At the crack of dawn, the black-clothed leader arrived in the courtyard.
With a simple wave of his hand, he was as stingy with words as gold.
"Depart!"
All the assassins quickly assembled and filed out behind him.
There was not a single person on the street at this time; the curfew had not yet ended, and the common people dared not run around on the streets, only hearing the 'da-da' footsteps of a group of black-clothed figures.
Walking to the south gate of Yongchang City, the group stepped forward, removed the horizontal bar, pulled open the city gate, and found there was also a drawbridge outside.
Without waiting for the group to lower the drawbridge, the black-clothed leader directly skimmed over the water like a dragonfly, leaped up, drew his sword, and focused on a single point, striking the drawbridge's iron chain three times.
"Clang!"
The iron chain snapped in response.
Next, the black-clothed leader repeated the process, the iron chain on the other side was also severed, and the drawbridge crashed down.
The assassins exchanged glances, not daring to interrupt the leader's display of power.
Your martial arts are high, you're awesome, just be happy!
The black-clothed leader looked at the long sword in his hand; the blade had a grain-sized nick, his expression slightly furrowed, and he casually threw it into the moat.
Lin Shan in the crowd noticed this scene, his eyes flickered, lost in thought.
The soldiers on duty on the city wall, watching a group of black-clothed figures swagger away, were all on the verge of tears.
'Sirs, just leave if you want to, no one is stopping you, why cause destruction! Are experts all this willful?'
...
The group headed south for about ten li, dragging out over a dozen escort carts from the bushes, which were precisely the batch that Lin's Escort Agency had escorted for the officials yesterday! It seems they were dragged here by the assassins overnight yesterday, and today they are likely to be delivered to the employer.
Lin Shan closely followed the group, and as the convoy gradually moved south, the direction seemed to be precisely Zangke County.
After traveling another thirty to forty li, they arrived at a remote, uninhabited place, next to a deserted post station, where the black-clothed leader ordered them to rest on the spot.
The group didn't ask many questions, each finding a place to sit down, and Lin Shan and Scarface also separated, consciously keeping their distance from each other.
After the sun was high in the sky, everyone took out dry food and water bags from their bundles and ate in silence.
...
They waited for several hours like this, and just as it was getting dark, dust rose on the official road in the direction they had come from.
"Giddy up!"
"Giddy up!"
"Whoa!"
A group of iron-armored cavalry galloped over, dismounting in front of the post station. There were also about twenty to thirty cavalrymen, followed by forty to fifty servants and attendants.
The assassins on Nightingale's side became tense, some even pressing their hands on their weapons.
The black-clothed leader was completely unconcerned by the tension, walking straight forward and asking, "Which one is Assistant Prefect Yang?"
From the crowd opposite stepped a middle-aged man, looking like a private secretary, wearing an official's hat, with an extraordinary demeanor and a smiling face, subtly guarded by soldiers around him.
"I am Yang Hua Li. Is the one opposite Protector Jiang of Nightingale?"
The black-clothed leader nodded, not mincing words, and pointed at the escort carts behind him. Assistant Prefect Yang nodded slightly and instructed his subordinates.
"Inspect the goods!"
"Yes!"
One by one, armored soldiers stepped forward to inspect the escort carts, turning things over as if confirming something.
Because Lin Shan cultivated the Innate Skill, he was more sharp-eared and clear-sighted than others. Standing with the assassins, watching the middle-aged civil official and Protector Jiang talking to each other in front, he suddenly remembered something.
If he remembered correctly, the second-in-command civil official of Clear River County, the Assistant Prefect of Clear River County, was named Yang Hua Li, a staunch confidant of the Prefect Lord.
"Hiss~"
Lin Shan secretly took a breath of cold air. At that time, this batch of goods from Lin's Escort Agency was personally designated by the Prefect, but now the Prefect's confidant had come to the assassin organization Nightingale to retrieve the goods.
Could it be that...
The Prefect Lord was stealing from his own charge? Hiring an assassin organization to pose as bandits and turn this batch of supplies from public to private?
The more Lin Shan thought about it, the more likely it seemed. He slowly outlined and depicted the entire conjecture, instantly piecing everything together in his mind.
Good heavens! Has the world become this dark now? The local prefects are practically covering the sky with one hand, and this kind of embezzlement of public funds for personal gain is almost being done openly!
