The black-clad man pondered for a moment before slowly sheathing his sword. With a furrowed brow, he spoke meaningfully, “Guanyu Tower is a Jianghu organization; we never interfere in the affairs of the capital’s nobility.”
“After all, if things go wrong, even Guanyu Tower may not escape unscathed.”
“Those with power and influence—we cannot afford to offend them.”
“I am the second young lady of the Zhenguo Great General’s Mansion,” Yun Si Yu said leisurely. “Yun Mu Jing is my elder sister. After her death, I will persuade my father and mother not to investigate the cause of her death too deeply. That way, it won’t lead back to Guanyu Tower.”
The black-clad man’s brow gradually relaxed. “Then the price…”
“Our General’s Mansion will not be short on money,” Yun Si Yu declared, folding her hands in front of her and raising her chin proudly, looking utterly smug.
“Once Yun Mu Jing is dead, I will be the only daughter left in the General’s Mansion,” Yun Si Yu said with a raised eyebrow. “By then, I can ask my parents for as much silver as I want. Name your price.”
A satisfied expression appeared on the black-clad man’s face. After a moment of thought, he said, “Very well, I accept this job.”
“However, I am tired today. I will act tomorrow.”
“Agreed,” Yun Si Yu replied, a smile curling at the corner of her lips—a smile tinged with a hint of malice. “I have only one request: no one must know that I hired an assassin to kill her.”
She was the model of a refined young lady from a prominent family in the capital, her parents’ obedient daughter, and the future Crown Princess. She could not be tainted by any words associated with “viciousness” or “cold-bloodedness.”
“Guanyu Tower’s assassinations have always been clean; there is no need to worry about that,” the black-clad man said, glancing at Yun Si Yu twice. “After the deed is done, I will come to you for the payment.”
With that, his figure flashed, and he vanished into the bamboo grove with astonishing speed.
Yun Mu Jing, ah, Yun Mu Jing, your time has come! Who told you to insist on returning to the General’s Mansion to compete with me? Yun Si Yu chuckled softly and did not linger any longer, quickly returning to Qingshan Temple.
Unbeknownst to her, after she had left, a beautiful figure dressed in plain clothes slowly emerged from a hidden corner.
“Master.”
If Yun Si Yu were still here, she would have been astonished to discover that the black-clad man who had left earlier had somehow returned without her noticing.
Moreover, he was kneeling before Yun Mu Jing, paying his respects with utmost reverence.
“Hmm,” Yun Mu Jing stood before the black-clad man, her gaze fixed on him.
Suddenly, she leaned down close to him, lifted her hand to grip his chin, and forced him to look at her.
“Lin Chuan, Guanyu Tower has always been under your control,” Yun Mu Jing said with a smile, though her voice was filled with coldness. “Zhu Ye has returned to the capital to investigate what has happened in the General’s Mansion these past two days. Tomorrow, he will deliver the information to Mo Han Zhao.”
“This intelligence from Guanyu Tower is crucial to my plans. If there is even the slightest mistake, you know the consequences.”
Although Yun Mu Jing had been separated from General Yun and Madam Yun years ago, she was fortunate to retain the memories of her past life.
Relying on the knowledge of pharmacology she had studied in her previous life, Yun Mu Jing earned a considerable amount of silver and later opened several shops in the capital.
With financial resources to support her, her reach expanded significantly.
Including Guanyu Tower—this was an organization established by Yun Mu Jing, a place for training assassins and gathering intelligence.
Lin Chuan was originally a young master from a noble family. However, after a sudden family upheaval, his entire household was imprisoned. He managed to escape thanks to his exceptional martial arts skills but was repeatedly pursued and ambushed. In the end, severely wounded, he fled into an alley.
Yun Mu Jing happened to save him, arranged for someone to fake his death to help him escape smoothly, and brought him back to Guanyu Tower to recuperate.
At that time, Yun Mu Jing saved Lin Chuan solely based on the last bit of kindness in her heart.
However, after Lin Chuan recovered from his injuries, he voluntarily stayed at Guanyu Tower and became an entry-level assassin there.
In three years, Lin Chuan’s achievements were astonishing. He quickly climbed the ranks at Guanyu Tower and gradually became Yun Mu Jing’s most loyal and sharpest blade.
