Chapter 221: No Escape

"Twilight Flower!"

Standing outside a mountain peak that could hardly be called majestic, Shen Yu gazed at the small mountain village with curling wisps of cooking smoke before him, walking toward the inside step by step in silence.

Watching the people in the mountain village working like ordinary villagers, the mountain folk greeting one another, carrying hoes down to the fields, and the old couples exchanging glances that still held a touch of warmth.

No matter how one looked at it, these were all warm and harmonious ordinary families. Anyone who saw this would think it was just a mountain village as ordinary as could be.

These mountain folk were merely members of the common masses, living lives that were plain, unremarkable, and mundane.

Twilight Flower, blooming at dusk and withering by the next morning. At night, this small mountain village was the World's Number One Assassin organization that made the martial arts world tremble with fear; for decades, they had never known defeat, and every contract they accepted was a guaranteed kill.

When morning came, they would turn into ordinary people who worked at sunrise. Even when facing bandits, bullies, or corrupt officials, they would only kneel and beg for mercy, never revealing a shred of martial prowess.

Who could have imagined that at night, they would be the most terrifying existence in the martial arts world.

Every seemingly ordinary villager here was a top-tier, terrifying assassin; the true elites of Twilight Flower were all gathered here.

As an assassin, the first thing one must learn is how to hide oneself. Their strength, their terror—only they themselves knew, and only they themselves could know.

Blooming in silence, unknown to the outside world. Withering in a corner where no one sees, pitying only themselves. This was Twilight Flower, terrifyingly strong yet excessively low-key.

Living brilliantly but destined to live a life unknown to others, their glorious battle records could only be told to themselves. Dying silently like weeds, obscure, uncared for, and unnoticed.

This was the fate of a Twilight Flower assassin, and it was their life.

Without the slightest avoidance, blooming with his full aura, Shen Yu walked slowly toward the small mountain village in the distance, as if a ten-thousand-foot mountain were pressing down from the sky, and even space seemed to distort under this momentum.

Passing by head-on, it was as if the heavens were collapsing and the earth sinking. Clouds churned like a dense, dark overcast pressing upon the heart, river waters surged in agitation, and the howling wind felt like an instant plunge into the depths of winter.

The mountain folk who were preparing to go out to work raised their heads one after another, expressions of terror appearing on their faces. Perhaps it was a genuine outpouring of emotion, or perhaps it was just a performance.

Of course, even if they were performing, their hearts must have been filled with panic and unease. After all, this aura was too strong, strong enough to make one suffocate.

"Shen Yu!" When they saw Shen Yu's face clearly, this name surfaced in almost everyone's heart.

Although they had never met Shen Yu face-to-face, they had long since seen his portrait; it should be said that there was no one among the current top powers who did not know what he looked like.

When they realized who had come, everyone's heart skipped a beat. Thinking of the rumors about Shen Yu, and then looking at him now, alone with a sword, he couldn't possibly be here for a social visit.

But on the surface, they still acted like the most ordinary villagers encountering danger and fear, screaming in terror and running about in a panic.

Just at this moment, a sword appeared in Shen Yu's hand, a sword he had picked up at random. Yet, from the plain and unremarkable blade, the most brilliant and dazzling light bloomed.

Everyone in the mountain village discovered with horror that they had all been locked on.

Once this sword fell, they could not escape, nor could they dodge!

Moreover, the killing intent on this sword was completely undisguised; it was too obvious. The other party was clearly here to kill, and to keep pretending at this point would be truly foolish.

"We did not know of Lord Shen's arrival, we have failed to welcome you properly!" Soon, a resonant voice rang out from within the mountain village, followed by an afterimage that flashed past, crossing the crowd directly to the village entrance.

This person wore hempen clothes, and his face was crisscrossed with deep wrinkles, as if he were truly a mountain dweller who worked at sunrise and rested at sunset, struggling daily just for three meals, having endured all the hardships of life.

"Mu Qingkuang, leader of Twilight Flower, known as the World's Number One Assassin; it is said there is no one in this world you cannot kill. Seeing you today, it is truly surprising; you are worthy of being the number one assassin!"

