The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 365: Terrible Hornet’s Nest

Terrible Hornet's Nest . . .

Liu Changjun was now the one being pursued, and the words of Ning Biluo echoed in his mind: setting someone up was an incredibly taxing endeavor.

Of the three, Liu Changjun was the one who had poked the hornet's nest, and not just any hornet's nest but a colossal and perilous one. He had infiltrated the very heart of the assassins from the Kingdom of Lanfeng, a daunting mission that would have spelled his demise if not for the months of rigorous training and mentorship he had received under Cha Eun Xiao's guidance.

Yet, while survival was within his grasp, the ordeal remained exceedingly perilous.

In their mission planning, Cha Eun Xiao had shouldered the most formidable and hazardous task, aware that it was the riskiest. Ning Biluo, the top assassin, had undertaken the second most arduous mission, given his formidable skills.

Conversely, Liu Changjun's mission was ostensibly straightforward. He was tasked with venturing into a gathering place frequented by numerous cultivators, posing as a court official and disseminating counterfeit intelligence. The fabricated news revolved around the royal court launching a campaign to hunt down assassins within the capital. The aim was to sow chaos among the assassins and scatter their ranks.

Intrinsically, it was a simple task, requiring Liu Changjun to quietly infiltrate this space and disseminate a fabricated rumor. His prior experiences as an assassin, combined with his ongoing role, made him uniquely suited to blend into a gathering of fellow assassins and relay a message whose authenticity he could never guarantee.

Back when the mission was being assigned, Liu Changjun had deemed it almost too straightforward—a misjudgment that had thrust him into the perilous situation he now found himself grappling with.

As Liu Changjun entered the designated location for his mission, a blend of determination and overconfidence filled his thoughts. "You call that a mission?" he muttered under his breath, more as a challenge to the task's perceived simplicity than as a genuine question.

However, when he reached the mission site and let out an audacious shout, it didn't take him long to realize that he had gravely miscalculated. In fact, he had messed up considerably.

"Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot…"

The air suddenly filled with the deadly symphony of projectiles, as hundreds of assassins sprang into action. Nearly half of them were shrouded in a mystical blue aura, their eyes glinting ominously. In the distance, more figures leaped into the fray, creating an imposing, dark cloud that seemed to obscure the entire world. The scene was a cacophony of swords, gleaming light, and unrestrained killing intent.

Liu Changjun was struck dumb with disbelief. This was not how the plan was supposed to unfold.

"What on earth is going on here?!" His thoughts were racing, each more incredulous than the last. "It can't be. Could it? Are all of the Land of Han-Yang's top assassins gathered here? Oh my goodness."

In an instant, he went from a wolf eager to assert its dominance within a docile flock to a bewildered wolf realizing the flock was not composed of sheep but thousands of powerful lions. The once-assured and audacious assassin was overtaken by a sensation akin to having a billion alpacas morph into a relentless herd of charging elephants that trampled his heart.

The shock was profound, and he had no time to react other than to mutter, "Holy sh*t!" A mere two words escaped his lips, and instinct immediately took over. He pivoted on his heels and sprinted in a desperate bid to escape, hundreds of relentless assassins in hot pursuit.

"Get that official!"

"Kill him!"

"Tear him apart!"

The crowd roared in fury, a relentless horde of assassins chasing Liu Changjun down. They emerged from all directions, a ceaseless tide of opposition threatening to overwhelm him. Above, the sky lit up as dozens of sword lights coalesced into serpentine dragons, blocking his escape route.

As the dazzling glow of countless projectiles closed in on Liu Changjun, even his courageous spirit wavered, nearly causing him to lose control over an involuntary bodily response. His heart raced, and the threat that loomed was so overpowering that it could unsettle even the bravest souls. Despite his reputation as a courageous individual, the overwhelming spectacle that unfolded left him momentarily overwhelmed.

"Am I for real? Am I really just playing the role of a minor official here?" he thought, his disbelief evident. "Are they using a sledgehammer to crush a gnat? Deploying a cannon to target an ant? Employing a millennium-old tree to swat a mosquito? This is beyond belief! What the heck is going on here?"

He berated himself internally, reflecting on his audacity and recklessness, given the immense power he had inadvertently stirred. Regret and remorse welled up within him as he continued to flee.

Desperation lent wings to his feet, but the relentless pursuit of the assassins bore down upon him. Hidden projectiles launched from the shadows relentlessly assailed him, targeting vulnerable points on his body. Fueled by fear, his only option was to run as swiftly as his legs could carry him.

Then, an unexpected event unfolded.

"Puff!"

A sudden, involuntary scream escaped him as he experienced a searing, acute pain. Yet, to the astonishment of the pursuing assassins, Liu Changjun not only carried on, but he actually increased his pace. In that crucial moment, he had become a man propelled by determination rather than pain. Two knives were now protruding from both sides of his posterior, adding an absurdly comical yet perplexing twist to his desperate escape.

Observing this unusual display, the assassins couldn't help but think that they had learned a valuable lesson in strategy. They speculated that when a horse grew weary during a tactical retreat, simply stabbing it in the hindquarters might transform it into a streak of lightning.

Amidst the relentless onslaught of projectiles, Liu Changjun's cries of pain continued to echo.

"Ouch!"

"Ah!"

"Damn it!"

"Ouuuuch..."

"My god, that hurts..."

However, he didn't waver, maintaining his unrelenting pace. In the face of a barrage of attacks, he pressed onward, exhibiting an astonishing level of determination. The assassins, equally relentless in their pursuit, marveled at his indomitable spirit. They couldn't help but wonder how much further he could run.

"God damn it, he's got enough knives sticking out of him to resemble a hedgehog, yet he runs faster than a rabbit!" they thought. "Just how much longer can he keep this up?".