Wuxia: Start with max-level Nine Yang Divine Skill

"I agree," Chenlong said, "but Miss has made a condition: before that, the twelve evil spirits must be eliminated."

She said that the Twelve Fierce Ministers had assassinated a rare honest official of the court, and that the King of Xiang had taken note of it.

If I want to return to the Prince's mansion, this experience as an assassin is ultimately a shameful stain that must be completely erased.

I... initially agreed.

The expressions of Shenhou and Haizhu became even more unpleasant. Even though they knew the general situation and that things had changed, their gazes toward Song Zhaoxue were now filled with obvious murderous intent.

As Chenlong spoke, he looked at Li Fu, who simply listened quietly, his face revealing neither joy nor anger.

"However, although I am the nominal leader of the Twelve Fierce Generals, I do not have the ability to command all of them."

In terms of martial arts skills, I might not be able to reliably defeat the Monkey, Pig, Tiger, and any two others combined, not to mention...

Moreover, the twelve fierce warriors are wary of each other, and even I am not entirely clear about their individual martial arts skills and assassination methods.

Even with the addition of Miss Wei Ying and her bodyguard, the chances of the three of us defeating the other eleven are slim to none, almost impossible.

"With just the three of us, it's impossible to eliminate the remaining eleven."

"So, Miss devised a plan: we need an assistant."

Chenlong said slowly.

"This helper doesn't need to be on our side; he only needs to be an enemy of the Twelve Killers."

Moreover, their martial arts skills are high enough to pose a great threat to us, and they should ideally be one of the twelve assassination targets.

What we need to do is help this accomplice gradually eliminate the other culprits.

Upon hearing this, Li Fu fully understood.

He looked coldly at Song Zhaoxue, then glanced at Wei Ying, whose face was pale. His voice was calm but carried a chill.

"So, you chose me?"

Song Zhaoxue opened her mouth, as if to say something, but ultimately failed to utter a sound.

At this moment, Li Fu's eyes showed surprise, confusion, and a natural sense of alienation and distrust that arose from being deceived and used.

That look pierced her heart like a needle.

Having shared life and death with Li Fu and Wei Ying these past few days, she had already built a deep bond and trust, but now...

Li Fu continued, "So, that chance encounter in the dilapidated temple wasn't a coincidence at all?"

"Or is it a play that you, Miss Chu, have meticulously designed?"

What you said about eliminating the twelve evil spirits to repay your uncle's kindness and incidentally protecting me, a rare honest and good official in the court... is all a lie?

"You two, mistress and servant, really put on a good show, pretending to be naive and willful noble ladies who have run away from the world?"

These words struck Song Zhaoxue's heart with every word.

"Li Fu, you...you shouldn't get angry."

Wei Ying couldn't help but speak up, explaining urgently.

"Perhaps... we have been hiding some things from you."

But you must believe us, we absolutely have no intention of harming you!

You were the target of the Twelve Killers' assassination attempt, that's a fact!

If we had told you about our relationship with Chenlong from the beginning, would you... would you still have believed us and let us travel together?

"We've truly fought alongside you all this way, together against that wicked man!"

Song Zhaoxue remained silent, her lips pressed tightly together.

In her mind, the plan should have been flawless. She shouldn't have been exposed in public at this time and place, much less faced with Li Fu's cold and questioning gaze.

A surge of anger welled up inside her at Chenlong's betrayal.

Admittedly, if Song Zhaoxue and Wei Ying hadn't accompanied him and provided Li Fu with a lot of information about the Twelve Fierce Men, and even helped him at certain junctures, he might have faced greater difficulties and might not have been able to kill so many of the villains so smoothly.

Judging from the results, their goal of eliminating the twelve evil spirits did not conflict with their goal of obtaining the Heavenly Book reward; in fact, they could be said to be mutually reinforcing.

But... the feeling of being used, and the deliberate deception that had been carried out all along, still left him with lingering resentment.

Li Fu looked coldly at Chen Long and asked.

"Therefore, after the assassination attempts by the Rat and Rooster failed, the martial arts world had a general understanding of my skill level, and the Twelve Fierce Men should have realized that I was not easy to deal with."

The next time, when the three of them—Sheep, Horse, and Ox—came, Sheep almost crippled my hand with a dirty trick, and their combined attack did cause me a lot of trouble.

At that time... if all your remaining villains come out in full force, I'm afraid I'll have no choice but to try to retreat.

Unfortunately, only three people came at the time.

The outcomes for these three people... were probably also something you deliberately controlled and guided, weren't they?

Li Fu's gaze shifted between Song Zhaoxue and Chen Long, seemingly asking Song Zhaoxue a question, and also seemingly asking Chen Long a question.

