A Plea for Help

　　“Mister Teng, the Rising Sun Trading Company is the biggest trading company in the world, and we operate many kinds of businesses,” The Sixth Elder said enthusiastically. “Aside from some businesses we operate openly, we also have an organization which specially solves problems for others. People with problems or enemies can seek us for help. This organization is called Hall of Assassins.”

　　“Hall of Assassins?”

　　Teng Qingshan’s brows raised as he asked, “Sixth Elder, you want me to be an assassin?” In Teng Qingshan’s previous life, he had been a top-notch hitman. Although he didn’t mind such business of killing people, he really didn’t want to do it again.

　　“Mister Teng, what kind of status do you have?” The Sixth Elder responded promptly.

　　Only a few people knew of the fight between the Great Elder and Teng Qingshan. However, the few elders in the Rising Sun Trading Company knew… and even the Great Elder—the best amongst the experts ranked below Martial Immortals, the Rising Sun Martial Immortal—admitted… that he was no match for Teng Qingshan! Thus, one could imagine how much the Rising Sun Trading Company now valued Teng Qingshan.

　　“In the Hall of Assassins, there are Martial Saint ranked assassins!”

　　“However, the missions for a Martial Saint must first be approved by the Martial Saint himself.” The Sixth Elder then said with a smile, “I know that Mister Teng really wants to obtain the thirty-six pieces of inscriptions! The Elders of the trading company all know that Mister Teng possesses an incredibly powerful ability. Moreover, the Hall of Assassins occasionally receives some missions that we are unable to complete.

　　“Of course, those missions are nothing for Mister Teng.”

　　The Sixth Elder continued to smile and said, “We also know that a powerful expert like Mister Teng wouldn’t care about money. Additionally, in the Hall of Assassins, the Martial Saint Assassins are divided into different levels. The Hollow Dan Innate Martial Saints are called the Ordinary Martial Saints, while the True Dan Innate Martial Saints are called the First-Rated Martial Saints. As for the Golden Dan Innate Martial Saints, they are called Apex Martial Saints.

　　“We have prepared for the addition of another level in the assassin levels, and it shall be named, Most Powerful Martial Saint.”

　　The Sixth Elder looked at Teng Qingshan was still smiling when he said, “Mister Teng certainly deserves to be called the Most Powerful Martial Saint. In order to ask the Most Powerful Martial Saint to work on a mission, there is one condition: one must lend the Most Powerful Martial Saint one of the thirty-six inscriptions of the 《Thirty-six Splitting Mountain Forms》for two to three years.”

　　Hearing this, Teng Qingshan felt his heart stir.

　　“Also, if someone really does request for Mister…… We will show Mister the mission first, and Mister can decide whether to accept it or not.” Then the Sixth Elder added hastily, “As for the inscriptions, how many years will Mister need them for? It’s rather impossible for the inscriptions to be completely in your possession. The price of an inscription is too high. It is true that Mister is worth that price, but none of the clans are willing to pay that price.

　　“If it’s just letting Mister use it for a few years, the trading company can be the guarantor, and there will be no problem.”

　　Hearing all these, Teng Qingshan truly felt tempted.

　　“Alright, I agree,” Teng Qingshan nodded as he said with a smile. “I will just need each inscription for three years.”

　　Actually, according to Teng Qingshan’s estimation, he would only need each inscription for several months.

　　However, just in case, he decided to set the time to be a little longer.

　　“Haha…” The Sixth Elder laughed and said, “Mister Teng, rest assured! The world is currently in chaos, and the clans are all contending for hegemony. Some clans have become richer and more powerful, while some clans deteriorated. There are many clans that harbor an irreconcilable hatred against each other! The most helpless thing is… that the Hall of Assassins can’t accept some missions nor do we have the ability to accept them.

　　“There are a total of thirty-six stone inscriptions in this world. With Mister here, I can guarantee that within ten years, Mister will definitely see ten or eight stone inscriptions!” The Sixth Elder was very confident.

　　There were many clans which possessed the stone inscriptions, but none of them were willing to take them out.

