During the Qin Dynasty, he was in charge of the net.

Gongshu Chou wanted to kill not his enemies, nor his foe, nor even a passerby, but the elder of the Gongshu family clan.

Such a person's heart is like a cold, mechanical machine, devoid of much emotion.

Dealing or cooperating with this kind of person is like walking with wolves; you always have to worry that they might bite you in the back.

Ordinary people would usually avoid such people at all costs.

But for Luo Wang, this was a very good source of wealth.

More precisely, this would be a very good fat sheep.

Faced with the reward promised by Gongshu Chou, Li Ji calmly raised his eyes to look at him and said without any emotion:

"A thousand taels of gold in one go, the head of the Gongshu family, what a generous gesture."

Upon hearing this, Gongshu Chou was overjoyed, thinking that the matter was already settled.

He was about to speak in agreement when he saw the man's eyes turn cold, and a faint, sarcastic smile appear on his lips:

"I agree to this deal."

However, it wasn't a total of one thousand taels of gold.

Instead, it was one thousand taels of gold per person.

Upon hearing this, Gongshu Chou's smile froze instantly, his breath caught in his throat, and he almost jumped up in anger.

Killing one person with a thousand taels of gold was far more costly than he had anticipated.

Although the Gongshu family had served the Qin state for many years, building numerous government projects and accumulating a substantial fortune, they were still a powerful force in the Qin state.

However, the cost of killing one person with a thousand taels of gold was still extremely painful.

Gongshu Chou was about to lower the price when he looked up and met Li Ji's eyes, which were calm but contained a chilling killing intent.

Gongshu Chou felt a chill run down his spine, and swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Li Ji quietly watched as Gongshu Chou's expression changed continuously, the moisture around him suddenly intensifying, and slowly spoke:

"Patriarch Gongshu, is this a sign of unwillingness?"

That short sentence sent a cold sweat down Gongshu Chou's back.

He recalled what the other party had done some time ago: the two leaders of the Farmer's Hall had died tragically, and Master Xu, the sword-making master of the Mohist School, had been crippled.

These were all done by the other party.

The person he was trading with was not some merchant he could haggle over.

Instead, it is the most mysterious and terrifying assassin organization among the seven kingdoms, led by a notorious top-ranking assassin.

If he dares to say no now, not only will the deal fall through, but he will also be remembered by a top-tier assassin.

Very well, consider the extra price as a way to befriend Luo Wang, a top-tier figure.

In an instant, Gongshu Chou forced a fawning smile onto his face and quickly bowed and waved his hands:

"Willing, willing! It's an honor for those old guys to have the Heavenly Rank One Sword Master of the Luo Net take action."

Gongshu Chou dared not hesitate any longer, fearing that the man in front of him would raise the price again.

He handed the three luminous pearls and a small note with ink on it to Li Ji.

The small note contained some information about the old guys that Gongshu Chou had mentioned.

Li Ji reached out and took the note, glanced at its contents, and then put the note and the wooden box into his sleeve.

I'll get back to you within a month.

Li Ji left with a cold remark before turning and departing.

The Yin-Yang Family's sea vessel, not far away, had been waiting for a long time.

Li Ji walked calmly onto the ship's deck, and his figure quickly disappeared into the cabin.

Gongshu Chou stood there, watching his departing figure, his heart aching with pain.

That's five thousand taels of gold!

He now only hopes that the money he spent was worthwhile.

......

Yin-Yang School's sea vessel.

After Li Ji boarded the ship, the vessel quickly set sail.

About an hour later, we can return to the shore of Sang.

A hatch was silently pushed open, and Li Ji slowly walked in.

Tian Yi was the only one in the cabin. She was sitting cross-legged on the bed, meditating and cultivating.

Li Ji turned around and slowly closed the cabin door.

At that moment, a clear, cold, and slightly hoarse voice rang in Li Ji's ears.

"Why did you stay down below the boat for so long?"

Li Ji turned his head to look at Tian Yi, and answered calmly and without showing any emotion:

"Gongshu Chou, a master of domineering mechanical arts, sought me out to discuss an assassination deal."

Tian Yi's gaze narrowed slightly, her eyes silently locking onto him beneath the mask:

"But when I boarded the ship just now, I seemed to see the Moon Goddess, the Right Protector of the Yin-Yang School, and Xiangfei, the Elder of the Water Department."

Li Ji paused for a moment and replied:

"You must have misread it."

Tian Yi's eyes flickered slightly, and she asked softly, "Is that so?"

"Um."

Li Ji simply responded with a single word, then moved to the wooden table in the cabin and sat down comfortably on the wooden chair.

