Rise of The Demon General

Pai Kuan paused a bit hearing Amon's response, he then burst into a laugh, "Hahaha. You don't even show any hesitation. It is both impressive and frightening. Let's say if we work together as you said, how do I know you won't backstab our sect in the future?"

"As long as you continue to prove useful, there is no reason for you to worry."

The six behind Amon fidgeted. The words and tone that Amon used were as if he was above their White Cloud Sect. They were so very eager to tear this cocky boy apart right now. However, they didn't move a muscle or utter a word. Pai Kuan had reprimanded one of them before. If their master had to do it the second time, it would not be a simple admonishment.

Pai Kuan, on the other hand, kept a flat expression. It's no telling if he was offended or not by Amon's words.

"All right. I will let you choose the target. But I won't accept it if you choose a random nobody from the clan. It won't prove anything if you killed a servant from your clan. It has to be someone that is of prominence."

"As long as it is not my mother, No one else is of concern to me," Amon said. But in reality, if the target needed to be Madam Lin, he doubted that he would hesitate. He was saying that not because he cared about his adoptive mother. It was simply to give Pai Kuan the impression that although he didn't care about the Lin clan, he was not someone ungrateful who would murder the one who had been kind to him. If Pai Kuan saw him as someone like this, Pai Kuan might deem him too dangerous to work with. Someone with no attachment like this was too untrustable.

"Of course, I don't think it will be reasonable to ask me to take out the big shots of the Lin clan," Amon continued. "Firstly, those big shots have too high a cultivation. They are too strong for me. Unless you help me, there is no way I can succeed. Secondly, it will ruffle too many feathers. I don't think you want the Lin clan's investigative team to sniff your hands in this matter, do you?"

"You present a reasonable argument. So, who do you propose?" Pai Kuan asked.

"Someone important but of the young generation, around my age," Amon answered.

"Oh? How about Lin Xiaolong?" Pai Kuan offered. "He is the current top prodigy of the Lin clan's young generation. I will be happy if you take him out. With your talent, he won't be a match for you, would he?"

"He won't. I will be happy as well to take him out. However, I advised against it."

"Why?" Pai Kuan asked with a smile.

"Same as the second reason to the big shots. He is too important for the Lin clan. If he is murdered, the investigation that follows won't be simple. Every stone will be turned. It might become a problem where you have to work hard to hide the evidence."

"Evidence such as you, you mean?"

"Yes. So, you see. I say it for my own benefit as well."

"This one cannot, that one cannot. I have a feeling you are just making excuses," Pai Kuan said, still smiling.

"Lin Zuyi," Amon said.

"Zuyi? Hm…" Pai Kuan massaged his chin.

"He is the son of one of the Lin clan's big shots. A direct descendant of Lin Weida. He is an important member, but not that important since his cultivation is so-so. His passing will be mourned, but it won't anger too many people."

"I take it you have a history with this Lin Zuyi, don't you?"

"I also have a history with Lin Xiaolong. You said you have information about me inside the Lin clan, right? So, you should know I didn't offer Zuyi just due to a grudge."

"Hm… All right, but if it is Zuyi, then I ask for two targets. You need to take out another Lin youth to show your resolve that you will work with us instead of the Lin clan."

"Lin Xiaoying then. He is the brother of Lin Xiaolong. So, he can be considered important. But his cultivation has been stagnant for a while, so not many see him in the same light as his brother."

Pai Kuan burst into a laugh again. "I am genuinely impressed. There is no pause. You said it as if you have expected me to ask for an additional target. Fine, we will go by your proposal, Lin Zuyi and Lin Xiaoying then. My six knives will look for their whereabouts. In the meantime, you follow me. Can't let you go before you give us your proof of disloyalty now, can we? You can just make this up so you can go back and hide inside the Lin clan."

Amon shrugged. "Lead the way."

The six knives left after Pai Kuan gave the order. Amon followed Pai Kuan to a secluded house at the edge of town. Amon stayed there and cultivate while Pai Kuan watched over him. Pai Kuan's eyes were not on him, but Amon knew from his instinct that Pai Kuan's senses were all over him. The instant he made a suspicious move, Pai Kuan would react.

Amon didn't plan to do anything suspicious. He was telling the truth when he said he wanted to work with the White Cloud sect. It was not a fixed plan originally. But since this disaster struck, might as well turn it into an opportunity. White Cloud sect might even give San Guo more leniency in developing his influence in this city after this. This would benefit him in the long run.

*

A day passed. One of the six knives, who was called Zing, came to the house where Amon and Pai Kuan were at.

"Report, master. We have tracked the two brats. We have found out that they are planning to go to a brothel called Sinner's Bliss tonight. Luckily, they planned to go together. However, they will be bringing one bodyguard. The other knives were keeping an eye and will let us know once they left the Lin estate."

Amon didn't find the report strange. He knew that the two had become best friends for a while. They often went out together. That was also the reason Amon suggested the two of them. Shorten his time. It would take a longer time if he had to do two separate hunts.

"How strong is this bodyguard?" Pai Kuan asked.

"Intermediate Transformation stage," Zing answered.

Pai Kuan glanced at Amon. "One peak Strength stage, one beginning Strength stage, and one Intermediate Transformation stage. Can you take care of them? Or should we wait another time when they are alone?" Pai Kuan asked.

"No need to wait. I don't have the luxury to wait. I will deal with them tonight," Amon replied.

"Are you sure?" Pai Kuan asked again.

"If you give me aid, I'm sure everything will go smoothly," Amon returned.

Pai Kuan chuckled. "Then it won't be a test then, would it? Tonight it is, then. However you do it, it's up to you. We will be watching from afar. We won't interfere no matter what happens. Even if you end up getting killed, we won't provide any assistance. I hope we are clear on that."

"We are," Amon replied.

"Also. Remember that we are watching. Don't try to use the chance to escape."

Amon simply sneered.

*

Amon was laying low on a roof that oversaw one of the streets that led to the district where Sinner's Bliss was located. He was wearing a hooded black cloak that gave him good cover at night. His face was also covered with black cloth, leaving only his eyes. It was his standard getup for an assassination mission so that no one could identify him.

He normally disliked going on an assassination mission without preparation. He usually did days of scouting to understand his prey before taking action. However, unbeknown to Pai Kuan, Amon had actually done his homework on these duo.

Since gaining San Guo's underworld network, he had put some of the operatives there for gaining information for his private use. Especially information about the mission San Guo had placed on his head. He had known that it came from the Wei clan. The reason for the Wei clan to target him was because they knew that Wei Feng died because of Amon.

His question was, how did they know? Madam Lin had demanded silence on the matter, which meant someone from the Lin clan had secretly leaked this info.

After some digging, he finally found out that it was due to Lin Zuyi. Further investigation revealed that the three trios who tried to kill him during the Greasy Horned Weasel mission were also Lin Zuyi's underlings. Some of the servants Amon questioned had also revealed that Zuyi had visited Lin Fong several times just before that mission.

This meant that Lin Zuyi had tried to kill him twice. Such an act couldn't go unpunished.