The bloodshed and deathly silence of the forest clearing were long gone. Jiang Li concealed himself in the shadows of the dense forest, his steps light yet incredibly fast. There was still no fluctuation of soul power around him. Like a lone shadow in the dark night, he sped toward Xingluo City.
He gently wrapped his left arm around Huo Yuhao's lifeless body, securing it firmly to his side. The black dagger was already sheathed at his waist, its blade still gleaming, untouched by a single drop of blood. Throughout his journey, he maintained perfect stealth, avoiding all living things in the forest. Even the wind remained undisturbed by his movements, as if he had become one with the surrounding mountains and forests.
He had killed Huo Yuhao in the open space in the blink of an eye. He had been lurking in the void, taking in the fatigue and relaxation of the Shrek Academy group. The moment when they were relaxed after being ambushed by evil soul masters and recovering from serious injuries was the best opportunity to strike.
From beginning to end, his only target was Huo Yuhao.
The bounty clearly stated that taking Huo Yuhao's head or bringing back his complete body would earn 50 million gold soul coins. The person who issued the commission was Dai Huabin from Xingluo City.
Jiang Li had no grudges against Shrek Academy or Huo Yuhao; he accepted the job solely for the reward. This was his usual practice: he didn't ask for reasons or right or wrong, and once he accepted a commission, he would complete it cleanly and efficiently, leaving no loose ends.
After two hours of rapid travel, the sky gradually began to set in the west. The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the mountains and forests in a warm yellow hue, yet it did nothing to penetrate the chill in Jiang Li's eyes. He remained indifferent throughout, saying nothing, focusing solely on the journey, paying no extra attention to the corpse beside him, as if he were carrying only an ordinary object.
The outline of Xingluo City gradually appeared in the distance. As one of the core cities of the Xingluo Empire, this city had high and sturdy walls, and the city gates were heavily guarded. Pedestrians and caravans came and went in an endless stream, making it a lively and bustling place.
Jiang Li stopped at the edge of the dense forest outside the city. With a wave of his hand, a faint black mist enveloped Huo Yuhao's corpse, instantly concealing the stench of blood around it without leaving a trace. After doing this, he stepped out of the forest and blended into the crowd outside the city. His posture was upright, his face cold and stern, and his aura was restrained, making him indistinguishable from ordinary passersby. He did not attract the attention of any guards and calmly stepped into Xingluo City.
The city streets were wide, lined with shops on both sides, and filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and laughter. Carriages and horses passed by, creating a bustling scene. Jiang Li ignored the surrounding noise and walked straight into the depths of the city, his destination clear—the Dai family's private residence in Xingluo City.
The Dai family is an old noble family in the Star Luo Empire, with great power and influence. As a direct descendant of the Dai family, Dai Huabin owns an independent mansion in Star Luo City. The mansion is secluded and heavily guarded, making it extremely suitable for private transactions.
Jiang Li already knew the route by heart. He traveled through the city, avoiding the bustling streets and turning into several quiet alleys. Before long, he arrived at a mansion with a vermilion gate and high walls.
Two guards dressed in black stood at the entrance, their postures upright and their soul power restrained. Both were powerful soul masters with sharp eyes, scanning the passersby. When they saw Jiang Li, dressed in black and exuding a cold aura, the two guards instantly tensed up and stepped forward to block him.
"This is a forbidden area of the Dai family. All unauthorized persons, leave immediately!" one of the guards shouted in a deep voice, his eyes fixed on Jiang Li warily. This man had no soul power fluctuations around him, yet he gave off an extremely strong sense of oppression, making them wary.
Jiang Li stopped, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the two men without a trace of emotion. He spoke calmly, his voice low and cold: "Find Dai Huabin and fulfill the commission."
Upon hearing this, the two guards' expressions changed slightly.
They, as trusted guards, had heard about Dai Huabin's recent private announcement of a secret commission. They knew that the young master had been waiting for someone, but they never expected the person to be so young and have such a strange demeanor.
"Wait a moment, I'll go in and report right away." The other guard didn't dare to delay and immediately turned around and strode into the mansion, leaving one guard still watching Jiang Li vigilantly, not daring to relax for a moment.
A moment later, the guard returned quickly, his expression becoming more respectful, and gestured for him to enter: "Please come in, sir. The young master is waiting in the main hall."
