Lu Weizhong, the former headmaster of Qingshan Academy, was dead.
He had died on the day of his eightieth birthday.
The simultaneous handling of a birthday banquet and a funeral allowed everyone to witness the sheer efficiency of the Lu estate.
According to the servants in the back courtyard, that ungrateful wretch Manager Xu had betrayed Headmaster Lu for money.
He had launched a sneak attack from behind on the master who placed so much trust in him, driving a poisoned thorn through Headmaster Lu's neck. That was what caused the headmaster to lose the upper hand and eventually succumb.
As for how Manager Xu had managed to procure a poisoned thorn after already being searched, no one knew.
To investigate the matter, Lord Du stayed until late in the night before finally leaving with Li Ban.
During this time, the county magistrate collaborated with Lord Du to interrogate numerous people.
However, Li Ban, who had never left the public eye, was among the first batch of suspects cleared of suspicion.
It wasn't until late at night that Li Ban finally drove the carriage back.
On the deserted mountain path, Li Ban finally heard Du An ask, "Was it you?"
Evidently, Du An had recognized the poison, but he couldn't figure out how Li Ban had managed to pull it off.
Li Ban replied modestly, "I used a few tricks, but I wasn't the one who actually fought and pinned down Lu Weizhong."
The inside of the carriage fell silent.
Du An didn't press Li Ban on exactly what tricks he had used.
With Cat Girl, Zhai Liu, and even Du An himself backing Li Ban, it was only natural that the young man possessed a wide variety of methods.
Seeing that Du An wasn't going to pry, Li Ban quietly let out a sigh of relief.
If the man really demanded details, Li Ban definitely would have pinned the entire thing on Cat Girl.
Du An had no interactions with Cat Girl anyway.
Of course, not asking was for the best.
After all, everyone had to keep a few hidden cards up their sleeves.
Li Ban then remembered the young man named Shi Ming whom he had met earlier that day.
Although he acted like a poor, feeble scholar who only knew how to hurl insults, he had explicitly wished for Lu Weizhong to "die a fitting death" just that morning.
It was almost as if he knew Lu Weizhong was going to die today.
Was this person really just cursing every day and simply got lucky with his timing, or did he have some hidden background?
Unfortunately, to avoid suspicion, Li Ban hadn't gotten too close to the man; otherwise, he could have observed him a bit more.
On his rest day, three days after Lu Weizhong's death, Li Ban received a Copper Badge secretly passed to him by Assassin Hall.
Thus, in April of his second year after transmigrating, Li Ban successfully became a 3rd Tier assassin with a Copper Badge.
In terms of promotion speed, even the scions of deeply rooted noble families probably couldn't compare.
The fallout from the assassination of Qingshan Academy's former headmaster did not end just because the guests had departed.
A month later, Liu Mu suddenly sought Li Ban out with an eager, gossip-hungry expression.
"Li Ban, did you hear? A major figure has arrived in Yu Province," Liu Mu said.
Li Ban's heart stirred. He sheathed his blade and stopped what he was doing. "What major figure?"
"You really don't know?" Liu Mu asked back, his tone pregnant with meaning.
Li Ban smiled and looked up at him.
Liu Mu's heart skipped a beat. For some reason, he suddenly didn't dare joke around with Li Ban anymore.
"Haha," he quickly forced a laugh. "I thought Clerk Huo would have told you. It's the Grand Prince, Prince Li! He's coming to Yu Province!"
The Grand Prince, Prince Li, Li Yuan!
Assassin Hall hadn't made a move against the Myriad Ancient Pagoda yet because they were waiting for a major figure to arrive.
And that person was Li Yuan.
Now, the final key player was about to take his position.
Li Ban firmly believed that he would soon receive a new mission from Assassin Hall.
However, before Assassin Hall's mission arrived, Li Ban was first summoned to the fourth level of the Death Prison by Zhai Liu.
Ever since Du An interrupted Zhai Liu's attempt to completely remold Li Ban's body, he had forbidden Li Ban from going down to the fourth level.
