98: The net is woven tightly

Jun Xiaoyao sat in the dark chamber of the Tianwaitian Headquarters, his fingertip tracing the cold stone wall, which was covered with densely inscribed names—all targets of The Net's recently completed missions. The candlelight flickered, illuminating the sharp contours of his profile, which held an almost indifferent focus.

"Young Lord, a secret letter from Jiangnan's Thunderclap Hall." Zhao Gao walked in softly and placed a scroll of parchment on the stone table. "Hall Master Lei Qianhu sent an envoy requesting an audience, saying he is willing to exchange the secret formula for the 'Heaven-Shaking Cannon' for Beyond Heaven's aid in eliminating Yelü Hong, the commander of the Northern Border Iron Cavalry."

Jun Xiaoyao did not raise his head, his gaze still fixed on the newest name carved into the wall—the three characters "Li Xiuyuan" were crossed out with a red mark, signifying the mission's conclusion. He tapped the wall with his fingertip: "Yelü Hong, Middle Celestial Realm, the Northern Border's fiercest general. His subordinate 'Black Wind Cavalry' once flattened three cities in a single day. He is qualified to be The Net's 'whetstone'."

Zhao Gao bowed and said, "Lei Qianhu has promised heavy rewards. Besides the Heaven-Shaking Cannon secret formula, he is also willing to offer half of Thunderclap Hall's mineral reserves. Marshal of the Unruly suggests accepting the offer; the Northern Border battlefield is perfect for practice, allowing us to gauge the quality of the newly recruited Kill-Tier Assassins."

Jun Xiaoyao finally turned his head, the candlelight dancing in his eyes: "New recruits?"

"Yes," Zhao Gao opened the roster and pointed to a page. "Flying, summoned from the world of 'sentimental swordsman, ruthless sword,' has reached the Late Stage Great Grandmaster Realm. His Martial Skill is 'Fast Sword,' with drawing speed comparable to lightning. There is also Little Fish, from 'The Legendary Twins,' who is at the Peak Grandmaster Realm. He specializes in poison and strategy, and although his Realm is slightly inferior, he can win through cunning."

[Name: Flying

Origin: Gu Long's 'sentimental swordsman, ruthless sword'

Realm: Late Stage Great Grandmaster

Martial Skill: Fast Sword (The sword leaves no trace, taking life in an instant), Solitary Shadow Steps (Traveling a thousand miles alone, hard to trace)]

[Name: Little Fish

Origin: Gu Long's 'The Legendary Twins'

Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm

Martial Skill: Five Poisons Miraculous Art (Using poison to defeat the enemy, impossible to guard against), Ghostly Shadow Trace (Agile footwork, skilled at slipping through gaps)]

Jun Xiaoyao tapped Flying's name with his fingertip: "Fast Sword? That will be a good match against Yelü Hong's 'Mountain-Shattering Axe.' Send him to go, with Marshal of the Unruly backing him up." He paused, then pointed at Little Fish. "This boy is clever. Send him to Jiangnan to keep an eye on Thunderclap Hall—I don't believe Lei Qianhu will obediently hand over the Heaven-Shaking Cannon secret formula. Have him investigate the authenticity of the formula."

"Understood." Zhao Gao replied and handed over another scroll of documents. "There is one more matter. Medicine King Valley has newly manufactured a type of 'heart-corroding powder.' Those afflicted will have their heart meridians corroded to ash within seven days. It is rumored to have been purchased by the Northern Border. Should the Young Lord have The Net intercept it first?"

Jun Xiaoyao’s lips curled into a cold, sharp smile: "heart-corroding powder? Does Medicine King Valley want to stir up trouble in the Northern Border?" He pondered for a moment. "No need to intercept it. Have Marshal of the Unruly prepare the antidote. If Yelü Hong dares to use it, he can taste the flavor of 'reaping what he sows'."

Three days later, at the Northern Border frontier.

Flying, dressed in black, stood on the desolate plain, followed by ten Kill-Tier Assassins. In the distance, smoke and dust billowed, and the sound of the Black Wind Cavalry's iron hooves shook the ground. Yelü Hong, holding two mountain-splitting axes, laughed wildly before his formation: "Beyond Heaven scum, daring to pluck the tiger's whiskers of the Northern Border?"

