By A Hair’s Breadth!
By A Hair’s Breadth!
Lord Liu slowly pondered and said. "Now that this situation has escalated to this point, the mission to assassinate the Princess will be temporarily called off. We are fortunate to have acquired the Mystic beast tendons without a hitch. At this juncture, I can make arrangements for your departure from Tianxiang. Haha…"
"As for the other issues, I'll personally report to my master and see what the old man has planned. Perhaps we may have to collaborate with your hall once again, and I'll have to inconvenience everyone to return at that time. Please send greetings to the Blood Sword Hall's Grandmaster on my behalf and tell him 'although this was a failure, 'Second Uncle' is still grateful.'"
After saying these words, his voice became extremely solemn. Apparently, this sentence was the original words of this so-called 'Second Uncle' Jun Moxie was silent as he twitched his mouth. It was obvious that this 'Second Uncle' was the Second Prince. Was there even a need for you to act so mysterious if you were going to give such an obvious name?
"Lord Liu, thank you for your generous words. As for our departure, we naturally have our means. We'll take our leave!"
The three men immediately stood up and cupped their fists.
"The Mystic beast tendons have been given to Lady Yue'er for safe keeping. Thirty tendons is not a small number so we hope that we will be informed as soon as this matter is resolved. That which belongs to us, we will personally come back to retrieve."
Lord Liu laughed and said.
"You do not need to be polite. When you return, please ask the Grandmaster if he had given some thoughts to our request to assassinate an emperor. Regardless of his answer, please give us an answer as soon as possible!"
"Yes." The three men filed out and disappeared into the night. Lord Liu did not send them off.
"Lady Yue'er. The palace had already conducted a major purge after the incident with the princess and all three sides have lost much manpower. But this does not concern us. What's more important is that the one behind all this is most likely the big boss. Therefore, you need to complete your assignment we've discussed earlier as quickly as possible. In case of an information leak, do your best to arrange some people to enter the palace! Be vigilant and maintain only a single line of communication!" Lord Liu lowered his voice and spoke urgently.
"Yes. Lord Liu and 'Second Uncle' can rest assured. I have already made preparation a long time ago and have selected only virgin maidens."
Lady Yue'er's gentle and beautiful voice echoed.
"If not for 'Second Uncle's' important plans, even Yue'er would want to go to the palace to play for a few days."
"Haha, Lady Yue'er is one of Tianxiang's top beauties! Who can resist your charms?"
Lord Liu laughed a while before lowering his voice once again to speak.
"'Second Uncle' has ordered that we move forward with the plans to create crossbows out of the Mystic beast tendons. They might be needed at any time, there is not a single moment to waste. Since many parties are watching our every move, it would be inconvenient for us to be personally involved. That is why we entrust you with completing this task."
Lady Yue'er replied uneasily. "I naturally understand, but these strips of Mystic beast tendons are too exceptional. Using ordinary steel would not be able to bring out the full potential of these tendons. Unfortunately, we will not be able to employ Shen Bing Pu, even though his craftsmanship is unrivaled in Tianxiang, since a tall tree attracts unwanted attention. Our only option is to do business with Jiangnan's famous Zhao Clan Trading Company. I have already sent messengers to get in touch with them before the auction, but I have not received a response yet."
"The sooner this issue is resolved, the better. We are even willing to double the payment if that is what it takes." Lord Liu said cautiously. "These crossbows will be crucial to us in the future. Not only has 'Second Uncle' paid an almost exorbitant price, and taking a significant risk by involving himself personally with the representatives from the Blood Sword Hall. Before this business with the Mystic beast tendons is completed, we absolutely cannot have any mishaps.
"This subordinate naturally understands." Lady Yue'er gently smiled before continuing. "Lord Liu, do you know what came of the matter I asked of 'Second Uncle'?"
Lord Liu's voice became quite solemn. "Lady Yue'er, Jun Zhantian is a cornerstone of the Tianxiang Kingdom. Killing him is easier said than done. Even the Blood Sword Hall, who dares to assassinate a princess, will hesitate to do so, it is not an easy decision to be made so lightly when it comes to Jun Zhantian!"
"'Second Uncle' only needs to mobilize a fraction of his manpower! We can frame Jun Zhantian for plotting a rebellion by taking advantage of the recent uproar the old man caused in the capital. With anger clouding His Majesty's mind, the result will be obvious!"
In Lady Yue'er's voice, extreme resentment was palpable.
"Every night I sleep, I dream of the death and destruction that awaits that old man's family. Is 'Second Uncle' going to let this decisive opportunity slip away!"
"That's out of the question!" Lord Liu resolutely rejected this suggestion. "Jun Zhantian controls at least half of the power in Tianxiang. We can target Jun Zhantian himself but not when it may implicate his entire faction. What 'Second Uncle' wants is not a fragmented Tianxiang Kingdom."
"Jun Zhantian left my country in ruins and my family dead or scattered. After listening to your words, it sounds like…" Despair was evident in Lady Yue'er's voice. "If 'Second Uncle' is incapable of accomplishing my task, then why would I continue working with him?"
