Chapter 284: Effortless Kill – Wu Jian Xing Zhe

"Strange aura… and a hidden killing intent. Which faction is trying to come after us?" Lu Qing murmured inwardly, sensing the faint, ominous presence approaching their small courtyard.

He immediately transmitted a mental message to the Master: "Master, someone’s coming—four people, and they’re not here for peace."

Before the message even finished, Lu Qing felt a sudden weight on his shoulder. Turning, he saw Xiao Li, his fur slightly bristling, eyes fixed intently ahead.

"Xiao Li, you felt it too?" Lu Qing asked.

"Yes," Xiao Li’s tender voice echoed in Lu Qing’s mind. "I sense four strong ones drawing near."

"Stay here and protect Xiao Yan. I’ll go out and check."

Lu Qing gently soothed Xiao Li’s tense fur, whispering reassurance.

As he stepped out of the room, he found the Master and Lin Zhi Rui standing in the courtyard, both grim-faced.

"Lu Xiao Langjun," Lin Zhi Rui began, about to ask something, but then paused, seeing Lu Qing’s expression. "Ah… you’re having trouble with your cultivation, aren’t you?"

"Indeed. Today’s battle with that Xuan Kong Shan monk left me with internal injuries from the backlash of his Golden Body. Nothing serious—I’ve taken medicinal pills. After a night of cultivation, I’ll be fine by morning."

Lu Qing coughed twice, his face pale, breath shallow and weak.

"Good, good," Lin Zhi Rui said, relief in his voice. "Thankfully, you hid it well during the day. Xuan Kong Shan’s people didn’t suspect a thing."

Just then—four black figures shot out from the shadows like lightning, short swords in hand. Two lunged directly at Lu Qing, while the other two targeted the Old Doctor.

Their speed was terrifying. Even Lin Zhi Rui, forewarned by the Old Doctor, was caught off guard.

From the aura they emitted, each of the four was far stronger than him—easily at the Xian Tian Small Achievement level or higher. Worse, not a single trace of their presence had been detected before they struck. Not even the Old Doctor’s Sect’s Unique Treasure had given any warning—a first in his experience.

"Watch out!" Lin Zhi Rui shouted in alarm.

Then, he witnessed something even more shocking.

Facing the two black figures, Lu Qing first appeared startled. But as they closed in, his expression hardened instantly. A long blade materialized in his hand—no one saw it appear.

The blade flashed, and a terrifying killing intent surged forth like a storm.

"Too late!" Lu Qing’s Spirit Soul Power was immense, and the killing aura he unleashed was overwhelming. Even hardened warriors, battle-tested and mentally unshaken, faltered under the onslaught.

In that split second of hesitation, Lu Qing’s blade descended like thunder.

Thankfully, the two assassins were no ordinary foes. Despite their mental disruption, their years of martial discipline kicked in—instincts honed through countless battles. In the final instant, they raised their short swords to block.

Boom! Boom!

The swords were no ordinary weapons—Divine Weapons, forged with sacred power. They held firm against Lu Qing’s strike, refusing to break immediately.

But even so, the impact was too great. The force sent them flying backward like rubber balls, crashing through the courtyard wall, sending up a storm of dust and debris.

"Trying to run?" Lu Qing’s Spirit Soul Sensing was razor-sharp. He knew the blows hadn’t finished them. They were using the attack as an excuse to retreat.

His eyes narrowed. Without moving a step, he vanished—reappearing instantly within the swirling dust.

Then, the blade flashed again—bright enough to pierce through the smoke.

Two agonized screams echoed, then silence.

When the dust settled, Lin Zhi Rui saw the two black figures lying dead outside the broken wall, severed heads and lifeless bodies.

Inside the courtyard, the Old Doctor stood calmly. At his feet lay two more corpses, each with a precise sword mark through the brow, their spirit cavities pierced by his Sword Qi.

"Lu Qing, what’s going on?" Ma Gu and the others burst out of their rooms, stunned by the scene—bodies scattered, the courtyard in ruins.

"Nothing to worry about," Lu Qing said, calm. "Just a few pests trying to sneak in for an assassination. We’ve dealt with them."

He scanned the lingering Sword Qi on the fallen assassins, then nodded in admiration. "Master, your sword art has grown even sharper since mastering Sheng Chi."

Lin Zhi Rui nodded in agreement. He’d been so focused on Lu Qing’s fight that he hadn’t even noticed how the Old Doctor had eliminated his two opponents.

Then he remembered the terrifying Sword Qi Domain the Old Doctor had unleashed atop Sheng Shan earlier that day. It was clear—this elder’s mastery of the sword was now at a level beyond comprehension.

"Sheng Chi is indeed profound," the Old Doctor said with a smile. "It greatly enhances one’s insight. When you eventually break through to Xian Tian Jing, you should try to study it yourself."

"Perhaps," Lu Qing replied. Though he possessed abilities, even he couldn’t resist the allure of a place that could instantly boost one’s wisdom and cultivation.

Lin Zhi Rui, however, felt a chill. If the Old Doctor says Lu Qing is still only at Hou Tian Jing… then today, he truly defeated Xuan Nu, the Xian Tian Jing master, with only Hou Tian level cultivation?