Flying said nothing, merely drawing the iron sword from his waist. The blade flashed with cold light under the sun. His Fast Sword never required a second move; only a silver streak was seen before three Black Wind Cavalrymen in the front row fell from their horses, each with a thin line of blood across their throats.

"What a Fast Sword!" Yelü Hong's pupils contracted sharply. He swung his axe and charged, the axe wind carrying the Heavenly Human Realm pressure as it cleaved towards Flying. Flying did not retreat but advanced instead, executing the Solitary Shadow Steps with finesse, his body moving like a phantom to circle behind Yelü Hong's flank, thrusting his Fast Sword directly beneath the ribs—a gap in the armor.

"Clang!" The axe handle blocked the strike, sending sparks Flying. Yelü Hong roared in anger, his twin axes weaving an impenetrable barrier, trapping Flying within the axe shadows. Flying was unconcerned, his Fast Sword darting out like a rainstorm, every strike landing on the exact same spot on the axe handle, forcing Yelü Hong's hand to go numb.

Concurrently, at Jiangnan's Thunderclap Hall.

Little Fish, chewing on a foxtail weed, squatted in the secret tunnel behind Thunderclap Hall, listening to the conversation between Lei Qianhu and his confidant inside.

"Hall Master, do we really have to give the Heaven-Shaking Cannon secret formula to Beyond Heaven? That's our lifeblood!"

Lei Qianhu's voice was vicious: "Idiot! The formula is fake! The real one is hidden in the secret compartment of my study! Once Beyond Heaven helps us eliminate Yelü Hong, I will unite with the remaining Northern Border forces and turn on them. By then, the Jianghu will belong to our Thunderclap Hall!"

Little Fish sneered, turning to slip out of the secret tunnel. His fingertip was dusted with "Itching Powder" he had just applied—a blend he specially formulated that causes three days and three nights of itching upon skin contact, yet leaves no trace. He whistled toward the tunnel entrance: "Just you wait, old fox. I'll make sure you lose more than you gain."

That evening, Flying returned to Beyond Heaven with Yelü Hong's head. The blood droplets on his iron sword had not yet fallen. He knelt on one knee, presenting the head to Jun Xiaoyao: "I have fulfilled the mission."

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the wide-eyed, furious head and said lightly, "Where is Yelü Hong's heart-corroding powder?"

"He didn't dare use it," Flying's voice was flat. "Marshal of the Unruly said that Yelü Hong carried the antidote with him, but it was secretly replaced with a fake by his own personal guards—a scheme Little Fish set up in the Northern Border beforehand."

A hint of a smile flashed in Jun Xiaoyao's eyes: "That boy certainly knows how to use external force against an opponent."

At this moment, Zhao Gao rushed in: "Young Lord, Little Fish sent back word. He has copied the genuine secret formula from Thunderclap Hall and also put 'Laughing-Crying Powder' in Lei Qianhu's tea. Now Lei Qianhu is topless in the main hall, crying and laughing, making a complete spectacle of himself."

Jun Xiaoyao finally put down the documents in his hand and walked to the window. The stars were sparse in the night sky, and a beacon tower in the distance was burning wolf smoke—it was The Net's signal, indicating another completed mission.

"Flying," he suddenly spoke, "what reward do you desire?"

Flying looked up, his eyes clear like a youth's: "I only wish to stay by the Young Lord's side and practice my sword."

Jun Xiaoyao nodded: "Granted."

He looked at the stone wall and signaled Zhao Gao to add the new names—"Yelü Hong" and "Lei Qianhu." In the candlelight, the newly carved names overlapped with the old marks, like a net being woven tighter and tighter, trapping the entire Jianghu within it.

"Next," Jun Xiaoyao's voice echoed in the dark chamber, carrying an undeniable certainty, "Medicine King Valley."

Zhao Gao lowered his head in assent, knowing clearly—Beyond Heaven's Net was only just beginning to tighten. And this Young Lord, who always stood behind the scenes, was using the entire Jianghu as his chessboard, making moves with no regrets.