Chapter 59: Wang Li and Xia Bingling Fly To Reclaim the Herbal Garden

Wang Li, however, had a different opinion. "We can't afford to be slow, Matriarch," he countered. "These gangs are testing the waters. If we don't retaliate swiftly, it'll embolden others. They'll see the Xia Family as weak and susceptible, and they'll launch further attacks.

Maybe it'll be the Spiritual Mine next, or the Red Iron Mine, another herbal garden, or even one of our strategic outposts with crucial array formations. We need to show them we won't tolerate these provocations."

A flicker of doubt crossed Xia Bingling's face. While his reasoning held some weight, she couldn't help but feel a prickle of apprehension. "But the herbal garden is heavily fortified," she argued. "Lu Mingfei wouldn't back them if it was easy pickings. They likely have powerful artifacts and formations guarding the place."

"Leave the formations to me," Wang Li replied confidently. "I can handle bypassing them."

"And the artifacts?" Xia Bingling pressed. "They won't have a chance to use them if we move fast enough," Wang Li said with a sly grin.

Confused, Xia Bingling raised an eyebrow. "Fast enough? What exactly do you have in mind?"

The sly grin on his face widened further. "Assassination," he declared, his voice dropping to a low murmur.

Xia Bingling stared at him, momentarily stunned. "Assassination?" she echoed, incredulous. "How do you propose we accomplish that?"

Wang Li's expression turned predatory. He leaned forward, his voice devoid of concern and brimming with a dark excitement. "Come with me, Matriarch. The two of us can handle this easily."

Xia Bingling's brows shot up, surprise battling with a spark of something else – an unexpected thrill. "Together?"

"Exactly," Wang Li confirmed. "We only need to eliminate eight of their strongest members – the leader, who's at the Nascent Soul Realm, and the seven late-stage Core Formation experts. The rest won't be a problem for us to handle afterwards."

He paused, letting the implication sink in. They were both Nascent Soul cultivators, Xia Bingling at the late stage and himself at the early stage. They wouldn't break a sweat taking down a handful of lesser cultivators.

"But why?" Xia Bingling found herself asking a question that surprised even herself. "Why risk yourself for the Xia Family?"

Wang Li's smile turned playful. "Think of it as an investment, Matriarch," he purred. "Isn't it only natural for me to protect the interests of the woman I love, your daughter Qingwu, and for you who is a delightful plaything of mine? "

Xia Bingling flushed a deep crimson, the words hitting her like a physical blow. His casual dismissal of their intimacy, his blatant use of her, ignited a firestorm of emotions within her. Anger, humiliation, and... a perverse thrill twisted in her gut.

Part of her wanted to lash out, to deny him the satisfaction of knowing she was affected. Another part, a darker, more hidden side, couldn't help but be intrigued by this dangerous proposal.

A silent exchange of nods marked their decision. Xia Bingling disappeared into the maze of herb patches, her movements as graceful as a phantom. Wang Li followed suit, melting into the shadows cast by the buildings.

The herbal garden teemed with life, unsuspecting residents oblivious to the deadly dance about to unfold. Wang Li stalked his prey, a rogue cultivator cultivating in a secluded area. With a flick of his wrist, a vial sailed through the air, shattering on the unsuspecting man's neck. The poison worked swiftly and silently, the man collapsing without a sound.

Two down, five to go.

Meanwhile, Xia Bingling used her knowledge of the garden layout to her advantage. She identified a lone cultivator guarding a particularly rare herb and lured him away with a fabricated commotion. Ambushing him in a blind corner, she ended his life with a swift strike of her spiritual energy.

The hours ticked by, punctuated by the occasional strangled cry or muffled thud. Wang Li silently dispatched another target, a particularly burly man who was indulging in a tankard of ale. He slipped a sleep inducer into the drink, watching as the man slumped forward, oblivious to his impending demise.

Four down, three to go.

Xia Bingling found her fourth target in a secluded tent, meticulously studying a map. With a silent move, she entered the tent, intending to surprise him. But a loose floorboard betrayed her presence. The cultivator spun around, his eyes widening in shock.

Before she could react, a guttural roar erupted from his throat. "Intruder!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the otherwise quiet garden.

A wave of panic surged through Xia Bingling. Her carefully crafted plan had crumbled in an instant. The alarm would alert the entire camp, including the Nascent Soul leader. She cursed under her breath, drawing her sword with a practiced hand.

The sound of the alarm cut through the air – urgent clanging bells and frantic shouts. From his position, Wang Li heard the commotion and recognized it as Xia Bingling's location. She must have messed up.

Without hesitation, he surged forward, his speed propelled by a burst of spiritual energy. Leaving a trail of dust in his wake, he raced towards the source of the sound, a knot of dread tightening in his stomach. He couldn't afford to lose Xia Bingling, not just for the mission's sake but... well, he wouldn't admit it out loud, but he wasn't entirely heartless.

Reaching the tent, he found Xia Bingling standing in the center, her crimson blade dripping with blood, her face a mask of annoyance. However, his focus wasn't on the deceased cultivator at her feet, but on the enraged faces surrounding them.

Soon, Wang Li pushed away all the gang members surrounding that tent to approach Xia Bingling and stood next to her.

"Get out of here!" Xia Bingling stared at him. "I can hold them back!"

Wang Li ignored her, his eyes scanning the scene. Other cultivators were converging on the area, their faces contorted in a mixture of fear and fury. But the most concerning sight wasn't the approaching reinforcements; it was the figure emerging from the largest of the nearby buildings.

A tall, imposing figure clad in dark robes strode out, his aura radiating a palpable power. This was it – the Nascent Soul expert, the leader of this ragtag gang. A bead of sweat trickled down Wang Li's temple. The plan had gone sideways, leaving them facing not only the remaining late-stage Core Formation members but also a full-blown Nascent Soul cultivator. There was no time for second-guessing.

He had to act, and act fast.