The low-key prince summons trainees from the Imperial Household Department at the start of the game.

The 18th day of the first month of the 24th year of Yonghe.

The lanterns from the Lantern Festival had just been taken down, and firecracker debris and candy wrappers still lingered in the streets and alleys of the capital.

Zhou Xing sat by the window of the side hall, holding a bowl of red date and longan soup that Granny Liu had just cooked.

The soup was dark brown with a rich, sweet aroma. He sipped it slowly, but his eyes weren't on the bowl.

A golden light screen, visible only to him, was floating in front of him.

The summoning icon for the elite team is lit up again.

More than half a year has passed since the last time the Fenglangjuxu was summoned, and the northern border war has been won in the past six months.

Huo Qubing and his two companions returned to the capital to be appointed to their posts and then set off on another expedition. The Four Sages of the Medical World quietly established themselves in the capital, and everything proceeded in an orderly manner.

But there was always a blank spot on his chessboard.

dark place.

He holds the chess pieces of the court.

There are pieces on the battlefield.

There are pawns in the business world and in the underworld.

But it lacks a knife hidden in its sleeve.

There are some things Zhao Gao cannot do, some things Xu Chu cannot do, and some things Lu Changfeng cannot do.

He needs a power that is completely hidden in the darkness, that doesn't act unless it draws blood.

He silently uttered a summons in his mind, and golden characters on the light screen appeared like flowing water.

"A five-star elite team, team name: Shadow."

Zhou Xing raised an eyebrow slightly.

Five stars, the same rating as Zhao Gao's trainees in the Imperial Household Department.

Three assassins who can stand on equal footing with four powerful eunuchs who have held power for millennia speak volumes about their stature.

He continued reading.

"Nie Zheng, cultivation level: seventh rank."

"Implanted identity: A book engraver who lives in seclusion in the city, residing alone in Liutiao Lane in the eastern part of the capital. He is usually taciturn, and his neighbors only know that he is skilled in engraving, but they are unaware that he possesses a unique skill."

"Practicing the Seven Kill Sword Technique, Zhuan Zhu assassinates with a single blow, killing instantly and fleeing a thousand miles away."

"Jing Ke, cultivation level: seventh rank."

"Implanted identity: A traveling scholar living in the backyard of the bookstore. He appears to be generous and fond of wine, but in reality, he lies in wait, concealing his talents, and when he makes a move, it will be earth-shattering."

"Practicing the White Rainbow Sword Technique allows one to transcend the heavens and earth, enabling one to assassinate a king of a higher level."

"Zhuan Zhu, cultivation level: seventh grade."

"Implanted identity: Bookstore clerk, one-armed, taciturn, and somewhat famous in the neighborhood for his grilled fish skills."

"The Fish Intestine Dagger is a magical weapon, concealed within the belly of a fish. When drawn, it draws blood and kills with a single blow."

Zhou Xing looked at the three names three times.

Then he picked up the soup bowl, finished the last sip of longan soup, put the empty bowl on the table, jumped off the chair, and walked to the window.

A thin layer of frost clung to the branches of the old locust tree outside the window, and a few sparrows fluttered their feathers on the branches.

These three individuals were the founders of their respective schools of assassination in Chinese history.

Nie Zheng stormed the Prime Minister's residence alone and assassinated Prime Minister Han Xia Lei amidst heavy guards. After the deed was done, he peeled off his own skin, gouged out his eyes, and disemboweled himself, all to avoid implicating his sister. This decisiveness and ruthlessness are unparalleled throughout history.

Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin was a testament to his courage. Although his mission ultimately failed, his willingness to venture into the treacherous Qin state with only a dagger and a single man is enough to make assassins throughout history bow down in despair.

Zhuan Zhu assassinated King Liao of Wu by hiding a dagger inside a fish and killing the king on the spot at a banquet. This feat pioneered the assassination technique of "concealing the weapon in an object and attacking the enemy by surprise."

Three people, three styles, three positions.

Nie Zheng was stationed at the bookstore, responsible for planning and directing operations.

Jing Ke was sent out to scout and provide support.

Zhuan Zhu remained hidden in the shadows, responsible for disguise and execution.

Together, the three form a complete assassination system.

Planning, reconnaissance, execution, and retreat—each step was handled by top-notch personnel.

The light screen continued to flicker, revealing details of the implanted identity one by one.

The three of them ended up in an inconspicuous alley on Qipan Street in Beijing.

Willow Lane.

Deep in the alley, there is a bookstore called "Mohenxuan". The bookstore engraves and sells books and also deals in the Four Treasures of the Study. It is inconspicuous among the dozens of bookstores in the capital.

These three individuals—a book engraver, a shop assistant, and the owner—perfectly constitute the standard staffing configuration for a bookstore.

The bookstore sold books by sages and scholars, and its customers were mostly literati.

Who would have thought that such a small bookstore, exuding the scent of ink, would harbor three of the world's top seventh-rank assassins?

What's even more ingenious is that the identity implanted by the system this time is progressive and layered.

Jing Ke and Zhuan Zhu were both introduced to the country by Nie Zheng, who himself was rescued by Yao Guangxiao and inspired by him to join his cause.

Yao Guangxiao was a monk staying at the Great Bao'en Temple, but he has now returned to secular life and entered officialdom.

Having heard about Nie Zheng's situation from an old acquaintance at the temple, he wrote a letter of recommendation in the name of their old friendship and arranged for him to work as a book engraver at Mohenxuan.

This interconnected chain seamlessly links "Mohenxuan" with Zhouxing's entire layout.

Yao Guangxiao was one of their own, and anyone or any arrangement he made could be naturally incorporated into the Ninth Prince's covert network when needed.

The flame of the oil lamp flickered slightly, and the faint sound of a clapper outside the window drifted in; it was already past midnight.

The side hall was quiet. He spread out the map of the capital he had made himself and drew a tiny triangle at the location of Chessboard Street and Willow Lane.

That's the mark of Mohenxuan.

Then he wrote two words next to the triangle: Shadow.

He put down his pen, folded the map, and tucked it back under his pillow. Then he sat cross-legged on the bed, his inner energy still slowly circulating.

At ten years old, he sat upright, and his mastery of the Five Animal Frolics made him far stronger than his peers.

He closed his eyes, and the last blank space on the chessboard in his mind was being filled.

Zhao Gao and Yao Guangxiao were in the imperial court.

On the battlefield were Huo Qubing and Chen Qingzhi.

Among the Imperial Guards were Xu Chu and Dian Wei.

In the martial arts world, there are Lu Changfeng and Shangguan Jin Hong.

In the business world, there were Yi Dun and Lei Lutai; in the literary world, there were Su Shi and Wang Anshi.

There are four sages in the medical field.

And now, in the shadows, lies the Ink Trace Pavilion.