Chapter 577: The Gap

"Twilight Flower!"

Standing outside a mountain peak that was not particularly majestic, Shen Yu gazed at the small mountain village with curling wisps of cooking smoke before him, walking toward it quietly, step by step.

Watching the people inside 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 fulfilled.

When morning came, they would turn back 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 could know.

Blooming in silence, unknown to the outside world. Withering in a forgotten corner, pitied by none. This was Twilight Flower, a Twilight Flower that was terrifyingly strong yet excessively low-key.

Living brilliantly but destined to be unknown, their glorious achievements in life could only be told to themselves. Dying silently like weeds, obscure, uncared for, and unnoticed.

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

Without the slightest attempt to conceal the aura radiating from his body, 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, making even the space seem 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 all raised their heads, expressions of terror appearing on their faces. Perhaps it was a genuine display of emotion, or perhaps they were merely acting.

Of course, even if they were acting, their hearts must have been filled with panic. After all, this aura was too strong, strong enough to be suffocating.

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

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 top powers now 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 surely couldn't be here for a social call.

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

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

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

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 now would be truly foolish.

"I did not know Lord Shen was arriving; we failed to welcome you properly!" Soon, a loud voice rang out from within the village, followed by an afterimage that flashed past, crossing the crowd directly to the village entrance.

This man wore hempen clothes, his face covered in 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. I have heard 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 meager 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!" Continuing his steps forward, Shen Yu said as he walked: "Your son, Mu Ping'an, accepted a contract to kill me!"

"That unfilial 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 dead, 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 an unfilial son? Thank you, Lord, for helping me clean house. Please, take the seat of honor!"

"No need. I did not come to be a guest; I came 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 many 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 on one knee and bowing his head to show respect.

"Mu Ping'an was killed in retaliation for failing to kill; that was his incompetence, not the Lord's fault. I harbor not the slightest grudge, 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 our rules, Twilight Flower can from this day forth pledge allegiance to you and serve you!"

"There is such a rule? Was it there before, or was it just added?"

His footsteps did not falter in the slightest, and 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!"

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

His expression unchanged, Mu Qingkuang quickly understood Shen Yu's meaning: "The Lord intends to use my Twilight Flower to establish your authority?"

By now, he also knew this battle was unavoidable, and the chances of them winning were slim, but he still asked tentatively.

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

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

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

"I ask for your instruction, Lord!" Kneeling 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 moments before.

"Good, worthy of being Mu Qingkuang, you truly have great courage!"

Glancing at Mu Qingkuang, then at the Twilight Flower assassins who were facing a formidable enemy, Shen Yu merely smiled lightly, not taking them seriously at all.

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

The sword in his hand waved gently, and the Sword Intent that had been gathering for a long time erupted instantly. 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 like 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 one sword, and Mu Qingkuang was ground directly into dust; not a single one of Twilight Flower's top assassins survived.

With a single sword, the entire Twilight Flower was razed to the ground, and only at the very last moment did they realize just how great the gap really was!