Bloodhand Flying Sickle stayed at his friend's place for another night before taking his leave. After departing, he flew in one direction for nearly a thousand li before slowly coming to a stop. He scanned the area with his Divine Sense, and only after confirming that no one was following did a smile appear on his face.
Yesterday, when he saw the secret assassination bounty, his expression had almost changed. The bounty described the target's appearance, age, and so on. It even gave a speculative range of where he might appear. However, this range was too vast, spanning a hundred thousand li. Even for a Golden Core cultivator, it was like facing a boundless ocean. He estimated that only a Nascent Soul cultivator could cover ten thousand li with their Divine Sense and search area by area. Otherwise, five of the nine days since the bounty was issued had already passed, and the bounty still showed the target as existing. The chances were incredibly slim.
As for the age, appearance, and the like, Bloodhand Flying Sickle knew these could only be used as a reference. These were things that cultivators could change. Moreover, he encountered dozens, if not hundreds, of cultivators with altered appearances every day.
However, the last few sentences of the secret assassination jade slip had sent massive waves through Bloodhand Flying Sickle's heart. The target was very likely to be a pair, an old man and a young boy. The boy's cultivation would not exceed the tenth layer of Qi Condensation, while the old man should be at the Great Circle of Foundation Establishment or a Pseudo-Core cultivator. This instantly reminded him of the purple-robed youth he had met at the Xuanqing Temple. The youth's age was not concealed, but his appearance should have been altered.
But Bloodhand Flying Sickle was, after all, a seasoned veteran of the martial world. With his cultivation, he had seen yesterday that the purple-robed youth's appearance was not his original one. However, it was common for cultivators to not show their true faces, especially a Qi Condensation cultivator, so he hadn't paid it any mind. But thinking about it now, it matched the description in the secret assassination jade slip in some ways, which made him both surprised and delighted.
However, most cultivators were selfish. Even in front of his own old friend, Bloodhand Flying Sickle had the thought of taking the reward for himself. If he killed the purple-robed youth, he would get half of the mission's reward. If he had to split that half with his old friend, how could he be willing? So he had calmly concealed it, even staying there for another night before leaving unhurriedly, all to dispel his friend's suspicion.
After confirming that there was no one around, Bloodhand Flying Sickle quickly flew to the nearest teleportation formation and returned to the Xuanqing Temple. By the time he arrived, Li Yan and the others had already left. When he asked the gray-haired old man by the teleportation formation, the old man just shook his head repeatedly. The destination of guests was generally not disclosed to others, except for those heading in the same direction. Bloodhand Flying Sickle couldn't be bothered to argue with the old man and hurriedly found Daoist Gong. He said that he had just remembered that the purple-robed youth should be the descendant of an old acquaintance. The acquaintance had already passed away, and on his deathbed, had asked him to look after the youth a little. Only today did he remember that the youth's appearance was quite similar to his old acquaintance's, so he wanted to know where they had gone.
Hearing this, Daoist Gong sneered inwardly. He, too, had seen that the purple-robed youth's appearance was altered. But he didn't believe Bloodhand Flying Sickle's sudden claim of meeting a descendant of an old acquaintance. With Bloodhand Flying Sickle's late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, he should have had his suspicions yesterday. Why would he only remember today? Besides, the purple-robed youth had an expert by his side. What need was there for Bloodhand Flying Sickle's care? But with so many matters to attend to in the Xuanqing Temple, how could Daoist Gong have the mind to get entangled with him? After a moment's hesitation, he told him the purple-robed youth's destination.
After learning this, Bloodhand Flying Sickle hurriedly teleported to Linshui City. After some searching, he had actually managed to track them down to this place.
When the hunchbacked old man heard Bloodhand Flying Sickle's words, his heart sank. He knew the situation was bad. With his cultivation at the Great Circle of Foundation Establishment, even with Bloodhand Flying Sickle at the late stage and the two He brothers, he was not afraid. Dealing with them was only a matter of time. However, if he was not careful for even a moment, the youth behind him could be ambushed.
