Sona stared at the paper in her hands.

It's just reading it, right? That Young Noble couldn't have possibly given me some kind of dangerous talisman. I'm not worth such talismans.

Talismans could be used by anyone who could cultivate Qi, they could also create talismans corresponding their ranks. But there are only a handful of people who actually create a High ranked talismans

Sona circulated her Qi around her body, creating a barrier around her. She slowly opened the paper.

*phew*

It was a normal paper, Sona then proceeded to fully spread the paper, and started to read it.

Sona's face changed from doubt, hope, and excitement...

The letter in fact only had few paragraphs.

Cheng Rui Wei is alive. My lady, considered that since you were quite loyal to her, has sent me to recruit you as her personal maid.

It's up to you whether you believe me or not.

After reading this, please burn it.

Come to the Shihu Inn, if you do believe me.

***

After leaving the Wu Residence, I casually walked down the streets. And started to track down the bastards that works under the Palace, more precisely, the king's ultimate pawns. The shadows.

The King's Shadows, they were an individual which the King trained on his early teens, they are also the reason why the current King has ascended to the throne. They were an important pawn for the King. The King's Shadows only consisted of 500 shadows which have constantly decreased due to the war, there are now approximately 300 and below.

'This lady have been in their care, so I at least have to give them a gift, before leaving right?'

While walking, I switched to my Qi vision. The streets were full of people, I scanned the figures of the people, and I soon found my targets.

My mouth curved upwards. From my calculations, they should be back from gathering information regarding Prince Flam, the current King's brother. There were signs of the Prince, rebelling against the current King. So, as the paranoid King he is, he immediately sent out people to investigate it.

And surely, if his shadows doesn't come back, or they do comebaack, but carrying a large injury... The paranoid King would immediately form a plan to take care of his brother.

Well, I'm not a person who involves innocent people, though I doubt that Prince is innocent. I have sent a warning letter to that Prince, it's up to him, whether he believes it or not. But, I did attached a certain sigil to the letter that I sent, though.

I rubbed both of my hands, as I could feel my blood boil.

Time to put my new skills on actions!

I walked towards an alley, and used an illusion skill. I have improved my Illusion skills, since it played a vital role on my plans, like impersonating someone.

I gathered the Qi on the tip of my foot and jumped. I followed the King's shadows, there were four of them. A scholarly youth, a commoner, a Noble inside his carriage, and a street vendor. They all blended with their surroundings. No one would even think that a normal looking youth, commoner, vendor, and a Noble that you can't even see, would be the King's Shadow, right?

--

I walked over their side and took a glance. Normal, they looked normal in any angle. They even suppressed their Qi...

These four Shadows are a group, they would first sort out the information, in their meeting place, before reporting to the King. I continued to walk towards their meeting place, completely surpassing them.

I reached their meeting place. I made myself look like I'm at home, and even make myself a warm cup of milk tea.

At how I knew their meetings place's location, it is because I did a proper investigation.

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****

The four shadows, number 76 (Sevix), 77(Ven), 78(Veight) and 79(Vein). After they got the necessary information, they quickly pulled back, and met at the Luson Town.

Sevix was the one who reached their meeting place first. As Sevix opened the door, he immediately saw a red-haired youth, enjoying a cup of tea. Sevix immediately reacted, he threw several daggers towards the the red-haired youth.

The youth was too relaxed and didn't notice the oncoming danger... Sevix's mouth curved upwards. but he soon realized that he was wrong.

What happened next, shocked Sevix. A wall of ice was formed, more precisely, Sevix's dagger was caught in the ice, and the ice continued to crawl and caught Sevix's feet. That is when Sevix realized that the whole room was quite moist.

"Who sent you?!" Sevix, who was out of choice angrily yelled towards the red-haired youth. The red-haired youth just smiled at the pitiful Sevix.

"That doesn't matter, does it?" The youth continued to enjoy the tea.

Sevix fiercely glared at the youth. He must at least inform the other three. He slowly reached out towards his pocket--

*stab*

"Ugh-- " Sevix's hand was pierced by an icicle, that is not all, he could even feel the cold creeping from the stabbed icicle. It was as if the cold wanted to freeze him.

"You don't want your fellow Shadows to accompany you?" The youth finally put down the cup of tea and looked at Sevix.

