The inn in Castletown where Chen Jing is currently staying is a modest two-story building made of red brick and wooden beams. The entrance is adorned with a wooden sign that creaks as it sways in the wind, announcing the name of the inn, "The Sleeping Dragon". Inside, the walls are painted a dull shade of cream, and the floors are made of polished wooden planks. The main hall is spacious, with a large fireplace on one side and a long wooden bar on the other. The furniture is simple but sturdy, consisting of wooden tables and chairs, with a few comfortable armchairs arranged near the fireplace. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, with the occasional patron engaging in hushed conversation or quietly enjoying a drink. The rooms upstairs are accessed by a narrow wooden staircase and are clean but basic, with a simple bed, a small desk, and a washbasin. The windows overlook the quiet streets of Castletown, and the occasional sound of a horse-drawn carriage can be heard in the distance.
At this moment, Chen Jing is currently meditating while infusing the healing pills that Zenki provided to him when he left the castle, "I should be around 80% healed right now" he thought, he was patiently waiting for signs that the assasins might leave or make to indicate how the trade for Yu Mei's safety would progress.
Without warning, the room plunged into darkness for a split second, followed by the sudden appearance of a rough-voiced man standing in front of Chen Jing. "Follow me," the man commanded, "and don't try anything funny."
Chen Jing followed the man in silence, careful not to arouse any suspicion. Before leaving the inn, he discreetly crushed the marker talisman provided to him by Zenki. The plan was simple: if the assassins only gave him a general direction, he would leave a subtle mark in the inn to provide a clue to his whereabouts. But if they sent a guide to lead him, he would crush the talisman to signal Zhang Yitian and Mengting to follow them from a safe distance.
It was essential to keep Zhang Yitian and Mengting in a different inn, as having all three of them together would attract unwanted attention from the assassins. The slightest suspicion could endanger the mission and Yu Mei's life.
Chen Jing followed the rough-looking man as they made their way through the dimly-lit slums of the city. The smell of poverty and desperation hung in the air, and Chen Jing couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for the people living in such conditions.
After what seemed like an eternity, they finally reached the outskirts of the city. The man led him towards a hidden damaged wall, which they had to climb over to leave the city. It was clear that this wasn't the first time the man had done this, as he effortlessly scaled the wall, motioning for Chen Jing to follow.
Once they were outside the city walls, Chen Jing was struck by the beauty of the night sky. The stars shone brightly, illuminating their path as they made their way towards the forest in the northern part of the kingdom.
The journey was long and tiring, but Chen Jing's determination to save Yu Mei kept him going. They walked for hours, and Chen Jing was starting to feel the effects of the healing pills wearing off.
As they approached the forest, the man suddenly stopped and turned towards Chen Jing. "We're here," he said gruffly, gesturing towards the dense forest. Chen Jing could feel his heart racing with anticipation and fear. He had no idea what awaited him in the depths of the forest, but he knew he had to be brave.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward into the unknown, determined to do whatever it takes to save Yu Mei.
Zhang Yitian and Mengting followed the group from a safe distance, keeping their movements quiet and their senses sharp. As they left the city, they walked through a dark and narrow alleyway, where the stench of sewage and rotting garbage filled the air. The buildings around them were rundown and dilapidated, with broken windows and crumbling walls.
Finally, they arrived at a section of the city's outer wall that was hidden behind a cluster of trees. The man leading Chen Jing towards the forest in the northern part of the kingdom of Avaloria stopped and gestured towards the wall. "We need to climb over this to get out," he said in a gruff voice.
As they scaled the wall, Zhang Yitian and Mengting kept a close eye on the group. They were careful to stay hidden and not make a sound, but they were determined to find out where the assassins were taking Yu Mei.
Once they were over the wall, they continued on their journey through the forest. The moon was bright, casting an eerie glow over the trees. The sound of leaves rustling in the wind and twigs snapping underfoot was the only thing that broke the silence. Chen Jing and the man leading him kept moving forward, with Zhang Yitian and Mengting following them quietly.
