He, a renowned Grandmaster of the Mu family, had only intended to step out after a few drinks for a simple brawl. He thought he'd finally encountered a worthy opponent, ready for a proper contest, only to find his adversary employing not just a direct clash of fists, but also crossbow bolts, thunderous lightning, and ultimately, even a cannon—making him doubt he’d stumbled onto a battlefield instead...

Now look at the result: before he could even lay a hand on the youth, his legs were blasted away. How could he, a generation's Grandmaster, end up so utterly pathetic?

The injuries across his body were beyond description, but the most infuriating aspect was the poison coating the crossbow bolt. Had his internal True Essence not been so potent, he would have succumbed to the toxin long ago. Now, his entire body was numb; he couldn't even feel his shattered legs. Perhaps even if his life was spared, he was doomed to be crippled...

Gazing at the delicate, extraordinarily handsome young man before him, Mu Tianhu burned with suppressed fury. Yet, the severity of his wounds sapped the very strength needed to vent that anger. He could only fix his gaze, venomous with rage, upon Ye Jingyu. If looks could kill, our young Master Ye would have died countless times over...

"General, did you do something to him? Why is he looking at you with such a mournful expression?" Shadow Xiaoxiao noticed the esteemed Grandmaster of the Mu family staring fixedly at Ye Jingyu with a look that was both profoundly sorrowful and intensely angry, yet remained silent. A sly smile crept onto Shadow Xiaoxiao's face...

"Damn it, if you don't speak, no one will think you're mute..." Ye Jingyu trembled with annoyance and launched another kick. Shadow Xiaoxiao, unable to evade in time, was sent flying again, though the smile on his face was utterly unrepentant...

Ye Longyi and the others were not prone to Shadow Xiaoxiao's nonsense. They were acutely aware of Mu Tianhu's standing within the Mu family. To see such a major figure reduced to this pitiful state by Ye Jingyu—it was impossible for them to feel no resentment whatsoever...

"Mu Tianhu?" Despite already knowing his identity, Ye Jingyu still posed the question...

"Hmph..." Mu Tianhu merely responded with a cold snort...

"I want to know why you tried to kill me? Or rather, who sent you to kill me?" Ye Jingyu looked down at Mu Tianhu from his superior height, speaking with chilling detachment...

"Who are you?" Everyone expected Mu Tianhu to swear allegiance or spout some nonsense about dying before betraying secrets. Instead, these three words left everyone momentarily stunned. Was the man feigning ignorance, or truly confused?

"Heh, you're quite the actor, aren't you? You're in my hands now; aren't you afraid of causing trouble for the Second Young Master?" Ye Jingyu sneered...

"Hmm? Just who are you?" Only upon hearing the mention of the Second Young Master did Mu Tianhu realize the situation might be more complex than he initially imagined. Yet, he genuinely did not recognize the youth before him...

"Mu Tianhu, stop playing games! How can you not know the handsome, dashing, charming, and utterly irresistible Grand General who charms thousands of maidens to their doom, the Baron of Loyalty and Valor, Ye Jingyu, Lord Ye?" Shadow Xiaoxiao, who had been kicked aside by Ye Jingyu, suddenly reappeared in front of Mu Tianhu and rattled off a string of what he considered the most elegant laudatory titles...

"You are the Ye Jingyu who defeated Huangfu Buyue and led the Iron Army to completely annihilate the Mastiff-Lion Battle Regiment?" After listening to Shadow Xiaoxiao's lengthy drivel, a look of sheer horror dawned in Mu Tianhu's eyes. He seemed unable to believe that this youth was the same rising Great General currently famous throughout Yun Jing...

"Don't tell me you don't recognize me?" Ye Jingyu and the others were puzzled. They saw no trace of pretense in Mu Tianhu's gaze. Could he truly not know him? But who fails to recognize the very person they intended to assassinate?

"Recognize you? Of course, I recognize you! Who in Yun Jing doesn't know the name of Baron Ye Jingyu these days... I never imagined I, this venerable one, would fall into your hands..." Upon confirming it was indeed Ye Jingyu, a cold sneer touched the corner of Mu Tianhu's lips. The Mu family, which supported the Second Young Master, was deeply displeased with Ye Jingyu's recent efforts to help the Third Young Master seize power...

"Falling into my hands is nothing. It would be more interesting if you fell into His Majesty's hands, wouldn't you agree, Mr. Mu?" Sensing the hostile tone in Mu Tianhu's voice, Ye Jingyu chuckled coldly...

"The Second Young Master did not send me..." Although Mu Tianhu’s looks were ruined by past martial arts injuries, he was no fool. Anyone who achieves the rank of Grandmaster is never simple-minded, and he naturally understood the implication in Ye Jingyu's words...

He bluntly explained the reason for his attack, but everyone present looked on with utter disbelief...

Seeing their reaction, Mu Tianhu merely offered a few cold laughs, offering no further explanation...

In truth, not just the others, but even he found his own explanation hard to credit...

As a leading expert in the Mu family, why would he assassinate a high-ranking court official with whom he had no known grievance? If this wasn't an order from the Second Young Master, then what was it?

Mu Tianhu could sacrifice his life, but he absolutely would not allow the Second Young Master to suffer the slightest slander...

In that moment, he was overcome with regret. Why had he been tempted by that small amount of wine? And why must fate concoct such a bizarre coincidence? Merely seeking a sparring partner out of drunken impulse, he happened to run directly into Ye Jingyu. Who in this world would ever believe such a sheer coincidence?

Witnessing Mu Tianhu's resolute expression, Ye Jingyu and his entourage paused, wondering if he was telling the truth—was this truly a coincidence?

"General, it seems there is something strange afoot. We should question this fellow again," the most composed Chen Qi suggested, nodding toward Fei Yu nearby...

Ye Jingyu looked at Mu Tianhu’s determined face and nodded. But when he moved to wake Fei Yu, he found the man had been dead for quite some time. A quick inspection revealed he had died from poison...

Ye Jingyu felt a slight shock. This was truly a death warrior acting on orders; he must have swallowed poison before setting out. If he failed to report back upon reaching the designated time, death was inevitable...

It seemed the mastermind was truly ruthless, showing no regard even for a cultivator of the Xiantian realm...

Ye Jingyu understood that the trail had gone cold. While he now commanded a loyal group of followers, they were all soldiers. He lacked his own intelligence network in Yun Jing. Pursuing the investigation through this corpse alone was impossible...

As for searching the memories within the soul, while a high-level Soul Master possessed such skills, Ye Jingyu did not know that particular cultivation method; he had only initially used the threat to scare Fei Yu...

Seeing this assassin die so abruptly, the others realized they would learn nothing further from Mu Tianhu, and they stood there, momentarily bewildered...