Chapter 249: Dark Night Assassination

The slaughter in the abandoned warehouse area and the initial trial of the 'Disturbing Crystal' device were firmly confined to a corner of southeastern Bianliangcheng.

For most citizens gradually recovering from panic, it was merely a distant, vague clamor.

However, for the Iron Crow Army lurking in deeper shadows, this was a clear signal—the new dynasty's counterattack had begun, and they had found a method that might threaten them.

'Cleanup Plan' must be accelerated.

Since large-scale riots and frontal assaults on the palace are ineffective, cutting the beam that supports this fledgling dynasty to cause its internal collapse has become the better choice.

The target points directly to the new dynasty's core civil officials—Chancellor Zhang Cheng and the trusted strategist Wang Pu.

Nightfall once again became the best cover for evil.

Past midnight, all sounds ceased.

Two days of turmoil had left the already fatigued Bianliangcheng sunk in sleep, with only the footsteps of patrolling soldiers echoing regularly across the empty streets.

——

Zhang Cheng's residence lay in the eastern part of the city, relatively tranquil.

Outside the gate, several guards stood watch; inside, household servants also patrolled the grounds.

Inside the study, the lights remained lit.

Zhang Cheng rubbed his sore brow and set down his vermilion brush.

On the desk lay piles of documents from prefectures and counties, progress reports on grain transport repairs, and contingency plans for fund allocation.

Hebei's battles went poorly, Jin Prefecture pleaded for aid, Southern Tang eyed them hungrily, and Bian Liang, though newly settled, faced a myriad of tasks—all weighing on him, the overseer of civil and fiscal affairs.

He knew well how heavy the burden on his shoulders was.

His Majesty, upon the court, stabilized hearts with thunderous measures;

Wang Ru, amidst the streets and lanes, soothed the populace with benevolent governance;

Qian Gui, in the darkness, eradicated remnants with iron‑blooded tactics;

He, Zhang Cheng, must ensure that this vast empire's body, even in pain, can maintain its most basic operations, supplying provisions to the troops at the front and to His Majesty's grand vision.

Ah……

He let out a light sigh, preparing to rise and loosen his somewhat stiff body.

Suddenly!

Outside the study's window paper, a faint 'puff' sound rang out.

It seemed like a night bird flapping its wings, or like a dry leaf falling to the ground.

But to Zhang Cheng, a man seasoned by wind and rain, the sound carried a hint of the unusual.

His motion paused slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping toward the window.

Almost at the same moment!

'Whoosh!'

A fine shadow, nearly blending into the night, pierced the window paper, carrying a hint of chilling cold, straight toward the spot where he had just been sitting on the grand master's chair!

It was a three‑inch‑long ebony‑black needle, its tip flickering with a dark‑blue light!

Had he not risen just then, he would surely have been pierced through the heart by now!

'An assassin!'

Zhang Cheng's heart rang with alarm, but he did not panic; instead, he swiftly ducked beneath the sturdy sandalwood desk and pulled hard on an inconspicuous cord beneath it.

'Clang! Clang! Clang!'

Inside the manor's inner courtyard, an urgent alarm bell rang out at once!

This was an alarm device that Qian Gui had specially installed in the mansions of several core officials after the Blood Moon riot.

'Who goes there!'

'Catch the assassin!'

The manor's guards reacted instantly, chaotic footsteps and shouts pouring in from all directions.

The study's door was flung open, two loyal household warriors brandishing swords rushed in and took position before the desk.

Outside the window, there was a brief, fierce clash of weapons and muffled groans.

Obviously, the Inspection Bureau's hidden guards lurking in the dark had already engaged the assassin.

The fight ended quickly.

Within a dozen breaths, the outside returned to calm.

A blood‑soaked petty leader of the hidden guards entered the study, holding a dagger still dripping blood, and knelt on one knee.

'Minister Zhang has been startled.'

'Of the three assassins who infiltrated the manor, two were killed in action, one saw the situation as hopeless and took poison.'

All were the methods of the Iron Crow Army.

Only then did Zhang Cheng slowly rise from behind the desk, his face somewhat pale but his gaze still steady.

He glanced at the poison‑needle embedded deep in the chair's back, its tail still faintly trembling, and a chill ran down his spine.

'You've worked hard.'

'Do you know where the assassins came from?'

The hidden guard leader said in a low voice:

'They likely took advantage of yesterday's chaos, hid beforehand in civilian homes near the manor, and slipped in tonight through a gap.'

'We have been remiss; please punish Minister Zhang!'

Zhang Cheng waved his hand.

'Qian Gui's layout is meticulous, your reactions swift—what fault is there?'

