Chapter 23: Assassins in the Dark
The cold night air carried an eerie stillness over the Inner Sect grounds.
A shadow moved swiftly across the rooftops, blending seamlessly into the darkness.
Leon Xian sat in meditation inside his courtyard, completely unaware—or so it seemed.
But his lips curled into a faint smirk.
He knew.
They were coming.
---
The Killers Make Their Move
In the depths of the forest behind the sect, five figures knelt before a man cloaked in black.
His voice was low, yet filled with authority.
"Leon Xian has disrupted the balance of the Inner Sect. The Elders fear what he may become."
A masked assassin stepped forward. "What are the orders?"
"Kill him. Quickly and cleanly."
Silence.
Then, like ghosts, the assassins disappeared into the night.
---
The Moment Before Death
Leon sat cross-legged in his room, his breath slow and steady. His senses expanded, reaching out into the quiet night.
Then—
A flicker.
A shift in the wind.
He felt it.
Danger.
He kept his breathing even, waiting… waiting…
And then—
A dagger cut through the air!
Leon moved.
A flash of golden Qi exploded around him as he dodged, the blade slicing just inches from his throat.
His eyes snapped open.
"Assassins, huh?" he muttered, a glint of excitement in his gaze.
---
The Battle Begins!
Three assassins materialized from the shadows, their daggers gleaming with poisonous intent.
Leon smirked.
"Let's see what you've got."
Whoosh!
The first assassin struck, aiming for his chest. Leon twisted his body, evading with barely an inch to spare.
But the second assassin was already moving.
A cold light flashed as a dagger shot toward Leon's ribs.
Clang!
Leon deflected the blade with his bare hand, his Qi surging as his palm hardened like metal.
"You guys are fast," he said, dodging another strike. "But not fast enough."
With a burst of speed, he grabbed the third assassin's arm and—
Crack!
A sickening snap echoed through the courtyard.
The assassin screamed before Leon tossed him aside like trash.
The remaining two hesitated.
Leon grinned.
"Come on. Don't tell me that's all?"
---
The Leader Appears
A chilling presence descended upon the courtyard.
The final assassin emerged from the shadows—a man dressed in flowing black robes, his eyes gleaming with killing intent.
Leon's smirk faded.
This one was different.
Stronger.
More dangerous.
A thin blade appeared in the assassin's hand. "You're skilled," he admitted. "But against me—"
He vanished.
Leon's instincts screamed.
A blade materialized at his throat.
Too fast!
Leon barely had time to react.
But he didn't need to.
A sword light flashed through the air—
CLANG!
The assassin staggered back, his blade deflected.
Leon blinked.
Someone had saved him.
He turned.
And there she stood.
Qin Yue.
Her sword hummed in the moonlight, her expression cold.
"You'll have to get through me first," she said.