Professional Assassin

The carriage made of rosewood was adorned with several precious red gemstones, and its four corners boasted meticulously crafted golden bells. The fine steeds pulled the carriage through the streets, attracting the attention of passersby who stopped to gaze.

“Be careful, don’t block the carriage! If it gets even the slightest scratch, selling you wouldn’t cover the cost!” An adult hurriedly pulled a child out of the way.

The child looked at the carriage with a sense of grievance, his eyes filled with envy.

“When did you start admiring such extravagant displays?” Mo Yu glanced at Yun Feiyue, who sat across from him unmoving, uncertain what she was thinking in her reverie.

“Mother, Uncle is calling you,” Xiao Mumu tugged at Yun Feiyue’s sleeve.

Yun Feiyue scooped up Xiao Mumu and settled him on her lap, looking at Mo Yu across from her. “Good things are meant to be shared. This isn’t extravagance, it’s knowing how to enjoy life. The Yun family’s wealth will never be exhausted; if I don’t help spend some, I feel I’ll let the old master down.”

Mo Yu simply shook his head, saying nothing more, his gaze involuntarily lingering on Xiao Mumu. He wondered when Yun Feiyue had become involved with that person, and even had a child—it seemed impossible...

“We’re here!” called the coachman, snapping Yun Feiyue from her thoughts as she realized they had arrived at the inner palace.

She led Xiao Mumu down from the carriage, with Mo Yu following close behind. Several royal guards, upon seeing Yun Feiyue, whispered among themselves before one approached.

“Are you Miss Yun Feiyue?”

Yun Feiyue scrutinized the group of guards and nodded, “Yes, what is it?”

“Consort Yun sent us to escort you, to take you to the venue for the Hundred Flowers Banquet.” The guard spoke with his head bowed, not daring to meet Yun Feiyue’s gaze.

Yun Feiyue found this odd; the Hundred Flowers Banquet was held in the same place every year—why the change now?

“Did my aunt give you any other instructions?” Yun Feiyue asked casually.

The guards looked stunned. “Is there... something else we should have been told?”

Yun Feiyue shook her head. “Never mind.”

She followed them for a while until they stopped at Spring Contest Garden. The guards turned to Mo Yu and the attendant Yun Dao behind Yun Feiyue. “No men are allowed in the inner palace, except for eunuchs.”

“Are you eunuchs?” Yun Feiyue asked, displeased.

The guards gave an awkward laugh. “We are palace guards. Only guards and eunuchs may enter; all other men must remain outside. So these two must wait here.”

Yun Feiyue immediately sensed something was amiss. If it were her aunt, Consort Yun, she would never make such a demand; Yun Dao had accompanied her into the inner palace before without issue. Clearly, this had been arranged deliberately.

She gave a cold laugh. “Has the new emperor changed all the rules since the late emperor’s passing?”

The guards felt Yun Feiyue’s aura growing stronger, suppressing their own presence and filling them with unease.

They could only steel themselves. “The new empress dowager, Nanrong, now governs the inner palace. To restore order and ensure peace, she established these rules. We are mere servants and must obey.”

It seemed preparations had been made in advance. Yun Feiyue brushed her forehead, reluctant to resort to violence—but it looked inevitable.

“Get out of my way!” she shouted.

The guards exchanged glances, then shook their heads and blocked her path. “If you refuse to follow the rules, Miss Feiyue, don’t blame us for being ruthless.”

Was that a threat? Yun Feiyue licked her lips and smiled. “Anyone who threatens me ends up dead or crippled—which will you choose?”

“If you insist on being stubborn, we’ll have to force you out!” the lead guard said harshly.

Yun Feiyue now understood that these men weren’t real palace guards at all—a rabble from who knows where, brought her to Spring Contest Garden, a place long abandoned for the Hundred Flowers Banquet.

Suddenly, their martial power erupted, green light flashing from their bodies. At such a level, it was enough to kill someone already weakened like Yun Feiyue. Blades of azure energy shot toward her face—not to kill, but to disfigure?

Yun Feiyue bent low, dodging the attack. Mo Yu drew his blade, a violet flash splitting the four men cleanly in two, severing them at the legs.

“With intelligence and skill like this, you’d best stop trying to deceive people. Go home, fit yourselves with prosthetics, and farm the land!” Yun Feiyue sighed, truly pitying them—such weak opponents she hardly felt like dealing with.

Yun Dao was astonished. He’d felt a twinge of discontent when Yun Feiyue hired Mo Yu as a bodyguard, but now he couldn’t help but admire him. At the seventh level of martial arts, Mo Yu was a force to be reckoned with across the entire Golden Lance Continent.

If he weren’t from the Hidden Mo Clan, he would surely be eligible for the Heaven Martial Ranking. Members of the Hidden Mo Clan were forbidden from competing, so there was no chance to witness such a talent shine.

“Uncle, you’re amazing!” Xiao Mumu stared at Mo Yu in awe. Though he couldn’t make out Mo Yu’s features, his impression of him had greatly improved.

Yun Feiyue picked up Xiao Mumu. “You should say your mother is amazing—such a formidable person is willing to be her bodyguard!”

Xiao Mumu looked up at Yun Feiyue with admiration and nodded. “Yes! Mother is amazing! But... Mother, are we still going to the Hundred Flowers Banquet?”

“Of course we are! But first, there is something else to do.” Yun Feiyue walked up to the lead guard. “Tell me, who sent you?” She had to get to the bottom of it.

“We are professional assassins; we never reveal our clients. Since we’ve failed, do what you will—kill or torture, it’s all the same!” The leader was fierce, clearly not the brightest.

Yun Feiyue shifted her gaze to the others, who glanced nervously at their boss. “We... we...”

“If you dare say a word—” The leader’s threat was cut off as Yun Feiyue suddenly revealed a bar of gold in her left hand and a stack of silver notes in her right. “Whoever speaks first gets these.”

“Don’t say anything!” the leader glared coldly at his companions, who quickly remembered their professional pride. At the fourth level of martial arts, they were considered experts in Chu, usually proud and aloof—never would they grovel for a bit of money.

“I’ll speak!” the leader declared, betraying his client amidst his companions’ reproach. “Nangong Zhishi.”

Damn! His companions shot him furious looks—this damned leader!

He quickly whispered, “I’ll share with you! We’ll split it when we get back...”

Nangong Zhishi? Yun Feiyue smiled sweetly and tossed the silver notes to them. “Take them.”

“Thank you, Miss Yun! Thank you, Miss Yun!” The group completely forgot who had cut off their legs, showering Yun Feiyue with gratitude. “Miss Yun is truly kind and generous—a good person!”

Yes, money makes the world go round—a lesson Yun Feiyue had learned early on. Mo Yu, however, looked at these ant-like figures in confusion.

“Why?”

Yun Feiyue tilted her head and smiled. “Because living requires money.”

Mo Yu pondered Yun Feiyue’s words carefully, offering neither rebuttal nor agreement.

Following her memories, Yun Feiyue passed through Spring Contest Garden and arrived at Flower Picking Garden. Palace maids glided gracefully, carrying exquisite dishes and laughing as they passed. Among the garden’s beauties, several consorts conversed and smiled, the scene harmonious as a dream—until Yun Feiyue stepped in.