Starting with Mingyu Gong, the Soul-Chasing and Life-Stealing Technique

Lu Chen had intimidated everyone, but he knew that the most urgent task was to escape from the tiger's den. Time was extremely limited, so he used his lightness skill to navigate around the house and make sure no one was following him. He then entered a small alley, but seeing no one in the alley, he leaped into a courtyard.

This was an abandoned garden. He took out a bundle, took off his coarse clothes, changed into a fine outfit, wore a scholar's cap on his head, hung a long sword at his waist, waved a folding fan, and then climbed out of the courtyard from the other side.

What was originally an ordinary boy has become a handsome young man, disappearing into the crowd.

Lu Chen did this according to plan. Although he had taken on an assassination mission, it didn't mean that assassins had to be like rats in the gutter, sneaking around and carrying out assassinations, right? If they did that, and failed to hit the target in one shot, no one would abide by the rules of the martial arts world.

After all, people in the assassin profession value profit over right and wrong, which naturally makes them deeply hated by everyone.

Because if you kill someone else for a benefit today, what if your own enemy pays you to kill yourself? Therefore, assassins, like members of the demonic sect, are at least outwardly universally hated.

Lu Chen killed someone to become stronger using the system, but he didn't want to live a shameful life. So the killer was naturally Li Feiyu, who had a great reputation throughout the myriad worlds. What did it have to do with Lu Chen?

Lu Chen believed that in the world of martial arts, taking a broad path is the way to long-term success.

So he acted as if he had a powerful backer, so that the Tang family wouldn't know his true strength and would be hesitant to act against him.

……

The official road leading to the northern gate of Liangzhou winds its way into the mountains, which the locals call Beishan (North Mountain). Lu Chen had traveled this road several times before.

He went to the mountain god temple with ease, and he didn't even trust the so-called Demon Extermination Bureau, so he didn't even go back to the inn.

When Lu Chen arrived here, the place was in ruins. The statues were covered in dust and had many cobwebs hanging on them.

Lu Chen looked around.

"System, I've killed all my targets, why haven't I received any rewards?"

[Beep: The employer has not settled the payment with the host, and this system will not provide any reward.]

"Damn, so if my customers get killed in the future, I won't be able to claim my reward?"

[Ding, that's how it works in principle. However, if there are bad debts, the reward will still be issued if the host successfully collects them.]

Lu Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief. Killing and collecting debts are essentially the same thing, not bad!

This is like if the inspector of the Demon Extermination Bureau defaults on his debt, then he can go to his superior!

"Excellent technique, excellent swordsmanship, truly remarkable!"

Then Manager Zhang walked in with a smile.

Lu Chen smiled and said, "I'm just showing off my limited skills before an expert. Please excuse my ignorance."

Shopkeeper Zhang said, "Li Feiyu isn't your real name, is it?"

Lu Chen narrowed his eyes slightly: "What do you mean?"

He thought to himself, "This person's strength is definitely far beyond my own. If I could collect the reward, I might be able to handle him. But in the current situation, it would be extremely dangerous to fight him."

As soon as he thought this, his actions became fluid and even the air seemed to grow colder.

"Don't misunderstand!" Manager Zhang laughed heartily. "Everyone has their own secrets. I have no intention of uncovering the truth; I'm just wondering if we could cooperate?"

"Cooperation?" Lu Chen smiled slightly. "I'm here to collect the remaining rewards for this mission!"

The shopkeeper reached into his robes, pulled out an item, and tossed it to Lu Chen.

Seeing that it was a dark blue, shimmering object, Lu Chen flicked his sleeve, revealing his clothes were unharmed, before accepting it.

It turned out to be a token. This thing seemed to be neither gold nor wood, simple and unadorned, and dark blue in color. The front was engraved with the two characters "诛魔" (Zhū Mó, meaning "Slay Demons") and a beast-face pattern, while the back was engraved with "陆" (Lù, meaning "Land").

Lu Chen smiled, then looked at the shopkeeper: "What does this mean?"

