Chapter 1: The Legend of "Star River" (Revised)

  Xinghe is a name, and also a legend.

  This name has only emerged in recent months, but it has quickly become popular in a short period of time and has been elevated to a legendary height with a series of legendary experiences!

  Many hot topics have been generated globally around the name "Star River".

  As soon as the two words "Star River" appeared on the domestic internet, they immediately occupied the top spot on Baidu's search wind chart, with daily searches consistently ranking first for half a year, and leaving the search terms behind by several streets.

  At the same time, the name Xinghe has also been included in the list of unwelcome names by many countries around the world. A few countries have even directly put "Xinghe" on the blacklist, regarding him as a highly dangerous person.

  With the same name, on the global underground world's **Wind and Cloud Chart**, it has been the hottest topic for six consecutive months. Large and small underground organizations around the world have issued millions of wanted orders targeting the name "Star River".

  For a time, this name became synonymous with the US dollar and was the holy grail for many hitmen. One bounty was accepted only to be returned intact...

  As expected, they all failed.

  All those who were accepted as singles had only two outcomes for those who went after Xinghe.

  The first outcome was unfortunate; they found Star River but no one could return safely.

  Another result is even more ridiculous. They are so incompetent that they can't even find the whereabouts of Xinghe, and the most ironic thing is that this kind of incompetence is actually a kind of luck compared to the first result!

  Continuous pursuit, continuous failure, finally shocked the entire underground world, shocking the number one organization that dominated the entire underground world - Bloody Rose. This global underground organization, undisputed NO. 1, took on the most expensive single mission in history, a $5 billion bounty hunt!

  In the hundreds of years of history of the Blood Rose, there have been over a million people hunted down by them, but it is said that only three people have managed to narrowly escape in total over the centuries!

  Such a miraculous success rate made the client very confident that this would be the end of the whole story. Fifty billion dollars, although painful, but "Star River" was finally going to be swept into the dustbin of history, and it was worth it.

  A record-breaking bounty, the most expensive one in history, also made the Blood Rose organization highly valued, sending out seven top-notch masters. These seven masters were all from the organization's "Top Ten Ace Assassins" team.

  And this time, the pursuit and killing mission was also positioned as SSS-level, which is also a super-class task that has never been seen in the underground world.

  Seven kings, some are good at sniping, some are good at lurking, some are good at disguise, and some are good at close combat...

  To sum it up, each of them has their own unique skills, and in the field of assassins, they are already the top-notch aces, almost like bugs. The joint attack by the seven top masters shows how much importance is attached to the Blood Rose organization.

  This record-breaking high-stakes mission has caused a huge stir in the global underworld, with a shockwave impact comparable to detonating an ultra-high-yield nuclear bomb!

  ……

  The large campus is especially romantic in early spring.

  In a quiet corner of the campus, a young man in his mid-twenties named Wu Xinghe, a second-year graduate student at W University, sat alone on a small slope, comfortably basking in the beautiful morning light and leisurely watching a group of pigeons frolicking on the lawn with a calm and serious expression.

  It was as if all the noise and commotion in the world had nothing to do with him, as if time had stopped at this moment, frozen into a permanent picture of peace.

  Suddenly, Wu Xinghe's face changed. The smile that had been hanging on his face suddenly disappeared.

  Instead, he was solemn. Originally ordinary in every way, he suddenly seemed to have changed into a different person, standing up like a javelin, like a mountain standing upright, like an iron chain spanning the river, gazing intently at the top of the slope, his heart secretly trembling with fear.

  "It's finally here, it seems."

  The next moment, the pigeons on the grass suddenly became alert, flapping their wings and taking off with a loud whoosh. Just as they were about to scatter in all directions, it was as if an invisible large net had appeared from all sides. As soon as these pigeons rushed to that position, they fell to the ground like they had been electrocuted.

  Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

  Five figures emerged from different corners, surrounding Wu Xing River. These people had strange appearances, with four of them clearly being of Western descent; the other two, one with an Eastern face, were dressed as Fuso ninjas; and the last person was the most mysterious, wearing a black cloak that covered his entire body, leaving only a pair of eyes that looked like those of an eagle.

  "Xinghege, we've finally found you." The black cloak emitted a hoarse voice.

  Wu Xinghe's eyes immediately caught sight of the black cloak, on which was embroidered a bewitching flower - a rose, a blood-stained rose.

  "Who are you?" Wu Xinghe returned to his previous leisurely state, as if the five dangerous people in front of him were just five wooden puppets.

  "People who want to settle accounts with you." The old man in black robes said calmly.

  "Oh?"

  "Xinghege, on May 25th, 2012, the British Museum was robbed, and hundreds of Chinese cultural relics were stolen. Is this big case done by you?" The old man in black cloak asked solemnly.

  Wu Xinghe smiled faintly: "Not bad, coming out to mix, always have to pay back. Those cultural relics were originally looted by those bandits from the Yuanmingyuan, I brought them back, it's only right and proper, what's wrong with that?"

  The old man in the black cloak nodded, but his momentum didn't dare to relax at all, and asked again: "So, the British hall-level singer Mariah's whole body turned black, I suppose it was also your handwriting?"

