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🕑 Added 2024-10-24 19:59:35 +0000 UTCThe Black Moon Assassin
Chapter 113: Assembly of Assassins [1]
The mountains where the assassins were gathering had set up light security measures to ensure that no army could enter with their horses.
At least they were prepared, because had they not, they might have suffered the same fate as the White Crane assassins, who Jun had recruited for his army.
Curiously, to enter the assembly of assassins, all they needed to do was walk about fifteen kilometers into the mountains, where there was a massive cave at the center of several peaks, naturally protecting the area from the winds.
"Mr. Li, it's been a long time. I’m Chen; you must remember me unless your wife hits you on the head again."
Jun watched the expression of the man Chen was speaking to and said nothing. With a wave of his hand, he signaled the twins to position themselves in strategic areas to prevent any incidents.
"You’re still alive, you old fool..." Li Bing, bewildered, unconsciously first noticed the group accompanying Chen. However, with just one glance, his face immediately changed.
Li Bing had never met Jun before, and his social circle seemed important if the King of Assassins himself had brought him to the assembly. However, knowing who Chen was and why he was here, Li Bing said nothing more.
"Are all the clans gathered?" Chen's demeanor cooled, showing he still held authority in his words.
"Yes, they're still discussing how to replace..." Li Bing didn’t finish his sentence, as the man they were all seeking to replace had just arrived.
An old, powerless cripple?
No one dared to address him like that anymore. Everyone, including clan leaders and powerful assassins, had to speak to him with respect as the current King of Assassins.
Li Bing hadn’t expected the King of Assassins, who had disappeared twenty years ago, to decide to return and present himself at the assembly, accompanied by a group of mysterious assassins.
"Why are they here?"
Li Bing looked at the calm-looking young man walking behind Chen, a hint of fear in his eyes.
Although the Haiyue Clan was known, not everyone would be aware of this clan of assassins that rarely appeared in the outside world.
But it was worth noting that the blood-red symbols and runes on Jun's and the twins’ robes were recognized by all; anyone bold enough to wear those symbols was a ruthless being that even the devil would fear.
"I wouldn't ask such questions so openly, don’t you think?" Chen wouldn’t reveal Jun’s identity without his consent.
But Jun simply said, "I’m a future Crescent Moon. I’m here to be an observer of the assembly of assassins."
Ignoring the complicated expression on Li Bing’s face when he saw the symbols on Jun’s robes, Jun revealed his identity and walked through the crowd toward the main buildings, which seemed to be part of an ancient tremor, hoping to finish this faster than he had anticipated.
What worried him most at that moment was whether anyone would recognize him or Chen as their leaders.
"The meeting is happening right now; where do you think you're going?"
The voices slowed, and soon Jun entered what appeared to be a gathering of all the clans while the leaders discussed.
Everyone was seated on the ground, forming a circle with their respective leaders in the center, speaking.
Many people of all sizes sitting along the path paid attention to Jun, who walked fearlessly toward the front of the gathering.
No one made a move, perhaps because they wanted to sit at the front due to bad vision or hearing.
Lauden, the leader of an assassin clan, shouted loudly, "What are we waiting for in this place? If we keep thinking about how to choose a representative, we’ll be killed before we can retaliate."
The future seemed to have taken a turn for the worse due to Jun's intervention in this part of the world.
In a normal situation, Zhao would have launched a surprise attack on the assassins’ villages because of the woman Kyou Kai killed; she had once worked for the king but ended up being expelled.
Since then, it could be that the king hadn’t slept well, fearing he might be assassinated at night without warning. Or, on the contrary, the assassins’ villages were an obstacle to forming the unification that would invade Qin.
Needless to say, the two situations were not closely related, but kings, especially in this era, were rather foolish, prioritizing many things instead of waiting for greater benefits.
Moreover, due to Jun’s activity, who always left his army at a specific time each year and appeared at a certain place in the capital, this time he sowed paranoia that Wei intended to attack Zhao.
Even as the alliance was closing, Zhao couldn’t help but suspect Wei at every opportunity.
