12: The Next Test

Chapter 12: The Next Test

The air inside the Seventh Division's stronghold was thick with unease.

I had passed Qiu Hong's first test and survived an ambush meant to kill me, but instead of eliminating me, he had invited me for another meeting.

That meant one thing—he wasn't done testing me yet.

And this time, I had a feeling it would be even more dangerous.

🔹 The Invitation to Meet Qiu Hong

Zhao Teng escorted me through the halls of the Seventh Division's inner complex.

He had been watching me closely since the Shadow Creek mission. I could tell he still didn't trust me, but after what happened, he couldn't ignore me either.

As we approached a large wooden door, Zhao Teng glanced at me.

"Careful with your words," he warned. "Vice-Leader Qiu doesn't like liars."

I smirked. "Good thing I don't need to lie."

Zhao Teng didn't reply. He pushed open the door, revealing a quiet chamber lit by candlelight.

Qiu Hong sat at a low table, pouring himself a cup of black tea, his movements smooth and deliberate.

He gestured toward the seat across from him. "Sit."

I did as instructed, keeping my posture relaxed but my mind sharp.

Qiu Hong studied me for a long moment, his piercing gaze unreadable. Then he smirked.

"You survived."

I met his gaze evenly. "Wasn't that the point of the test?"

He chuckled. "Indeed. I needed to know if you were weak enough to discard… or strong enough to be useful."

He set his cup down and leaned forward. "You are valuable. But you are also unpredictable."

I remained silent. This was a test of words. Say too little, and he'll remain suspicious. Say too much, and I'll make myself a target.

After a moment, Qiu Hong reached inside his robes and pulled out a sealed scroll.

He slid it across the table toward me.

"Your next mission," he said.

I picked up the scroll and unrolled it.

My eyes narrowed as I read.

🔹 The Mission: A Deadly Escort

📜 Mission Order: Escort an important guest to the Seventh Division. Protect him at all costs.

🔹 Target: Grand Elder Han of the Silent Blades Sect.

My grip on the scroll tightened.

The Silent Blades Sect. The very same assassin organization that Wu Jian secretly controlled.

Qiu Hong observed my reaction carefully. "You look tense, Jiang Feng."

I forced myself to relax. "I wasn't expecting an escort mission. That's not what the Seventh Division is known for."

Qiu Hong smirked. "True. But this guest is… special."

He poured himself another cup of tea. "Grand Elder Han is an important figure, but let's just say… not everyone in the cult wants him arriving safely."

That caught my attention. "There's opposition to him being here?"

Qiu Hong nodded. "Rumors say that certain factions within the cult want him dead before he reaches the Seventh Division. And if he dies on the way…"

I understood immediately.

"If he dies, it'll be blamed on the Seventh Division."

Qiu Hong smiled. "Exactly. Which is why this mission is a perfect test for you."

He leaned back. "Protect him. Prove your worth."

I considered my options. This wasn't just a normal escort mission.

This was a political trap.

🔹 A Private Warning

I left Qiu Hong's chambers with the scroll in hand, my mind racing.

The Silent Blades Sect was directly involved. If Grand Elder Han was traveling here, that meant Wu Jian himself must have approved it.

Was this a setup? Or was Wu Jian trying to secure a stronger foothold in the Seventh Division?

I needed answers.

As I walked toward my temporary quarters, I felt a presence behind me.

I sighed. "Are you ever going to stop sneaking up on me?"

Xiao Rin smirked as she stepped out of the shadows. "Not if you keep making it this easy."

I held up the scroll. "I assume you already know?"

She nodded. "Grand Elder Han is one of Wu Jian's trusted men. If someone is trying to kill him before he reaches the Seventh Division, it means there's a power struggle happening behind the scenes."

I frowned. "Does Wu Jian know?"

Xiao Rin shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, you're about to walk into the middle of it."

I glanced down at the scroll. "You don't seem worried for me."

She smirked. "If you were weak, I'd be worried."

I sighed. "That's not comforting."

Xiao Rin leaned against the wall. "Listen, Ye Qing. If you do this mission, you won't just be dealing with assassins. You'll be dealing with the forces trying to shake up the Demonic Cult itself."

I raised an eyebrow. "So, what do you suggest?"

She grinned. "Win."

I rolled my eyes. "So helpful."

She chuckled. "You'll figure it out. You always do."

Then, just like always, she disappeared.

I exhaled, looking at the scroll again.

An escort mission where multiple factions wanted my target dead…

This wasn't just a mission.

This was a war in disguise.

🔹 The Journey Begins

The next morning, I met up with the group assigned to escort Grand Elder Han.

Zhao Teng was already there, standing beside ten Seventh Division warriors, all mounted on horseback.

He smirked as I approached. "Welcome to the real work, Jiang Feng."

I nodded toward the lead carriage. "Is he inside?"

Zhao Teng nodded. "He doesn't talk much. Just get him to the Seventh Division alive. That's all that matters."

I glanced around.

This mission was too quiet. No other elders were present, The First Signs of Trouble

Two hours passed without incident.

Then—I felt it.

A shift in the wind. The faint rustling of leaves moving against the natural flow.

Something was wrong.

I tightened my grip on the reins.

Ahead of us, the path narrowed into a rocky pass, with towering cliffs on both sides.

A perfect kill zone.

"Zhao Teng," I said quietly. "We're being watched."

He didn't react outwardly, but his fingers twitched toward his sword.

"You sure?" he muttered back.

I nodded. "Three, maybe four presences hiding in the cliffs. More in the trees up ahead."

Zhao Teng sighed. "Damn it. Knew this was too easy."

He signaled discreetly to the other riders. They tightened formation, their hands resting on their weapons.

Then, just as we entered the narrowest part of the pass—

The first arrow flew.

🔹 The Ambush Begins!

I barely had time to react before a rain of arrows descended from above.

Shadow Step!

I vanished, reappearing five feet away just as an arrow embedded itself where I had been.

"AMBUSH!" Zhao Teng roared, drawing his sword.

The first wave of assassins dropped from the cliffs—cloaked figures with curved daggers, their movements silent and deadly.

Their target wasn't us.

It was the carriage.

"Protect Grand Elder Han!" Zhao Teng ordered, clashing blades with one of the attackers.

I whipped my Hidden Blade out, blocking a dagger aimed for my throat before countering with a quick slash to the assassin's ribs.

Blood sprayed as he collapsed.

Another attacker lunged at the carriage, attempting to rip open the door.

Not happening.

I threw my dagger, and it buried itself into the assassin's neck. He gurgled, dropping lifelessly to the ground.

The battle had just begun.

🔹 The Enemy's True Strength

More assassins emerged from the shadows—fifteen, maybe twenty in total.

Each one moved with terrifying precision, their blades coated in a faint green poison.

I parried a strike from one attacker, twisting my body and driving my knee into his stomach before finishing him off with a quick throat slash.

Ding!

[New Skill Progress: Phantom Blade Mastery (Lv.1 → Lv.2)]

Your slashes are 10% faster when fighting multiple opponents.

I exhaled. Good. I needed all the speed I could get.

But then, I sensed something far more dangerous.

From the treetops, a lone figure descended gracefully—their robe fluttering in the wind.

Unlike the others, this one wasn't just an ordinary assassin.

He stood calmly amid the chaos, watching us with a sharp, calculating gaze.

Zhao Teng swore. "Shit"