Silver Fox

"Xiayin, you've heard of this person?"

Xia Ci was somewhat surprised. He had never heard of this assassin Silver Fox, yet unexpectedly Xia Xiayin knew about him.

"Yes," Xia Xiayin said. "Previously I didn't pay attention to this area, so naturally I didn't know. But since you became a bounty hunter, I've been very attentive to wanted criminals in the martial world. This Silver Fox has a very high bounty, even higher than Flying Dragon—a full three thousand taels.

This Silver Fox is a newly emerged assassin in the past two years, having struck only nine times. Each time he has killed important figures, and he has never failed. However, the reason for his fame is his style.

He is extremely arrogant. Ordinary assassins and hunters operate stealthily, fearing to be known, but Silver Fox is different. He's very high-profile, notifying his targets in advance before each kill, and even clearly informing them of the date he will strike. Yet despite this, he has never failed. So in just two short years, with only nine strikes, he has been acclaimed as Yun Province's number one assassin."

Xia Ci remarked, "Truly arrogant."

Yan Sanniang also said, "Indeed very arrogant, but he has the capital to be arrogant. This person appears and disappears like a ghost. Even though he gives advance notice each time, and his assassination targets are all prominent figures in the martial world who make thorough preparations, he still succeeds every time. Until now, no one has even seen his true face."

Xia Ci asked, "Then, from what you're saying, this Wang Yuanbao who has received the death notice will certainly make a big show of it?"

Yan Sanniang nodded slightly and said, "Wang Yuanbao is the richest man in Yongan County, with numerous enterprises under his control. In terms of wealth, he ranks among the top ten in the entire Linjiang Prefecture. He himself is also a first-rate martial arts master.

Upon receiving Silver Fox's death notice, Wang Yuanbao immediately contacted the authorities. The Six Panels Office takes it very seriously. Currently, the chief constable of our Linjiang Prefecture's Six Panels Office, known as Swift Wind Divine Constable Zhuo Qingfeng, has personally led a team of masters to Yongan County.

However, Wang Yuanbao doesn't fully trust the Six Panels Office and is very worried about Silver Fox's methods. So he has also issued a bounty to the martial world. As far as I know, three pursuit towers—Dongyang, Fuwei, and Xinyi—have accepted the commission and sent top-tier bounty hunters to assist. The bounty is as high as six thousand taels, and additionally, the bounty hunters who go will receive an extra five hundred taels as a service fee, regardless of success."

Xia Ci sighed, "Worthy of a richest man—generous when spending. However, Madam Yan, as you said, this is Wang Yuanbao's own commission, and these three pursuit towers are the strongest in our Linjiang Prefecture. What about your Notsecond Manor?"

Yan Sanniang smiled lightly and said, "You don't need to worry about that, Young Hero Xia. If you're willing to take this task, I have ways to get Wang Yuanbao to commission our Notsecond Manor. This is a good opportunity for Notsecond Manor to gain fame. I'm not joking—this Silver Fox is no simple matter. Adding together the government bounty, various scattered bounties, and Wang Yuanbao's six thousand taels, it's about twelve thousand taels in total. According to our 30-70 split rule, if you successfully kill him, you can get more than eight thousand taels."

Just at this moment,

Just at this moment, a system notification sounded in Xia Ci's mind:

[New target detected]

[Wanted target—Silver Fox]

[Task level—4★]

[Task reward—SSS-level Mastered Little Li's Flying Knife]

...

Hearing the system reward, Xia Ci was tempted.

The existence of Little Li's Flying Knife was a kind of spiritual power that had transcended ordinary martial arts.

According to Xia Ci's speculation, this martial art, in terms of realm, should surpass the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms. This wasn't referring to combat power—not saying that Little Li's Flying Knife would definitely be stronger than the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms—but rather that in terms of martial arts conception, it was a step higher than the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms.

And the cultivation direction of this Little Li's Flying Knife was precisely the second of the three cultivation directions Shen Bai had mentioned earlier—true martial intent, which focused on cultivating willpower.

"I can give it a try," Xia Ci said.

Hearing Xia Ci say this, a smile appeared on Yan Sanniang's face. She had already collaborated with Xia Ci once and had interacted with him quite a bit during this time, knowing that Xia Ci usually didn't like to make absolute statements.

So when Xia Ci said he would try, it meant he was accepting the task.

"Good,"

Yan Sanniang said, "It's like this—we still have five days, and it only takes two days to get to Yongan County from here, so there's no need to rush. You can wait for my news with peace of mind. Take a good rest these few days, and I also need some time to secure Wang Yuanbao's commission."

"Alright."

