185: Linglong Pavilion Ambush

The cold jade lamps deep within the underground palace flickered, illuminating the Dark Jade Thumb Ring spinning on Jun Xiaoyao's finger.

The character “Heaven” carved onto the thumb ring had been polished smooth by touch; this was the token of the Young Master of Tianwaitian and the reassurance for the Luowang Assassinss.

“Zhao Gao,” Jun Xiaoyao's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the corner, “Is the 'Blood Pact' from the Black Market handled?”

Zhao Gao was currently checking the casualty list of the Luowang Assassinss. Hearing this, he immediately bowed: “Reporting, Young Lord, we followed your instruction and had the thirty newly recruited assassins sign the Blood Pact. We used the 'mother-son gu'; the mother gu is with you, and the son gu is hidden in their hearts. Should they betray us or leak secrets, they will immediately...” He made a crushing gesture.

Jun Xiaoyao hummed in acknowledgment, his gaze sweeping over the summoning array at the center of the underground palace. The runes on the edge of the Formation were quite dim; the previous summoning of the Sweeping Monk had consumed too much energy, and it was now slowly recovering at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye. He lightly tapped the center of the Formation with his fingertip, and a faint golden light flashed—this was the signal to initiate a low-tier summon.

[System Notification: Energy Reserve 37%. A single low-tier summon can be performed.]

“Summon someone skilled in disguise,” Jun Xiaoyao said flatly.

A layer of white mist rose from the summoning array, and from the mist walked out a guest in green robes, toying with a mask in his hand, his eyes carrying a hint of cunning.

[Character Panel Expanded:

Name: Star Plucker (from the legend of lu xiaofeng world)

Realm: Late Grandmaster Realm

Martial Skill and Cultivation Technique:

1. Hundred Changes Divine Thief Technique: Can instantly change appearance and attire, imitate the actions and demeanor of others, and even mimic voices perfectly.

2. Treading Snow Without a Trace Steps: Silent movement, proficient in infiltration and escape, moving as easily in secret rooms and tunnels as on flat ground.

Special Abilities:

- Master of Forgery: Can replicate any token, including aristocratic family jade pendant and Sect token, to the point of being indistinguishable from the real thing; once forged a rubbing of the Shaolin Muscle Tendon Changing Classic.

- Insight into the Human Heart: Can determine if the other party is lying through micro-expressions; highly effective during interrogation.

Additional Items:

- Hundred Faces Manual: A stack of masks as thin as cicada wings that automatically conform to the face shape as needed, allowing for a hundred different appearances.

- Bone Shrinking Powder: A powder that temporarily alters bone structure upon consumption, allowing the user to transform into a child or an elderly person when combined with disguise.]

Star Plucker cupped his hands and laughed: “Did the Young Lord summon me because you want to steal some good stuff?”

“Not stealing, but retrieving.” Jun Xiaoyao took a blueprint from a hidden compartment. “The 'Exquisite Pavilion' on the top floor of the Black Market holds a piece of 'star marrow', which can speed up the summoning array's recovery. Go retrieve it tonight; don't alarm the Pavilion Master.”

Star Plucker took the blueprint, his eyes brightening: “Exquisite Pavilion? I heard the Pavilion Master is a blind old man who can identify objects by their aura. That's interesting.” He flicked the Hundred Faces Manual with his fingertip. “Don't worry, I guarantee he won't know anything is missing until dawn.”

Just as he spoke, a light knocking sound came from the entrance of the underground palace—three long, two short, the secret signal of The Net. Zhao Gao opened the door, and the Marshal of the Unruly entered. His armor was stained with blood, and his left arm was wrapped in a bandage; he had clearly just returned from Soul Severing Cliff.

“Young Lord,” the Marshal of the Unruly knelt on one knee. “All the death warriors at Soul Severing Cliff were wiped out. Princess Zhao Min used an Interlocking Stratagem to make them kill each other. In the end, only Soul Severing Hand remained, and he was captured by your subordinate. However...” He paused, “Cult Master Ren of the Netherworld Cult did not appear; he is likely observing.”

The thumb ring on Jun Xiaoyao's finger stopped spinning: “As expected. A Heaven Human Middle Stage expert is not worth mobilizing my forces for.” He looked at Zhao Gao, “Throw Soul Severing Hand into the 'Soul Devouring Prison' and make him reveal the location of the weapon depot.”

Zhao Gao acknowledged and noted it down, then handed over a scroll: “Young Lord, this is the recent bounty list from the Black Market. There is a strange order—someone offered thirty thousand taels of gold for core intelligence on 'Beyond Heaven'. The poster is anonymous, but the method resembles the style of the 'Hundred Herbs Valley'.”

Jun Xiaoyao took the scroll. The bounty content was written in cinnabar on the yellowed paper; the handwriting was delicate but revealed a fierce determination. He suddenly smiled and said to Star Plucker: “When you go to Exquisite Pavilion, check who posted this bounty. The people of Hundred Herbs Valley like to use 'worry-forgetting grass' for stationery; it smells of faint floral fragrance.”

Star Plucker sniffed the scroll and nodded: “It's true, and the ink is mixed with beeswax, which is the habit of the Hundred Herbs Valley Master. Interesting. Haven't they always stayed out of Jianghu affairs?”

“Of course they care.” Jun Xiaoyao tossed the scroll back to Zhao Gao. “We seized their poppy fields last year; they've held that grudge until now.”

The Marshal of the Unruly added: “Your subordinate investigated and found that Hundred Herbs Valley has recently been in contact with the 'Heavenly Thunder Hall'. Heavenly Thunder Hall specializes in manufacturing firearms, so they probably intend to...”