'But… it seems this gang of monsters has set its sights on this old man.'

His tone was calm, but a hint of coldness had already appeared in his eyes.

——

Almost at the same time Zhang Cheng was attacked.

Outside the inn where Wang Pu was staying.

Several black shadows, like geckos, clung to the shadows of the wall and climbed upward soundlessly, their target pointing directly to the three-story annex where Wang Pu was located.

Their movements were more professional than the assassins who attacked Zhang Cheng's mansion, and their breath was restrained to near perfection.

However, at the moment the leader's hand was about to touch the windowsill,

"Hum—"

A faint vibration of a bowstring.

A crossbow bolt shot out from the darkness of the opposite roof, precisely piercing that assassin's temple!

He didn't even have time to make a sound, falling like a broken puppet straight down, hitting the blue stone slabs with a dull thud.

"Enemy attack!"

The other assassins were shocked in their hearts, realizing they had already fallen into a trap.

They made a quick decision, abandoned the infiltration, unfolded their bodies, and sought to escape under the cover of night.

"Since you've come, stay."

A cold voice sounded.

Around the rooftops and alleyways, dozens of Inspection Bureau elites wielding strong bows and powerful crossbows instantly appeared.

"A rain of arrows poured down like splashing water!"

These assassins were highly skilled, waving their weapons to block, but the ambush crossbow bolts were too numerous and dense; in an instant two of them were shot into porcupines.

The last assassin, seeing no hope of breaking through, flashed a hint of madness in his eyes, fiercely pulled out an egg-sized sphere emitting an unstable blue light from his bosom, and was about to hurl it at the window where Wang Pu was.

"Stop him!"

Qian Gui's voice carried a hint of urgency.

He knew it was likely something similar to an "Annihilation Thunder"; once it exploded, the consequences would be unimaginable!

"Whoosh!"

Another crossbow bolt, coming from an extremely concealed sniper point farther away.

This bolt was faster, more accurate!

It directly pierced the arm that assassin was preparing to throw with!

"Ah!"

The assassin screamed, and the blue sphere slipped from his hand and fell.

Just as the sphere was about to hit the ground, a figure darted out like a leopard from the side, using a specially made pouch lined with cotton fluff to precisely catch the sphere, then tightly pressed the opening shut and rolled to the side.

"Thud!"

A muffled sound, like a suppressed fart, came from inside the pouch.

The pouch swelled violently for a moment, then fell silent.

The Inspection Bureau expert's face turned pale, yet he clung tightly to the pouch, daring not to loosen his grip.

The crisis was resolved.

Seeing this, the remaining assassin was utterly desperate, without hesitation biting open the poison sac between his teeth; his body twitched a few times, then fell silent.

Qian Gui emerged from the shadows, his face grim and terrifying.

He walked to the door of Wang Pu's room and said in a low voice:

"Mr. Wang, the bandits have been cleared; you were frightened."

The door creaked open.

Wang Pu was neatly dressed, obviously he had not slept soundly.

He glanced at the corpses downstairs and on the roof, as well as the subordinate clutching the pouch, still shaken, and cupped his hands toward Qian Gui.

"Thank you for your trouble, Marquis Qian."

"Had it not been for your marvelous calculations, Marquis, I would surely not escape disaster tonight."

Qian Gui waved his hand, showing no joy on his face.

"The Iron Crow Army, cornered, resorts to ever more despicable means."

"It seems our previous sweep still missed some rats."

He crouched down, examining the corpse of the assassin who had been shot in the arm and poisoned himself, and from the inner lining of his tight clothing pulled out a small fragment of bluish crystal, the size of a fingernail, faintly emitting a cool sensation.

"Indeed, they relied on this to conceal their aura and evade the earlier search..."

Qian Gui's eyes turned icy as he carefully collected the crystal fragment.

"Mr. Wang, this place is no longer safe; please follow me elsewhere at once."

Wang Pu nodded, saying nothing more.

He knew this assassination targeting the pillars of the new dynasty would certainly not be the last.

The Iron Crow Army is like a venomous snake hidden in the dark; if a strike misses, it retreats into the shadows, waiting for the next opportunity.

And we must be faster and more ruthless than those snakes.

Sitting in the carriage heading to the secret safe house, Qian Gui closed his eyes and focused, rapidly integrating in his mind the information from tonight's two assassination scenes, the assassins' methods, and the devices they used…

A faint clue seemed to be pointing toward a target he had long suspected but never managed to obtain solid evidence for.

The one codenamed "Cold Crow," the deepest-hidden mole.

A hint of a cold arc curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Soon…"

I'm about to pull you out.