Chapter 226: The Ink Jade Qilin (Requesting subscriptions and tips)

"Did Wei Zhuang not tell you to watch your back?" A voice suddenly echoed from behind Yin Bat, making his hair stand on end.

"Oh no!" Yin Bat was struck with terror.

"Bang! Boom!"

A massive force slammed into his waist, sending him flying. He crashed through a large tree over ten meters away before finally coming to a stop.

"Are you alright, Big Hammer?" Xiao Xie asked, glancing at Big Hammer on the ground.

"I'm not dead yet!" Big Hammer shook his head and slowly pushed himself up with one hand.

"Where is the enemy?" Snow Maiden flew to Xiao Xie’s side and asked.

"He escaped quite fast!" Xiao Xie looked toward the spot where Yin Bat had been thrown, only to find a pool of blood. He noted with some surprise that although his previous strike hadn't been at full power, it should have been enough to incapacitate a master of the Innate Realm. He hadn't expected the fellow to get away.

"It’s a shame we let Yin Bat go. Forget it, let's head back first. Big Hammer’s treatment is the priority." Although Snow Maiden was clearly reluctant, Big Hammer was seriously injured, and they needed to get him back for medical attention.

"Agreed." Xiao Xie nodded, helped Big Hammer up, and together with Snow Maiden, the three returned to the Mechanized City.

"It’s fortunate you arrived in time, otherwise the consequences would have been unthinkable," Duanmu Rong said to Xiao Xie and Snow Maiden while treating Big Hammer’s wounds.

"Many thanks to Brother Xiao and Sister Snow Maiden. If not for you, I’m afraid I would have met my end there today," Big Hammer said, scratching his head with a grin.

"If you want to thank someone, thank Snow Maiden. My goal was primarily to accompany her; saving you was just a side note!" Xiao Xie waved his hand with a smile.

Snow Maiden couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. Although she hadn't known Xiao Xie for long, she had already begun to understand his personality. While he could be flippant at times, he was very reliable when it came to getting things done.

"Alright, since the person has been rescued, I’ll head back to get some sleep." Xiao Xie exchanged a few words with Master Ban and the others before turning to head to his room.

...

Early the next morning, Xiao Xie heard a commotion outside his door. He took Murong Feng and Murong Huang with him to find Duanmu Rong and the others to see what was happening.

Meanwhile, in a forest outside the Mohist Mechanized City, Wei Zhuang stood with an old man. The old man’s right arm was a mechanical limb, similar to Master Ban's, but where Ban's was made of wood, his was bronze. The old man was examining a blueprint intently.

"In your opinion, is this the blueprint for the Mohist Mechanized City?" Wei Zhuang asked the old man beside him.

"Without a doubt."

"Oh? You are that certain?"

"Our Gongshu family and the Mohists have studied mechanism arts together, and there are many similarities. Ever since we parted ways three hundred years ago, both sides have made modifications."

"Oh?"

"However, I, Gongshu Chou, can spot the changes at a glance. I have only one question," Gongshu Chou said. He paused, then continued, "Judging by the design, the traps in the Mechanized City are perfectly interlocked. For an outsider to infiltrate it is harder than ascending to heaven. I do not understand how Lord Wei Zhuang managed to obtain this blueprint in such a short time."

"I have a subordinate; there is no defense in this world that he cannot infiltrate," Wei Zhuang replied with a confident smile.

"Lord Wei Zhuang’s assassin group is truly worthy of its reputation!" Gongshu Chou exclaimed.

...

Inside the Mohist Mechanized City, Master Ban, having been attacked, lay on a stone bed, still unconscious. Duanmu Rong, Dao Zhi, Snow Maiden, and Little Gao were gathered around him.

"It seems they will launch an attack very soon," Snow Maiden said, a look of worry on her face.

"I will go quickly to have the brothers guard every checkpoint and double the patrols. We must prevent the enemy from destroying anything," Gao Jianli said before hurrying away.

As soon as Gao Jianli stepped outside, he saw Xiao Xie with Murong Feng and Murong Huang approaching. He glanced at Xiao Xie but said nothing, choosing to walk around him and leave. Although he disliked Xiao Xie, the man had saved Big Hammer’s life yesterday, earning the favor of the Mohists. Furthermore, he was no match for Xiao Xie, so he could only choose to ignore him.

