Chapter 3385 — Mission Information

"Xiao Rui, stop this nonsense! What level are you at? How many people in the whole cultivation world can even match you? In the assassin world you're one in a million—apart from that person who vanished years ago, you're probably the top assassin alive right now, aren't you? If not for a stroke of luck, inheriting the legacy of a spirit beast's power, do you really think you'd have sailed smoothly into the late Heaven Rank, peak strength, great consummation—and an external-school great consummation at that? Your second grandpa here was born with extraordinary cultivation talent, and only by piling up spirit medicines from the Overseas Cultivators Association did I reach late Heaven Rank peak great consummation at sixty. Do you think everyone's a cultivation genius? And you expect Xiao Shan's boyfriend to beat you? Especially when you strike as an assassin, deadlier than your average late Heaven Rank peak great consummation expert, and on top of that you major in the external school, with your edge in speed and strength—stop bullying people!" Song Xianghua lectured. "Don't make trouble over your sister's business! Look at you—do you look anything like a top-tier expert?"

"Hehe, I'm only saying it! Everyone says a sister-in-law is half a buttock to her brother-in-law—if he's too weak, how's he going to protect his half a buttock?" Xiao Rui said with a grin.

"It's your sister getting married, not you. So long as he can protect your sister, that's enough—or are you planning to marry him too?" Song Xianghua's face went stern, and he summoned the authority of an elder. "You and I have both been away for a very long time. When we go back, you must not poke your nose into the Song family's affairs! Otherwise, if my elder brother sees it and takes it to mean we think our strength makes us capable, that we've come back to take over the Song family, that would be bad. Do you hear me? Xiao Rui?!"

"Uh…" Xiao Rui pulled a face. "That's not for certain. When I was little, Sister told me that if she found a good man, she'd let me have him first. What if she really does give him to me?"

"You still remember childish games like that? Xiao Rui, how old are you?" Song Xianghua shot her a glare.

"I'm joking, all right, all right! Second Grandpa, when are we going back? I'm already homesick—my heart's flying home ahead of me!" Xiao Rui said anxiously.

"We set out tomorrow. Go pack your things and meet me here first thing in the morning!" Song Xianghua instructed.

"Got it, Second Grandpa. See you tomorrow!" With that, Xiao Rui drifted out the window like a gust of wind, swift as could be. A late Heaven Rank peak great consummation expert of the external school was a rare sight indeed—her speed was even a touch faster than the Wind-Thunder Violet Lightning Beast…

He Dantou returned to his room with a somewhat grim expression. Elder Wang hurried to greet him. "President, what's wrong? You look a little pale!"

"Ah! Don't get me started!" He Dantou waved his hand, his face full of gloom. "After this mission, Guest Elder Song likely won't be an elder of the Overseas Cultivators Association anymore. That's only fair, of course—our people helped her once, and out of gratitude she agreed to help us three times. This is the third. Once it's done, we're even. But Elder Song Xianghua is going back to the Central Plains as well, and once he leaves, who knows how many years it'll be before he comes back!"

"What?! Elder Song is leaving too?" Elder Wang was startled. "And you didn't try to dissuade him?"

"How could I? He's no ordinary man—his strength matches mine. How am I supposed to threaten him? In the whole Overseas Cultivators Association, I'm the only late Heaven Rank peak great consummation expert, and I'm injured besides. Do I dare make a scene?" He Dantou shook his head in frustration. "Forget it. The blame lies in the fact that our association was founded too recently, we have too few experts, and none of them feel much attachment to any sect. All these years we've held them with cultivation resources—if not for that, we'd have dissolved long ago!"

"Ah, you're right. But with Elder Song, our honorary elder, gone, and Guest Elder Song no longer tied to us, the Overseas Cultivators Association's strength has dropped all at once…" Elder Wang sighed.

"Forget it. From now on I'll think of something—see if my brother can help me. If it really comes to it, we'll turn this place into a branch of the Five Luminaries Sect!" President He had taken some hard blows today.

"President, there's no need to be so pessimistic… things will get better…" Elder Wang said.

"I hope so…" He Dantou nodded helplessly.

After settling her affairs in the assassin organization, Xiao Rui arrived at her second grandpa Song Xianghua's villa early the next morning.

The assassin cell behind her had tried hard to make her stay, but with Xiao Rui's strength plain for all to see, they dared not do anything to her. They could only tell her to come back as soon as she could once her business was done, if possible…

"Second Grandpa, I'm all ready. Shall we go back now?" Xiao Rui was excited and expectant—she was young, after all, and it had been so long since she'd been home that every joy and sorrow showed plainly on her face.

"Mm, we set out now." Song Xianghua was ready too; he had already booked the plane tickets. Picking up their luggage, he and Xiao Rui climbed into a black stretch Mercedes—arranged by He Dantou.

He did not want Song Xianghua to leave, but the proprieties had to be observed; otherwise Song Xianghua would have an excuse never to return.

"Eh? President He? You came too?" Once in the car, Xiao Rui suddenly realized that He Dantou was sitting in the passenger seat!

"Elder Song and Guest Elder Song are returning home in glory—naturally I had to see you off in style!" He Dantou said with a smile. "I've put some cultivation spirit medicines in the car as a parting gift."

"You're too kind, President He." Xiao Rui nodded with a smile, accepting them. She felt no guilt, either—in truth, the help the Overseas Cultivators Association had given her during the Demon Trials could have been repaid with a single mission, but Xiao Rui was one to repay kindness, so she had stretched it into three, and lent her name as a guest elder of the association. In fact, these things were no more than her due.

"Here is the information on the person you need to kill!" He Dantou handed a file to Xiao Rui, then said, "I believe Guest Elder Song has heard of this person."

"Wei Zhao? I know him. Isn't he the one who wounded He Tianzu, killed Elder Chen, and stepped forward for Tang Yuqi?" Qiu Lingshan knew at once from the name on the file just whom He Dantou wanted her to kill. RS