Before beginning today's Assassin trial, Du Gang didn't rush to check his three skill options. Instead, he went over the script he'd prepared. When he first entered this trial, he encountered the same challenges as Zhao Haiping. Emperor Yanling had thoroughly thwarted him!
Being too nervous upon entering the hall? Fail—Emperor Yanling would grow suspicious.
Acting too confident? Fail again—Emperor Yanling would still become wary.
Any hint of suspicion from the Emperor meant mission failure, as he wouldn't allow anyone he didn't trust to approach him with a gift. If Du Gang couldn't get close, the assassination was impossible. Not even a figure like Nie Rang could simply walk up and slay the Emperor amidst the officials and guards.
In history, Nie Rang successfully deceived the Emperor by claiming a "small flaw in the jade," granting him the opportunity to approach. Naturally, Du Gang tried the same approach as Zhao Haiping, but it wasn't as effective as expected. Emperor Yanling was too cautious; any suspicion he had of the player would only increase if the player mentioned the jade's flaw, which presented the biggest challenge in this trial.
Without a clear solution, Du Gang sought help from outside experts. Through his organization's network, he consulted top historians who, after much study, proposed the most theoretically successful approach.
Du Gang had prepared himself in three aspects to tackle the game's difficulty. First was his mindset; he had to remain calm, neither timid nor too assertive, to avoid arousing the Emperor's suspicion. Second was his performance, including specific lines. Third, and only then, was combat skill.
He needed to maintain his composure, deliver his lines smoothly to subtly bring up the jade flaw, and only when he finally got close would his swordsmanship come into play. Du Gang had even sought instruction from professionals for this, though he had never gotten close enough to test his skill on the Emperor.
He wasn't expecting to pass on his first attempt. His plan was to identify his weak points through trial and error, then use skill enhancements to compensate.
After rehearsing his lines once more, he looked at the three available skills before him:
- **Gui: Calm and Composed (White)** - Keeps you calm and allows you to face danger with a steadier demeanor.
- **Gui: Swordsmanship Mastery (Blue)** - Enhances your sword skills accordingly.
- **Ren: Fade into the Crowd (White)** - Allows you to blend in naturally with your surroundings, making you less noticeable.
These skills were similar to those Zhao Haiping had seen before. Du Gang had died many times and refreshed the skills multiple times, realizing the skill set in beginner trials was relatively limited, likely to help guide players in adapting to the game's mechanics.
Du Gang scanned the three options. Last time, he'd chosen **Fade into the Crowd**, thinking it would be perfect for an assassin. However, once he was before the Emperor, he found it misleading. While it did lower his presence, making the Emperor less suspicious, he ultimately failed when he brought up the jade flaw because his sudden assertiveness aroused the Emperor's doubts.
He realized that **Fade into the Crowd** might be useful for assassinations in public spaces, but not for the intricacies of this particular trial. So, after some thought, he swiped over **Calm and Composed** to replace it. This skill would help ease his nerves and prevent the oppressive atmosphere of the hall from affecting him too much, but it didn't enhance his performance or combat ability.
Du Gang's mental resilience was already strong, so he didn't particularly need this skill. Just as he flipped the card, he heard a crisp "clink" sound, and a golden flash nearly blinded him. A golden card appeared before him:
- **Ren: Luck on Your Side (Gold)** - Improves your luck.
The special effects were top-notch, lacking only a "Golden Legend!" sound effect. Du Gang's eyes lit up. "Oh! Is this what players call a moment of 'Royal Luck'?"
Though he wasn't a heavy gamer, Du Gang was familiar with some gaming concepts and knew what a Ren-level gold skill meant. This was probably the best he could get in the beginner trials! However, after reading the skill's description closely, he was a bit disappointed—it wasn't a combat skill.
If it had been an enhanced version of **Swordsmanship Mastery**, his combat difficulty would have dropped significantly. But this luck-based skill didn't clearly explain how it would improve his odds in the assassination.
Despite his hesitation, he couldn't ignore the rarity of a Ren-level gold skill. While gold denoted rarity rather than effectiveness, the game wouldn't assign it this rank without reason. Finally, he decided to try it out and tapped on the card.
The card dissolved into light and merged with his body, but he felt no immediate effect. In the past, with **Imposing Presence**, he'd felt an assertive aura; with **Swordsmanship Mastery**, a muscle memory of combat moves filled him. But with **Luck on Your Side**, he felt… nothing.
"Did I just get duped by this game?" he wondered skeptically. But as the scene transitioned and the young eunuch began his approach, Du Gang fell in line, following him to the hall.
The pressure from the guards lining the staircase and the atmosphere of the grand hall were as intense as ever, but Du Gang, with his natural resilience and countless prior attempts, paid them no mind.
"Kneeling before Your Majesty!" He knelt in the hall, holding the wooden box high with both hands. Calm and respectful, his voice was steady yet humble—balancing respect with confidence. This level of control had taken many trials to perfect.
The hall was silent, as expected. He mentally counted to five and heard Emperor Yanling's command: "Rise."
Du Gang respectfully rose. This time, the Emperor didn't find fault with him, asking eagerly, "Where is the auspicious artifact you spoke of? Present it at once!"
Du Gang, following his rehearsed lines, bowed his head as he opened the box. "Your Majesty, the auspicious black jade qilin is here."
The moment the box opened, the Emperor's eyes widened. Within the box lay a large, snarling black jade qilin. Under the sunlight, it seemed to radiate a dark aura, an object of unmistakable rarity.
The Emperor's face lit up with joy. "An auspicious omen indeed!"
Du Gang smiled inwardly. Everything was proceeding as planned. Ancient people, especially emperors, believed deeply in omens and divine blessings. Modern people might think the qilin was merely crafted by human hands, but for Emperor Yanling, this was a divine sign of his mandate.
His carefully crafted plan, which involved advice from scholars and historical experts, was proving effective. They had theorized that the jade qilin, displayed immediately, would serve as a "misdirection" akin to a magician's trick, focusing the Emperor's attention on the qilin itself.
The Emperor's intense interest confirmed Du Gang's theories. Known for his paranoia and brutality, the Emperor's gaze remained fixed on the qilin, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Quick, bring the auspicious omen to me at once! As for you, await your reward," he ordered, signaling a eunuch to retrieve the jade qilin.
Du Gang knew that allowing the eunuch to take the jade would mean failing the assassination attempt. The Emperor's paranoia meant he needed a reason to approach, and he'd have to use the jade flaw cleverly, not directly.
Before the eunuch could take the jade, Du Gang dropped to his knees with a thud, his voice quivering just the right amount, expressing fear and humility. "Your Majesty, I am unworthy. Please forgive my offense!"
The Emperor paused, intrigued. Offering such an auspicious gift was a merit, not an offense. Even this notoriously suspicious ruler seemed momentarily puzzled. "Why do you claim guilt?"
Du Gang, holding the jade qilin aloft, bowed his head. "There is a small flaw on this auspicious piece. I dared not reveal it earlier, thus committing the crime of deceiving the Emperor."