Gu Yuan’s words pulled Fang Qing out of her reverie. She looked at his handsome face, nodded slightly, and replied softly,“I am called Fang Qing.”Even though she had been interrupted, Fang Qing had used that brief moment to make a decision. Whether or not he truly was Gu Yuan, she could not afford to recognize him—pretending not to know him was the best choice. And if she, playing the noble miss, was to join the Wúgòu Alliance plausibly, she had to appear satisfied with Gu Yuan. So she tempered her demeanour, hoping her sudden change of attitude would convey approval to the others. That was why she spoke so gently to Gu Yuan.Gu Yuan was unaccustomed to hearing Fang Qing speak so softly. Before, she had never fit a gentle persona! His expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he began to watch her every move, trying to divine her true intent.“Miss Fang, may I ask…” he began courteously.Before he could finish, Fang Qing cut in, her voice still gentle,“I agree.”Gu Yuan paid no mind to being interrupted. After hearing her words, he invited,“Then let us go, Miss Fang.”Fang Qing looked at his face, nodded firmly, and fell into step beside him. Behind them, the Wúgòu Alliance leader Píngshēng signalled the others to follow.…“Huff… huff…”Tán Zhifēng panted as she ran through the secret passage, straining every sinew to put distance between herself and her pursuers. She was almost free—just a little farther! The bright daylight at the tunnel mouth spurred her on, and she poured her last reserves of energy into a final sprint toward the exit.A Ninth Stage cultivator’s speed was nothing to scoff at, and soon she reached the tunnel’s mouth. But she had forgotten one thing: such an important exit would not be unguarded! A cleaver swung toward her neck with lightning speed.Caught off guard, Tán Zhifēng barely managed to deflect it with her left hand. The blade bit into her flesh, carving a bloody wound. Even so, she was still in peril—several more cleavers arced toward her neck, legs, and torso. There was no suspense: her neck was severed halfway through, her body ravaged elsewhere, and she died a tragic death right there.Seeing Tán Zhifēng fall, the Wúgòu Alliance members sheathed their weapons and resumed guard duty. Since her corpse now blocked most of the passage, two of them roughly hoisted her up and, treating her like refuse, tossed her into the ruins of Tīngxiá Tower.…Emerging from the secret passage, Fang Qing halted with the main force and watched the Wúgòu Alliance members report to Píngshēng.“Report, Leader—every innocent prisoner in the dungeon has been rescued.”“Report, Leader—the rebel chieftain’s daughter Tán Zhifēng has been slain.”“Report, Leader—the bodies and valuables in the tunnel room have mysteriously disappeared.”After hearing the reports, Píngshēng issued orders to handle each situation.“Take those people with us. Tend to the maimed; assign tasks to the able-bodied tomorrow.”“She’s dead? Good. Míng Zǐ’ān, tomorrow I want you to spread the word that Tīngxiá Tower has been defeated by us, no one escaped!”“Yes!”“These losses are unimportant. What matters most has been secured.”Once all matters were arranged, Píngshēng waved his hand again and proclaimed,“Return march!”“Yes!”Watching Píngshēng orchestrate everything with effortless command, Fang Qing narrowed her eyes. «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» This leader truly had talent.…After the group departed, in a corner of the Tīngxiá Tower ruins a faint glow began to emanate from a female corpse. Moments later, her finger twitched.…Surveying the terse architecture before her, Fang Qing followed Gu Yuan inside with a look of disdain. On the way, he had already explained the rules of the Wúgòu Alliance. Fang Qing had distilled them for her own understanding.First, the Wúgòu Alliance did not prevent members from leaving. In other words, a member could join other factions; as long as they did not turn against the Alliance, they remained a member.Second, the Alliance issued errands like a mercenary guild. Anyone could post a commission in the task hall, offering payment to Wúgòu members to complete it—whether a killing contract or finding a lost kitten, any task with a reward could appear in the hall.These were the two core points Fang Qing needed to remember; details like board and lodging required no further explanation.Walking along the earthen road with Gu Yuan, Fang Qing glanced around at the Alliance base. Most structures were simple earthen huts; a few were built of stone bricks. The most conspicuous was a three-story building about ten meters tall, sprawling across a large footprint—her gaze fixed on it.“What is that?” she asked Gu Yuan.Unexpectedly, he looked troubled and could not answer. Just as she prepared to flaunt her noble temper, a man approached and answered for him.“That is the core of our Wúgòu Alliance: the task hall. The first floor holds simple errands, the second floor requires bloodshed, and the third is for cultivator-level tasks.”His explanation was thorough. Fang Qing turned to assess his face—her character could not slip. Once satisfied he was adequately handsome, she nodded slowly and said,“I see. Gu Yuan, remember that?”Gu Yuan forced a wry smile and nodded earnestly,“I will not forget. I can explain any time.”“Who asked you to explain anytime? I remember it myself!” Fang Qing lifted her chin.The man nodded silently, then cupped his hands to Fang Qing and said,“Miss Fang, I am called Míng Zǐ’ān.”Fang Qing paid him no real heed and remarked casually,“I remember you—you were the one who told me to back off.”Míng Zǐ’ān smiled ruefully and replied,“If I had known you possessed such strength, Miss, I certainly would not have spoken so.”“Since you were unaware, I’ll forgive you. Now, why have you come to me? I recall the Leader assigned you a task.”“My task has already been set in motion. I’ve come to guide you, Miss.”“Oh?”“Your highness deserves better than ordinary quarters, so the Leader entrusted me to escort you to appropriate lodgings.”“Then let us go.”

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