97: Early signs of talent

Jun Xiaoyao sat on the Moon-Gazing Terrace of the Tianwaitian Headquarters, a black piece pinched between his fingers, which he placed on the chessboard. Moonlight spilled onto his plain robes, making his face appear even more serene. Below the terrace, Zhao Gao stood with his head bowed, holding a scroll of names, his voice extremely low:

"Young Lord, The Net has, as per your instructions, set up an inescapable net in Qingyang City. The current 'Broken Finger' mission, for which the employer offered thirty thousand taels of gold, targets Li Xiuyuan, the Third Young Master of Qingyang City Lord. It is said that this person secretly colludes with the Demonic Sect and has a hidden stash of firearms."

Jun Xiaoyao's hand, which was about to place a piece, paused. His gaze swept over the scattered pieces on the chessboard, and he said indifferently, "Firearms? How interesting. Have you found out the source of this batch of firearms?"

"Reporting to Young Lord, we've found some clues; it seems to be related to the Black Wind Stockade in the Western Regions. The Stockade Master of Black Wind Stockade, 'One-Eyed Wolf,' is at the Innate Realm, and he has three hundred fierce bandits under him, all desperadoes," Zhao Gao added. "Marshal of the Unruly suggests that if we can follow the vine to find the melon and take down Black Wind Stockade, not only can we seize the firearms, but we can also expand The Net's armory."

The black piece in Jun Xiaoyao's fingers finally landed on the center point, and the game instantly came alive. He looked up at Zhao Gao: "Let Marshal of the Unruly select the people. The Net needs a 'warm-up' recently. Also, give me Li Xiuyuan's information."

Zhao Gao quickly pulled out a scroll of parchment from his sleeve and presented it with both hands: "Li Xiuyuan, twenty-three years old, Early Stage Grandmaster Realm. Relying on his father being the Qingyang City Lord, he acts tyrannically in the city, especially lustful. Last month, he forcibly abducted the daughter of the cloth shop owner in the west of the city. The common people dare not speak out in anger."

"Grandmaster Realm?" Jun Xiaoyao took the parchment and casually glanced at it. "That saves some effort. Who should go?"

"The Net's 'Xuan' level assassin, 'Shadow,' is at the Early Stage Great Grandmaster Realm. He specializes in stealth assassination, and his weapon is a poisoned silver needle," Zhao Gao said, opening the roster and pointing to one page. "His profile is here."

[Name: Shadow

From: gu long wuxia world

Realm: Early Stage Great Grandmaster Realm

Martial Skill: Soul-Chasing Needle (hits a hundred out of a hundred, with 'Qianji' poison on the needles, causing bones and muscles to break when hit), Treading Snow Without a Trace (lightness skill, traveling a thousand li a day without leaving a trace)]

Jun Xiaoyao nodded: "Have him act tonight, and while he's at it, scout out Black Wind Stockade's strength."

"Yes." Zhao Gao bowed and retreated, a hint of awe flashing in his eyes as he turned—the Young Lord never made a move himself, yet he could always decide the entire situation with a casual conversation. Such an Aura, no wonder everyone in The Net obeyed him.

At the third watch, Qingyang City Lord's Mansion was utterly silent. The lights in Li Xiuyuan's bedroom were still on, and the faint sound of music could be heard. Shadow, like a wisp of green smoke, flipped over the back wall, his toes touching the glazed tiles without making the slightest sound.

He lay on the eaves, peeking through the window crack—Li Xiuyuan was embracing two dancing girls and drinking, a jade pendant hanging from his waist, which was the token specified by the employer. Shadow's fingertips clasped three silver needles, just about to strike, when he suddenly heard an angry shout from inside the bedroom:

"Who's there?!"

Li Xiuyuan slammed the table and stood up, his Grandmaster Realm Aura erupting, the wine cup in his hand crushed to powder. Shadow was startled—although this person was at the Early Stage Grandmaster Realm, his vigilance was so high! He dared not delay, a flick of his wrist, and three silver needles shot out like meteors towards Li Xiuyuan's glabella, throat, and heart.

"Petty tricks!" Li Xiuyuan sneered, waving his sleeve, a surge of Qi sweeping the silver needles aside. "An assassin from The Net? Daring to act wildly in the City Lord's Mansion, you must be tired of living!"

His figure swayed; he was also a skilled practitioner. His palm wind, with a whooshing sound, struck the window frame where Shadow was hiding. Shadow thought, 'This is bad,' and activated Treading Snow Without a Trace, his figure drifting like willow catkins towards the backyard, while simultaneously throwing a smoke bomb. White smoke instantly filled the air.

"Trying to run?" Li Xiuyuan rushed out of the bedroom, looking at the blurry figure in the smoke, and drew a soft sword from his waist. With Sword Qi crisscrossing, he actually cut a rift in the smoke. "Qingyang City is my territory, can you escape?"