The hunchbacked old man took a deep breath, stared at Bloodhand Flying Sickle, and said slowly, "Fellow Daoist Lin, do you think this is feasible? Things have come to this, so I will no longer hide it. My young master is a member of the Huchen family. Do you dare to make a move against someone from the Huchen family? Hmph!"
"Even if you get lucky, do you think you can leave? I will risk my life to keep the three of you here as my funeral companions."
"At the same time, I am well aware of who put out the bounty to hunt down my young master. Even if my young master falls, you may not be able to get the Netherworld Order. This item still needs to be contested among several lineages of the family. Her lineage may not necessarily win so easily. At that time, if you can't produce the Netherworld Order, you will still be hunted down by the Huchen family. You should think this through carefully."
"The reason they want to hunt down my young master is that he poses a great threat to them. If he returns to the clan, he will have the ability to win the position of successor in this contest. If Fellow Daoist Zhuo can lend a helping hand, we may not be unable to offer these things in return."
Hearing the hunchbacked old man's words, Bloodhand Flying Sickle was stunned. The secret bounty's jade slip had indeed not specified that the target was a member of the Huchen family. Thinking about the Huchen family's chilling and bizarre methods of poisoning, Bloodhand Flying Sickle couldn't help but feel a shiver of fear. A trace of hesitation appeared on his face. If the target wasn't from the Huchen family, then so what if the hunchbacked old man was at the Great Circle of Foundation Establishment? He was confident that once he succeeded, he could use the "Bloodshadow Evasion" secret art at the cost of his essence blood and lifespan, and the other party would not be able to catch up.
But just as he hesitated, the two He brothers exchanged a look. The short-bearded black-robed man, He Manzi, had a glint in his eyes. He thought to himself, 'Even this Bloodhand Flying Sickle has rushed over. If we drag this on, it will only become more and more troublesome.'
He Manzi suddenly cupped his hands to Bloodhand Flying Sickle. "Fellow Daoist Lin, can't you hear the meaning in their words? The one who put out the bounty is also a member of the Huchen family, and it should be a powerful lineage within the family. As far as I know, this boy is merely an illegitimate son with no backing whatsoever. Since the lineage that put out the bounty dares to do this, they can surely settle the matter within the family afterwards. So there is no need to worry about his threat. As for offering an equal reward, that would have to wait until he qualifies as a successor, which is an unknown. It's quicker to just kill him directly."
"Moreover, you heard my conversation with them just now. I believe you now know the identity of my brother and me. I previously offered Fellow Daoist Zhuo half of the reward, which naturally means that my brother and I are members of 'Thorn-Shadow.' The other half of the reward belongs to us."
"As for the matter of the Netherworld Order, we will handle it. Once this boy is dead, we don't care how the person who issued the bounty produces it. Otherwise, even if she is from the Huchen family, she wouldn't dare to default on 'Thorn-Shadow.'"
"In that case, why don't we team up? If we succeed, you can take the Dustless Pill and the other half of the reward. How about it?"
"As for how to escape from this old man's grasp afterwards, we'll each rely on our own abilities."
He Manzi's cold voice was filled with determination. Bloodhand Flying Sickle's eyes grew brighter and brighter. He had come for the Dustless Pill in the first place. He tapped his folding fan in his hand and said, enunciating each word:
"Then it's settled. I will hold off Fellow Daoist Zhuo. You two will quickly kill the boy, and then we'll each be subject to fate."
Hearing Bloodhand Flying Sickle's words, He Manzi's eyes flashed with a cold light, narrowing into a slit. Bloodhand Flying Sickle seemed to be giving them the easy task of killing the purple-robed youth while he took on the formidable hunchbacked old man, making it seem like the brothers were getting the better end of the deal. But that was not the case.
