Chapter 104: Deadly Precision Within Seven Steps

The tremendous roar momentarily stunned everyone, as if a sudden, muffled thunderclap had exploded beside them.

Caught in some mysterious state, Shadowless was struck as if by a hammer blow; his body trembled and, like a kite with a broken string, he was flung backward at a slant, crashing into the grass by the roadside.

Zhao Hengyi, who had tumbled out of the carriage, sat cross-legged on the ground, holding a dark, metallic tube in his hands, his eyes startlingly bright.

A matchlock gun!

For days, Zhao Hengyi had been working with Zhang Daniu and Wu Ren on this secret weapon, which had just been completed yesterday afternoon.

Rather than a traditional matchlock in the usual sense, it was more of a tungsten steel tube, designed with two key features in mind: it would not burst and could be fired twice. The goal was to land a decisive blow on an assassin at a critical moment.

The tungsten steel tube was packed with a considerable amount of gunpowder. There was no time to craft Zhao Hengyi’s familiar bullets, and even if there were, he couldn’t be sure of hitting such a strangely agile assassin.

Inside the tube were not perfectly round steel balls but rather irregular pellets or iron sand, similar in concept to a rustic shotgun used in later eras. Once fired, it would spread over a wide fan-shaped area, not seeking a fatal shot but aiming to strike the target.

This was the first true matchlock of the Great Yan Kingdom—its power was modest but enough to shock the world.

Lying on his back in the grass, Shadowless’s front was riddled like a sieve. His terrified eyes pierced through the leaves, gazing toward the sunset-streaked golden sky, while his mind churned with rumors he had heard long ago…

It turned out those stories were true…

When human strength is exhausted, to transcend and attain true freedom, one must ultimately walk that path…

Inside the overturned carriage, a slender figure nimbly slipped out and quickly checked Zhao Hengyi, finding that the surprisingly brave Zhao Caidong was uninjured. He then rushed over to the bewildered Shadowless.

Lu Jiuniang had been hiding in the carriage, constantly on guard against the assassin attempting to infiltrate through the window, but thankfully, everything had gone according to Zhao Hengyi’s plan. The assassin was too clever—so clever that he had unwittingly played right into Zhao Hengyi’s script.

The carriage had indeed been modified; iron plates were installed inside the cabin. After all, as Zhao Hengyi said, if you’re staging a play, you must do it thoroughly, not half-heartedly.

The most crucial modification was the axle. Inside the carriage was a mechanism that, once triggered, would snap the axle, making escape or pursuit easier.

All these preparations aimed to lure the assassin out from the shadows and bring him close enough for the matchlock to be effective. Zhao Hengyi’s plan had succeeded!

Masters of the internal energy technique were indeed tenacious. Though Shadowless’s chest and abdomen were badly torn by the shotgun blast at close range, he was not dead. It seemed that with timely treatment, he might survive.

Facing such a master, even if seemingly incapacitated, Lu Jiuniang cautiously drew her short sword and skillfully severed his tendons in the hands and feet. Had she not feared he might die immediately, this neat-featured young woman might have cut off his arms and legs outright.

Any master of internal energy must be approached with caution. Even if they appear paralyzed, they cannot be given a single chance, as that could provoke a deadly counterattack.

The guards and the daughter army quickly gathered around, encircling Zhao Hengyi protectively. Their expressions were tense; honestly, despite knowing the plan, the recent explosion had left them shaken.

“It’s over, Da Hu. Take your men and keep watch all around.”

Holding the slightly warm tungsten steel tube, Zhao Hengyi stood but felt his legs weaken. “Sisters, thank you for your efforts all along. Each of you will receive a set of Nine Blossoms Jade Dew—no debts!”

Seeing Zhao Hengyi still in a joking mood eased the tense atmosphere somewhat, relaxing the tightly drawn faces.

Shadowless, now almost a bloody gourd, was dragged before them. For the first time, everyone clearly saw the face of the assassin who had troubled them for days.

An unremarkable face, even somewhat sallow from thinness, not tall, just an ordinary build with surprisingly long legs, the whole figure sharp and lean, as if wrapped tightly in iron wire.

Coughing blood, Shadowless’s pale face gradually focused his gaze—not on Zhao Hengyi, who had set the trap, but intently on the tungsten steel tube in Zhao’s hands.

“Cough… is that… a magical weapon? Are you some kind of immortal?”

Though asking a question, his tone was certain. No wonder—a country boy suddenly stirring such a storm, even involving Prince Qi… It was truly those people!

That explained everything. Whenever those people appeared, the world would inevitably be swept into turmoil. This time, he wasn’t defeated in vain.

“This is called a matchlock. It’s crude now; the original design was much better-looking and easier to use… You pressured me too much—I didn’t have time to perfect it.”

Facing the assassin, Zhao Hengyi remained calm, as if speaking to an equal. “Given enough time, I could make a matchlock capable of continuous firing—if one was skilled in loading, about thirty breaths between shots.”

Surprise flickered in Shadowless’s eyes. Such a powerful hidden weapon that only required thirty breaths to reload—truly impressive!

“Why did you… never mind, I’ve investigated your background. I didn’t understand before, but now I do… Those things you did in Yonggu City angered the barbarians. The longer you persisted, the heavier the casualties among them. If I die, others will come for you…”

Suddenly overwhelmed by despair as if a wage slave who, after a lifetime of hard work, loses income in the last month and watches his house be repossessed by the bank.

“Is Su Shenchang one of the barbarians?”

“Not exactly. He’s a minor player. His master trades with the barbarians and must meet some of their demands.”

“Did Prince Qi get involved in smuggling? Selling people, salt, iron, tea bricks on barbarian territory?”

“No. He’s envious but can’t get involved.”

“Who backs Su Shenchang?”

“I don’t know, but those people are untouchable—even Prince Qi must tread carefully and flatter them.”

“Alright, I’ve asked all I wanted. Is there anything you want to know?”

For unknown reasons, Shadowless was unusually cooperative, even eager, as if afraid Zhao Hengyi wouldn’t be interested in the information he held.

After another bloody cough and heavy breathing, Shadowless seemed to summon his last strength and asked, “Someone like me, if I behaved… could I qualify to become your divine slave?”