Wang Yin's Assassination Attempt

As the residents of Duke Xue's Estate were sleeping, Wang Yin was having a horrible time. Though Wang Yichen had banished him from the Dukedom temporarily, he had also allowed Wang Yin to stay for a day to prepare. But as nighttime came, so did Wang Yin's time limit.

And after being kicked out like a broke tenant by his landlord, Wang Yin found himself without a home. While he could easily afford to stay at a top-class hotel to sleep in, he was an assassin on a mission, so how could he act high profile and in a luxurious room?

So swallowing the insult, Wang Yin simply flew in the direction of Duke Xue's Snowy Wind City, using his anger as fuel. But due to its far distance, Wang Yin only arrived by the time the sun rose.

Arriving in Snowy Wind City, Wang Yin made sure to hide his identity as well as he could. Wearing a presence-suppressing cloak and a large bamboo hat on top, Wang Yin managed to sneak into Snowy Wind City without alerting any of the guards.

The foot soldiers were only in the Organ Tempering Realm, while the captains were barely in the Dharma Idol Realm. So sneaking past them was simple for the Peak stage Domain Lord Realm, Wang Yin.

Finding a decent motel as close to Duke Xue's estate as possible, Wang Yin prepared to set up his long-term stakeout. But, unfortunately, he knew how much of a shut-in Xue Bai was, so Wang Yin could only hope that he would be able to finish his mission by the year's end.

However, as he sat down, he realized that watching the gate of the estate for an entire year would be extremely boring. So after thinking about his options, Wang Yin decided to go get some extra help.

Though Wang Yichen had stopped him from recruiting help from the Wang Clan, recruiting a rogue cultivator was within the rules. So slipping out from his motel room, Wang Yin crept around Snowy Wind City, trying to find a suitable cultivator to 'recruit.'

Sneaking around the lively city, Wang Yin struggled to find a suitable cultivator to recruit. While his requirements were high, as long as he found the right man, then the job was complete. After all, the man he chose wouldn't be able to refuse even if he wanted to.

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Wang Yin would continue searching for another hour until he found the perfect person for the job. A Squad Leader in Duke Xue's army. And not only was the man by himself, but he was also wobbling through the streets visibly intoxicated.

Making sure his presence was concealed completely and that he hadn't left any clues that could possibly connect him to his identity, Wang Yin made his move.

As an assassin, the Law that Wang Yin comprehended was the Law of Shadows. And while it was only a branch of the Darkness Law, it was more useful than any other Law that he would have comprehended.

Using his Domain in combination with his understanding of the Law of Shadows, Wang Yin was able to teleport in the shadow of anything within his Domain.

So unleashing his Domain silently, Wang Yin engulfed the unsuspecting Squad Leader inside of it, and before the man could react, Wang Yin teleported into the shadow of the Squad Leader. After rising out of the man's shadow like a demon from the earth, Wang Yin quickly knocked the man unconscious before he could let out a cry for help.

Disappearing into the shadows once more, Wang Yin made his way outside of the city after making sure that no one was following him. Following a quick search for a cave, Wang Yin tossed his 'recruit' onto the ground, rudely awakening him.

"Who dares! Do you know who I am?!" After waking up from the harsh impact, the man instantly sobered up and yelled out.

Not bothering to dignify the man's arrogant response, Wang Yin ignored the man's words and spoke out his own.

"Ant, I am Wang Yin, the Third Elder of the Duke Wang Clan. You have the knowledge I need, so either you willingly become my slave or lose your will." Wang Yin spoke emotionlessly.

The Squad Leader, who still had an arrogant expression, froze at Wang Yin's words. The words that Wang Yin spoke were short and simple, yet they had the arrogance that almost forced him to comply.

And wanting to have his will intact, the Squad Leader could only nod.

"Good choice. Now don't resist. If you do, I'll simply kill you. It only took me an hour to find someone that matched my requirements. And I can spend another." Wang Yin spoke as he palmed the head of the Squad Leader.

Branded a slave seal on the man, Wang Yin looked satisfied.

