linfengchun - Capítulo 6
She ate with great elegance, her every move was proper and graceful, she was no less elegant than the ladies of prominent families in Jiangnan, and her temperament was even better.
But he hadn't forgotten that yesterday, her casual remark had led him to take someone's life.
Even if that person is a bully who acts arrogantly and is not a kind person...
"That man's name was Shalik. He made a living by forcibly extorting taxes from the local people. He had injured countless people and had a blood debt to his name. The people were helpless against him. He was a local tyrant."
She spoke calmly, wiping her lips with a silk handkerchief.
"He had several wives and concubines, young children, and a seventy-year-old mother who was cared for by him. The neighbors all said he was extremely filial to his mother. This man was addicted to gambling and drinking and had no money left. After his death, his family fell into ruin. His mother lost her son in her old age and probably won't live much longer."
She looked into the boy's eyes, which were gradually burning with anger, and continued, "His wives and concubines were already at odds and would inevitably remarry within a few years. His children would lose their father and parents at a young age, and even if they were lucky enough to grow up, they would still be destined for a life of hardship."
"All of this is because you killed him."
The girl concluded as if it were none of her business, and he abruptly stood up.
"That is..."
“I told you to kill him.” She cut off the conversation, her dark, cold eyes holding a half-smile. “But you were the one who killed him.”
He clenched his fists, his temples throbbed, and he almost couldn't contain himself.
"You beheaded him in the night, and then wiped away his blood with a tablecloth." Seemingly oblivious to the murderous intent, she nodded towards the wooden table where the head had been placed. "You've forgotten?"
The boy glared at him fiercely, his eyes blazing with fury.
……………
"You want to ask why I did this?" She interlaced her fingers, looking at him as if analyzing him.
"…………Why!" After a long silence, he heard his own voice, hoarse and unfamiliar.
"How many people have you killed?"
He paused for a moment, then remained silent.
"Did all the people you killed deserve their fate?"
…
"At least you've never killed anyone intentionally. Is that what you're trying to say?"
"Born with unwavering perseverance, exceptional endurance, quick wit, meticulousness, and the ability to care for and coordinate with your comrades in battle. Yet, you lack aggression." She recited each word as if reciting a memorized text, raising her eyebrows. "This is Elder Kui's assessment of you."
"According to the report, you have always focused on defense in all battles, only retaliating when attacked. Unless it was a matter of life and death, you would only severely injure the enemy and then stop, even putting yourself in danger on some occasions. Is the above true?"
He was completely stunned and it took him a long time to come to his senses.
"What does this have to do with me committing murder?"
“I think…” She looked into his eyes, her expression completely unlike that of a young girl. “You still don’t understand your own identity.”
The overwhelming force of the air made it hard to breathe.
"Everyone you kill in the future may be good or evil. They pose no threat to you, are complete strangers to you, have no grudges against you, and all have their own families. Their lives are ended by a certain order. Some will grieve for their deaths, become destitute and impoverished, and spend their lives immersed in hatred, cursing you to go to hell for the rest of their lives. They will not hate the person who gave the order, but only the executioner...you."
"Your identity will always be that of a murderer." The girl's words were cold and sharp, like a needle piercing the heart.
"You can't use being forced to shirk responsibility."
"Don't tell me it was unavoidable, you have no right to say that."
"The result is that you kill someone just to survive."
"You will bear these sins for the rest of your life."
His fingernails dug deep into his palm as he stared intently at her.
"Why... are you telling me all this?"
She flicked her sleeve with her finger and spoke softly, "Because what I need is a real assassin, not a righteous gentleman."
"That's the kind of place the Demonic Cult is. There are no good people there. Those who survive are all killers."
"A person who knows why he killed and can live on bearing the consequences of his sins."
"And you... know nothing." For the first time, pity appeared in his cold gaze. "You think that as long as you hide, you'll have a chance to escape, and that you'll live to be free?... How naive."
"You think you've hidden it well? Does nobody know what you're thinking?"
“Every few years, martial arts practitioners from the Central Plains are captured and taken to Tianshan. Some, like you, have broken out of the Cuifeng Camp, but they don’t live long. Do you know why?”
"You can't get through this just by endurance and perseverance. Without the determination to give up everything for your goal, you will only be exploited more thoroughly. The only use of the benevolence and morality you follow is to make yourselves die faster."
"Someone like you could never be an assassin, let alone a shadow guard."
"If killing a bully is so difficult, what kind of mission can you accomplish?"
"Why should one survive in a church and protect oneself from being trampled on by others?"
The sarcastic remarks were merciless, extinguishing even the most hidden hope. His self-esteem was shattered, and he had never felt so powerless. His face turned ashen, and he slumped down, blood dripping from his fingertips.
After a long while, the girl's voice rang out again.
I'll give you two options.
