204: assassination of the young master of the Salt Gang

The floor of the core hall of Beyond Heaven was glowing with pale green energy patterns, Jun Xiaoyao leaned half-reclined on a floating mysterious iron chair, turning a black jade ring on his fingertip.

The hall was so quiet that one could hear the faint sound of energy flowing; only the seven water mirror floating in front of him reflected the movements of all parties.

In the leftmost water mirror, Zhao Gao was standing in the black market's intelligence pavilion, his fingertips tapping across a row of bamboo tubes affixed with Talismanic Incantation. Each tube contained an urgent mission, with the Rank and bounty marked on the cylinder.

"The Net Level 3 mission: Assassinate the Young Lord of the Northern Border Salt Gang, bounty 30,000 taels, requirement: leave no traces." Zhao Gao picked up the bamboo tube and shook it, sneering at the gray-robed figure opposite him. "The Salt Gang has been snatching ore veins from Beyond Heaven recently, so this mission is accepted. Send 'Night Owl' from the Shadow Group; his 'Silent Steps' are best suited for this kind of work."

The gray-robed figure nodded in acknowledgement and was about to withdraw when Zhao Gao added: "Tell Night Owl to bring back the Young Lord of the Salt Gang's jade pendant after he succeeds. It's a piece of warm jade; the Young Lord might find a use for it."

[The Net · Shadow Group · Night Owl | Origin: legend of lu xiaofeng World | Realm: Middle Grandmaster Realm | Martial Skill: Silent Steps (Treading Snow Without a Trace, can walk on fallen leaves without making a sound), Meteor Dart (quenched with paralytic poison, hits the mark every time within thirty paces) | Status: Mission accepted, currently sneaking towards the Salt Gang headquarters]

In the second water mirror, the Marshal of the Unruly was sitting in a dilapidated temple, polishing his iron pipe, surrounded by seven bare-chested, strong men—the core members of The Unruly. Outside the temple, heavy rain was pouring, drumming loudly on the tiles, yet it could not penetrate the Qi wall set up by the Marshal of the Unruly.

"The Southern Chu Imperial Family's spies have been found," the Marshal of the Unruly tapped his pipe, sparks splashing into the wet mud. "They are hiding in the 'Falling Clouds Dock' granary, hoarding enough grain to supply half the Imperial Dynasty, hoping to raise prices before the autumn harvest. The Young Lord said, we are 'borrowing' half of this grain."

A burly man with a thick beard laughed and patted his chest: "Boss, this job is simple! I, 'Iron Ox', will take the brothers to move it tonight, I guarantee we won't even startle the mice in the granary!"

The Marshal of the Unruly glanced at him: "Stop talking nonsense, bring enough 'Concealment Talismans', and don't let the 'Heavenly Eye' of Southern Chu notice. Remember, only move the grain, do not kill anyone; the Young Lord does not like needless bloodshed."

[The Unruly · Iron Ox | Origin: water margin World | Realm: Grandmaster Early Stage | Martial Skill: Iron Mountain Lean (Physical Body strength comparable to refined iron, can smash through a three-foot-thick stone door), Stone-Splitting Fist (can shatter granite with one punch) | Status: Preparing to depart, Concealment Talismans ready]

The third water mirror reflected a bamboo forest, the morning dew on the bamboo leaves not yet dry. West Gate Blows Snow stood on a bamboo tip in white robes, his black-sheathed sword pointing obliquely at the ground, a carrier pigeon just pierced through by the sword hanging from the tip. A secret letter was tied to the pigeon's leg, the ink marks shredded by Sword Qi.

"A secret letter from the Southern Chu National Preceptor," West Gate Blows Snow's voice was cold as ice, "wanting to unite with the Demonic Sect to encircle and kill the Sect Heads of various School at the Martial Forest Alliance. It seems we need to send more manpower to Ma Chao's side."

He flicked his fingertip, and the Sword Qi turned into a white rainbow, shooting into the depths of the bamboo forest. A moment later, a black shadow leaped out from the bamboo shadows and knelt on one knee—it was Night Owl, who had just finished the assassination mission.

