Chapter 15: The Warning
After landing his first strike, Chu Qing did not stop.
Something was wrong.
He was an assassin—he knew better than to waste time interrogating someone from the Mirror of Retribution.
He understood these people all too well. Extracting information from their mouths was harder than ascending to heaven.
Unless one possessed a technique like the Life-Death Seal to force obedience, torture or questioning was pointless.
Moreover, Chu Qing already knew who stood behind this man.
He didn't need intelligence—he needed him dead.
That was why his earlier sword strike had not been meant to wound, but to kill.
Chu Qing practiced the Flying Sword technique, built upon three words—swift, precise, ruthless.
By all logic, that strike should have ended the man's life.
Yet he still lived.
Though he had lost an arm, he remained standing.
If he could survive without preparation, what would happen if he had been ready?
Who exactly was this man?
Chu Qing didn't linger on these thoughts. The instant he realized his opponent was no ordinary foe, his next action was simple—attack again.
The assassin landed on both feet, yet did not falter despite the pain of losing an arm.
His movements were smooth, controlled. The soles of his feet scraped lightly against the ground, using the momentum of his fall to glide backward.
With his left hand still gripping the sword, he flicked his wrist sharply. The blade spun in the air, and just as the hilt aligned with his palm, his hand shot out to seize it.
"You took my arm—now pay with your life!"
Calmness was a killer's most basic instinct.
Even amid chaos, he had already analyzed the situation.
Someone had been lying in ambush; the attack had been lightning-fast.
But having struck first, his opponent would surely relax after the initial success—that was the perfect moment to counter.
Who his attacker was and why he was here could wait until after the kill.
All of this happened in a flash. Just as the assassin reached for his hilt, convinced victory was his, a flash of sword light met him head-on.
Before the sound reached him, the sword did.
A hiss cut through the air.
The blade pierced straight through his throat, then twisted sideways—half his neck split open as blood sprayed like falling rain.
The masked head tilted and fell, eyes still wide with shock.
Had he misjudged?
Why hadn't the opponent relaxed even slightly?
And how, descending from above, had he managed to gather strength for another strike midair?
Those questions would follow him to the underworld.
With a metallic clang, the assassin's sword fell to the floor, ringing through the silent room.
Everything was over.
In combat, even a heartbeat's hesitation decided life and death.
Once Chu Qing confirmed the man had stopped breathing, he let out a slow sigh.
Golden Goose Technique—far more than a simple movement art. In battle, its ability to lift and stabilize momentum was unparalleled.
Without its midair boost, his sword could never have struck so swiftly.
"To think they would send someone like this to kill Chu Yunfei… indeed, no ordinary assassin."
Chu Qing sheathed his sword and glanced at the corpse, a faint frown crossing his face.
The once spotless room was now stained with blood.
The Mirror of Retribution truly deserved damnation.
He crouched and examined the body but found nothing useful.
That was only to be expected.
Assassinating Chu Yunfei was no easy task. Any assassin sent here would never carry identifying items.
If they failed and were killed, leaving such things behind would only benefit their enemy.
As for how Chu Qing had once found a letter and silver coins on the earlier assassins—it was simple. They had underestimated him, treating it as a certain kill. To them, it was an easy job. Chu Qing's death had seemed inevitable.
Thinking of this, a vein throbbed on Chu Qing's forehead. The irritation in his chest only deepened.
After finishing the job, he made no move to deal with the corpse.
One of his purposes in coming here was to warn Chu Yunfei that the Mirror of Retribution was targeting him.
Although that man's unexpected appearance had forced him to adjust his plans, the warning itself would not change.
And what better warning could there be than leaving behind the body of a Mirror of Retribution assassin?
Still, before that, he needed to create a bit of commotion. Otherwise, on such a busy day, if Chu Yunfei only came later and discovered the corpse by chance, it might already be too late.
Stepping out of the room, Chu Qing leapt onto the rooftop.
He pried loose several tiles and tossed them down into the courtyard below.
Only afterward did he realize what he had just done.
"Does this count as… 'tearing the roof apart'?" he muttered to himself.
The sound of shattering tiles was loud enough to draw immediate attention. A servant rushed in, pushing open the courtyard gate. The first thing he saw were the broken tiles scattered on the ground—then, half-blocked by the doorway, the corpse of the assassin.
His face went pale. "Something's wrong! Trouble!"
Without daring to step closer, he turned and ran to alert the others.
Within moments, the courtyard filled with servants and guards.
Several martial guards climbed onto the roofs to investigate, but by that time, Chu Qing was already long gone.
Just then, a tall, refined young man stepped through the gathered crowd.
At once, the servants and guards bowed respectfully. "Young Master!"
Chu Tian's expression darkened as he saw the corpse and the blood-stained scene before him.
He did not speak immediately but carefully examined the surroundings.
A moment later, his brows furrowed. "What a fast sword…"
He moved to where the assassin must have stood and looked up toward the desk across the room.
Blood stains splattered near the desk caught his attention, prompting him to lift his gaze to the ceiling beam.
"The strike came from above… one sword severed the assassin's arm.
"Then, without hesitation, a second sword pierced through his throat and sliced off half his head.
"Such precision, such ruthlessness.
"So fierce and decisive!"
He turned his eyes to the fallen sword on the ground.
"The angle is off… he tried to counterattack, but failed.
"Both fighters were formidable—one striking swiftly and mercilessly, the other calm enough to retaliate even after losing an arm.
"Their reaction speed alone is astonishing. But why did this battle happen in my third brother's room?
"And these sword styles… why do they seem somewhat familiar?"
Chu Tian vaulted onto the roof, scanning the surroundings.
The view was empty. His thoughts churned, and after glancing once more at the people below, his eyes clouded briefly with confusion. "Who could it be?" he murmured.
"Big brother!"
The voice of Chu Fan rang out.
Chu Tian turned, sighing as he leapt down from the roof—only to see Chu Fan approaching, accompanied by his junior sister Wen.
But what truly caught his eye was the object on Wen's shoulder—a shoulder pole.
"Miss Wen, where did you get that?" he asked instinctively.
Wen's expression was calm as ever, her tone flat as she replied, "Found it."
(End of Chapter)