319: Chapter 319 Stepping in to Sell

But that teacup carried a surge of Lin Xiao's sword qi!

This was an immortal grade technique, and the power contained within the Zhu Xian Sword Formation was naturally extraordinary!

"Pfft!"

With a sound of piercing, a chunk of flesh was torn from the figure's waist, and he collapsed to the ground instantly!

This scene made Shu Yelan and the other three break into a cold sweat, their hearts pounding in their throats!

In fact, Liu Hanyi and Hua Nongying couldn't even tell what method Lin Xiao had just used.

Only Shu Yelan could perceive that it was a blade of sword qi!

Yet even her senior sister, Ding Cuihua, could not unleash such terrifying sword intent and pressure.

Perhaps only her grand-uncle-master, the Sword Saint of the Sword Forest, could achieve this?

"Wang Liang, if I recall correctly, when Yanyu Pavilion split, you were one of Lou Suifeng's men."

Lin Xiao glanced at Wang Liang, who was clutching his abdomen with a pale face.

"What, did you switch sides to the Pavilion Master's camp?"

Wang Liang gritted his teeth and remained silent.

"Lin Xiao, you misunderstand. Wang Liang has been my person from the very beginning. He was merely worried that we would be hunted down by Lou Suifeng, so he deliberately embedded himself by Lou Suifeng's side."

"If he hadn't been stalling for time and passing information to our people, my subordinates would have suffered heavy losses."

Shu Yelan gave Liu Hanyi a look.

Liu Hanyi nodded, walked out, pulled out a bottle of golden sore medicine, and handed it to Wang Liang.

When Wang Liang looked up at Liu Hanyi, his gaze clearly showed he dared not meet her eyes.

However, Liu Hanyi remained indifferent, even appearing somewhat impatient with his slow movements.

Lin Xiao was amused by this little drama; no wonder this kid dared to risk embedding himself by Lou Suifeng's side—it turned out he liked "Little Liu'er"!

It was a pity, though; the man was willing, but the woman was not!

"So that's it. Why didn't you say so sooner? If I had thrown it slightly off target just now, he would have been killed by this teacup!"

Lin Xiao chuckled, "That would have been so embarrassing."

Wang Liang felt deeply humiliated upon hearing this, but since his strength was lacking, he had to swallow his pride.

Shu Yelan also smiled bitterly; she had originally thought she could lead this conversation, but as a result...

Lin Xiao's first move wasn't just a show of force; it was a "bolt from the blue"!

"Lin Xiao, your martial arts are truly unparalleled. Could it be that you have already reached the realm of a Great Grandmaster?" Shu Yelan asked cautiously.

"Something like that."

Lin Xiao said nonchalantly, "I am not a person of the pugilistic world like you all; I don't study those things. Martial arts, after all, are just killing techniques—as long as they work, that's enough."

Hearing him say this, everyone revealed expressions of deep thought, having a feeling of "the Great Dao is simple."

Even Wang Liang, who had been quite resentful just a moment ago, gained a hint of awe in his eyes.

Shu Yelan sighed with emotion, "If I had known the General possessed such cultivation, I shouldn't have resorted to deception. I have truly embarrassed myself."

"It doesn't matter. I saved you because I wanted to give Elder Zhu and his wife face. Who you are is irrelevant."

Lin Xiao said, tapping the table, "Where is the tea? Pour me another cup!"

Hua Nongying scrambled in a panic, turning around to get a new teacup and brew fresh tea.

"I will be returning to Baishui City in a while. Whatever you have to say, speak quickly."

Watching Lin Xiao's calm and composed demeanor, Shu Yelan felt a wave of frustration in her heart!

She had originally thought that by revealing her identity as the Yanyu Pavilion Master, she could make Lin Xiao slightly surprised, and then she could take the initiative in the conversation.

But upon meeting him, she realized she had become a joke!

If not for the great cause of restoring the nation, Shu Yelan would have wanted to turn around and leave; she couldn't afford to lose face like this!

"Lin Xiao is a straightforward person, so I won't beat around the bush."

Shu Yelan simply went for it, saying, "We at Yanyu Pavilion wish to cooperate with Lin Xiao to assist you... in achieving your great cause!"

"A great cause? What do you mean by that?" Lin Xiao asked in return.

"This... depends on what the General thinks."

Shu Yelan smiled, "Originally, we wanted to help Lin Xiao eliminate Prince Bai and, incidentally, deal with the traitor Lou Suifeng."

"But the General is heroic and unparalleled, having accomplished the feat of unifying the Northern Region so quickly."

"I wonder, what does Lin Xiao plan to do next?"

"If there is any area where you can make use of Yanyu Pavilion, we would be very happy to cooperate."