"Pass this news to the Young Lord," West Gate Blows Snow said, "Also, leave the Salt Gang jade pendant, and you go to Falling Clouds Dock to help The Unruly move the grain; they are too clumsy."

[Beyond Heaven · West Gate Blows Snow | Origin: legend of lu xiaofeng World | Realm: Early Celestial Being Realm | Martial Skill: Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens (sword strikes like flowing light, can cleave True Qi barriers), Treading Plum Blossoms in the Snow (agile movement technique, can walk on the tip of a sword) | Status: Monitoring Southern Chu's movements]

The scene in the fourth water mirror was the liveliest. In the back kitchen of the Assembly of Sages Tower, The Unruly were fighting with the killers of The Net over a large sack.

"We found this bag of gold beads first!" Poison Scorpion of The Net put her hands on her hips, the poison needles stuck in her hair gleaming with a faint blue light, "The mission details stated that the secret treasury of the Southern Chu Minister of Personnel is for The Net to clear out!"

"Bullshit!" Thin Monkey of The Unruly rolled on the ground holding the sack, "We, The Unruly, kicked open the door to the secret chamber first! According to the rules, whoever opens the door gets the loot!"

The two were arguing incessantly when they suddenly heard a light cough from above. Looking up, they saw Zhan Zhao squatting on the roof beam, holding a string of freshly grilled meat skewers.

"Stop arguing," Zhan Zhao took a bite of the meat skewer, oil dripping onto his collar, "The Young Lord said, the gold beads go to The Net to buy poison, and the grain goes to The Unruly for disaster relief; neither side loses out."

Poison Scorpion and Thin Monkey looked at each other, snorted, and went to do their own things. Zhan Zhao smiled and shook his head, fished out a jade pendant from his bosom and tossed it into the air—it was the warm jade of the Salt Gang brought back by Night Owl, the jade light warm and moist, drawing an arc in the air, falling into the Void Realm, clearly transmitted to the core hall of Beyond Heaven.

[Beyond Heaven · Zhan Zhao | Origin: three heroes and five gallants World | Realm: Grandmaster Initial Stage | Martial Skill: zhanlu sword Technique (sword momentum is gentle, can bind enemies without hurting them), Cloud-Mounting Leap (superb lightness skill, can walk on roof beams as if on flat ground) | Status: Mediating the dispute]

The fifth water mirror showed a desert. Amidst the sky-filling yellow sand, Ma Chao's bright silver spear was stuck in the ground, the spear tassel flapping loudly in the wind. A disheveled man was kneeling at his feet—it was the secret envoy sent by Southern Chu to contact the Demonic Sect.

"Speak, where is the headquarters of the Demonic Sect?" Ma Chao's voice was like a bell, the spear body suddenly trembling, the spear tip only three inches away from the secret envoy's throat.

The secret envoy trembled all over, tears and snot flowing: "It's, it's in the Black Wind Abyss... The Sect Master said, on the day of the Alliance, use 'bone melting powder' to poison the mounts of the various School..."

Ma Chao let out a cold snort, the spear tip flicked and broke the secret envoy's belt, and a map fell out from inside. He unfolded it and sneered: "Black Wind Abyss? Perfect, this general's Prairie Fire Spear Technique hasn't tried picking the bones of a Demonic Sect Master yet."

[Beyond Heaven · Ma Chao | Origin: romance of the three kingdoms World | Realm: Middle Celestial Being Realm | Martial Skill: Prairie Fire Spear Technique (spear momentum is like fire, can instantly incinerate poisonous creatures within three zhang), Lion Helmet Intimidation (when the red tassel of the helmet flutters, it can make those below the Grandmaster Realm lose their composure) | Status: Interrogating the secret envoy, about to head to the Black Wind Abyss]

In the sixth water mirror, Wu Song was squatting on an old locust tree, chewing a blade of grass in his mouth. Under the tree was a graveyard, and buried in the new grave mound was the Young Lord of the Salt Gang who had been assassinated by Night Owl.

"Tsk tsk, the Heavenly Eye of Southern Chu really did follow." Wu Song tugged at his tiger-skin skirt, a trace of ferocity flashing in his eyes, "Twenty-seven of them, all carrying crossbows, thinking that hiding behind the grave mounds would go unnoticed?"

