Chapter 48: Chapter 45: Going to Claim the Reward_1
Before claiming the reward for the female assassin, there were some preparations to be made.
Lu Yan first shot two sleeve arrows each into the heart and abdomen of the female assassin, then sprinkled a handful of chili powder on her face.
After setting up, Lu Yan lifted the assassinal corpse and started to walk out.
However, no sooner had he left his dwelling than three men approached him.
Lu Yan frowned, wanting to avoid unnecessary trouble, but dismissed the idea after recognizing their uniforms.
The three men also spotted Lu Yan and quickly ran towards him.
"You are... a Red-clad Guard of the Liu Family? What happened?"
Having seen the corpse in Lu Yan’s hands, the three men surrounded him.
"And you are?"
Lu Yan asked in return.
He could guess their identities from their clothes, but he still needed confirmation.
"We are members of the Zhou Clan."
One of them took out a golden-yellow metal token engraved with the character ’Zhou’.
This token, which only those with the bloodline of the Zhou Clan possessed, suggested they had some rank and status.
"Now, you should explain why you have committed a murder in Qingyang City."
The leading member of the Zhou Clan asked, staring at Lu Yan, his Qi-blood fluctuating and his hands turning red.
This was the sign of the Zhou Clan’s top-tier martial art, the Falcon Red Flame Claw.
"Sirs, this corpse is that of the assassin who tried to kill Martial Marquis Zhou Hezhen."
Lu Yan said.
The faces of the three Zhou Clan members changed, revealing expressions of surprise and suspicion.
"Is this true? It’s not easy to deceive our Zhou Clan’s bounty."
One of the Zhou Clan members said coldly.
He was suspecting Lu Yan of merit stealing.
"Just have a close look."
Lu Yan uncovered the cloth on the assassin’s shoulder, exposing the grotesque claw mark.
"It’s a claw wound from the Falcon Red Flame Claw."
"Only the Martial Marquis could have inflicted such bone-deep injuries."
With just a few glances, the three Zhou Clan members decisively identified the murderer who had tried to assassinate Zhou Hezhen, and was unable to escape her injuries.
In the entire Qingyang City, only the two previous Martial Marquises of the Zhou family could have inflicted such wounds.
The three men looked at each other and smiled.
"Young man, you’re impressive. While all the feudal lords had their top experts seeking this murderer, you managed to capture her."
The leading member of the Zhou Clan said.
"It’s just luck."
Lu Yan responded.
"Now that the murderer has been arrested, you’re entitled to the reward of thirty thousand silvers. We of the Zhou Clan do not go back on our word; let us take you to get your reward."
The leading member of the Zhou Clan said.
"Thank you all, I will treat you to drinks another day."
Lu Yan saluted them with a fist.
The three men led the way as Lu Yan followed.
Hitherto, he would not have been so reckless, but his increased strength had given him a lot of confidence.
As long as the Martial Marquis didn’t intervene, he could protect himself.
He was not afraid of them playing tricks.
On the way, the three men introduced themselves: the leader’s name was Zhou Zhengde, and the two others were Zhou Zhenghai and Zhou Zhengshi.
"Brother Lu is truly formidable. This female assassin must have reached the fifth limit-breaking level in her cultivation, yet she ended up like this. Brother Lu, you’re too young to have such a profound level of cultivation."
Zhou Zhengde said.
Though it seemed like he was extolling Lu Yan, he was actually probing him. Lu Yan could clearly see through it.
"Brother Zhou is too kind. I am just a second limit-breaker. It was purely luck that I managed to kill the murderer. She was severely injured by Marquis Zhou Hezhen and her origin energy was largely depleted, with only a fraction of her martial power remaining. I ambushed her ..."
Lu Yan then recounted how the assassin had disguised herself as a maid, how he had found her out via her bloody smell, tested her reactions with his birthmark trick, and finally took her by surprise with chili powder and sleeve arrows, thus successfully killing her.
What he said was half truths and half-lies.
The first part was true, the latter false.
Only a story half true and half made up could confuse others.
Zhou Zhengde and his two companions deemed Lu Yan’s explanation reasonable, and no flaws were apparent. They praised Lu Yan for his smartness, guts and detail orientation.
On the way, they did encounter some people from other feudal lords. Although those people looked oddly at the female corpse in Lu Yan’s hand, no one dared to ask when seeing the leading three Zhou Clan members.
Half an hour later, they arrived in front of a mansion.
The mansion was large, with numerous buildings and lots of towers and pavilions. Four limit-breaking warriors were guarding the entrance.
Zhou Zhengde obviously possessed considerable status. After giving a few orders to the four guards, he took Lu Yan into the mansion.
