[Word Count 1906]
Since Zhao Wei had spare clothes, he disposed of the bloodied ones. He burned them into cinders and dispersed them through the wind. It was not like he was hiding evidence or anything. Zhao Wei just felt like doing it.
As for the corpses, Zhao Wei made sure that the nearby Wild Beasts and Deadly Beasts were well fed to the fullest. The food donation wasn't all about quantity but the quality which mattered most.
Next, he calmly walked out of Sky Cloud Forest as if nothing had ever happened.
When Zhao Wei arrived at Sun Feather City, he sold a few of the precious parts of Deadly Beasts that he had slain and earned himself quite a fortune. Since money was perishable and was meant to be squandered, Zhao Wei visited the food market and bought 7 kg of chicken, 10 kg of lean red meat, a few important groceries and extra condiments.
Zhao Wei then bought some clothes since it seemed that he was going to be ruining them from then onwards.
For physical training purposes, Zhao Wei visited the most famous blacksmithing shop in Sun Feather City. He then provided the blacksmith with the details of what had to be made.
Zhao Wei knew that his speed was more than excellent but he felt that his body strength hadn't been fully exerted and utilized. His physical body needed external pressure to squeeze out every ounce of potential hidden within it.
Characters like Goku, Cid Kagenou and Seiya the Cautious Hero all had once used what Zhao Wei intended to be smithed.
Later on, Zhao Wei had two golden bangles resting on each of his wrists and another pair on his ankles. Each one of them weighed a ton. The metal coating used for plating the two bangles was of course gold. As for the heavy metal element involved in making the golden bangles, that Zhao Wei didn't know. The blacksmith also had no clue and told him that it was just a material that he had happened to chance upon. Its heavy properties were what had made him interested in it.
While walking Zhao Wei could feel the effect of extra weight from the two golden bangles weighing down on his physical body.
The speed of his normal movement was decreased by a lot, not to mention that he had yet to start intense practice and determine how he would fare.
Zhao Wei wasn't bothered by it and in fact relished in the feeling of being restricted. Chained. Inhibited.
But was there a better feeling than breaking the restrictions imposed upon you?
By the time Zhao Wei finally returned to the Zhao Clan, the light of the day had already vanished to be replaced by the silvery hues of the bright moon.
The day had been very tedious and marred by necessary slaughter.
After carefully preserving the food he had bought, Zhao Wei decided to rest that night just like planned.
But still that didn't mean that he had forgotten about the attempted assassination on his life.
Those who sought to claim his life or erase his existence would never have a good end. His 'death note' wasn't for show and once a person was recorded in it, Zhao Wei was definitely going to be their personal Grim Reaper.
Those who seek to kill others should also be prepared to be killed at any moment.
Zhao Tianjian's life wasn't his anymore but Zhao Wei's to casually reap at any time he pleased.
The following day, Zhao Wei woke up rejuvenated and in high spirits. His mental faculties were in top condition and his body brimming with excess energy that needed to be released through vigorous training.
"Only four days remaining with the present day already crossed off the list." Zhao Wei cast his sharp gaze at the vibrant orange skies.
"Haha, this reminds of the countdown I had to see everyday while preparing for the College entrance exams." He then chuckled with a reminiscing look in his dark eyes.
Retracting his gaze from the sky, Zhao Wei touched his chin while assuming a serious expression on his face.
After a few seconds, he started nodding to himself.
A terrifying killing intent momentarily erupted from his eyes before returning to normal.
'Assassination it is. Zhao Tianjian, I have already arrived at my final verdict.'
'Tonight will be your last day on earth. I hope you enjoy the last moments of your life to the fullest before I send your green ass to the underworld.'
What better humiliating way to slay your enemy than the method they used to try to kill you with?
Putting aside matters concerning his deathbound enemy, Zhao Wei started practicing his fist technique, [Tyrant Fists] and after a few minutes, he thought that it was too bland.
"Since I have already understood the essence of [Illusory Mist Steps] and some aspects of illusion, what if I combine [Tyrant Fists] with it?"
Zhao Wei smiled to himself and then closed his eyes to visualize the form and effect he wanted.
SHWAAH!
When Zhao Wei swung his fists rapidly, they were full of unpredictability and mystery.
His right fist gave the illusion that it was going to the left when in reality it was heading to the right.
Zhao Wei knew that this new way of using fists only played a little bit of mind games on the opponent and it wasn't that powerful. Someone with good instincts and a lucid mind can easily identify the differences but that was only after thinking fast and carefully. And was Zhao Wei going to give them the time to think? No.
Under the weight restraints strapped on his arms and legs, Zhao Wei felt a sudden warmness circulate all over his body as hot sweat trickled down his upper torso.
