Dark Veil Gate technique

Xin Long knew he couldn't keep running like this forever. His movement techniques were only at an ordinary level, weren't they? Compared to the martial artists from the Golden Tiger Palace pursuing him, their mastery of movement techniques and martial skills was far superior. He had realized this the moment they clashed in battle.

As he dashed through the dense forest, weaving around the towering trees, he caught a glimpse of Wei Wei, the Illusionist, moving like nothing more than a fleeting shadow beside him.

"Wei, climb up a tree with good cover and stay hidden. Make no sound. Don't let them see you. I'll handle the rest. If you hear the sound of the wind shifting, that means the arrow is about to be loosed. If an archer gets too close to you, use your throwing knives to take them down."

He gave his instructions quickly before breaking away and running in a different direction. The deeper parts of the forest were thick with trees, and as he sprinted forward, he noticed the shifting clouds slowly obscuring the crescent moon, plunging the surroundings into complete darkness.

Xin Long came to a sudden stop. Then, he activated an ability—the technique known as Pushing Open the Dark Gate. This was an internal art mastered by every member of the Death Messenger Guild. In places shrouded in absolute darkness, it allowed the user to see as clearly as if it were broad daylight. It was a crucial skill, especially for assassins who relied on the cover of night. However, even the slightest presence of light would render the technique useless.

Scanning his surroundings, Xin Long's eyes landed on a small bamboo grove nestled between the towering trees. A grin tugged at his lips—fortune was on his side. Without hesitation, he leaped onto a nearby tree, crouching within its branches as he listened intently to the approaching footsteps of his pursuers.

The chilling air carried the dampness of melting snow, seeping into his skin. He remained still, observing. Yet, after a while, there were no more sounds of movement, no sign of anyone nearby.

Without wasting another second, he descended swiftly and dashed into the bamboo grove.

At this moment, was he not the hunter once more?

…

Whirlwind Prince Tie Yi… Seeing that Xin Long and his group had fled, he activated his Qinggong and dashed into the forest after them.

Opportunities do not come twice.

Xin Long's group had sustained minor internal injuries. Now was the perfect moment to finish them off. He knew this well. Moreover, he couldn't let them escape. If they got away, the Shadowmoon Reaper Sect would surely seek vengeance, something he could not afford. That fear drove him forward.

Even though he had rushed in, leading both Ah Chan and Gu Gu, a lingering unease settled in his heart.

When he fought against Ah Chan earlier, he had noticed that Xin Long's martial arts techniques were not the kind that could wipe out twenty elite fighters from the Golden Tiger Fortress in mere moments. That realization alone unsettled him.

Someone must be watching over Xin Long from the shadows.

And that person—who else could they be but a member of the Shadowmoon Reaper Sect? The thought tightened the knot of anxiety in his chest. If such an individual was tailing them like a shadow, they were undoubtedly lurking somewhere deep in the forest, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

Darkness thickened around him.

The rustling sounds of the forest, stirred by his frantic chase, filled his ears. The faint whistle of venomous needles, fired by Gu Gu, found their mark in the trees with a muted thud, thud, thud.

And then—nothing.

The night had fallen completely, and Tie Yi came to an abrupt halt, his breath shallow and controlled. His heightened senses told him that the eerie silence of the forest was unnatural. Aside from the occasional sway of tree branches, there was no sound—no insects, no wind, nothing. That silence itself was a warning.

Xin Long and his group must have concealed themselves somewhere.

Using the darkness to his advantage, Xin Long was likely preparing for a counterattack. Tie Yi smirked at the thought.

With a slow, deliberate motion, he reached behind his back and grasped the guqin he carried.

As his fingers brushed the strings, he murmured under his breath, "Lotus Dust Requiem."

Then, he began to play.

Standing beside him, Ah Chan and Gu Gu, who were trying to steady their breathing in the darkness, seemed to have grasped his intentions. He had a fleeting thought that they might be glancing at him in suspicion. However, it was merely an assumption—he couldn't say for certain. Despite their close proximity, the dim lighting barely allowed him to see their silhouettes. The guqin in his hands was shrouded in darkness, yet when he ran his fingers over the strings to test them, a fluid melody began to take shape.

"Ding— Ding— Ding—"

Wei Wei… She had hidden herself atop a tree at Xin Long's command, but fate was cruel. Now, as the sound of the guqin resonated beneath her hiding spot, its reverberations sent a shiver down her spine. Fear crept into her chest, but she didn't dare take a deep breath. She remained still, uncertain of what Xin Long was planning. If she moved recklessly, she might end up ruining his scheme.

Through the Dark Veil Gate technique, her inner force sharpened her perception, allowing her to clearly discern the three martial artists from the Golden Tiger Fortress standing before her. She watched them intently, waiting for the moment Xin Long would unleash his attack.

"Shwiip—"

From all ten directions, a sharp, piercing whistle echoed. Wei Wei barely registered the sound before instinctively loosing an arrow, aiming directly at the head of the musician playing the guqin.

At the same time, two bamboo darts shot out in rapid succession toward the remaining two opponents.

Xin Long had entered the bamboo grove earlier, slashing down a few stalks to fashion five sharpened darts. Now, after tucking his long blade back into its sheath, he slid three of them behind his back and held two in hand. The moment he struck the guqin strings again, he smiled with satisfaction.

The musician had deliberately played the instrument to expose their position, aiming to inflict serious internal damage with its sonic waves. Xin Long grasped this immediately.

That man had likely assumed they were standing frozen in the darkness, just as he was. That was why he dared to strike the chords, baiting them into revealing themselves.

In response, Xin Long activated his Qinggong, propelling himself forward in a blur, using the trees as footholds. As he leapt from one trunk to another, his movements were so light they seemed to defy gravity.

There was no time to waste. The mist was beginning to lift. As soon as the haze cleared, the dim glow of moonlight would return—and he knew he couldn't afford to linger.

Without hesitation, he dashed into the night.

End - 18