Once they killed the purple-robed youth, Demondog Moonshadow would likely attack them like a madman. At that time, Bloodhand Flying Sickle would surely take the opportunity to escape. And if the Huchen family really did investigate this matter in the future, it would be the two of them who would be hunted down. Bloodhand Flying Sickle's methods were nothing short of extremely cunning.
Seeing the He brothers looking at him with unfriendly eyes, Bloodhand Flying Sickle's lips curled into a slight smile. He even shifted his feet slightly towards the two brothers before stopping again.
How could the He brothers not understand his action? If they didn't agree, Bloodhand Flying Sickle was going to turn and help the purple-robed youth against them, ruining their plan.
He Manzi gritted his teeth. He had come here to kill the purple-robed youth in the first place. Now that he had the chance, why was he hesitating? He believed that with "Thorn-Shadow's" abilities, they had long since investigated and confirmed that this illegitimate son posed no threat. After the kill, the organization would take care of everything.
"Alright, then we'll do as Fellow Daoist Lin says," He Manzi said without further hesitation to Bloodhand Flying Sickle.
The hunchbacked old man had been staring at them. He knew that his threats and offers of benefits might have been of some use if the He brothers hadn't already known the details of his party from "Thorn-Shadow." But it was clear that the person in the family who wanted the young master dead had already informed "Thorn-Shadow" of the situation. He had no secrets left, nor did he have any benefits that could sway the other party.
He didn't turn his head. While the three of them were still negotiating, he sent a voice transmission to the purple-robed youth. "Young Master, when I hold off the three of them, you flee as far as you can. If things go well, I will come find you. Wait for me at Spirit Moon Mountain, a thousand li from the family estate. If I haven't arrived in three days, you must not go to the family either. I imagine you will be killed by the other party before you even enter the family's territory."
The purple-robed youth's whole body trembled upon hearing this. His face changed, and he quickly sent back a transmission. "Uncle Sang, are you confident?"
Hearing this, the hunchbacked old man fell silent for a moment before transmitting again. "I can hold them off for half an incense stick's time at most. The rest is up to you." At this, the hunchbacked old man also sighed inwardly. If he wanted to kill the three of them, it would take at least half an hour, and that was only if the three of them didn't flee. But if they wanted to escape from him, splitting up in different directions, only a cultivator at the Golden Core realm or above would have the ability to keep them all and kill them. He could only chase in one direction. How could he split himself to take care of the young master? Now, he could only use a powerful secret art that consumed his lifespan at all costs, which could trap them for about half an incense stick's time. This was his limit. And after half an incense stick's time, he himself would be spent, left to be slaughtered.
These words entered the purple-robed youth's mind. How could he not understand? His face instantly turned ashen. He gripped the white jade vase in his hands even tighter. With his Qi Condensation cultivation, how far could he get in half an incense stick's time? Looking at that old, stooped back, he choked back a sob and transmitted, "Uncle Sang, if we do this, I'm afraid we'll both die. You should leave, old sir. Find a place to cultivate in peace. You've delayed your cultivation for too long for my sake all these years. Otherwise, you should have been at the Pseudo-Core Realm, or even have formed a Golden Core. After you achieve the Great Ascension of the Golden Core, if you have the chance, you can avenge me then."
Hearing this, the hunchbacked old man let out a heavy "Hmph!" in his voice transmission to the purple-robed youth.
"Who do you take me for? Your mother entrusted you to me, and you think I would flee alone when faced with trouble? Boy, if you say that again, don't blame me for disowning you as my nephew. The moment I make a move, you leave immediately. Don't break this old man's heart..."
Before their voice transmission was finished, Bloodhand Flying Sickle and the He brothers had already settled their terms. With a "swoosh," Bloodhand Flying Sickle opened his folding fan, and the space was instantly filled with a thick, bloody stench. He took a step and charged towards the old man. The He brothers also split to the left and right, seeming to intend to circle around and block the old man from behind.
Seeing this, the hunchbacked old man's beard and hair stood on end. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes. He let out a mighty roar, "You scoundrels, I'll let you witness the might of 'Demondog Moonshadow!'"