Vol. 1 - Chapter 74 - Assassin Sister! Sun Sheng Gets Scared!

"Just a few pages?"

Sun Sheng held a few sheets of paper, the ink still wet, his face full of suspicion.

Nan Yiyun plastered on a flattering smile. "Disciple, this is all there is to the technique. Memorize it well."

"As for the training method, I will personally guide you."

Sun Sheng rolled his eyes and stuffed the pages into his robe.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll look at it when I have time. Right now, this young master is going home to eat."

He waved his hand dismissively. "See ya."

Nan Yiyun quickly grabbed his arm, his expression serious. "Disciple, you absolutely must not spread this technique to anyone. This is the sacred treasure of our Nanhai Sect."

Sun Sheng paused mid-step, raising an eyebrow. "And what if I do?"

Nan Yiyun’s expression turned firm. "Absolutely not!"

Sun Sheng arched his brow and made a move to pull the technique out of his robe.

"Hey, hey, hey! Wait a minute…!" Nan Yiyun's face twisted in distress.

Stopping him in a hurry, he hesitated before saying, "At least… at least tell me beforehand."

Sun Sheng turned around and said, "I’m taking it back to show my Foster Father."

"Got a problem with that?"

"Your Foster Father? Who is he?" Nan Yiyun’s heart clenched.

Sun Sheng's eyes flickered mischievously. "You just tell me—yes or no?"

Saying that, he made a show of pulling out the pages again.

Nan Yiyun quickly interjected, "Does your Foster Father know martial arts? Our sect's technique is unreadable to ordinary people. Without my personal guidance, he won’t be able to learn it anyway."

Sun Sheng gave it some thought.

His Foster Father… didn’t seem to practice martial arts, right?

In his mind, Chen Ye was always lounging on a recliner after meals, reading books—never once had he seen him train.

"Uh… just say yes or no already!" Sun Sheng snapped impatiently.

Nan Yiyun grimaced and, after a long pause, gritted his teeth. "Fine, he can read it. But if he dares to spread it, I will show no mercy!"

Sun Sheng rolled his eyes and turned away.

Listening to this old beggar talk about the technique like it was some divine scripture, he figured he might as well take it back for his Foster Father to check out.

His father read books all day—maybe he'd actually understand it.

He had been living at the orphanage for nearly a month now, barely doing any real work and freeloading off their meals.

Since this old bastard was handing over the technique so willingly, he might as well gift it to his father.

With a gourd of wine slung at his waist, Sun Sheng swaggered into the forest path, heading toward Yuhang County.

Nan Yiyun watched his retreating figure and muttered, "Damn… his temper is just like mine when I was young. Master, who would’ve thought I'd one day have to beg someone to be my disciple?"

He shook his head, both exasperated and relieved.

Still, Sun Sheng's temperament suited him, and his talent was a perfect match for Thousand Layers, Hundred Waves Technique.

If his old injuries ever flared up again and took his life, at least the Nanhai Sect's lineage wouldn’t be lost.

With that thought, Nan Yiyun turned back toward the Demon-Subduing Staff, contemplating how to deal with it.

He pondered for a long time before suddenly snapping out of it.

"To hell with those bald thieves! What the hell does losing the Shaolin treasure have to do with me?!"

Laziness taking over, he yanked the Demon-Subduing Staff from the ground, its golden rings clanking.

With a single-arm swing, he hurled it straight into the river.

"BOOM!"

A thunderous splash erupted as water shot several zhang into the air.

Fish scattered in all directions, fleeing in panic.

The golden staff slowly sank to the riverbed.

Clapping the dust off his hands, Nan Yiyun turned and strolled toward Yuhang County.

"Heh, heh, heh…"

…

Humming a little tune, Sun Sheng strolled back to the orphanage.

The moment he stepped into the courtyard, his body gave an involuntary shudder.

Inside, a petite and delicate figure stood in the yard.

From the silhouette alone, it was clear—it was a woman.

And a beautiful one at that.

She wasn’t very old either.

Seeing her, a layer of cold sweat slowly formed on Sun Sheng’s forehead.

Because he had seen this figure before—deep in the southern woods outside the city.

Back then, he had only thought she had a strikingly graceful back.

"Gulp…"

His throat moved as he swallowed, body stiffening.

After seeing Nan Yiyun’s display of martial arts, he was already seventy to eighty percent convinced by the old man’s words.

And when those seven people passed through the forest earlier, the birds had scattered, and the cicadas had gone silent.

She was an assassin!

Who was she here to kill?

Sun Sheng stood frozen in place, tense and alert.

Just then—

A tiny head suddenly peeked out from the woman's shoulder.

Dark, glossy hair, a pair of big, round eyes, black and white distinct.

Xiaofu let out two soft, incoherent sounds.

"Sheng…" She mumbled clumsily.

The woman turned around, revealing a soft smile when she saw Sun Sheng.

"You must be Sun Sheng? I’ve heard the director mention you."

In truth, the moment Sun Sheng had reached the orphanage gate, Xiao Lian had already noticed someone approaching.

But the unfamiliar footstep pattern told her it wasn’t Da Ming.

So, she guessed it was the newcomer Chen Ye had mentioned—Sun Sheng.

Hearing her words, Sun Sheng blanked for a second.

What… was happening?

His brain momentarily failed to process the situation.

"Xiao Sheng, this is your Sister Lian."

Chen Ye stepped out of the kitchen with a smile, introducing her.

"She’s a year older than you. When you first arrived, she was away on some errands. She just got back."

Hearing Chen Ye’s introduction, Sun Sheng forced a stiff smile and awkwardly called out, "Sister Lian."

"Mm." Xiao Lian responded with a faint, elegant smile.

"Sheng…"

Xiaofu stretched out her tiny arms, gazing at Sun Sheng with big, expectant eyes.

Xiao Lian’s face brightened as she said, "Xiaofu wants you to hold her."

Sun Sheng took a long, deep look at Xiao Lian, his smile still frozen in place as he walked forward to take Xiaofu into his arms.

Holding the child gently, he soothed her in a soft voice.

But his peripheral vision kept darting toward Xiao Lian.

Damn…

Foster Father, this Sister Lian is an assassin!

Why is there someone like that in our orphanage?!

A hint of unease crept into Sun Sheng’s heart.

Did his Foster Father even know she was an assassin?

If the authorities found out, there would be trouble.

According to Dawu’s laws, harboring a criminal—especially a murderer—was a crime punishable by collective punishment!

Sun Sheng’s expression darkened.

His Foster Father, Da Ming, Xiaofu, and even himself—none of them were martial artists.

If Sister Lian got caught by the authorities, they were all doomed.

…

Inside the kitchen, Xiao Lian was helping Chen Ye with food prep when she cast a sidelong glance toward the courtyard.

"Director, Xiao Sheng just secretly glanced at me several times."

Chen Ye chuckled. "You’re such a pretty girl—it’s normal for him to steal a few glances."

Xiao Lian pursed her lips slightly but didn’t say anything.

Her eyes, however, grew noticeably colder.

"Director, we’re running low on vegetables. I’ll go buy some more."

"Go ahead. Oh, and get more eggs—Da Ming insists on having them every meal now."

"Mm."

Xiao Lian picked up the shopping basket and left the kitchen.

In the courtyard, Sun Sheng saw her coming and put on a smile. "Sister Lian!"

Xiao Lian’s face remained cool as she merely gave him a slight nod.

Sun Sheng watched as she exited the orphanage, a chill creeping up his back.

"What was that look just now? Was she… warning me?"

Swallowing nervously, Sun Sheng suddenly felt a cold sweat break out on his skin.