Chapter Twenty-Two: Disaster Follows Arrogance

What truly surprised Song Yue was that the formidable middle-aged assassin hadn't been hired by Zhang Zixing—but by the father of Zhang Zixing and Zhang Zichen, who paid for his services.

Zhang Jian, a figure many considered successful, owner of the Xingwu Martial Hall, always presented a positive image to the public. Yet, in private, he turned out to be a man of shocking cunning, ruthlessness, and decisive action. Knowing his two sons would never let Song Yue go, Zhang Jian preached moderation to them, saying a little suffering would help them grow; meanwhile, he spent a fortune to buy off a killer and orchestrate a murder.

Had the assassin not confessed, fearing for his own family's safety, Song Yue would never have thought to suspect Zhang Jian. Now, he understood where Zhang Zixing's slyness came from—it was inherited. The whole family was rotten to the core.

According to the middle-aged assassin, this wasn't the first time he'd done such work. "He once saved my life, so I owed him, but over the years I've done countless dirty jobs for him. I don't owe him anything anymore. If he asked me to kill you, it means there's deep hatred between you, so I see no need to hide anything for him."

"I've told you everything. If I die, I hope you won't take revenge on my family. They've spent the bloody money I earned, but they don't know what I do."

Facing death, the assassin was calm and honest, revealing many of the Zhang family's hidden, unspeakable crimes. If all these secrets were exposed, Song Yue would barely have to lift a finger to bring ruin to the Zhangs.

Song Yue nodded. "So long as you're telling the truth, I have no interest in your family."

The assassin replied earnestly, "Every word is true. I'm a dying man—there's no reason to cover for them. If you must retaliate, I beg you, don't let my family suffer..."

Suddenly concerned for his family? Song Yue watched him and asked, "When you ambushed me here, did Zhang Zixing know?"

The assassin replied, "Once I entered, I contacted him in secret. It was their idea: lure you here, make you believe you were about to face them in battle, and ambush you along the way."

"Damn," Song Yue cursed inwardly. That bastard was devious beyond belief. If not for his protective energy, his wilderness experience, and his constant vigilance, he'd have been the one lying dead.

"If you had killed me, would you have gone to report to them?" Song Yue asked.

"I would," the assassin said, then added, "By the way, that blond alien beside Zhang Zixing seems very interested in your girlfriend. He said that once you were dead, he'd find an opportunity to kidnap her, drag her into the forest, abuse her, and then frame you for it..."

Girlfriend? Song Yue almost blurted out, but his face quickly turned cold. He knew exactly who the assassin meant. That little blond really was lawless.

After revealing these secrets, the assassin could not hold on any longer; his eyes lost their light. He died.

Song Yue dug another grave. This time, he stripped the assassin of his black clothes and mask.

"Such is life: you come into the world naked, and you leave it the same. You can't take anything with you. At least I left you your underwear," Song Yue muttered as he buried the assassin, planting grass over the grave.

Once everything was done, Song Yue took off his own clothes, folded them neatly, climbed a tall tree, and hid them along with his alloy spear. He donned the assassin's garb, masked his face, and took up the slender, sharp blade. Blood covered him; at a