Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Assassinating Ye Qingchen

Regarding Vice Pavilion Master Liu’s arrangements, Ye Qingchen naturally had no objections and followed him toward the registration area.

By this time, a long line had already formed outside, and Ye Qingchen couldn’t help but frown. With so many people, who knows how long this will take?

Just as Ye Qingchen was about to take his place at the end of the line, Vice Pavilion Master Liu laughed, pulling him aside. ”Silly boy,” he said, ”we are from the Qingyun Sect. The assembly has arranged a dedicated channel for us.”

Realization dawned on Ye Qingchen. As the premier sect of the Northern Desolate Country, it was hardly surprising that the Qingyun Sect held such privileges. It’s just that I only joined recently and have rarely presented myself as a Qingyun Sect disciple, so I never realized.

He followed Vice Pavilion Master Liu into the exclusive passage under the envious, and sometimes jealous, gazes of the crowd. Ye Qingchen’s own expression remained calm, undisturbed by their stares. The world was inherently unfair. The countless ancestors of the Qingyun Sect had forged its reputation as the number one sect in the Northern Desolate Country, so it was only right for its current disciples to enjoy certain privileges. It is as they say: one generation plants the trees so the next may rest in their shade.

When Ye Qingchen and Vice Pavilion Master Liu arrived at the registration spot, Pavilion Master Zhang and the other dozen or so alchemy experts from the Qingyun Sect had already finished registering.

Upon seeing Pavilion Master Zhang, Ye Qingchen hurried over to pay his respects. Pavilion Master Zhang nodded and said, ”Go register first. You’ll be participating in the youth group of this sect competition.”

Ye Qingchen bowed and took his leave, then entered the registration area under Vice Pavilion Master Liu’s guidance.

Vice Pavilion Master Liu clearly held significant clout. As soon as he entered the registration area, the staff members immediately stopped their work and stood up to receive him. They attended to him with the utmost deference as he completed his registration. After he finished, Vice Pavilion Master Liu gestured for Ye Qingchen to come forward, gave him a couple of instructions, and then departed.

When it was Ye Qingchen’s turn, the staff member’s attitude turned much colder. ”Name? Age? Alchemist level? Which group?” he asked, throwing out a string of emotionless questions before falling silent.

Ye Qingchen didn’t mind. The staff member had been deferential to Vice Pavilion Master Liu because of his status and strength, whereas Ye Qingchen was just a disciple. To earn respect, you must first prove your own worth. With this in mind, he ignored the man’s cold attitude and simply answered the questions.

”Ye Qingchen from the Qingyun Sect, eighteen years old, currently a third-grade Alchemist.”

In truth, Ye Qingchen was not quite eighteen, but he added a year to his age to avoid any unnecessary trouble that being too young might cause.

The staff member registered the information without even looking up. Although reaching the level of a third-grade Alchemist at eighteen was the mark of a genius, the Northern Desolate Country never lacked for geniuses. A mere third-grade Alchemist was not enough to attract any special attention.

After registering, Ye Qingchen turned and left. Just as he stepped out, he saw Pavilion Master Zhang and Vice Pavilion Master Liu waiting for him.

「In a tavern across from Rising Sun Pavilion」

Qin Xi’s face was livid as she stared at the two men kneeling before her. Both were clearly at the second level of the Great Martial Master Realm, yet they appeared utterly terrified in her presence. Her anger wasn’t directed at them; it was because Ye Qingchen had ruined her plans time and again. The more she thought about it, the more furious she became, the rage showing plainly on her face.

The two kneeling men exchanged a glance before the older one spoke respectfully, ”Miss Qin, whatever your orders are, please do not hesitate to command us. We brothers will readily walk through fire and water for you!”

Qin Xi snorted coldly. ”The Qin Family has supported you for so long, and now it’s time for you to repay that debt. Help me kill someone. Upon success, this young lady will reward you handsomely!”

The two men looked at each other, their faces tense. The older man eventually asked, ”Please, give us your command, Miss Qin. Our very lives were given by the Qin Family. It is our honor to serve you; we dare not ask for any reward!”

Qin Xi chuckled coldly. ”You needn’t be so tense. The person I want you to kill is merely a Ninth-Layer Martial Master. You are both second-level Great Martial Masters, so this should be no difficult task. However, I require you to cut the weeds and pull out the roots, leaving no loose ends!”

Her words allowed the two men to breathe a sigh of relief. A mere Ninth-Layer Martial Master was like an ant in their eyes, especially since they would be attacking together.

The older man replied, ”Rest assured, Miss Qin. We brothers will ensure the job is done cleanly.”

Qin Xi took a portrait from her storage ring and handed it to them. ”This man’s name is Ye Qingchen, and he should currently be at the Alchemy Dao competition. You two are to set an ambush in advance. I have already erased your names from the Qin Family’s servant registry. After you complete this task, you can leave and enjoy your freedom!”

The two brothers were ecstatic. Killing a mere Ninth-Layer Martial Master in exchange for their freedom was an incredible deal. They had once been saved by Qin Xi’s father and had served the Qin Family as deathsworn retainers ever since. Though they acted out of gratitude, who wouldn’t desire freedom?

Qin Xi waved her hand to dismiss them. She then sat back in her chair, fuming, and muttered to herself, ”Ye Qingchen, you dared to foil my plans so many times. For that, even death is too good for you!”

Actually, Qin Xi’s reasons for wanting him dead ran deeper. She did not want Ye Qingchen to heal Qin Zhantian. After all, Ye Qingchen had been brought by Qin Yue. If he were to truly cure Qin Zhantian, Qin Yue’s status would surely eclipse her own in the future. That was something Qin Xi could not tolerate.

Therefore, she had sought out two deathsworn retainers to assassinate Ye Qingchen. She knew he was only a Ninth-Layer Martial Master, so she specifically found two experts who were second-level Great Martial Masters. This was to ensure a swift and lethal strike, leaving Ye Qingchen no chance to resist. Moreover, Qin Xi had already prepared their escape route. She instructed the two retainers not to return to the Qin Family after killing Ye Qingchen. That way, even if someone investigated the matter, she could wash her hands of it completely.