Jiang Li nodded slightly and stepped into the Dai residence. He passed through the front courtyard, which was exquisitely decorated but was secretly guarded everywhere. Several soul power fluctuations quietly locked onto him from the shadows, but they were all intimidated by the faint pressure emanating from him and dared not make any rash moves.
Jiang Li walked straight in until he arrived at the main hall.
The main hall was lavishly furnished, with tables and chairs made of precious wood and calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, exuding aristocratic grandeur. Dai Huabin sat upright in the main seat, dressed in a magnificent brocade robe. His handsome face carried an innate arrogance and sinister air. His fingertips tapped lightly on the table, his expression revealing a hint of urgency and impatience.
He had waited far too long for this day.
Ever since being repeatedly suppressed and humiliated by Huo Yuhao at Shrek Academy, the hatred in his heart has never dissipated. In particular, Huo Yuhao's extraordinary talent and potential far surpass his own have fueled his jealousy and apprehension. He was unwilling to be subservient to others, and even more unwilling to be constantly suppressed by Huo Yuhao. That's why he spared no expense, using secret underground channels to release a commission to kill Huo Yuhao, offering fifty million gold soul coins, just to have Huo Yuhao dead.
Upon seeing Jiang Li enter the main hall, Dai Huabin immediately stopped what he was doing, looked up and sized Jiang Li up and down, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
He had assumed that the person who would accept such a commission and be capable of killing Huo Yuhao must be a well-established veteran expert. However, he did not expect that the person would be so young, looking to be only about twenty years old. There were no spirit rings around him, and he could not even sense any fluctuations in his spirit power. He was too ordinary.
Some doubts inevitably arose in his heart, and he asked in a deep voice, "You're the one who accepted the commission?"
Jiang Li did not respond to his question. He walked straight into the hall, raised his hand and waved it. The black mist that had been covering Huo Yuhao's body dissipated, and Huo Yuhao's body was gently placed on the ground.
The penetrating wound on his forehead was clearly visible, the blood had long since congealed, his face was ashen white, his eyes were tightly closed, and there was no trace of life or soul left; he was utterly devoid of vitality.
Dai Huabin suddenly stood up, strode forward, looked down at Huo Yuhao on the ground, his eyes instantly flashing with intense hatred and pleasure, a ferocious smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
It really is Huo Yuhao!
The person who humiliated him and held a grudge against him is really dead!
He carefully examined Huo Yuhao's injuries. The fatal knife wound on his forehead was a swift and decisive death. After confirming that the other party had no signs of life, the last trace of doubt in his heart completely disappeared, replaced by an uncontrollable excitement.
"Good! Good! Good!" Dai Huabin said three times, then looked up at Jiang Li. The arrogance in his eyes faded a bit, replaced by a hint of apprehension. "I didn't expect you to have such strength at such a young age. You were able to kill Huo Yuhao right under the noses of the Shrek Academy members and escape unscathed. I admire you."
Jiang Li remained indifferent, unmoved by his praise, and simply uttered two words: "Bounty."
He never cared about unnecessary small talk, only about the reward for the commission: fifty million gold soul coins, not a penny less.
Upon hearing this, Dai Huabin didn't hesitate. He was in a great mood and knew that the person who could complete such a task was no ordinary person and dared not offend him. He immediately raised his hand and ordered the people outside the hall: "Go and fetch the gold notes for fifty million gold soul coins!"
The guards outside the hall immediately responded and turned to prepare.
Dai Huabin looked at Jiang Li again, suppressing his excitement, and couldn't help but ask, "How exactly did you do it? Huo Yuhao was protected by the Shrek Academy reserve team, as well as strong people like Dai Yueheng and Ma Xiaotao, and even Elder Xuan was there to oversee things. How could you kill him so quietly?"
He was genuinely curious about how Jiang Li had managed to break through layers of defenses and deliver the fatal blow.
Jiang Li lowered her eyes, her gaze not falling on him, and said in a calm tone: "Regarding the commission, I only ask about the result, not the process."
The implication is that he has no obligation to answer these questions.
Dai Huabin was rebuffed, but he wasn't angry. After all, he had avenged his great enemy and was in a good mood. However, his gaze towards Jiang Li grew increasingly wary. This man's strength was unfathomable, and he acted coldly and ruthlessly, never dragging things out. He was absolutely not someone to be trifled with.
