Donglin Province.

　　Su City.

　　Donglin was next to the Yellow Sea and had a fairly developed economy.

　　Su City was not next to the city and was a gateway city facing the mid-west region.

　　…

　　Su City Grand Hotel.

　　Putting down their luggage, everybody gathered at Fang Ping’s room.

　　Fang Ping waited for everybody to be accounted for before saying, “I’ve already told you guys about the mission—eradicating some evil sects’ dens in Su City.

　　“As of today, the cultists are abnormally active—the Creationist Sect, Holy Faith Sect, Universalist Sect…

　　“These evil sects all have traces in Donglin.

　　“I’m saying this to remind everyone not to fully believe the mission’s information.

　　“The information says there’s one Peak Rank-2 and several Rank-1 martial artists…

　　“However, it’s not impossible for there to be errors or for the evil higher-ups to have withheld some information.

　　“I only have one thing to say. If you meet an unfavorable situation, retreat quickly. We can escape easily if the enemies are only of the three lower ranks.

　　“If you happen across middle-ranked martial artists, run as fast as you can.

　　“Middle-ranked martial artists out of our league.

　　“Apart from their skulls, middle-ranked martial artists have completed the honing of their entire skeleton and have even started honing their internal organs.

　　“At this time, their Vitalities would all be above 1000cal.

　　“As long as they’ve mastered the use of self-powering, any random move could be done with a Vitality outburst of 100cal—even hundreds of cal wouldn’t be a surprise.

　　“If you meet a martial artist like this, you cannot lower your defense. Just their Vitalities and brute force can kill you.”

　　“Got it.” Yang Xiaoman responded casually.

　　Fang Ping glanced at her, saying lightly, “While we’re carrying out the mission, I hope everyone can heed my orders and not take things into their own hands.

　　“Otherwise, when we face danger, we can only choose to leave behind those who caused the problems because they didn’t listen to orders.”

　　Yang Xiaoman was a little upset when she noticed him staring at her, but she did not argue.

　　“Wang Cheng, you guys keep in contact with the Su City Department of Defense to search for the mission target. Let us know if there’s news.

　　“Others, avoid going out as much as possible!”

　　“Will do!” answered Wang Cheng. The few of them were all invited by Fang Ping to be a part of their mission’s team.

　　They were all aspiring martial artists and Fang Ping was not letting them enter battles. Their main purpose was to do logistics services.

　　For the 4 of them, Fang Ping had agreed to a price of one Normal Vitality Pill per person when the mission ended if they worked for him for a month in March. 4 pills were a total of 12 credits.

　　These credits were not much to Fang Ping. Almost any random Rank-1 mission could fetch that amount.

　　However, to Wang Cheng and the others, a Normal Vitality Pill for one month was already a really high price.

　　Missions were out of reach for aspiring martial artists like them. Even if they could sign up for one, they would not have the strength to complete it.

　　In school, they could only rely on some daily tests and gain a few meager credits.

　　Now they were given the chance to step out for a month and get a Vitality Pill without exposing themselves to any danger; they were very satisfied.

　　The gulf between martial artists was also very obvious.

　　People like Fang Ping had long started viewing these things differently. One Normal Vitality Pill a month could barely even maintain their current Vitalities.

　　…

　　After sending everybody on their way, Fang Ping stood by the window and watched for a while.

　　Su City was Donglin’s gateway to the mid-west region.

　　Even now, it was unclear why there was such a large influx of evil sects.

　　Donglin, Dongwu and Donghu—these three east provinces, along with the southern Nanjiang, Nanze and Nanhu, made up the southeast section of the Sino Nation.

　　The three eastern provinces neighbored the three southern ones. Once troubles occurred in the three eastern provinces, their neighbors to the south would become involved very quickly.

　　“In front of their enemies, these evil sect martial artists can still think about internal attacks… They deserve to die!”

　　Fang Ping could not resist cursing. He himself had been attacked. He could not see any good in these cultists despite their messages of righteousness.

　　…

　　With the support of Wang Cheng and his group, Fang Ping and the others did not have to run around everywhere looking for people.

　　That afternoon, Wang Cheng’s group collected some information.

　　In Fang Ping’s room.

　　Wang Cheng said, “Our mission target is a small stronghold of the Creationist Sect. The leader is called the missionary by their internal department.

　　“This missionary is Peak Rank-2.

　　“So far, we’ve found a total of 3 other martial artists in the stronghold’s internal department. All of them are Rank-1 martial artists.”

　　Fang Ping frowned. “Four martial artists can’t be considered a small stronghold, can it?”

