Chapter 850: Let's Be Together

Xiao Nanfeng and Yanzhi glanced at the poisoned Qingyang Zi before them.

"Yan, kill him," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.

He was worried that Qingyang Zi's behavior would leave Yanzhi with mental trauma. By having her take down Qingyang Zi on her own, she would prevent a possible specter of the heart from forming.

"You would dare? I'm the leader of this branch of the assassins' guild! If I perish, the higher-ups will investigate what happened thoroughly. You won't be able to escape. Both of you will be doomed!" Qingyang Zi roared.

Yanzhi glanced at Xiao Nanfeng, concern evident in her expression. She understood the power and reach of this guild of assassins. Killing Qingyang Zi could lead to huge trouble down the line.

"Kill him. It'll be alright," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Got it." Yanzhi nodded firmly.

Seeing that the pair was serious, Qingyang Zi blanched. His tone changed immediately.

"Don't kill me! I'm your master! I'm the one who took you in and taught you to cultivate. What happened today was my fault, but I promise it won't happen again. Let's act if nothing ever happened. How about that?" Qingyang Zi pleaded.

Even so, Xiao Nanfeng and Yanzhi remained expressionless. Seeing Xiao Nanfeng's resolute gaze, Yanzhi stepped forward, her face steeled with determination, and stabbed Qingyang Zi with her sword.

"No!" Qingyang Zi screamed.

With a sickening sound, Qingyang Zi collapsed into a pool of his own blood, dead.

"Nanfeng, I've killed Qingyang Zi. We need to escape now," Yanzhi said anxiously.

"Escape? You know this guild of assassins better than anyone. You can't escape from them."

"But—"

"Don't worry. I'll face this with you. First, we'll eliminate Qingyang Zi's loyal followers, then bribe a few elders in guild headquarters. I know their weaknesses. After that, you'll take over as the branch leader."

"What? Me?" Yanzhi exclaimed.

"Of course. If I had the strength to deal with all the assassins at the headquarters, I'd make you the leader of the entire guild. For now, however, we'll have to take it one step at a time."

"Why me? Why not you?" Yanzhi asked.

"This guild doesn't mean much to me. It may be of more use to you."

Yanzhi's eyes reddened. "Thank you, Nanfeng."

"There's no need to thank me," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a smile.

Yanzhi bit her lip and hesitated for a moment before stating, "Nanfeng, my real name is Yanzhi."

Xiao Nanfeng froze for a moment. This was the first time Yanzhi had revealed her real name to anyone.

After that, though, Yanzhi refused to say anything more. It was clear that her name carried a deeper meaning, one that she had kept hidden for many years.

"Let's keep Yanzhi a secret between us for now. I'll still call you Yan in public," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Yanzhi nodded, smiling gratefully.

The two began to clean up the scene of the murder. Because Xiao Nanfneg was ignored whenever he left Yanzhi's boundary, his stealth and cultivation that he had advanced diligently allowed him to quickly eliminate Qingyang Zi's loyalists.

Then, he brought Yanzhi to the guild headquarters. He had visited it himself many times, and was very familiar with its layout. He instructed Yanzhi to bribe the greedy elders with large sums of money while he quietly assassinated those he knew wouldn't comply.

Though doing so was a little dangerous, Xiao Nanfeng ultimately succeeded in his ploy.

Yanzhi officially became the leader of the branch and took charge of the region's affairs.

During that period of time, Xiao Nanfeng found a piece of information about an old case: a bounty for a girl named Yanzhi.

The details made it apparent that that Yanzhi was the same one he knew. The bounty also included information about her family background.

It was only then that he fully understood the sorrow and secrets that Yanzhi had been carrying all these years, and why she had had to hide her name.

"What are you looking at?" Yanzhi's voice suddenly came from behind.

Xiao Nanfeng handed her the document. Yanzhi scanned the bounty and frowned slightly, but her expression remained calm. She trusted Xiao Nanfeng intimately, and knew that he wouldn't betray her for a reward.

"You didn't have to tell me your name," Xiao Nanfeng said, smiling wryly.

Yanzhi bit her lip. She looked at Xiao Nanfeng, her eyes filled with unspoken words. Blushing, she finally said, "I didn't want to lie to you anymore."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "From what I read, your father was a trusted advisor to the emperor. The fact that someone was able to frame him means that the person responsible must hold significant power and status. Don't worry—I'll help you get your revenge."

Yanzhi stared at Xiao Nanfeng in shock, her emotions swirling. After a long pause, she asked, "Nanfeng, why do you treat me so well?"

From the day they had first met until now, Xiao Nanfeng had been gradually widening the gates of her heart until they finally cracked open. His kindness and unwavering support had long caused her to feel emotionally reliant on him—and she feared the day he would leave her. She had been grappling with this conflict for some time, and her emotions had reached their breaking point. She couldn't hold back any longer. She wanted to share everything with him, to stop hiding.

