189: Afei Training

Jun Xiaoyao sat on the mysterious stone chair in the core hall of Beyond Heaven, his fingertips tapping gently on the armrest.

The water mirror beside the chair reflected the scene of the black market trading area—several Luowang Assassins were handing a brocade box to a buyer. Inside the box was a broken jade hairpin, and the pigeon-blood ruby embedded in the head of the hairpin emitted an eerie glow under the candlelight.

This was a mission accepted last night; the target was to retrieve a token of affection that the Prince of Zhennan's son had given to his mistress. The reward was three thousand taels of gold.

“Young Lord,” Zhao Gao's voice came from the shadows. He held a black ledger, bowed, and walked to the water mirror. “This is the thirty-seventh mission completed by The Net this month. The final payment from the Prince of Zhennan's estate has been received. According to the rules, thirty percent has been deducted for the Beyond Heaven treasury.”

He opened the ledger and pointed his fingertip at a line of text. “However, during this operation, our tracks were discovered by the Prince of Zhennan's guards. Although the assassin escaped smoothly, the other party seems to have found some clues. Just now, news came from the black market that the Prince of Zhennan is offering a reward to investigate the background of ‘The Net’.”

Jun Xiaoyao's gaze did not leave the water mirror. In the mirror, the buyer was testing the jade hairpin with a silver needle. After confirming it was non-toxic, he pushed the gold over. “If they found out, then so be it,” he said in a flat tone. “The Net has always done things cleanly; they won't find any solid evidence.”

Changing the subject, he added, “However, they must be taught to know their place. Zhao Gao, have the Marshal of the Unruly ‘take a walk’ around the perimeter of the Prince of Zhennan's estate. No need to take action, just show his face.”

“Yes,” Zhao Gao replied, then added, “Additionally, ‘Fentian Palace’ from the Western Regions has sent people to contact the black market. They want to hire The Net to assassinate the Grand Elder of the Kunlun Sect. They offered fifty thousand taels and also said they would gift a ‘Fentian Pill’ upon success.” He added, “The Fentian Pill can assist those in the Grandmaster Realm to Breakthrough to the Great Grandmaster level; it is considered a rare treasure.”

Jun Xiaoyao finally raised his eyes, his gaze landing on the summoning array in the center of the hall. The runes on the edge of the Formation were glowing slightly; after several days of recovery, the energy was enough for one summoning.

“The Kunlun Sect and Fentian Palace have always been at odds; there is no need to muddy these waters.” He traced the patterns of the summoning array with his fingertips. “Refuse them. Also, notify the black market that for the next three months, The Net will only accept orders from noble families; we will not touch jobs from Sects for the time being.”

“The Young Lord is wise.” Zhao Gao put away the ledger and added, “By the way, the Marshal of the Unruly sent a message saying that the new batch of assassins recruited by The Net is not very useful, and he would like to ask the Young Lord to summon someone skilled in training.”

Jun Xiaoyao nodded: “Just as well, the energy of the summoning array is sufficient.” He stood up, walked into the Formation, pressed his fingertip on the eye of the array, and injected a trace of Internal Energy.

The runes lit up instantly, and pale golden light patterns spread outward from the eye of the array. The sound of flowing water seemed to fill the air—this was the precursor to a summoning.

[System Prompt: Host's requirements detected, matching Wuxia characters skilled in training and command... Matching successful!]

A figure gradually condensed in the center of the light patterns. Dressed in black tight-fitting clothes, a soft sword hanging at his waist, his face was resolute, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. It was Flying from “sentimental swordsman, ruthless sword”. When he landed, the tips of his feet touched the ground lightly and silently, and a sharp aura emanated from his body.

