"Senior Martial Uncle, I am wrongly accused! This has absolutely nothing to do with me, nothing at all..."

A sound like a pig being slaughtered ripped through the air as Li Dongrong trembled before Zhang Zhongjin, kowtowing repeatedly. Although he was well over sixty, he was still a practitioner of the eighth layer of Inner Strength, so even with his frantic bowing, there was no immediate danger of his frame collapsing.

Zhang Zhongjin frowned deeply. "Silence."

As if sliced by a sharp blade, the grating noise issuing from Li Dongrong vanished instantly, leaving only his heavy, gasping breaths, and behind him, the sounds of his followers, relatives, and important clan members kneeling and bowing.

Those who had come to see them off with Li Dongrong were naturally not mere servants, but influential figures within this entire region.

Jin Zhanyi shook his head slightly. "Brother He, I apologize for making you witness this farce."

He Yiming’s gaze swept over Li Dongrong’s face. Sweat was pouring down the man’s temples now, and his eyes were wide with terror. He clearly understood that if Zhang Zhongjin and Jin Zhanyi truly suspected him, they wouldn't even need to act themselves; just a few of the Houtian elite disciples from the Lingxiao Palace would be enough to annihilate his entire household.

Furthermore, there were hundreds of elite disciples present. If a real fight were to break out, the Li family would surely not have a single survivor.

With a soft sigh, He Yiming said, "Brother Jin, I find this matter rather strange. I believe he is innocent."

Jin Zhanyi responded without hesitation, "Of course, he is innocent."

He Yiming paused, glancing over in surprise; he hadn't expected Jin Zhanyi to be even more certain than himself.

"Senior Martial Brother Zhang, I just examined it. It appears to be an assassin from the Yellow Springs Sect," Jin Zhanyi stated gravely.

A flicker of anger crossed Zhang Zhongjin’s face. He snorted coldly, "The Yellow Springs Sect again. Why won't they just die out?"

He Yiming keenly noticed that when the Yellow Springs Sect was mentioned, beneath the anger in Zhang Zhongjin's eyes, there was also an undeniable thread of weariness.

In the center of the back courtyard, the mass of dense smoke still hung suspended. No one could tell what substance composed this fog, as it remained fixed around the carriage without any indication of dissipating.

He Yiming knitted his brows slightly. He extended a hand and tapped gently, sending forth a faint wisp of wind. This gentle breeze acted like a magnet, continuously drawing in more forces of the same elemental nature towards its location.

In merely a moment, a rather intense gust of wind blew precisely as He Yiming willed, directly into the strange yellow miasma.

Soon, the vapors were swept high into the sky, rising ever higher, until they were finally dispersed by the natural winds above, vanishing entirely without a trace.

Witnessing this scene, which resembled stage magic, let alone Li Dongrong and his group, even the Houtian cultivators within the Lingxiao Palace looked on with expressions of shock and reverence.

Jin Zhanyi suddenly let out a long sigh. "Brother He, your understanding and mastery of the power of Wind have reached such heights. It is truly a pity."

He Yiming shook his head slightly; he naturally understood the implication.

Jin Zhanyi had likely already discerned that He Yiming had no intention of utilizing the Wind Flower as one of the three pillars of power he relied upon.

Zhang Zhongjin swept his broad sleeve. "Li Dongrong, this matter does not concern you. Quickly arrange for people to clean up."

The despair on Li Dongrong's face instantly evaporated. His body, which had nearly collapsed moments ago, seemed to regain vigor as he sprang back up.

"Senior Martial Uncle is brilliant. Please, come inside and rest. Your disciple will immediately send men to handle the situation."

Since this incident had occurred today, there was clearly no question of setting off anymore.

Returning to the main hall of the residence, the three of them sat down separately. Although Li Dongrong was not taken seriously by them, he was, after all, the host; someone still needed to handle the simple tasks like serving tea and water.

However, it was highly unlikely that the head of the Li family would be performing such chores himself.

"Brother Jin, you said that assassin was from the Yellow Springs Sect?" He Yiming asked directly.

"Correct. The manner of attack, the clothing, and the characteristics of the martial techniques used all confirm he was from the Yellow Springs Sect, without a doubt," Jin Zhanyi calmly stated. "That person was targeting me, yet it was Brother He who was made to suffer the consequence."

He Yiming shook his head, his eyes full of confusion. Given Jin Zhanyi’s status in the Lingxiao Palace, and the status of the Lingxiao Palace across the entire Great Shen Dynasty, someone still dared to attempt an assassination. This Yellow Springs Sect must be extraordinary.

Zhang Zhongjin pondered for a moment. "Brother He, it is fortunate that the Yellow Springs Sect's assassination attempt failed this time. After all, Brother Jin has been ranked first on the Yellow Springs Ledger for no short time, and no one has ever managed to claim that bounty. But this time, the assassination was seen through by you, so I fear they might seek vengeance on you. If this causes you trouble, we would feel terribly guilty."

He Yiming offered a proud smile. "Brother Zhang worries too much. A few young pups; if they wish to come looking for death, let them come."

His words were filled with immense confidence. Although the black-clad figure from moments ago possessed unique skills in stealth and assassination, He Yiming not only had sharp personal awareness but also the unpredictable 'One Hundred and Eight' lurking in the shadows—how could he be so easily killed?

Zhang Zhongjin frowned slightly. "Brother He, it is always best to be cautious."

