Chapter 22: Assassination

Inside the temple of the small town.

“Do you know? Last night in the mine, if it weren’t for Kaili, Co’er and I would be dead.”

Li Qiuchen spoke again, this time with a tone of questioning.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know there was real danger inside. I thought Huo En was just bluffing.”

Wright stood up, apologizing with utmost sincerity.

“If apologies were enough, the town wouldn’t need a sheriff.”

Li Qiuchen retorted calmly.

“We’re not interested in your secrets, nor do we want to get involved. But since you used us, you should compensate us.”

Wright stood there dazed.

The secret he had guarded now seemed to be just a tool for extortion in this young man’s hands. He let out a bitter smile.

“What do you want?”

“She wants you to leave half a basket of bread every day.”

Li Qiuchen pointed to Jocelyn standing by the window not far away, then pointed to himself.

“I want a Blue Crystal.”

Just that much?

Wright’s lips moved.

Li Qiuchen hurriedly added,

“I only want one Blue Crystal, not one every day.”

Wright closed his eyes and let out a self-mocking laugh.

He reached into his chest and took out two gold coins shining with light—Gold Tack.

The image of Laina VII of the Taya Empire on the front of the coin sparkled under the candlelight.

So beautiful.

Having experienced poverty again, Li Qiuchen suddenly found all coins so exquisite and lovely.

“I’ll give each of you one Gold Tack if you help me with something.”

Wright offered the deal.

Li Qiuchen turned his head.

Jocelyn’s gaze met his in the air, and she shook her head slightly.

These two Gold Tack might be all the savings this baker had accumulated in his three years in the town.

What he was asking for was likely not simple.

“I probably won’t live past tomorrow. I just hope you can deliver my savings to my two surviving sons.”

Wright opened a savings pouch and placed it on the ground.

Twelve Gold Tack and dozens of Silver Tack, along with two letters, likely containing information about his two sons.

Li Qiuchen couldn’t help but look at the baker with more respect.

He shook his head.

“You trust me that much?”

“First, I don’t have many choices. Second, I don’t think a well-traveled old sorcerer would place his honor beneath money.”

Wright slowly raised his fist.

This was the mercenary’s way of affirming trust and a promise to complete a task.

Li Qiuchen bumped fists with him but didn’t pick up the pouch on the ground.

“If you really die, then I will fulfill the promise together with Co’er.”

“Why did you come here, after all?”

Jocelyn couldn’t help but ask.

“For my youngest son, An Nado,”

A trace of tenderness appeared on Wright’s rugged face.

“The children’s mother died early, so I could only do my best to care for them. Fortunately, the children were all determined; the eldest became a merchant, the second became a Priest. Only my youngest son… I let him go out to make a living, just like his brothers…”

“He disappeared near the mine?”

Li Qiuchen was a little puzzled.

“I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not.”

Wright seemed to mock himself.

“His trail ends here.”

Wright’s gaze swept over the two.

“I can’t even go to the sheriff, because they would brush me off, and even Huo En would notice me, drive me away, or even make me disappear.”

“So you moved into the town.”

Admiration flashed in Jocelyn’s eyes.

For an answer he might never know, he was willing to stay here all this time.

“I promised the children’s mother I would take care of them.”

Wright’s large rough hand caressed the scripture in his hand.

It was clear his heart was not calm either.

Three years wasted, the Baron’s castle close at hand, yet he didn’t even have the courage to question.

So he gritted his teeth, endured the hatred, hid in a corner, silently waiting for the right moment.

“What are you waiting for?”

Li Qiuchen sensed his endurance had another purpose.

“Tomorrow, the new Priest arrives. I will accuse Huo En. Over the years, I’ve gathered a lot of evidence. The infected body you found was a traveling merchant who disappeared here a year ago. I’ve kept portraits and information of every passing traveler. He vanished near the old castle…”

Wright’s voice became very soft, as if talking to himself.

Countless days and nights of patience, drawing portraits of travelers from memory in the bakery.

“The Demon Hunter, Kaili, who lives in your tavern, will also be a help. She might be an investigator from the Temple of the God of War.

No matter what, I can’t wait another three years…”

Wright clenched his fists.

Suddenly, a loud crash came from the direction of the town tavern, as if something had collapsed.

Many townsfolk walked out of their houses, looking over there.

“Not good!”

At that moment, Wright, Li Qiuchen, and the others all thought of Kaili in the tavern.

***

On the other side, in Naili’s room on the second floor of the Oak Barrel Tavern, Kairui stood helplessly.

Naili bent down, took a letter from under the bed, and gently placed two Gold Tack on the table.

“Actually, Brother Nai De wrote back to me. He said he was going to another place to try his luck, and enclosed money for me to repay Father’s debts.”

“You never used it?”

Kairui was a little shocked.

He knew well what kind of hardships Naili bore to pay off debts, yet she refused to accept his help.

“I want to find Brother Nai De and return the money to him. Kairui, where is he?”

Naili’s gaze shifted from the table to Kairui, one of her best childhood friends.

She had grown up, and found that becoming an adult was not as wonderful as she had imagined as a child.

Reality was dull and gray, and the dust of years covered all the things she had loved in her childhood.

Everyone became complicated and frightening.

Fear and unease appeared on Kairui’s face.

He avoided her eyes, shaking his head.

“I can’t say.”

A sound from the next room interrupted their conversation.

Naili turned aside and began to unbutton her clothes.

The girl’s fair skin glowed softly in the dim room.

“I beg you…”

Tears streamed down Kairui’s face.

He suddenly grabbed Naili’s right hand.

He had imagined this scene countless times, but it should have been after a holy wedding, with the girl wearing a smile of happiness—not in a dark room, with the girl in pain and crying.