“Intend to blow up my underground palace?” Jun Xiaoyao sneered. “Let them try.” He activated the summoning array again. This time, the energy was only enough to support half a summon. A red light appeared in the Formation, but only half a figure materialized—it was an arm, gripping a short saber.

[System Notification: Insufficient energy, summon failed. Acquired incomplete projection—Fu Hongxue's Saber Arm (from the Bright Moon Blade of the Horizon world)]

Temporary Ability: Saber Qi Vertical and Horizontal, can unleash three remote Saber Glints, and has a special sensitivity to firearms.

Jun Xiaoyao grasped the illusory Saber Arm projection, feeling the fierce Saber Intent within: “Marshal of the Unruly, take ten Luowang Assassinss to set up watch posts outside the Heavenly Thunder Hall. If you see any firearms being transported out, intercept them immediately. Use this Saber Arm projection; their gunpowder will explode upon contact with the Saber Qi.”

The Marshal of the Unruly accepted the order, took the illusory Saber Arm, and turned to leave. By this time, Star Plucker had already changed his face—he had become a wrinkled old servant, carrying a food box: “Young Lord, your subordinate will go to Exquisite Pavilion now. You just wait for good news.”

Just as he walked out of the underground palace, Zhao Gao suddenly exclaimed: “Young Lord, the summoning array's energy is skyrocketing!”

The runes in the center of the summoning array suddenly lit up, indicating that someone was forcefully injecting energy from the outside. A golden light broke through the Formation and landed in front of Jun Xiaoyao, transforming into a youth wearing a python robe, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

[Character Panel Expanded:

Name: Zhu Houzhao (from the Back to the Ming Dynasty as a Prince world, adapted setting)

Realm: Grandmaster Initial Stage

Martial Skill and Cultivation Technique:

1. Son of Heaven's Dragon Qi: Dragon-shaped Qi energy surrounds the body, providing natural suppression over Jianghu Schools, and Luowang Assassinss gain a 10% boost in combat strength under his aura.

2. Leopard Chamber Secret Art: Proficient in close-quarters combat; the Moves are vicious, and he once strangled a fierce tiger bare-handed.

Special Abilities:

- Control of Statecraft: Can mobilize government power, invalidating the official status of forces like Hundred Herbs Valley and Heavenly Thunder Hall, turning them into illegal organizations.

- Ingenious Ideas: Can improve firearms; once converted Heavenly Thunder Hall's crude cannons into repeating crossbow cannons.

Additional Items:

- Zhengde Tongbao (token): Can command the capital city patrols and travel unimpeded throughout the Central Plains area.

- Leopard Chamber token: Can mobilize a special guard unit, the "Embroidered Uniform Guard Eastern Depot," which, though an illusion, can scare away ordinary Jianghu individuals.]

Zhu Houzhao clapped Jun Xiaoyao on the shoulder, smiling brazenly: “I've long heard that the Young Master of Tianwaitian possesses extraordinary methods. This King... oh no, I specifically came to meet you.”

Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow: “Why isn't Your Majesty staying properly in the Leopard Chamber? What are you doing in this dark underground palace?”

“To watch the excitement, of course.” Zhu Houzhao pointed at the summoning array. “Your Formation is quite interesting, much more fun than my tiger cage. By the way, I heard you're dealing with Hundred Herbs Valley? Take me along. I happen to need a medicinal garden, and their worry-forgetting grass looks great; I'll dig it up for bonsai.”

Just as he spoke, Star Plucker's message talisman suddenly lit up, bearing only four characters: “Ambush at Exquisite Pavilion.”

Jun Xiaoyao's eyes narrowed, but Zhu Houzhao was rubbing his hands together: “Perfect timing to stretch my muscles. My Embroidered Uniform Guard Eastern Depot hasn't had a taste of blood yet.”

Zhao Gao immediately brought up the Exquisite Pavilion's defense map. Zhu Houzhao glanced at it and circled three spots with a cinnabar pen: “Here, here, and here are the mechanism rooms. Have The Net's people dismantle them. I'll take the Eastern Depot Guards through the main entrance, claiming we're seizing contraband. Let's see if they dare stop us.”

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the map, tapping the location of the “star marrow” with his fingertip: “Star Plucker can handle it. Our target is Hundred Herbs Valley. Zhao Gao, notify the Marshal of the Unruly to immediately head to the perimeter of Exquisite Pavilion for backup after finishing with Heavenly Thunder Hall.”

“Yes!”

Zhu Houzhao had already changed into the attire of the Governor of the Eastern Depot, with a xiu chun saber hanging from his waist: “Let's go, let them see what it means to be one family of officials and bandits... oh no, what it means for officials to purge bandits.”

He strode out of the underground palace, his Dragon-shaped Qi energy sweeping across the stone walls, leaving faint claw marks. Jun Xiaoyao watched his retreating figure, then looked at the energy slowly recovering in the summoning array. The Dark Jade Thumb Ring on his finger began spinning again.

The assassins of The Net had already gathered in secret. The Unruly under the Marshal of the Unruly had set up a net outside the Heavenly Thunder Hall. Star Plucker held his breath on the rafters of Exquisite Pavilion, listening to the footsteps from downstairs—those were people from Hundred Herbs Valley. They had indeed colluded with the Exquisite Pavilion Master, waiting for The Net to walk into their trap.

But they didn't know that Tianwaitian's game was never just a single Move. Zhu Houzhao's appearance completely dragged this conflict, which originated in the Black Market, into the vortex of the imperial court and the Jianghu. And the thumb ring on Jun Xiaoyao's finger, along with the recovery of the summoning array's energy, gradually began to glow faintly—who would the next summon be? Perhaps even he himself hadn't realized that this single Move would affect the power structure of the entire continent.

The cold jade lamps in the underground palace dimmed again, as if foretelling that the storm of the night had only just begun.