398: Hunting List

Jun Xiaoyao leaned against the cold jade couch, his fingertips tracing across the dark gold summoning panel.

On the panel, the "The Net Task Board" flickered with red light. The latest assassination order was marked: "Target: Vice Leader of the Qingzhou Salt Gang, Reward: Three Thousand Taels of Gold." The publisher's name column was hidden, leaving only the character "Xuan."

"Zhao Gao." His voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable majesty.

A tall, thin figure emerged from the shadows. Zhao Gao bowed and saluted: "Young Lord, it is said that the Vice Leader of the Salt Gang has just achieved a Breakthrough into the Innate Realm. His 'Salt-Splitting Palm' is practiced with great cunning, and the 'Shadow' group of The Net has already targeted him."

He handed over a parchment scroll: "This is the target's detailed itinerary. Tonight, he will be hosting a banquet at the Salt Gang headquarters."

Jun Xiaoyao did not take the scroll, his gaze falling upon the "Summonable List" on the summoning panel. Within the pale blue halo, several names flickered in and out of existence. One of them was slowly becoming clear—Lin Chong, Realm: Early Stage Grandmaster, Martial Skill: Lin Family Spear Technique, Snow-covered Mountain Temple Sword Intent.

"Summoning conditions?" he asked.

Zhao Gao kept his eyes lowered, focused on his own nose: "It requires sacrificing ten fine iron spears, plus a pot of Shaodaozi. The panel indicates that Instructor Lin prefers strong liquor paired with a long spear."

Jun Xiaoyao lightly tapped the panel: "Go to the storehouse and retrieve them."

Half an hour later, Zhao Gao carried ten fine iron spears glistening with cold light, followed by two Luowang Assassins carrying a jar of sealed Shaodaozi. Jun Xiaoyao stood up and walked to the summoning array in the center of the hall, watching as Zhao Gao inserted the iron spears into the array eyes according to the Big Dipper formation, placing the wine jar in the center.

"Activate the array."

Following his command, the summoning array glowed with a pale golden light. The iron spears hummed, and the seal on the wine jar cracked open automatically, allowing a mellow aroma of liquor to permeate the air. Light and shadow twisted within the array, and a figure dressed in imperial guard attire gradually solidified. Holding a long spear, with a hint of melancholy between his brows, it was none other than Leopard Head Lin Chong.

"This subordinate, Lin Chong, greets the Young Lord!" Lin Chong knelt on one knee, his voice resonant, his aura of an Early Stage Grandmaster as steady as a mountain.

Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly: "The Vice Leader of the Salt Gang is hosting a banquet at the headquarters tonight. Take his head, and the 'Shadow' group of The Net will assist you."

Lin Chong accepted the order and stood up. His gaze swept over the ten fine iron spears, and he reached out to pick up the heaviest one, the spear tip pointing directly at the ground: "Rest assured, Young Lord, I will bring back the token before dawn."

Zhao Gao took the opportunity to hand over a map of the Salt Gang: "There is a secret passage in the backyard of the headquarters that leads to the back window of the banquet hall. The target will be wearing a purple robe tonight; he will be easy to identify."

The Net Moves in Shadows, The Salt Gang Banquet

The Salt Gang headquarters was decorated with lanterns and colorful banners. The Vice Leader was embracing a beautiful concubine while drinking in the main seat. Inside the hall, glasses were raised and exchanged, and no one noticed a black shadow flash across the wall of the backyard. Lin Chong vaulted down, taking advantage of the moonlight, and used his spear tip to poke a hole in the window paper. Sure enough, he saw the man in the purple robe on the main seat laughing while raising his glass—it was indeed the target.

"Shadow Group Three, seal the front door." Lin Chong whispered to the message talisman at his waist, his voice kept extremely low.

A few cat calls came from the distance, the secret signal of The Net—the front door was sealed.

He twisted his body and vaulted into the banquet hall, his spear tip flashing like lightning, stabbing directly at the Vice Leader's back. The Vice Leader was also an expert in the Innate Realm. Sensing something amiss, he turned abruptly, his palms forming claws as he grabbed at the spear shaft—this was the opening stance of the "Salt-Splitting Palm."

"Clang!" The spear and palms collided. The Vice Leader felt a massive force surge toward him; the webbing between his thumb and index finger split, and he stumbled backward. Lin Chong's spear momentum did not stop. Under the candlelight, the spear tip traced a semicircle—this was the "Returning Horse Spear" from the "Lin Family Spear Technique." The tip grazed the Vice Leader's neck, drawing a string of blood droplets.

The hall fell into instant chaos. The Salt Gang members drew their blades, but they were entangled by the Luowang Assassins pouring in from the windows. Lin Chong snatched the Vice Leader's jade pendant and darted out of the back window like a flash of lightning, leaving behind only one sentence: "The Net will clean up the aftermath."

The Summoning Panel Lights Up Again, A New Guest Arrives

Just as dawn was breaking, Lin Chong returned with the jade pendant to report. Jun Xiaoyao looked at the new name lit up on the panel, his eyebrows slightly raised—Wu Song, Realm: Middle Grandmaster Realm, Martial Skill: Jade Ring Step, Mandarin Duck Kicks, Summoning Conditions: A jar of Jingyang Ridge strong liquor, a pair of refined iron ring blades.

"Zhao Gao, prepare the wine and the blades."

This time, the summoning array was set up in the side hall. As soon as Wu Song's figure solidified, he grabbed the wine jar and took a big gulp, then smashed the bottom of the jar with his bare hands: "What are the Young Lord's orders? As long as it's not fighting a tiger, anything is fine!"

Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the new task on the panel: "The Prefect of Cangzhou has embezzled disaster relief grain. The Net has been investigating for three months. There are three Grandmaster Realm experts among his guards. Go and 'borrow' his account book. I want to see the person alive, or at least see the account book if they are dead."

Wu Song tucked the ring blades into his waist and grinned: "I've long wanted to deal with such a corrupt official! The Young Lord can wait; I will definitely be back before noon."

Zhao Gao added from the side: "There is a mechanism in the Prefect's study; the secret compartment is in the base of the pen holder. The 'Kill' group of The Net will provide support on the perimeter."

The Shadow of Beyond Heaven

Jun Xiaoyao returned to the cold jade couch, watching the names of Lin Chong and Wu Song light up on the panel, a trace of a smile curling at the corner of his lips. The Net is in the light, Beyond Heaven is in the dark; this game of chess has only just begun.

His fingertips grazed the summoning threshold for the "Land Immortal Realm," which was gray and hazy, clearly not yet the right time. But he was not in a hurry. Luowang Assassins of the Innate Realm were already spread across the seven states, and with Lin Chong and Wu Song as summoned characters of the Grandmaster Realm, it was enough to handle the current waves.

"Zhao Gao."

"Present."

"Investigate the backers of the Prefect of Cangzhou. To dare to touch disaster relief grain, there must be a Sect supporting him from behind."

Zhao Gao bowed in acknowledgement. As he turned to leave, he caught a glimpse of another name flickering on the summoning panel—Lu Zhishen, Realm: Late Grandmaster Realm, Summoning Conditions: Ten catties of dog meat, a bucket of watered-down wine.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the name and said calmly: "Note it down for now; we'll talk about it after Wu Song returns."

The morning light shone through the window lattice onto the panel, reflecting the phantom image of the three characters "Beyond Heaven."

This organization, which existed only within the summoning array and secret orders, was quietly weaving a net covering the continent as each name lit up. And at the center of The Net was always that Young Lord who sat firmly behind the scenes.