“He’s in Phoenix City… Tomorrow, I can take you with me.”

Kairui knelt on the floor and promised her.

“He’s alive? He’s alive… He’s really alive.”

Naili murmured, tears flowing even more.

“Yes, but because of some things, he was exiled by Father. We were all Cursed. He…”

Kairui was explaining, but suddenly stopped as a loud crash sounded behind him.

BOOM—CRASH!

An entire wall was smashed apart.

The adjacent room was a wreck.

A huge hole was torn open in the ceiling.

A monster three meters tall was gnawing frantically on someone’s body.

Not far away, Kaili stood tense, holding a pair of glowing golden daggers, facing off against the creature.

“Go.”

Kaili shouted tiredly at the two stunned people.

Time went back a few minutes…

***

Two Demon Hunters quietly approached outside Kaili’s room.

The tall one held a crossbow in his left hand and drew a Magic Staff from his cloak with his right, waving it at the wooden door.

The locked bolt fell naturally.

The door opened silently.

In the darkness, the two fumbled toward the bed.

The woman on the bed seemed wrapped in blankets, facing inward in sleep.

The bald fat man raised his dagger.

THUD—!

The blade stabbed precisely at the heart under the blanket.

But the bald man’s face showed no joy—only disbelief.

The feel was wrong.

What was this!

He yanked back the blanket, revealing a human-shaped bundle of straw beneath.

Where did she go?

While the tall Demon Hunter was still pondering, the fat man suddenly leapt up in place.

A flash of sword light shot from under the bed, slashing precisely at where the fat man’s ankle had just been.

The tall Demon Hunter couldn’t dodge in time.

His right foot was cut clean off by a Knight’s Longsword.

He gritted his teeth through the pain and fell back, firing the crossbow in his left hand.

Two sharp arrows gleamed as they shot under the bed.

Kaili, having succeeded in her surprise attack, threw aside the Knight’s sword, drew two Short Daggers from her waist, and knocked the arrows aside.

Kaili shot forward like a released arrow, charging at the downed Demon Hunter.

The bald fat man, dual daggers in hand, cut in from the side to block her.

In the darkness, blades flashed like rain.

Sparks lit their faces as blades collided.

The bald man’s face was twisted with malice and triumph.

Kaili’s was cold and calm.

“Yun Wei, truly a standout among the new generation of Valkyries.”

The fat Demon Hunter couldn’t help but sigh.

He had read her file.

Unlike other Valkyrie candidates who relied on family power to complete tasks, this girl, despite her noble birth, chose to walk the Sealing Path alone.

She was an outlier among the candidates.

And she had learned much in her journey—like in an inn, you could stay in the most luxurious room, but if you wanted to wake up the next day, it was better to sleep under the bed than on top.

This experience had saved her again.

“So, that’s your final word?”

Kaili replied coldly, crossing her daggers.

She activated the dormant “Female War God’s Blessing” magic circle.

Golden light spread from the blades, holy Valkyrie blessings appearing as golden Divine Script on the daggers, even glowing faintly on her arms.

In her heart, she was deeply grateful for the battle in the mine.

She had never been the type to prepare for trouble, but after that fight, she made sure to bless both her daggers and sword—a decision that paid off immediately.

“A rare seed in a field of thousands.”

The tall killer leaned against the wall, blood still pouring from his severed leg.

“Sadly, even the strongest seed will fall today.”

The bald fat man stepped in front of the tall one, gathering strength to face the enchanted daggers.

But then Kaili threw both daggers at his face.

The fat man felt a flash of hope.

If he dodged, Kaili would lose her main weapons.

The daggers flew with deadly speed.

He turned his face just a breath too slow.

A shallow cut opened across his nose as a dagger grazed past.

Both daggers embedded themselves firmly in the wall.

“Watch out!”

The tall killer shouted, but before the fat man could turn, Kaili was upon him.

Her fist landed first, smashing into his face, followed by a whip kick to his side.

The force cracked his ribs through layers of fat, sending him crumpling to the floor in pain.

Kaili charged at the tall killer.

The man’s right hand raised the Magic Staff, gathering magic within it.

White lightning began to form at the tip, and he frantically fired his crossbow at the approaching Kaili.

Two arrows flew at her face, but she caught them in mid-air with both hands.

“Thunderstrike…”

The man began to speak, but Kaili was already upon him.

The sharp arrows slashed in arcs, severing the Magic Staff, and the gathered lightning dispersed into the air.

“How much am I worth?”

Kaili pressed the arrow to his throat, her voice flat, as if asking about the value of the Magic Staff on the ground.

“Sixty Gold Tack, once you reached us.”

The bald man’s voice came from behind.

He slowly stood up, beast blood dripping from his mouth.

His muscles began to twist and swell, thick fur covering his skin as his body grew, smashing through the roof like a giant.

“Beastification?”

Kaili was confused.

This magic strengthened the body but caused total loss of reason.

Did he not care about his companion’s life?

“Dale… No wonder your teammates kept changing so often.”

The tall man looked in horror at the transforming killer.

Kaili pulled her daggers from the wall and touched the Compass at her waist—she hadn’t brought it into the mine that day, fearing its power might cause a collapse.

The smell of blood from the severed leg drove the monster into a frenzy.

He roared and charged.

Kaili raised her dagger to stab at his chest, but he punched her, sending her flying.

The wall crumbled under his fist.

The girl at the tavern front desk stared in shock.

“Dale, no… I even treated you to a meal! No… Ah!”

The tall man didn’t even have time to beg before the monster grabbed him and began to devour him.

There was no sound.

Facing the terrifying creature radiating oppressive power, Kaili gripped her daggers tightly.

She suddenly recalled the moment in the dark mine tunnel when that boy risked his life to save her.