Du An reasoned that Zhai Liu's methods might expose his existence.
This was to protect Li Ban, but more importantly, to protect the Death Prison itself.
But today, it was Du An who told Li Ban to go down to the fourth level of the Death Prison.
When Li Ban descended to the fourth level, the person standing guard happened to be Zhai Liu's trusted subordinate, Huo Jiang.
Seeing Li Ban arrive, Huo Jiang immediately shut the heavy doors between the third and fourth levels, locking everyone else out.
As Li Ban walked down, he heard Zhai Liu and Du An talking.
"The main player has arrived," Zhai Liu chuckled darkly. "To kill his own teacher just for an excuse to come here—he's certainly ruthless enough."
Li Ban's footsteps paused. He was a bit surprised, but not entirely shocked.
Du An had evidently deduced the true mastermind behind the recent assassination as well.
"He couldn't come here otherwise; he needed a reason. It fits his usual style," Du An said.
Zhai Liu chuckled. "You're just a prison official in the Yu Province Death Prison, yet you understand Li Yuan?"
Du An replied calmly, "Looking at you is enough to tell."
Zhai Liu pursed his lips and ignored Du An.
Having stayed in the Death Prison for two years, it was only recently that he discovered just how deeply Du An hid his true capabilities.
The man's temperament and methods were far more formidable than Zhai Liu had originally thought.
Still, finding such a partner at a time like this wasn't half bad.
He turned to Li Ban. "During this period, Assassin Hall will definitely arrange a mission for you."
If they weren't going to give him a mission, there would have been no reason for Assassin Hall to test Li Ban so many times.
The smile vanished from Zhai Liu's face as he strictly instructed, "No matter what they demand, agree to it first. But afterward, you must tell me the details of the mission."
He glanced at Du An and added, "Tell me and Lord Du."
Li Ban knew that the man had been plotting for so long just for this very day.
Zhai Liu cast a sidelong glance at Du An, seemingly debating whether to speak in front of him. But seeing that Du An had no intention of leaving, he finally spoke.
"Since you've made it this far, I'll tell you what I need you to do. That way, if anything unexpected happens, you won't be completely in the dark."
Li Ban hastily nodded, though his mind drifted to the missions given by the Laboratory.
If only the Director was willing to learn a thing or two from Zhai Liu.
They only disregarded personal agency because they controlled all the researchers' physical bodies and held the power of forced awakening.
At that moment, Li Ban felt Huo Jiang step up behind him, taking a somewhat intimidating posture.
It seemed the upcoming words were extremely important.
However, Huo Jiang probably hadn't realized that he was no longer a match for Li Ban.
"Li Yuan has a strategist named Bai Yuechan. The two are nearly inseparable. But Bai Yuechan's true strength doesn't actually lie in strategy."
A look of pain and deep resentment suddenly surfaced on Zhai Liu's face.
His handsome features contorted.
"He specializes in curses."
This was the first time Li Ban had ever heard of curses existing in this world.
To his understanding, curses were something completely intangible and ethereal.
Then again, the element abilities in this world were bizarre enough as it was.
Things that could achieve curse-like effects also included Gu insects, poisons, and the like.
But the curses Zhai Liu spoke of were more than likely an element ability.
And it sounded like an extremely rare one at that.
"Ahem." Du An suddenly coughed lightly, pulling Zhai Liu out of his agonizing memories.
Acting as if he hadn't just spaced out at all, Zhai Liu smoothly continued.
"Li Yuan has used Bai Yuechan to curse and kill many people. Because of this, he is absolutely terrified that someone might use a similar ability to curse him in return. Thus, Li Yuan keeps Bai Yuechan by his side at all times as a safeguard against curses. At the same time, he also assigns people to protect Bai Yuechan."
"And your target is the ocarina that Bai Yuechan carries with him at all times!"
Zhai Liu's target wasn't the Myriad Ancient Pagoda, nor Assassin Hall, nor even Prince Li.
However, Bai Yuechan—a man who could cast curses and was constantly under heavy guard—was clearly no easy target either.
