8:Hidden Master of Shadows

Chapter 8: The Hidden Master of Shadows

The room was suffocatingly quiet.

Xiao Rin's words still rang in my ears.

Elder Wu Jian—the man who ordered my death—wasn't just a high-ranking elder of the Demonic Cult.

He was the true master of the Silent Blades Sect.

I clenched my fists. That explained everything. The resources, the perfect timing of the assassinations, the inside knowledge about my movements.

This wasn't just an elder eliminating an obstacle. This was a grandmaster of assassins ensuring that I never became a threat.

And yet… I was still alive.

That meant one thing.

I wasn't his biggest problem yet.

I looked up at Xiao Rin, who was watching me carefully. She had known more than she let on.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked, my voice steady.

Xiao Rin shrugged. "Because I find you entertaining."

I narrowed my eyes. "That's not a real answer."

She smirked. "Fine. Think of it as… a test. If you die, you weren't worth paying attention to. If you survive, well…" Her smirk widened. "Then things get interesting."

I exhaled sharply. She was toying with me. But there was something else in her tone—something I couldn't quite place.

"You could have warned me earlier," I pointed out.

"And ruin the surprise?" Xiao Rin said, tilting her head. "That's no fun."

This woman was unbelievable.

I shook my head. "Do you work for him?"

Her expression remained unreadable. "That depends on your definition of 'work.'"

She was being deliberately vague. That meant she was either hiding something… or she wasn't sure where she stood anymore.

Interesting.

A Dangerous Plan

Now that I knew who my enemy was, I had two choices.

Go to the Lord of the Sixth Division and report Wu Jian's involvement.

Risk: If Wu Jian had deep connections in the cult, this could backfire.

Reward: If it worked, I might gain powerful allies.

Go undercover in the Seventh Division to investigate him personally.

Risk: If I got caught, I'd be killed instantly.

Reward: I would uncover Wu Jian's true motives.

I considered both options carefully.

Xiao Rin watched me in silence, as if she knew I was calculating my next move.

"How closely does Wu Jian control the Seventh Division?" I finally asked.

She raised an eyebrow. "Tightly. But he doesn't oversee the daily operations himself. He has subordinates for that."

That meant I had an opening.

"I need to get close to his inner circle," I said. "If I can find out why he wants me dead, I can turn the tables on him."

Xiao Rin let out a soft chuckle. "You're bold. I'll give you that."

She leaned against the bookshelf. "So, how do you plan to get into the Seventh Division without getting your throat slit?"

Good question.

I couldn't just walk in. But if I could find an excuse—a reason to interact with their people—then I could slip in unnoticed.

I turned to Xiao Rin. "Can you get me in?"

She smirked. "I could… but why should I?"

I stared at her. "Because if Wu Jian succeeds in killing me, you'll be next."

Her smile faltered for just a fraction of a second.

Got you.

She was in just as much danger as I was—whether she wanted to admit it or not.

She sighed dramatically. "Fine. I'll help. But don't expect me to save you if things go wrong."

I smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it."

The First Step: Infiltrating the Seventh Division

The next day, I prepared my disguise.

Xiao Rin had arranged an alias for me—a minor rogue cultivator looking for work under the Seventh Division's employment.

"Your new name is Jiang Feng," she said as we walked toward the Seventh Division's territory. "Keep your head down, don't make eye contact, and act like you belong."

I adjusted my hood. "Got it."

We approached the Seventh Division's training grounds, where dozens of disciples sparred under the watchful eye of an instructor.

Xiao Rin led me toward the entrance, where a stern-looking guard blocked our way.

"State your business," the guard said.

Xiao Rin stepped forward smoothly. "This is Jiang Feng, a mercenary looking for work. He's skilled with a blade and has no allegiance."

The guard looked me up and down, unimpressed. "We don't accept just anyone."

I expected Xiao Rin to argue, but instead, she grinned.

"Then test him," she said.

I blinked. "Wait, what?"

The guard raised an eyebrow. "A test?"

Xiao Rin nodded. "If he can defeat one of your disciples in a spar, he's worth hiring. If not… well, we'll leave."

I gave her a side glance. She was doing this on purpose.

The guard considered for a moment, then smirked. "Fine. Let's see if he's worth anything."

He turned and gestured to a young man practicing nearby. "Jin Hai, get over here!"

A stocky disciple with a bo staff approached, cracking his neck. He eyed me with clear disdain. "This the guy?"

The guard nodded. "You know the rules. No killing. But if he gets hurt… accidents happen."

Jin Hai grinned, spinning his staff. "I won't take long."

I sighed internally. Xiao Rin was definitely enjoying this.

Fine. If they wanted a test, I'd give them one.

A Swift Victory

The disciples gathered around as we stepped into the sparring ring.

Jin Hai twirled his staff, his Qi flaring slightly. "Better back out now, mercenary. You don't stand a chance."

I rolled my shoulders, my Hidden Blade still concealed. "Let's find out."

The guard raised his hand. "Begin!"

Jin Hai lunged forward, his bo staff whipping toward my ribs with incredible speed.

But he was too predictable.

I stepped to the side at the last moment, letting the staff barely graze my clothes. Then, before he could recover, I slammed my palm into his exposed ribs.

CRACK!

Jin Hai's eyes widened as he stumbled backward, coughing. He barely had time to react before I closed the distance and swept his legs out from under him.

He hit the ground hard.

Silence filled the air.

The guard's smirk disappeared. Jin Hai groaned, trying to get up—only for my foot to press lightly against his chest.

I met the guard's gaze. "Is that good enough?"

He hesitated, then finally nodded. "You pass."

Xiao Rin clapped mockingly. "Well done, Jiang Feng."

I sighed. She was definitely enjoying this.

But more importantly, I was one step closer to Wu Jian.

Now, it was time to uncover his secrets.

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Chapter 9 Teasers:

Ye Qing meets some of Wu Jian's top subordinates.

He gathers intelligence while hiding his true identity.

A deadly test awaits him—one he wasn't prepared for.