He took the iron fork from his back, the fork teeth gleaming with cold light in the moonlight: "The Young Lord said, leave them alive, so just cripple their crossbow arms." Before the words fell, he had already leaped down from the tree like a fierce tiger pouncing on food, and amidst the flying fork shadows, only a series of bone-cracking sounds and cries of pain were heard. A moment later, the graveyard was filled with Men in Black rolling on the ground clutching their arms.

[Beyond Heaven · Wu Song | Origin: water margin World | Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm | Martial Skill: Jade Ring Steps (footwork is treacherous, can circle behind the enemy without being noticed), Mandarin Duck Kicks (consecutive kicks, specializing in kicking joints, can cripple a person's martial arts) | Status: Heavenly Eye dealt with, currently interrogating the leader]

The seventh water mirror, which was also the one closest to Jun Xiaoyao, reflected a Woman in White—it was Little Dragon Girl who had just been summoned. She stood in front of the stone gate of the Ancient Tomb on Zhongnan Mountain, Jade Bee Needles swirling at her fingertips, followed by a swarm of buzzing jade bees.

"The Young Lord asked me to guard the antidote for the heart-eroding gu," Little Dragon Girl's voice was light, yet carried an unquestionable majesty, "These jade bee needles are quenched with honey, which can attract the Gu insects. Once anyone infected with the Gu approaches, the swarm will sound the alarm immediately."

She raised her hand and waved slightly, and the swarm suddenly became restless, circling the stone gate three times. Little Dragon Girl frowned slightly: "It seems that someone infected with the Gu is coming this way, and there are quite a few of them."

[Beyond Heaven · Little Dragon Girl | Origin: the return of the condor heroes World | Realm: Mid-stage Grandmaster | Martial Skill: Jade Maiden Heart Sutra (Internal Energy is gentle, can neutralize Gu poison), Jade Bee Needles (made with the tail stings of jade bees, has a restraining effect on Gu insects) | Status: Guarding the entrance of the Ancient Tomb, on alert]

The light of the seven water mirror flowed on Jun Xiaoyao's face, and he played with the warm jade he had just received, a faint, elusive smile hanging on the corners of his mouth.

Zhao Gao's calculations, the Marshal of the Unruly's steadiness, West Gate Blows Snow's sharpness, Zhan Zhao's harmony, Ma Chao's ferocity, Wu Song's decisiveness, Little Dragon Girl's meticulousness... Everyone was in their own position, like precise gears, pushing the operation of Beyond Heaven.

The rain outside the hall was still falling, the bell sounds of the black market, the shouting of The Unruly, sword ringing, insect hissing, horse hoof sounds... interwoven into a clamor through the water mirror, but were blocked outside by the energy wall of the core hall, leaving only slight tremors, like muffled thunder coming from distant mountains.

Jun Xiaoyao flicked his finger, and the warm jade turned into a stream of light and shot towards the seventh water mirror. Little Dragon Girl caught the jade, her fingertips touching the warmth of the jade, and the swarm immediately quieted down—the aura of the warm jade was just enough to soothe the restlessness of the jade bees.

"Very good." He whispered to himself, his voice so soft it was swallowed by the energy flow, "Southern Chu, the Demonic Sect, the Salt Gang... since you want to touch the resources of Beyond Heaven, you must have the consciousness to pay the price."

In the water mirror, the various teams were still busy: Night Owl had sneaked into the Salt Gang's granary, Iron Ox was walking like a flying man carrying a grain bag taller than a person, West Gate Blows Snow's Sword Qi was cutting up the Demonic Sect's secret letters, and Zhan Zhao was filling the roof beams of the Assembly of Sages Tower with smoke bombs.

Ma Chao's bright silver spear had pierced through the thick fog of the Black Wind Abyss, Wu Song was stepping on the backs of the Heavenly Eye to force information out of them, and Little Dragon Girl's jade bee swarm was flying towards the direction of the Martial Forest Alliance, following the scent of the Gu insects.

A silent confrontation had already unfolded in every corner of the continent. And the Young Lord of Beyond Heaven only needed to sit quietly in this core hall, watching The Net tighten, watching his own territory become clearer bit by bit.