A shadowy figure appeared, clad entirely in black night gear. A hood covered his head, and a black cloth mask obscured his face. His eyes were sharp, a long blade strapped to his back. One look was enough to tell—this man was up to no good. Worse yet, he had emerged not far away. If he wished, he could launch a deadly strike at any moment. The threat was real and immediate.
The instant Huan Lin saw the figure, the first thought that popped into his mind was:
"Who the hell is this guy? Dressed like a damned wannabe assassin? Asking for a beating."
But the next moment, a chill ran through his heart as the notion of a professional assassin took hold.
After all, he'd witnessed the previous assassination attempt on Yi Tianxing. He knew that assassins had already infiltrated Great Yi, either to kill the Emperor or to target top officials. As one of the City Lords, he was likely on the hit list too.
His heart skipped a beat.
They're here for me.
He was just about to spring into action—to face this assassin in a life-or-death clash—when his communicator began to pulse. A voice message shot directly into his mind.
"Attention: To all Great Yi officials and citizens—if you spot someone dressed like an assassin nearby, do not act surprised. Do not give away that you've noticed. Instead, try to get close and capture or kill them when the opportunity presents itself. Prioritize your safety above all.These assassins are ninjas, hailing from the Eastern Wasteland. They're masters of patience, often enduring anything just to land a single fatal blow."
This message was immediately transmitted to every Great Yi official, directly into their minds via the communicator.
In an instant, all officials across Great Yi understood the situation and kept their composure.
Even Yi Tianxing himself was far from calm.
While using his Heaven's Eye to sweep across the entire empire, those assassins hidden in the shadows became fully visible—like ghosts exposed under sunlight. Strangely, the assassins remained unaware that their stealth had been compromised. They still thought they were perfectly hidden, blissfully ignorant of their exposure.
"Ninjas," he muttered.
The moment he saw their attire, Yi Tianxing knew. His heart turned cold.
"So the Eastern Wasteland pirates are working with Eternal Night now? Sending ninjas into my Great Yi? Disgusting bloodline. No wonder we couldn't detect them before.Unfortunately, I still haven't found the assassin who tried to kill me."
What he really wanted was to track down the original assassin. But that person had vanished—even Heaven's Eye couldn't find any lingering presence, only faint traces left behind, which were ultimately meaningless.
Still, Yi Tianxing didn't dare underestimate the ninjas.
The Eastern Wasteland was known for two things: beautiful women and ninjas.
And the essence of a ninja lay in the word 忍 (endure)—they would suffer any hardship for the chance to deliver a lethal strike. Yi Tianxing didn't know how these ninjas had arrived or how they'd bypassed surveillance to infiltrate Great Yi, but since they came, they shouldn't expect to leave so easily.
What infuriated him most was the sheer number of ninjas. There was at least one in every celestial city, lurking near the City Lords. Clearly, this was a coordinated plan to assassinate multiple leaders simultaneously.
If they succeeded... the consequences would be catastrophic.
"Damn Eternal Night. Damn Eastern Wasteland.Assigning a ninja to every City Lord—that's a direct strike at my foundation. Ruthless ambition.When did the Eastern Wasteland become Eternal Night's lapdog?If they're near Great Yi, perhaps it's time to teach them a lesson about messing with a tiger's tail."
Yi Tianxing's mind was spinning.
More importantly—how did they get in? How did they avoid Great Yi's surveillance? And most pressing of all: what if, instead of capturing them, it was better to wipe them out entirely?
But that was a problem for later.
Right now, the goal was to strike first, while the ninjas were still unaware they'd been exposed.
The various City Lords, having received the message, began secretly monitoring the assassins nearby.
At the same time, both the Six Doors Division and the Hall of Calamities were mobilized. Elite constables and undercover agents fanned out across the cities, ready to assist with captures and exterminations. They were also wary that once exposed, the ninjas might lash out at nearby civilians.
Meanwhile, in Nameless City…
He Shen was lounging in the rear garden of the City Lord's manor. Though underground, the city's lighting system mimicked daylight perfectly. He sipped tea and hummed a tune, his beady green eyes narrowed in contentment.
"Assassins? Where?"
He too received the mental message, but being an old fox, he kept a perfectly straight face. Casually, he scanned the surroundings with his eyes.
Left—nothing.
Right—still nothing.
Everywhere he looked, nothing unusual.
"What the hell? No one's trying to assassinate me? This is an insult!"
He Shen was genuinely offended.
"All the other City Lords get assassins and I don't? What am I, chopped liver?"
No comparison, no pain.
"Wait… something's off…"
His gaze fell on a chrysanthemum growing nearby. It looked a bit... weird. On closer inspection, it was actually a long topknot transformed into a flower. Someone had buried themselves in the ground, disguised as a flower.
"He really thinks he's a plant."
He Shen's eyes gleamed.
"Guards! Go fetch Ye Zhiqiu. I want him to join me for tea and flower viewing. These chrysanthemums are truly blooming beautifully right now."
The ninja hidden underground heard this and was secretly pleased.
"Perfect! He's walking right into range. One strike and he's dead."
The ninja was thrilled, certain that his flower disguise was flawless.
"After I complete this mission, the Eastern Wasteland will earn Eternal Night's favor. When Eternal Night rules the Eternal World, our ninjutsu will thrive. So many benefits await…"
He began to daydream.
Just then, Ye Zhiqiu arrived.
He'd been staying in Nameless City for some time, collecting materials for some kind of artifact refinement. Though not a formal official but a worshipped retainer, he was still part of Great Yi. And with He Shen's diplomatic charm, the two had formed a rapport.
He Shen had secretly messaged Ye Zhiqiu via communicator about the disguised ninja, asking him to play along.
For Ye Zhiqiu—free-spirited and fond of fun—it was the perfect excuse to mess around.
"Brother He, I hear your chrysanthemums are in full bloom? I've always loved chrysanthemums. May I admire them?"
"Come, come! Look at this one here. Isn't it stunning? When the petals fall, it'll be even more poignant."
He Shen led him toward the ninja-flower, lavishly praising it.
Even the ninja blushed—internally.
"They are admiring me… I really am a flower king."
"Indeed," Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "But…"
"But what? Speak your mind."
"This chrysanthemum… looks a little frail. The stem is too thin, too fragile. A gust of wind might topple it. It needs fertilizer."
"Fertilizer?"
He Shen blinked—then grinned.
"Excellent idea! Bring some farm fertilizer! We can't let such a fine chrysanthemum wither prematurely. That would break my heart."
He gave the order.
Underground, the ninja froze.
"What the hell? Fertilizer? I'm a ninja, not a plant! You want to bury me in manure?!"
Just moments ago, he was basking in admiration. Now they were talking about dumping dung on him.