Especially since Li Ban wasn't being sent on an assassination mission, but a theft.
To Li Ban, this was far more difficult than a reckless assassination where he didn't have to care about the consequences.
Even though Li Ban had already assimilated the Shadow Meld element, he still couldn't guarantee that he could fight his way to Bai Yuechan.
Since the man was inseparable from the Grand Prince, it meant he was effectively receiving prince-level protection.
Furthermore, Li Ban suspected that the prince definitely possessed an identity himself, and it wouldn't be low.
Snatching food from the jaws of a tiger—was this really something a 3rd Tier assassin could accomplish?
Zhai Liu noticed Li Ban's hesitation, but since the young man didn't immediately complain that the task was impossible, he felt somewhat satisfied.
"I know what you're worried about. Li Yuan is indeed a Seventh Tier prince, but rest assured, by the time you make your move, he definitely won't be by Bai Yuechan's side."
Seventh Tier!
Li Ban was shaken to the core.
It had taken him two years to go from having no identity to reaching the 3rd Tier.
How long would it take to reach the Seventh Tier?
"Lord Zhai, may I ask what tier of identity Bai Yuechan has?"
"He should still be at the 5th Tier right now." It was Du An who answered.
5th Tier?
That was on the exact same level as Cat Girl. Heh, they really thought highly of him!
"Remember, once you get close to Li Yuan and Bai Yuechan, ignore whatever mission Assassin Hall gave you. Find an opportunity and hide in the shadows of the buildings near Bai Yuechan. Of course, it would be best if you could hide in Bai Yuechan's own shadow."
"If there's no opening, don't rush it. Concealing yourself and getting close to him is your top priority. You must wait patiently until Bai Yuechan's attention is distracted by someone else before making your move. You will only have one chance. Once you act, Li Yuan will definitely realize you're a mole, and he won't give you another opportunity to get near Bai Yuechan. You absolutely must succeed in a single strike! If you let Bai Yuechan touch the ocarina at his waist first, with your current strength, he will curse you to death instantly."
Zhai Liu explained the plan in painstaking detail.
After all, unlike the Laboratory with its multitude of sleeper agents, he only had Li Ban as his sole inside man.
Li Ban wore a stern expression, listening with the utmost attention.
Du An was also listening with his arms crossed. He chimed in, "Assassin Hall believes you are one of theirs, so they will definitely include you in this operation against the Myriad Ancient Pagoda as a hidden piece. That will be your chance to get close to Bai Yuechan. Zhai Liu and I will also create an opening for you."
He looked at Zhai Liu. "You're going too, right? How do you plan to get in?"
In response, Zhai Liu looked toward Lin Han in the other cell.
Lin Han had gone completely insane a long time ago.
Now, subjected to everyone's gaze, he merely cowered and hugged his head, offering no other reaction.
"I'll just borrow his face," Zhai Liu said casually.
Li Ban was also staring at Lin Han.
The once impossibly arrogant Deputy Pagoda Master of the Myriad Ancient Pagoda no longer looked even remotely human.
And the fact that he had been sent to the Death Prison to become Zhai Liu's neighbor—was that also part of their setup from the very beginning?
To lay a trap that required a year or two of preparation.
Even so, they still couldn't be entirely sure their plan would succeed.
Seeing how deeply Zhai Liu loathed curses, one could easily imagine that he had reached the point of no return—he would succeed or die trying.
If the entire operation fell apart at the last minute because of Li Ban, Zhai Liu would probably want to eat him alive.
"Lord Zhai, Bai Yuechan is a 5th Tier Spirit Practitioner after all. If I miss, won't it just put them on guard? How about I distract Bai Yuechan, and you make the move yourself?" Li Ban asked softly.
Zhai Liu, however, rejected Li Ban's suggestion. "I bear a curse inflicted by that very ocarina. Unless it is absolutely a last resort, I cannot touch it. Furthermore, everyone else will be heavily guarded against. You are the only one who has a chance to get close."