Looking at the formidable cavalry and warhorses opposite, Lin Shan couldn't help but feel sorrow for the deceased Chief Wang and the hundreds of escort agency employees. They lost their lives for no clear reason, indirectly dying at the hands of their employer.
Who knows what role the Lin Family played in this?
With so many cavalry and the Assistant Prefect dispatched, traveling all the way to Zangke County, how could the Lin Family, a prominent clan and local power in Clear River County, not know?
Lin Shan felt a chill in his heart.
Pawns!
They had long become pawns of the Lin Family. The Lin Family must have reached some agreement with the officials, and this batch of goods must be of great importance, even at the cost of an expert's life!
And if any of the escorts delivering the goods were to return alive to Clear River County, then what awaited them...
Lin Shan thought of Master Pu, thought of the old man's carefree demeanor before parting, the smile full of longing while clutching fifty taels of silver, the beautiful dream of retiring from the martial world to live out his golden years...
"I hope I'm wrong," Lin Shan muttered, closing his eyes.
...
About a quarter of an hour later, the handover was complete. The stable hands and servants followed the cavalry with the escort carts, and the rolling dust disappeared back the way they came.
At this moment, the sun had just set, and Protector Jiang still waved his hand.
"Depart!"
The assassins followed him, continuing south all the way.
Late at night, the third watch.
After traveling fifty li at high speed, the group of assassins were all panting and quite exhausted, but they dared not complain about Protector Jiang's speed being too fast.
At this time, a tall, majestic city stood towering ahead, with walls a full ten meters high! Fire basins illuminated the gate tower, arrow slits were neatly arranged, and the plaque above the city gate bore the large characters "Zangke".
"Zangke County City!"
This is a major stronghold of the Great Song in the Southwest. Further south is the territory of the Southern Barbarian Kingdom. It is said that in recent years, the Southern Barbarians have also been learning the Great Song's system, even establishing a dynasty and proclaiming a reign, calling themselves the Dali Kingdom.
A few years ago, they even captured Guangnan Commandery, which is further south than Zangke County. To curb the deteriorating situation, the imperial court allocated funds to renovate Zangke County City, making it a front-line stronghold to resist the Northern advance of the Southern Barbarians.
In recent years, it has become much more peaceful. Zangke has instead become an economic hub, connecting trade between the two sides.
...
All the black-clothed figures waited quietly below the city, without a sound.
About ten breaths later, baskets were lowered one by one from the city wall. The assassins below the city were not surprised and were transported up in batches.
Lin Shan also came up to the city wall. At this moment, he saw a defending general talking with Protector Jiang, his face showing a slight ingratiating smile.
After the two chatted for a while, Protector Jiang was the first to descend the city wall. Afterward, a group of assassins infiltrated the city under the cover of night. Lin Shan followed the main group, turning left and right through streets and alleys, afraid of being left behind.
Zangke City is very large. Just as they were about to get lost from all the turning, they finally arrived at an ancient and quaint building. The plaque on the door bore the three large characters 'Jing'an Hall', and the group, familiar with the route, filed in.
After entering the main hall, they discovered that the inside was simply two different worlds compared to the outside.
Carved nanmu wood, lingering sandalwood incense, brilliant lights, and a bustling crowd.
Black-clothed assassins were everywhere, people coming and going, shoulder to shoulder, estimated to be over a hundred. From time to time, someone would jump in from a window, and someone else would crawl down through a sewer, each hurrying to and fro, wearing face coverings and looking unapproachable.
Lin Shan looked around. The upper floors were surrounded by railings layer upon layer. In the center of the main hall were several clerks and accountants, registering or receiving inquiries. Behind them was a huge screen, listing various tasks one by one:
"Snipe and kill the Guangnan hero Zhang Taimang, contribution points 20."
"Intercept the newly appointed Magistrate of Zhiyuan County, regardless of life or death, contribution points 15."
"Recover General Qiao's daughter, no harm allowed, contribution points 10."
"Assassinate the son of the Imperial Censor of the Dali Kingdom, contribution points 10."
"Investigate the hiding place of the Seven Bandits of Mengshan, contribution points 5."
...
Lin Shan's eyes were opened. There was a wide variety of tasks listed above, covering all aspects of the martial world, military, and government. He instantly felt that Nightingale seemed anything but simple.
Is this the legendary assassin organization?