Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Persecution
Translator: 549690339
“Gentlemen, it’s been over fifty years since there has been any trace of the
Hidden Kill Hall in my Qian Country. Yet now, assassins from the Hidden Kill Hall have targeted our Purple Mist Sect stronghold. I can’t help but suspect that there’s some hidden agenda in this.” A Pill Sect Elder’s speaking insinuated, while his eyes deliberately glanced at Fang Lin.
Fang Lin recognized this person, who often sided with Zhao Dengming and Yu Zhen, leaving no doubt that he was aligned with them.
Seeing this Pill Sect Elder attempting to pin the blame on him, Fang Lin felt disgruntled and retorted, “Elders, you are not aware that before these men in black launched their attack, a woman sneaked into White Elephant Mountain with sinister intentions. I happened to catch her red-handed and injured her. This woman appeared among the men in black tonight, and all of my martial brothers could testify to this.” “Indeed, I saw that woman.”
“Yes, I also saw her.”
The surviving disciples of the Pill Sect all testified, affirming that they had indisputably witnessed the woman.
The complexion of the Pill Sect Elder, who had intended to implicate Fang Lin, turned ugly. Chiding coldly, he said, “Silence! This is not of your concern.”
With a cold smirk, Fang Lin retorted, “Elder, you have quite the authority. Could it be that you’re unhappy that some of us survived the black-clothed assailants?”
His words caused the Pill Sect Elder to scowl while others looked at Fang Lin strangely, evidently impressed by his boldness.
“Fang Lin, you are being presumptuous!” The infuriated Pill Sect Elder did not take Fang Lin’s audacious words lightly.
Fang Lin chuckled dismissively, opting to ignore him altogether.
Unhappy, Dugu Nian frowned and said arrogantly, “Hey, what on earth is wrong with you? We have just come through a life-and-death crisis, mind you! What are you trying to do? Get us all killed again?” “Elder Liu, say no more.” “Indeed, Elder Liu, you have crossed the line.”
“Liu Zhizhou, restrain yourself.”
The other three Pill Sect Elders chimed in while several Martial Sect experts looked dissatisfied. Liu Zhizhou’s intention to harm Fang Lin was too palpable, forcibly attempting to associate Fang Lin with the stealthy attack by the men in black.
However, Liu Zhizhou conducted his retaliation far too blatantly; anyone with wisdom could easily perceive his ulterior motives.
Liu Zhizhou’s expression darkened, and he stormed off abruptly with a grunt.
Another Pill Sect Elder meticulously gathered information about the woman from Fang Lin, with Fang Lin leaving nothing out. After speaking, there was confidential exchange of gazes between the elderly Pill Sect member and the other Martial Sect experts.
“We should not linger around here too long; you should leave with us.” the Pill Sect Elder told Fang Lin and the others.
The crowd had no objections as they wished to leave this place as swiftly as possible. Who knew if those men in black would return?
Thus, Fang Lin and the others left White Elephant Mountain, accompanied by the Purple Mist Sect’s delegates.
At the foot of the mountain, they came across Xu Shugong’s corpse and felt a sad pang. After inquiring about Elder Dong Qing, they learned that though he managed to fight his way through the ambush, his severe injuries led to his death during his journey for reinforcements.
Both Pill Sect Elders had been slain by the black-clothed attackers.
Yet their deaths were not in vain; at least Fang Lin and others had survived.
During the journey, Fang Lin learned about the Hidden Kill Hall in detail from Dugu Nian’s narrative.
The Hidden Kill Hall was an ancient assassin organization. Nobody can confirm when it first emerged, but the appearance of a Hidden Kill Hall assassin invariably meant that a bloodbath would soon follow.
The organization remained enigmatic. No one could determine how many members Hidden Kill Hall encompassed. The Nine Countries once formed an alliance to exterminate it. After that, the Hidden Kill Hall disappeared without a trace.
Just when everyone had assumed that the Hidden Kill Hall had been thoroughly eradicated, the Hidden Kill Hall struck back with a thunderous blow, killing the Crown Prince of the Chu Country, one of the Upper Three Countries.
Everyone was utterly astounded. The Hidden Kill Hall was like deathless weeds, and attempts to eradicate it merely resulted in regrowth.
Currently, the Hidden Kill Hall was more discreet and intimidating than ever before, such that no one dared to incite it.
It was said that the Hall Master of the 1–lidden Kill 1–lall possessed an Immortal Body that had existed since the organization’s establishment.
There were rumors of the Hidden Kill Hall having thirty-six A-class assassins, seventy-two B-class assassins, one hundred and eight H-class assassins, along with countless other members.
It was rumored that the deadliest assassins were the ‘Wind, Thunder, Water, Fire’ quartet of Hidden Kill Hall. The appearance of Wind and Thunder or Water and Fire invariably signaled the downfall of a formidable power.
Dugu Nian, the jewel of the Dugu Family from Xuan Country, had learned only this much, as the Dugu Family previously had some run-ins with the Hidden Kill Hall.
Fang Lin knitted his brows in concern. This Hidden Kill Hall appeared to be a force that even the combined strength of the Nine Countries could not eliminate.
Fang Lin was particularly troubled by the four rumors regarding the Hidden Kill Hall.
Immortal Body? Fang Lin didn’t believe so. Even in his past life when his cultivation had reached heavenly pinnacle, he had not achieved such monstrous immortality.
Despite wanting intensely to refine the Life and Death Reincarnation Pill, to attain eternal youth and life, Fang Lin had failed and ended up as the outcast he was today.
If the Hall Master of Hidden Kill Hall truly possessed an Immortal Body, he would have already unified the Nine Countries Seven Seas. There would be no need for the Hidden Kill Hall.
Throughout the journey, Fang Lin kept pondering the Hidden Kill Hall issue, until they arrived at the Purple Mist Sect’s other stronghold.
The White Elephant Mountain stronghold was no longer a viable hideout, and the journey back to the Pill Sect would be too long. So they decided to rest overnight and resume their journey by daylight.
The journey was uneventful.
When Fang Lin and the others finally returned to the Pill Sect, they all felt as though they had been reborn and could finally breathe with ease.
The traumatic experience on that horrific night had turned these Pill Sect disciples into emotionally vulnerable individuals, devoid of a sense of safety. Not until they stepped into the Pill Sect boundary did they finally feel at ease.
However, the subsequent developments left them dumbfounded.
Gu Daofeng personally ordered that Fang Lin and the others, who survived the White Elephant Mountain ambush, be detained in a secluded courtyard.
Fang Lin was greatly enraged, protesting vehemently, and yet he was still escorted into the courtyard.
Even Dugu Nian was not excused, and was also placed under house arrest.
Gu Daofeng’s reasoning was that an extensive investigation regarding the White Elephant Mountain attack was necessary, as he suspected that Fang Lin was involved.
Many Pill Sect Elders were discontent and incredulous at his reasoning.
However, those Pill Sect Elders who had always intended to persecute Fang Lin felt thrilled and immediately began plotting how to take advantage of this situation to crush Fang Lin once and for all..