But both were committed nations, and the benefits of taking Qin were greater than any other invasion in which both might suffer more losses.
However, if now the King of Zhao found out that Wei was supposedly invading or playing along its borders, the whole agreement would collapse.
If that happened, Jun would cross the borders, taking Wei’s cities and invading Zhao with much more ease.
But now Jun's problem was these assassins, who perhaps wouldn’t follow him so easily.
That’s why Jun asked Shen to investigate, based on this point.
Simply put, Jun didn’t expect his investigation would lead to a situation where he would have to intervene.
Had he not appeared, would the assassin clans have hesitated?
This was something Jun didn’t expect at all.
Jun realized that things were beginning to change from what he had planned, so his plans also needed to evolve.
"We need to choose a new King of Assassins to lead the way for all the villages in the mountains." Due Jue was a man who acted under orders, and having a leader chosen by all was what would keep them united.
"Then I’ll be the one to lead."
"Who decided that?"
"I’m the only one who can change the future of things."
Jun walked to the front, his gaze passing over everyone, and only when the leaders noticed him did he enter the central circle.
"Who the hell are you?"
Lauden's face remained as cold as ever. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with people who just wanted attention, so he maintained his hostile stance.
However, when his cold eyes landed on Jun’s figure, he couldn’t help but reveal an imperceptible hint of amazement.
Without a doubt, Lauden didn’t expect someone like Jun to appear here, especially at this moment!
"As expected, you’re still disorganized, even if you’ve been gathered for so long!" Jun chuckled to himself. He wasn’t surprised in the least.
"Introduce yourself. You’re in the circle and at the assembly of assassins." Due Jue wasn’t about to tolerate Jun’s attitude at that moment.
"Jun Asura of the Haiyue Clan, Black Moon of this era, and future Crescent Moon." When Jun announced his name, his voice echoed in all corners of the assembly.
His identity was revealed this way, and everyone felt a mix of confusion and doubt, and for the older ones, their blood ran cold.
"Haiyue Clan?"
It should be known that all the great assassin clans or tribes who had knowledge of killing others originated from the two oldest and most powerful clans in China, namely the Haiyue Clan and Shinyuu.
They were all descendants of followers of the representatives of each clan in the world and had long since separated from them, but always remembered them.
If a Black Moon appeared, everyone must pay tribute and assist in whatever they wanted.
This, of course, was remembered too late by the leader of the White Crane assassin tribe, who offered his life in exchange for forgiveness from his followers, who to this day knew nothing.
"I’m here to save you."
Lauden recognized Jun’s identity, but he still wasn’t willing to trust someone else with his own safety, so he said, "Absurd, those intentions cannot be real."
Due Jue sighed and asked, "What does a Black Moon seek here?"
Both the Haiyue and Shinyuu Clans were noble in the world of assassins. Since Jun had already revealed his identity, it was equivalent to the Haiyue Clan dealing with the events to come.
Once descendants of prestigious clans came of age, they represented their clan, so they didn’t make promises easily.
"I want your deaths to mean something greater for all of you and for China, for your descendants and future generations. So that all remember you as those who did the right thing."
"We’re not in the mood for games. If you want to speak in the circle, you must defeat one of us." Lauden unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Jun, who smiled slightly.
"Are you sure?"
Unexpectedly, Lauden hesitated for a moment before saying anything else. Even in those circumstances, he still wasn’t sure if he could defeat the boy in front of him.
"I wouldn’t recommend fighting that demon." At that moment, Chen’s voice rang from behind as he stomped the ground, causing the sound of his wooden leg to echo against the rocks.
"Chen, King of Assassins?" Due Jue’s eyebrows rose. In his surprise, he couldn’t help but glance at Lauden, who had turned pale and was on the ground.
A man Lauden had personally claimed to replace?
"Chen..."
Chen's eyes were serious, unusual for his shameless personality, but here he showed authority.
"Isn’t it prudent for the King of Assassins himself to hand over the title to another? If you don’t think so, you can come and kill me." Chen stared at Lauden, who still had his sword drawn.
At that moment, the entire assembly fell into silence.
No one spoke; only silence remained.
