Zhang San and Wang Xiaoer left the teahouse, and two men entered wearing straw hats, cloaks with shoulder straps, and each carrying two victorious knives at their waist.
Anyone could easily recognize these people's attire as that of martial artists in the jianghu.
Despite the scorching summer day, it was still oppressively hot in the afternoon.
"Boss, large bowls of iced tea!"
As they spoke, the two men untied their straw hats and placed them on the table before sitting down.
The first one spoke, "Brother, have you heard the news?"
The other nodded, "General Zhenbei has breached the capital of the Shuangxue Country and then massacred the city! It's been three days now, and the entire city is likely bathed in blood! The brutality is said to have even triggered divine wrath, bringing down unmelting snow. The other northern countries, regardless of strength, are all in shock; the situation in the north is truly unpredictable!"
However, the one who spoke first said, "This matter has been widely discussed in the north, reaching the central regions only in recent days. But, that is ultimately a military affair. I invited you today to discuss a major event in the jianghu!"
"That major event? Are you talking about..."
"Exactly! Although it was just a rumor before, according to my friend working at Knowing Hall, it's likely true."
"True? That would be a significant event that could shake the entire underworld in the southern regions."
"No doubt, the disappearance of 'Shui Baiying,' the second-ranked on the Killer's Sky List. It is rumored... he's most likely dead!"
In the Killer's Sky List, almost all the top experts of the underworld are gathered, especially the masters on the Sky List. Each one is a renowned figure destined to be recorded in the history of martial arts.
On the Killer's Sky List, the leaders of Black Heaven Gate and Dark Building, after becoming the heads of their respective sects, no longer take assassin missions. The master of JinWan Pavilion has never taken an assassin mission since starting, so these three are not ranked.
Currently, the first on the Killer's Sky List is another master from Black Heaven Gate, 'Song Tianxing.'
However, when it comes to the strongest assassin on the Sky List, the older generation of jianghu knows that, although Song Tianxing is a master, there has always been a debate about who truly holds the title of the strongest on the Sky List.
After all, the veteran of the underworld, 'Shui Baiying,' originally held the first position, having truly earned his reputation as a killer.
But due to his many years of not taking missions, coupled with his age, having surpassed seventy and entered old age, Knowing Hall demoted him by one rank, making him the second on the Sky List.
In theory, regardless of the underworld or righteous path, experts with such age and fame would usually choose to retire and withdraw from the jianghu after turning seventy.
Yet, Shui Baiying still hasn't officially retired from the jianghu, mainly because, in these past two decades, the rise of the three major underworld forces in the north has been too rapid.
After the death of Immortal Yu, the dominant forces in the underworld, particularly Black Heaven Gate and two other major factions, claimed their supremacy. Southern underworld factions found themselves in an obvious disadvantage, having lost territorial influence both domestically and internationally. The northern underworld extended its reach into the central regions, poised to sweep down once successful.
In times like these, the southern underworld, without a formidable figure like the Black Heaven Gate's Shui Baiying standing behind them, would face even greater challenges and dare not contend with the three major underworld forces.
Hence, rumors and conspiracies about the esteemed Shui Baiying have recently spread across the martial world.
For instance, in the private conversation of two martial artists:
"Senior Shui Baiying is an extraordinary figure. Now, suddenly, his life and death are unknown. Do you think it might be..."
"Wait, speak softly." The man glanced around, ensuring no one was nearby, then lowered his voice, "It seems, brother, you also suspect that the 'Gate Master' or 'Tower Master' took action, right?"
To the common folk, it indeed seemed plausible. The most feasible ways to kill a martial arts master were either through overwhelming numbers, with a thousand or even several thousand people equipped with strong bows and crossbows surrounding and overwhelming the master, or through an equally skilled, or even more powerful, martial arts master.
Entering his twilight years, Shui Baiying's strength had declined somewhat, but compared to other celestial-tier martial artists, facing earthly or even minor celestial-tier opponents, an aging martial arts master was still a sure bet.
Considering Shui Baiying's importance to the southern underworld, the 'Gate Master' and 'Tower Master' mentioned in the tea shop conversation were indeed the most suspicious candidates. After all, apart from them, who else had the strength and motive to kill Shui Baiying?
No wonder various speculations have been escalating in the martial world lately, seemingly ready to ignite a wildfire.
Unfortunately, outside Xiaotian Town recently, the two master-disciple pairs residing in the secluded mountain temple, oblivious to the events like the destruction of Shuangxue Country or Shui Baiying's demise, were currently burdened with their own concerns.
...
...
On their journey, Zhang San did not rush using light-foot techniques. Although the two master-disciple pairs moved at a decent pace, it was only during the night that they returned to the dilapidated temple.
Tonight was quite cool, but the wind couldn't dispel the troubles plaguing the minds of both Zhang San and Wang Xiaoer.
Zhang San, filled with worries, despite taking every precaution, looked down only to find that Wang Xiaoer wore an equally troubled expression.
Even the book in his hand, the masterpiece considered a killing manual by Wang Xiaoer, titled "Record of an Assassin's Career," written by Zhang San himself, seemed to have lost its allure.
Closing the book, Wang Xiaoer turned to his master and asked, "Master, do you think there's a way to resurrect the dead in this world?"
The question was peculiar.
Zhang San responded directly, "For thousands of years, countless people have searched for it."
"Did anyone find it?"
"Of course. If someone did find or create it, they'd immediately become the world's greatest physician. But why ask this now?"
With thoughts of Bai Xiaoyu's mournful expression today, Wang Xiaoer, in a low tone, said, "Master, you mentioned earlier that Aunt Bai is close to death. I suddenly thought, if Aunt Bai dies, how sad Xiaoyu would be. I don't want to see her... cry, and I'm even a bit afraid of seeing her cry. So, I asked."
Zhang San did indeed discuss Bai Fang's condition with Wang Xiaoer once, so there was no suspicion: "Her illness is strange, with incessant coughing of blood, yet no abnormal lung sounds, an eerie pulse, irregular heart rate, insufficient blood and qi throughout her body. It should be some rare and extremely difficult condition."
Rare and extremely difficult conditions refer to illnesses whose causes are unknown, and due to their rarity, modern physicians are unable to research and treat them.
Wang Xiaoer nodded, having already anticipated this deep down. Anything that could leave even their master helpless was either a terminal illness or an obscure ailment.
"People will die eventually," Zhang San suddenly remarked.
Wang Xiaoer lifted his head, observing his master's calm demeanor.
He remembered the day the great hero passed away; he couldn't help but shed tears, yet his master remained as calm as he was now.
Wang Xiaoer asked, "How can one achieve the same composure as you, master?"
"You just need to kill enough people," Zhang San replied.
Wang Xiaoer sighed but didn't inquire further.
Seeing Wang Xiaoer's despondent expression, Zhang San asked, "Xiaoer, your master asks you: throughout the myriad beings over countless millennia, with diverse backgrounds and experiences, what is the one thing that every person is destined to face?"
Wang Xiaoer replied, "Death."
The answer was obvious.
So Zhang San asked again, "Then, aside from death, what is the second thing that every person must face?"
Wang Xiaoer hesitated for a moment...
After death, what is the second thing that every person's life must inevitably confront?
With a glimmer of insight, Wang Xiaoer seemed to have found the answer.
Seeing this, Zhang San felt a surge of approval in his heart, thinking that this disciple was indeed intelligent, so he said, "Speak up, Xiaoer."
Wang Xiaoer confidently and spiritedly uttered two words:
"Spouse!"
Zhang San: "..."
After a deathly silence, there was only one thought in Zhang San's mind.
Damn!
This disciple is beyond help!