Before long, a guard carried an exquisite wooden box into the main hall and bowed to hand it to Dai Huabin.
Dai Huabin opened the wooden box, inside which were neatly arranged stacks of gold notes, all of them high-denomination notes commonly used on the mainland, with clear denominations, exactly fifty million gold soul coins. He closed the wooden box and personally handed it to Jiang Li: "Sir, fifty million gold soul coins, please count them here."
Jiang Li reached out and took the wooden box. His fingertips paused slightly to confirm that the gold notes were correct before he put them into his pocket with swift and decisive movements.
Having received the reward, he had achieved his goal and had no intention of lingering any longer. He turned to leave the main hall.
"Please wait, sir!" Dai Huabin called out to him as soon as he saw this.
Jiang Li stopped and turned to look at him, her eyes indifferent, with a hint of question, but she still didn't speak.
Dai Huabin stepped forward, his expression solemn, and said, "Your abilities are outstanding. In the future, I, Dai, may have other requests that I would like to ask of you. May I ask if you could leave your contact information? If there is any business in the future, I will be able to contact you in a timely manner."
Such a formidable assassin is efficient and decisive, never dragging things out. If we could befriend him or continue to cooperate with him in the future, he would definitely be a great asset.
Jiang Li looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "If we are destined to meet, we will meet again. There is no need for contact information."
After saying that, he didn't linger and strode out of the hall, his posture upright and his back cold, showing no sign of lingering.
Dai Huabin watched his departing figure, raising an eyebrow slightly, but did not stop him. This man acted mysteriously and was unrestrained, clearly not someone who could be easily won over. He decided not to force the issue, as long as he could find him in the future.
He looked down at Huo Yuhao's corpse on the ground, his eyes surging with hatred once more. Gritting his teeth, he coldly ordered the guards outside the hall, "Drag this body away and dispose of it somewhere carelessly, without leaving any trace!"
"Yes, young master!" The guards immediately stepped forward and dragged Huo Yuhao's body away.
Dai Huabin stood there, a satisfied smile on his lips, the pent-up frustration in his heart completely dissipated.
Huo Yuhao is dead. No one can overpower him anymore. Even if Shrek Academy finds out, they won't be able to trace it back to him. In the end, he has won this battle.
After leaving the Dai residence, Jiang Li once again blended into the crowd of Xingluo City, his expression remaining indifferent, as if he had just completed a trivial matter. The fifty million gold soul coins in his arms did not even cause a ripple in his eyes.
He left Xingluo City without pausing, stepping into the dense forest once more. With a flash, he disappeared into the night, his destination unknown.
He needs no belonging, no stopping. Once he receives the bounty, he will head to the next mission and continue to be a lone bounty hunter on this continent.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere at Shrek Academy's temporary base in Star Luo City was extremely oppressive.
The hall was deathly silent. Everyone was speechless, their expressions sorrowful, their eyes filled with grief and anger. The air was heavy, making it hard to breathe.
Wang Yan sat in the main seat, his brows furrowed and his face pale. He kept glancing at the entrance of the stronghold, anxiously awaiting a reply from the academy.
When the news of Huo Yuhao's death reached back, the academy was bound to be shaken. With Elder Xuan's whereabouts unknown and their group still recovering from serious injuries, they were powerless to deal with the subsequent crisis and could only hope that the academy would send powerful experts to provide support as soon as possible.
Wang Dong sat in the corner, her hands clenched tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms until they bled, yet she felt no pain. Her eyes were red, her tears long since dried, and the image of Jiang Li killing Huo Yuhao kept replaying in her mind—that dark blade, that indifferent, cold gaze—like a nightmare, it clung to her, impossible to shake off.
"I must find him and avenge Yuhao, even if it costs me everything," Wang Dong murmured, her voice hoarse but her tone incredibly firm, the hatred and grief in her heart almost consuming her.
Jiang Nannan sat beside her, gently patting her back, her eyes filled with heartache and helplessness. She was equally grieving, but she also knew that with their current strength, they were no match for Jiang Li and could only endure it.
Dai Yueheng and Ma Xiaotao sat on one side, both of them looking extremely grim.
