Chapter 122: Four Assassination Missions (Part Two)

Snow Alliance Leader heard this, wore a disdainful sneer and said, "Ha ha, the idea is a good idea, but unfortunately we're not fools. This mission is an 'unlimited mission'; the other side has already handed the money directly to Shadow Pavilion and doesn't intend to take it back. Their only requirement is that the mission remain posted in the public mission board indefinitely, until the mission ends!"

"That's too ruthless!" Mei Xuan inhaled a breath of cold air, "As long as Shadow Pavilion exists, senior brother will always be in danger!"

Such a huge amount of spirit stones could drive those assassins and bounty hunters mad; even a medium‑sized assassin organization could retire comfortably after receiving this money.

"Sister Xuan is absolutely right; they're betting on Shadow Pavilion's reputation. A hundred top‑grade spirit stones would even tempt the Bailian Business Alliance!" Xue Duoduo said with a hidden meaning.

Seeing Wei Yuning look puzzled, Mei Xuan explained, "Because the bounty is so huge, the Bailian Business Alliance and Shadow Pavilion have long had intelligence cooperation, which sparked the Alliance's interest. So they sent the Snow Alliance Leader, whose jurisdiction covers the Yunyin Sect area, to investigate, and that's how they learned you are the mission target."

"Anyone who wants to kill you must hold a deep grudge; to offer this many spirit stones, the backer must be at least a medium‑to‑large sect or a medium‑to‑large mortal nation. Think about it—who among your enemies could afford that?" Xue Duoduo asked with long lashes and a sly smile.

Wei Yuning couldn't be bothered to reply, continuously munching while frowning in thought.

Seeing the food on the table dwindle quickly, Xue Duoduo realized and hurried to join the scramble for food, while Mei Xuan never stopped eating.

In Wei Yuning's speculation, only the Dao Ling lineage could possess such wealth. Yet something felt off: Dao Heng Ancestor had already intervened, Dao Ling was under confinement, and Wei Yuning wasn't alone in his sect. Could members of the Dao Ling lineage truly be so reckless?

If it's not the Dao Ling lineage, the only ones holding a grudge are Shenwu Gate and Shadow Pavilion!

Shenwu Gate was wiped out, so it can't be them! Could it be Shadow Pavilion itself? That's even less likely! Only a scoundrel would be willing to spend so many spirit stones!

Thinking of this, Wei Yuning looked at Xue Duoduo's flushed cute face and said, "Snow Alliance Leader, besides the client who posted this unlimited mission, who are the other three clients? Of course, the terms are negotiable!"

Hearing this, the Snow Alliance Leader relaxed, then broke into a radiant smile, saying, "Young Master Wei Yuning is indeed clever, knowing to eliminate potential enemies. Since you thought of this, I won't hide anything! That's right—Shadow Pavilion wouldn't take just any job, so they investigate both the client and the contractor. Considering you're a favor from the Bailian Business Alliance, I can tell you this information for free."

"Snow Alliance Leader, please speak!" Wei Yuning said.

"Although the client can remain anonymous, there are always traces to follow! Moreover, Shadow Pavilion, being in this business, surely has its own trump card: the investigators known as 'Shadows', masters of concealment. According to the Shadows' investigation, the client for the first mission is a mortal wealthy man who also has a secret identity, the Green Corpse Demon. However, his Corpse Demon identity was only discovered three years ago, and he has now been killed by a monk named Cheng Xin!"

Wei Yuning's eyes lit up at this, thinking, "Damn, even when I get to Yunyin Sect they don't call on me!" In truth, he also understood that the number of demonic creatures around Yunyin Sect this time was countless; although the sect had screened them thoroughly, there were still some that slipped through. Given Cheng Xin's attitude toward demonic cultivators, he would be busy enough for a while.

Since the wealthy man is the Green Corpse Demon, he couldn't be the one demonic this time; he must have been a pawn cultivated by the Assassin Demon earlier.

"The client for the second mission is one of your own—a Qingwu cultivator, not very capable, arrogant, and the trailing Shadows heard someone call him 'Qingwu Shishu'!"

Seeing Wei Yuning show no surprise, Xue Duoduo continued, "The client for the third mission comes from within Shadow Pavilion, linked to the previous failed assassination; everyone inside knows, but I can't say more. As for the fourth mission, I'm a good person through and through, so I'll tell you what I know. Although this client used a villager as a cover, we learned from the locals that before the incident, two very tall, hulking men visited that villager's home. According to a village guardian with some Daoist knowledge, those two might be Physical Body Cultivators!"

"Physical Body Cultivators?" Wei Yuning suddenly understood.

"These meat‑head guys must have chosen the wrong revenge target! They haven't even gotten their own lamb, yet they've caused a whole mess—truly an outrageous injustice!"

"Young Master Wei Yuning, have you figured out who it is?" Xue Duoduo asked with curiosity. Even though she's well‑informed, how could she possibly know about the conflict between Shenwu Gate and Yunyin Sect?

Wei Yuning replied evasively, "I don't know; I know few Physical Body Cultivators, let alone any with a grudge."

"Alright, if you like, as your superior I've done my duty!" Xue Duoduo spread his hands and said.

"Thank you, Snow Alliance Leader!" Wei Yuning said sincerely.

"No need to thank me! I'm a businessman; if Sister Mei hadn't offered to sell the wood spirit and this meal, I wouldn't have bothered!"

"What? Miss Mei, you're going to give her the next wood spirit?" Wei Yuning asked in surprise.

The wood spirits produced by Hongmei Villa are closely tied to Mei Xuan's bloodline; every fifty years her body can absorb plant essence to generate a new wood spirit. The last wood spirit was given to Senior Xu Yan half a month ago.

"Yes, Snow sister is willing to help me deal with that dog thief Nie Ziqing, so I agreed! Besides, I don't need a wood spirit right now!" Mei Xuan said matter‑of‑factly. The Mei family bloodline is unique; it doesn't pass down every generation, but once inherited, one can advance unhindered to the Enlightenment Stage.

"Fine, whatever you like!" Wei Yuning looked at Xue Duoduo, "Snow Alliance Leader, what do you plan to do with Nie Ziqing?"

"Strip his cultivation and expel him from the Sea King Gang!" Xue Duoduo said indifferently.

"The Sea King Gang is a transport company cooperating with the Bailian Business Alliance, right? Aren't you afraid of opposition? Moreover, can the Sea King Gang even obey you?" Xue Duoduo was only one of the five alliance leaders stationed on Bixi Island for the Bailian Business Alliance, far from having unilateral power; his words meant exactly that.

"Young Master Wei Yuning, I'm from the Qianhan Sect of Bingshuo Island; that's enough!" Xue Duoduo said proudly.

Mei Xuan added, "The Qianhan Sect has close ties with Beast King City; White Bear Port on Bingshuo Island is the central hub of Beast King City's official transport route in the Antarctic Sea. Though not officially stated, everyone secretly regards the Qianhan Sect as the largest sect in the Antarctic Sea."