Southern Wastelands, the First Assassin Organization.

A branch of the Great Yan Dynasty...

"The Bloodcloud Pavilion is notorious throughout the Southern Wastelands. As long as the price is right, they'll take on any job.

This time, they've kidnapped a prince, targeting the Empress. Who knows who's behind it, offering such a hefty sum."

At this, Zhong Ling cautiously glanced at Xiao Tian, "Since their mission failed, they'll definitely send people again within seven days."

Xiao Tian's expression stiffened, and he exclaimed, "They'll come again within seven days?"

He suddenly found the Bloodcloud Pavilion's way of doing things somewhat foolish.

In his organization back on Earth, when faced with such situations, they would always conduct thorough investigations.

Check if there was any third-party involvement, diverting trouble elsewhere.

Was the target's combat power beyond their limits? Should they turn hostility into friendship and make peace?

It wasn't until he became a master of both internal and external cultivation that his damned adoptive father started acting recklessly.

How could the assassins of the Bloodcloud Pavilion behave like such brutes?

Xiao Tian's expression was extremely complex, feeling quite troubled.

The female guards nearby, seeing Xiao Tian's expression, assumed he was scared.

Well, being targeted by the Bloodcloud Pavilion, fear was quite normal.

Even the Emperor found it troublesome to deal with the Bloodcloud Pavilion branch of the Great Yan Dynasty.

"Your Highness, perhaps you should stay in the palace for the time being and not go out," the leading female guard advised Xiao Tian, bowing, "The palace's array formations are strong, and the Bloodcloud Pavilion assassins wouldn't dare to intrude."

"Great idea, staying in the palace would be much easier," Xiao Tian's eyes lit up, immediately agreeing with the lead female guard's suggestion.

The other female guards slightly twitched their mouths, all thinking the same thing: "Your Highness, how afraid of death are you?"

Only Zhong Ling had a strange expression, thinking the opposite of the guards: "Your Highness, how unwilling are you to take action?"

Soon, the female guards began packing up the simple campsite.

"Chief, do you think the Young General also likes pretty boys, being so nice to the prince?" a female guard muttered as she watched Zhong Ling accompany Xiao Tian, looking out at the distant scenery.

The female guard leader frowned, "What nonsense are you spouting? The Young General has always admired the Emperor and naturally extends that regard to the prince. It's reasonable, so don't spread rumors."

"Got it. Speaking of which, this Bloodcloud Pavilion is really going too far," the female guard clenched her fists, "Who knows how many civilians will suffer next, and how much trouble the Emperor will face."

"Alright, stop talking. The Emperor instructed us before leaving," the female guard leader glanced at Xiao Tian, "Take good care of the prince, let him live a leisurely life as a wealthy idler."

With that, the female guard leader continued packing.

The first female guard who spoke sighed, tidying up the surroundings to prevent any forest fires.

On the other side, standing at the cliff's edge, gazing at the Imperial City, Xiao Tian suddenly spoke to Zhong Ling, "Just now, the guard was gossiping that the Bloodcloud Pavilion would cause trouble for the civilians and Zi Ruoyan. What does that mean?"

Zhong Ling's expression froze, glancing back at the female guards packing in the distance, her brow twitching.

You idiots, the prince can hear you!

After composing herself, Zhong Ling began explaining to Xiao Tian, "Your Highness, the Bloodcloud Pavilion acts despicably and uses any means necessary.

This time, with the mission failed, they might do as usual, slaughter civilians to force the Great Yan Dynasty's government to pay... protection fees!"

Zhong Ling gritted her teeth at the last two words.

"Protection fees?" Xiao Tian was momentarily stunned, looking at Zhong Ling, "What do you mean?"

"In the past, when honest officials in the court affected some local aristocratic interests, they'd place bounties at the Bloodcloud Pavilion.

The court would protect these officials, and the Bloodcloud Pavilion assassins couldn't do anything, so they'd slaughter civilians to force the court's hand.

The court could only pay protection fees, the Bloodcloud Pavilion would cancel the mission, and the local aristocracy's money wouldn't be refunded, benefiting both sides.

