204: Chapter 204 Now that you're here, don't leave.

The border of the Eastern Wasteland, Falling Phoenix Slope.

This was a desolate Gobi desert, named after the legend that a true phoenix had once fallen here. On ordinary days, it was sparsely populated, with only wild winds howling through, carrying yellow sand.

However, today, this place of death welcomed an extremely luxurious carriage.

The carriage was pulled by nine flood dragons, and its body was inlaid with countless top-grade spirit stones, shining brightly under the sun. It was like a bright lamp in the dark night, as if it were afraid others wouldn't know, "I'm rich, come and rob me."

Atop the carriage, Xu Chen leaned lazily against a soft couch, a cup of spirit tea in his hand. His gaze drifted through the window at the endless yellow sand outside, a playful smile hanging at the corner of his mouth.

Opposite him, Mo Han sat upright and formal.

"Young Master."

Mo Han swallowed nervously, "Are we being... a bit too conspicuous?"

"Conspicuous?"

Xu Chen chuckled and took a sip of tea. "How can we fish if we aren't conspicuous? If we were being sneaky, that pack of rats would think we'd set some kind of trap and wouldn't dare come out."

"But..."

Mo Han wanted to say more, but Xu Chen raised a hand to interrupt her.

"Shh."

Xu Chen put down his teacup, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "The fish has taken the bait."

Almost the very instant his words fell.

"Whoosh—!"

A nearly imperceptible sound of breaking air suddenly rang out.

In the originally calm void, a tiny crack suddenly split open. A streak of ink-black cold light, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, silently pierced toward the center of Xu Chen's forehead inside the carriage.

Fast! Accurate! Ruthless!

There wasn't the slightest fluctuation of spiritual power, and even the killing intent was perfectly restrained. This was a "sure-kill strike" that only the top assassins could achieve.

"So these are the gold-medal assassins of the Heavenly Court?"

Xu Chen didn't even lift an eyelid, still steadily holding his teacup, even having the leisure to comment, "They're far worse than you were back then."

"Clang!"

Just as that cold light was about to touch Xu Chen, an even swifter dark shadow lunged from opposite him.

Sparks flew in all directions.

The dagger in Mo Han's hand accurately parried that cold light. The massive counter-shock made the web of her thumb go numb, but she remained motionless, blocking Xu Chen's front firmly.

"Shadow Kill, you really did betray the organization."

A raspy, ear-piercing voice came from the void.

Following that, over a dozen figures wearing black robes and malevolent ghost masks slowly emerged from the void, surrounding the carriage.

The leader had a cold aura; he was actually a powerful expert in the early stage of the Saint Realm!

"That's... Reaper Venerable?"

Mo Han's pupils contracted sharply. She had seen this person on the Heavenly Court's kill list; he was ranked tenth on the Tian Sha List and was notorious for his cruel methods. Those who fell into his hands found it hard even to die.

"Since you recognize this venerable one, why not surrender without a fight?"

Reaper Venerable laughed sinisterly, his gaze greedily sweeping over Xu Chen. "I didn't expect the Young Master Xu to be such a fool, daring to come out and court death so grandly with only one traitor. This certainly saves this venerable one a lot of effort."

"Court death?"

Xu Chen acted as if he had heard a joke, finally deigning to put down his teacup and stand up.

He walked to the edge of the carriage and looked down at the group of assassins as if he were looking at a group of dead men.

"Since you're here, don't leave."

"Mo Han."

"Your subordinate is here."

"Except for the leader, who should be kept alive for questioning, kill... all the others."

Xu Chen commanded indifferently.

"Arrogant!"

Reaper Venerable was furious. "Based on a failure and a piece of trash like her? Attack! Dead or alive, it doesn't matter!"

"Kill!"

Over a dozen assassins at the peak of the Royal Extreme Realm suddenly lunged, turning into over a dozen afterimages as they charged toward the carriage from all directions.

Mo Han took a deep breath.

She glanced back at Xu Chen, who remained as calm as ever, even pouring himself another cup of tea.

That feeling of being trusted and entrusted made the blood in her body boil instantly.

"Whoever dares to touch the Young Master..."

Mo Han suddenly raised her head, and in those originally somewhat vacant dead-fish eyes, an unprecedentedly ferocious light erupted.

"...Dies!!!"

"Boom!"

In the next moment, Mo Han's figure vanished into thin air.

Shadow Instant Kill Technique.

But this time, her speed was faster than ever before, so fast that even Reaper Venerable in the Saint Realm only felt a blur before his eyes.

"Chii!"

A soft sound.

The assassin in the lead suddenly stiffened, clutching his neck as he collapsed. It wasn't until he hit the ground that blood sprayed out from between his fingers.

Then came the second, the third...

Mo Han was like a god of death wandering in the darkness; every time she appeared, someone was bound to fall. She had no superfluous movements; every strike went straight for a vital point—simple, efficient, and lethal.

"This... how is this possible?!"

Reaper Venerable turned pale with fright.

The intelligence clearly stated that Shadow Kill was only a half-step Saint and had been heavily injured after a failed mission. But where did the current Mo Han look even slightly injured? That terrifying speed and explosive power had clearly touched the threshold of a Saint!

Furthermore... her moves had changed.

The previous Shadow Kill's moves were sinister and treacherous, killing for the sake of killing.

But the current Mo Han had an aura of indomitable resolve in her moves. She was using her life to protect the person behind her!

"Protect? Laughable!"

Reaper Venerable snorted coldly and finally couldn't resist making a move.

The pressure of a Saint erupted, and a pitch-black ghost claw condensed out of thin air, carrying a terrifying power that could corrode the void as it ruthlessly clawed toward the back of Mo Han's heart.

"Get down for me!"

"Watch out!"

The teacup in Xu Chen's hand shook slightly as he was about to intervene.

But he saw Mo Han forcibly twist her body in mid-air, actually charging directly toward that ghost claw instead of retreating!

"For the Young Master... I cannot lose!"

She roared in her heart.

"Puff!"

The ghost claw grazed her shoulder, bringing with it a spray of blood. But Mo Han didn't even frown; using the force of the impact, she instantly closed in on Reaper Venerable.

In her hand, the dagger flashed with a cold light.

"You..."

Reaper Venerable's eyes widened, completely unable to react in time.

"Puchi!"

The dagger was ruthlessly stabbed into his shoulder blade, pinning him directly to the ground!

The battle ended.

Mo Han knelt on one knee upon Reaper Venerable, covered in blood and gasping for breath. Although she was injured, her eyes were startlingly bright.

She did it.

She protected the Young Master.

"Clap, clap, clap."

A burst of crisp applause came from the carriage.

Xu Chen stepped down from the carriage and came to Mo Han's side. Ignoring the screaming Reaper Venerable on the ground, he took out a snow-white handkerchief and gently wiped the blood from Mo Han's face.

"Beautifully done."

Xu Chen said softly, his eyes full of heartache and pride.

"As expected of one of my, Xu Chen's, people."}],