Chapter 7: It's Too Terrifying, I'm So Scared

In the Southern Wildlands, the number one assassin organization, Blood Cloud Tower, had a branch within the Great Yan Dynasty...

"Blood Cloud Tower is infamous throughout the Southern Wildlands. As long as the price is right, they'll take any job.

This time, they abducted the Prince, targeting the Empress. Who knows who offered such a hefty sum for this?"

At this, Zhong Ling cautiously glanced at Xiao Tian. "Since their mission failed, they'll definitely send more people within seven days."

Xiao Tian's expression stiffened, and he exclaimed, "More people within seven days?"

He suddenly found Blood Cloud Tower's methods somewhat foolish.

Back in his organization on Earth, they would thoroughly investigate such situations.

They'd check if a third party had intervened, trying to divert the trouble to someone else. They'd assess if the target's combat power exceeded their limits, and if they should bury the hatchet and make peace.

It wasn't until he became a Martial Grandmaster, skilled in both internal and external cultivation, that his damned foster father started acting so brazenly.

Why were Blood Cloud Tower's assassins acting like reckless brutes?

Xiao Tian's expression was incredibly complex; he found it all so troublesome.

The Female Imperial Guards nearby saw Xiao Tian's expression and thought he was scared.

Well, it was normal to be scared when targeted by Blood Cloud Tower.

Even His Majesty found the Great Yan Dynasty's Blood Cloud Tower branch a headache, unable to eradicate it.

"Prince, perhaps you should stay in the palace for now and not venture out," the leading Female Imperial Guard suggested, bowing to Xiao Tian. "The palace's Formation Arrays are formidable; Blood Cloud Tower assassins wouldn't dare trespass."

"Good idea! Staying in the palace will be much easier!" Xiao Tian's eyes lit up, and he immediately agreed with the leading Female Imperial Guard's suggestion.

The other Female Imperial Guards' mouths twitched slightly, all thinking the same thing: "Prince, just how afraid of death are you?"

Only Zhong Ling had a strange expression, her thoughts completely different from the guards: "Prince, just how unwilling are you to make a move?"

Soon, the Female Imperial Guards began packing up their belongings from the makeshift camp.

"Commander, do you think Young General also has a thing for pretty boys? She's so incredibly patient with the Prince," a Female Imperial Guard whispered, watching Zhong Ling accompany Xiao Tian to gaze at the distant scenery.

The Female Imperial Guard Commander frowned. "What nonsense are you spouting? Young General has always admired His Majesty, and her affection for the Prince is simply a case of loving the house and its crow. Don't spread baseless rumors."

"Understood. Speaking of which, Blood Cloud Tower is truly going too far," the Female Imperial Guard said, clenching her fists. "I wonder how many common people will suffer next, and how much trouble His Majesty will face."

"Enough, don't say any more. His Majesty instructed before leaving," the Female Imperial Guard Commander glanced at Xiao Tian. "Just look after the Prince and let him live a leisurely life as a wealthy idler. That's all."

With that, the Female Imperial Guard Commander continued packing.

The Female Imperial Guard who had spoken first also sighed, clearing the surrounding area to prevent a forest fire.

***

Meanwhile, Xiao Tian, standing by the cliff edge and gazing at the Imperial City, suddenly spoke to Zhong Ling, "That guard was just discussing how Blood Cloud Tower will cause common people to suffer and Zi Ruoyan trouble. What did she mean?"

Zhong Ling's expression froze. She turned to look at the Female Imperial Guards packing in the distance, her eyebrows twitching violently.

You idiots, the Prince can hear you!

After composing herself, Zhong Ling began to explain to Xiao Tian, "Your Highness, Blood Cloud Tower operates by despicable and unscrupulous means.

Since this mission failed, they might, as usual, slaughter common people to force the Great Yan Dynasty's officials to pay... protection fees!"

As she spoke the last two words, Zhong Ling gritted her teeth.

"Protection fees?" Xiao Tian was stunned and looked at Zhong Ling. "What does that mean?"

"Normally, when upright officials in the court touched upon the interests of certain local powerful families, those families would put a bounty on them at Blood Cloud Tower.

The court would protect these officials, but when Blood Cloud Tower's assassins couldn't get to them, they would slaughter common people to force the court to comply.

The court would then have no choice but to pay protection fees, Blood Cloud Tower would cancel the mission, and the local powerful families' money wouldn't be refunded. They profited from both sides.