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: Flying (from the world of “sentimental swordsman, ruthless sword”); Realm: Grandmaster Initial Stage; Martial Skill Cultivation Technique: 1. Fast Sword: Sword speed is extremely fast, so fast that the naked eye cannot distinguish it. Once defeated three Grandmaster Realm experts within ten Moves. The sword Moves are simple and direct, each Move fatal. 2. Heart-Calming Formula: Can keep the mind clear in chaos, improve the ability to anticipate danger, and when cultivated to the depths, can see through the opponent's flaws. Special Abilities: - Training Talent: Skilled in breaking down actual combat techniques into basic movements, can quickly improve the assassin's sword speed and reaction ability. Once guided No Fate's sword technique. - Tracking Technique: Sensitivity to Qi is far beyond ordinary people; can judge the target's position through footprints and traces on grass and trees, with an error of no more than ten zhang. Additional Items: - mysterious iron sword (Common Weapon): The blade is narrow and thin, weighing only thirty percent of a normal long sword, but it is exceptionally tough and suitable for performing Fast Sword. - Gale Boots: Almost silent when stepping on the ground, can improve movement speed, convenient for sneak attacks or withdrawal.]

Flying knelt on one knee, his voice low: “Subordinate Flying, greets the Young Lord.”

Jun Xiaoyao looked at him: “The Foundation of the new assassins recruited by The Net is too poor. Go help the Marshal of the Unruly train them for three months and teach them your Fast Sword basics.”

“Subordinate obeys.” Flying stood up, the soft sword at his waist trembling slightly, as if echoing his Battle Intent.

“Zhao Gao, take him to find the Marshal of the Unruly.” Jun Xiaoyao waved his hand, and Flying followed Zhao Gao away. The hall returned to silence.

The water mirror scene switched. The Marshal of the Unruly was presiding over The Net's training base—an abandoned mine. Torches were inserted on the cave walls, illuminating dozens of assassins practicing. Their Moves were messy, and some were even knocked to the ground by their companions, letting out muffled groans. The Marshal of the Unruly stood on the high platform with his hands behind his back, his brows furrowed. Seeing Zhao Gao bring Flying in, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.

“Who is this?”

“The training instructor sent by the Young Lord, Flying,” Zhao Gao introduced. “The Young Lord said to let him teach you the basics of the Fast Sword.”

Flying walked to the center of the field, his gaze sweeping over those assassins. Suddenly, his figure moved, the soft sword unsheathed and returned to the sheath, the action so fast that only an afterimage remained. Looking again, the chest of a falling assassin had a neat cut, and he hadn't even reacted yet.

“Sword strikes must be fast, and even more so, accurate,” Flying's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears. “Your movements are too slow and you have too many distracting thoughts. Going out to carry out missions like this will only lead to death.”

A flash of approval appeared in the eyes of the Marshal of the Unruly: “I will trouble you, Master Flying.”

The scene turned back to the core hall. Jun Xiaoyao sat down again, and the water mirror switched to the black market. A person wearing a bamboo hat was talking to a contact person of The Net. The hand exposed under the bamboo hat wore a jade thumb ring—that was the mark of the Anyuan Marquis Mansion in the capital.

“The Anyuan Marquis wants to ask The Net to check the whereabouts of his son,” the contact person lowered his voice. “He said the young marquis has been missing for three days, leaving only a letter saying he wants to explore the Western Regions. The Marquis is worried that he has been abducted.”

“Reward?” the contact person of The Net asked.

“Five thousand taels, plus a waist token from the Marquis's mansion. In the future, in the capital area, you can use this token to avoid inspections by the patrol battalion.”

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertips on the armrest and said to the air: “Accept it. Send an assassin skilled in tracking, and take Flying with him—it's just right to let him practice.”

No one answered, but light footsteps were heard outside the hall soon after; it was a messenger from The Net.

At this time, the energy of the summoning array began to recover slowly, and the light of the runes was dimmer than just now. Jun Xiaoyao looked at the Formation, thinking of Flying's Fast Sword just now, and suddenly felt that perhaps he should summon another sword expert; after all, what The Net lacked most was top-tier combat power.

Just as he was thinking, a commotion suddenly appeared in the water mirror. The contact person from the Anyuan Marquis Mansion had just left when he was blocked by several Men in Black, and the two sides started fighting.

Although the contact person was also a peripheral member of The Net, he could not withstand the number of opponents and was quickly subdued. The leading Man in Black took off his mask, revealing a scarred face, and a cold smile curled up at the corner of his mouth: “A rat of The Net, finally caught one.”

Jun Xiaoyao's eyes narrowed. The tattoo on the scarred face's wrist—that was the mark of Fentian Palace. It seems that after being rejected, Fentian Palace actually wanted to touch the people of The Net.

