Chapter 798: Debt Collector Arrives

"Oh?"

A flicker of surprise crossed the assassin's eyes as he beheld the blood-soaked scene before him, littered with corpses. His initial starting point wasn't far from here; after the contest began, he had casually dispatched a few nearby weaklings. Hearing a commotion from this direction, he came to investigate, not expecting such a brutal melee to have already taken place so soon after the start.

A quick scan of the bodies on the ground told him that one person was responsible for all these deaths. He couldn't help but ponder which of the top experts he knew was so impatient and so ruthless.

He noticed figures rustling in the surrounding darkness, apparently stunned bystanders, as they slowly rose to their feet. He approached them silently.

"Who killed these people just now?" The assassin's sudden question made the unsuspecting participant shiver with fright.

The person collected themselves. Unable to clearly see the assassin's appearance or attire, they assumed he was just a confused passerby and answered casually:

"I don't know... When I arrived, he had already killed three people in a row. Then I just watched him grow stronger with each kill, until he instantly eliminated a fourth-ranker with his last blow."

"I'm not very familiar with that divine path's aura, but it's likely the God of War path. The combat was incredibly fierce!"

"Right, I just remembered someone mentioning it... I think he's called Jian Wubing?"

The God of War path, Jian Wubing?

Hearing these words, the assassin's eyes immediately narrowed. He glanced in the direction Jian Changsheng and Sun Bumian had just left, muttering to himself, "So it was him..."

The assassin recalled the young man at the Comet Hotel who had pressed a gun to his forehead. Given that person's personality and strength, it made sense that he would kill so many people right at the start.

As the only assassin of this era, he rarely failed an assassination targeting anyone below the sixth rank, let alone a fourth-ranker. He was curious to see just how capable this Jian Wubing truly was, and how many assassination attempts he could withstand.

He let out a cold snort, and his figure gradually faded into the darkness, swiftly pursuing Jian Changsheng's path.

Audience Expectation Value: 2Current Expectation Value: 56

As Chen Ling's blade rose and fell, claiming another pursued participant, he finally saw a new prompt float before his eyes.

Chen Ling had realized that, apart from the first two, his kills rarely increased the audience's expectation value. Perhaps the plot had become too repetitive, causing the audience's novelty to wane. He had now killed nine people in a row, and the growth of the audience's expectation value had stalled. However, for some reason, it seemed to have increased again just now.

It shouldn't be because of his own kills, right?

Could it be... related to Little Jian?

From the moment he threw out the name "Jian Wubing" to the assassin, Chen Ling had guessed that the subsequent developments would likely increase the audience's expectation value. The seed he had planted then was finally bearing fruit. Thinking about this, Chen Ling's expression became subtle.

"Sorry about this..."

Chen Ling felt a hint of guilt about diverting the trouble, but it was just "a hint." After all, Jian Changsheng had caused him no small amount of trouble since arriving in the Tian Shu domain. This assassin presented a perfect opportunity to give Little Jian a bit of a challenge.

As for whether Jian Changsheng would face a life-or-death crisis because of this... Chen Ling had considered it, but he merely chuckled it off.

He recalled Jian Changsheng's first uncontrollable use of his domain in the Gray Realm, and the black murderous aura that surrounded him. Jian Changsheng had been unconscious at the time, but Chen Ling had genuinely felt the power of that domain.

Just a few seconds of it, even now when Chen Ling remembered it, still gave him a choking sensation, as if his throat were being squeezed!

Few people could make him and the audience within him feel uneasy, but Little Jian was one of them. Whether it was the murderous aura from the deepest part of the ancient Arsenal path or the ancient entity hidden within him, neither was ordinary.

Little Jian had suffered setbacks and been in disarray along the way, simply because his fate was arduous and he was too unlucky.

However, if anyone truly thought he was an easy target, they would certainly pay the price.

"The expectation value is stuck, this is trouble..." Chen Ling's brows furrowed deeper as he looked at the unchanging expectation value. "Perhaps I need to change my approach..."

Just as Chen Ling was still fretting over the expectation value, a gaunt figure, carrying a rake on their back, slowly emerged from the dim street.

Detecting someone approaching, a hint of surprise flashed in Chen Ling's eyes.

He had pursued and killed many people consecutively. Most would flee upon seeing him; only a few brave enough stayed to fight, but they all ended up decapitated. He hadn't expected someone to actively seek him out at this moment.

No, that wasn't right...

As the person drew closer, a fifth-rank aura suddenly descended, like a towering mountain looming in the gloom, directly blocking Chen Ling's path forward!

"You are Lin Yan, the one Fourth Master spoke of?" A cold voice slowly emerged.

Chen Ling: ?

Who is Fourth Master?

Chen Ling frowned deeply. Just as he was about to speak, a second fifth-rank aura erupted from behind him. Another gaunt figure, carrying a long staff, walked towards him with a menacing glare.

The two of them, one in front and one behind, cornered Chen Ling in the middle of the street.

"You dared to cause trouble at Third Master's funeral, I see you're tired of living!" the figure with the staff said grimly. "If the two of us hadn't been absent then, you wouldn't have made it out of the funeral hall!"

Hearing their words, even the well-traveled Chen Ling was utterly bewildered.

He looked at the two of them again, perplexed. After confirming he didn't know them at all, he asked in confusion, "What 'Third Master'? Are you mistaken?"

"Don't play dumb with us! At Third Master's funeral, you were the one who swaggered in, riding a red lion and carrying an iron staff! Fourth Master said your name is Lin Yan, you're of the God of War path, and you can use blood evasion!"

"We've been following you, and we've confirmed you are indeed of the God of War path... Is there another God of War path user named Lin Yan in this old district?"

Chen Ling: ???

Riding a red lion, God of War path, blood evasion... and named Lin Yan??

At that moment, Chen Ling suddenly remembered Jian Changsheng returning disheveled after chasing Sun Bumian... and that obviously sly remark while filling out the registration form: "Be careful, safety first~"

Chen Ling's expression instantly became priceless!

Well, well...

So no one's getting left behind, you take trouble for me, and I take trouble for you, is that it?

Chen Ling had thought this was a one-sided, conscience-defying backstab from him... but it turned out to be a mutual arrangement?

Both of them were fifth-rankers, and he only threw one person onto Little Jian, while Little Jian threw two onto him in one go? Director Chen had tricked so many people, but he never expected to be outsmarted by Little Jian this time!

Chen Ling's slight guilt towards Little Jian completely vanished. He silently clenched his fists...

Jian Changsheng, you just wait.