A moment of silence fell over the cabin, then Tian Yi suddenly looked at Li Ji's waist:

"What's in your sachet?"

Li Ji paused in his tea-pouring. The sachet was so tightly sealed, yet she still noticed it at a glance.

However, he still answered truthfully: "I obtained the Lingxi Jade Disc at the Yin Yang School's celebration."

"May I take a look?"

Tian Yi's tone was not loud, and it would be difficult for ordinary people to hear her emotions, but Li Ji could detect a strange emotion.

Li Ji hesitated for a moment, but finally raised his hand, took off the sachet, and handed it over.

Tian Yi reached out and took it, but did not take out the contents immediately. Instead, she first examined the sachet for a while.

Only then did she take out the warm and lustrous white jade disc inside.

The jade-like luster was understated, and its texture was cool and smooth to the touch. She quietly examined it for a moment, then said softly:

"It is indeed an excellent treasure."

Li Ji chuckled softly upon hearing this.

The laughter was somewhat jarring in the quiet cabin.

Tian Yi looked up at him quietly for a while, then put the Lingxi Jade Disc into the sachet and handed it over.

Li Ji walked to the bedside, came to Tian Yi, and took the sachet.

However, Li Ji did not stop taking the sachet; instead, he sat down next to Tian Yi.

He gently put his arm around Tian Yi's slender shoulders, raised his fingertips, and slowly removed the mask from her face.

The mask fell off, revealing a cool and stunningly beautiful face to Li Ji.

But at this moment, his face carried a hint of aloofness, as if keeping strangers at bay.

Tian Yi did not stop Li Ji's actions at all; she simply stared at the person who had just laughed at her with her dark eyes.

But Li Ji's chuckle just now wasn't a mockery of her.

He simply found Tian Yi's actions amusing.

That long-lost feeling reappeared, making him feel that he was truly alive.

He is not a good person; he is a man with blood on his hands.

In such chaotic times, people are doing things they don't want to do just to survive.

Just like him, he has long been nothing more than a pawn in the net of deception, a bloodstained knife.

Swords have no feelings; they are merely killing machines cultivated by the Net.

Li Ji once thought that he would continue like this until he died in a mission one day.

He died silently, and no one cared.

But now, Li Ji has the opportunity to become the player who plays the game.

Now, he has found someone who carries some of his memories.

Why should he dwell on whether the face is exactly the same? The feelings between them won't change just because the face changes.

Li Ji embraced Tian Yi, and with his other hand he slowly reached into his robes and took out a carved wooden box.

He looked down at the cool, aloof eyes of the person in his arms, and said in a low, calm voice:

"This is the Yin-Yang School's Gathering Yang Pill, which can concentrate the mind, strengthen the vital energy, and refine the internal energy. Taking it can increase one's cultivation level by several years."

After speaking, Li Ji raised his hand and handed the small wooden box to Tian Yi's palm.

Tian Yi paused slightly, her fingertips unconsciously tapping the wooden box.

She opened the wooden box, and a rich, lingering, warm medicinal power gently spread out, seeping into her meridians along the tip of her nose, and a warm sensation seeped into her limbs and bones.

Clearly, this elixir is extraordinary.

Tian Yi looked up at Li Ji, her cool brows furrowed with a mixture of confusion and emotion. A ripple of emotion stirred in her heart, and she was momentarily speechless.

"You can take this pill now, and I will protect you from now on."

Li Ji's body was enveloped in water vapor, indicating that he was ready to act as a protector.

It might take another hour for the Yin-Yang Family's ship to reach the shore. It's unknown how long it will take for Tian Yi to digest the medicinal effects. If it's not enough, the Yin-Yang Family's ship will have to stay on the shore for a while.

However, upon hearing Li Ji's words, Tian Yi closed the wooden box and placed it on the table beside her.

Now it was Li Ji's turn to be puzzled.

Before he could ask, Tian Yi suddenly sat up slightly and gently cupped his chin with her hand.

She tilted her head back and kissed Li Ji's lips.

This was the first time she had ever taken the initiative to get close to Li Ji.

The moment their lips touched, there was a cool, soft sensation.

Li Ji paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

After a moment of silence, Li Ji slowly tightened his arms around her waist, holding her even closer in his embrace.

As Li Ji acted, Tian Yi's kiss deepened, and her hair fell down, wrapping around their shoulders.

Li Ji could clearly feel the slender figure of the person in his arms, as well as the exquisite curves and undulations of her body.

A warmth seeped into his skin little by little through his clothes.

A faint, warm fragrance lingered around my nose.

It's delicate and light, like plum blossoms after a snowfall.