Beginning of the end-1

It was an assassin.

However, it was clear that there was something wrong with the assassin. Surely Xie Ra and Tang Zihao created some noise when Tang Zihao grabbed Xie Ra into the alleyway. Why didn't he catch up to them?

Xie Ra opened his mouth to ask it from the other youth but, he was scared to make noise. Meanwhile, the fire demon grabbed the shorter one from his hand and ran through alleyways, away from the assassin.

Xie Ra was bewildered. He whispered confusedly.

"Why are we running away? Why won't we capture him? And why won't he follow us? Aren't assassins supposed to be sharp?"

"I pressed some acupoints. His listening is weak for now. It'll remain for some minutes. But his vision and fighting abilities are normal. That's why I didn't attack him. He's stronger than me. If I didn't manage to press the acu-point I wouldn't be able to escape. Let's go before he recovers."

Tang Zihao explained hurriedly as he ran and dragged his friend away as fast as he could manage. He then entered a small house and closed the door.

Xie Ra identified this house. It was the place where both Tang Zihao and he met first.

"Why are we here?"

"I couldn't think of any good place to hide. I can't risk walking for long or going back home. I hid my sister in a safe place so I can't go there and expose her either."

Xie Ra nodded his head. Then something clicked in his mind.

"Ah Zihao why did this assassin follow you? Do you have enemies?"

"That's something even I love to know. I guess maybe the serial killer noticed my investigations. I'm not sure.

Somehow this maniac was following me for the past two days. I barely escaped every time. I wanted to warn you today as you helped me investigate but then he noticed me."

So that's why they both appeared in front of the sect. But, many questions popped into Xie Ra's mind.

Why didn't Xie Ra get any threat?

Why does the assassin want only Tang Zihao?

Is this assassin the killer?

Finally, why did they choose to follow Tang Zihao in the days Xie Ra was busy in the sect?

A sudden realization hit Xie Ra. Everything that happened in the past started to slide into his mind.

"Ah'Zihao, I think the sect's second elder and his assistant are behind the deaths."

Tang Zihao looked at Xie Ra with a confused expression. Then he asked,

"Why do you think that?"

Xie Ra revealed to him what happened in the Phoenix sect over the past two days.

The sickness of the sect leader, how the second elder became the administrator until the sect leader was cured, how the second elder gave a stupid task to the Jade sword crew, everything was explained by Xie Ra.

As the story unfolds, the other one's questioning gaze gradually cleared. He started to nod and say,

"I see. I see. So, it might be their work."

"I never liked or trusted Zu Bingwen, the second elder's assistant. But I never thought a weak-looking second elder could do such a thing."

Tang Zihao nodded. Then he asked another question.

"Everything matches together perfectly except one thing. We can't fit the blood cultivator part into the story."

It was Xie Ra's time to look at the other with a confused look.

"You know, nobody can cultivate multiple cultivation paths and be a strong cultivator. But, we found the murderer was a blood cultivator. The culprit couldn't be a weak one to draw such a powerful array on those corpses to misguide everyone.

But, the second elder and Zu Bingwen both are strong beast cultivators. I witnessed their fights in inter-sect tournaments. So, neither of them could be the murderer."

Xie Ra knew Tang Zihao was right. Then there are more supporters to them?

"Ah'Zihao, what do you think about the assassin?"

"I can't be sure. He only used daggers against me. But, I felt like he used barbarian sect steps when fighting me."

Barbarian sect? Another beast cultivators sect? Now, it has become a bit complicated. Wait. How did Ah'Zihao recognize those steps?

Tang Zihao seemed to read Xie Ra's mind. He smiled and replied.

"Xie'er, Xie'er, How could I not recognize them? It was my first sect."

"Oh really, haha. then no wonder. But, what do you mean by first? Did you change the sect?"Xie Ra asked curiously. The other one sighed.

"Yeah, I joined another sect. It was a long story. I will tell you later." He smiled at Xie Ra.

An awkward silence hung in the air for some time. Nobody broke the silence. Then, Tang Zihao leaned on the wall and closed his eyes. Before closing his eyes, he pointed his finger towards the door and looked at Xie Ra.

Xie Ra nodded in agreement before starting his guarding duty.

Nothing bad happened until the morning. Or they thought nothing happened. Two boys switched their guarding duties and slept during the night. So they weren't very tired in the morning.

However, everything seemed to be weird when they stepped out of the house. The usually busy streets held eerily silent. Many Phoenix sect cultivators patrol around the street in guarding duty.

Something felt wrong. very wrong.

Xie Ra walked towards a guard and asked,

"Daozhang, what happened last night?"

The guard's eyes widened when he saw Xie Ra. He replied in a surprised voice.

"Where were you last night, Daozhang?"

"It's a long story. I will explain it at the sect. But, why are you guarding here? Why is nobody in the streets?"

"City mayor ordered not to let any citizen go out after the morning incident. We are instructed to protect them. Daozhang's sect and Azealia sect conducting investigations."

"What incident?"

"The dead bodies of the messengers who were sent to other sects were hanged at the main gate this morning. The guards were brutally killed too. Killer used their blood and wrote a warning message outside in the wall,

'Every crime will be paid by the blood of the criminals.'"