Shadow used the momentum in the smoke to flip and land on a rockery, a cold light flashing in his eyes—this person was stronger than described in the data. If he prolonged the fight, he would surely be surrounded. He made a decisive move, turned and swept towards the outside of the City Lord's Mansion, simultaneously firing a signal flare, and a green flower instantly bloomed in the night sky.

This was The Net's distress signal.

Li Xiuyuan laughed loudly when he saw this: "Still daring to call for help? Today, I'll make sure you come but never return!" He pursued relentlessly with his soft sword, and the guards along the way were alerted. Torches lit up like a long Dragon, illuminating the street as if it were daytime.

Shadow fought and retreated, continuously shooting Soul-Chasing Needles, forcing Li Xiuyuan to not get too close. Just as he was about to rush out of the city gate, a Team of Men in Black knights suddenly appeared in front. The leader, in silver armor with a silver spear, was none other than the Marshal of the Unruly.

[Name: Marshal of the Unruly

From: Hua Jianghu World

Realm: Middle Celestial Realm

Martial Skill: Tiangang Art (Internal Energy is overbearing, capable of shaking mountains), Huayang Needle (can both save and kill people)]

"Shadow, retreat." Marshal of the Unruly's voice was like a great bell. He shook his silver spear, the spear tip pointing directly at Li Xiuyuan. "A mere Grandmaster Realm dares to chase my people from The Net?"

Li Xiuyuan's face changed dramatically when he saw Marshal of the Unruly: "The Unruly? You...you are from Beyond Heaven?" He had seen records about Beyond Heaven in his father's secret letters; it was said that their influence spread throughout the Jianghu, and even the imperial court had to give them deference.

"Good that you know." Marshal of the Unruly flicked his spear tip, and an invisible Qi slammed into Li Xiuyuan. "Leave the jade pendant and scram."

Li Xiuyuan gritted his teeth. Although he was arrogant, he knew that Beyond Heaven was not to be trifled with. But thinking of his father's authority, he was unwilling to show weakness and stubbornly said, "I am the son of the Qingyang City Lord, do you dare to touch me?"

"What if I do?" A trace of Killing Intent flashed in Marshal of the Unruly's eyes. His silver spear, like a Dragon emerging from the sea, thrust forward with the pressure of the Heavenly Human Realm. Li Xiuyuan only felt a massive force attacking him, as if Mount Tai was pressing down. His soft sword was knocked away, his chest ached intensely, and he flew backward, crashing heavily against the city wall, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Shadow seized the opportunity to step forward, took the jade pendant from his waist, and with a backhand chop to his nape, Li Xiuyuan's eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

"Search his bedroom for clues about Black Wind Stockade," Marshal of the Unruly said, putting away his silver spear and instructing The Unruly behind him.

Half an hour later, an Unruly member returned with an account book: "Commander, I found this. It records transactions with Black Wind Stockade. The latest batch of firearms will be transported into Qingyang City in three days, and the handover location is Ten Mile Slope outside the city."

Marshal of the Unruly took the account book, his brows slightly furrowed: "One-Eyed Wolf, the Stockade Master of Black Wind Stockade, is at the Innate Realm, and he has three hundred fierce bandits, five of whom are at the Grandmaster Realm." He looked at Shadow: "You go back and report to the Young Lord. I will lead a team of The Unruly to guard Ten Mile Slope and wait for them to walk into the trap."

Shadow nodded and disappeared into the night as a black shadow.

The next morning, at the Tianwaitian Headquarters.

Jun Xiaoyao listened to Shadow's report, his fingers tapping on the table: "Innate Realm? That's enough for Marshal of the Unruly to stretch his muscles." He looked at another Man in Black standing beside him, "'Startled Nymph,' you go and assist Marshal of the Unruly. Make sure to bring the firearms back intact."

The Man in Black knelt on one knee, his voice clear and cold like clashing jade: "Yes, Young Lord."

[Name: Startled Nymph

From: Qin's Moon World

Realm: Mid-Stage Grandmaster Realm

Martial Skill: Startled Nymph Sword Art (sword strikes like lightning, can cut gold and cleave stone), Disguise Technique (ever-changing, unrecognizable by anyone)]

After Startled Nymph left, Jun Xiaoyao picked up the jade pendant taken from Li Xiuyuan. The jade pendant was engraved with the character "Li," but its edge had a tiny chip—which perfectly matched the chip on Black Wind Stockade's token.

"Zhao Gao."

"Your subordinate is here."

"If the Qingyang City Lord dares to cause trouble, let The Net's 'Sha' level people handle it." Jun Xiaoyao threw the jade pendant to Zhao Gao. "Tell the City Lord that his son colluded with the Demonic Sect and secretly stored firearms, with conclusive evidence. Either he accepts his fate obediently, or... we change City Lords."

