<h4>Chapter 1228: Chapter 1236: Heavenly List Assassin (2)</h4>


    Following the taxi driver’s suggestion, Ling Chen chose the closer path. Though called a path, it was actually a dirt road less than half a meter wide. Fortunately, it hadn’t rained for days, and the ground was dry. After walking for a short distance, he noticed a lot of trees appearing on both sides of the road, lush and dense.


    As he walked, Ling Chen took out his phone and dialed Tang Guolun’s number. Given the current situation, calling for support seemed the safest option. The call connected quickly, and Ling Chen shared his approximate location with Tang Guolun, asking him to send someone over as soon as possible. Of course, it was most important to bring Ji Gang.


    Just as the call ended, Ling Chen noticed a shadow sh through the trees not far away, disappearing in an instant.


    With the shadow’s appearance, Ling Chen immediately stopped in his tracks. It was obvious that the shadow had to be Qin Chuan. Looking at the surrounding darkness, Ling Chen felt a headacheing on, having no idea where Qin Chuan might be hiding. Damn! Such a despicable move. A top-tier Heavenly List expert refusing to confront directly, instead choosing to y dirty. Truly shameless.


    Suddenly, a gust of wind blew in. Ling Chen turned his gaze to the approaching direction of the wind, only to see nothing there. At the same time, a hand suddenlynded on his shoulder from behind. Before Ling Chen could react, a powerful force struck his back with a resounding impact.


    Thud!


    A mouthful of fresh blood was spat out, and Ling Chen’s body flew several meters away,nding heavily on the ground.


    After lying on the ground for over ten seconds, Ling Chen’s body gradually regained feeling. However, the intense pain caused his arms to tremble slightly. He tried several times but failed to get up. Upon hearing footsteps approaching from behind, Ling Chen turned over and saw Qin Chuan slowly approaching in the darkness.


    "Why?" Ling Chen asked in a deep voice, "Did Su He order you?"


    "This isn’t the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion’s order," Qin Chuan replied coldly.


    Puzzled, Ling Chen asked, "Then... why do you want to kill me?" He had thought Qin Chuan was following Su He’s orders, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.


    "Since its establishment, the Skyhawk Pavilion has never suffered a defeat, except when they encountered you, causing significant losses to the pavilion."


    Hearing this, Ling Chen’s expression changed, realizing his guess was correct. Qin Chuan was indeed with the Skyhawk Pavilion.


    "So, you’re trying to save face for the Skyhawk Pavilion?"


    "You could say that," Qin Chuan said coldly. "Your death would not onlypensate for the Skyhawk Pavilion’s failure, but also benefit the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. I know Su He wants to deal with you, but he’s been hesitant, unable to make up his mind. With your death, I believe your father wouldn’t stand by idly."


    Struggling to stand, Ling Chen panted, "Looks like I’m doomed to die today. But before I go, I have onest request."


    "Speak."


    "I hope..." Ling Chen parted his lips, and as he started speaking, his gaze suddenly fixed on a point behind Qin Chuan. At the same time, his lips curled up into a slightly rxed smile.


    Noticing the change in Ling Chen’s expression, Qin Chuan asked coldly, "Why are you smiling?"


    "I think I might not die tonight. Don’t you agree, Mr. Ji?"


    As his voice fell, Qin Chuan’s heart sank. He quickly turned to look behind him. But there was nothing there except dense trees.


    Tricked?


    Qin Chuan hesitated briefly, then immediately shifted his gaze back to where Ling Chen had been. As expected, Ling Chen had already vanished without a trace.


    Trying to escape... Qin Chuan chuckled lightly, holding the Longquan Sword, his body turned into a mere shadow and disappeared into the darkness.


    At that moment, Ling Chen exerted the Nine Yang Qiankun Step to its fullest, racing over the nd like a storm. After running an unknown distance, he suddenly heard the sound of flowing water nearby. Following the sound, Ling Chen quickened his pace, sprinting several dozen meters ahead until he saw a river more than thirty meters wide.


    Opportunity!


    Ling Chen’s eyes lit up; it seemed fortune was favoring him. Without hesitation, he leapt into the river. Fortunately, the water wasn’t too turbulent, and the surface was calm. The deeper he got, the deeper the river became, reaching about three meters. Ling Chen submerged himself at the river’s bottom, staying as still as possible, only rising to the surface for fresh air when he’d run out.


    Ling Chen hid underwater for more than half an hour. During this time, Qin Chuan never appeared.


    Meanwhile, hundreds of meters away from the shore, beams of light scoured the surroundings. Guided by Tang Guolun and Jiang Yunkai, dozens of men with shlights searched for Ling Chen.


    "Kai, tell them to shout louder. Maybe Ling Chen can hear us," Tang Guolun instructed.


    "Alright."


    However, at that moment, Ling Chen was hiding underwater and couldn’t hear the shouts from Tang Guolun and the others. As time passed, Ling Chen exchanged air and slowly moved underwater. When he surfaced again, he found himself dozens of meters away from the grove he originally escaped from.


    I should have shaken off Qin Chuan by now! Ling Chen thought to himself. Carefully observing, he ensured no one was nearby before starting to move toward the shore. But just then, sensing something, Ling Chen abruptly turned around. In an instant, a cold gleam shed before his eyes. Following that, an intense pain shot through his chest.


    Staring at the Longquan Sword piercing through his chest, Ling Chen’s pupils shrunk, filled with disbelief.


    "Did you really think you could escape my grasp?"


    The voice reached him, and he saw Qin Chuan’s figure appear on the riverbank. With a light step, he seemed to walk effortlessly on the rippling water, approaching Ling Chen.


    When he reached Ling Chen, Qin Chuan bent down, grabbed the Longquan Sword’s hilt, and pulled it out forcefully, sending a spurt of fresh blood into the river.


    Ling Chen clutched his wound, panting heavily. Yet, he could feel his life force rapidly draining away.


    "Ling Chen!"


    "Chen!"


    "..."


    Vaguely, Ling Chen seemed to hear someone calling his name. Moreover, in his gradually blurring vision, it seemed as if lights were shining from afar.


    As the calls grew clearer, Ling Chen tried to respond but found his throat blocked, unable to produce any sound.


    Under Qin Chuan’s cold gaze, Ling Chen’s eyes slowly closed, his entire body losing bnce and copsing into the water. Watching Ling Chen’s body fully submerge, Qin Chuan lingered for several minutes. Only when the lights and voices grew nearer did he walk away on the water’s surface, vanishing into the thick darkness of the night.