~ A CERTAIN SECLUDED VALLEY IN THE WEST CONTINENT

Cling! Clang! Woosh! BOOM! The sounds of an intense battle raging on outside resonates within the building. Clan members are fighting back the intruders with all their might trying to protect their only safe haven in this ‘cruel’ world, however, it is only in vain. The battle is clearly against them since it’s an all-out battle, and for them, being a clan that specializes in assassination, is disadvantageous because of the large, open space the battle is taking place at. Furthermore, the clan is fighting alone against an alliance made to fight against them, with enemy fighters greatly outnumbering them. At the very least, that annoying leader is leading the fight, and didn’t turn tails when he saw the enemy coming.

Though, that’s probably because there isn’t a proper escape route out of this damned place other than the main entrance.

This clan headquarters is located in a secluded place, surrounded by mountains from all four sides, and having only a narrow valley entrance at the east side.

Don’t get me wrong, there are secret escape tunnels through the mountains, just that they are all collapsed by the enemy. Haha! Traitors in this clan. But it’s little bit too late now to know isn’t it? I bet there’s some sort of drama unfolding outside right now. “Leader, look, that guy is going to the other side!” “Li Neng… I trusted you… how could you be the traitor to our clan?!” “That is in the past… goodbye.” “Why! No… traitors cannot be forgiven. CHARGE! Kill them ALL!” or something along those lines. Hahahahaha!

Meanwhile, leisurely pushing a large and sturdy wooden cart through the badly-lit hallways, I headed towards the place where I work- oops, should I say, the place I used to work at? I whistled my favourite tune while tremors and quakes were shaking dust off from the cracks in the ceiling. What a great day for my plan to be concluded!

I know what you are thinking (probably). “What is this unloyal bastard doing when all the others are fighting to the death outside?” Of course, I, Qian Bi, still cherish my life and would very much prefer to not be marked for death by the alliance for the rest of my life. Although if this Grand Master do join the battle, the tide of the battle would probably be turned. I mean, I’m not an old man for nothing. This Blood Moon Clan, one I have been ‘serving’ for 10 years, is now getting attacked by a few other clans for various reasons too petty to name. I’m not feeling up to it to fight a few clans today, it’s just too much for my old bones. (an excuse)

This is the last day that the Blood Moon Clan shall exist, but it is also my most awaited day for these past 10 years. Why, you may ask? For the money, of course!

Ah, I still remember the moment when I decided to embark on this quest 10 years ago. Now that I think back at it, I was a young lad (middle-aged old man) then, but sure was I a great opportunist. I was in an ever pursuit of money and whenever I saw something or somebody that showed great promise, I would get chills down my spine, which meant that the opportunist in me is starting to get worked up. I would take the opportunity up without fail. I did many things. Helping people, which in turn gave me lots of gold for all the help, and another one I remembered clearly was that I managed to find an actual treasure map that, well, led to treasures. Things like that. That feeling had never failed me.

That day, 10 years ago, was a fine day. I was strolling in the forest after a good lunch in a nearby town, heading back to my mansion. Then, some rascals who were jumping across the trees in the forest knocked some branches over me. It was rude, so I chased them all the way and beat their arses clean.

Afterwards, I realized that they were carrying some sort of treasure, and a peek at it under the black cloth it was wrapped in showed a sculpture made of pure gold. It had a faint golden glow from it, imbued with the ki of the sculptor. The craftsmanship of the treasure was exquisite and pulling away the black cloth revealed a striking image of a golden goddess. It was without a doubt, a treasure of incredible value.

At that moment, I felt the presence of a small but decently-powerful group of people. I looked up and saw some strangely-dressed middle-aged man together with what seems to be bodyguards of the man. Even more strangely though, the man was much weaker than his bodyguards. I thought that they were here to get the treasure as well, so I readied myself, but the man started talking.

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“So you defeated my underlings. Really impressive, considering that they are one of the best assassination teams in the Blood Moon clan. Looks like today isn’t the day that I shall complete the 12 Great Golden Sculptures collection.”

At that moment, I felt chills running down my entire back, so strong that it had almost paralyzed both my arms. My mind was made up. Nothing could shake it.

I replied as I knelt down, “No, today will be the day. It is the greatest luck for me to meet the leader of the elusive Blood Moon clan. I have absolutely no interest in gold or money, but I have a debt to settle with a corrupted government official. Please allow this little one to join your great clan!”

I wrapped the sculpture back in the black cloth, and brought it to one of his bodyguards, who was still wary of me. However, the leader seemed to be pretty convinced at my statement. I do have skill to back it up as well, so I would say it’s a pretty good deal for him… in the short term.

