From Beast Abilities to Sect Grand Master

"Argh!" A cry of pain erupted from Hong Liu and Hong Cheng.

Everyone turned and looked in their direction.

The shadow had sneaked up from behind and turned into a dark human figure.

The figure's hands came out from behind and ripped through Hong Liu and Hong Cheng's chests.

Grasped tightly within the fingers were Hong Liu and Hong Cheng's hearts, still beating.

But their owners were now dead as they twitched and gave out a spasm before their last breaths.

Soon after, the hands dropped the hearts and pulled out of Hong Liu and Hong Cheng's bodies.

"Think you can stop me? The Assassin Tower has never failed."

The dark figure spoke in a high-pitched voice, and before the others could do anything, the dark figure dissolved like ice melting under the bright sun.

Turning back into the shadows and disappearing.

Chaos reigned inside the Hong Family Mansion.

The servants and house guards couldn't stop the assassins' slaughter.

Lin Fan quickly walked over to the bodies of Hong Liu and Hong Cheng.

Using Ho Ming's sword, he cut the heads off and stowed them inside his toad statue.

"Come, let's get out of here as soon as possible." Lin Fan said, and the others nodded.

They leaped out of the Hong Family Mansion and got onto their horses.

Screams and cries could be heard as they galloped away from the Hong Family Mansion.

…

They travelled non-stop and got back to the Qing Feng Sect as soon as possible.

Zhao Ming Ye already had his Memory Recall formation array ready in the Million Sword Hall, waiting for them.

He placed Hong Liu's head inside the formation array, and what they saw didn't surprise anyone.

In the projection, they saw from Hong Liu's perspective that he was with Hong Cheng, speaking with a man who was sipping his tea.

The man, holding the teacup with his pinkie curled up, smirked and said, "This is not negotiable, you understand. Forge a hundred pieces of these twirling wind strike artifacts, and there shall be no questions asked. You do know who I'm working for, don't you."

He put down the teacup and pointed at a bracelet that was on the table.

It looked exactly like the ones the fake Qing Feng Sect disciples wore.

"Yes, Chief Eunuch. We shall get it done before the deadline." Hong Liu bowed and said.

"Good. Remember, no one shall know what transpired today." The chief eunuch stood up and left with his entourage dressed in black like the assassins.

Zhao Ming Ye stopped the projection and proceeded to place Hong Cheng's head inside the formation array.

It showed the same scene as what Hong Liu had seen, corroborating the projection with each other.

"Good. Now we have what we need to refute the Emperor." Lin Fan said.

Zhao Qing Ying sighed as he knew it wasn't going to be easy this time.

He knew it was going to be a showdown with the Emperor this time.

"Be prepared and get ready to be summoned to the capital at any moment."

And he was right.

A disciple hurriedly came into the Million Sword Hall with a soldier dressed in full armor.

"Senior martial uncle, a message from the Emperor." The disciple said, and the soldier stood forward.

The soldier took out a scroll and read from it.

"On orders of the Emperor of the Quan Dynasty, the Qing Feng Sect's sect master is to attend and join in the inauguration of the new General at Bian Jing. Your presence shall bring forth joyous moments and lasting peace for the kingdom."

Zhao Qing Ying twitched his nose at what he heard.

The other peak lords were just as pissed off by the hypocrisy.

Lin Fan gave out a silent sigh as he had learned from history how things would play out.

If the Emperor was to succeed, there would be turmoil as the sects go against the Emperor.

Bringing untold turmoil to the citizens of the Quan Dynasty.

The invaders would then take the opportunity to make a comeback and take over.

Which will cause more pain and suffering to the citizens.

Luckily, he had got everything prepared to stop such a thing from happening.

But what will be the eventual result after they go to the capital, he wasn't so sure.

The soldier after reading from the scroll, put it down and he was surprised none of the Qing Feng Sect members were kneeling down when he had read from it.

"How dare you show disrespect to the Emperor!" He shouted and pointed at Zhao Qing Ying.

But before Zhao Qing Ying even bothered, the swords that were hanging overhead rattled.

An aura came down upon the soldier and it forced him to his knees.

"Argh…." He tried to get up but couldn't.

It felt like he had a thousand swords poking at his back.

A wrong move and the swords will plunge through his body.

"Scram! Tell the Emperor we shall be there." Zhao Qing Ying waved his hand and shouted.

The pressure that was on the soldier's back dissipated and he quickly scrambled on his four limbs to scurry out of the Million Sword Hall.

After he was gone, Zhao Qing Ying looked at everyone in the Million Sword Hall and said, "Get ready to go to the Bian Jing, arrange for backup plans if we don't come back. The peak lords stay behind for further discussions."

"Yes, senior martial uncle."

Everyone bowed and made their move.

This was a crucial time for the Qing Feng Sect, and they'd better not screw it up.

…

Wooden hut.

When Lin Fan got back to the hut, Ho Jie already had a sumptuous dinner waiting for him.

"Thanks. I'm already starving."

Tucking in, he savored the peace and tranquility of the life in the wooden hut.

His time in it had been getting less and less.

Ho Jie chuckled and said, "Have more, there's more than enough."

"Don't worry, I'm not one to be shy." Lin Fan put a piece of meat into his mouth and munched on it.

The tenderness of the meat was cooked to perfection, and it melted into his mouth before he could chew onto it.

If only life could be always this good. Lin Fan thought.

The thought passed his mind for a fleeting moment as he knew that there was still work to be done.

After swallowing the piece of meat, he stopped, looked at Ho Jie and said, "I have a favor to ask from you."