Because of this, court officials are always cautious when working locally..."

Zhong Ling sighed and continued, "With the prince's mission failed this time, according to the Bloodcloud Pavilion's habits, they'll try to target you again.

If they can't succeed, they'll slaughter civilians and demand protection fees.

Given the current situation, with the Emperor leading the army outside, the Bloodcloud Pavilion assassins might even interfere with the battlefield, causing trouble for the Emperor."

Hearing this, Xiao Tian's face showed some anger, "Slaughtering civilians? How shameless, and they dare call themselves assassins!"

How innocent the civilians are. Even during Earth's times, despite his adoptive father's ruthlessness, their organization had a strict rule.

Do not harm innocent civilians!

"Based on your understanding of Zi Ruoyan, if she knew my strength was decent, would she ask me to handle some matters?" Xiao Tian suddenly thought of something, looking seriously at Zhong Ling.

"Do you have some misunderstanding about the words 'decent strength'?" Zhong Ling couldn't help but internally retort, but she dared not say it out loud.

To Xiao Tian's question, she could only nod honestly, "The Empress would."

"It's troublesome. If the Bloodcloud Pavilion slaughters civilians, I won't be able to stand by and will have to act publicly, exposing my strength.

Then my leisurely days as a carefree prince would be gone forever.

I'd have to return to the days of endless fighting and struggling..."

Xiao Tian analyzed, his expression growing more serious.

"Even if I hold back, if civilians are slaughtered and the battle disrupted, all because of me.

If Zi Ruoyan divorces me with a letter, kicking me out of the palace, I won't be able to live off her anymore.

I don't have any skills to make a living, the only thing I know is fighting. To continue living, I'd have to keep fighting, maybe even return to my old ways?"

Sweat began to form on Xiao Tian's forehead as he seemed to see his life of luxury slipping away.

This life of being pampered by the Empress, living comfortably and leisurely, was abandoning him.

He couldn't afford to lose this easy life!

Xiao Tian looked at Zhong Ling with a face full of fear, his tone anxious, "No, no, it's too terrifying."

"I have to kill all the Bloodcloud Pavilion people!"

(⊙ˍ⊙)

Zhong Ling was shocked, "???"

Is the prince solving the problem by eliminating it entirely?

"Wang Cai, can you find the location of the Bloodcloud Pavilion branch?" Xiao Tian hurriedly asked in his mind.

[Dear Master, when you defeated Liang Shou earlier, I already collected the information and can locate it.]

Theft is never good, try looking at [ pawread dot com ].

"Guide me!" Xiao Tian instructed Wang Cai, then shouted to the distant guards.

"Something the Emperor gave me seemed to have fallen on the road when I was kidnapped earlier. Zhong Ling will accompany me to find it. You all stay here and don't move, we'll be back soon."

After shouting, Xiao Tian didn't wait for the guards to react and took off running.

The group of guards, hearing Xiao Tian's shout, were all dumbfounded.

"Follow the prince's orders, with me accompanying him, there won't be any problems." Zhong Ling reacted quickly, sternly instructing the female guards, then chased after Xiao Tian.

In the blink of an eye, the two disappeared into the dense forest.

"Chief?" The female guard looked at the leader, somewhat bewildered.

The guard leader frowned, feeling something was off, but couldn't pinpoint it.

Young General Zhong was too obedient.

However...

"With the Young General accompanying, there shouldn't be any issues. Let's follow the prince's orders and wait here."

"And you two, quickly send out warnings to all sides. The Bloodcloud Pavilion might take action, so be on guard and have the civilians temporarily hide in the defense fort."

Two female guards saluted and accepted the order, "Yes!"

"Bloodcloud Pavilion..." The female guard leader mentioned these two words, gritting her teeth, her hands trembling from clenching too tightly.

"I really hope the Bloodcloud Pavilion offends some hidden expert and gets wiped out." The female guard leader spoke viciously, but after saying it, she also let out a bitter laugh.

She looked at the female guards beside her, who shared her feelings, and mocked herself, "I'm crazy, saying such naive nonsense."

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Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan