Chapter 006: Last Words and Memories

Two months later, by chance, Xiong Chu overheard the martial arts team instructor discussing the "Colorful Garment Class." It was mentioned that several young women had already graduated and were about to enter the brothel. Only then did he realize that his "wife" would soon be sent to the brothel

The opportunity is right before us, so Xiong Chu suddenly knelt down before Xiaoyaozi with a thud, refusing to get up until he agreed to accept him as a disciple

While others gained their freedom and scattered, only Xiong Chu reflected on his own plight, particularly the tragic death of his young wife, Lan, under the whip at Jiudao Manor, thus he was wholly consumed by thoughts of revenge

In less than five years, Xiaoyaozi ranked tenth on the assassin leaderboard in the martial arts world and first within the Anhe Assassin Group

The farming couple, in order to protect their two children and ensure their escape, briefly recounted the events of how they had rescued Xiong Chu. They then took out half of a jade pendant and handed it to Xiong Chu, informing him that the name would be derived from the two characters on the pendant. At the same time, they betrothed Lan to Xiong Chu.

At the beginning, Xiong Chu took the jade pendant from his adoptive mother and hung it around his neck, then fled with his young wife, Lan, only to be deceived into the Jiudao Manor. During the body search, half of the jade pendant was taken away by the instructor of the martial arts team at Jiudao Manor.

After killing the prey, Xiong Jie learned by chance that there is a canyon behind Jiudao Mountain Villa, which contains a hidden chamber.

Xiong Jie is a person with a firm stance. Now that he has lost his young master, this matter is of great significance. Subsequently, he centered his frantic search around the Dabie Mountains, but ultimately found nothing.

If I had revealed my own name back then, instead of fabricating some name like Balang, everything might have turned out differently

By chance, it was heard that the assassin group was well-informed, so Xiong Jie deliberately sought out the assassin group. Perhaps it was fate, as six months later, he encountered a person being pursued.

Each time they attempted to escape and were caught, both individuals would be stripped of their clothing and subjected to flogging until their bodies were left in a state of complete disarray. Particularly after the third capture, Xiong Chu and Lan were beaten to the brink of death, and Lan lost consciousness on the spot

The second part of the will is to find the lost baby from that year, so that the Xiong family does not become extinct. The baby has half a jade pendant on them, which is engraved with the name of the young master: Xiong Chu.

The fifth point is actually a reminder to Xiong Chu that Tang Qie, bearing the title of "one who speaks and acts decisively," claims to "never kill with two strikes." However, from now on, once they confront each other, one must absolutely not trust this matter.

It is such a coincidence that after Xiaoyaozi left the Dark River Assassins Group, the first assassination mission he received was actually at the home of Wang Yuanwai in Xinan County

It is imperative to escape immediately; this is the decision of Xiong Chu.

The Tang Sect of Shu is renowned in the martial world for its reliance on hidden weapons and deadly poisons, having no connection whatsoever to righteousness and honor. Their family heirloom is their despicable and shameless nature, and this must be firmly remembered.

When Xiong Chu was fourteen years old (in 1616), and Lan was twelve, the small mountain village was once again attacked by bandits. They killed any man they encountered and robbed any woman they saw

He later pursued a person, but was ambushed by the Fire God Sect near Wudang Mountain and sustained serious injuries, which prevented him from entering the secret chamber of Zijing Mountain. Later, with the addition of his disciple Balang, he still did not have the opportunity to go and investigate.

Moreover, the ranking of the top ten assassins in the martial world is said to have been fabricated by someone known as "Wangqi Sanren." After leaving the Jiudao Villa, Xiaoyaozi spent time investigating this individual, but found no trace of him. Therefore, he hopes that if Balang has the opportunity, he must clarify who exactly this "Wangqi Sanren" is.

In the 31st year of the Wanli era (1603), the Jinyiwei and the Eastern Factory joined forces to annihilate the Xiong family of Kanglang Mountain in Yugan County, Jiangxi Province, leaving only the young master, Xiong Chu, who managed to escape.

The third content pertains to the reasons why Xiaoyaozi distanced himself from the Dark River Assassins Group

Everything that has happened seems like a dream

It is said that within that secret chamber lies a sword manual and a precious sword, and obtaining them would grant one invincibility in the world. Therefore, Xiaoyaozi hopes that Balang will have the opportunity to take a look. If he can become invincible, it would also bring glory to his master

Xiaoyaozi or Xiong Jie was ordered to carry out an assassination mission. As a result, they tracked the target into Zijin Mountain, which is a forbidden area and library of Jiudao Villa.