His muscles became sore only to return to peak condition the next moment due to the sudden warmness circulating inside his body. Zhao Wei attributed the warmness to the medicinal remnants still inside his body.
This cycle of training continued until the afternoon sun stood above his head and it was only then that Zhao Wei decided to take a break.
He decided to cook something for himself.
It didn't take long before he had a cooking pan set over a fire. Thick slices of oily lean red meat could be seen sizzling on the pan.
"Cooking never ceases to intrigue me. I enjoy it. It soothes my mind and brings me a sense of liberation." Zhao Wei happily talked to himself as he flipped the thick slices of fried meat over the pan.
Zhao Wei came to cherish cooking his meals. It has become a hobby of sorts.
Picking up the condiments with his hand, Zhao Wei then skillfully spread them over the frying meat by rubbing his thumb against his other fingers.
A few moments later,
"Parfait!" Zhao Wei could be seen lying comfortably under a shade with a satiated expression on his face. In his hand, he held a wooden toothpick as he relaxedly removed the little pieces of meat stuck between his teeth.
"5 kgs of meat really packs a punch." Zhao Wei exhaled lightly.
Since his digestion was fast, it only took Zhao Wei a few minutes to digest what he had eaten.
Zhao Wei then used the remaining time to efficiently train in the Axe a weapon that he had yet to touch. And just before night fell, he discreetly went to the city and bought a set of needles for his assassination plan. He then soaked them in an amalgamation of different fearsome poisonous venoms that could guarantee a sure instant death to anyone below the Eighth Rank of Consolidated Realm.
Zhao Wei wanted everything to be as clean as possible. Even if he had the necessary strength to trample on a clan elder like Zhao Tianjian whose strength was at the Peak Sixth Rank, there was no need to be noisy while inside the clan. That was how an assassin should act, that is, being super stealthily.
In the wee hours of the night when everyone was resting or silent in meditation, Zhao Wei wore black robes that were in perfect harmony with the darkness of the night. He needed a good guise - something that couldn't be traced down to him. In case investigations were carried out, Zhao Wei wanted the suspicions to be directed outside the clan and not inside the clan. Even if a measly fifth ranker like him couldn't possibly be suspected due to the big gap in strength with Zhao Tianjian, one could never be too careful.
Just remembering how the Divine Investigator brought Fang Yuan countless headaches made Zhao Wei to heavily erase any chances of someone snooping around his ass.
All Black, check. Invisibility, check.
He had enough inner energy to stay invisible for the time he had given himself to get the job done.
Zhao Wei already knew where Zhao Tianjian's place of residence was. Despite the tight security inside the inner regions of the clan, Zhao Wei easily and soundlessly evaded the security guards.
The pitch black darkness didn't bar his vision and only made his covert operation more smooth.
Zhao Wei used his discerning eyes to look for traps or anything of sort in Zhao Tianjian's residence. And only after making sure everything was fine, did he finally move.
Through his X-ray vision, Zhao Wei saw Zhao Tianjian sitting cross-legged and possibly cultivating.
This made it even more impossible for him to attempt any form of close contact with him. The subtle influx of inner energy when near him would actually make him more vigilant and an expert like him wouldn't be so stupid not to realize that he was about to be assassinated. Also that little fact reminded Zhao Wei not to use his inner energy when attacking. Inner energy has attributes and even though the one he possessed was formless and celestial golden in color, Zhao Wei still preferred not to make such a beginner mistake. After all, remnants of inner energy can still linger in the air.
'His window is open. This makes it even easier for me to snipe him.' Zhao Wei analyzed while silently positioning himself on top of a tree where he was perfectly camouflaged by many leaves and branches.
He then took out the self-created blow pipe from his waist, lowered the cloth covering his mouth and placed it between his lips.
From Zhao Wei's analysis, Zhao Tianjian's blind spots were his bare neck and his head. Those two places were the least protected.
'I can see his carotid… Oh well, this makes it just perfect for me.'
Zhao Wei soundlessly summoned all the strength of his lungs and body and then…
FUUUU!
Zhao Wei blew three poisonous needles with an unprecedented force.
"Aaargh!" A wail of infinite indignation and horror shattered the tranquility of the night in one momentary burst before dying down in an instant.
When Zhao Tianjian died, he didn't know how and why. It was so swift and clean.
Zhao Tianjian was no more. His body was an empty vessel while his soul was poisoned to death. There was no chance for even reincarnation. No second chances at life.
That was his karma.
'Mission accomplished!'
Zhao Wei merged with the night and disappeared into nothingness.
He was like a… shadow.
A night shadow.
***
Enjoy!