"How can a mere shallow reputation compare to Lord Shen? Compared to you, we are but fireflies before the sun and moon."

"It is just that although our Twilight Flower has killed countless people, we have never had any enmity with Lord Shen. I do not know why you would take action against us?"

"Perhaps there was none before, but now there is!" Without stopping his footsteps, Shen Yu said as he walked: "Your son Mu Ping'an accepted a contract to kill me!"

"That rebellious son!" An expression of shock and anger instantly appeared on his face, and Mu Qingkuang hurriedly promised: "Lord Shen, rest assured, I will definitely give you an explanation!"

"No need, I have already killed him!"

"Well killed!" With his son killed, Mu Qingkuang felt not the slightest pain, but instead loudly agreed. It was as if the person Shen Yu had killed was not his son, but his enemy.

"What use is there in keeping such a rebellious son? Thank you, Lord, for helping me clean up the house. Please, take a seat!"

"No need, I am not here to be a guest, I am here to be the villain."

"Although your noble son is dead, I feel that is not enough. Your Twilight Flower is, after all, the World's Number One Assassin organization, with numerous top-tier assassins and endless methods."

"I am not at ease, so it is better if Twilight Flower no longer exists!"

"Lord Shen!" Watching Shen Yu approach step by step, Mu Qingkuang made no extra movements, simply kneeling halfway on the ground and lowering his head to show respect.

"Mu Ping'an was killed for failing to assassinate you; that was his incompetence, not the Lord's fault. I have not the slightest bit of resentment, and you need not take it to heart, Lord."

"Lord, you are the only person in all these years to have found our location. According to the rules, Twilight Flower can from now on pledge allegiance to you and serve you!"

"There are such rules? Were they there before, or were they just added?"

His footsteps did not falter in the slightest, Shen Yu continued to walk forward, the edge of the sword in his hand becoming increasingly sharp.

"You are far more decisive than your son; you are truly worthy of being the leader of Twilight Flower!"

"But my answer is the same: I do not need it!"

"An assassin organization like Twilight Flower, and an assassin like you, Mu Qingkuang—it is only reassuring if you are gone!"

With an unchanging expression, Mu Qingkuang quickly understood Shen Yu's meaning: "Does the Lord wish to use my Twilight Flower to establish your prestige?"

At this moment, he also knew that this battle was unavoidable, and the possibility of them winning was slim, but he still tentatively asked one last question.

"Lord, is there really no room for negotiation?"

"No negotiation. But rest assured, I will not bully you; I will only strike one sword!"

"If after this one sword your Twilight Flower can block it, then that is your ability. If you cannot block it, then you cannot blame me!"

"I ask for the Lord's instruction!" Kneeling halfway on the ground, even though Shen Yu had almost reached him, and even though the situation was already at a breaking point, Mu Qingkuang still showed no sign of turning hostile, his attitude as respectful as it had been just a moment ago.

"Good, worthy of being Mu Qingkuang, truly good courage!"

Glancing at Mu Qingkuang, then looking at those Twilight Flower assassins who were facing a great enemy, Shen Yu just smiled lightly, not taking them into his eyes at all.

"Then receive the sword. If you survive this one sword, you can live!"

The sword in his hand waved lightly, and the Sword Intent that had been gathering for a long time erupted in an instant. The cold light of the sword was as brilliant as a galaxy from the nine heavens, as if bringing the most beautiful glow in the world, leaving one dazzled and mesmerized.

Only those facing this Sword Qi head-on knew how terrifying it was. It sealed off everyone's path of retreat, and even moving an inch seemed to have become the most extravagant luxury.

They could only watch helplessly as they were rapidly eroded under this sword light, until in the end, nothing remained.

One sword, merely a single sword, and Mu Qingkuang was ground directly into powder; not a single one of all the top assassins of Twilight Flower survived.

In the span of one sword, the entire Twilight Flower was razed to the ground, and only at the very last moment did they realize just how vast the gap truly was!