Prologue: The Two Precepts of Assassins

Shangguan lifted one of the severed heads and threw it to the pale-faced Ba Zi, saying that this head would cause him to lose face in front of the guests from a foreign land; this loss of face is something that cannot be restored, no matter the cost.

Everyone sympathizes with the early demise of this master, openly despising the sneaky assassin. However, in private discussions, they remark that a true master is not a genuine master; how can a master be unable to withstand a sneak attack from behind

What can a master do? He has died, turning into a pile of white bones, unable to offer a single word of defense

What happened to this master in the end? He died. Not yet thirty years old, he lay in a gutter for over ten days before being discovered, his body in such a state of decay that those who collected the corpse could not bear to let his parents see it

***

However, the enemies of the master were originally quite wealthy, and this inheritance was naturally seized by the master. Yet, the widow and her orphaned child did not see it that way. The woman declared that whoever could avenge her would receive half of the inheritance that rightfully belonged to her.

Shangguan Nu did not know how many people's wrists he had severed, but he finally calmed his mind. These were all his subordinates, and incapacitating their martial arts would only further weaken his own strength

"Daughters are a calamity," thought Shangguan Faxin, his anger slightly subsiding, yet still like a caged beast, restless and anxious, seeking an escape. Thus, he drew the single knife from Shangguan Nu's waist.

Several severed heads were lined up on a long table, and the foreign guests identifying the corpses felt the intense fury of the Lord of Jinpeng Fortress, wisely retreating into the shadows at the side.

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Shangguan Nu pushed away the subordinate who came to assist him, stumbling out of the hall, filled with rage just like his father. The bleeding from his severed hand was only stopped with a large package of hemostatic powder, but no matter what medicine was used, it could not quell the anger in his heart

Let Anger grow into a man like you

The solitary king has almost no enemies; those who are killed by him and the books will find even their dogs torn apart.

He hated his father for not giving him a chance to explain, and for simply accepting the denial of a foreign guest as proof of his wrongdoing. This was his first time independently leading a mission, which was supposed to symbolize his ability to stand on his own, just like his elder brothers. Now, he had lost his right hand, rendered more than half of his martial arts skills useless, and his reputation was utterly ruined

However, Shangguan hesitated. He recalled the mother of the eight children, a woman who had once brought him much joy, with her cunning smile and perfect body, vividly etched in his memory even after many years. She had succumbed to an unknown terminal illness, and like all women in this world, no matter how much energy they had expended on men, their final wish was always related to their own flesh and blood

Seven days, bring back a correct head.

The first rule of a killer is to be cautious. When taking action, one must have certainty and strive to occupy advantageous timing and location; hiding in the shadows is the greatest advantage.

He also despises the group of useless subordinates under him, as it is their lack of diligence that has led to mistakes, ruining a promising future

Who is that unfortunate creature who slipped through the net? What is their name? Shangguan Fa had only a vague impression in his mind; that person would inevitably die at the hands of the Golden Roc Fortress. The fact that he could make the Unrivaled King sever one of his own hands is already worth dying for

The assassin is not a general, therefore he must be more cunning, more insidious, and more ruthless than the general

A great general always launches attacks from the enemy's rear and flanks; only a conceited fool constantly talks about fighting to the death

The onset of the illness was rapid, so even in her dying moments, she retained seven or eight parts of her beauty. Her sorrowful yet beautiful face made her pleas difficult to refuse or forget

Even if your target is a paralyzed beggar, you must treat him as if he were a master of the arts and literature, quietly approach, and strike him down from behind.

There is only one way to extinguish the wrath of the unparalleled king, and that is through murder. Even against his own flesh and blood, he would show no mercy. Incidents of fathers killing sons and brothers turning against each other frequently occur in the Shangguan family, for there is only one throne.

The outcome of the orphan and the widow is not important; what matters is the "name." Without these two figures, no one has the authority to demand the family estate from the master. With these two puppets in place, everyone in the world can justly execute the master.

The prowess of the lone king is beyond clear definition; he never participates in public competitions. Those who seek him out, as well as those he seeks, all meet with a swift and certain demise

The sorrowful and beautiful face gradually faded from Shangguan Fa's mind

Even those who had once been defeated by skilled swordsmen gradually changed their tone, claiming that their losses were due to not having the advantage of terrain and support. They asserted that if they were to meet again on a narrow path, the outcome of victory or defeat was still uncertain.

His question does not require an answer, the son and the father are like two pieces carved from the same mold, just younger, with flushed faces, resembling two red-hot iron plates

Shangguan Nu drew his knife with his left hand, somewhat clumsily, which only intensified his anger

The only standard for a top assassin is to survive, and to survive for a long time

The assassins and the knife-wielders had already heard about the events that took place in the hall, and at that moment, they looked like lambs to the slaughter, anxiously watching as the young master, pale-faced, rushed into the room

Once there was a master who, in order to avenge his father, diligently studied and practiced for ten years. After making his debut, he immediately swept across the land with great confidence. He found his enemy and nearly wiped out everyone, leaving no survivors. However, when he confronted a pair of orphans and their widowed mother, he showed mercy. He aspired to be a great hero and wished to maintain a good reputation of "not killing women and children." In that fleeting moment of thought, he left himself with a fatal threat.

Shangguan must do something, rules are rules, and one must never compromise for anyone or anything. He suppressed the urge to kill and swung his knife to sever the right hand of the eighth son, the hand that held the knife

This is the "name"

There once was a master of exceptional skill, born into a prestigious family. From a young age, he rarely encountered an opponent. Those who sought his guidance often needed to make an appointment in advance. After their matches, none could help but admire him wholeheartedly, acknowledging him as the "greatest master under heaven," with only the hanging of a plaque at his door remaining.