He didn't know whose idea this scheme came from.

Upon hearing this, the faces of Shen Monkey and Hai Pig turned ashen.

Chenlong, however, seemed oblivious to their anger, and sighed with his hands behind his back.

Actually, I didn't do much.

We, the Twelve Fierce Generals, are all top-notch assassins, extremely proud of our abilities. Even when we join forces to fight an enemy, they are already quite uneasy, let alone ganging up on one person.

I don't need to say anything more.

Moreover... they all wanted to monopolize the huge bounty placed on the organization due to the death of a member.

"After the losses of the Rat and Rooster, when we were exchanging information internally, some people did suggest sending more people."

For example, Wei Yang wanted to finish this job and then retire, and the others were also somewhat tempted.

But I only need to feign arrogance and say a few words: "With the three of us—Sheep, Horse, and Ox—working together, how could we not be able to deal with you, Li Fu?"

If too many people go there, what glory would there be in killing you?

"It will only make my fellow martial artists laugh at my Twelve Fierce Forms for having no one!"

"Once those words were spoken, it effectively silenced everyone else."

If anyone insists on sending more people, wouldn't that be tantamount to admitting that they are afraid of you, Li Fu?

It also reflects a disregard, distrust, and provocation towards the three individuals from the Wei Yang family.

The relationship among the twelve of us was already delicate; after saying this, no one else would volunteer to follow us.

"After the three Sheep died, I sent out four more people: Tiger, Rabbit, Snake, and Dog, and they said similar things."

Of the remaining people, Shenhou and Haizhu, you two have the highest martial arts skills and the most arrogant spirits, so naturally you would not suggest going along.

Chenlong spoke calmly, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.

"Boss Chenlong!"

Shenhou finally couldn't hold back any longer. His longsword rang out softly, and the playful smile on his face vanished, replaced by icy rage.

"We respect your martial arts skills and your age. It was you who spearheaded the formation of the Twelve Fierce Generals!"

But you... how could you scheme against us like this?!

The Pig also suppressed its smile, its plump face now displaying a solemn expression, though its eyes flashed with cold light.

"Amitabha... Boss Chenlong, this action... is extremely inappropriate, extremely inappropriate!"

Chenlong waved his hand, signaling them to calm down.

Li Fu said coldly.

"I think your original plan was to use my power to eliminate the other villains one by one."

When only the Monkey and the Pig are left with you,

By then,

You, the "insider boss," suddenly made a move and ambushed the two of them.

Even if the Monkey and Pig are highly skilled, they will likely perish due to their cunning and cunning.

In this way, the twelve villains... can be truly wiped out in one fell swoop.

"But you seem to have changed your mind?"

"Not bad," Chenlong said.

Li Fu's gaze sharpened: "Oh? Why the change?"

Chenlong slowly shifted his gaze back to Song Zhaoxue.

"Because...the young lady later instructed me that for each murderer eliminated, based on the facial features of their corpse and their exposed identity, I should secretly send people to search for their life savings and transport them all away."

She said that all eleven of them were top-tier assassins, and the wealth they accumulated over their lives must have been astonishing—a huge sum of money.

He took a deep breath: "Moreover, as I got to know her, I gradually discovered... this young lady, although born to His Highness the Prince of Chu, has a temperament that is completely different from His Highness's."

His Highness the King of Chu is kind and benevolent, and has no attachment to money or power.

Miss, you…

Chenlong looked at Song Zhaoxue, shook his head, and sighed.

"You are deep in thought, decisive and even ruthless in your actions, only concerned with your own goals, and have an extraordinary obsession and desire for money and power."

Bringing me under your wing is probably a way of getting me to do things for you.

For a woman to have such a mindset... she can be described as extremely ambitious.

Faced with such accusations, Song Zhaoxue's face turned angry.

"So, I'm scared, and I have to take precautions."

Chenlong's voice turned cold.

"I'm afraid that once all twelve villains are eliminated, and that enormous fortune of hundreds of thousands of taels of gold, equivalent to the annual tax revenue of an impoverished prefecture, is in our hands..."

Miss, would you also find a pretext to eliminate me, someone who knows too much inside information and was once the leader of assassins... as well?

If it were His Highness the King of Chu, and he made that promise, I would never have had this doubt.

But Miss…excuse my frankness, I don’t understand, and I dare not gamble.”

Wei Ying said urgently.

"Shut up! You're clearly just being cowardly and judging others by your own petty standards!"

Song Zhaoxue raised her hand to stop Wei Ying. Although her face was pale, she remained calm. She looked at Chen Long and asked.

"So, after I used Li Fu's power to eliminate half of the Twelve Fiends, you started to panic, hesitated, and ultimately... went back on your word and decided to break the agreement?"