The thought left him speechless. How could someone at that level wield power comparable to a Xian Tian master?

"Zhi Rui Ge Xia," Lu Qing asked, "do you know who these men are?"

He used his blade to lift the black masks from the corpses, revealing two ordinary middle-aged faces.

He already knew their identities through his abilities—but he wanted Lin Zhi Rui’s opinion.

Lin Zhi Rui studied them closely, then shook his head. "Forgive my ignorance. I’ve never seen these men. No records mention them."

He frowned. These were clearly Xian Tian Jing or higher. How could Tian Ji Lou have no record of them?

Just then, a voice came from outside.

"Most likely, they’re from the Wu Jian Lou."

The Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou stepped calmly into the courtyard.

"Master!" Lin Zhi Rui hurried forward.

"Lord, you know who they are?" Lu Qing asked, unsurprised by the arrival. Their battle had been loud enough for even the strongest to hear.

"Forgive my delay," the Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou said, bowing slightly. "Their stealth technique was exceptional. Even I was deceived—could not detect their presence."

"No matter," Lu Qing said with a smile. "Just a few petty thugs. We handled them fine."

"Petty thugs?" The Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou’s expression darkened. "These men are far from petty."

He raised a blade of Sword Qi, slicing open the chest of one corpse. Beneath the fabric, a strange tattoo was revealed on the man’s chest.

The moment he saw it, the Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou exhaled slowly.

"Confirmed. They’re from Wu Jian Lou. I never thought this organization still existed."

"Master," Lin Zhi Rui asked, "what is Wu Jian Lou? I’ve never heard of it."

"You wouldn’t have," the Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou replied. "This sect vanished centuries ago. We believed it had been completely eradicated. But now… it’s back."

"Four hundred years ago," the Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou continued, "Wu Jian Lou suddenly appeared—a terrifying assassin organization. It rose with astonishing speed. At its peak, it even overshadowed Qi Sha Lou."

"Even Qi Sha Lou?" Lin Zhi Rui gasped. Qi Sha Lou was the most powerful assassination sect in the world today—so powerful that many Central Zhou sects dared not oppose it.

"Indeed," the Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou said. "When Wu Jian Lou rose, even Qi Sha Lou—despite its thousands of years of heritage—was surpassed in assassination techniques. The two sects once competed for dominance, each sending ten Xian Tian Jing assassins and ten Hou Tian Jing ones to battle in a series of duels. Qi Sha Lou lost seventeen out of twenty. Fifteen of their disciples died in the process. After that defeat, Qi Sha Lou retreated from the competition. Wu Jian Lou’s power reached its peak."

"But if Wu Jian Lou was so strong," Lin Zhi Rui asked, "why have we never heard of it since?"

"Because it went too far," the Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou said, his voice heavy. "In its rise, it accepted every contract—no matter how vile. It committed unspeakable atrocities. After defeating Qi Sha Lou, it didn’t rein in its power. Instead, it grew even more reckless. It assassinated even innocent children. It killed disciples from other sects without mercy. It even poisoned entire cities to eliminate a single target."

The words chilled everyone.

Ma Gu swallowed hard. "So this Wu Jian Lou… were they mad?"

"Exactly," the Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou said. "Their actions were no different from demons. The entire cultivation world could not tolerate them. Under the call of Sheng Shan, all major sects united and launched a war against Wu Jian Lou. Though powerful, it was no match for the combined might of the entire world. After years of relentless pursuit, Wu Jian Lou was wiped out—its secret headquarters destroyed, every disciple slaughtered. To ensure it never returned, all records were sealed. It was buried in history."

He looked down at the corpses. "And yet… it’s still here. And judging by this, it may have grown stronger than before."

"Master," Lin Zhi Rui asked, "if Wu Jian Lou is gone, how can you be sure these men are from it?"

"Look at the tattoo," the Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou said, pointing to the chest. "This mark is Wu Jian Lou’s unique symbol. Legend says it’s tied to a secret technique—beneath the skin, a deadly poison is embedded. When a Wu Jian Lou assassin faces death, they can trigger the technique, absorbing the poison to temporarily boost their strength tenfold. But it’s a one-time use—afterward, the user collapses and dies. And it takes time to activate. If you can interrupt it before the poison is fully absorbed, you’re safe."

He paused, eyes grim. "Back then, the sects were caught off guard. Many fell to this secret technique. That’s how Wu Jian Lou survived so long."

Everyone stared at the tattoo. The idea that such a small mark could grant tenfold power was staggering.

Ma Gu and the others felt a wave of relief. Thank the heavens we killed them before they could activate it.

"Beyond the tattoo," the Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou added, "there’s another clue—their stealth technique."

"Wu Jian Lou possesses a core heritage called Wu Jian Xing Zhe. It’s unparalleled in concealing one’s aura. Even a Xian Tian Jing Qiang Zhe cannot detect them. That’s how they operated with such impunity. They believed no one could find them. And for a time, they were right."

"Only Qi Sha Lou eventually cracked the technique. But judging from what just happened," the Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou glanced subtly at Lu Qing, "they’ve improved it. Even I was deceived."

Lu Qing didn’t notice the glance. He pondered for a moment—then spoke.

"Lord, who do you think sent these assassins?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end