　　It was not as if the martial artists were worthless Chinese cabbages. They even had a Peak Rank-2; they were by no means a small group.

　　Wang Cheng explained further and said, “They weren’t a small stronghold before, but now in Su City, they have indeed become one.

　　“According to the Department of Defense, there has recently been a large influx of evil sects from the mid-west region.

　　“As Su City is the gateway, it has also become an important city for them to take over.

　　“Su City’s Department of Defense and Department of Investigation Services, including Donglin’s higher-ups, have already started monitoring and sending troops in preparation for exterminating them.

　　“Still, that’s for the strongholds that have middle-ranked martial artists. As for the strongholds without middle-ranked martial artists, they’re mainly seeking outsiders’ help to handle them.

　　“After all, the Department of Defense and Department of Investigation Services have other missions too.”

　　“Is that so? Since there are so many evil sects, can they even find others to provide all the assistance they need?’

　　“That’s hard to say. What the Department of Defense means is that they’re following the big figures.

　　“The small fry are left to people like us. If we really get in danger, we can retreat or hold out until the Department of Defense provides help.”

　　“What a load of crap…”

　　Fang Ping shook his head. For martial artists life and death depended on a matter of seconds; where would they get the time to wait for rescue?

　　“Is the stronghold’s location accurate? Have you done reconnaissance?”

　　“I went to look around in the morning. The gates were shut tight, and I was afraid I’d attract attention, so I didn’t dare to check it thoroughly.

　　“Still, we sat in a next-door restaurant for a while. There were people coming and going.”

　　“Is that so? Were there many people nearby?”

　　“Quite…”

　　Wang Cheng briefed the situation, and Fang Ping only spoke after he finished. “If there are many people nearby, it’s not suitable to make a move in the daytime.

　　“We’ll move after 11 o’clock at night.

　　“The stronghold has a backdoor, so Yang Xiaoman and Tang Songting will be responsible for guarding it. Don’t let anyone escape.

　　“The rest of you will follow me and enter from the front. Zhao Lei and I will be in charge of containing the Peak Rank-2 martial artist, and Fu Chanding will be in charge of the Rank-1 martial artists.

　　“Chen Yunxi will be responsible for the normal people.

　　“Our objective is to kill all martial artists!

　　“For the normal people, it’s fine to just knock them out, but if they die, you don’t have to cry over them.

　　“Chen Yunxi, don’t be too gentle with your attacks. Martial artists rarely carry firearms, but that doesn’t necessarily apply to normal people.

　　“If you can knock these people out, then do it. If you have no choice, just kill them!

　　“I don’t want us getting shot out of nowhere while we’re dueling with martial artists. Do you get what I mean?”

　　Chen Yunxi was a little hesitant. Fang Ping glared at her and rebuked her. “That’s my final word. Whoever messes up will be held responsible for it!

　　“Even if the mission is completed, whoever blundered shouldn’t expect to get a scrap of the prize!”

　　Chen Yunxi was at a loss for words. She said a little dispiritedly, “That’s not what I meant. It’s just… Why am I only in charge of the normal people?”

　　“You’re female. I’ve arranged a good assignment for you, aren’t you happy?”

　　“But…”

　　“No more buts, just follow my orders!”

　　Fang Ping could not be bothered to speak more to her and forcefully set the plan.

　　At the end, he urged once more. “If we encounter a situation out of our expectations, such as a sudden addition of a Rank-2 or Rank-3, I’ll go up against the strongest one, and Zhao Lei will be responsible for the next in rank.

　　“If you can oppose them, fight. If you can’t, run. Got it?”

　　“Got it!”

　　Everybody answered in unison. Fu Changding chuckled. “Don’t jinx us. If we really encounter any middle-ranks, we’re doomed.”

　　“Being mentally prepared makes you stronger than being unprepared. At this time, even getting injured isn’t worth it because they will delay your progress.

　　“Our goal is to earn credits and money, not to keep battling.”

　　…

　　In the afternoon, Fang Ping and the others did not go out again, in favor of making their preparations.

　　When it was late at night, they exited the hotel with their luggage.

　　In the car, Fang Ping assembled the fengzuidao.

　　The late-night Su City was not as flourishing as Magic City. Even the streetlamps on the roadsides were a little dimmer.

　　“Fang Ping, what do you think—someday, will we all die?” Yang Xiaoman suddenly asked.

　　Fang Ping replied drily, “Who doesn’t die? Even Grandmasters have to die. Asking this is nonsense.”

　　“No, what I mean is, will we die someday while carrying out a mission or in the Catacombs…”

　　“I don’t know. Are you scared?”

