After hearing Gu Ningyuan's request, Zhao Mu lowered his head and thought for a moment.
"Forging an exclusive Ultimate-Grade Ember Relic will take about a dozen days."
"I can certainly do it."
He paused before continuing.
"However... I've run into a bit of trouble recently, and I'm afraid I don't have the time to start right away."
The moment Gu Ningyuan heard the first half of the sentence, his eyes lit up with excitement.
But the second half quickly wiped the smile from his face.
"What kind of trouble?" he asked anxiously.
"Let me make this clear—as long as you help me forge this weapon, anything the Tiangong Hall wants to trade in the future will be easy to arrange."
Zhao Mu chuckled.
"Director Gu's request is naturally my top priority."
"It's just that this matter could threaten my life."
"If something happens to me before I finish forging your Ember Relic, I'm afraid it would delay your plans."
Gu Ningyuan immediately understood what Zhao Mu was implying.
He leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and narrowed his eyes.
"Someone wants to kill you?"
Zhao Mu didn't bother hiding it.
"I offended someone."
"He's not from Lujiang City, nor does he hold any official position."
"Not long ago, he sent word that he intended to hire assassins to eliminate me."
"So lately, I've barely dared to leave the house."
Everything Zhao Mu said was true.
The Beitang Royal Clan had no authority over Jiangnan Province.
If Beitang Qiushui wanted him dead, he couldn't do it openly.
He would have to rely on hired assassins operating in the shadows.
To everyone else...
That simply looked like an ordinary assassination attempt.
Gu Ningyuan visibly relaxed.
"As long as your enemy doesn't have official backing, then it's nothing serious."
"In Lujiang City, there's very little the Wubei Army can't handle."
"If they're just hired assassins..."
"Once we eliminate them, no one else will dare cause trouble."
Besides...
With the young master of the Meng Family personally backing Zhao Mu, Gu Ningyuan wasn't worried about getting involved.
He smiled confidently.
"Tell me who your enemy is."
"I'll handle it."
A smile finally appeared on Zhao Mu's face.
If he could borrow the strength of the Wubei Army...
Those assassins hiding in the shadows would no longer be a threat.
"My enemy isn't in Lujiang City."
"He's simply a rat hiding in the darkness."
"I only need you to lend me a squad of elite soldiers."
"We'll lure out the assassins he left behind..."
"And eliminate them all."
Gu Ningyuan smiled.
"That's easy."
"If someone hired assassins, they'll most likely only be Private-Rank Ability Users."
"Their combat power shouldn't exceed a few dozen points."
"I'll assign a captain with over one hundred Combat Power and twenty Private-Rank soldiers."
"That'll be more than enough."
Zhao Mu, however, shook his head seriously.
"My enemy hates me deeply."
"I'm certain he won't send weak assassins."
"If we're going to wipe them out completely..."
"We'll need at least a Sharp Edge unit."
"And if possible..."
"I'd prefer an Owl General to lead them."
Crack!
Gu Ningyuan's chair suddenly slid backward.
He nearly fell over.
Meng Qiuqiu and Zhao Mu quickly helped him back up.
Gu Ningyuan stared at Zhao Mu speechlessly.
"Master Zhao..."
"I respect you greatly."
"But are you trying to make a fool of me?"
"You can't seriously expect me to ask one of Lujiang City's Deputy Commanders to personally escort you, can you?"
Every Deputy Commander in Lujiang City possessed Fourth-Rank Owl General strength.
For example...
Shao Han's father, Shao Tianyi, had a Combat Power exceeding 9,500.
Such people weren't someone Gu Ningyuan could mobilize at will.
Zhao Mu rubbed his nose awkwardly.
"I was only being cautious."
In some ways...
Both Zhao Mu and Beitang Qiushui were equally ruthless.
One feared failing to kill his enemy and had dispatched a personal guard with 285 Combat Power.
The other feared dying and wanted to mobilize Lujiang City's highest military force.
"I just..."
"Don't feel safe."
His concerns weren't unreasonable.
Meng Qiuqiu had already told him about the strength of the Beitang Royal Clan's personal guards.
As a direct descendant of the royal family, Beitang Qiushui's bodyguards were naturally powerful.
Still...
There was no way the royal family could assign Fourth-Rank experts to protect every prince.
Experts of that level were capable of commanding entire military divisions.
Even the Beitang Royal Clan couldn't afford such extravagance.
Therefore...
The guards around Beitang Qiushui were unlikely to exceed 500 Combat Power.
Zhao Mu looked at Gu Ningyuan seriously.
"I want to settle this once and for all."
"If even one assassin escapes..."
"I'll never sleep peacefully again."
He took a deep breath before making his final offer.
"As long as you help me solve this problem..."
"I won't charge you a single coin for forging your exclusive Ultimate-Grade Ember Relic."
"I'll make it for free."
The word free carried irresistible temptation.
Everyone knew that Jin Xiangcheng's Silver Sword...
Merely a Mid-Grade exclusive Ember Relic...
Had cost 60 million Xuanfeng Coins just in forging fees.
An exclusive Ultimate-Grade Ember Relic could easily require over 100 million Xuanfeng Coins, including both materials and craftsmanship.
Even then...
Money alone wasn't enough.
Finding a master craftsman capable of creating one was far more difficult.
For a Third-Rank Sharp Edge Spirit Power User...
Such a weapon could increase their combat strength by more than 20%.
The value of Zhao Mu's craftsmanship was impossible to measure.
Gu Ningyuan suddenly slammed the table.
"Excellent!"
"That's exactly what I wanted to hear!"
"Don't worry."
"I'll personally gather four Sharp Edge experts from the military."
"I guarantee we'll eliminate whoever wants you dead."
Within the Wubei Army...
Every Sharp Edge expert was at least a lieutenant who had survived countless battles against exotic beasts and the Dark Race.
Calling four of them together was no small favor.
Fortunately...
Gu Ningyuan had the influence to make it happen.
Only then did Zhao Mu finally feel the weight on his heart lighten.
Even so...
He still wasn't completely reassured.
He turned toward Meng Qiuqiu.
"Can you also ask Huo Jun and your personal guards to help?"
Meng Qiuqiu nodded immediately.
"Huo Jun's Combat Power is 358."
"My personal guard, Shen Du, has 250."
"Together..."
"We'll have six Sharp Edge Spirit Power Users."
He smiled confidently and patted Zhao Mu on the shoulder.
"Relax."
"This time..."
"We'll solve this problem once and for all."
---
At that very moment...
In a small village several dozen kilometers from Qingfeng Camp...
Beitang Qiushui's personal guard, Chang Lian, was casually strolling through the streets dressed in plain black clothing.
He bought a cup of chilled mung bean dessert and leisurely enjoyed it.
He wasn't in any hurry.
After all...
This wasn't territory controlled by the Beitang Royal Clan.
If he wanted to kill Zhao Mu...
Everything had to be done personally.
More importantly...
He couldn't leave behind any evidence.
His plan was simple.
First, observe Zhao Mu's daily routine.
Students from the Military Martial Academy regularly left campus for missions or returned home.
He only needed one opportunity.
One clean strike.
One perfect assassination.
"Achoo!"
"Achoo!"
Without warning...
Chang Lian sneezed twice.
He rubbed his nose in confusion.
"Strange..."
"Am I catching a summer cold?"
The royal guard, boasting 285 Combat Power, had absolutely no idea...
That because of Zhao Mu's overwhelming caution...
An incredibly powerful hunting party had already been assembled.
Hunter...
Or prey...
Sometimes...
The roles could reverse in the blink of an eye.
________________________________________
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