Chapter 1658 — Blocked on the Road

Chief Zhu nodded, then recounted to the two black-clad contacts from the Blood-Robed Yellow Springs Sect the news that Wei Zhao had been struck by the Five-Step Strength-Dispersing Powder, and briefly explained that, bound by his family's decision, he had no way to make a move himself.

"So that's how it is. If he really is at the peak of the late Yellow Rank, we can take the job. Ten million to kill a fighter at the peak of the late Yellow Rank — that's not much, is it?" the black-clad contact said mildly. "Think it over. If you don't agree, just pay us a million for travel expenses and we'll be on our way right now."

"Fine, ten million it is. But you have to guarantee you kill him!" Zhao Qibing gritted his teeth. He had only recently come into some money, all of it earned through the Medicine King, and he had been meaning to put it into developing a property project and building up a bit of real business — and now, just like that, another ten million was gone.

But at the thought of the humiliation Wei Zhao had brought him, Zhao Qibing gritted his teeth and accepted the price. If Wei Zhao died, he would be very, very happy.

"If his strength is as you say, he will die. Normally, to kill a fighter at the peak of the late Yellow Rank, our Blood-Robed Yellow Springs Sect sends a fighter at the peak of the late Profound Rank. He will die beyond any doubt," said the black-clad contact. "But if you have misreported his strength, then you will be held responsible for every loss that results."

"There's no problem with what I've told you about Wei Zhao's strength, but I should warn you: he has two or three fighters at the early Profound Rank at his side. You'd best not be careless," Zhao Qibing said. "And from what I know, this Wei Zhao may be low in rank, but his methods are somewhat strange. You'd better send a few more men, or if the job isn't finished, don't blame me."

"You needn't worry about that. We always work in teams of three. Three fighters at the peak of the late Profound Rank killing three early Profound Rank fighters plus one at the peak of the late Yellow Rank — that's an easy matter," the black-clad contact said with a nod.

"Good, then it's settled!" Zhao Qibing swiped his card and paid the black-clad contact ten million yuan. He had originally wanted to pay a deposit and hand over the other half after the job was done, but the Blood-Robed Yellow Springs Sect had its rules: full payment up front for any mission. So Zhao Qibing had no choice but to comply.

Meanwhile, at the very moment the Blood-Robed Yellow Springs Sect and Zhao Qibing struck their bargain, Wei Zhao set out on the road.

Wei Zhao, Feng Xiaoxiao, Tang Yun, Tang Yun's parents, Xiao Ming, Xiao Qing, and Palace Master Bing — they drove two cars.

One was the Mercedes-Benz business van Xiao Qing had driven when Palace Master Bing came, provided by the Hidden Tang family. The other was the Grand Cherokee Wei Zhao drove — the very car he had taken to the Ice Palace. Now Feng Xiaoxiao and Tang Yun sat inside it, and Bingtang was in Wei Zhao's car as well, though of course she was there for Feng Xiaoxiao and Tang Yun, not for Wei Zhao.

Tang Yun's parents and Xiao Ming rode in Xiao Qing's car. The two vehicles, one behind the other, headed for the small town where the Hidden Tang family made its home.

Wei Zhao and Xiao Qing were both cultivators, so driving day and night was no problem for them — especially Xiao Qing, a Heaven Rank fighter, who expended very little physical strength. As for Tang Yun's parents and Xiao Ming, when they grew tired they simply slept in the car.

And so a journey that should have taken three or four days covered half its distance in a single day and night.

But that night, as they passed along a deserted stretch of highway, three black-clad figures appeared not far ahead of Wei Zhao's and Xiao Qing's cars.

These three were the assassins sent by the Blood-Robed Yellow Springs Sect. In fact, they had long been secretly studying Wei Zhao's route. Though they did not know his destination, they had analyzed the direction of his travel in advance and worked out the road he would have to take.

And so, on this dark, windy night, the three prepared to make their move on the deserted highway. To be honest, two speeding cars posed no threat at all to fighters at the peak of the late Profound Rank — they could simply blast the vehicles over with true qi.

The three made no secret of the fact that they had come to make trouble, so they let their strength show without restraint. The aura of the peak of the late Profound Rank leaked out, utterly domineering.

Xiao Qing was in the lead car and was the first to sense the true qi leaking from the three figures in the distance. She frowned at once and stopped the car about a hundred meters away, then used the onboard intercom to ask Bingtang in the car behind, "Palace Master, someone's blocking the road. Three cultivators at the peak of the late Profound Rank."

At this moment, if Xiao Qing could sense the three men's true qi, then Wei Zhao and Bingtang could naturally sense it too. But that three cultivators at the peak of the late Profound Rank would dare block their cars struck Bingtang as a little funny.

Three at the peak of the late Profound Rank? Did they have a death wish? In this car sat two Heaven Rank fighters, plus Wei Zhao, an Earth Rank fighter. Even one against one they would win without question. What did these people want? Highway robbery, or something else?

"Don't reveal your identity. Get out and take a look first — see who they are and what they want," Bingtang said after a moment's thought.

"Yes, Palace Master!" Having received Bingtang's order, Xiao Qing opened the door and stepped out.

The three assassins of the Blood-Robed Yellow Springs Sect had not expected that the first one out would be a woman. According to the information they had gathered, Wei Zhao was a fighter at the peak of the late Yellow Rank, and at his side there might be two or three early Profound Rank fighters — but they had never considered a woman. Could this woman be an early Profound Rank fighter?

"Who are you? Why are you blocking the road?" Xiao Qing asked coolly.

"Where's Wei Zhao? Tell him to come out. The Blood-Robed Yellow Springs Sect wants his life!" The three did not even bother to regard Xiao Qing, speaking straight to the point.

Wei Zhao heard every word clearly from the car behind. What manner of thing was the Blood-Robed Yellow Springs Sect? He had never heard of such an organization. He had no grievance with them — why would they want his life?

In his days as an assassin on missions, he had made enemies of a few organizations, but he had always used aliases then. Those people could not possibly have tracked him here — and known that his name was Wei Zhao.

So Wei Zhao found it rather baffling. Not knowing where these people had come from, he wanted to get out and ask what was going on — ask who had sent them.

"Someone you offended?" Bingtang glanced at Wei Zhao and said mildly.

"I'll get out and ask what this is about. Heaven Rank girl, you protect my wives — both of them!" Wei Zhao instructed her.

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