evidently he was dead and they hadn't noticed. Blade 5 had received a report from Blade 9 earlier hence why she reported to the empress. She found it strange Blade 9 did not do so himself but concluded that he must've been unavailable.

Blade 9's report was to come to this brothel and that Hu Diyi was up to something nefarious. Blade 5 examined the figure of Blade 9, she noticed a small bug attached to his neck. "What is this?" As she went on to examine it the bug blipped red.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!

And nuclear explosion mushroom cloud spread outwards destroying 3 districts before a bubble converged around it containing the explosion. It compressed the fire into a ball of concentrated flames before the whole thing dissipated.

The figure of Qiang Mei Hua could be seen slightly ruffled, besides her Hu Jin Shen was somewhat scorched but otherwise fine. Unfortunately over a hundred civilians became casualties. Qiang Mei Hua looked around, she found ashes scattered everywhere including those of the Blades.

In her haste the empress acted to protect her son but neglected everyone else. "This'll be a nightmare" the empress bit her lip, she was enraged.

…

Hu Wenxi sent Hu Jin Shen into the infirmary. His Qi flow had long returned to normal hence he returned to duty. The final match was literally tomorrow. However a much bigger more concerning event happened.

Hu Wenxi clenched his fists. The entire palace began to shake along with Wenxi's mood. Within the palace inside a certain young master Hu's bedroom a figure became terrified. Qiang Mei Hua walked up to Wenxi having changed and cleaned herself up.

"This was my fault, I fell for the trap" the empress looked down unwilling to face the emperor. He simply shook his head, "Then we'll redouble our efforts". He left the infirmary towards the throne room. Once there he sat on his throne and closed his eyes.

Upon the Skys of Thousand Flames upper realm, faint images of twelve animals and many runes appeared. They flashed briefly before disappearing. The hole time they gave out no aura hence nobody noticed them.

Within the throne room Hu Wenxi opened his eyes. He had a strange expression on his face. "So many incidents happening at once in so little time" he got up and walked out and stepped into the air flying until a high altitude and seared down at the city. "How troublesome, it seems the years of peace are over".

Around the emperor several objects appeared. An hourglass, a wooden sword, a river map, and a bell. Mystical power gathered and the emperor's eyes lit up in sandy light. He smiled evilly, "Today, wether you know it or not you've made an enemy of me. I know not where you come from nor what you want but know this. The moment you show yourselves, I will end you". Although these words were not heard a promise was made in Hu Wenxi's heart.

…

In the forest that night two cloaked figures were arguing. "How was I supposed to know she would be that strong". "You were told of her cultivation". "She just ascended 30 years ago, new Human Immortals, heck even old Immortals had died in the first strike".

The two figures continued fighting until a large lumbering monstrosity stepped into view. "What is this?" Several dark knives appeared in one cloaked figure's hands. The lumbering monstrosity kept moving forward.

"Must retrieve… No I am Sam… Must retrieve the…No I am Sam" the creature's many eyes zeroed in on two. "Hmph" the cloaked figure snorted and the knives flew forwards and gutted the beast immediately. He turned back to the other cloaked figure. "I tried but the empress had her means. I will refund you 100%"

His comrade signed in disappointment, "Now they're on to us". He took out a drawing of Hu Wenxi and handed it to the cloaked assassin. "Give this to your superiors, dispatch a True Immortal to kill him, his majesty will pay you triple."

Suddenly the best got back up. Its many eyes eyed the picture of the emperor. "Emperor, emperor, emperor, emperor, FUCKING EMPEROR" the beast's wound closed. It charged at the two in surprisingly fast speed. The assassin threw several daggers at it but they were only able to stab into the beast and not bisect it.

The beast's hands grabbed hold of figures. Before they could even speak it bit into them and consumed them. The beast's eyes regained a sort of humanness in them yet they were filled with rage. It said in a distorted voice, "You know so much about me, you must've been similar to me. What makes you so special? What gives you the right to judge?"

The monster no longer debated with itself. Its five legs turned the body around in the direction of the capital. Slowly dawn broke but the beast did not care. It wanted revenge.