Path Of The Dragon (A Dark Fantasy Cultivation Wuxia Xianxia Progression Series)

Chapter 58 Pan Family Mansion

"I want those two assassins restrained and taken prisoner! Kill the rest and let's get out of here. It's not safe," said the guard captain, "loot the bodies quickly. We can divvy up the spoils once we're secure."

The guards and the Pan siblings hurried to obey his orders, taking the assassins he'd indicated prisoner, killing any survivors, and storing all the bodies in their storage rings. Jie stored a few of those who were already dead in her ring but refrained from finishing anyone.

The sight made Jie's stomach turn even though she'd seen far worse. Buried within her unease was a deep sense of guilt, however. Once again, she'd avoided dirtying her own hands by directly killing. Leaving it for someone else.

How long am I going to do this? I can't get away with it forever... sooner or later I'll have to take a life with my own hands. Would Ming be disappointed? Maybe... he killed for me... how can I still not consider myself a killer?

It didn't take long and soon, they were back on street level with Jie beside Pan Tian and Pan Zhanshi. The guards formed around them, and the entire group moved at a slight run. Not at full speed, but enough that they could still sense their surroundings and move cautiously while also moving toward where more guards and safety should be waiting for them.

They were all on alert, eyes alternating between scanning the rooftops and the streets around them.

"You shouldn't have run off like that," Pan Tian said after a long, tense silence.

"I wasn't going to just let them kill us," Jie said.

"Still... you should let our guards protect you..." Pan Tian said.

"They did," Jie said, "You had to fight too. Don't forget I'm stronger than you."

"I haven't... I just... never mind..." Pan Tian said.

The silence returned.

They ran across the city and soon came to the massive Pan family mansion. The guards outside looked them over and hurried them inside. Several more guards took the live captives they'd brought and dragged them away. No doubt for interrogation. Jie tried not to think about it and instead followed the Pan siblings into the mansion.

"Nice place," Jie said, hoping to break the silence.

"Thanks," Pan Zhanshi said, "it helps to make trips to the city much easier. Doesn't it sis?"

"Yeah..." Pan Tian said.

Jie frowned. "Are you still mad at me?" she asked.

"Yes... well... no. I get it. I just don't want you getting hurt. I can't believe they dared to attack you while you're under our protection! The nerve of them!" Pan Tian snapped.

"Mmm..." Jie said, "I'm guessing they were from the Chen family?"

"Who else?" Pan Tian said with an edge to her voice.

"Judging by their martial skills, I think they're probably assassins that the Chen family hired. But even so, I'm surprised they sent so many and attacked you the way they did..." Pan Zhanshi said.

"I suppose they don't get many chances," Pan Tian said as though musing out loud.

"You lost me," Pan Zhanshi said.

"Well, think about it. Jie never leaves the Crimson Academy and their defenses are impeccable. It would be freakishly hard to try to kill her there compared to the city. Even our elders might not be able to get through the defenses the academy has," Pan Tian said.

"Can we go to the city lord about the attack on me?" Jie asked.

"Probably not," Pan Zhanshi said, "the Chen family will have made sure this can't be traced back to them. Our interrogators will see what they can get out of the prisoners though. Sometimes people get clumsy."