The assassins fanned out through the golden-leafed clearing with utter efficiency.
One kicked over a fallen log.
Another parted low-hanging branches with the flat of his blade.
But they all found nothing.
The leader finally raised a gloved hand.
"Enough."
His voice was very fierce.
It sounded like a raspy crocodile.
"She's gone to ground too well. Either she used some rare escape talisman… or someone interfered."
He turned as his eyes narrowed behind the mask.
"Split into four groups. Two head toward the Exalted Sage School's eastern path—cut her off before she reaches the outer formations. One group circle back toward Golden Leaf Pass and watch the fork roads. The last group sweeps deeper into the forest toward the neutral zone. If you find Wen Qingwan… kill her."
The assassins gave sharp nods, no wasted words.
In the next second, fourteen streaks of dark light shot in different directions as they vanished among the golden canopy like smoke swallowed by wind.