After winding corridors, he took Lu Yan to a small reception room.
"Brother Lu, please wait here while we take the assassin to the Master of this mansion for verification. Once the Master confirms the assassin’s identity, we will take you to collect your bounty."
Zhou Zhengde said.
After a moment of contemplation, Lu Yan nodded and said, "Alright."
Zhou Zhengde, carrying the body of the female assassin, left the reception hall and quietly instructed Zhou Zhengshi and Zhou Zhenghai, "You two, guard the door. Do not let him leave."
After that, he left with the body of the female assassin towards the deeper part of the mansion.
Lu Yan sat in a wooden chair, lightly tapping the table with his fingers, then he got up to leave.
Truth be told, he was worried.
What if they decided to embezzle his reward money?
If they claimed that they were the ones who killed the assassin and took the credit themselves, Lu Yan would be left with no way to argue.
Thirty thousand taels in reward money, who wouldn’t be tempted?
Lu Yan planned to discreetly follow them.
However, when he opened the door to the hall, he was stopped by Zhou Zhenghai and Zhou Zhengshi.
"What is the meaning of this?" Lu Yan furrowed his brows, asking.
"Brother Lu, sorry, but the Management Mansion is a restricted area of the Zhou Clan, outsiders cannot freely pass through , we ask for your understanding," Zhou Zhenghai responded, smiling.
"Wait here and soon the manager will come to see you," Zhou Zhengshi added.
Lu Yan became even more suspicious.
Did they really want to embezzle his reward money?
"You are all mistaken. I just remembered something urgent I have to attend to, so I need to leave. I’ll come back tomorrow for the reward money," Lu Yan said, to test their reactions.
Zhou Zhenghai shook his head, "Brother Lu, it’s better you stay here."
They wouldn’t even let him leave?
Not only did they want to embezzle his reward money, but were they also planning to get rid of any witnesses by killing him?
Killing intent briefly flashed across Lu Yan’s mind, but he remained outwardly calm, "Fine, I’ll wait here."
He made a fist in salute, pretending to stay, but in the next moment, Lu Yan caught them off guard, launching two swift palm strikes.
The strikes were as quick as lightning, striking the back of their heads before they could react and immediately knocking them out.
Lu Yan dragged them into the reception hall, closing the door, then stealthily followed Zhou Zhengde deeper into the Management Mansion.
Soon, he spotted Zhou Zhengde’s figure.
He held his breath, following from a distance.
Zhou Zhengde, carrying the body of the female assassin, arrived in front of a large building.
Outside the building, two Limit Breaking Warriors were patrolling.
"Where is the mansion manager?" Zhou Zhengde asked.
"The manager is training in the Practice Room," one replied.
"Go, inform the manager, I have an urgent matter to discuss," instructed Zhou Zhengde.
The two warriors looked uneasy.
"The manager has always ordered, that when he is practicing martial arts, no one can disturb him, this..."
"Yes, someone had once disturbed the manager during his training and was punished," both warriors looked uneasy.
"I will go with you," Zhou Zhengde said, and then pushed open the doors of the building, revealing a meeting hall within.
Zhou Zhengde left the body of the female assassin in the meeting hall and instructed one of them, "You stay here, don’t let anyone in. I will go find the Manager."
With that, he and one of the warriors headed towards the left and disappeared into the darkness, leaving one person to guard the door.
Using the cover of night, Lu Yan quietly moved to one side, then leapt onto the roof of the building.
The roof tiles were glazed tiles, very sturdy, producing no sound when stepped on. Lu Yan slowly crawled above the meeting hall, lying motionless, quiet, waiting.
After about the time it takes for one cup of tea to brew, a group of three people approached.
Lu Yan slightly lifted his head, observing from afar.
Two of the figures were obviously Zhou Zhengde and the patrolling guard.
The other one, a middle-aged man with a square face, dense beard, burly build, and an air of majesty between his brows, was probably the mansion manager.
"Stay guard outside," a deep voice ordered, followed by the creaking sound of the hall door opening. The manager and Zhou Zhengde walked into the meeting hall and the door was closed again.
"Such a high-level Limit Breaking Warrior, died at the hands of a puny Red-clad Guard, truly laughable," a low and deep voice ring out, obviously coming from the manager.
The voice was kept low, so if not for Lu Yan’s exceptional hearing, it would have been hard to hear cleary.
"Manager, isn’t it better that the assassin is dead? It conveniently leaves us with no clues to be traced, and we won’t get exposed," came Zhou Zhengde’s deep voice.
Lu Yan’s heart jolted.
We won’t get exposed?
These people were working with the female assassin.