As they walked deeper into the forest, the terrain became rougher and more challenging. The ground was littered with rocks and fallen trees, making it difficult to move quickly. The group slowed down, taking care not to trip or stumble in the darkness.
Despite the obstacles, Zhang Yitian and Mengting kept up with the group, staying hidden behind trees and bushes. They knew that they were getting closer to their target, and they were determined to complete their mission. The night was long and treacherous, but they kept moving forward, their eyes fixed on their quarry.
Upon reaching the assassins' camp, a voice greeted Chen Jing, "So, you didn't try to run away." With confidence in his tone, Chen Jing replied, "I, Chen Jing, am not an ungrateful person."
The voice's owner revealed himself, and Chen Jing couldn't help but think that he was most likely the leader of the assassins. "Where is Princess Yu Mei? I hope you kept your promise and did not harm her?" he asked anxiously. The leader raised his right arm, signaling to another assassin to bring out Yu Mei. When she was finally escorted out, Chen Jing breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that she seemed unharmed.
Chen Jing quickly looked towards Yu Mei and asked, "Are you hurt? Did they harm you in any way?"
Yu Mei shook her head and replied, "I'm fine, they didn't do anything to me."
Chen Jing let out a sigh of relief, grateful that Yu Mei was unharmed. He then turned his attention back to the assassins, determined to get out of this situation alive.
The leader of the assassins issued his ultimatum to Chen Jing, "First, you must hand over your spatial ring. After that, you will remain here and face the consequences." Chen Jing furrowed his eyebrows, concerned for Yu Mei's safety. "How can I be sure that you will not harm her once I'm gone?" he asked. In response, the leader of the assassins made a solemn oath to the heavens that if they successfully completed their mission, Yu Mei would be released unharmed. The assassin believed that swearing such an oath would simplify matters and persuade Chen Jing to comply and accept his fate.
As Chen Jing took off his spatial ring and held it in his palms, the leader of the assassin gestured for him to throw it over. Chen Jing was a little surprised by the request, but understood that the assassin was being cautious and wanted to ensure that he didn't have any tricks up his sleeve. The leader knew that the spatial ring might contain items that could help Chen Jing in a dire situation, so it was important to get it out of his possession.
As soon as the leader of the assassin caught the spatial ring, he didn't waste any time trying to remove the owner's mark. Instead, he raised his left hand and signaled to the other assassins to start attacking Chen Jing with ranged weapons and spells. Chen Jing, on the other hand, was caught off guard by the sudden attack and had no chance to act.
As the assassins launched their attack on Chen Jing, Mengting and Zhang Yitian sprang into action. Mengting summoned a dome of earth around Chen Jing to block the incoming projectiles, while Zhang Yitian swiftly outmaneuvered the assassin who was holding Yu Mei hostage.
Using his lightning-fast reflexes and impeccable combat training, Zhang Yitian was able to deal with the assassin swiftly and free Yu Mei. He then positioned himself between her and the remaining assassins, using his body as a shield to protect her from any further harm.
Meanwhile, Mengting's dome of earth held strong against the continuous onslaught of attacks from the assassins. She kept her focus and maintained the dome until Chen Jing could safely escape.
Mengting turned to Chen Jing, her eyes scanning his face for any signs of injury or distress. "Are you okay?" she asked, noticing the shock still etched on his face.
"Princess Mengting, I'm still good. Thanks for saving me back there," Chen Jing said as he stood up from the ground.
Mengting looked at him with concern, "Are you sure you're okay? Can you fight?"
Chen Jing nodded, "I'm fine. Let's take these assassins down."
Mengting nodded to Chen Jing and quickly tossed a smoke bomb into the air, signaling their position to Zenki and the others as they fought to survive the assassin's assault. They knew they couldn't hold out for long and desperately awaited reinforcements to arrive.