Lin Xiao pretended to think for a moment, and under Shu Yelan's expectant gaze, he finally shook his head.

"Forget it. I've thought about it, and I really have no use for you!"

Shu Yelan was dumbfounded. No, why does this kid not play by the rules!?

Yanyu Pavilion, the number one assassin organization in the pugilistic world, even if they lost two Martial Arts Grandmasters, their foundation was still there!

How many high-ranking officials and nobles wanted to claim them as their own?

When it came to you, we voluntarily offered our allegiance, and you actually said you "have no use" for us!?

Hua Nongying, standing to the side, smiled bitterly. She could understand, after all, her sisters had all gone to brew wine.

Liu Hanyi and Wang Liang were also dumbfounded. It was one thing for them to be looked down upon, but even the Pavilion Master was rejected!?

"Lin Xiao, although Yanyu Pavilion has suffered significant losses, at least nine of the thirteen pavilions remain, and our intelligence network spans every province of the Central Plains."

"Although we cannot compare to the likes of the Academy, we have our own advantages."

"Why does Lin Xiao feel that you have no use for us?"

Shu Yelan never dreamed that she would have to shamelessly "pitch" her own organization!

There was no other way; it was all for the great cause of restoring the Great Zheng Dynasty!

The young man before her was an unprecedented opportunity!!

Lin Xiao, however, remained firm in his attitude, waving his hand and saying, "I am the 'Marquis of Loyalty and Courage' conferred by the imperial court, not a rebellious traitor. I, this General, am upright and open, with a clear conscience. What would I need that underground intelligence network for?"

"As for having high martial arts, you assassins of Yanyu Pavilion only sound scary. Once you actually get on the battlefield, you are all just a bunch of rabble, completely vulnerable."

"On the battlefield in Gan Province, Lou Suifeng brought several hundred to assist, and in the blink of an eye, they were hacked to death by random blades. You are of no use at all."

"And those few Pavilion Masters of yours, Li Cunmo, Mao Buba, Wubing, Wuzai... they are all overrated! I killed them with a single slash!"

Lin Xiao said proudly, "I, this General, hold the three great iron cavalries: the Golden Scale Guard, the Cold Iron Guard, and the Silver Armor Army. Famous generals like Lu Sanchuan and Zhao Yunting are all under my command."

"Even my wife, Mu Wanying, is a Spear Dao Great Grandmaster who can take a city with a single person and a single spear!"

"If my wife and subordinates found out that I have so many heroes of this age at my disposal but chose to hire a bunch of pugilistic assassins to do things, wouldn't that make people laugh?"

Shu Yelan almost spat out a mouthful of old blood upon hearing this!

Yet... the man had reason and evidence!

After all, even Lou Suifeng and the Faceless Boy had fallen into his hands.

Yanyu Pavilion defected to Prince Bai, but the result was a complete mess, with no accomplishments whatsoever, and Prince Bai was even executed by Lin Xiao!

In the face of all this hard evidence, even if Shu Yelan was unconvinced in her heart, she could not find any words to refute him.

"Pavilion Master, I see you are not young anymore. Why don't you take the people of Yanyu Pavilion and change professions?"

Lin Xiao pointed to Hua Nongying on the side, "Look, just like Miss Hua, changing professions to brew wine is not bad."

"Our Northern Industry is hiring quite a few people. Why don't your group of assassins come to the factory to work? Doing some honest business is better than being rats that can't see the light of day, isn't it?"

Wang Liang couldn't listen anymore and said defiantly, "We are assassins! We take people's money and eliminate their troubles! We are not rats!"

Lin Xiao glanced at him sideways and sneered, "Go out to the street and shout that, see who will welcome you!"

Wang Liang gritted his teeth but couldn't say a word.

Hua Nongying and Liu Hanyi both had dim eyes; they knew that Lin Xiao's words were harsh, but they were all facts.

They were a group of people who couldn't see the light; even if everyone feared them, no one truly respected them.

Shu Yelan's eyes turned red; having lived for over fifty years, she had never felt so aggrieved and powerless.

She thought of her master, thought of Ding Cuihua, their disappointment in her, and their teachings.

She certainly knew that being an assassin was a road of no return, but how could the dream of generations to restore the Great Zheng Dynasty be cut off here with her!?

"Lin Xiao, we do not seek fame, wealth, or fortune, nor do we ask to walk in the sunlight."

"We only want to cooperate with Lin Xiao and become an inconspicuous shadow of the Zhenbei Army..."

Shu Yelan's tone carried a hint of earnestness, "I hope Lin Xiao will give us a chance!"

"If we truly drag Lin Xiao down, I, Shu Yelan, am willing to die to apologize, and I will never tarnish the General's prestige!"