"That's right." Chenlong readily admitted, "I brought Shenhou and Haizhu here today to settle things once and for all."

Song Zhaoxue coldly replied, "Then what do you plan to do? Kill me...right here?"

Chenlong slowly shook his head.

"Don't worry, Miss."

You are, after all, the daughter of His Highness the King of Chu, although... I can no longer see much of His Highness's shadow in you.

Moreover, you are a member of the Zhao royal family, so I will not kill you.

But I will cripple your martial arts skills.

As for this Officer Li…”

His gaze suddenly sharpened like a knife, revealing his murderous intent.

"He killed many of my twelve murderers. This enmity is irreconcilable. I must use his life to restore the prestige of the twelve murderers!"

He must die today!

"Monkey and Pig, I did indeed scheme against others and caused their deaths."

But what does this have to do with you? Aren't you standing here perfectly fine?

And now that everyone else is dead, there are far fewer people left to share the money. If we include their money, then…”

Glancing at the two people beside him, who exuded the imposing aura of a leader, Chenlong said in a deep voice.

"What Boss Chenlong said makes a lot of sense."

However, after this matter is over, once we have killed Li Fu, who ruined our reputation, you must give us a proper explanation.

We want the lion's share of the money!

The Monkey and the Pig exchanged a glance and sneered.

Not all assassins are heartless, but they also lack any real compassion when facing strangers.

Chenlong plotted to kill others and even tried to scheme against them. This is unforgivable for most organizations and people, but it is different for these assassins who have never been trusted.

To sway an assassin, all you need is enough incentive.

"good!"

Chenlong said.

With a formidable enemy at hand, Li Fucai is their common goal.

The two moved their feet in perfect unison, forming a triangle with Chen Long, subtly surrounding Li Fu in the center.

A powerful killing intent rose from the three of them, locking onto Li Fu in the arena.

"Li Fu, no matter what you think."

Let's get through this difficult time first.

Song Zhaoxue and Wei Ying's expressions changed drastically, and they rushed forward a few steps to stand side by side with Li Fu.

Wei Ying spread her palms out, and Song Zhaoxue also secretly gathered her qi, circulating the Pure Maiden True Qi throughout her body.

Li Fu, however, did not seem to care much about the impending siege. He glanced at Song Zhaoxue beside him, whose expression was complicated and who dared not look him in the eye, and then gave Chen Long a cold smile.

"It seems that today's battle is ultimately unavoidable."

That's good, saves me the trouble of searching for them one by one.

The Nine Yang True Qi surged and circulated within his body.

Faced with the encirclement of three top experts, he showed no fear, but instead his eyes burned with a fierce flame.

Chenlong slowly raised his palms, and a deep, heavy, mountain-like internal force was gathering momentum, causing his robes to flutter even without wind.

"Li Fu, although your martial arts are high, you have consumed a lot of internal energy in the battles against the Tiger and Dog."

With the three of us joining forces, you have absolutely no chance of winning.

"Considering you're a man of some stature, if you're willing to cripple yourself, I might spare your life."

Shenhou pointed his longsword diagonally, its aura chilling, and sneered.

"Boss Chenlong, why waste your breath arguing with him?"

Would someone like this really cripple his own martial arts skills?

"This is perfect opportunity for me to see just how skilled this expert is, capable of killing both the Tiger and the Dog!"

Although his tone was arrogant, his eyes held a hint of seriousness, clearly indicating that he did not truly underestimate Li Fu.

The pig clasped his hands together and softly chanted the Buddhist prayer: "Amitabha... Benefactor Li, lay down your butcher's knife and suffer less."

He still had a smile on his face, his body was surging with true energy, and his gorgeous kasaya was slightly swollen, clearly indicating that he had already exerted his full power.

A great war is about to break out!

The mountain wind howled, stirring up bits of grass and the stench of blood from the slope.

Looking at Li Fu's straight back and then at the three murderous experts opposite him, Song Zhaoxue felt a mix of emotions.

The plan collapsed, allies turned against each other, and rifts emerged... All of this was far beyond her initial expectations.

Whether they can survive this ordeal remains to be seen.

"Stop talking nonsense. All this scheming and plotting will eventually come down to a fight."

Unexpectedly, Li Fu had already taken the initiative, letting out a cold snort, his disdainful words seemingly directed at no one in particular.

His voice shook the mountains and forests, and his figure was like a blue lightning bolt. Before the three of them could make a move, he had already rushed straight towards Chenlong, who had the highest martial arts skills and the most imposing aura!

This preemptive strike caught Chenlong and his companions completely off guard.

"Come on, all of you! From this day forward, the Twelve Fierce Symbols will cease to exist in the martial world!"