Xiao Xie didn't pay any mind to Gao Jianli. He walked into the stone room with the two girls and asked Duanmu Rong, "Miss Rong, what exactly happened?"

"Master Ban was ambushed from behind last night. He suffered a head injury and has yet to wake up. An enemy has already infiltrated the Mechanized City," Duanmu Rong replied with a heavy heart.

"Is Master Ban’s injury severe? Feng, give Master Ban a Jade Dew Pill," Xiao Xie said to Murong Feng.

"Yes, Young Master." Murong Feng nodded, took out a pill, and fed it to Master Ban.

After taking the pill, Master Ban’s complexion flushed with color and his breathing steadied. Seeing this, Duanmu Rong thanked Xiao Xie, "Xiao Xie, thank you. With your Jade Dew Pill, I believe the Master will wake up soon."

"Miss Rong, I know of one of Wei Zhuang’s subordinates called Black Kirin. He is known as 'The cold wind on a dark night, a shadowless life-taker, a mysterious shapeshifter, the Black Ink Kirin.' He was once the premier assassin of Han. This person has no fixed form or appearance, yet he can impersonate anyone. He is an expert in disguise and can imitate voices and techniques so perfectly that almost no one can detect him. If I am not mistaken, it was he who infiltrated the Mechanized City this time," Xiao Xie explained.

"Black Kirin? Wei Zhuang has someone like that under his command? When did he enter the city? Could it be..." Duanmu Rong’s eyes widened in realization.

"I fear the brother who went out with Big Hammer last night and returned alive was actually this Black Kirin in disguise," Dao Zhi said with a grave expression. He then turned to Duanmu Rong, "Miss Rong, I will go check if that disciple is still around. If he isn't, then our suspicions are likely correct."

"Brother Xiao Xie, thank you for the information. This is a huge help," Dao Zhi said, patting Xiao Xie on the shoulder before leaving.

...

On the other side, Gao Jianli, who was personally leading guards to the central pool, suddenly saw Duanmu Rong approaching.

"Miss Rong, why are you here?" Gao Jianli asked curiously.

Duanmu Rong said to him, "I have been thinking. The Master’s safety is tied to the operation of the entire Mechanized City, so it would be better for you to guard him personally!"

"Alright!" Gao Jianli didn't think twice and nodded, heading toward Master Ban's stone room.

However, not long after Gao Jianli left, he encountered Duanmu Rong again. He was surprised to hear her ask, "Little Gao, aren't you at the central pool? Why are you here?"

"Oh no, the central pool!" Upon hearing her words, Gao Jianli’s expression changed drastically, and he turned to sprint back toward the pool.

Master Xu arrived at the central pool and saw a Mohist disciple collapsed on the ground. He hurried to help him up, only to find the man had fainted. Realizing something was wrong, he turned his head just as a dark shadow appeared before him.

"I didn't expect it to be you? Ah!"

After striking Master Xu, the shadow slowly walked to the edge of the central pool and poured the Dove Feather Thousand Nights, given to him by Bai Feng, into the water.

"Old Xu, who hurt you?" Gao Jianli rushed back, found Master Xu on the ground, and quickly helped him up.

"It... it was Ge Nie!" Master Xu gasped intermittently.

"What? It really was him!" Gao Jianli’s expression hardened. He handed Master Xu over to the arriving Duanmu Rong and, without looking back, went to confront Ge Nie.

Upon learning that Master Xu had been attacked and that Gao Jianli had gone to confront Ge Nie, Xiao Xie and Snow Maiden rushed to Ge Nie’s residence.

As they arrived, Xiao Xie heard a voice filled with dissatisfaction: "Miss Rong, do you know what you are doing?"

"I believe Ge Nie is not the person who ambushed Master Ban and injured Master Xu." Duanmu Rong had just settled Master Xu down and rushed over, only to find Gao Jianli and Ge Nie at odds with their weapons drawn. She stepped forward to block Gao Jianli, standing firmly in front of Ge Nie.