Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

Qin Ling Shuang merely nodded slightly, not even offering a cupped-hand salute.

If she hadn't agreed to Chen Shao's request, she might have already gone berserk by now.

Wu Xingyun then said:

"What Han Xiang needs most right now is troops, isn't it? The Black Wind Stronghold has thousands of brothers, each one a skilled fighter who has tasted blood, and they are ready to be at Han Xiang's command at any time."

"As for the terms, I have already negotiated them with Chief Qin on behalf of Han Xiang."

"After the deed is done, all bounties on Black Wind Stronghold will be cancelled, their criminal records will be removed, and all descendants of Black Wind Stronghold members will be treated the same as ordinary people, with no blemishes on their records."

Han Cao showed no joy upon hearing these words.

"Who are you, sir, and by what right do you act on my behalf?"

Wu Xingyun seemed to have anticipated his question and reached into his robes.

He took out a warm, smooth white jade waist pendant.

The waist tag is carved with a golden wolf with outstretched wings.

The wolf's head is held high, and its tail is coiled.

It was the personal keepsake of Empress Helian Yunni of Northern Mang.

"I am the Empress's First Attendant, known as the Female Yaksha by the grassland people."

"If Han Xiangru feels the portion is insufficient, then I will leave immediately."

Han Cao's breath hitched slightly. He had certainly heard of the name "Female Yaksha" before.

The de facto leader of the Northern Mang Intelligence Bureau.

Helian Yunni's right-hand woman and close confidante.

Rumor has it that he kills without blinking an eye and his schemes are as deep as the sea.

What's most chilling is that, it's said, they turned an entire tribe into military rations during a battle on the grasslands.

"That's enough, that's enough."

Han Cao nodded slightly. "If this great undertaking succeeds, we can sit down and discuss the matter of friendly relations between our two countries."

At this moment, Qin Ling Shuang, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.

"I have one more condition: after the Emperor Emeritus is restored to the throne, I hope that the Prime Minister can reopen a case of injustice from back then."

Han Cao had no interest in such a trivial matter and immediately waved his hand:

"no problem."

......

After seeing the two off, Han Cao immediately headed towards the Golden Wind and Drizzle Pavilion.

He sat in the armchair and slowly blew on the tea.

Soon, an elderly man with flowing white hair, a professional smile on his face, bowed respectfully from afar.

"I was so sorry for not being able to greet Your Excellency the Prime Minister properly upon your arrival."

Han Cao was too lazy to exchange pleasantries with him.

"Master Ximen, I will not hold what happened before against you."

"Five hundred thousand taels of silver! This time, I want to see Chen Shao's head!"

Upon hearing this, the owner of Ximen Tower looked troubled and repeatedly declined:

"Your Excellency, I cannot accept this deal."

"What's wrong?"

"Chen Shao has just repelled the Northern Barbarians. Anyone who makes a move now would be a traitor to the nation. How can my Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion maintain its standing in the martial world after that?"

"Although my Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion claims that there is no one who is not worthy of being killed, we still have our bottom line."

Han Cao sneered:

"You never used to say things like this. Could it be that you've lost your nerve, Ximen Gucheng, because Chen Shao has become so powerful?"

"No, it's just that times have changed. Han Xiang should understand the consequences of killing Chen Shao better than I do."

"This is undoubtedly pushing my Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion into a fire pit. There are some kinds of money that I, an old man, will never be able to earn."

Han Cao's lips curled into a sneer:

"A killer organization has loyalty and righteousness now? Simon Gucheng, do you think your organization is the only killer organization in the world?"

"Qingyi Tower, Tang Clan, Luo Wang, I can go find them."

"Your Excellency is likely to be disappointed. Not a single assassin organization in the world can take this job."

He then changed the subject, "Therefore, if the Prime Minister wants to kill Chen Shao, there is only one way."

"What method?"

"Add more money!"

"So that's how it is," Han Cao raised an eyebrow. "That old fox."

"In that case, what are Master Ximen's bottom lines..."

"The bottom line is the bottom line, this is the principle, and in principle, the principle should be greater than the bottom line."

"Stop beating around the bush and name your price. But I'm warning you, Chen Shao may have taken over the Dragon Subduing Gang, and he'll be accompanied by a lot of people, all of them desperados."

"It's just a small gang that robs and plunders. These are all just extras. Eight hundred thousand taels, no bargaining."

"Hahaha."

Han Cao found it amusing; this old man wouldn't even dare to dream of something big.

All that effort for a mere 300,000 taels increase? How laughable.

"Can!"

......

As soon as Han Cao left, the smile on Ximen Gucheng's face vanished like the receding tide.

Soon, the leaders of the Golden Wind and Drizzle Pavilion gathered around him, forming two dark rows.

Everyone held their breath, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Ximen Gucheng looked around at everyone and slowly spoke.

"This time, I will personally lead the team."

"Chen Shao has members of the Dragon Subduing Gang by his side, one of whom is named Wu Song. His kung fu is no less than mine, so please do not be careless."

A commotion broke out among the leaders around him.

Firstly, the original poster hasn't taken action for many years, but this time they're actually going to do it personally.

What nonsense about the second-rate Wu Song dynasty? Why is the poster taking this so seriously?

Some people couldn't help but sneer:

"Master, the Dragon Subduing Gang is just a small group with only a few members. No matter how good Wu Song is, he's still just one person."

"Weren't we all crawled out of piles of corpses?"

"This time, the boss doesn't even need to go out in person. We can take a hundred or so brothers and we'll make sure it's all done without anyone noticing."

Ximen Gucheng gave the man a cold glance, and the man immediately shrank back.

"If I hear such arrogant words again, I will personally see you off at your death."

Everyone felt a chill and quickly changed the subject.

"OP, should we inform Ruolan? After all, she's quite capable."

"No, Ruolan is currently an undercover agent in the palace. Try not to disturb her unless necessary, so as not to give herself away."

"Everyone, follow me in half an hour."

"Remember, even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit; never be careless!"

"Yes!" The crowd responded respectfully, abandoning their contempt.

......

After all, the Golden Wind and Drizzle Pavilion was the most renowned assassin organization in the martial arts world.

Extremely efficient in doing things.

The assembly, the departure—all happened silently.

Two or three hundred people poured out of the city and, led by Ximen Gucheng, arrived early at the only road leading to the south of the city to wait.

In a dense grove of locust trees.

The assassins are in position.

This grove of trees, slightly elevated above the official road and covered in dense shrubs, was the perfect spot for an ambush.

Ximen Gucheng surveyed the terrain and said calmly:

"From now on, everyone stay here in ambush, and remember not to make a sound."

"OP..."

One of the brothers pinched his nose and asked:

"Can we go somewhere else... There's no need to force yourself to suffer."

He pointed to the side, where there was a large pile of cow dung flying up.

The stench was unbearable, and flies swarmed around it.

"Heh, what do you know?"

The original poster sneered, "This is a place I specifically chose."

"The world believes that the way of an assassin lies in speed, ruthlessness, and killing with a single blow."

"Little did they know that these were nothing but the lowest of the low."

"The first lesson a true top assassin learns is not how to kill, but how to endure—to endure what ordinary people cannot."

The poster walked up to the cow dung, grabbed a handful, and took a deep sniff.

Then he closed his eyes slightly, revealing an expression of lingering enjoyment.

"If you can smell ambergris in cow dung, then you've entered the realm of cultivation."