One Hit Poisoned Three Thousand . . .
Cha Eun Xiao's onslaught continued unabated, sending many assassins tumbling backward. Panic and terror were etched on their faces, and they made no attempt to stand their ground. Those with lower cultivation levels who couldn't escape in time became easy prey for Cha Eun Xiao's brutal attacks.
The stronger assassins, recognizing the futility of resisting, began to push their less capable comrades toward Cha Eun Xiao, as if offering them as sacrifices to appease his fury.
Yet, Cha Eun Xiao displayed no mercy. His strikes were lightning-fast, his kicks and punches relentless. He moved with such speed and ferocity that within mere seconds, he had advanced hundreds of meters through the courtyard.
Drawing a sword, it gleamed with cold, sharp light. With each swing, people screamed in agony as the sword's deadly arc slashed through the crowd.
Cha Eun Xiao's rampage continued into the hall itself. He carved his path like a scythe through the grass, leaving a trail of blood and carnage in his wake. The assassins had lost their will to fight; fear paralyzed them. Any hope of organizing a defense crumbled in the face of this relentless assault.
Amid this chaos, one assassin suddenly had an epiphany. He cried out, "He's wielding a sword? He's charging in with sheer force?"
The nearby assassins were initially disdainful, thinking, [Of course, he is! We're not blind. Why shout it out? The truth is plain to see. Is it worth making a fuss over? Do you think you're the only one with eyes? Do you believe we're all blind?]
But then, realization dawned on all of them.
[That's right! He's the one with a clear vision!]
[Feng Monarch is cutting a path through the assassins, leaving a trail of blood. He's using a sword!]
[He's pushing forward, facing difficulties!]
[Why would he do this if he still possessed that world-shaking, super-lethal poison?]
[Has he exhausted his poison supply?]
These seasoned assassins rapidly deduced the situation. Feng Monarch's bounty was substantial and had incited their avarice. They couldn't just stand idly by, greed now filling their minds.
Assassins who had been fleeing for their lives ground to a halt. They gazed at Cha Eun Xiao, attempting to discern his intentions. They wondered if he was resorting to any tricks now.
Cha Eun Xiao, however, was oblivious to their contemplations. He continued to advance without pause.
To the assassins, it was a clear message: "Feng Monarch is determined to enter Ling-Bao Hall. He seeks to reach his allies inside, where he will have formidable protectors in the form of Ning Biluo and Zhao Pingtian."
Their conclusion was nearly certain. Cha Eun Xiao's poison had run dry.
"He's bluffing!" one assassin cried out.
"He must have run out of poison!"
"Indeed! It's highly improbable that he possesses an abundance of those incredible poison beads. Deploying it twice would have depleted his resources!"
"Kill him! End this farce! The lucrative reward is within our grasp!"
A wave of assassins, their eyes gleaming with avarice, charged forward. Those who had fled too far during the initial retreat now regretted their decision. Yin Yucheng, the No. 5 assassin known as Ghost Hand, was among them. He had always treasured his own life, taking on only the simplest missions and avoiding dangerous targets. He could have reached Cha Eun Xiao earlier but had fled in haste. Now, he desperately rushed back, shouting, "Feng Monarch! Hold on! Please don't die! Wait for me!"
Laughter erupted among the assembled assassins, even those from Ling-Bao Hall couldn't help but find the situation hilariously absurd.
[Hold on? Wait for you? To cut his head off? You're trying to make it sound like a noble act, but the reality is ludicrous!]
Without hesitation, a multitude of assassins surged forward. This time, their determination was unwavering, and they rushed forward with great haste, crowding together so tightly that the courtyard seemed twice as packed as before.
Boldly, Cha Eun Xiao shouted, "Watch my poison bead!"
Laughter and skepticism followed. [Feng Monarch is attempting the same ruse again? He's repeated it numerous times, and yet he clings to it. Deception only works once; doesn't he understand that?]
However, scarcely had Cha Eun Xiao finished speaking when an explosive noise resounded.
Those who had ventured closest to him were left dumbfounded, utterly stunned.
Suddenly, a dark fog enveloped them without warning, expanding rapidly within the dense crowd.
Wait, not without warning. Cha Eun Xiao had given them ample warning with repeated phrases like, "Watch my poison bead."
The assassins inside the enshrouding darkness paid no heed to whether they'd been cautioned or not. Panic and dread etched across their faces as the sinister fog swirled around them.
Their hearts quivered.
Poison! That dreadful poison had returned.
This time, it spread further and wider than before, blanketing virtually everyone attempting to gather around Cha Eun Xiao.
At least a thousand men were ensnared by the fog, perhaps even nearing two thousand. Each of them gazed at the ominous mist with foreboding. Escaping was no longer a consideration; they knew it was impossible.
The fog's explosion had swallowed them up instantaneously.
And these were no ordinary people; they were cultivators, more perceptive and aware than the average person. In an instant, they all felt the telltale itch that heralded their impending despair.
They were poisoned.
Seeing the crowd massing around him, Cha Eun Xiao chose to act ruthlessly. He flung not one but two poison beads into the midst of the assassins.