Chapter 79: with translation of chapter title

Miss Yue, what are you saying? We don't need any proof—I still trust you, no need for such trouble.

Jiang Bu Fan's words were merely polite; I had thought Miss Yue would still save face, but she smiled and nodded.

General Jiang, you are indeed generous; since you say so, let's do that. I should head back now—I won't disturb you further.

Jiang Bu Fan almost jumped up and cursed, but he held back and nodded with a smile.

Miss Yue, what are you talking about? You could stay a few days; I could personally send you back later if needed.

Jiang Bu Fan isn't reluctant to part with Miss Yue; he fears that without a written pledge, the person will flee and the plan will fail—even if he killed Shen Tianxing and recovered the silver, the scheme would still come to nothing.

Thank you, General Jiang, but I really miss home and don't want to waste time—I'll take my leave.

After Miss Yue finished speaking, she turned her horse and rode off with He Peng and the others; Jiang Bu Fan wanted to stop them but it was too late, so he could only grit his teeth.

What if they ran? So many witnesses. I don't believe Yue Yunyang can renege on the debt. Old Xu, you too keep watch on them—this sum of silver must not suffer any loss. That Li brat truly has no shame daring to demand my silver; let him pay with his life!

Yes, sir!

Shen Tianxing did not return to his residence in Leiming City; he went straight out of the city, planning to wait in the wilderness for tonight's assassination, thereby avoiding exposing his city dwelling.

As for the news of his not returning, he left it to Hong Yi to inform Zhao Lingfei, who would then tell Yang Hongyue and the others.

In the dead of night, Shen Tianxing entered the woods, rested in a tree, with his watchers not far away; he waited quietly, when suddenly a wind rose.

Shen Tianxing opened his eyes and roughly sensed about ten people; unfortunately, there were no experts—if there were, Hong Yi would have warned him, and he wouldn't have felt them.

Kid, you dare take anyone's silver, you've got guts—hand over the banknotes, and I'll leave you a whole corpse.

A figure stepped out of the darkness—it was the steward Old Xu, who also possessed Fifth-Rank strength; he clasped his hands behind his back, pretending to be an elder master, but too lazy to look up at Shen Tianxing in the tree, as if a dead man weren't worth looking at.

Are these the thousand-man and ten-thousand-man commanders of Leiming City? Kill them all, and taking the city would be much easier.

In the midst of speaking, Shen Tianxing leapt down from the tree, and in an instant the nine ambush assassins surrounded him.

Attack the city? You must be crazy—Leiming City has thirty thousand elite troops; where does someone like you, who knows nothing, get the nerve to say you'll attack? It's a joke.

Old Xu naturally wasn't frightened by Shen Tianxing's words; instead he sneered. Shen Tianxing glanced at the nine assassins: two Fifth-Rank First Layer, four Fourth-Rank Sixth Layer, and three Third-Rank Eighth Layer to make up the numbers.

Boring—I thought there might be Seventh- or Eighth-Rank experts, but oh well, onward.

As soon as Shen Tianxing finished speaking, he deployed the Microstep of the Rippling Wave instantly, without drawing his Dragon-Slaying Blade; all that was heard were nine consecutive bangs, followed by nine consecutive puffs.

Ah......

Their unwilling screams rang out as the nine assassins collapsed dead; the system's alert tones sounded in succession, and Shen Tianxing reaped the Killing Value, plus 8,000 taels of silver.

Also dropped were three third-rank Red Gems, three third-rank Green Gems, and three third-rank Yellow Gems, plus 1,000 sets of standard equipment and 500 doses of Ordinary Golden Wound Medicine.

Just moments ago, the smug Old Xu watched the nine men he brought out turn into corpses; he recoiled in terror, trembling all over.

Seventh-Rank expert? How is that possible? How could you be a Seventh-Rank expert? Just a moment ago I saw you, and you were only around Third- or Fourth-Rank.

Old Xu wanted to run, but he knew he couldn't escape—the person before him was too fast; fleeing would mean a single palm strike to kill him.

Enough talk—I'll give you a chance to live. Here's a poison pill; swallow it, go back and open the city gate, I'll lead troops to storm in, and once I've taken Leiming City I'll give you the antidote. Of course you can refuse, then you'll die with them.

Old Xu hesitated not at all; as soon as Shen Tianxing finished speaking, he rushed over, snatched the so-called poison pill from Shen Tianxing's hand, and swallowed it.

Rest assured, I will definitely open the city gate at the third watch tonight!

Old Xu truly fears death—and the True Eye of Reality told Shen Tianxing that!

Rest easy; once I've taken Leiming City I'll give you the antidote—but don't harbor other thoughts, or I'll surely survive while you'll die horribly.

Rest assured, I have no other thoughts—I just want to live; may I go now?

Old Xu spoke no lie; Shen Tianxing smiled and waved his hand, and Old Xu immediately turned and fled, perhaps fearing Shen Tianxing might change his mind.

We can muster all our forces; tonight we'll take Leiming City.

We could just storm it and take it, but you insist on scheming—still, you did well, and I like it.

Hong Yi replied with a thought, smiling, saying he was at the main army's encampment. After answering Shen Tianxing, he immediately led troops toward Leiming City's western gate.

Shen Tianxing also employed lightness skill, rushing to Leiming City as fast as possible, but he had no intention of informing Yang Tieqiang and Yang Hongyue, planning to surprise them at dawn.

At the third watch of night, Shen Tianxing was already within a few dozen zhang of the western gate, hiding in the roadside grass, while Hong Yi and his men were not far behind him.

Old Xu's figure slowly appeared, and soon he reached the city gate.

Open the gate. The lord sent me out to bring back a batch of grain and fodder; it's right behind—hurry and open the gate, they're almost here.

Old Xu's voice was loud; frankly, his impromptu performance was quite good. With that, Shen Tianxing could first lead a contingent pretending to escort grain and fodder—once inside the city, everything would be easy.

Steward Xu, it's so late and you're still helping the lord—you've really worked hard; I'll open the gate now.

The gate commander laughed, said that, then led his men down from the tower and personally opened the gate.

Shen Tianxing immediately relayed the order; Hong Yi first took five hundred assault troops, and in the cover of night swiftly headed for the gate.

Steward Xu entered the city, and at the same time noticed the people behind him; he cleverly stepped forward and grabbed the gate commander's hand.

This grain and fodder are crucial; the escorted supplies are still behind, and behind them there's another group escorting.

The gate commander had found it odd, but then suddenly understood, smiling and nodding.

As expected, the lord still trusts Steward Xu most, letting him handle everything—this time are you planning to move against the Yue Family Army?

Steward Xu smiled and nodded, feigning to speak, when suddenly a cold light flashed—a short blade appeared in his hand, already having slit the gate commander's throat; he then turned and shouted loudly.

Quick, charge in!