The so-called Three Religions and Nine Sects are sects, and to become an outlaw is to join the ranks of the Green Forest.
Jiang Dali, though he had garnered some infamy in the Martial World like now, had become the Third Master of Black Wind Village.
But such an awkward and tainted identity, in the eyes of disciples from those well-established and renowned sects, was nothing more than a notorious bandit from the Green Forest whom they would behead to boost their reputation when necessary.
Who ever held them in high regard?
Qiu Xue Mei would never have imagined.
At this moment, that a fearless Emperor of the Green Forest would bear a blade, traveling thousands of miles to kill.
Qiu Xue Mei managed to become a Lower Seventh Rank figure in the Inner Qi Realm, and she was a disciple of the Ancient Tomb Sect that came out in recent years.
She was able to evade the court and some enemies' bounty hunters for so long without being left for dead, she must possess some abilities.
Few knew that she wore a defensively strong golden silk armor.
Ordinary Hidden Weapons and blades couldn't harm her.
And even if someone were stronger in martial arts, it was difficult to get close to her.
That's because she once obtained a remnant text from the Poison Sect on raising poisonous creatures secretly and quietly raised a Poisonous Insect.
That Poisonous Insect was a highly venomous centipede.
It may hide in her sleeve or hair on normal days, or it might hide in her Gale Whip.
Anyone who dared to rush in and was slightly careless would be bitten by the Poisonous Insect, their body becoming stiff with poison, and then they would be whipped in the neck and lose their life.
Therefore, to kill Qiu Xue Mei, one not only needed to handle her Gale Whip but also avoid her Poisonous Insect.
And they had to seize the fleeting chance to strike at her brow or throat, killing with a single blow.
Thus, although Qiu Xue Mei was merely a novice in the Inner Qi Realm of the Martial World,
To kill her, not only the skills in martial arts had to be superb, but also the courage and the assassin-like precision to deliver a fatal blow.
...
It took two days.
Jiang Dali galloped rapidly from Hui Prefecture to Qingyang County in Yuanzhou.
The county town was not large.
The flow of people coming and going on regular days was extremely rare and pitiful.
Blindly entering the county town in search of the target would only startle the target.
Upon arriving at Qingyang County, Jiang Dali did not directly enter the town.
Instead, he disguised himself as a hunter outside the city.
He spent five days getting to know the area and proactively got acquainted with the surrounding villagers.
Then, over another five days, he pretended to be a hunter going into town daily to buy supplies and sell his game, hence becoming a familiar face.
After that, using his cheaply priced game, he became the long-term supplier of the only tavern in Qingyang County, which Qiu Xue Mei visited every few days.
Only by then did he truly blend into Qingyang County unnoticed, like a drop of water merging into a lake.
His long-term planning and patient waiting had begun to bear fruit at this moment.
Over the following three days,
Not only did he observe Qiu Xue Mei from a distance twice, confirming her height, habits, meal times, and the timing when she left the hidden inn,
He also found the chance to encounter the little performer who had been listening to songs frequently these days, confirming her true identity.
Being reborn in this world, the only thing that set Jiang Dali apart from others in this world was that he still retained the characteristics of being a Player from his previous life.
So, when interacting with anyone in this world, there was a chance to trigger hints, gaining information on the person's identity, or even conditions for triggering hidden missions and more.
And the day he contacted the Little Ling, Jiang Dali received a prompt for a hidden mission.
"A disciple of Sky Zither Sect, Murong Qingqing bears a vendetta as deep as the Blood Sea; she came to Qingyang County with unclear intentions. Perhaps you can spend time building trust with her and then inquire if she needs any help."
"Really, this Little Ling, who just happened to pass through Qingyang County and attracted the attention of court fugitives like Qiu Xue Mei, is indeed not simple. She is actually a disciple of the Sky Zither Sect...
This Sky Zither Sect seemed to be the former sect that controlled the Heavenly Demon Zither.
And two years later, as the Heavenly Demon Zither appears, the Six-fingered Demon is fated to rise...
So, this Murong Qingqing is also a character with extra plotlines."
As Jiang Dali, who was a top Player in this world before being reborn here, his sense for these melodramatic Martial World missions was extraordinary.
Just a hint was enough to make his thoughts diverge, bringing many associations to mind.
And in his heart, he already found a shortcut to taking on the mission.
Thus, Jiang Dali spent another two days to establish cooperation with Murong Qingqing, discussing how to deal with Qiu Xue Mei together.