Because of this, court officials have to be extremely cautious when working in the provinces..."

Zhong Ling sighed and continued, "Since your mission failed this time, according to Blood Cloud Tower's habits, they will try to attack you again.

If they fail, they will slaughter common people and demand protection fees.

The current situation is special; His Majesty is leading the army outside. Blood Cloud Tower assassins might even intervene in the battlefield situation to create trouble for His Majesty."

Hearing this, Xiao Tian's face showed some anger. "Slaughter common people? How utterly shameless! How can they call themselves assassins?"

How innocent were the common people? Back on Earth, even if his foster father was cruel and ruthless, their organization had one iron rule:

Do not touch innocent ordinary people!

"Based on your understanding of Zi Ruoyan, if she knew my strength was 'decent,' would she make me handle some matters?" Xiao Tian suddenly thought of something and looked at Zhong Ling seriously.

"Do you have some misunderstanding about the words 'decent'?" Zhong Ling couldn't help but inwardly grumble, but she didn't dare say it aloud.

To Xiao Tian's question, she could only honestly nod and reply, "His Majesty would."

"This is troublesome. Once Blood Cloud Tower starts slaughtering common people, I definitely won't be able to stand by. I'll have to act in public, and my strength will be exposed.

Then my leisurely life as a carefree Prince, won't it be gone forever?

I'll have to return to those days of endless fighting and struggling from dawn till dusk..."

Xiao Tian analyzed, his expression growing increasingly solemn.

"Even if I endure and don't act, the common people will be slaughtered, the battle will be disrupted, and it will all be because of me.

If Zi Ruoyan gives me a letter of divorce and kicks me out of the Imperial Palace, won't I lose this 'soft rice' I'm eating?

I don't have any other survival skills; the only thing I'm good at is cutting people. To continue living, wouldn't I have to keep fighting, or even go back to my old profession?"

Sweat began to seep from Xiao Tian's forehead. He seemed to see his life of being waited on, where clothes were handed to him and food was brought to his mouth, gradually slipping away.

This comfortable, carefree life of being supported by the Empress was abandoning him.

He couldn't lose this bowl of 'soft rice'!

Xiao Tian looked at Zhong Ling with a terrified expression, his tone anxious: "No, no, this is too terrifying!

I have to kill all the Blood Cloud Tower people!"

Zhong Ling was utterly shocked: "???"

Is the Prince unable to find a solution to the problem, so he's just going to eliminate the problem itself?

"Wangcai, can you find the location of Blood Cloud Tower's branch?" Xiao Tian urgently asked in his mind.

[Respected Master, when you 'collapsed' Liang Shou earlier, I already collected information and can pinpoint its location.]

"Navigate me!" Xiao Tian instructed Wangcai, then shouted to the distant guards.

"Something His Majesty gave me seems to have fallen on the road when I was abducted earlier. Zhong Ling, accompany this King to find it. You all wait here; don't move. We'll be back shortly."

After shouting, Xiao Tian didn't even wait for the guards to react before he took off running.

The group of guards stood dumbfounded at Xiao Tian's roar.

"Follow the Prince's orders. With me accompanying him, there won't be any problems," Zhong Ling reacted quickly, sternly instructing the Female Imperial Guards before chasing after Xiao Tian.

***

In the blink of an eye, the two vanished, disappearing into the dense forest.

"Commander?" The Female Imperial Guard looked at her superior, somewhat bewildered.

The Female Imperial Guard Commander frowned. She felt something was off but couldn't quite place it.

Young General Zhong was too obedient.

However...

"With Young General accompanying him, nothing should go wrong. Follow the Prince's orders and wait here.

And you two, quickly send out a message to warn all sides that Blood Cloud Tower might make a move. Take precautions in advance and have the common people temporarily hide in the Defensive Fortresses."

Two Female Imperial Guards bowed and accepted the order: "Yes!"

"Blood Cloud Tower..." The Female Imperial Guard Commander gritted her teeth as she mentioned the three words, her hands trembling from clenching them too tightly.

"I truly hope Blood Cloud Tower is blind and provokes some reclusive grand expert, getting wiped out," the Female Imperial Guard Commander said fiercely, but after speaking, she let out a bitter laugh.

She looked at the sympathetic Female Imperial Guard beside her and self-mockingly said, "I must be crazy, saying such naive nonsense."

* * *

Proofreader & Editor: Fat Goose 🪶