The Martial Unity

It was a shocking conclusion, but he didn't see any other truth. This was clearly a professional assassin targeting him instead of a thug, that was for sure. Which certainly meant that there was a commission or hit out on him as professional assassins only worked for money.

'How long has it even been since I got here?' Rui frowned. 'Why would there be a hit out on me so quick?'

He wasn't sure. However, he had a few guesses. 

'Maybe someone saw me kill that man.' Rui mused. 

After all, the man did have some wealth, maybe Rui pissed off someone who wanted to teach him a lesson. Rui hadn't used his Martial Heart since it was a waste to use it against a normal human.

This meant that a Martial Squire would be able to perceive what happened. Perhaps that information wound up in the arms of some third party that decided they wanted to get rid of him.

Or, it could be a third party trying to test him as well. Sending in a single Martial Squire assassin after that demonstration was not exactly the most fitting, but it could simply have been someone trying to confirm his capabilities.

Rui was concealing his true status with Mind Mask, he didn't want to draw eyes in a region that was known for being infested with covert attacks. Although he did have a lot of faith in his senses and mind, he also had a lot of faith in assassins.

Ultimately, it was best not to get into trouble against them if possible. Yet he had already failed at doing that.

He sighed, shaking his head. 'The Derschek Region lives up to its reputation. All I can hope is that whoever targeted me did it for mundane reasons and isn't persistent enough. I don't have time for this.'

He had to go out there and immediately begin searching for the Silent Shadow in the Shadow Isles. Regardless, getting out of here was probably a good idea. Given how quickly he was found and commissioned, whoever put out a hit on him probably had a base of power in the town of Albaor.

This person or organization must have not only received a surveillance report on Rui being a Martial Artist but also quickly hired a hitman to take Rui out. Which required some foundation of a base of power to get things done that quickly. 

However, it begged the question as to why people would establish a foundation of power in the town of Albaor, an outer town with no real power that is merely meant to welcome outsiders traveling to the Derschek region for the first time. 

The only real answer was that being outsiders didn't necessarily exclude them from potentially being targets. 

In fact, perhaps it was because they were outsiders that they were definitely not excluded. After all, an outside element could disrupt the balance of power within the Derschek Region. It was best to nip such an element in the bud.

However, if that was the case, it allowed him to deduce and infer even more information about the ones who targeted him. If they decided he needed to go after witnessing that simple display of power, then they were most likely from a weaker group or nation where that level of power could make a critical difference.

After all, the Martial Squire assassin, while remarkably professional, was weak. Even if Rui had still been a Martial Squire, he would have effortlessly folded him without feeling the slightest hint of danger.

Perhaps stronger assassins would be sent after him, but Rui doubted it instinctively. 

Besides, even if stronger assassins were sent after him...

'I'm strong.' 

He was a Martial Senior. Not the strongest, not by a long shot, but anybody who wanted to take him down needed to be willing to indulge in expensive expenditure if they wanted to get rid of him.

Given that the Beggar's Sect had divulged that the Silent Shadow was the only Martial Master in the Derschek Region and the Shadow Isles, it meant that the strongest forces were Martial Seniors. 

That already meant that he was a powerhouse as far as the forces of the Derschek Region were concerned. Of course, that didn't give him impunity to do as he pleased, but as long as he kept to himself, no one would bother him.

In that case, perhaps broadcasting the fact that he was a Martial Senior was not the worst idea. In these circumstances, deterrents were better than trump cards. But the plan could backfire if he didn't deter them, since they would send forces specifically to take down a Martial Senior.

'Well, let's just keep a low profile for now while I reach the Shadow Isles.' Rui narrowed his eyes.

He also needed to meet up with the branch of the Beggar's Sect in this region. There was a good chance that they could supply him with relevant information. He quickly plucked out the badge from within his robes, pinning it to his attire.

Less than a minute later, he was stopped by a street fortune teller.

"Ah... young man. I see that you are destined to go to a certain place." The old man told him. "Allow me to help you fulfill this destiny."

The man gave Rui a slip of paper. 

Only two words were written on it.

[Libraries of Gehu]

"This Beggar prays that you find what you are looking for." He bade Rui farewell as he went about his way.

A moment later, the piece of paper turned to ashes, flying away. Rui raised an eyebrow as he watched the man go away.

'Sian wasn't kidding when she said that they would find me when I put this badge on...' Rui mused as he went about his way. It had happened sooner than he had imagined.

His mind turned to the location that the old man had passed to him. 

The Library of Gehu. He hadn't heard of it, but it was without a doubt the base of operations of the Derschek branch of the Beggar's Sect.