Unexpectedly, although Jiudao Mountain Villa appears to be poorly managed, once one attempts to escape, it becomes utterly impossible

In the midst of chaos, a pair of rural farmers suddenly spotted a lovely infant in the grass. The panicked crowd was fleeing in all directions, and the child was in imminent danger of being trampled. Therefore, they quickly rescued the baby and fled with all their might, eventually settling in Quexian County, Xinyang Prefecture.

Especially in the end, Xiaoyaozi died to protect himself, not even knowing his true name, which left Xiong Chu filled with regret and deep hatred

Since hearing the fragmented last words of Xiaoyaozi before his death, Xiong Chu was instantly stunned. This was because he still had his unique memories in his mind, and these memories were the words spoken by his adoptive parents before their demise.

Xiaoyaozi's last words only mentioned that Wuchenzi had led him into the Dark River Assassin Group. As for his rise to the first rank, Wuchenzi's ranking as third, and the identity of the second assassin in the Dark River Assassin Group, Xiaoyaozi's last words did not elaborate on these matters

It is uncertain whether it was due to finding a baby along the way and performing such a good deed that they were rewarded, but the couple had a daughter the following year (1604). Having escaped from hardship and survived a great calamity in the mountains caused by bandits, they named their daughter "Lan".

Xiong Chu, accompanied by Lan, attempted to escape three times within a month, each time ending in failure

Xiong Jie quickly emerged as a prominent figure with his exceptional swordsmanship, while the Dark River Assassins Group, known externally as "Xiaoyaozi," remained unnamed.

Xiaoyaozi hopes that Bahlang will continue to search for the missing "Xiongchu," completing what he himself could not finish. This was also the true intention behind his acceptance of Xiongchu as his disciple. As a killer's life is uncertain, Xiaoyaozi wishes for someone to assist him in the task of finding the person, ensuring that it is carried out from beginning to end

There is no doubt that Xiaoyaozi has become a traitor of the Dark River Assassins Group. Although the reasons are unknown, news of the betrayal has already spread throughout the martial world

A group of refugees was fleeing from hardship. Among them was a farming couple who had not had children for many years. They traveled northwest into the Dabie Mountains, only to be confronted by a band of hundreds of bandits who emerged from the mountains to rob them

Xiong Jie, in a moment of bravery, intervened to save someone, only to discover that the person being pursued was Chen Geng, the third-ranked assassin of the Dark River Assassin Group, known as Wuchenzi

Later on, a peasant couple, in order to protect their child from being killed by bandits, met with tragedy. Fourteen-year-old Xiong Chu, along with his twelve-year-old "wife" Lan, fled in search of food and eventually arrived in the vicinity of Luoyang. However, they were deceived by Jiudao Mountain Villa in Yingchuan.

It was approximately the 31st year of the Wanli era (1603), when Xiong Chu was possibly one year old, and his adoptive parents found him in a place ravaged by war and chaos.

The only thing that Xiong Chu cannot accept is that Xiaoyaozi is very likely the benefactor who helped him escape, yet he did not even tell him his name

Later, after inquiring, Xiong Chu learned that the so-called "qinglou" was actually a brothel, which was quite a shocking revelation

Before he could understand the situation inside, he was already discovered, leading to a pursuit. After seventeen battles, Xiaoyaozi finally realized that those chasing him were all members of the Dark River Assassins Group

Because the thirteen individuals led by Xiong Chu were indeed unruly, and killing them would not be worthwhile, the Jiudao Mountain Villa decided to sell them to Wang Yuanwai of Xinan County in exchange for some money

The first content of the last words of Xiaoyaozi: His real name is Xiong Jie

Both the adoptive parents and the carefree son mentioned a half jade pendant, but unfortunately, although Xiong Chu was aware of this matter, he had never seen it.

Without a doubt, in order to ultimately ascertain one's identity, it is essential to find half of a jade pendant

Xiaoyaozi single-handedly wielded his sword and charged into the Wang residence, and in the blink of an eye, he had completely wiped out the Wang family. Xiong Chu and the other slaves were instantly astonished beyond belief.

Thereafter, Xiong Chu was assigned to the martial arts team for training, while the twelve-year-old Lan entered the "Colorful Garment Class" to train in singing and playing musical instruments

If I truly am the lost infant that Xiong Jie was searching for, then Xiong Jie is my only support and my only family

The fourth point indicates that various signs suggest a significant secret among Jiudao Mountain Villa, the Dark River Killer Group, and the White Lotus Sect, seemingly with considerable ambitions. The truth of the matter remains unclear, and one must exercise caution in the future to avoid being easily drawn into it

Unfortunately, after crossing the Yangtze River and heading north, we encountered bandits in the Dabie Mountains. After a chaotic battle, we ended up losing the young master, Xiong Chu.