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That was Mo Li’s previous life, a life of being a notorious criminal, betrayal, and living a pitiful existence without meaning. Of course, simplifying it a bit, one could consider it a life of living as someone’s dog. But no matter how he looked at it Mo Li still felt that his old self really couldn’t be any dumber. Being manipulated as a pawn and then dying pitifully under the guise of justice Mo Li was unreconciled. His unwillingness at the time of death overtook even the despair of being abandoned. His heart was filled with burning rageful indignation, as if he had been thrown into hell, scorched by its raging blaze, and then beaten with red-hot iron bars.

Perhaps in the darkness of death, his unwillingness invited a response, and he really got the opportunity for a second chance. Mo Li’s memories of his last life felt surreal, as if they belonged to another existence, yet they remained vivid in his mind like an overly realistic dream. But he knew they weren’t a dream; that despair and regret he felt was something that could never be forgotten…. I really got reborn?

Mo Li looked at his hands in disbelief; his young, tender hands had yet to build calluses, and the pierced wound in his abdomen had also healed. I’ve really gone back in time! But before he could burst with joy, his expression stiffened. Mo Li stood there in a daze, motionless like a statue, blankly looking at the terrified noble slumped in a chair. Then he looked at the dagger in his own hands and began cursing in his heart. Crap, it’s over! If Mo Li didn’t remember wrong, this should be the exact moment when he assassinates the nobleman, the beginning of when everything goes wrong. It’d be fine if I didn’t appear in front of the noble; I could just dust off my butt and leave immediately. But now what? What do I do? If I just explain that I happened to be taking a stroll nearby, would that be believable? Probably not! No one’s gonna believe that! Wearing a black cloak and waiting on top of their roof on a dark, windy night, the only thing missing would be to write my intentions on my face directly! Plus, the most important point, my daggers are already pointed at him! How am I supposed to explain that?!

The nobleman opposite Mo Li was completely unaware of the wild ideas going through Mo Li’s head. At this moment, his heart was only filled with terror and a sliver of confusion. The nobleman, his complexion strained, attempted to negotiate amicably with the assassin in front of him, hoping to buy time and seek a positive resolution. “Mr. Assassin, you can be at ease. I don’t want to inquire about who sent you here. You can take whatever you want from here, whether it’s money or valuables; it’s all up to you.”

Although the nobleman couldn’t see the assassin’s face, he deduced from their stature that they must be rather young and inexperienced. If the assassin had been a seasoned expert, he wouldn’t have been given the time to speak, so the idea of delaying for time might work. What the nobleman didn’t realize however was that Mo Li had long seen through his thoughts. In his previous life, Mo Li was a seasoned veteran who had completed numerous assassinations. His skills as an assassin had been honed to perfection while evading the various knight crusades that relentlessly pursued him. Conversing with one’s prey during an assassination was a big taboo. An immature Mo Li might hesitate, but he would never engage in conversation. After all, he was still an old assassin who had constantly teetered on the brink of life and death.

Seeing the nobleman’s reaction, Mo Li was still a little surprised. If nothing else this was still a noble who had access to blood arts, so logically speaking, he shouldn’t be scared of some no-named assassin. Moreover, there was an assassin attacking him, yet he was still sitting in his chair motionless; this kind of reaction was very abnormal. Mo Li, ever observant, caught a glimpse of the shattered porcelain plate at the corner of the nearby table, along with the spilled liquids, and immediately pieced it all together. The noble had been drugged and was temporarily unable to move. No wonder the assassination went so smoothly in his last life; turns out this noble had been set up.

“Ah, don’t get excited now.” Mo Li sheathed his dagger, trying to calm the noble’s emotions. “Listen, I’m here to help you.” Honestly speaking, even Mo Li himself felt that his words were very awkward. Under such a situation, probably only those with an underdeveloped brain would believe his words.
“I understand, I understand, you can take anything you want. It’s my gift, you needn’t worry.” As Mo Li expected, the noble’s face was filled with disbelief, and he was also trying to figure out exactly what this little criminal was trying to sell from his gourd.

