Chapter 677: The Assassins Were Tricked
Just like that, corpses were recovered and brought away. Some soldiers steeled themselves and called out aloud for many of those corpses whose identities were not evident, "Does anyone know this fellow? Come out to help identify him!"
After the loud hollering, a few martial artists would usually rush over and help to distinguish the identity of the dead body.
The martial world affairs ended in the martial world; even though grudges still existed, rarely would there be people who would hold it against their enemies' dead bodies. Of course, those who helped now were not entirely kind-hearted people nor were they enlightened. Anyone would have similar thoughts; what if I were to be the one lying on the ground someday?
Even until later, when the soldiers came in to collect the dead bodies, they would always attract stares.
Since the beginning of time, this was the first instance that the ruling empire had interacted so harmoniously with the martial world!
While the martial world roamers were innately free spirits that could not be bound, they felt a deep sense of affection for Empire of Yutang now.
For what it was worth, Yutang had given the opportunity for the fallen martial world brothers to return to their roots. This was a favor, regardless of the situation.
The martial world artists were fastidious to repay their gratitude and seek revenge, but they were also clear about favors and grudges.
If one had to pick a side to complain about or even resent Yutang's decision, it would probably be that of the assassins. The current situation was almost equivalent to the world's assassins contending against the entire martial world, because the dragon hide treasure map that greeted the world since leaving Dong Tianleng's grasp was now in the hands of the Hall of Crimson Blade's Hong Zhan, while the owner of the Dictum of Death was Hen Bieli, Hong Zhan's sworn brother.
It was because of the emergence of this token, the object of the assassin world's highest regard, that caused most of the world's ace assassins to gather here. Most of them were already recruited by both of the largest assassin organizations.
After the direct battle with the Four Seasons Tower earlier, the killers who had come to Tiantang City for the dictum were basically absorbed into the organizations, with the exception of those who had died and a small amount of them who were left behind.
These killers were already lone assassins who were rather famous and many among them were reluctant to be under the stifling hand of any organization. However, Hen Bieli had the Dictum of Death and was second in the ranking of Tianxuan's assassin organizations. The benefit of belonging to his organization was obvious.
Of course, there was also the most important factor - based on their character, the Four Seasons Tower would not let this grudge slide so easily, although the assassins seemed to have acquired the ultimate victory when they united against the Four Seasons Tower, seeing that everyone other than the three Venerable Lords was annihilated. With the Hall of Crimson Blade as their support, they thought that they could be shielded from a harsh retaliation.
Who could have thought that there would be a plot twist? Hong Zhan had become the current possessor of the dragon hide treasure map, and because of this, the assassins had become the target of countless martial artists.
When Hong Zhan obtained the secret map of treasure, he was utterly fazed. He had only been trying on a whim.
He really was.
Yet, the fellow had been unexpectedly wounded, and was on the brink of death, waiting for him to collect his loot. When Hong Zhan held the two pieces of dragon hide in his hands, he felt like he was dreaming.
Had it been so easy?
However, a loud roar burst out from somewhere, "The map is with Hong Zhan now! Don't let him get away!"
Hong Zhan went on a chase with his saber but did not see even a shadow. In spite of this, everyone knew about the fact that Hong Zhan had gotten the dragon hide map within a short time. The man wanted to leave then, but he was stopped, stripped of the ability to move.
He had a good comprehension of the current situation, knowing that he would never be able to safeguard the secret map alone. The threat of being killed was right before him now. Therefore, he took a relatively smart approach.
Seeking Hen Bieli out immediately, Hong Zhan gathered all their assassins who were of the third Dao realm and higher.
They would shoulder this together, whether it be a joyous case or a disaster. The dragon hide treasure map belonged to them - if the treasure was to be found, everyone would get a share; everyone would have the chance to become the next Seventeenth Master of the Abyss.
With such a lucrative return, the ace assassins dripped blood from their hands to form the league and made vows that were witnessed by the heavens. From then on, life and death would be shared, for they would advance and retreat together.
Hen Bieli said then, "Combining the forces of both our organizations, no one of power in this world can take this map away from our grasp. Even if the Four Seasons Tower were to come again, it wouldn't be a threat at all."
"As long as we work together, not only can we escape this predicament, there's a big chance we can locate the treasure. As long as we don't give up, as long as we go forth bravely, I believe that both of our organizations can operate fearlessly in the world - when we've ascended to heaven, we'll still be a tidal wave that can sweep over everyone else!"
"Perhaps a decade or a century later, we'll have the power to change this continent. We can even dominate the sky. Today shall be the starting point of this legend!"
His words were hypnotic and incredibly tempting. Most importantly, this promise was made under the eyes of heaven. Neither Hen Bieli nor Hong Zhan dared go against it.
The vow made was a cold, hard reality.
The assassins who joined the league this time were capable talents; any one of them was a tough character who had roamed the martial world for decades. Everyone acknowledged what Hen Bieli had said and honestly, Hen Bieli, Hong Zhan, and even the many assassins were not wrong in their recognition. After all, almost all the top assassins in this world were here. There was truly no force that could fight against it.
This was why no one had any hesitation in making the heaven-witnessed vow together, swearing to guard the treasure map with their lives. They would shoulder good and bad times together, help each other out and overcome the predicament as one.
Ever since, the league of assassins had indeed 'helped each other out' but the term 'overcome the predicament together' was rather suspect.
As time passed, the assassins gradually realized that the predicament seemed to be a challenge to overcome.
Tens of thousands of martial artists flocked to Tiantang City every day; every day, there were countless experts who appeared without warning. The entire east side of the city had become a carnival ground for martial artists.
There were many significant characters in the area - rogues, robbers, assassins... They were anywhere and everywhere. Every inch of the east was filled with martial artists. It was crowded, teeming with people. Too many practitioners and cultivators had surrounded the area securely, like a steel bucket - to be fair, it was not even adequate to describe the current situation as a wall of copper and steel.
Perhaps things should be put this way; if Yutang's Fortress of Resilience had such a force helping out back then, even ten or a hundred Han Sanhes would have failed to take the place, let alone one Han Sanhe!
The assassin league's judgment of the current situation would be as follows, 'We don't know anything of warfare or command, we don't know a thing about war or strategies - we're clueless about everything regarding warfare and discipline, but it doesn't matter.'
'We can endure it by force. When the combat power of both sides differs greatly, the influence of wisdom and intelligence will only become a minor detail. Assassins are the best informed in the ways of killing.'
'No matter how proficient the target it, we'll send ten men if one can't do it, a thousand if ten can't do it, a hundred thousand if a thousand can't do it.'
'Can it be done now? Are you surrendering now?'
'Even if you're Ling Xiaozui or Dugu Chou, can you withstand the coordinated efforts of a massive number of assassins? What's more, there are so many martial artists here, but they are not united; they can hardly do anything despite their large numbers!'
Therefore, if a brutal confrontation were to take place, the martial artists could possibly run and be chased out of Tiantang City by the two assassin heads.