"Either you stay in the church and live like this, as long as I am here you will not die, be a shadow guard in name only, give up the thoughts you should not have, and live like a decoration in the building."
"Either be a competent killer, abandon useless morality and justice, act on orders, bear all the filth and sins, and there is no turning back."
“You have a choice.” She looked down at him, her tone softening slightly.
"This is the only mercy I can give you."
Shache
Sunrise and sunset.
He sat motionless on the edge of the bed all day, like a puppet without a controller.
Jia Ye ignored him, continued meditating and eating, and even went to the market in the evening to buy a plain cloth.
As night fell, she sat cross-legged on a wide stool and entered a meditative state, using this method to replace sleep.
As the dawn broke and the sun shone through the window again, the boy looked up.
Why are you telling me all this?
In the dim light, her features were indistinct, but her voice was clear and calm, possessing a composure completely out of place for her age.
"Don't think it's out of kindness. I just have a habit: even when I'm using someone, it has to be because they're willing."
"I don't care whether there are shadow guards or not. Keeping an idle person is no big deal, so there's no need to be overly wary. Anyway, you have nothing to lose."
"Why did you save me back then?"
After a long silence, she slowly replied, "I'm not a good person either, but... those who survived the slave camp and the elite vanguard camp shouldn't die in such a shameful way."
Such humiliation is worse than killing a person. Even the most resilient person has their limits. We should simply respect this spirit.
After a long silence, the boy spoke again.
"Thank you for letting me see clearly what I'm facing," he said, emphasizing each word.
"Please teach me how to be a real killer."
Assassins are not just about martial arts skills.
Infiltration without leaving a trace, a swift and deadly strike, and a meticulous retreat.
A successful assassination requires all three elements to be present. Novices in the assassination squad always have the highest casualty rate, and those who rely on youthful impulsiveness and reckless courage to carry out an assassination often die the fastest.
To think that one can succeed solely through brute force is absolutely foolish.
The cult punishes assassins who fail severely. Not only do they waste opportunities by failing their missions, but they also alert the enemy, making future assassinations even more difficult.
The Shadow Guards and the Assassins are different.
They must fully assist their master in carrying out tasks, requiring excellent teamwork. The most basic requirement is unwavering execution. The shadow guard is like a hand of the master, and must carry out orders regardless of whether they understand them or not.
He currently lacks experience and is unable to handle things independently; the only thing he can do on this trip is to observe and learn from others.
Jia Ye didn't say anything superfluous, explaining the mission in the most concise way possible.
Secret agents within Shache reported that the Kingdom of Khotan had recently sent envoys to secretly meet with the King of Shache to plot a joint resistance against the Demonic Cult, and that Shule was even implicated in the matter.
Once the three kingdoms join forces and form a secret pact, the ministers supported by the kings of each kingdom will be purged, and years of hard work will be in jeopardy, greatly affecting the prestige of the demonic sect.
The assassination squad has not yet recovered from the heavy blow it suffered two years ago, and it is quite difficult to snipe multiple targets at the same time. Moreover, making too many enemies and causing shock and confrontation among various countries is not a good strategy. It is extremely difficult to strike the right balance for this mission.
A very hot task.
Jia Ye looked up from the map and smiled slightly.
"Tomorrow we will enter the city and pay our respects to the King of Shache."
The Queen of Shache recently gave birth to a princess for the King.
For this reason, Shache was brightly lit and celebrated for three whole days. The lavish banquets continued day and night, and the festive atmosphere spread from the palace to the common people.
The people greeted visitors from afar with smiles, living in peace and tranquility. They also mostly praised the king, suggesting that the King of Shache was quite popular.
Jia Ye presented the imperial edict at the official post station. The clerk who received the edict immediately changed his expression and began to tremble as he reported to his superiors in a trembling voice.
Throughout the Western Regions, everyone knows that a pair of black wings symbolizes the most terrifying demon deep within the Tianshan Mountains.
The dozens of Shache people waiting for their affairs to be handled were puzzled. They watched as the post station official invited them with an almost fearful expression. The two outstanding young men and women stepped into the official sedan chair with great confidence and went straight into the palace.
The ruler of Shache was a middle-aged man over thirty.
He was polite and courteous, but his nervousness was barely concealed. Only when a nearby civil official coughed lightly did he calm down a little.
"It is a great pleasure to welcome the two esteemed envoys to Shache. We apologize for not being able to greet them properly."
"Your Majesty, you are too kind. We arrived in haste and startled our host. We have been impolite." Jia Ye responded with composure and grace, her words displaying great poise. Although she appeared young, she commanded respect.
"May I ask if Your Majesty is satisfied with the tribute from Shache this year?"
"Of course. Our religion and your country have always maintained a friendly relationship and have a tacit understanding. Our leader has mentioned your ruler many times, always praising him highly."