He Yiming nodded, indicating his understanding. He then inquired, "Brother Zhang, what exactly is the origin of this Yellow Springs Sect, and what is the Yellow Springs Ledger?"

Regardless of whether He Yiming was truly concerned, gathering more information was never a disadvantage.

Zhang Zhongjin frowned. "The origin of the Yellow Springs Sect is shrouded in mystery. They have risen to prominence in the Great Shen Dynasty for nearly a thousand years. Their members are all famous assassins within the Dynasty. It is rumored that half of the top ten ranked assassins in the Great Shen today hail from the Yellow Springs Sect. As for the Yellow Springs Ledger, it is a bounty board. The higher one's ranking, the greater the reward. Assassins across the land can accept tasks listed on this board. However, anyone who makes it onto that list is certainly no ordinary person."

He Yiming nodded, thinking this was natural; ordinary people likely wouldn't even qualify to be listed.

Zhang Zhongjin sighed again and continued, "Over the past few decades, Junior Brother Jin has challenged experts across the world, visiting countless masters in various sects. While his martial path advanced greatly, he also accumulated countless grudges. Those seeking revenge against Junior Brother Jin naturally lack the power to act directly, so they resort to offering bounties with money. Consequently, the bounty accumulated, and over ten years ago, he became the top name on the Yellow Springs Ledger. Countless foolish assassins have attempted to kill him in these years, but none have ever returned. It was thought that in recent years, no one would dare make a move again, but unexpectedly, an assassin appeared this time, and Brother He happened to encounter him. Truly..."

He shook his head, his tone filled with helplessness.

He Yiming let out a hearty laugh. "Brother Zhang, it's merely a sect that cultivates assassins, nothing so grea—" His voice suddenly stalled, and his expression shifted slightly.

In that very moment, He Yiming finally remembered.

When he had seen the assassin’s corpse, he felt an unsettling sense of familiarity. At first, he couldn't place it, but after hearing the background of the Yellow Springs Sect, a figure flashed through his mind.

Sima Yin—that mysterious assassin who had once tried to kill him in the mountains but ultimately died by his hand—shared a distinct resemblance.

This wasn't about facial features; it was about the aura, the very feeling they exuded.

As he recalled these two different individuals, He Yiming felt as if he were facing the same person.

He could almost certainly confirm it now: Sima Yin had originated from the Yellow Springs Sect.

"Brother He, what's wrong?" Jin Zhanyi asked gravely.

He Yiming forced an awkward smile. "Nothing, Brother Jin. If the Yellow Springs Sect holds such authority, why are they virtually unknown in the Northwest?"

Though they sensed He Yiming was concealing something, Jin Zhanyi and Zhang Zhongjin did not press the matter. Jin Zhanyi simply shook his head. "Brother He, we aren't entirely clear on this point either. But over these thousand years, the Yellow Springs Sect's sphere of influence has never extended beyond the East. Whether it's the Northern or Southern Borders, the deep mountains of the Northwest, or the Western Nations’ Hall, they have never set foot there. So, it is perfectly normal for them to be unheard of in the Northwest."

A glint of inquiry flashed in He Yiming's eyes. "Have they truly never left the Great Shen Dynasty?"

"Naturally," Zhang Zhongjin interjected. "In this small city, that is the limit of the Yellow Springs Sect's operational range. If an assassin truly steps into the Northwest territories, even if the assassination is successful, they will receive no reward whatsoever; instead, they will face a purge."

"Purge?" He Yiming raised his eyebrows slightly. "Brother Zhang, if a member of the Yellow Springs Sect takes a private contract, can they secretly enter the Northwest?"

"Absolutely impossible," Zhang Zhongjin denied flatly. "The rules established by the Yellow Springs Sect over a thousand years are not mere decorations. Unless someone violates their established operational code and the sect sends people to hunt them down personally, such a thing will never happen."

Saying this, Zhang Zhongjin seemed to recall something and chuckled. "In the past century, almost every few years, someone named on the Yellow Springs Ledger desperately tries to flee the Great Shen, heading towards the Northern and Southern Borders, the deep mountains of the Northwest, or even the far eastern seas and the Western Nations. As long as they can safely exit the borders of the Great Shen Kingdom, their lives are spared, and they no longer need to worry about assassins from the Yellow Springs Sect."

He Yiming’s mind raced. He asked gravely, "Are there no exceptions?"

"None..." Zhang Zhongjin hesitated for a moment, then added, "At least, not according to what this old man knows."

He Yiming nodded silently, but his suspicions only deepened. Since Yellow Springs Sect assassins do not leave the Great Shen, where did Sima Yin come from?

He trusted his intuition implicitly; Sima Yin absolutely belonged to the Yellow Springs Sect—there was no question about it.

A moment later, someone came to report the day's losses. Surprisingly, the yellowish smoke held no trace of poison; it had merely served as a means of blinding observation.

Zhang Zhongjin and the others were naturally overjoyed. After making their arrangements, the party resumed their journey two hours later.

It was only after seeing these esteemed guests off that Li Dongrong wiped the cold sweat from his brow. Although he harbored deep hatred for the assassins of the Yellow Springs Sect, he knew he lacked the strength and didn't even possess the courage to curse them aloud...

Ps: Only about thirty hours left! The double monthly ticket event is about to end. If any elder brother, elder sister, uncle, or aunt still has their guaranteed monthly tickets, please cast them in this final opportunity. Thank you...