Xia Ci knew that with Wang Yuanbao's status, he definitely wouldn't invite ordinary people. Although his reputation among bounty hunters was far from that of gold-medal bounty hunters now, he had the achievement of killing Flying Dragon and the reputation Shen Bai had spread. With Yan Sanniang's connections added, this commission could definitely be obtained.

Soon, Yan Sanniang left,

Leaving behind some information and intelligence about Silver Fox, mainly regarding Silver Fox's martial arts displays in his previous strikes, habits, and so on.

Xia Xiayin read it very carefully and described it to Xia Ci in detail, giving Xia Ci a general concept of Silver Fox in his mind—someone with extremely fast sword strikes and excellent lightness skills, coming and going like the wind, acting clean and efficient, always striking with one sword to the throat.

...

The next day.

Xia Ci and Xia Xiayin followed their planned schedule, inviting their respective friends to visit their home. In total, there were six people. Two were Xia Xiayin's good friends: one was Qu Heng's daughter Qu Xiao, and the other was the granddaughter of an old escort leader from the Changfeng Escort Agency.

Xia Ci invited four people, all escort guards from the Changfeng Escort Agency with whom he had very good relationships, with particular emphasis on inviting Qu Heng.

For the others, Xia Xiayin had gone to invite them personally, but for Qu Heng, Xia Ci personally went to invite him.

Qu Heng lived in a small lane of civilian houses.

Hearing that Xia Ci had come to visit, Qu Heng, who was resting, quickly got up from his bed. While getting dressed, he walked out, and just as he reached the living room and saw Xia Ci, he said, "Ah-Ci, when did you come back? I happen to have something for you." As he spoke, Qu Heng looked at his daughter Qu Xiao, who was chatting with Xia Xiayin, and said, "Xiao Xiao, go to my study and bring me the bundle from the middle of the second shelf."

"Sure thing!"

Qu Xiao had a straightforward personality, similar in age to Xia Xiayin, and had also practiced martial arts since childhood. She was frank, forthright, clean, and efficient in her actions. She rushed out hurriedly and quickly returned with a bundle.

At this time, Xia Ci and Qu Heng were drinking tea.

Qu Heng took the bundle and handed it to Xia Ci, saying, "Ah-Ci, there are one hundred taels of silver inside."

Xia Ci smiled and said, "Uncle Qu, are you that wealthy? I just moved to a new home, and you're giving me such a generous gift?"

Qu Heng waved his hand and said, "I'm not that rich. This is compensation I got for you from the escort agency. A few days ago, when I returned from Zhushan County, I went to find the young master Yang Yan and gave him a severe beating. That boy is still bedridden, unable to get up. After I beat him, the boy finally told the truth. The master Yang Fang did act improperly by abandoning you, but he wasn't that ruthless. He provided one hundred taels as compensation, but it was embezzled by that boy Yang Yan."

Xia Ci smiled and said, "Uncle Qu, you've really offended Yang Yan badly."

"I can't beat him to death," Qu Heng said. "If he dares to make trouble for me, at worst I'll quit. If I leave, I'll take at least a dozen skilled hands with me to another escort agency. I'd like to see if Yang Fang would beat him to death then."

Xia Ci smiled lightly, took the bundle, and said, "Uncle Qu, I'll take the money. This is indeed what the Changfeng Escort Agency owes me. I was originally planning to personally go and demand compensation, but since it's already been given, let's consider it settled."

Xia Ci held a grudge against the Changfeng Escort Agency, but it wasn't a deep hatred. The Changfeng Escort Agency, or more accurately, Young Master Yang Yan had kicked him when he was down, and Master Yang Fang had been improper, but they hadn't done anything excessive. Although Yang Yan had said some vicious words, he hadn't engaged in overly aggressive behavior like physical attacks.

So it wasn't to the level of hatred.

Now that Xia Ci had accepted the money, it indicated that from now on, the debt was considered settled.

Afterward, Xia Ci mentioned inviting Qu Heng to the housewarming party.

"Tomorrow? I'm afraid tomorrow won't work."

However, after hearing this, Qu Heng shook his head and said, "As you just saw, I'm resting now to gather my strength. I'll be setting out tonight to escort a shipment."

Xia Ci asked with surprise, "What kind of shipment requires leaving late at night?"

Qu Heng lowered his voice and said, "A big one. The Changfeng Escort Agency has put up a guarantee deposit of two hundred thousand taels with the authorities. The chief escort is personally leading the team, with twelve escort leaders and more than fifty veteran escort guards. What is being transported and where it's being sent, we don't even know. Only the chief escort knows."

Xia Ci knew this must be something extraordinary and didn't ask further, only saying, "Well, Uncle Qu, take good care of yourself. When you return, come to my place, and we'll have a good drink together."

"No problem."