"Outrageous!" Lord Liu harshly scolded before lowering his voice.
"Lady Yue'er, your personal grudge is not a priority. Blood Sword Hall is still hesitant to act so wait until they have completed their assignment in the Yu Tang Kingdom. After that, 'Second Uncle' will certainly have ways to make them submit. The three masters from the Blood Sword Hall are all at the Heaven Mystic cultivation level, and their mysterious leader is even rumored to be a peak level Spirit Mystic expert! Dealing with a trifling Jun Zhantian would certainly be a simple matter. Besides, Jun Zhantian already has one foot buried in his grave, what's the harm in letting him struggle at death's door for a few more months?"
Lady Yue'er snorted angrily but remained silent.
Jun Moxie trembled! They were planning the assassination of his grandfather! Not only were the assassins from "Blood Sword Hall" actually three Heaven Mystic level experts but their leader was apparently at the Spirit Mystic level!
But because immeasurably tranquilness of the lake surface, the water had made an extremely slight splash sound when he trembled. Although the sound was almost inaudible, Jun Xie still immediately cursed in his heart.
"Who's there?!" A voice snapped. "There's someone under the boat!"
He had been exposed!
Jun Moxie didn't have time to think before turning his body around and firmly kicking off the bottom of the boat. His body looked like a big swordfish as he violently shot off deeper into the lake, quickly swimming far away.
An explosion rocked the pleasure boat as the roof of the cabin disintegrated into a shower of splinters. A figure layered in a bright and dazzling golden radiance, as he rushed into the air, reaching almost fifty feet in height! Like lightning, his two eyes sweep across in all direction to discover Jun Moxie's silhouette escaping underwater at great speed.
With a flash of golden light, the figure returned to the boat to seize the helmsman's long bamboo pole.
Shua!
With a heave, the pole looked like black lightning that had been enveloped in golden Mystic Qi as it flew out from his hands towards Jun Moxie's underwater silhouette. At the same time, the figure launched high up in the sky and flew out in the same direction as the bamboo pole. Gliding over the lake surface with the sleeves of his robe fluttering, this dazzling golden figure appeared as if a god had descended to earth.
This was precisely Lord Liu!
The expert at the peak Gold level cultivation and just a half step from the Jade Mystic level!
Jun Moxie continued to press on and swam away when he suddenly sensed layer upon layers of heavy pressure pushing down from above. The water surrounding his body felt as if it suddenly froze and a feeling of impending crisis grew within his heart. His blood rapidly ran cold!
Without turning his head, Jun Moxie could sense that the trajectory of this attack would penetrate his torso. If he was unable to avoid it, then there would inevitably leave a bloody big hole on his torso!
Swiftly making up his mind, he instantly circulated the Art of Unlocking Heaven's Fortune at full strength. Feeling the stress on his body reduced, he exerted all his effort to lean to one side, puffing out his chest, sticking out his butt, and sucking in his waist—his appearance exactly like that of an "S" shape. A really, really killer figure with curves in all the right places!
Shua!
The forty-foot long bamboo pole barely scraped by Jun Moxie's skin, continued past his small back, coincidentally cutting through his clothes, before deeply stabbing into the lake bed.
Jun Moxie felt a chill running down his thigh and a stinging pain as he saw short curly hair suddenly floated around in the water. If the bamboo pole had even deviated by a hair's breadth, he feared that Young Master Jun would have to wait patiently for His Majesty, the Emperor, in heaven. He immediately burst out into a cold sweat!
Standard bamboo poles were only twenty feet in length, but the bamboo poles used at Spirit Fog Lake were relatively longer due to the depth of the lake.
Jun Moxie struggled to get free. The bamboo pole that was inserted into the space between his clothes and flesh unexpectedly did not budge. A small and exquisite flying dagger appeared with a flip of his right hand before he made a quick backward slash and became free. Two pieces of gown resembling a pair of butterflies parted to either side of him to reveal a stark naked body. If this had been a young lady, then it would have been a very alluring sight.
Up in the sky, the golden figure quickly descended. Before even touching the lake surface, the speed of his descent had caused waves to ripple out and the water under his feet to sink just enough to expose one end of the bamboo pole.
Jun Moxie eyes opened wide as he watched the figure sweeping down from the sky. Snorting in his heart, he suddenly straightened himself and rushed up towards the surface.
Hmph, don't worry; he would never rush up to fight. As he is now, a Gold Mystic peak expert was still an insurmountable mountain.
As his body shot upwards, his left hand suddenly punched out right as he was about to reach the surface to create a water arrow that exploded toward the falling figure in the sky. Simultaneously, his other hand grabbed the exposed end of the bamboo pole as he rapidly swam back into the lake. Circulating the Art of Unlocking Heaven's Fortune at full strength, the bamboo pole was unexpectedly pulled into a crescent shape and continued to issue out cracking sounds that cause people's teeth to sour.
With the pole being bent as far back as possible, Jun Moxie had suddenly let go of the poles after exhausting his strength reserves, his naked body swimming away extremely rapidly far away.
The bent bamboo pole straightened out with tremendous energy, and a droning weng resounded out.