“Zhao Gao.”

In the shadows, Zhao Gao appeared again: “Young Lord?”

“Have the Marshal of the Unruly take a team to the black market,” Jun Xiaoyao's voice turned cold. “Rescue the person, and by the way, tell Fentian Palace not to think that Beyond Heaven is easy to bully.” He paused and added, “Is there enough energy in the summoning array?”

“Replying to the Young Lord, it is still a bit short, but if you use the backup energy, you can summon another one.”

“Use it.” Jun Xiaoyao stood up. “Send a ‘big gift’ to Fentian Palace.”

Zhao Gao took the order and left. Jun Xiaoyao walked to the summoning array and injected a deeper strand of Internal Energy into the eye of the array. The runes instantly erupted with blinding light, several times brighter than when summoning Flying—this was a sign of using backup energy.

[System Prompt: Backup energy activation detected, matching high-level Wuxia characters... Matching successful!]

A figure in white walked out of the light, holding a long sword, with a cold and clear temperament. It was Feng Qingyang from “the smiling, proud wanderer”.

[Character Panel Expanded: Name: Feng Qingyang (from the world of “the smiling, proud wanderer”); Realm: Middle Celestial Realm; Martial Skill Cultivation Technique: 1. Nine Swords of Dugu: Can break all martial arts in the world, can automatically derive methods to break them according to the opponent's Moves. Once used this sword to make the ten elders of the Demon Sect helpless. 2. Zixia Divine Skill: Internal Energy is mellow and long-lasting, can quickly recover one's own injuries, and simultaneously suppress the opponent's Internal Energy operation. Special Abilities: - Sword Dao Grandmaster: Can see through the flaws of any sword technique at a glance. When guiding others in sword technique, can make them improve rapidly in a short time. - Invisibility Technique: The figure is like a ghost, can achieve complete invisibility within ten zhang, suitable for sneak attacks or reconnaissance. Additional Items: - Long sword “No Trace” (Divine Weapon): The blade is transparent, almost invisible when unsheathed, only the tip of the sword glimmers with cold light. - Black Cloak: Can absorb light, enhance the invisibility effect, and simultaneously defend against hidden weapons below the Grandmaster Realm.]

Feng Qingyang bowed and saluted, his voice clear and resonant: “Feng Qingyang, greets the Young Lord.”

“People from Fentian Palace attacked the people of The Net in the black market,” Jun Xiaoyao said. “I would like to trouble Master Feng to make a trip. No need to kill anyone, just cripple their martial arts.”

“Simple.” Before Feng Qingyang's voice fell, his figure had disappeared in the hall, leaving only a wisp of faint Sword Qi.

In the water mirror, the Marshal of the Unruly was leading people to the black market, and Feng Qingyang's figure had already appeared behind the scarred man. The scarred man was just about to interrogate the contact person of The Net when he suddenly felt his wrist go numb, and the knife in his hand fell to the ground.

He looked back in horror, only to see an afterimage in white, and then severe pain came from his whole body's Meridians—his martial arts had been abolished. The other Men in Black hadn't reacted yet before they were subdued by the The Unruly who arrived later.

Jun Xiaoyao watched this scene and sat back on the mysterious stone chair. In the water mirror, the task of the Anyuan Marquis Mansion had been taken over by assassins. Flying was teaching the assassins the basics of sword strikes at the training base, while Feng Qingyang had hidden in the shadows of the black market, obviously paying attention to the follow-up actions of Fentian Palace.

“Beyond Heaven does not stir up trouble, but it is definitely not afraid of trouble.” Jun Xiaoyao picked up the tea on the table, the tea mist blurring his profile. “Whoever wants to step on The Net to get ahead must first weigh whether their bones are hard enough.”

Outside the hall, the light of the summoning array dispersed completely, and the runes fell back into silence, waiting to be awakened again. And the storm in the black market had just begun—Fentian Palace had suffered a loss and would never let it go, but Jun Xiaoyao was not worried. The Net was like a net that tightened more and more, and he was the one holding the rope. With just a gentle pull, he could let those prey trying to struggle taste the power of Beyond Heaven.