Lin Chuan gazed into Yun Mu Jing’s pure and beautiful eyes, which resembled autumn waters and peach blossoms, with a hint of intoxication in his own. “Master, if there is any problem, Lin Chuan is willing to atone with his life.”
Ever since he first met Yun Mu Jing, he had marveled at how there could be such a beautiful and captivating woman in this world.
Lin Chuan was deeply captivated by Yun Mu Jing’s appearance and methods.
However, he also understood the gap between himself and Yun Mu Jing and knew clearly what she wanted.
And he would spare no effort, even at the cost of everything, to help Yun Mu Jing achieve what she desired.
Even if the man standing by her side in the future could never be him.
Yun Mu Jing’s cold gaze fell on Lin Chuan’s gentle and refined face, then suddenly softened into a tender smile, pure and beautiful.
“Lin Chuan, I’ve always regarded you as an elder brother. How could I ever want your life?” Yun Mu Jing released her grip and said softly, “I’ll leave the next matter to you.”
Elder brother… Lin Chuan’s eyes dimmed slightly.
It didn’t matter. Since he could never possess her, becoming her elder brother was already the best he could hope for.
“With your words, Master, Lin Chuan will remain loyal to you for life, even unto death,” Lin Chuan said, clasping his fists.
Yun Mu Jing smiled lightly and stepped forward to help Lin Chuan up. “Brother Lin Chuan, there’s no need to be so formal with me.”
“But right now, there is indeed one more thing I need you to do…”
As she spoke, Yun Mu Jing leaned closer and whispered a few more words to Lin Chuan.
“Master, this…” Lin Chuan frowned. “It’s not appropriate.”
“What?” Yun Mu Jing feigned disappointment and sadness, her eyes reddening as she looked at Lin Chuan and pursed her lips. “Brother Lin Chuan, are you unwilling?”
Each call of “brother” melted Lin Chuan’s heart.
Especially since he couldn’t bear to see Yun Mu Jing looking so pitiful. He immediately agreed, “As long as it is your request, Master, Lin Chuan will never refuse.”
“Brother Lin Chuan truly treats Jing’er the best. Then… see you tomorrow,” Yun Mu Jing said with a faint, charming smile.
Lin Chuan gazed at Yun Mu Jing, unable to hide the reluctance in his eyes.
But he also knew that without Yun Mu Jing’s orders, he could not stay by her side for long.
“This subordinate takes his leave.”
“Mm.”
Only after Lin Chuan had truly left did the smile in Yun Mu Jing’s eyes slowly fade.
Having been with Lin Chuan for many years, Yun Mu Jing was well aware of his feelings for her.
If not for Lin Chuan’s love, she wouldn’t have been able to manipulate him so perfectly, making him risk his life for her time and again.
“Cruel?” Yun Mu Jing lowered her head to admire her perfectly flawless fingertips, sighing before breaking into a smile. “But I never forced him. He volunteered.”
She had witnessed far more of the world’s warmth and coldness than Lin Chuan.
She refused to remain at the bottom. Yun Mu Jing’s goal would always be to become the most esteemed woman in Dongliang, ultimately ascending to the position of the nation’s mother.
Lin Chuan is truly unworthy.
Yun Mu Jing shrugged, turned, and strode away, leaving the bamboo grove.
To this day, whether it was Guanyu Tower or some other organizations under her name, they had already gained a certain standing in the martial world.
But no matter how powerful a martial organization might be, without backing from influential forces, it still dared not offend the powerful nobles of the capital.
After all, a single word from those nobles could reduce the foundation she had built over many years to ashes overnight.
This was why, despite Guanyu Tower’s strength, it had always refrained from recklessly provoking the capital’s aristocracy.
Guanyu Tower accepted assassination missions targeting the capital’s nobles only on the condition that the client’s identity was at least capable of protecting the tower and that they were willing to intervene afterward.
Every step was carefully considered, each move made with extreme difficulty.
Yun Mu Jing had not been without thoughts of seeking refuge with some faction in the court for protection.
Unfortunately, most of those factions harbored intentions of swallowing up the enterprises she had painstakingly built.
In all matters, rather than relying on others, it was better to rely on oneself.