Shopkeeper Zhang had expected him to be surprised, but to his astonishment, the man remained remarkably calm. He looked at him with even greater respect, then pulled out a stack of gold notes and said, "Don't worry, I won't skimp on what I promised. I told you, as long as you kill Tang Tianlong, we'll be friends. With this token, if you encounter any trouble with the authorities, it can help you out."

[The system detected that the host has completed the delegated task.]

Rating: Average.

Rewards: 10 Origin Points, Mingyu Skill (Fourth Level), Shaolin Great Capturing Hand "Sixteen Forms"

Because the host actively accepted the mission, there is a special reward.

Bagua Swimming Dragon Palm (Master)

[Claim or not?]

Lu Chen naturally refused to accept the token, saying to the shopkeeper, "Thank you very much then." He put the token in his pocket, took out five gold notes, and handed them to Shopkeeper Zhang, saying, "I understand the rules!"

Manager Zhang reached out and took it.

Lu Chen turned and left.

He felt that this business deal was indeed worthwhile.

Because Li Feiyu doesn't have a registered residence.

You never know when you might encounter a stubborn official who will make things difficult for you. With this token, things will be much easier.

As for the gold, I'll keep half for myself.

You still need to pay the agency fee.

"Wait!" Manager Zhang called out to him again.

"Is there anything else?" Lu Chen paused in his tracks.

The shopkeeper asked, "Would you like to join our Demon-Slaying Division?"

"I don't want to!" Lu Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.

The shopkeeper's lips twitched slightly. "No room for negotiation?" he said.

Lu Chen raised an eyebrow, thinking, "This old man is stronger than me. If I act so arrogantly, will he be tempted to kill me? If that happens, I'll be done for!"

Let's keep him in check for now, and after we find a place to collect the reward, we can further improve our strength.

He turned and smiled, "To be honest, Manager Zhang, the Demon Extermination Division is teeming with experts; even children dare not cry. I just want to be a small-time boss who settles disputes for others. What makes me worth your recruitment?"

Manager Zhang laughed and said, "It's true that the Demon Extermination Division is full of experts, but you certainly have your own value."

Lu Chenwei nodded slightly: "Alright, thank you for thinking so highly of me. Let me think about it and give you an answer tomorrow. Is that alright?"

Manager Zhang said, "Don't underestimate the Tang family. You caught them off guard today, which allowed you to leave unscathed. Right now, they will definitely use all their information channels to investigate everything about you."

Although perhaps no one knows that you were alone from beginning to end, without any guards, the fact that Li Feiyu disappeared without a trace after committing the murder speaks volumes.

Lu Chen thought to himself, "But all I want is to buy some time, enough for me to escape." He smiled and said, "Thanks for the reminder."

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Manager Zhang's eyes as he said, "I'll wait for you here tomorrow and take you to meet someone. Is that alright?"

Lu Chen asked, "Whom do I want to see?"

Manager Zhang said, "Given your current status and position, I cannot tell you yet. You can ask me in person tomorrow, how about that?"

Lu Chen thought for a moment and said, "What if I said I don't want to see anyone and just want to be a small business owner?"

Manager Zhang said, "Why rush to make a decision? I'll wait for you tomorrow."

Lu Chen nodded slightly, stepped out of the temple gate, used his lightness skill to run for several miles, and stopped at a hilltop full of chaotic graves.

Here, one can climb high and look far. Looking back, no one was chasing after him, which put his mind at ease.

Recalling what had just happened, Lu Chen was filled with doubt: "Isn't the Demon Extermination Division very powerful? I've heard that the Imperial Guards are everywhere, and whether they are officials, merchants, soldiers, or bandits, those who obey prosper and those who resist perish."

Why does it feel like something's not quite right?

I killed Tang Tianlong, why are they still bothering to come looking for me?

Could it be that some lovesick girl has taken a liking to my handsome face?

Lu Chen thought for a moment and then sat down in a clump of grass.

"System, are you kidding me? I killed the target in full view of everyone, and this mission evaluation is only 'average'?"

[Ding! This system is a god-level assassin system. What does "god" mean? If the King of Hell wants you dead at midnight, who dares to keep you alive until dawn? You've done far too little.]