Chapter 48: Meeting the Killer Again – Cold Gentleness

Some of the most dangerous and terrifying things in the world often hide in plain sight. (Gu Long)
……
That sound? So miserable… What is it? Liu Yi wiped the sweat from his forehead, jumped out of bed abruptly, and opened the door. Da Dao Wang and Shui Er were already standing at the door.
Liu Yi asked Da Dao Wang and Shui Er, “Did you also hear that sound?”
Da Dao Wang nodded. “The sound was nearby. I guess someone died?”
Liu Yi waved his folding fan. “Let’s go take a look. I remember there was a ruined temple thirty li south of this Snowfall Town when we arrived. If something really happened, let’s meet there if we get separated.”
Da Dao Wang and Shui Er nodded and headed outside…
Da Dao Wang said, “Judging from that sound just now, it should be near this tavern. Why haven’t we found anything after searching for so long?”
Shui Er also nodded. “Yeah, the sound… must be right around here.”
“Ah…” Another scream echoed. The sound seemed to come from the depths of hell, making everyone shiver with fear. Da Dao Wang said, “That was the same sound just now. So, does this mean… another person died?”
Shui Er tilted her head. “Listening to the sound, it’s outside the town. Let’s go.”
The three of them quickly followed the sound and finally found two dead bodies in a small forest outside the town. Both were wearing white armor and holding long spears. Shui Er exclaimed in surprise, “They’re brothers from the sect.”
Liu Yi looked at the dead men; both had their throats cut, clearly indicating that their killer was a skilled swordsman who killed them with a single strike.
As the three examined the wounds, suddenly two red lights flashed, and two masked men in red, holding long swords, appeared before them.
Shui Er was the first to react. “They’re killers from the Secret Sect.”
Liu Yi noticed the totem symbols on their chests. Strangely, there were three additional white stars beneath them—unknown meaning.
Da Dao Wang shrugged, touched his hedgehog-like long hair, swung his big sword, stepped forward, and said, “Did you two kill these people from the Divine Sect?”
The killer on the left nodded but didn’t speak, indirectly answering Da Dao Wang.
Shui Er stepped forward slowly and whispered to Da Dao Wang, “These killers are much stronger than the last time. Those two dead ones must be senior brothers from the Divine Sect.”
Da Dao Wang held his sword horizontally. “Are you afraid of them? You two stay back and watch as I take care of them.” With that, he assumed a fighting stance.
At that moment, the killer on the right waved his left hand lightly. “Swish…” Twelve more killers appeared behind them, also with two white stars beneath their totem symbols.
Da Dao Wang slowly stood up straight, stepping back while forcing a smile. “I was just joking. Please don’t take it seriously. Hehe… Why bring so many men? It’s so late. Go back and sleep.”
Liu Yi realized something was wrong. It seemed the killers from the Secret Sect had deliberately used the bodies of the two from the Divine Sect to lure the three here—they must have been well-prepared.

The Great Sword King kept turning back and saying, “Liu Da, do you have any clever ideas now?” As the fourteen men slowly closed in, his speech became increasingly slurred.
“Among the Thirty-Six Stratagems, retreating is the best. Remember the meeting place…” Before he could finish speaking, Liu Yi had already vanished without a trace.
The Great Sword King looked in the direction Liu Yi had disappeared and touched his hedgehog-like hair, saying, “Liu Da can run so fast already. Truly admirable.”
The assassin leading the group on the left said, “You seven, go after that scholar. Bring him back alive, or at least his body.”
obediently, the seven turned and used their swift movement skills to chase after Liu Yi.
Shui Er watched as the remaining seven slowly approached and said, “What should we do? There’s no way we can win against them.”
The Great Sword King sheathed his great sword at his waist and said, “Aren’t you talking nonsense? If there’s no chance of winning, why fight at all? What to do… let me tell you.”
Suddenly, Shui Er felt her right hand tightened as a strong, warm hand grabbed it. Then her body became light, and she flew forward at high speed…
It turned out the Great Sword King had grabbed Shui Er’s hand and used the ‘Heavenly Swift Art’ in conjunction with his lightness skills, allowing him to ‘step on flowers and leaves’ and fly forward rapidly by using the force of the green leaves beneath his feet.
The assassins behind them never expected the two of them to act shamelessly like that scholar. They were stunned for a moment before snapping back to reality. The leader said, “Chase…”
The moonlight illuminated the entire forest. The stars in the sky seemed to merge with the Great Sword King and Shui Er, as if the two were flying through the sea of stars. The wind was gentle, passing through their fingers and leaving traces of its presence. The clouds were romantic, drifting past their bodies and leaving behind legends…
The murderous aura behind them spread under the silver moonlight, chasing after the two in the sky. Suddenly, a red light flashed, and a sword was thrust at Shui Er to the side—the leader assassin had caught up and aimed his long sword at her.
Seeing the danger, the Great Sword King quickly hugged Shui Er and spun as they fell to the ground, but it was still too late. His right arm was cut by the long sword of the red-clothed assassin.
As soon as they landed, they were quickly surrounded by the seven red-clothed assassins. Shui Er struggled to break free from the Great Sword King’s embrace and said with a red face, “What should we do now?”
The Great Sword King drew his great sword and said, “Use your ability to shock me—just shock them to death.”
Shui Er moved her hands, and the ‘Heavenly Silk’ appeared in her hands. It was her weapon. She said anxiously, “My talisman only works on you. It’s useless against them. It’s all my fault for not practicing hard enough.”
By then, the seven had formed a circle, leaving the Great Sword King and Shui Er with no choice but to watch the assassins from opposite sides.
Hearing Shui Er’s words, the Great Sword King almost fainted. He then said, “Didn’t Ling improve your skills? You must be much stronger now.”
Shui Er explained, “My skills have improved, but I still haven’t practiced my magic arts. So… it’s still the same.”
The Great Sword King thought for a moment and said, “If you get a chance later, run. Don’t look back.”
Shui Er shook her head and said, “How can I do that? If we’re leaving, we leave together.”

At that moment, the assassins launched their attack. Seven swords, like seven venomous snakes set free, surged forward in waves. The Great Sword King swung his sword, unleashing the “Flame Sword Technique,” and said, “Shui, be careful.”
Shui didn’t have time to reply. With a dance of the “Heaven-Sweeping Silk Robe,” she moved as if a celestial maiden had descended to earth, counterattacking the assassins. Each of her moves was stunning—this wasn’t so much a martial art as it was dance. The posture and positioning of each move were nearly perfect, leaving people in awe…
Clearly, these seven assassins were far more formidable than those encountered before. The leader, the assassin with three white stars on his chest, was especially deadly. Though the Great Sword King’s attacks were fierce and brutal, they were almost always countered by his swift swords…
Watching Shui surrounded by three assassins—though they were well-trained professionals—she, being from a noble family, could still cope for now. But assassins were assassins after all: cold, heartless, with only one goal—killing their targets. So, they feared death not at all… Which meant Shui was in trouble!
Part 1, Volume 4: The World Is Like Tides, People Are Like Water