22: Assassination of a ghost cultivator at the Vajra Realm

The imperial city, after nightfall, truly displayed its bustling scenery.

The streets were brightly lit, and countless high-ranking officials, powerful nobles, and Martial Cultivators took advantage of the night to frequent various taverns and brothels for enjoyment.

Osmanthus Tower!

A famous brothel and red-light district in the imperial city, it was already packed with guests even though night had just fallen. Merchants in luxurious clothes clinked cups and chatted incessantly.

There were also refined scholars holding folding fans, embracing several slender girls, who giggled as they ascended to the private rooms on the upper floor to discuss life’s ideals… On the high stage, over a dozen lightly dressed, alluring girls, with veiled faces and eyes like blooming peach blossoms, danced gracefully to the sound of music, captivating the hearts of all the guests.

It truly lived up to its reputation as one of the most famous pleasure dens in the imperial city.

Beautiful girls, and top-quality wine that left a lasting impression. People who came here drank fine wine, embraced a few girls, listened to some tunes, and when the mood was right, went upstairs to discuss life’s ideals.

That feeling was simply divine.

“How lively!”

“Haha, the brothers brought you to a great place, how could it not be lively?”

“Tsk tsk… The girls at Osmanthus Tower are really getting more and more exquisite.”

“Hey, hey, hey, we’re here to drink today, don’t keep staring at the girls. Tianxing is still a virgin.”

“Tianxing, how about we let you have a ‘mini-marriage’ today? Don’t worry, the girls here are exceptionally skilled; they’ll surely satisfy you.”

“No! Head Wang is right, we’re here to drink today. A ‘mini-marriage’ can wait.”

“Haha, I won’t tease you anymore!”

“Bring the wine, ten jars of Hundred Fragrance Brew to start!”

Hundred Fragrance Brew was well-known far and wide, the most famous wine at Osmanthus Tower. Of course, its price was also famously expensive. On normal days, their monthly salary would certainly not be enough to afford it.

But for Shen Tianxing, there was no pressure at all.

Not to mention the things he sold at Ten Thousand Treasures Tower, he still had two hundred thousand taels of gold. Just today, the Purgatory Division had rewarded him with five thousand taels of gold.

A pleasure den like Osmanthus Tower was a place where he could spend freely, completely without pressure.

Besides Wang Hu, Zhang Kui, and Li Dahai, the three Prison Officials, Shen Tianxing also invited the other dozen or so Prison Guards who were on duty today.

They would be working together in the future, so building good relationships was very necessary to pave the way for more execution opportunities… The moon was high in the sky, it was midnight!

“Tianxing, we brothers drank to our hearts’ content today, but we let you spend too much.”

“Money is meant to be spent. As long as we drank to our hearts’ content, it wasn’t wasted.”

“Haha, that sentence from you is enough. In the future, if you need anything, we brothers guarantee to handle it perfectly for you.”

“Tianxing, we’re going back.”

“You should also go back and rest early.”

“Let’s go!”

After one round of drinks, Shen Tianxing, the three of them, Wang Hu, and the dozen or so Prison Guards completely deepened their relationship. From being distant at first, they had now become like old brothers.

They truly wished they could go through fire and water for each other, and swear an oath of brotherhood!

Shen Tianxing was naturally satisfied with such a result.

“Five hundred taels of gold, well spent!”

Watching the dozen or so people walk away, arms around each other, swaying drunkenly, Shen Tianxing exhaled a mouthful of wine-laden breath and, with a slight tipsiness, walked towards his home.

Rarely this happy, Shen Tianxing had also drunk a lot today and did not circulate his Qi to expel the alcohol.

This slightly tipsy state was actually the best.

Walking in the middle of the night, a cool breeze blew.

The people on the streets gradually thinned out.

Unbeknownst when, a chill permeated the air, and even the night grew a few shades darker.

Fortunately, Shen Tianxing possessed abundant Qi and blood, so a mere chill was nothing to him.

However, he quickly sensed something was amiss.

“The aura of a Ghost Cultivator…”

Shen Tianxing involuntarily gripped the ancient saber at his waist. This saber had replaced his ghost head saber, hidden within its sheath, its fierce aura concealed by him.

“What kind of Ghostly Entity dares to block this young master’s path!”

Shen Tianxing’s eyes flashed like lightning. His previously tipsy state instantly cleared up a bit as he looked around, realizing that this street had become eerie and terrifying. Endless cold Qi swept in from all directions, and faintly, the roar of vengeful ghosts could be heard.

“Hehehe…”

“I didn’t expect a mere Executioner to be able to sense Yin Evil Qi. I truly underestimated you.”

“In that case, I absolutely cannot let you live!”

As a spine-chilling laugh echoed, the chilling Ghostly Qi in the surrounding air suddenly surged. The next moment, a figure abruptly emerged from the dark night.

The newcomer wore a black robe, their face obscured. Only a pair of excessively pale hands extended from beneath the sleeves.

Their fingers were withered, with a hint of purplish-blue, like the hands of a dead person.

A golden light flashed in Shen Tianxing’s eyes.

Well, well, someone had come looking for trouble!

The moment he spoke, he mentioned Zhong Xiu’s name. It seemed they must be from the same sect as Zhong Xiu.

“I’ve long heard that some people who fail to break out of prison will attack the Executioner. I didn’t expect to encounter it so soon.”

Shen Tianxing didn’t know if this counted as good luck or bad luck for him.

This was also one of the reasons why the Executioner was considered a high-risk profession!

Besides dealing with the torment of Evil Qi entanglement and an inauspicious old age, they also had to face retaliation from the prisoner’s relatives.

Trouble the imperial court?

They wouldn’t dare!

So, they could only trouble the Executioner. Who told you to chop off the prisoner’s head?

Killing you not only vented their anger but also slapped the imperial court in the face!

Killing two birds with one stone!

This also caused many Executioners to frequently suffer unprovoked attacks and lose their lives!

However, that being said.

Despite the attack he encountered today, Shen Tianxing felt no tension.

Instead, he felt a bit of anticipation?

That’s right, anticipation!

Although the opponent looked profound and impressive, Shen Tianxing didn’t take him seriously.

The current him was no longer the same as before!

Moreover, this was the imperial city. Experts from the Martial Suppression Division and the Demon and Monster Division were all in the city. Those powerful Ghost Cultivators would absolutely not dare to enter.

In other words.

Those who dared to act wildly in the imperial city were minor characters, not very strong. They were not only easy to take advantage of in the chaos, but also not a great loss even if they died.

Such a character was a good opportunity for him to test his own strength.