"Master, then what should I do?"
"Seize the Dragon Heart Flame. That flame lies at the bottom of a bottomless ravine… Before taking it, you must sneak in. How? Well, you're smart—think of a plan quickly!"
Xiao Chen swallowed hard. The ominous feeling he had was becoming more pronounced. Yet his master could only smile mysteriously and said, "Once you obtain the Dragon Heart, your chance to advance to the next level will increase significantly… What are you waiting for? Don't you want to know what that place, the Sky Hall, really is?"
"Watch the masked man—he is your target… Later, when he is careless or goes out on patrol, kill him!" the Star Soul Spirit added.
Nodding, Xiao Chen waited for the opportunity to present itself. Yet the masked man had not acted as his master had said.
"Master, why did you choose him as the target?"
"Besides wearing a mask, he looks like the leader of a small squad… Someone like him is not to be underestimated. Now that he's outside, Chen'er, don't ask too many questions!"
Xiao Chen followed the masked man's path. As the man was about to exit Shao Yang Forest, he stopped. Clearly, he had realized that Xiao Chen had been shadowing him since he left the camp.
"Why hide any longer? You're far from your squad… Why are you still standing there?"
Swuuuuuush!
Xiao Chen stepped out from behind the trees, using the Light Body Technique. Seeing this strange youth before him, the masked man said, "Who are you? Only a Foundation-Level practitioner dares follow me?!"
Xiao Chen only smiled faintly, then lunged, striking the masked man with a punch. However, the masked man met Xiao Chen's attack with the palm of his hand.
Booooom!
The punch and palm collided. After just one exchange, Xiao Chen had to pull back his fist.
"Trying to escape? Not so easy, brat!"
As the masked man attempted to twist Xiao Chen's arm, a blue sword shot forward at incredible speed, seemingly moving on its own toward the masked man.
Slaaaaaaaash!
His arm was cut off. Eyes wide, the masked man staggered backward.
"Who dares interfere in my business?!"
The appearance of the sword alerted Xiao Chen, who immediately became cautious. He sought the source of the sword that had severed the masked man's arm.
Swuuuuuuush!
Hao Geng appeared, flanked by two guards, all floating in the sky aided by a pair of reddish-blue Qi wings.
"The owner of the Sky Sword Pavilion?!" Xiao Chen was quite shocked.
The masked man reacted differently. Recognizing Hao Geng, he trembled in fear. If Hao Geng intervened, the youth in front of him would clearly be affiliated with the Sky Sword Pavilion.
"Ha-Hao Geng… When did the Huan Assassins provoke you? How dare you interfere in our affairs?!"
Hao Geng did not respond. He descended from the sky with his two guards to meet Xiao Chen.
"Prince, are you alright?"
'Master's calculations are indeed precise,' Xiao Chen thought.
'But how could he have predicted that Hao Geng would come to my aid?' he asked his master via telepathy.
"Simple. He wants to take advantage of you, and he needs you. Seeing you in danger, he would definitely intervene…"
"Why do you look so distracted, Prince?"
Xiao Chen snapped back to reality and thanked Hao Geng. The masked man, seeing no other option, attempted to trigger a signal for help. However, Hao Geng's guards noticed immediately. With a single flick, the blue sword that had cut the masked man's arm returned, severing his neck.
Slaaaaaaah!
"This…"
"Prince, you were in danger! How could I just stand by?"
Xiao Chen nodded, then removed the mask from the slain man. Just as he was about to take the man's clothing, Hao Geng intervened, handing him identical garments.
"Use this instead. A prince like you should not wear the clothes of the dead!"
'He is cunning… But for now, his actions are only helping advance your plan, Chen'er,' Xiao Chen thought.
Accepting the clothes, Xiao Chen changed quickly. Hao Geng then gave a warning: Xiao Chen could not act openly, or risk exposing himself.
Naturally, Xiao Chen expressed his gratitude. Hao Geng handed him the masked man's spatial ring.
"Inside is a lot of information to help you execute your plan… Be careful!"
Receiving the ring, Hao Geng and his guards flew back toward the city of Pao. Their departure made Xiao Chen realize that his every move could be under the watchful eye of the powerful.
"Master, you were right. I must be smart about hiding my identity…"
"You don't need to worry too much. He only traded with you. Once the transaction is complete, you may very well do the same if your life is in danger!"
Xiao Chen returned to the Huan Assassins' camp. Entering the camp, his identity as the squad commander was respected there.
"Hua Yao, the Young Master Le wishes to see you…"
'Perfect timing…'
Xiao Chen nodded, his gaze fixed carefully on the largest camp.
"Surely he must be there?" he thought, approaching the camp.
Upon arrival, he began stepping inside.
"Uncle Yao, can you help me with something?"
"Oh? What is it?"
Huan Le didn't seem to care, focused instead on venting his anger toward his two companions.
"Uncle, please make Lie Du suffer… I want him to pay for slapping my face!"