102: Killing under the moon, who is the prey?

The Heavenly Pride Zither Gathering concluded amidst a complex atmosphere filled with shock, envy, and countless undercurrents.

Third Prince Qin Wushuang of the Qin Family, after giving that cold command to his guards, resumed his gentle and refined demeanor, as if the murderous intent that had erupted moments before was merely an illusion in everyone's eyes. He even gracefully toasted Lin Tian, congratulating him on finding a 'confidant.' His composure impressed many older powerhouses.

Lin Tian, however, seemed completely oblivious to the almost palpable murderous intent, maintaining a calm and unruffled appearance as he gracefully dealt with the various Prodigies who came to converse and show goodwill.

After the banquet, everyone dispersed.

Just as the mysterious Heavenly Zither Woman was about to leave with the priceless ancient zither 'heaven's inquiry', Lin Tian called out to her.

“Fairy, please wait.”

Lin Tian's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached her ears.

The Heavenly Zither Woman stopped, turned around, and her clear, autumn-water-like eyes, hidden behind her veil, looked at Lin Tian with a hint of inquiry.

Lin Tian smiled faintly, a smile that, under the bright moonlight, was enough to make any woman lose herself. “The melody just now was truly divine. I, Lin, still have many unanswered questions regarding the Dao of music. I wonder if I might be so fortunate as to invite Fairy to the 'Moon Shadow Pavilion' over there, to discuss the ancient melodies contained within the 'ancient zither 'heaven's inquiry'' under this beautiful moonlight?”

This invitation was reasonable, elegant, and refined.

The Heavenly Zither Woman was already deeply curious and admiring of Lin Tian's miraculous zither skills and his generous spirit of 'gifting treasures to a confidant.' Upon hearing this invitation, she almost didn't hesitate, nodding in agreement with pleasure.

“It is my honor to discuss music with a 'confidant' such as Mr. Lin.”

... Forbidden City, Moon Shadow Pavilion.

This was a secluded pavilion located deep within the imperial garden, never open to the public, built specifically for the royal family to enjoy the moon. Its location was superb, and its environment was serene.

On the way to the 'Moon Shadow Pavilion,' the group walked through winding white marble paths. Exotic flowers and plants lined both sides, the sound of rockeries and flowing springs filled the air, and a bright moon shone overhead, creating a tranquil and elegant atmosphere.

Lin Tian looked at Long Qingtian, Long Ao, and others following behind him, as well as the several attendants with obscure auras, clearly guards, behind the Heavenly Zither Woman. He suddenly stopped and spoke casually:

“Discussing music is an elegant affair; too many people talking would be distracting and spoil the mood.”

He turned to Long Qingtian and the others, instructing, “You all, wait here. There's no need to follow.”

Long Qingtian and the others were startled by his words. They were about to offer a remonstrance but instantly swallowed their words upon meeting Lin Tian's unquestionable gaze. They knew that their master's decisions were never to be questioned by them.

“Yes, Master.”

Seeing this, the Heavenly Zither Woman, with her keen intellect, understood Lin Tian's meaning. She likewise said to the several attendants behind her, “You all wait here as well.”

Thus, under the worried and puzzled gazes of the two groups of guards, Lin Tian deliberately placed himself in a seemingly 'undefended' situation. He only brought Qin Yubing, whose identity was 'maidservant' and who was currently bowing her head, her expression unreadable, and the Heavenly Zither Woman, who was also alone. Together, they walked into the 'Moon Shadow Pavilion,' which appeared exceptionally serene under the moonlight.

'The bait has been laid. Now, we wait to see when the fish... will bite.'

A cold, imperceptible curve appeared at the corner of Lin Tian's mouth... Top floor of the Moon Shadow Pavilion.

This place was one of the highest points in the entire Forbidden City. Leaning on the railing and looking into the distance, one could take in half of Yanjing's brilliant night view and see the moon, like a jade plate, with exceptional clarity.

The two sat opposite each other at a tea table crafted from millennia-old red sandalwood. Qin Yubing, like the most dutiful maidservant, silently brewed the finest 'Da Hong Pao' tea for them. The aroma of the tea permeated the air, refreshing and invigorating.

The Heavenly Zither Woman looked at the young man before her, who was so handsome under the moonlight that he seemed not a Mortal, and finally, unable to suppress her curiosity, she spoke first, asking, “Mr. Lin's melody just now contained a Dao rhythm that seemed... not to belong to this era. If I may be so bold, may I ask, sir, from what lineage do you hail?”

Lin Tian picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and did not answer directly. Instead, he counter-asked, “Fairy, what do you believe is the ultimate end of music?”

Just as the Heavenly Zither Woman fell into contemplation, preparing to answer this ultimate question concerning the Dao.

Killing intent erupted!

Chii! Chii! Chii! Chii!

Without any warning!

The shadows around the pavilion seemed to come alive! Several assassins, dressed in pitch-black night cloaks, wearing demonic masks, and whose auras perfectly merged with the darkness, like specters crawling out of the Nine Nethers of Hell, simultaneously attacked from all directions!

Their weapons were bizarre black short blades, shaped like venomous snake fangs. A chilling, eerie green light shimmered on their blades, a terrifying poison specifically designed for Mythical Gene powerhouses, capable of instantly disintegrating gene chains, causing them to collapse and necrotize!

They were employing a forbidden combined combat technique, lost for hundreds of years and specifically used for assassinating royal members—the [Ten Directions Absolute Kill Formation]!

Several deadly black lights, like poisoned arrows shot from Hell, instantly wove into an impenetrable net of death, completely sealing off all of Lin Tian and the Heavenly Zither Woman's escape routes and dodging spaces!

This was a long-premeditated, certain-kill assassination, executed by S-rank Peak powerhouses!

“Be careful!”

The Heavenly Zither Woman's face turned pale. Her [Sound of Nature] gene instinctively sensed this terrifying and fatal killing intent, and she cried out in alarm, subconsciously about to activate her Mental Energy for defense. She knew that at such close range, under such a swift combined attack, they... were doomed!

However, Lin Tian, beside her, didn't even bat an eyelid.

He didn't even change the way he held his teacup in the slightest.

He just sat there quietly, as if the net of death before him, capable of strangling any S-rank Peak powerhouse, was merely a few annoying mosquitoes.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Several deadly short blades, steeped in potent poison and capable of piercing interstellar battleship armor, simultaneously and squarely struck his body.

However, the expected scene of blood splattering did not occur.

The moment those short blades touched his body, they were as if they had struck a divine statue crafted from the hardest 'Divine Gold' in the Universe! They only emitted a series of ear-splitting 'clanging' sounds, and then... shattered into pieces!

Let alone piercing his skin, they didn't even manage to scratch his seemingly ordinary casual clothes in the slightest!

His Pangu Body had already evolved to an inconceivable, almost 'invulnerable to all methods, indestructible' terrifying state during his half-year seclusion!

Directly taking the blow, he was completely unharmed!

Those black-clad assassins, looking at their broken, hilt-only weapons, had eyes filled with unprecedented horror and disbelief beneath their demonic masks—a shock that overturned their lifelong understanding of assassination!

Just as they were momentarily rigid from extreme shock.

Lin Tian finally slowly put down his teacup.

He brushed off non-existent dust from his sleeve, looked up at the assassins who were frozen like statues before him, and smiled faintly.

In the assassins' eyes, that smile was more terrifying than a demon god from the deepest depths of Hell.

“Did the Third Prince only send you few useless people to die?”

“To be honest...”

He paused, and a playful smile, like a hunter watching his prey finally step into a trap, flashed in his deep eyes.

“...I've been waiting for you for a long time.”