'Now I have inside information. All I need is to wait for news to come.' Wang Yin smiled as he looked relieved.

Giving the Squad Leaders his instructions and a method of communication, Wang Yin left as quietly as he arrived, and within 10 minutes, he had already arrived back in his motel room. Sitting on the mattress, Wang Yin closed his eyes and started meditating.

While his cultivation couldn't advance any further, he could always deepen his understanding of the Law of Shadows. And though it was a small power boost, any strength gain he could get at his age was worth it.

However, just as he was going to begin his comprehension session, the communication token he gave to the squad leader broke.

"Dammit! I swear to the heavens something good must've happened, or I'll skin that bastard and use him as a coat!" Wang Yin swore as he left the motel room.

Rushing to the meet-up spot, he told the Squad Leader. Wang Yin soon found the man pacing around anxiously.

"Ant, tell me what happened. And it better be good, or I can guarantee your ending won't." Wang Yin threatened as he set up a simple noise-suppressing array in the alley.

"Master Yin! You told me to notify you when the Young Duke Xue leaves the estate, correct?" The Squad Leader spoke as he heard Wang Yin appear.

"Yes, what of it? Did you get the day he'd leave?" Wang Yin asked with slight hope.

'As long as it's within the year, It'll be fine.' Wang Yin prayed inwardly.

"No, Master Yin, I think he left just now. I saw his carriage leave the Estate with his bodyguards just a few minutes ago. And from the route I think they took, they should be heading to the forest just outside Snowy Wind City." The Squad Leader spoke.

"You're not lying to me, right?" Wang Yin spoke seriously.

"No, Master Yin. You have my life in your hands. How dare I lie to you with something so easily proven." The Squad Leader answered.

"Good! Even the heavens are helping me, Wang Yin!" Wang Yin yelled out happily. "But now you serve no purpose."

"What do you mean, Master Y-" Sadly, before the Squad Leader could speak up, Wang Yin had already detached his head from his shoulders.

Laughing merrily, Wang Yin snuck out of the alley to find Xue Bai's carriage. And with the help of the Squad Leader's directions, Wang Yin quickly found it exiting Snowy Wind City from the gate closest to the forest. And true to the Squad Leaders' words, the Wang Twins, who were known to be Xue Bai's bodyguards, were near it.

With one driving it and the other resting on the top as if he were scouting for potential enemies.

"Good, that idiot didn't lie to me. However, it's still not confirmed that Xue Bai is in that carriage." Wang Yin thought to himself.

But since that carriage had only carried Xue Bai before, the chances that he was in it currently made Wang Yin more than willing to follow it. So, while dipping in and out through the many shadows of Snowy Wind City, Wang Yin eventually caught up with the carriage and began following it outside the city.

However, sadly for Wang Yin, all the measures he took to ensure his secrecy were nothing in the eyes of Li Rou and Xue Feng.

"Husband, did you know that Squad Leader who ratted Bai'er out?" Li Rou asked as she watched Wang Yin follow the empty carriage into the forest.

"I do, surprisingly. But it wasn't for good reasons. Commander Huo came to me recently and told me about that man's unjust deeds. Apparently, he was a known gambler and had racked up a ton of debt, but instead of paying, he would 'Put it on Lord Duke Xue Feng's tab.' So I was planning on crippling the man sometime next week, but Wang Yin beat me to it." Xue Feng chuckled.

"Husband, should we attack now? Wang Yin already looks apprehensive about whether Bai'er is really in that carriage." Li Rou spoke up.

Wang Yin had been following the carriage for almost 10 minutes through the forest and was questioning whether Xue Bai was truly in it. The beasts this deep in the forest were already at the Bone Strengthening Realm and even were something that Xue Bai would not be able to even look in the eye, let alone fight against.

And as Wang Yin followed the carriage deeper into the forest, the worse feeling he got.

So deciding to stick to the gut feeling that had helped him this long, Wang Yin decisively went to turn back and wait for another opportunity, but before he did, a powerful pressure engulfed him.