'How could this youth know about the Shadows existence?! The King's Shadow is only known by a handful of people, even Prince Flam isn't aware of our existence. More importantly is the person behind him... To hire an expert Ice Mage.... The King must know this!' Sevix's eyes flashed with urgency.

The youth laughed at the panicked expression of Sevix.

"No need to panic, It's not like, I would kill you." The red hair youth refilled his cup and once again started to drink.

The room was deathly silent until a creaking sound was heard. Three figures emerge, it was the three shadows, Ven, Veight and Vein. Seeing the situation, the three exchanged glances and immediately formed a formation, but before they could execute the formation--

"Ugh--"

"Kuah!"

"Aah!"

Their feet were impaled by an icicle... Their injuries froze along their foots and the floor.

"Wha---"

"Bastard..."

"Kuuh.."

The three looked at the red-haired youth with eyes full of killing intent. If looks could kill, the red-haired youth would have died a thousand times.

"Now, everyone's here." The youth stood up, he waved his hands, the door swung and shut itself.

The youth circled around Sevix who was deathly pale, even though Sevix tried to lessen the cold, by countering it with his Qi, the cold just seemed like an impenetrable wall.

The distance between Sevix and the three Shadows were only 7 meters at most. The red-haired youth raised two of his finger.

"You all have two choices." the youth smilingly looked at the Shadows...

"Bastard, like hell we're gonna lis--" The youth flicked his hands, and an icicle flew towards Vein. The youth's face was grim, his face was cold as the room, and sharp...

"KUagh!" an icicle pierced his left shoulder.

"Don't interrupt me when I'm talking." He coldly said the four felt the cold room, decrease its temperature again.

"One, you all are going to report to King according to my instructions." The youth joyfully said.

Veight, who was about to shout out of anger, managed to hold himself, as he looked towards Vein.

"the second?" Vein asked, his breath was ragged and his face was deathly pale.

"Two, I'm gonna put all of you in a half-dead state, in short, a coma, you all will be deemed as a cripple for the rest of your lives." The youth's voice seemed to become colder and colder.

"You all have a stick of an incense to decide." The youth flipped his hands, an incense burner came out of the youth's hand, he then proceeded to light up an incense stick. The youth once again sat back on the chair, his eyes throwing a mocking look at the four.

The four shadows exchanged looks. After a minute, they nodded at each other, Sevix who was in front, fixedly looked at the youth.

"We choose the first choice..."

"Wise choice!" The youth clapped his hands and pulled out a paper talisman.

"Wha!" The four stared at youth's paper talisman. It was a unique paper talisman, they have never seen this kind of paper talisman, they as a Shadows have almost seen all kinds of paper talismans, but this one is--  

The paper was almost transparent, it has a normal size, and emits the aura of a 7th rank mage.

"Eh? You couldn't have possibly thought that I would just send you guys back? Hahaha!! You guys must be joking, I'm not that naive." The youth looked at the four shadows with contempt. The youth then, unceremoniously stuck the paper talismans on their foreheads, the talisman actually evaporated on their foreheads.

The youth pulled out a scroll. He then left it on the chair that he previously sat.

"Then, let's meet again when it's time!" The youth left just like that, the four was almost angered to death.

'How does that red-haired youth think that we could move with this ice holding us back?!'

When they were cursing out loud, the Ice as if it could hear them, actually started to rapidly evaporate freeing themselves. The four exchange looks. Sivex gulped as he dragged his injured body and nervously reached out the scroll.

The three gathered around Sivex as they all read the content of the scroll.

'Hahaha, what an idiotic Shadows.' that was the first line of the scroll, the four almost spit out a mouthful of blood due to anger.

'By now, I should have shamed your asses 'till your great aunt's tomb, right?... If you try anything funny and actually dare to disobey my instruction; remember the talisman which I inserted on each of you? It'll explode.' After reading the second paragraph, they felt a chill run down their spine, although the ice has now dispersed.... 

They have never felt as threatened as much as now, even when the King was infuriated because of their failed mission, they didn't feel as threatened as they are now...

'I only have simple instructions. Some of you will have to go back, looking severely injured, report to the King that Prince Flam has almost caught you, Prince Flam has allied himself with the Luluon Kingdom. That's it, may we never meet again.'

After they finished reading the scroll they burned it down. Amazingly, the injuries they received were nowhere to be seen. Now they have to injure themselves.... They have really met a terrifying monster today.

The four left their meeting place, and made their way back to the Palace, as to what they are going to report. That is up for later.