This woman, who is incapable of even tying up a chicken, offered a mere promise as a form of gratitude. Yet, can you imagine how many people were moved by such a commitment? The numbers are countless. From that moment on, the threshold of the expert's home was never quiet; the expert had to keep one eye open even while sleeping. In the end, he was still killed, and his murderer was an unnamed foot soldier

Shangguan Nu's anger must be vented, while the hatred towards his father can only be deeply buried in his heart, to the extent that he does not even dare to speak in defense. At this moment, that elusive youth is not before him; the only targets for his rage are the dozens of assassins and knife-wielders under his command.

Shangguan Fa believed that he had upheld his promise, providing the motherless eight-year-old with the most comfortable life, the strictest training, and the utmost trust.

Are you my son? Are you truly my son?

In the end, that mysterious assassin became an idol, with everyone recounting his deeds, claiming to have witnessed his actions firsthand, and even some asserting that they themselves were he

Those who come to seek guidance must adhere to the rules. Two individuals face each other, surrounded by renowned figures of the martial arts world. At the command of "Begin," they compete to see who can strike the fastest, most steadily, and accurately. No one dares to employ despicable tactics, and even the slightest deviation in technique will result in ridicule.

Masters accustomed to the "fair competition" become utterly vulnerable once they step out into the world. No one knows who or what killed him, nor how he was killed; all that is known is that his fatal wound was located on his back

Did the orphan and his mother get their money back? Of course not, the nameless underling symbolically gave the mother and son a small piece of land, and thereafter remained indifferent, enjoying the million-dollar estate all to himself

He despises that boy who escaped capture, a person destined to die, yet insists on prolonging his life for a few more days; even if he were to be killed a hundred times over, it would not compensate for the loss of his right hand

The second rule for assassins is to avoid being soft-hearted. One must act decisively and ensure that all traces are eliminated. Killing is not only for silencing witnesses but also for erasing one's name.

Throughout history, the "Sovereign of Uniqueness" has educated future generations in this manner, and today, Shangguan Fa employs the same words to educate his sons

Shangguan's face was slender and long, with a slight darkness to it, and his eye sockets were deep-set. The Shangguan family had long resided in the Western Regions, inevitably mixing with the bloodline of the Hu people. When he was angry, his gaze was as cold and merciless as the snow-capped mountains of the Gobi Desert

Killing must be decisive and swift, never dragging one's feet. If one can take advantage of someone's unpreparedness, then do so; if one can strike first, then strike first; if one can eliminate the enemy with a single blow, then do so; if one can eradicate completely, then eradicate completely. All the talk of white robes as pure as snow, peak duels, martial arts rules, and legends of the rivers and lakes is nothing but nonsense. Assassins are not actors; who are they putting on these tricks and seeking these empty reputations for?

This is the true nature of the legendary world; regardless of the means you employ to ascend to great heights, admirers will naturally weave a narrative of a glorious and tumultuous life for you. People only see you standing at the pinnacle; who cares about the methods you used or how many wounded bodies you stepped on along the way

Why did he die? Because he made a mistake and ventured out into the world away from home

The Seven Generations of the Unrivaled King, spanning over a hundred years, has claimed countless lives, and the number of exterminated factions is sufficient to form a small nation in the Western Regions. Yet, such a blunder has never occurred: they actually killed the wrong person

Jin Peng Fortress and - the - book's author Shangguan Fa, the seventh generation of the Unrivaled King, is not a true king. He possesses no territory, yet he can traverse any inch of land in the thirty-six countries of the Western Regions. He has no subjects, but from the highest nobles and ministers to the lowest merchants and laborers, all speak his name with trepidation.

The assassins are the essence of Jinpeng Fortress, while the swordsmen are the mercenaries of Jinpeng Fortress. To the young master, they have all publicly sworn an oath of eternal loyalty.

The two principles of the assassin, Shangguan Fa, have always been adhered to without error. For him, these two principles are more precious than life itself. Therefore, when he learned that his eighth son had not eradicated the roots of the problem, the anger in his heart was unimaginable

"Reputation" is the most illusory and harmful thing in the world; true killers never seek "reputation" and never give their opponents a chance to establish a positive "reputation".

The saying "All's fair in war" implies that a general who wins battles is a good general, regardless of the means employed. Especially for the soldiers under his command, they should be grateful for their leader's unscrupulous tactics, for it is through these schemes and stratagems that they are able to live well and have the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of victory

Can an orphan and a widow seek revenge? Of course not. The orphan is of low aptitude; even after practicing for a hundred years, he would not be able to match a skilled fighter's little finger. The widow has no martial skills, her appearance is ordinary, and it would be difficult for her to sell herself to make a living, let alone entice someone else to take revenge on her behalf.

He is the King of Assassins in the Western Regions

With the rise and fall of the blade, there is no way to evade, and no one dares to hide. Hands fall like leaves trembling in the frost, and no one utters a sound. When these individuals were assigned to Shangguan Nu, it was already destined that they would offer everything, including their lives.

Do you think it is embarrassing? Indeed, that beggar is not embarrassed; he is already dead. There is still a one percent possibility that he is truly an unparalleled master, disguised as a beggar to lure you into a trap.

Go kill him! Immediately go and kill him! Leave no complete corpse except for the head!