“Enough, let’s drop the pretenses and talk. I really don’t mean to harm you. Otherwise… careful!!!” With keen observation, Mo Li swiftly threw his dagger in the nick of time. Clang! Two daggers collided in the air, both stabbing into the nobleman’s table simultaneously. The nobleman was given quite a fright, but Mo Li just thoughtfully glanced at the shadow that flashed by. A backup plan in case I failed; it seems they were pretty well prepared. Every detail was methodically planned out. No wonder my old self was tricked. So, should I spare that *******? Mo Li pondered while playing with the dagger in his hands.

Ah, whatever. It’s not good to go too far. Mo Li didn’t forget that currently he was still dependent on the nobles, who paid his tuition. Although saving this foolish nobleman today could be considered burning bridges with them, Mo Li hated the noble family that tried to use him as a glove for their dirty work. However, he didn’t forget the fact that they did help him. A yard for a yard; what Mo Li owed them, he would repay, but what they owed him, he’d also take back little by little.

“As you can see, a lot of people want your life. Be more cautious, especially toward those close to you, Master Norma. You’re the only bloodline of your family,” Mo Li advised after retrieving his dagger. He glanced at Norma, who still seemed disoriented, not planning to explain further.

“You, you really didn’t come to kill me?” After Mo Li saved him with his dagger, Norma’s complexion improved, but his suspicions still remained.

“Your guards should realize an abnormality in around ten minutes. I don’t know if there are any more assassins lurking around. As such, I’ll stay with you for a little longer.” Norma stopped talking and started processing the situation in his brain. This assassin’s intent probably isn’t to kill me, and from his earlier reactions to the bait I threw out, he also shouldn’t be here to steal anything. Then what is he here for? Is he purposely making this scene to gain my trust?

“I have no reason to trick you into trusting me. For the people hiding in the shadows, your life is much more valuable.” Catching Norma’s reaction, Mo Li sneered.

Norma’s face turned contorted in shame and embarrassment as his thoughts were seen through. “Then, Mr. Assassin, why did you protect me? Did someone ask you to?”

“I just felt like it, that’s all.” Mo Li spoke differently while leaning against the table.

“Oh…” Answering like this meant that Mo Li didn’t want to continue on this subject, so Norma tactfully stopped.

“Can you tell me who wants my life?”

“That I cannot. I’m not interested in the affairs of you nobles, and even more so, I don’t want to get implicated in them.” Mo Li got up to leave. “Well, in two minutes, your late guards will barge into this room.”

“Mr. Assassin, since you aren’t leaving now, aren’t you afraid that I’ll go back on my word and catch you for interrogations?” In a moment of stupor, Norma asked a very inappropriate question, but Mo Li just mockingly sneered,

“If I wanted to leave, none of you could stop me.” Mo Li’s words carried absolute confidence. As the sound of approaching footsteps echoed up the stairs and the room’s door was about to swing open, Mo Li leaped from the window. “Until we meet again, Master Norma.”

“Wait a second, if you could, can you tell me your codename? Um, all I want is a code name!” Norma asked insistently.

“Why bother with something so unnecessary?” Mo Li replied.

“I don’t like owing people favors,” Norma said with conviction.

“Heh,” Mo Li stopped and looked back with a deep expression. “What a coincidence, me too. Where the mountain’s waters meet, Master Norma,” Mo Li uttered before disappearing from the window.

“Who dares to trespass on the house of Norma?!”

“Don’t bother chasing,” Norma called for the guard captain to stop his pursuits.

“My lord, are you alright? Apologies for my tardiness,”

“I’m fine,” Norma slightly flexed his numb arm. The effects of the paralysis poison had all but passed.

“I can’t believe there was an assassin! You guards, go file an arrest warrant!” the guard captain ordered.

“No need,” Norma straightened his body, deep in thought. “This shall be the end of the matter. As for what happened tonight, none of you are allowed to mention it, understand?”