　　However, if just by lending their stone inscription out for three years, the clan would be able to remove the thorn in their flesh… Many clans would be willing to do it! Since the Rising Sun Trading Company, a trading company with a history of several thousand years, would be acting as the guarantor, the clan wouldn’t have to worry about the credibility.

　　“Haha, then I shall await your good news, Sixth Elder,” Teng Qingshan said.

　　“I will inform Mister at once as soon as I get the news.”

　　The Sixth Elder stood up with a face full of smiles as he said, “Then I won’t disturb Mister. I will be leaving now.”

　　……

　　In that frigid weather, Teng Qingshan watched the Sixth Elder and his subordinates leave. He knew clearly that…… working with the Rising Sun Trading Company benefited both parties. With Teng Qingshan joining the Rising Sun Trading Company’s Hall of Assassins, the Hall of Assassins would possess a higher status among the assassin organizations in Duanmu Continent.

　　As for Teng Qingshan, he would obtain the stone inscriptions more conveniently!

　　“The stone inscriptions will allow me to save a lot of time.”

　　“For me right now, the most important thing is time. I want to return to my hometown, the Nine Prefectures, as soon as possible!” Teng Qingshan remarked as he gazed southward.

　　His parents, sister and brothers were there….

　　In the spacious cave under the Godly Axe Mountain:

　　The cave has a length and width of around twenty Zhang (60-70 meters) and a height of around six to seven Zhang (16-17 meters). Such a spacious cave had more than enough space for Teng Qingshan and his other four companions to dwell within. Even fifty people could reside in the cave easily. The only troublesome thing was that the cave was underground, and therefore, it was pitch black without any light.

　　Fortunately, Teng Qingshan had the Iron Leaf Fruits!

　　The fruits, which radiated a green colored glow, were placed simply in the cave. Although the light emitted by each Iron Leaf Fruit was very weak, the light of over two hundred Iron Leaf Fruits allowed Li Jun, Old, Wang, and the other inner strength experts to see most of the areas within the cave easily.

　　However, for Teng Shou, with the light of the over two hundred Iron Leaf Fruits, he was able to see every area within the cave.

　　Simultaneously, a few caverns were dug through the mountain wall. Each cavern had a long bed, two Iron Leaf Fruits, and doors were even installed so that people could sleep!

　　……

　　On the seventh day of dwelling within the cave:

　　The thirty-six Blunt Vanadium Stone Tablets were placed leaning against the mountain wall, while Teng Qingshan sat cross-legged. There was no one else but him in this entire cave.

　　During a certain moment, Teng Qingshan opened his eyes.

　　“Little Jun and the others really aren’t used to living in such a dark environment. They just sleep in here at night and usually stay outside the cave.” Teng Qingshan scanned the surrounding and saw that at this moment, he was the only one in the cave. “Right. It’s so dark. They can’t see clearly. Thus, it’s normal for them to be unaccustomed to this.”

　　Teng Qingshan looked down at this chest.

　　He had sealed the little cauldron up with iron sheets. Additionally, he wore a thick leather coat! The little cauldron subdued the Spiritual Power of the Heavens and the Earth in the cave, making it calm and meek. Although the little cauldron glowed colorfully, no one noticed because it had been sealed heavily. Furthermore, no one knew the little cauldron was the reason why the Spiritual Power had become calm and meek.

　　“Big Brother Teng, it’s time for lunch.

　　“Lunch…lunch…lunch…lunch…” The echo resounded through the tunnel.

　　Teng Qingshan stood up with a smile and walked to the tunnel with the Reincarnation Spear in hand. He then headed into the tunnel and left the cave rapidly.

　　“Roar~~”

　　The Six Legged Bladelike Chi looked over through the other passageway, and a strange expression could be seen in the eyes on its triangular head.

　　After being the humans’ ‘neighbor’ for seven days, the Six Legged Bladelike Chi became aware of the habits of the group of humans as well as Blue Luan and Whole Gale Eagle. However, because of how powerful Teng Qingshan and Blue Luan were, the Six Legged Bladelike Chi didn’t dare cause any trouble. It still remembered clearly how it had been beat up by Teng Qingshan and Blue Luan the first day they moved into the adjacent cave.

