Donglin School.

It was sunny in the morning and luxuriant plants dotted artistically over the school. Students in bands of two or three were hurrying to the dining hall.

Walking out of his dormitory, Lian Fei frowned deeply with bloodshot eyes.

He had been up all night waiting for news about the assassination, yet still hadn't received any information.

Could there be an accident last night?

This doubt kept getting on Lian Fei's nerves like a threateningly rising tide, torturing him for the whole night.

"Lian Fei, how is your preparation going?"

A lovely girl wearing tailored uniform walked from afar. Every move and act of her exhibited extreme confidence and high spirit.

"Preparation for what?" Lian Fei was in a daze. The girl was Yao Susu, one of his schoolmates, who had always been adoring him.

"Have you forgotten that there is only 10 days left before County Test." Yao Susu blamed lovingly.

"Ah…" Lian Fei slapped his forehead, and smiled, "That's not a big deal. It is just an examination to test age and cultivation. I'm sure I'll pass it."

As they walked abreast, Yao Susu said, "Don't underestimate it. You're already 15 years old. And that is definitely not an advantage. I heard that this time, there are three thousand participants from Donlin School. However, only one thousand can be admitted. Taking other participants in Donglin Town into consideration, the elimination rate would be much higher."

Lian Fei said absent-mindedly, "My age is indeed a weakness. But I am already in the fifth level of Martial Realm. And that, no doubt, is my advantage over other participants. I'm sure I won't be knocked out in County Test."

Yao Susu chuckled. She liked the way Lian Fei being confident.

As they talked, they had arrived at the dining hall, which was now full of students. Breakfast was abundant in variety and tasted great, consisting of specially-made porridge with eight spiritual ingredients and several spiritual vegetables.

The students in Donglin School were mostly young, from the youngest of five or six to the eldest of no more than fifteen years old.

Donglin School was an official school rather than a native force, established for selecting talents for County Test.

Students over fifteen years old were not allowed to participate County Test and, therefore, wouldn't be admitted to Donglin School.

At this moment, numerous students in dining hall were discussing fiercely while eating, mainly about the coming County Test in ten days.

Being not interested in these, Lian Fei had his meal quietly.

Yao Susu found something wrong with Lian Fei and couldn't help asking, "You look worried."

"Um," Lian Fei replied casually but then explained patiently, "Don't worry, it's nothing."

Yao Susu had an influential background. It was said that her family owned great force in Green-maple County, which governed twelve towns including Donglin Town.

In other words, Donglin Town was also under the jurisdiction of Green-maple County.

Someday, Lian Fei would go to Green-maple County to attend State Test. Besides, Yao Susu was pretty fond of him. Under such a context, he dared not to neglect her.

Yao Susu said with great concern, "Lian Fei, if you are in trouble, you can tell me anytime. Although my family isn't in Donglin Town, we've still got many connections here."

Lian Fei smiled, "Rest assured. You don't believe the man you chose by yourself?"

Yao Susu blushed and softly retorted, "Glib-tongued."

After this episode, Yao Susu forgot to continue her inquiry.

Finishing their breakfast, they walked out of the dining hall. Just then, a middle-aged man rushed over with anxiety.

Seeing Lian Fei, he was about to talk but was suddenly stopped by Lian Fei's meaningful glance. Then Lian Fei said to Yao Susu smilingly, "I've got a friend here, how about you go first and wait for me in the classroom?"

Nodding her head, Yao Susu then turned around and left.

After the girl left totally, the smile on Lian Fei's face vanished quickly. He turned to the middle-aged man and asked, "Why do you come so late?"

Saying that, he led the middle-aged man to an unfrequented corner.

The middle-aged man was Shue Yong, the informer sent by Clan of Wu to contact with Lian Fei.

"I just got the news not long ago." Shue Yong sighed, "This morning, Black Widow returned twice the deposit, admitting a failed mission."

Lian Fei was dumbfounded, his face changed constantly. The worst result finally came.

"How is it even possible?"

Lian Fei tried hard to restrain his anxiety, "That bloke is merely in the fifth level of Martial Realm. We've hired Black Widow, Du Shiao and Old Frown together with such a high price. They are strong enough to even kill an overmatch in the ninth level of Martial Realm, let alone that bloke. How could the mission end in failure?"

Shue Yong said sullenly, "It is absolutely true. I heard that…Du Shiao and Old Frown failed completely and were killed already."

Gasping in astonishment, Lian Fei felt chilled all over and was dazed for a long time. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. He asked, "Is there an overmatch helping that bloke?"

Shue Yong said, "Black Widow didn't say it straightly, but I guess it must be so."

Lian Fei asked anxiously, "Could it be Keystone Business?"

Keystone Business was what worried him most. As one of the top forces in the empire, no one dared to challenge it, even in this remote Donglin Town.

As far as he knew, to protect Lin Xun, Keystone Business had turned against Clan of Wu openly, who now dared not to act rashly.

But for so, Clan of Wu wouldn't choose him as the pawn to kill Lin Xun.