"Because to me, you're more important than anyone else," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Yanzhi's face instantly turned red. Those were the words she had longed to hear, but she was suddenly overcome with shyness and panic. She stammered, "I-I have something to do. I'll go now."

She fled in a hurry, leaving Xiao Nanfeng surprised. He wondered to himself, "Did I word that too suggestively? That wasn't what I meant—but there isn't anything wrong with that meaning either, is there? Yanzhi would be a perfect wife."

After seizing control of this branch of the assassins' guild, Xiao Nanfeng implemented structured policies to reduce the assassins' mortality rate while on missions.

In addition, he taught Yanzhi how to lead and manage an organization, and she quickly grew adept at managing the assassins. Together, they secretly dispatched some assassins to infiltrate other branches of the guild, laying the groundwork for taking over the entire organization one day.

A few days later, Xiao Nanfeng began, "I've been doing some research. Your father was a righteous official in the empire of Dahuang, and he was deeply trusted by the emperor. Whoever could orchestrate your family's downfall had to be of even higher status. Dahuang is home to many cultivators, and while our assassins' guild is powerful, it's hard to delve into imperial secrets. If we want to find the mastermind behind your family's tragedy and exact revenge, the best course of action is to join the imperial court."

"How?"

"Dahuang has a so-called Phoenix Army stationed at its borders, and they accept female soldiers. If we enlist there and recruit our guild for assistance, with my ability to eliminate key enemy figures, you'll quickly rise through the ranks. The assassins' guild has a standing bounty on the commander of the Phoenix Army, so we can use that as a pretext to join the military."

"Alright!" Yanzhi nodded firmly.

𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

The two cultivators joined the Phoenix Army with little trouble. Xiao Nanfeng was in a male battalion, and Yanzhi in a female one.

Whenever Yanzhi participated in a mission, Xiao Nanfeng would join her.

"Is it really alright for you to be with me? Won't your absence in the army be noted?" Yanzhi asked, concerned.

"Don't worry. I've got it handled," Xiao Nanfeng replied with a smile.

Nothing would happen, of course. Without Yanzhi nearby, the Phoenix Army didn't even notice Xiao Nanfeng's existence.

Thanks to Xiao Nanfeng's unique ability, Yanzhi racked up countless achievements. Each mission yielded her the head of an enemy leader. With such accomplishments, it would be harder for her not to rise up the ranks.

Her meteoric rise was undeniable, though she managed to avoid drawing too much attention thanks to the birthmark on her face.

As Yanzhi advanced in rank, she transferred Xiao Nanfeng to her personal guard, effectively elevating him alongside her.

One day, while the army was resting and making preparations for subsequent mobilization, they secretly slipped away to a secluded valley. The valley was shrouded in fog and obscured by a formation of small flags that created a concealment array.

Yanzhi noticed the unusual setup, but Xiao Nanfeng offered no explanation, and she didn't press him for one.

The two held hands as they walked toward the fog-shrouded array. Yanzhi's face flushed red.

Although Xiao Nanfeng had held her hand before, this was the first time things had felt so intimate, as if they were a couple walking hand-in-hand. She felt a bit uneasy, but didn't want to let go.

"Why did you bring me here today?" Yanzhi asked, her cheeks flushed red.

"I wanted to sing you a song," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"A song? That would be great!" Yanzhi's eyes lit up.

Her mood would lift whenever Xiao Nanfeng sang.

"The song is called Can't Help Falling for You. It's a song from my hometown, and it expresses exactly how I feel right now."

"Can't Help Falling For you?" Yanzhi repeated curiously.

"It’s hard to forget the first time I saw you, Your captivating eyes.

Your image lingers in my mind, I can’t shake it away. ♪

"I’m afraid I might fall for you, Afraid to get too close.

Afraid I have nothing to offer you, Loving you takes so much courage. ♪"

"What’s the reason?

How did I meet you again?

I really, really don’t want to, But I’m trapped in the snare of love. ♪

"I’m afraid I might fall for you, Afraid someday I’ll lose control.

Yearning only makes me hurt myself.

Falling for you is beyond my control.

Falling for you is beyond my control. ♪"

The heartfelt lyrics caused Yanzhi's heart to race uncontrollably.

Sure enough, as Xiao Nanfeng finished the song, he waved his hand and dispersed the small flags. The fog cleared, revealing a valley filled with vibrant flowers.

Flowers of every kind bloomed in a breathtaking display. Yanzhi's heart trembled at the sight.

"Yanzhi, I like you. Will you be together with me?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, tugging on Yanzhi's hand.

Surrounded by a sea of flowers and dancing butterflies, with the melody of Can't Help Falling for You still echoing in her ears, Yanzhi's long-held feelings for Xiao Nanfeng surged to the forefront of her mind. Her eyes reddened as tears welled up—not of sadness, but of overwhelming joy and emotion. She replied, her voice trembling with happiness, "Yes, let's be together!"