　　The human girl had even given it a few warnings.

　　“The human…… can speak beast language……” During these few days, the one which the Six Legged Bladelike Chi liked most was the girl who understood beast language.

　　The Six Legged Bladelike Chi drew its head back into the cave and continued sleeping.

　　During the one thousand years it had lived, at least nine hundred years had been spent on sleeping.

　　……

　　Teng Qingshan, Li Jun, and the others sat around the table, enjoying a sumptuous lunch.

　　“Little Jun’s cooking is getting better and better,” Teng Qingshan praised as he ate. He was speaking honestly. Teng Qingshan had realized that during these three months of living at the Godly Axe Mountain, Little Jun’s culinary skills had been improving continuously, and the taste of her cooking was getting increasingly better.

　　“Yes, good.” Teng Shou nodded as well.

　　When Li Jun heard Teng Qingshan’s praise, her face appeared rosier and more beautiful as she answered, “It’s just okay. Little Ping was helping me.” Li Jun couldn’t help but recall what Little Ping had told her once, ’the first way of capturing a man’s heart is to make delicious food which will cause the man to salivate’. Li Jun praised inwardly, “What Little Ping said was right.”

　　While Teng Qingshan and his cohorts were eating happily—

　　“Ah Shou… Ah Shou…” An anxious voice rang out suddenly.

　　“Eh?” Teng Qingshan’s brows drew together.

　　Teng Shou eyes opened wide, and he dashed out immediately.

　　“Who was that?” Teng Qingshan’s heart was filled with confusion. He has never heard that voice before; it wasn’t someone he was familiar with. Teng Qingshan then stood up and ran out of the stone house, and Li Jun, Little Ping, and Old Wang followed.

　　Outside the house:

　　At a glance, Teng Qingshan saw a petite and skinny, ordinary-looking village girl, dressed in a grey-patched, cotton-padded jacket, holding on to Teng Shou’s hands. With a tear-stained face, the village girl said, “Ah Shou, quick save them. Save them.” The village girl seemed to be extremely anxious. As she was terrified, the words she spoke were somewhat confusing.

　　“Go, go.” Teng Shou glared and was about to run farther away like a furious lion.

　　“Ah Shou.” Teng Qingshan walked out of the house and said, “Ask this girl about what has happened.”

　　“Teacher.” Teng Shou turned and said, “She… she is Ah Xiu.”

　　Li Jun said hastily, “Big Brother Teng, Ah Shou often practices fist art in the forest in the northern side. There are some farmlands near the forest, and the married countrywomen and young girls often do farm work there. This girl is most likely someone that Ah Shou knows.” When Teng Qingshan heard this, he understood everything… Indeed, this was a place near Nanshan City, and there are many villages nearby.

　　“If we don’t leave, it will be too late.” The girl was so worried that tears began to flow.

　　“Teacher!” Teng Shou was also in a hurry to leave!

　　“Old Wang, get the two Scarlet Wind War Hous here.” Teng Qingshan knew that now was not the time to ask for any details. Furthermore, this disciple of his, Teng Shou, was a stubborn boy… If Teng Shou wanted to save the people…… even he, the teacher, wouldn’t be able to stop Teng Shou.

　　The two Scarlet Wind War Hous were pulled over to Teng Qingshan.

　　“Ah Shou, help the girl up.” Teng Qingshan leaped onto a Scarlet Wind War Hou as Teng Shou immediately carried the girl and mounted the other Scarlet Wind War Hou.

　　“Little Jun, I will head somewhere with Ah Shou. We will be back soon,” Teng Qingshan said.

　　“Yes.” Li Jun nodded hastily.

　　Old Wang sighed as he watched this scene. He wasn’t worried at all. In his eyes…… No matter how difficult the issue might appear to be, if his boss took action, it would be nothing.

　　“Girl, guide the way,” Teng Qingshan instructed.

　　“Okay.” The village girl nodded quickly.

　　“Giddyup! Giddyup!”

　　The two Scarlet Wind War Hous immediately galloped away, trampling on the snow and dashing at lightning speed.