In the deep of night, at the Windward Harbor,
Huyan Qingbai, freshly bathed and dressed, sat in his study, reviewing today's trade lists to ensure that every detail was flawless.
It was not until fatigue weighed heavily on his eyelids that he completed the final review, yawning as he held a lantern and stepped out of the study, intending to retire to his bedroom in the rear courtyard for the night.
"The nobility of the Storm Kingdom is truly extravagant; they insist on constructing a grand garden between the study and the bedroom. It's so eerie at night; I must find someone to raze it and build a few more rooms…"
Huyan Qingbai muttered to himself as he passed through an archway into the garden.
Just as he walked beneath a stone pavilion, a faint sound of slicing air suddenly rang out from above!
Swish!
A slender sword, its surface refined to a matte finish, thrust forward, making for an exceedingly stealthy attack in the night!
"It's a success…"
The assailant aimed for the unsuspecting target's head, confident that this unaware portly man would have no chance to evade.
Slick!
However, without warning, Huyan Qingbai swiftly sidestepped, the fine blade merely grazing the shoulder of his nightgown!
At the same moment, he surprisingly drew a beautifully designed curved dagger from his lower back, swinging it toward the assailant's head!
Caught off guard, the attacker hastily raised his sword to block, but with a resounding "bang," the force sent him tumbling down from the top of the pavilion!
"How did you discover me?!"
The assailant appeared bewildered, completely unaware of when he had been exposed.
"Child, do not mistake my girth for ineptitude. I may be a businessman, but I was once hailed as the 'Hawkeye' of the Huyan clan; discerning your traces of infiltration is hardly a challenge."
Huyan Qingbai's piercing gaze scrutinized the assailant, noticing the glint of a golden insignia peeking from his neck, his brow arching slightly:
"So, you are one of those so-called golden-tier mercenaries? Who sent you to assassinate me?"
"Do not underestimate me!"
The assailant scoffed, positioning his slender sword before him: "Even without stealth, I am confident I can defeat you in a fair one-on-one duel!"
"One-on-one? Very well."
Huyan Qingbai placed the lantern upon the railing of the pavilion and casually clapped his hands.
The clattering of metal echoed from afar, and within moments, dozens of armored warriors surged into the garden!
Huyan Qingbai regarded the stunned assailant, speaking in a relaxed tone: "It's us against you; let's go!"
...
That night, five similar attacks transpired simultaneously throughout Windward Harbor, targeting mid to high-ranking figures associated with the Divine Kingdom!
Regrettably, four of these attempts ended in failure.
Zuo Qiu Yue and Nalan Huazi, as well as their formidable titanium-steel weapons like the female sword and the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, made them nearly insurmountable to any lesser golden-tier mercenary, who was promptly overwhelmed.
Huyan Qingbai and another assistant responsible for expanding the trade caravan had only undergone three rounds of body refinement; logically, they should have been on par with the golden-tier mercenaries.
But alas, their ability to rally support meant they had successfully captured the assailant without incident.
After a rigorous interrogation, they discovered that these four belonged to a mercenary group known as [Songstress].
When it came to the identity of their employer, however, they remained tight-lipped, demonstrating commendable professionalism.
"[Songstress]…"
Zuo Qiu Yue emerged from the interrogation room, receiving a dossier containing the latest intelligence from his subordinates.
"This is a five-member mercenary team that is classified as platinum-tier due to the strength of its captain… Why hasn't the strongest member shown up?"
Nalan Huazi, stroking his grizzled beard while holding the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, inquired, "Could it be they are attempting to assassinate the Divine Servant?"
"No, no…"
Meanwhile, Huyan Qingbai, wiping sweat from his brow, remarked nonchalantly: "On the very day we arrived at Windward Harbor, the Divine Servant publicly demonstrated his prowess by defeating the infamous local Red Robe Sorcerer, Douglas. Even if that Songstress captain had the audacity, they would likely avoid such a high-risk endeavor!"
After deliberating for a while without any fruitful conclusions, the trio decided to bolster patrols and enhance the protection levels for mid- and high-ranking personnel.
They even summoned the griffon, which had been resting in its nest, to patrol the skies for suspicious activity.
After all, the captain of [Songstress] was platinum-tier and possessed capabilities comparable to seasoned experts like Nalan Huazi, posing an undeniable risk if left to roam freely!
In truth, the target for the Songstress tonight was not a mid-ranking official of the Divine Kingdom as it appeared, but rather an unassuming steward...
At that moment, Justin, having completed his nighttime training, returned home and proceeded to leisurely cleanse himself.
Ever since the departure of the elf Lilia and the witch Meg, his primary task had been to monitor the movements of player Liang Xiaohai.
With the assistance of skilled scoundrels like Peiqi, Justin had assigned the doorman Maris to follow along and practice, rendering himself the most leisurely of the bunch.
He enjoyed ample time for specialized training, gradually mastering this bat-infused body and unlocking its hidden potential…
"The annihilation of the beastman garrison at Lushuan Town and the disappearance of the Thunder High Priest must be the handiwork of my teacher…
What astonishing power! Even such legendary figures can be vanquished by him!"
After finishing his bath, Justin, clad only in a towel, stepped onto the balcony, recalling the moment Wang Hui soared into the sky in a blaze of light.
Though he too possessed wings, the heights his teacher had reached remained so distant and unattainable…
"Hmm?"
Justin suddenly sensed a shift in the air, his ears attuned to an unusual sound.
Moments later, twelve pitch-black daggers surged up from below the balcony, striking toward Justin from multiple angles with lethal precision!
Swish, swish, swish!
He retreated swiftly, the daggers slicing through the towel at his waist, nearly turning him from a steward into a eunuch!
Yet, just as he created distance, the daggers pursued him as if alive; Justin's fingers elongated into sharp claws, and he retaliated with a rapid flurry of swipes!
Amidst the piercing sounds, his claws and the daggers collided at high speed, sending sparks flying!
"Someone is controlling these daggers; the distance is…"
Justin's expression hardened as he focused intently on discerning their positions. Moments later, his face stiffened: "Found you!"
With a powerful cross of his arms, his ten claws struck the daggers, sending them ricocheting away. Seizing the opportunity, he swiftly leaped from the balcony, unfurling his bat wings and diving toward a nearby residence!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
The twelve flying daggers closely followed him, accompanied by a chilling whistling sound as they aimed for his back!
"Ha!"
Just before he landed, Justin let out a low growl.
Despite the sound not being particularly loud, it generated rippling waves, imbued with potent high-frequency vibrations!
The flying daggers were knocked off course, while a nearby house splintered, revealing a figure seated within.
She possessed a graceful form, her face veiled, with only a pair of captivating eyes visible, drawing one's heart and mind…
"As an ordinary steward, do I truly warrant the attention of a platinum-tier mercenary for assassination?"
The distinctive attire and combat style allowed Justin to swiftly ascertain her identity.
"You are the Songstress!"