For ordinary people, to gain Murong Qingqing's trust and take on the mission based on a hint,
Certainly, it would take a lot of time.
And it's even impossible to earn Murong Qingqing's trust.
But Jiang Dali didn't need such trouble.
In the Martial World, declaring one's background and intentions is often the easiest way to gain someone's trust.
After revealing his identity as an assassin from Qingyi Building and stating his purpose, he naturally gained Murong Qingqing's trust with ease and smoothly took on the mission to assist her in killing Qiu Xue Mei.
After collaborating and discussing, they waited for the right moment and decided to act on the evening of the third day.
...
On the third evening, a torrential downpour was inevitable.
During the rainy weather, that Poisonous Centipede of Qiu Xue Mei's becomes particularly lethargic, unwilling to stir.
...
The time quickly arrived as scheduled.
In the residential building behind the restaurant, within the loft of the Inner Cabinet.
The candle flame flickered and pecked.
The air was so stifling it felt like one could squeeze water out of it, a harbinger of the impending storm.
According to the agreement.
This very evening, Murong Qingqing was to bring Qiu Xue Mei to the restaurant, to play music and drink wine.
And that would also be the moment for both of them to make their move.
...
Inside the attic.
Jiang Dali's eyes, reflecting the weak candlelight, shone brightly.
A dozen Willow Leaf Flying Knives, forged from fine iron and dark in color, lay in his hand, each meticulously checked.
His palms were very slender and, though rough with thick calluses, they looked clean and beautiful, holding the narrow Willow Leaf Flying Knives like murderous weapons dragged across a stone platter.
Suddenly, his hands clapped and pinched together.
The dozen Willow Leaf Flying Knives had disappeared from his hands as if by magic.
"Hidden Weapon: 'Sky Rain'
Realm: slightly successful 2%
Killing Techniques Acquired: Flying Star Transmission of Hatred (Armor-breaking damage)"
"Having trained the Second Master's 'Sky Rain' Hidden Weapon Skill to be slightly successful.
I have become much more adept at seizing these hidden weapons.
I am now capable of employing the must-kill skill, Flying Star Transmission of Hatred..."
Jiang Dali's lips curled into a faint, cold smile.
His gaze moved from the attribute template and riveted toward the lightning flashing outside the window.
The candle flame jerked fiercely several times.
Footsteps and the waiter's calls resounded from the entrance of the restaurant.
The prey had entered the scene.
...
Shortly after.
The wind began to pick up.
The stifled sky seemed unable to bear the oppressive atmosphere any longer as it squeezed out droplets from the heavy clouds.
A few raindrops fell and struck the tile eaves, ringing clear to the ear.
Soon after, the sound grew dense, converging into a drizzle that veiled the world outside, blurred and indistinct.
Across at Yingjia Restaurant, Little Ling's music faintly carried through the rain, sporadic and fragmented.
Jiang Dali fastened the top button on his green robe.
Donning a bamboo hat, covering his face with a veil.
As an assassin from Qingyi Building who had been in the business for over two years, now was the time for him to send someone on their final journey.
...
Pitter-patter—
The pounding rain shattered on the looming eaves, beads of water stringing together as they fell to the ground, producing an all-encompassing rain sound that enveloped the entirety of Qingxi City.
Inside Yingjia Restaurant, Qiu Xue Mei, bare-faced and beautiful, sipped her drink and nibbled on broad beans while listening to Little Ling sing, her renowned weapon, Gale Whip, resting by the table within easy reach.
The song was Xiao Yan's lyrics.
Little Ling was singing, "After dreaming of high towers locked, upon waking drapes hang low..."
The melody intermingled with the sound of rain, especially sorrowful and melodically mournful, intoxicating the listeners.
Only someone with a story could play such soul-stirring music.
Qiu Xue Mei admired such storied individuals.
She also relished in creating such sorrowful tales.
So when the wine was drunk and the music ended, the player of the music might just be buried along with the song.
Another sip of clear wine went down her throat.
Little Ling's eyelids slightly fluttered, another line of verse escaping her crimson lips.
"Remembering when I first met Xiaoping, dressed in a double-hearted Luo robe..."
As the lyric reached this point.
With a "bang", a string of the zither snapped, lightning flashed outside, gone in an instant.
A gleaming Little Knife suddenly flew from Little Ling's sleeve, "whoosh", aiming straight for Qiu Xue Mei's throat.