Filled with self-blame and remorse, Dai Yueheng kept pounding his legs. If he hadn't insisted on continuing the surveillance mission, and if everyone hadn't let their guard down, Huo Yuhao wouldn't have died so tragically. He was to blame.
Ma Xiaotao exuded a chilling aura, her phoenix eyes blazing with fury, her hands clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. Shrek Academy students had been murdered right before her eyes, and the killer had calmly walked away—this was a blatant provocation against Shrek Academy, and this revenge had to be exacted.
Ning Tian sat to the side, remaining silent, his brows furrowed, his mind churning with thoughts.
She knew Jiang Li's strength very well; they alone were no match for him. The only way now was to wait for the academy's experts to arrive so they could track down Jiang Li's whereabouts and find out the real reason he killed Huo Yuhao.
She always felt that this matter was not so simple. Jiang Li did not attack Huo Yuhao for no reason. There must be a secret hidden behind it.
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded at the entrance of the stronghold. A student stationed at the stronghold rushed into the hall, looking excited and speaking urgently: "Teacher Wang, the academy has replied!"
Wang Yan suddenly stood up, strode forward, and snatched the secret letter from the student's hand. His hands trembled slightly as he quickly opened and examined it.
The secret letter was brief, yet every word carried weight.
Upon learning the news, the academy was enraged. Huo Yuhao was a genius whom the academy was focusing on cultivating, and now he had died a bizarre and tragic death. The academy would not let this go unpunished. The dean had already ordered two titled Douluo-level experts from the academy to set off immediately for Xingluo City. One purpose was to bring everyone back to the academy, and the other was to do everything in their power to track down the murderer and find his whereabouts, and thoroughly investigate this matter.
Meanwhile, the academy ordered Wang Yan and the others to rest and recuperate at the Star Luo City stronghold, awaiting the arrival of the Title Douluo powerhouse, and not to act rashly to avoid further danger.
After reading the secret letter, Wang Yan breathed a long sigh of relief. The weight in his heart lifted slightly. With a titled Douluo from the academy arriving, everything had finally taken a turn for the better.
He turned to look at everyone in the hall, told them the contents of the secret letter, and said in a deep voice, "The academy is already furious, and a titled Douluo powerhouse will be coming soon. We just need to wait patiently and not act rashly."
Hearing that a titled Douluo-level expert had arrived, the crowd felt slightly relieved, but they still could not hide their grief.
"With the arrival of a Title Douluo-level expert, we will surely be able to capture the murderer and avenge Yuhao!" Xiaoxiao said, her eyes red and her voice choked with sobs.
Everyone nodded, their eyes rekindling with hope.
Only Ning Tian remained solemn.
She knew all too well how strange and powerful Jiang Li was. This man could kill Huo Yuhao silently and easily defeat Dai Yueheng. His strength was unfathomable. Even if the academy sent a titled Douluo, it would not be easy to capture him.
Moreover, she always had a question in her mind: Did Jiang Li kill Huo Yuhao on someone's behalf, or did he have another purpose?
If it was done on behalf of someone, then who was the person who issued the commission?
A series of questions lingered in her mind, making it difficult for her to feel at ease.
At this moment, they were completely unaware that Jiang Li, the murderer who killed Huo Yuhao, had already completed the commission transaction in Xingluo City, taken away 50 million gold soul coins, and left calmly.
Dai Huabin, who had just released the commission, was currently in the Dai residence, enjoying himself immensely and having completely let go of his grudges.
Beneath the glitz and glamour of Xingluo City, undercurrents are surging.
The news of Huo Yuhao's death could not be completely concealed in the end, and it would soon spread throughout the entire continent as the academy investigated, causing a huge uproar.
Jiang Li's figure had already disappeared into the depths of the night. No one knew where he went, no one knew his next target, and no one knew that the storm surrounding Huo Yuhao's death had only just begun.
He remains the same lone wolf, cold and ruthless bounty hunter, unfettered by any power or swayed by any emotion, walking between the darkness and light of the continent solely for commissions and bounties, leaving behind only endless shock and mystery wherever he goes.
The seeds of revenge have been sown deep in the hearts of the Shrek alumni, waiting for the right moment to sprout and a cross-continental investigation and confrontation is about to begin.