Chapter 285: Hidden Enemies

"Silver Mist City will be the place where everything will take place."

While everyone nodded their heads, Ye Tian Yun couldn't help but smile.

This city may be insignificant for everyone in this hall. However, there was someone that Ye Tian Yun knew for whom this city was home.

'Well, I almost forgot about that. This city is also home of Zheng Xiang.'

'Maybe this mission's after-effects are the ones that would later be the trigger to Zheng Xiang's deathly fate.'

Ye Tian Yun couldn't but sigh at this. Even though he didn't genuinely consider Zheng Xiang a friend, he would if he got a chance to change his destiny.

'Let it be my parting gift to him.'

Considering that Ye Tian Yun had no plans to come back here after killing Xiao Ming, he knew that he probably wouldn't meet Zheng Xiang - at least not in the coming months.

'If Zheng Xiang improves his fate and if his destiny does change, maybe he will one day rise, and we might meet again.'

Letting out a breath, Ye Tian Yun once again glanced at the other disciples in the Hall.

Only Jun Xie, Xiao Ming, and Yuan Shuchun were the ones he knew of.

As for the others, they most probably died in the mission; hence, they weren't much famous later.

'I wonder if my Sword Intent can hold back against Peak Master Duan?'

Ye Tian Yun couldn't help but think of this possibility.

If his Sword Intent was really powerful enough, he might have to change his plan in the coming future.

'Well, I won't find out unless I use it against him. I am sure the opportunity will strike pretty soon.'

Ye Tian Yun diverted his attention towards the Sect Leader, who was discussing how he had already made arrangements in the Silver Mist City with the help of Crown Prince Xue, and all they needed to do now was to prepare for the kill.

"Also, don't show off your identities in the City. Even though we don't know for sure, since the enemy dares to enter that city, they most probably have help from inside."

"Therefore, it's best not to meddle much, keep a low profile, and strike at the right time."

"Yes, Sect Leader." All nine disciples, including Ye Tian Yun, replied.

Sect Leader Su nodded his head and said, "Alright, follow those stairs, and head straight to a nearby town first."

"Once you have reached there, you will sit in a caravan and disguise as guards of a trader and head to the Silver Mist City."

All the disciples nodded and cupped their fists.

Ye Tian Yun watched as Sect Leader Su stood from his seat while the rest of the disciples moved towards the exit behind them.

Suddenly he noticed a peculiar thing - a deja vu feeling - he noticed the slight exchange between Yuan Shuchun and Peak Master Duan through expressions.

'Damn, don't tell me these two are actually on the same side!?' 

A crazy and hard-to-believe thought suddenly popped up in Ye Tian Yun's mind.

…

Ruins of Yin Yang Sect, Southern Province, Xin Kingdom.

This place was once home to one of the most powerful sects in the whole Xin Kingdom.

However, a single conspiracy turned the fate of this sect to a horrifying end, marking the first appearance of the Sleeper Cells.

Turning this majestic sect into a poisonous wasteland, the hidden enemies had shaken the whole upper echelon of Xin Kingdom.

However, to avoid public panic, major sects and clans decided to suppress the truth and keep it among themselves.

But even that couldn't fully diminish the glory of this sect.

It had been more than fifty years since that incident, and the very few surviving disciples still hoped for it to once again rise from the ashes and take back its spot as one of the peak sects of the kingdom.

"Ah, the smell of death, it's delicious." Standing in the ruins of this sect was a cloaked figure.

He stood at a cliff, overlooking the ruins of Yin Yang Sect.

"It is indeed quite nice, though. The poisonous gas down there makes me think otherwise." Another voice was heard, and a second cloaked figure appeared from the shadows.

"Jaun Jin, don't ruin my mood. This place is my favorite in this pathetic kingdom." The first cloaked figure replied in a disgruntled voice.

Juan Jin shrugged, "Well, we're not here sightseeing. After the huge blunder your people made in the Gracious Sword Sect, I am pretty sure this is the last chance to make a comeback for you."

"Hmph!" The first figure got even more irritated at the mention of the Gracious Sword Sect.

"How could you say it was my fault? I am pretty sure something definitely happened on that day, and we don't know what. We need to find out the truth behind how there could be no deaths when all the Sleeper Cells did explode." He said.

Juan Jin shook his head, "Take you complaints to the Sect Leader. It was your people who needed to finish the job, but they failed. So it's natural that you will be the one bear the brunt."

After a slight pause, he added, "Also, this is not the time to discuss that. In seven days, Gracious Sword Sects core disciples will come. AMong them, will be the major rivals of Jiang Chen. We need to kill them."

"Just some Tri-Qi REalm brats, I don't know why we were sent here. Few disciples would have been enough, what was the need to send the elders?"

Juan Jin smiled, "I already told you, you will know pretty soon. And trust me, you will be thankful to me for bringing you here, once you know who our main target is."

"Just hope this is what happens." The figure replied in the same disgruntled voice.

Juan Jin however didn't mind it, and said, "I heard Shu Xian will also be coming. The Sect Leader had asked us to test him, but it's better if we kill him off. Things will be very annoying."

The cloaked figure nodded, agreeing for the first time with Juan Jin in this exchange.