　　“Am I scared?”

　　Yang Xiaoman huffed and mumbled, “I just feel that this kind of life really isn’t what I imagined.”

　　“What did you imagine?”

　　Yang Xiaoman did not say anything, pulling out some tissue to wipe her fighting gloves. She and Zhao Lei both currently used fighting gloves.

　　Chen Yunxi, on the other hand, brought a longsword which looked more like decoration.

　　In silence, the car reached the front of the building.

　　Wang Cheng, who was driving, said softly, “It’s this house’s courtyard. There are many courtyards like this in Su City. Choosing this place makes it convenient for them to carry out their work.”

　　Fang Ping gave a slight nod. After looking at it for a while, he spoke as he opened the car door, “Drive to the intersection we just came in through and wait for us there. Keep the engine started.”

　　“Alright.”

　　After Wang Cheng left, Fang Ping signaled with his eyes for Yang Xiaoman and Tang Songting to go around to the backdoor of the courtyard.

　　Meanwhile, Fang Ping and the others surveyed the main gate for a while. After thinking it through, Fang Ping looked at the courtyard wall and said in a low voice, “Jump over the wall to get in.”

　　They were all Rank-2 martial artists. Jumping over a wall was no difficulty. Fang Ping was the first to jump and climb up the wall.

　　He took some time to survey the inside. The house was dimly-lit. He could make out a few faint voices, but he did not know how many people there were.

　　Fang Ping swept his gaze over the courtyard and managed to catch sight of someone snoring at the courtyard gate.

　　“He’s even whistling…” Fang Ping muttered.

　　He came on alert. This was a lesson. Next time, he had to pay more attention.

　　Not to the whistling, but he had to pay attention to whether or not anyone was monitoring next time.

　　He had almost forgotten this bit. If the enemy had a sentry, their movements would be exposed.

　　Prior to this, he had never encountered it, and he did not think about it either. He had to keep this in mind from now on.

　　Motioning from the outside, Fang Ping leaped lightly and jumped down the wall.

　　The person at the gate was just a regular man. Fang Ping’s shifted his feet, and he was already behind the person.

　　Staring at the back of his head, Fang Ping felt a little awkward. ‘I don’t know how to knock people out. Moreover, it’s hard to make him only pass out from a hit to the head!’

　　Although he was thinking about it, Fang Ping’s movements were not slow!

　　In the next moment, Fang Ping covered the man’s mouth with one hand and clenched the other in a fist to hit him fiercely on the head!

　　Dong…

　　A weak groan was heard as the person in front of him collapsed immediately.

　　Very quickly, Fu Chanding and the others also hopped over the wall and walked in.

　　Seeing the motionless person on the ground, Chen Yunxi asked softly, “Knocked unconscious?”

　　“Dead.”

　　Fang Ping felt a little sheepish. The others were stunned for a moment before suddenly having a slight urge to laugh.

　　As for someone dying, they did not mind it too much. They had done missions previously and encountered plenty of dead people.

　　After Fang Ping finished speaking, Fu Changding said a little uneasily, “There’s no need for us to come in so sneakily, is there? What do we do now? Make stealth kills?

　　“Isn’t this excessive?

　　“Just kicking down the door and charging is so simple.”

　　“Stop bullshitting…”

　　Before Fang Ping could finish speaking, the sound of chattering in the house suddenly lowered.

　　Suddenly, the door to the house cracked open. A blurred figure broke out, hopping over the wall in hopes of escaping!

　　“Stop him!”

　　Fang Ping softly called at Zhao Lei. Zhao Lei quickly went forward, striking the person’s back with a fist!

　　At the same time, another person broke out from the house, also dashing toward the courtyard wall, getting ready to flee.

　　Before Fang Ping said anything, Fu Changding swiftly chased after him.

　　In the next moment, somebody broke out from the inside of the house once again.

　　This time, Chen Yunxi followed.

　　Fang Ping did not keep watching the show either and quickly headed to block the door.

　　Just as he raced to the door, a saber and a sword appeared from within it suddenly with extreme speed!

　　Fang Ping was not careless either. He gripped his saber horizontally and quickly blocked.

　　After that, Fang Ping stepped back slightly, yelling loudly, “My jinx was right. There are two Rank-2 inside. Hurry up and settle the ones outside!”

　　The people who had fled earlier were meant to divide their attention.

　　The two Rank-2 martial artists inside were the true killers prepared for Fang Ping and the others.

　　Still, these opponent’s strengths were limited. Fang Ping’s pole-standing had reached the elevated stance. In the moment of blocking and backtracking, he had neutralized their killing blows by seventy or eighty percent.