Zhao Gao caught the jade pendant, his heart tightening—was the Young Lord using this opportunity to seize control of Qingyang City? He bowed his head and replied, "Your subordinate understands."

Three days later, Ten Mile Slope.

Marshal of the Unruly led fifty Unruly members in ambush in the dense forest, while Startled Nymph, disguised as a cook from Black Wind Stockade, mingled among the team transporting the firearms. At noon, a team of carriages slowly approached. The leader was One-Eyed Wolf, his single eye covered by a black cloth, a ghost-head Saber at his waist, his Innate Realm Aura undisguised.

"Big Brother, there's a lot of goods this time, enough for the Qingyang City Lord to equip a battalion," the sycophantic deputy beside him chuckled.

One-Eyed Wolf snorted coldly: "That surnamed Li brat's price is fair, but he's too ostentatious; something will happen sooner or later." No sooner had he spoken than he suddenly reined in his horse. "Something's wrong, there's Killing Intent around!"

Before he finished speaking, Marshal of the Unruly's silver spear had already thrust out like lightning, its tip pointing directly at One-Eyed Wolf's throat: "Black Wind Stockade, today you shall be annihilated!"

"The Unruly?!" One-Eyed Wolf was shocked and enraged. His ghost-head Saber hastily blocked. With a "clang," he was shaken, his arm numb, and his heart was greatly alarmed—this person was actually at the Heavenly Human Realm!

Startled Nymph seized the opportunity to attack. The soft sword at her waist was unsheathed, instantly piercing the hearts of three fierce bandits. Her figure was elusive, her swordplay vicious, and in a blink of an eye, she had thrown Black Wind Stockade's men into chaos.

"Brothers, fight them to the death!" One-Eyed Wolf roared, swinging his Saber at Marshal of the Unruly. The ghost-head Saber carried a Blood Wind (bloody wind), and its Saber Qi actually cleaved a deep ditch (gully) in the ground.

Marshal of the Unruly did not dodge. His Tiangang Art circulated to its peak, and golden light emanated from his silver spear, directly colliding with the ghost-head Saber. With a "crack," the ghost-head Saber broke. One-Eyed Wolf was shaken back repeatedly, his chest garment ripped open, revealing a deep, bone-visible wound.

"Surrender and live!" Marshal of the Unruly's voice echoed through the valley.

The bandits, already fearing the reputation of The Unruly, saw their Stockade Master injured and immediately fell into disarray. Startled Nymph's sword light flashed, and the tip of her sword pressed against One-Eyed Wolf's throat: "Disarm, or die."

One-Eyed Wolf looked at his fallen subordinates around him, then at the sword at his throat, and finally, dejectedly put down his broken Saber: "I surrender..."

In this battle, The Net seized over three hundred firearms, captured over two hundred fierce bandits, and One-Eyed Wolf was escorted back to Beyond Heaven to await his fate. When the news reached Qingyang City, the City Lord was so frightened that he immediately sent someone to deliver one hundred thousand taels of gold overnight, only begging Beyond Heaven to "be merciful." As for Li Xiuyuan's collusion with the Demonic Sect, he absolutely refused to mention it.

On the Moon-Gazing Terrace, Jun Xiaoyao looked at the firearms inventory presented by Marshal of the Unruly, a faint smile playing on his lips. Zhao Gao, standing nearby, bowed and said: "Young Lord, the Qingyang City Lord has promised to pay one thousand taels of 'tribute' to Beyond Heaven every month, just to ensure his son's safety."

"One thousand taels?" Jun Xiaoyao tapped the inventory with his fingertip. "Tell him, three thousand taels. If it's a single cent less, Li Xiuyuan will 'disappear'."

"Yes." Zhao Gao responded and retreated.

Jun Xiaoyao picked up a chess piece and placed it in the corner of the board. The previously stalemated game instantly gained infinite possibilities. He looked in the direction of Qingyang City, a profound glint in his eyes—this Jianghu was merely his chessboard, and everyone was just a chess piece.

As night deepened, secret reports from The Net flew in like snowflakes: "Pili Hall in Jiangnan intends to form an alliance with the Demonic Sect," "Northern Border Iron Cavalry is acting unusually," "Medicine King Valley has produced a new strange poison"... Jun Xiaoyao casually picked up one, which read: "The Saintess of the Western Regions Divine Sect will hold a heaven-worshipping ceremony next month." His fingertip paused on the words "Saintess," and he said indifferently: "Have Shadow investigate what is special about this Saintess."

Outside the window, moonlight was like water, illuminating the flying eaves and upturned corners of the Tianwaitian Headquarters, and also illuminating the unfathomable chess game in Jun Xiaoyao's eyes. The era belonging to Beyond Heaven had just begun.