Jiang Heng lowered his eyelids and remained silent for a moment before saying:
"I accept."
He wasn't someone obsessed with strict morality, and killing someone whose true nature was unclear didn't weigh heavily on his conscience. His only concern was the power that the other party represented.
But considering the favors Bai Haocang had bestowed upon him in the past, even if he viewed this task as a way to repay a debt, he had no reason to refuse.
Bai Haocang's expression remained calm as he softly stated:
"Yuh Gaohan, Innate Realm Tenth Stage. For you, it shouldn't pose much difficulty."
"If everything is in order, you can set out tomorrow. I will arrange for someone to meet you at a guest inn in the central city of the Feng River Domain. The secret code is 'I want to see the light.'"
Jiang Heng nodded, then rose and left the hall.
The next morning.
Jiang Heng picked up a precious sword, quietly left the sect, and in a nearby town, bought a set of very ordinary martial attire. He also purchased a chestnut-maned horse and a map, setting off towards the central city of the Feng River Domain, Shuangta City.
A mission to kill an official from the imperial court naturally couldn't be broadcasted widely. Instead, he had to conceal his identity as much as possible.
So, after Jiang Heng had distanced himself from the town, he changed into the martial attire and continued his gallop on horseback.
In truth, with his level of physical cultivation, agility, and endurance, he had long surpassed the capabilities of the chestnut-maned horse. If not for the concern of drawing too much attention along the way, he probably could have reached Shuangta City, a thousand miles away, in two to three hours at most.
However, riding the chestnut-maned horse and traveling day and night, even changing horses midway, he arrived outside Shuangta City on the second day at noon.
As the central city of the vast Feng River Domain, Shuangta City was extremely grand and majestic. From a distance, it looked like a formidable giant beast crouched silently in the wilderness.
Countless pedestrians streamed in and out, spreading out from the four city gates of Shuangta City like busy ants.
Jiang Heng followed the procession of people, entering the city.
What met his eyes was a scene of bustling prosperity from an era of abundance.
On the spacious road wide enough for eight horse carriages to run side by side, a convoy loaded with goods moved through the center. On both sides, pedestrians jostled shoulder to shoulder, and hawkers and servants moved back and forth. Numerous muscular warriors, armed with swords, were too numerous to count.
Jiang Heng had already abandoned his horse outside the city. Now, with a longsword at his waist, he strolled leisurely among the crowd.
At this moment, a raggedly dressed young man approached him not far away, looking at him eagerly and said:
"Sir, do you need a guide? Only 50 copper coins."
Jiang Heng glanced at him.
The young man was wearing coarse gray linen clothes, with several patches all over his body. His shoes were even more worn, revealing restless big toes.
Faced with Jiang Heng's gaze, the young man lowered his head nervously but didn't leave. Instead, he waited for Jiang Heng's response, clearly in great need of this job.
"Take me to an inn, and you'll get your payment."
Jiang Heng said indifferently.
"Yes, sir! Please follow me!"
The young man immediately smiled and bowed, then led Jiang Heng in a certain direction.
Along the way, the young man voluntarily introduced various scenic spots they passed by to Jiang Heng, including the origin of the name "Twin Towers City" and some famous places in the city.
About half an hour later, the two stopped in front of a bustling inn.
"Sir, this is it!"
"Alright, thank you!"
Jiang Heng nodded and handed over a couple of silver coins.
The young man quickly waved his hand: "Sir, I don't have enough silver coins for change. Do you have any copper coins, perhaps?"
"Keep it! No need for change."
Jiang Heng directly handed the silver to the young man and walked into the inn.
Behind him, the young man was both excited and touched. He suddenly bent down and shouted after Jiang Heng's figure, "Thank you so much for your generosity, sir!"
At the inn's entrance, there was a waiter trying to attract customers and witnessed Jiang Heng's generous act. He immediately approached.
"Sir, please come inside. Are you here for a meal or lodging?"
"Lodging. Arrange a deluxe room for me."
"Alright!"
The waiter turned and shouted, "One deluxe room!"
"Sir, this way, please!"
The waiter led Jiang Heng inside with a fawning smile, arranged a room for him, and then left respectfully.
In the room, Jiang Heng sat cross-legged, fully activating the Swallowing Heaven and Earth Technique.
Invisible energy rapidly flowed into his body, absorbed by Jiang Heng. The system's prompt sounded continuously, and his potential points continued to increase.
After several days of observation, Jiang Heng found that even if he didn't cultivate actively, the Swallowing Heaven and Earth Technique passively generated about 100,000 potential points every day.
When actively cultivating, he could gain around 500,000 potential points per day.
Compared to swallowing Blood Qi Pills, it's indeed not much, but the advantage lies in not needing any resources.
In the evening...
Knock, knock, knock.
The door suddenly received a gentle tap.
Jiang Heng opened the door, only to find an ordinary-looking young man dressed in coarse linen standing outside.
He took a brief look at Jiang Heng and immediately whispered, "I need to see the light."
Jiang Heng nodded, "Come in!"
However, the young man didn't enter but instead pulled out a scroll from his sleeve and discreetly handed it over to Jiang Heng. After Jiang Heng accepted it, the young man promptly turned and left.
Jiang Heng closed the door and returned to the inner room.
He unfurled the scroll.
On it was a layout of the Dalu Sect's main residence, the patrol routes and shift times of the guards, as well as the daily movements of the Dalu Sect's domain master, Yu Gaohan. It was all clearly marked, including a evacuation point and route for Jiang Heng.
Suddenly, Jiang Heng's gaze fell on a corner of the scroll.
"Guardian?"
His eyes narrowed.
He had read about the Guardians while studying before. They were powerful individuals arranged by the Sacred Sect in crucial cities to deter wrongdoers, especially in the center of a domain. The Guardians were top-level experts in the Spirit Sea Realm, normally uninterested in worldly matters. However, if something happened to the domain master's residence, the Guardians would immediately intervene.
"It seems I need to be cautious, strike swiftly, and escape quickly."
"Otherwise, dealing with a Guardian would be troublesome!"
After memorizing all the information on the scroll, Jiang Heng rubbed it with his hands, and the scroll immediately turned into dust.
The night passed quietly.
On the second day, Jiang Heng checked out of the inn.
He found the evacuation point marked on the scroll, and the young man from the previous night was waiting there.
This was an inconspicuous, old residential building not too far from the city gates, with relatively few people around.
"When do you plan to act?" the young man asked as they entered the inner room.
"Tonight."
"Good! The sooner, the better, to avoid unnecessary trouble."
The young man nodded and continued, "After killing that person, follow the evacuation route I've drawn, and come to me."
"Next, there are two evacuation plans, you can decide for yourself."