"She got off easy, letting her escape with her life."
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Wang Yuyan's eyes turned cold, and she spoke with dissatisfaction.
Wang Yuyan cared most about Shen Lang. Yue Rugou had attempted to assassinate Shen Lang, which filled Wang Yuyan with murderous intent. In her heart, she wished she could have killed Yue Rugou on the spot.
However, since Shen Lang was willing to spare Yue Rugou, Wang Yuyan had nothing more to say.
"She was merely a tool in someone else's hand. Whether she lives or dies doesn't really matter. Moreover, after learning about Qingcheng Yue's situation, she likely won't be willing to be Qi Tuojiang and Kong Wudao's pawn anymore."
Shen Lang said, "It's a shame her assassination attempt ruined my good mood."
"Those two bastards, Qi Tuojiang and Kong Wudao, have been pushing my limits. This time, I'll make them lose half their lives."
With that, Shen Lang leaped up and jumped directly into the swimming pool, then swam to the other side in one breath.
Half an hour later, Yue Rugou, dragging her injured body, returned to the Kong family and went to a pavilion where Qi Tuojiang and Kong Wudao were playing chess.
Qi Tuojiang and Kong Wudao, one with black pieces, the other with white, fought fiercely on the chessboard, resembling two beasts attacking each other. Yue Rugou, while not a master of Go, was familiar with the game. Seeing the fierce battle of their pieces, she broke into a cold sweat.
At this moment, the two men were no longer the refined young noblemen they appeared to be, but rather two desperate beasts. Though they bared no fangs, they sent a shiver down Yue Rugou's spine, causing her to instinctively step back.
"So it's Rugou. Did you complete the mission?"
An hour later, the chess match between Qi Tuojiang and Kong Wudao ended. Kong Wudao picked up his already cold tea and took a sip before looking at Yue Rugou and speaking indifferently.
"Young Master Kong, your subordinate is incompetent. I failed to kill Shen Lang. Please forgive me."
Hearing Kong Wudao's words, Yue Rugou lowered her head and apologized.
"Incompetent? How could that be? You are a top assassin from the Black Ice Platform. Your Shadow Assassination Technique has never failed. How could you have failed to kill Shen Lang? Is there some other reason?"
Kong Wudao toyed with his teacup, smiling, "Rugou, tell me, what affected your performance? Be honest, I won't blame you. You know me, for those who work diligently, I am willing to give them another chance even if they fail."
"There's no other reason. It's just that my strength is inferior to Shen Lang's. Of course, I could have succeeded in one strike initially, but Wang Yuyan suddenly intervened and disrupted my assassination."
Yue Rugou looked respectfully at Kong Wudao and said, "I am willing to accept punishment, please punish me, Young Master Kong."
"Wang Yuyan?"
Upon hearing the name, Qi Tuojiang chuckled, "I know that girl. But she's just an ordinary person. How could she disrupt your assassination?"
"Reporting to Young Master Qi, I initially thought she was an ordinary person and didn't take her seriously. But the moment she acted, I knew she was a top expert. Because with just a casual move, she heavily injured me, causing me to lose the advantage for the assassination."
Thinking of Wang Yuyan's terrifying power, Yue Rugou's entire body still trembled, and she explained earnestly to Kong Wudao.
"Did I misjudge her?"
Qi Tuojiang heard this and smiled, "I didn't expect that girl to be so well-hidden. Her sudden attack caused the famous Shadow Assassin to suffer a loss."
"Alright, Rugou, it's a failure, so be it. There will be other opportunities to kill him next time. We have plenty of time to play with Shen Lang slowly."
Kong Wudao put down his teacup and said to Yue Rugou, "You are injured. Go and rest well."
"Yes, Young Master Kong. I will take my leave. Let me know if you need anything else."
After Kong Wudao finished speaking, Yue Rugou cupped her fists and prepared to turn away.
However, the moment Yue Rugou turned, she sensed a surge of killing intent from behind her. A chess piece shot towards her like a powerful bomb.
"Bang—"
Yue Rugou instinctively turned back, but it was too late. The black chess piece instantly pierced through Yue Rugou's chest, sending her flying back over ten meters. She finally crashed heavily into a rock garden, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Young Master Kong, why is this?"
Although her chest was pierced by the black chess piece, it did not hit a vital spot. However, even with the powerful impact, Yue Rugou's spine was severely injured, and she was only able to stand by sheer force of will.
"Don't you know why?"
Kong Wudao grabbed a handful of black pieces and tossed them into the air. But all the pieces did not fall; instead, they were held firmly in mid-air.
"Yue Rugou, you call yourself a Shadow Assassin, yet you couldn't kill Shen Lang. Do you think that makes sense?"
Kong Wudao's eyes were like knives, emitting a sharp killing intent. He said, "If an explanation is needed, it is that you have betrayed the Black Ice Platform, betrayed me."
"I never show leniency to traitors. Therefore, are you ready to die next?"
"So that's how it is?"
Hearing Kong Wudao's words, Yue Rugou's lips curled into a self-mocking smile. "Young Master Kong, you are mistaken. It's because you're worried that Qingcheng Yue isn't dead, and she told me that you would abandon and silence me after crossing the river. You're worried I'll turn against you in the future, so you're eliminating a potential threat in advance. That's your real intention, isn't it?"
"So you do know about Qingcheng Yue's matter. No wonder the assassination failed."
Hearing Yue Rugou's words, Kong Wudao laughed. "You are merely dogs raised by the Kong and Qi families. We gave you life, and you should be loyal like servants. You should be grateful to be alive, and you should face death calmly if we command it, shouldn't you?"
"Of course not."
After Kong Wudao finished speaking, Yue Rugou retorted, "Although you took us in, we have repaid you with our blood. There is no relationship of master and servant between us."
"Insubordination! You deserve to die, just like your sister."
Kong Wudao looked at Yue Rugou coldly and said, "If I tell you to die, you must die. Every extra word is an act of disloyalty."
"I won't just wait to be killed. If you want to kill me, show me your skills."
A dagger slid out from Yue Rugou's sleeve. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and said to Kong Wudao, "Let's see who dies here today?"
"You think you're worthy of fighting me to the death?"
After Yue Rugou finished speaking, Kong Wudao became furious. With a wave of his hand, the dozen or so chess pieces he controlled in mid-air shot towards Yue Rugou like bullets.