Lian Fei was clear that Clan of Wu was making use of him. He had no choice but to accept it for he had to avenge for his father. Besides, he did need help from Clan of Wu. Otherwise, Keystone Business alone was like an immovable mountain before him, too mighty to be challenged by a student from Donglin School.

Hearing Keystone Business, Shue Yong squinted his eyes involuntarily and said, "This cannot be sure yet. Your Excellency, now it's all up to you to decide what we do next."

Lian Fei was in a daze then sneered for he knew that Clan of Wu was trying to pass the buck to him. If Keystone Business really backed up for Lin Xun, he himself had to undertake all the results. And he accepted the terms.

But Lian Fei was reluctant to be utilized like this. Taking some deep breaths, he gnashed, "What done cannot be undone. Lin Xun must have been alerted. In my opinion, we should send more forces to completely end it!"

Hearing this, Shue Yong was no longer sullen. He smiled and said, "I heard that shopkeeper Wu Deyong of Clan of Wu also thinks so. Surely great minds think alike."

Lian Fei sneered again to himself, "Fuck the 'great minds think alike'! They must have come up with the countermeasure already, only to wait for me to put it into effect."

Without being unnecessarily courteous, Lian Fei said, "Well, did shopkeeper Wu Deyong say anything else?"

Shue Yong said, "We can't hire assassins anymore. The death of Du Shiao and Old Frown has caused many disturbances, scaring off many assassins who now dare not to get involved."

Yet in the next breath, he continued, "However, we can hire some ruthless gangsters."

Lian Fei pondered and asked, "What do you mean by saying that?"

Shue Yong said with a meaningful smile, "This bloke, Lin Xun, now lives in a civilian area where there exist many underground gangs. Coincidentally, the leader of the biggest gang, named Tiger Lyu, is said to be an avaricious badass who would die for money. What's more, old as he is, this Tiger Lyu is actually an early-stage overmatch of Gang Spirit Realm!"

Lian Fei was shocked, "Hiring an overmatch of Gang Spirit Realm would be extremely expensive. Is the price worth paying?"

Shue Yong said with cruelness, "Since Du Shiao, Old Frown and Black Widow together failed to finish this bloke, we have no choice but to hire Tiger Lyu. This should be done as soon as possible. The longer it is delayed, the worse it'll be fore us."

Saying that, as if suddenly realizing something, he smiled, "Of course, it all depends whether your Excellency will agree with it or not."

"Do I have a choice?" Thinking that, Lian Fei said coldly, "That can't be better. Let's wait and see whether this Tiger Lyu is a real tiger."

Without further delay, Shue Yong left smilingly.

Seeing Shue Yong getting out of his sight, Lian Fei couldn't help sneering deeply, "Fuck the Clan of Wu! Daring not to go against Keystone Business, these insidious wretches can only use me as a pawn. One day, when I make my way in cultivation, I'll get even with you!"

By the time Lian Fei returned to the classroom, Yao Susu had already saved a seat for him. A bright smile unwittingly stole over the corners of his mouth when he saw the charming face of Yao Susu.

His great expectation and his great future all depend on whether he could firmly grasp Yao Susu.

…

Courtyard 49, in Civilian Area.

Sitting under the old locust tree with a cup of hot tea in his hand, Lin Xun asked with surprise, "You let Black Widow go?"

Sitting quietly in the opposite side of the table, Shia Zhi was reading a book called Imperial Wars Documentary. The warm winter sun shone on her tranquil and beautiful face, emanating an air of holiness and purity.

"Yep, they are just assassins working for money. Killing her makes little sense." Shia Zhi said randomly.

Making little sense indeed.

Lin Xun pondered for a while and really appreciated what she did. Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The nature of one's mind lies in making such choices.

"There is only ten days left before County Test." Shia Zhi suddenly raised her head and gave Lin Xun a quick glance.

"Um." Lin Xun smiled, "I am less than fourteen now. And last night I just advanced to the sixth level of Martial Realm. I don't think it'd be difficult for me to pass County Test."

Saying that, he suddenly asked, "By the way, will you take the test?"

Shia Zhi shook her head, "I am not interested in it."

"Oh." With that, Lin Xun said no more. Shia Zhi had always been independent. Although she would obey him with everything, this time Lin Xun didn't plan to go against her will.

"As for Clan of Wu, what are you going to do? What happened last night should be instigated by them." Asked Shia Zhi.

"Lian Fei is really smart to stay in Donglin School all the time. It's almost impossible to kill him firstly."

Lin Xun was surprised. He killed Lian Fei's father, a deep-seated hatred that could never be forgotten. Never did he expect that Lian Fei would forbear and hide in Donglin School silently, which showed his remarkable patience and shrewdness.

While he was talking, there came a knock at the door. Lin Xun opened the door, only to see a hot and charming woman in black leather skirt.

Black Widow!

Lin Xun narrowed his eyes, "What's she doing here?"

Armed to the Teeth