Li Ban realized the truth of it and quickly nodded. "I will definitely secure the ocarina for you, my lord."
"Remember this: ever since the day I enhanced your physical constitution, you have carried my mark. With that mark on you, even if you defect to Li Yuan's side, they will still eliminate you just to be safe," Zhai Liu warned Li Ban.
He was the one who had sent Li Ban into Assassin Hall. If Li Ban completely threw his lot in with them, Zhai Liu would lose an immense amount of face.
"If this mission fails, I might not die, but you—along with Du An, who has backed you up multiple times—definitely will not survive."
Li Ban nodded with a solemn expression.
Du An had told him something similar a long time ago.
Thus, for this operation they truly had to succeed or die trying. And that didn't apply only to Zhai Liu.
Seeing how seriously Li Ban took the matter, Zhai Liu softened his tone slightly.
"The Shadow Meld I gave you is an extremely rare element. However, you cannot hide within it for more than one shichen. Once too much time passes, the Shadow Meld will be unable to bear your spiritual rhinoceros and will force you out."
"Once you obtain the ocarina, I will kill Bai Yuechan. After I extract his heart's blood, you can hand the ocarina over to me. But if I haven't gotten the blood yet and your Shadow Meld is about to fail, leave immediately. Protect the ocarina, travel down the River of Forgetfulness, and wait for me in the mountain forest where you used to live in seclusion."
Zhai Liu didn't seem afraid that Li Ban would just run off with the ocarina.
That mark he mentioned definitely has other effects he hasn't told me about, Li Ban thought, keeping his eyes lowered. He knew these people would never trust him completely.
But that didn't stop him from professing his loyalty.
"Please rest assured, my lord. I will definitely complete the mission you've entrusted to me. It is entirely thanks to your guidance that I, Li Ban, have managed to rise from a slave to where I am today. Even after this matter is resolved, I wish to continue following you."
Li Ban's sudden pledge of allegiance caused Zhai Liu, who had been about to say something, to pause.
A look of satisfaction appeared on his face. He stroked his chin, drool once again leaking from the corner of his mouth.
"Your flesh smells incredibly sweet, so it seems your talent for cultivation is quite good. Once I recover, I will give you the opportunity to follow me."
When Zhai Liu said this, the most shocked person in the room was Huo Jiang, who was standing behind them.
He almost lost control of his facial expression.
In his eyes, although Li Ban had received some cultivation resources, the moment he was chosen to infiltrate Assassin Hall, he was destined to be a disposable pawn.
Yet now, Zhai Liu was actually saying he would give Li Ban a chance to follow him!
Was Li Ban's talent really that good?
Huo Jiang certainly didn't think so.
As far as he was concerned, after being fed so many Spiritual Rhinoceros Fruits, even an idiot could have cultivated to a peak 2nd Tier spiritual rhinoceros.
Moreover, the young man's missions in Assassin Hall had definitely been completed smoothly only because of assistance from multiple parties.
What qualifications did a pawn like that—someone whose growth had been entirely artificially forced—have to follow Lord Zhai?
But what truly worried Huo Jiang was something else entirely.
If Zhai Liu took both Li Ban and him away, then when a 4th Tier Identity opened up in Zhai Liu's hands, who would he give it to?
Huo Jiang didn't naively believe that Zhai Liu would favor whoever had followed him the longest.
Therefore, the very moment Zhai Liu made that promise, Huo Jiang marked Li Ban as a competitor.
He had to start competing early!
If he waited until an opportunity appeared to start fighting for it, it would be too late!
Li Ban had no idea that Huo Jiang, standing behind him, was already thinking so far into the future.
And even if he did know, he wouldn't care.
He simply cupped his hands in a respectful salute and asked, "Lord Zhai, may I now know your true identity?"
Zhai Liu, however, had no desire to tell him just yet.
"If we succeed, you will naturally find out. If we fail, knowing won't do you any good anyway."
Having said that, Zhai Liu looked at Du An with a smile.
"Lord Du, if I take away your trusted prison guard, will your heart ache for the loss?"