Chapter 148: The Assassin Arrives (Part 2)

"No such thing as kindness for no reason—if someone is acting overly friendly, they must have an ulterior motive!"

Mu Yang and Qian Renxue, who was disguised as Xue Qinghe, were nothing more than superficial acquaintances who had just met for the first time.

Their relationship wasn't nearly deep enough for such gestures of goodwill.

If Qian Renxue had no hidden agenda, then from her perspective, Mu Yang and Shui Bing'er were simply taking a carriage ride from Purple Vine Pavilion back to their hotel.

There was no danger at all—it wasn't like they were venturing into a dragon's den or a tiger's lair.

Would it really make sense to send an eight-ring Soul Douluo as a secret bodyguard for such a simple journey?

And even if there was a need for protection, why do it in secret?

Why not just have the bodyguard accompany them openly?

Since she was hiding her presence, it was clear that something was off.

"Finishing the job?"

Mu Yang silently speculated about Qian Renxue's true intentions in sending an expert to follow them.

No, that didn't seem right.

Qian Renxue wasn't Tang Buddha.

Excluding her romantic side, she was a person focused on major ambitions.

For truly talented individuals, she was always genuinely interested in recruiting them.

Mu Yang hadn't outright rejected either the Heaven Dou Empire or Spirit Hall.

So there was no reason for Qian Renxue to want him dead.

If this wasn't an assassination, then could it be…

Damn it!

Was she staging a hero-saving-the-damsel scenario just like those villainous young masters in ancient urban novels from his past life?

Mu Yang, who had read countless web novels in his previous life, couldn't help but think of this possibility.

Find an assassin to ambush him…

Then, just as he was about to get killed, a hidden expert would appear at the last moment to save him.

After being granted such a life-saving favor, wouldn't he be eternally grateful?

Wouldn't his "Brother Qinghe" eventually become his "Boss Qinghe"?

Thinking about this, Mu Yang's face darkened.

Although he wasn't entirely sure, he had a strong feeling that his guess was close to the truth.

And honestly, for the native soul masters who didn't have such wild imaginations, this trick would be extremely effective.

After all, Xue Qinghe was the crown prince and the future emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire.

With such a life-saving favor in hand, as long as Mu Yang wasn't heartless, he would inevitably see Xue Qinghe as a wise ruler.

Not only would his own stance lean toward Xue Qinghe, but his connections—including Blazing Academy and Sky Water Academy—would also be influenced.

Compared to the cost of setting up such a staged event, this was an extremely profitable deal.

Not to mention, it was far simpler and more effective than conventional persuasion.

As he was pondering this, Mu Yang suddenly noticed something new within his spiritual perception.

Following the hidden eight-ring Soul Douluo, another figure had appeared behind the carriage—a six-ring Soul Emperor.

During the Soul Master Tournament, Heaven Dou City was bustling with activity.

Encountering a Soul Emperor on the streets wasn't unusual.

However, this particular Soul Emperor had been following their carriage for quite some time.

And since the crowded streets forced the carriage to move at a moderate pace, the assassin had been keeping up without falling behind.

If this person wasn't suspicious, Mu Yang wouldn't believe it.

"A six-ring Soul Emperor… That's all?"

Mu Yang's expression turned into one of disdain.

Sending a mere Soul Emperor to assassinate him?

What an insult!

But what Mu Yang didn't know was that Qian Renxue wasn't underestimating him.

Originally, she had ordered She Long to hire a Soul Sage assassin for the job.

However, a Rank 70 Soul Sage was no ordinary figure.

There weren't many who would be willing to lower themselves to become a mere assassin.

And with time running short, there wasn't enough time to scout for suitable candidates.

Moreover, the target wasn't a nobody.

With the Soul Master Tournament underway, tracking down the assassin wouldn't just be Blazing Academy's responsibility—

The entire Heaven Dou Empire would get involved.

Not every assassin had the guts to take on such a high-risk mission.

Since no Soul Sages were willing to take the job, She Long had no choice but to lower his standards and hire a six-ring Soul Emperor instead.

After all, Mu Yang was supposedly just a food-type Soul King with no combat ability.

Whether the assassin was a Rank 60 or a Rank 70, it wouldn't make a difference—Mu Yang wouldn't be able to fight back either way.

This plan was solid!

As for the unexpected factor—Shui Bing'er?

No problem!

Shui Bing'er might be a genius, but she was still just a Rank 50 Soul King.

The assassin was not only a six-ring Soul Emperor but was also Rank 69, just one step away from Soul Sage.

With at least a full realm of difference, even a genius like Shui Bing'er wouldn't be able to bridge the gap so easily.

Through the carriage window, Mu Yang glanced at the bustling streets.

After thinking for a moment, he instructed the carriage driver to stop the carriage.

Then, he and Shui Bing'er stepped out together.

A mere six-ring assassin?

Might as well let Shui Bing'er handle it.

With her mystical cultivation techniques and secret skills, Shui Bing'er's current Rank 59 soul power was more than enough to defeat a Soul Emperor above her level.

Unless this particular Soul Emperor assassin had not only a perfect spirit ring configuration but also a top-tier martial soul, making him one of the best among Soul Emperors, or even a genius capable of challenging across realms…

Yeah, that was impossible.

If someone like that really existed, why the hell would they become an assassin?

They could easily set up a gang in some mid-tier city, collect protection fees, and still make way more money than being an assassin!

Of course, to keep a low profile, Shui Bing'er needed to hold back in battle and not show too much strength.

However, with him supporting as a food-type Soul King, plus the domineering strength of her Ice Phoenix Martial Soul, a five-ring Shui Bing'er holding off a six-ring Soul Emperor would seem reasonable to outsiders.

If Mu Yang, a food-type Soul Master, were the one to fight instead, that would attract too much attention.

By having Shui Bing'er hold back, they could draw out the fight, making it seem like an even battle.

With the battle happening in the middle of a busy street, innocent bystanders would inevitably be affected.

It was better to move somewhere with fewer people.

"You're done here, go back."

Mu Yang spoke to the carriage driver before pulling Shui Bing'er along toward a side street with fewer people.

A hundred meters away, atop the roof of a street-side shop, two thin, middle-aged men—one tall, one short—waited silently for their prey to arrive.

Suddenly, they noticed the royal carriage, marked with the Heaven Dou Empire's swan emblem, coming to a halt.

When they saw the targets stepping out, a hint of surprise flickered in their eyes.

"Eagle Bro, did the plan leak? Or were we exposed?"

After a brief hesitation, the shorter middle-aged man asked the taller one.

"The plan was made last minute by the higher-ups. We got the order only half an hour ago.

And the target doesn't have any high-level experts with him, so this is probably just a coincidence."

The tall, thin man spoke with confidence, though he didn't fully understand the situation.

"Then why is the target—hold on, a Soul Emperor is following them!"

Just as they were feeling puzzled, the shorter man suddenly spotted a sinister-looking middle-aged man tailing their targets from behind.

"Tsk… Looks like we're not the only ones who want these two kids dead!"

The tall, thin man grinned maliciously, sighing in amusement

"That's great news!

We'll follow as well, but let this Soul Emperor take the first shot.

If he succeeds, we won't even have to do anything.

If he fails, then we'll step in to finish the job and pin the blame on him.

That way, once this is over, if those two academies or Heaven Dou Empire want to take revenge, they'll go after him, not us."

"Brilliant plan!

Jackal, I never knew you had such a sharp mind!"

"You're too kind, too kind!"

For additional chapters....

Versatile mage {40 chapters}

Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}

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