　　By the time Fang Ping finished yelling, the two people inside had already rushed out.

　　The two of them did not make any sound, going at Fang Ping with tacit understanding.

　　Fang Ping had very little experience with facing two people at once and was a little clumsy in his movements.

　　The others were facing similar difficulties. It was not that they were no match for them—the people who had fled earlier were all Rank-1 martial artists.

　　However, these people were trying to stall them, while escaping is still their main goal.

　　The previous missions they had carried out all involved many people. Everybody would corner the target and kill them. The goal was to battle and very few escaped.

　　Moreover, on the battle stage, nobody voluntarily fled.

　　Currently, the disadvantage of them being newbies was highlighted in a flash.

　　While Fang Ping opposed his assailants, he took note of his surroundings and sighed softly. They had made so many plans, yet when they reached the actual stage, it all became a mess.

　　‘We still have too little experience…

　　‘The team’s sense of teamwork is also a little bad. Everybody was a leader before this…’

　　Fang Ping slowly accustomed himself to the two people’s attacks and was not too pressured. Looking at his surroundings, he realized where the problem lay.

　　Everybody’s consciousness of solo battles was too strong!

　　When the person Zhao Lei was chasing ran in front of Fu Changding, Fu Changding actually gave way, letting Zhao Lei deal with it as his eyes were glued to his own quarry.

　　The others were similar. With three Rank-2 geniuses against three normal Rank-1 martial artists, they had unexpectedly become entangled in one-and-a-half minutes.

　　“What the hell are you guys playing at?” Fang Ping could not resist shouting furiously. “Don’t mind who is whose target anymore. Go at it together. Can you guys speed it up a little!”

　　These three bastards. Did they not see he was still defending against two Rank-2 martial artists?

　　Although the two might not be as strong as he was, if they dished out a big attack, without using his Vitality, they could surround and kill him, and Fang Ping did not want to waste his few remaining Wealth points.

　　After Fang Ping’s angry outburst, Zhao Lei and the others remembered he was being jointly attacked.

　　At this moment, the three of them did not glare at their targets anymore.

　　Soon, the three Rank-1 martial artists fell to the ground one after another, whether they were dead or alive, no one knee.

　　One of the two people attacking Fang Ping lashed out with all his might, forcing Fang Ping back, then turned to run.

　　Fang Ping did not bother with him either, calling loudly, “You guys deal with that one. I’ll handle this guy. Their strengths are average. Stab them and be done with it!”

　　When he was done speaking, Fang Ping—who had been defending all this while—took advantage of the gap left by the person who fled and suddenly slashed his saber horizontally!

　　Clang clang clang!

　　A stream of sparks flew, and shortly after that, a “pssh” sound reverberated around the dark courtyard.

　　Fang Ping had used three consecutive slashes for the first time and not only broke through the opponent’s weapon, but also sliced through his opponent’s waist.

　　Ignoring the person who had been cut in two, Fang Ping looked over at Zhao Lei and the others and felt his head pounding. He said, “I knew it. A bunch of amateurs running all over the place!”

　　Waving his fists, Zhao Lei agreed. “Yeah, they were all over the place. Just a bunch of weaklings.”

　　“I’m talking about us!”

　　Fang Ping was enraged and upset as he said, “Are you guys playing around? Can you cooperate more as a team?

　　“Are you fighting a rotation battle?

　　“Fight together!”

　　Motherf*cker, out of three people, two were enjoying the show while one did the work.

　　This was obviously preparing to battle solo, busy doing nothing!

　　The evil sect’s martial artists this time were weak and were at most similar to when everyone was Peak Rank-1.

　　The people here were at least twice-honed martial artists.

　　If it was just based on Vitalities, they were not any weaker than those two.

　　However, even three against one, they still nearly let the person slip past a few times.

　　Only after Fang Ping scolded them, the three people worked together. Not long after, the second Rank-2 martial artist followed in the footsteps of the previous one’s dust.

　　Currently, the courtyard fell silent.

　　Fang Ping swept a glance over the three people before looking at the Yang Xiaoman and Tang Songting hurrying over. He said exasperatedly, “The mission succeeded, but we revealed too many weaknesses.

　　“If we did any Rank-3 missions, at least a few of us would die.

　　“Look for the things first. When they are found, we’ll hand in the mission and have a meeting!”

　　The Rank-2 mission in the beginning was the preparation Fang Ping had made for Rank-3 missions, but the results were not ideal. He, too, had some issues.

　　A group of geniuses gathered who all wanted to play the hero was not a good thing.