And that, was how I got into this clan. Eventually, I climbed through the ranks and gained his trust by bribing him with some treasures I had in my possession in the name of loot from debts I had to settle. I managed to become the treasurer, but even so, there were still many of the clan members that doesn’t trust me. The clan itself was cold and silent. There was barely anybody I could call an acquaintance inside of the suffocating hell-hole. The only place where the we, as members of the clan, actually see each other the most is the training grounds, where we trained together in the arts of assassination. As expected of a clan made up of cutthroat killers and the continent’s most efficient bringers of death.

Now, back to 10 years after, the clan is finally meeting its demise. I walked up to the treasury, ready to roll. I have prepared everything up till this day - a super-secret tunnel dug by me to the outside of this secluded place, a large and sturdy cart, and a mental list of the most valuable things in the large treasury room. My cart may be big, but it can only carry so much.

I undid the secret seals on the door, known only by me and the leader. As he had me keep track of all his treasures and collections, naturally I had to know how to enter the room. I gathered my ki into my palms, and while doing so, opened the door with the doorknob. If I didn’t use my ki, my hand would be charred and poisoned by the most potent poison known to man - The Black Moon. Death would be certain in 3 seconds from just contact.

However, once I opened the door, I started feeling slight chills down my spine. It was not just one short chill. I could still feel it. What is there? I didn’t even see anything special, or think of anything yet. I looked around me. Nothing much.

I continued to push the cart inside the room and closed the door behind me. Silence. The fine red carpet absorbed much of the noise from my footsteps and the cart wheels. This long, rectangular room is also specially protected with all sorts of seals. However, I am still feeling the chill down my spine.

Wait a second… is that a person down the room?! His ki was so weak I could barely feel its presence at all. Is he dead? No, I don’t think so. A dead person should not have any ki at all and I’m sure I am have not mistaken him for some other treasure.

This is strange. I have never felt a chill down my spine for such long periods of time in my long life, but this is still a rather weak one. No point standing around doing nothing. I walked over to him, still feeling that slight chill.

It was a young lad. Young he is, but it feels like there is much more to him. He dons a strange white coat, few sizes too big for him, with some parts being slightly charred. His hair is out of this world, being in pristine condition, with not a single strand being out of place from the other. It was spread on the red carpet, reflecting light off the ceiling ki-lamp.

Who is he? Why is he here? Nevermind, that young boy doesn’t look like he’s in a condition to answer me anyway. His coat… I’ve never seen that before, but what he is wearing under is definitely from the East.

Oh well, it’s a pity to just leave him here. His ki is weak too, but looks like he’s still alive. I’ll treat him when we get out of here.

Now - back to the task. There’s the 12 Great Golden Sculptures, the Sun God Diamonds, the Godly Lightning Sword…

That should be about right. The entire cart is now filled and covered, now for the great escape. Whoops, almost forgot that boy. Hmm, looks like he’s still alive and breathing. Putting him on top of the cart, I rolled back the red carpet, revealing the secret tunnel I had dug.

It was a crudely dug tunnel, but it is just big enough to fit the cart in. The tunnel is dark. Very dark. The sound of the cart wheels on the rocky ground echoes constantly in the long tunnel. Of course, darkness is no problem to this Grand Master. I gathered a small fire on my palm and used the eye-enhancing technique to see better in the dark. With one hand, I rolled back the carpet, and pushed the cart along, while avoiding the wooden supports on the way, which barely fitted the cart on its width.

Sounds of the cart wheels and the creaking of wood was stuck repeating like White Mountain Wolves’ howling on a full moon. At least going through the tunnel was much easier than creating it, and now as I walk through it, I recognize marks along the way that I made when I was digging the tunnel. I remembered the hellish experience of trying to dig such a large tunnel by myself, and it took years before it was complete. There were some parts of the tunnel that was blown apart, some dug away using a pickaxe… in the end I found out that it was the fastest to just dig with my fists and place wooden supports along the way.

I kept on pushing, and reached the part of the tunnel without supports, which meant that I am nearing the end. I’m probably across the mountains by now, now I just need to reach the exit which is not very far away.

…

I finally see the light! Alright, that was further (much further) than I thought it was, but I’m out! I’m safe! This old man is still alive! I’m so happy that I did a little dance around, basking in the exceptionally beautiful full moon in the night sky, in the middle of a calm, breezy forest. All the gold, all the riches! Finally, I have my lovely treasures back in my-

“Sorry to interrupt, but can we please continue moving? Thanks.”

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