Chapter 3383 — Song the Second

"Yes..." Elder Wang nodded, thought for a moment, then said cautiously, "President, the Honored Elder Song does owe us a favor, but have you forgotten? Her status is far from ordinary. If it were some small matter, asking her to act would be fine, but if it is a great matter—should we not first consult the honorary grand elder of our Overseas Cultivators' Association?"

"If you hadn't said so, I'd nearly have forgotten!" He Dantou snapped to attention. In the Overseas Cultivators' Association there was an honorary grand elder, another fanatic of cultivation who, over these years, borrowing the association's resources, had broken through time and again, and had now set foot at the peak of the late Heaven Rank—the realm of Greater Perfection. When he first arrived here, he had merely been an expert at the peak of the late Mystic Rank, yet after obtaining cultivation resources, this man had advanced with triumphant momentum—a rare cultivation prodigy!

Only, this man's current strength was special, and He Dantou did not dare restrain him overmuch, so he had simply hung the title of honorary grand elder upon him. Ordinarily he paid little attention to the affairs of the association; every day he only secluded himself in cultivation, seeking the opportunity to set foot upon the heavenly way.

Of course, the Overseas Cultivators' Association currently had no place where he was needed. Even He Dantou himself had not seen the man for several years—had President Wang not mentioned him, he would have nearly forgotten him too!

There was reason enough to bring up the honorary grand elder now. This honorary grand elder was named Song Xianghua, and was said to be the second paternal grandfather of the Honored Elder Song!

This made He Dantou deeply feel that a tiger lord sires no mongrel whelps—the whole family were top-tier experts! Of course, this news had never been verified, and no one dared to ask Song Xianghua about such a trivial matter.

And the Honored Elder Song was merely a retainer elder of the Overseas Cultivators' Association, more distant even than an honorary elder. Her true profession was assassin and mercenary, and she was not usually within the association. Only when there was a great matter would she come; but when there was a great matter, it was even less likely anyone would ask about this.

"This way, then—invite the Honored Elder Song to come, and I will ask her. If she truly is the granddaughter of Grand Elder Song, I will take her with me to meet the grand elder!" He Dantou had to be prudent. Though Song Xianghua counted as his subordinate, their strength was equal, and the cultivators' world spoke through strength alone. "This last matter must be used sooner or later. Besides, she walks the path of mercenary and assassin; she is not of our kind. Even if she has cultivated to the top rank of the outer school and counts as a cultivator, she will never join us in the end. We must use this opportunity eventually, so better now than later! My only fear this time in employing her is that my elder brother's side may fail to kill that Wei Zhao. That Wei Zhao is utterly uncanny—what if that little Er and the Heavenly Silkworm Transformation are no match for him, and Wei Zhao walks away alive once more? But with the Honored Elder Song, an outer-school assassin at the peak of the late Heaven Rank, Greater Perfection, Wei Zhao is certain to die!"

"Mm, that is true. Then I will go invite the Honored Elder Song..." Elder Wang nodded.

In the afternoon, President Wang returned, and with him came a young girl who looked eighteen or nineteen, like a sunny and cheerful schoolgirl, wearing a T-shirt and hot pants, with sunglasses perched on her face. Walking among the crowd, the only thing that drew the eye was that she was rather pretty; from every other aspect, it was truly hard to tell that she was a female assassin.

Seeing the Honored Elder Song enter, He Dantou did not dare put on airs. He rose to greet her: "Honored Elder Song, you have come. Welcome, welcome!"

"President He, you sought me out for that third matter, I take it?" The Honored Elder Song smiled faintly, without much ceremony. "Once this matter is done, I will no longer be any Honored Elder Song."

He Dantou's expression froze slightly. He gave a dry laugh, then said, "Even if you are no longer our retainer elder, we are both cultivators of the overseas lands—friends, surely!"

"Speak, then. What is the matter?" The Honored Elder Song wasted no more words and asked directly.

"The matter... before I speak of it, I would like to ask whether the Honored Elder Song has any thought of returning to the Central Plains for a visit?" He Dantou asked.

"Return to the Central Plains? Huaxia?" The Honored Elder Song was taken aback.

"Yes, Huaxia." As he spoke, He Dantou handed her the invitation letter that Patriarch Xuanchen had given him, then said, "Honored Elder Song, take a look at this invitation first."

"Oh? An invitation? From where?" The Honored Elder Song was briefly startled, then took what He Dantou handed over and began to read. "The Heaven Rank Trial Assembly? Convened by the Five Luminaries Sect? An ancient sect?"

Clearly the Honored Elder Song was not very familiar with the division of powers in the Central Plains cultivation world, though she knew the general framework.

"Indeed, and it is mightier than the mightiest of the ancient sects." He Dantou nodded. "This trial—could the Honored Elder Song attend it?"

"Why should I go?" The Honored Elder Song did not answer, but asked in return.

"This—I want you to find an opportunity during the trial to kill a certain person. If you agree, I will explain everything in detail," He Dantou said.

"But is this mission not a little too far?" The Honored Elder Song frowned slightly. "Moreover, according to the rules set down in those years by... the King of Assassins, assassins on our side may not appear in Huaxia without approval—that would break the rules... You should know well who the King of Assassins is, President He?"

"Of course I know—one of the Twin Vajra Demons who made his name across the four seas in those years..." He Dantou gave two dry laughs. "Honored Elder Song, are you kin to Grand Elder Song Xianghua?"

The Honored Elder Song raised an eyebrow slightly and looked at He Dantou with a half-smile: "President He is truly well informed! That is right—he is my second paternal grandfather."

"From what I know, Grand Elder Song is himself a man of the Central Plains. You could return under the pretext of visiting family—that is not restricted, is it? Even the Twin Vajra Demons could not control that much, surely?" He Dantou smiled. "Besides, the Twin Vajra Demons have sent no word for a long time..."

"Come with me to see my second paternal grandfather, and I will ask him what he has to say!" The Honored Elder Song thought for a moment, then said.

"That was my very intention. Honored Elder Song, please follow me!" He Dantou made a gesture of invitation.

The place where Song Xianghua secluded himself was a detached villa with its own courtyard, located on the grounds of the Overseas Cultivators' Association. He Dantou led the Honored Elder Song before a villa, but did not enter rashly. Instead he raised his voice and called, "Is Grand Elder Song present? This one, He, has a matter to discuss!"

After a moment, Song Xianghua's voice came from within the villa: "President He, please come in!"RS

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