  Wu Xinghe didn't deny it, smiling and saying: "That guy is so arrogant, saying that Chinese people are inferior races, thinking that just because he has a white skin he's a superior race? That's easy to deal with, I'll just apply a layer of black lacquer on his body. It's just that the method is a bit special, and it will be impossible for him to wash it off for the rest of his life."

  "Very good, it seems you didn't plan to shirk responsibility. So the matter of secretly filming a video of an M country female politician having an affair with her subordinate is also something you did?"

  "What does it have to do with me that she's seducing men? But who made her ignore the principles and insist on meeting people she shouldn't meet? Doesn't she know that bald donkey has been trying to split our Chinese territory for decades? According to my personality, I should have killed her with one knife, but since I'm a peace lover, it's better not to use violence if possible."

  Every time he admitted something, the expressions of the five people became even more solemn. In such a situation, being able to maintain such a relaxed attitude shows that this young man is indeed their formidable opponent!

  The old man in the black cloak took a deep breath: "One last question, a certain military leader of R Country hanged himself at home, but the police analysis concluded that this murder case was not a suicide. To put it bluntly, this matter is probably also related to you, isn't it?"

  Wu Xinghe burst out laughing: "Are you talking about that military big shot who's even fatter than a pig? Well, I'm the one who killed him. That guy had a human face but a pig-like appearance, with a mouth that couldn't stop spouting nonsense all day long. I've been looking at him with disdain for more than just one or two days. And this time he actually dared to claim that he would take over our Huaxia territory on Tong'e Island by force? Didn't he deserve to die?"

  Suddenly, Wu Xinghe stared intently at the blood-rose on the old man's chest and burst out laughing: "I say, when did the Blood Rose organization start doing the world police's job? Are you trying to play a game of justice with your notorious reputation?"

  The old man narrowed his eyes and smiled gloomily, "Justice is nothing in our underground world. I'm not afraid to tell you that someone has offered 5 billion US dollars for your life. What you've done doesn't matter to us; what matters is that whoever gets your head can get a check for 5 billion US dollars."

  "Five billion dollars?" Wu Xinghe hadn't expected that his current worth could rise to such an absurd level, but after some thought, he understood.

  Each of his previous cases can be elevated to a political level, so it's not surprising that national will appears behind this case.

  Once national will is involved, even a high salary is no longer difficult to understand.

  The fact is that such a high fee has already exceeded the tolerance of individuals or even financial groups behind the client!

  Wu Xinghe glanced at the dead pigeons on the grass and sighed, "These pigeons, if they hadn't been foraging on this grassland this morning, wouldn't have met with this disaster. There's an old Chinese proverb that says 'people die for wealth, birds perish for food'. Doesn't this scene before us evoke any feelings in you?"

  "Of course, we have feelings. We know that Xinghe Pavilion is very powerful, so we specially sent a companion to take care of your sister who depends on you for life and death. If Xinghe Pavilion cooperates with us and takes a trip with us, your sister will be unharmed; otherwise, her tragic fate will far exceed your imagination."

  The old man in black robes, though provoking Wu Xinghe, didn't dare to relax his vigilance at all, but instead became even more cautious. He deeply knew that a strong person like Wu Xinghe, once enraged, would surely kill without warning, and couldn't be taken lightly.

  Xue Xie rose this time, dispatching seven top-notch assassins in one breath, it's clear that they're determined to succeed! However, these seven top-notch assassins didn't dare to slack off, thoroughly investigating, gathering evidence, understanding, and grasping, analyzing Wu Xinghe's only weakness, which lies with his sister.

  This is also the only place they can break through, and in order to be safe, they must make a big deal out of this only weakness.

  Wu Xing's face was expressionless, but a murderous intent suddenly arose in his heart. Although his sister wasn't related by blood, she had been with him since childhood, taking care of him as he grew up, and their bond was deep.

  "Blood Rose Organization, I didn't expect you to be so despicable? In the end, are you still afraid of me?" Wu Xinghe asked proudly.

  "Hmph! In our line of work, we've always sought success, no matter the means. As for Star River Pavilion thinking we're afraid of you, that's not necessarily true, but since you can accomplish so much, it's better to be prepared."

  Wu Xinghe nodded and slowly bent down.

  This simple action immediately shocked the black-cloaked old man, who shouted: "Don't move! I don't want to see your sister lying dead in front of you. You'd better surrender at once!"

  "What's the hurry? I'm just tying my shoelaces." Wu Xinghe smiled coldly and squatted down to attend to his shoes.

  The five people's faces changed color, and they all retreated one step without saying a word.

  Wu Xing's mouth suddenly curled up into a strange smile, and he growled: "Three o'clock position, eight hundred meters away, there is another person. Why not come out together? Planning to snipe me?"

  Before his words had fallen, Wu Xinghe's body suddenly burst forth, his palms pressed against the grass, and his entire body slid forward like a giant bird in flight.

  In the void, a shadowy palm danced, carrying scorching Yang True Energy, striking five palms in succession, attacking five people!

  The five of them suddenly felt as if they had been thrown into a furnace, with an indescribable heat spreading throughout their bodies. The surface of their skin could feel the intense burning sensation, like needles pricking at it, as if oil was being roasted out of them.

  "Not good!" The black-robed elder had been cautious enough, but they still underestimated Wu Xinghe's actual combat ability. This five-palm move was so powerful that it completely exceeded their imagination.

  The weapon in hand and firepower had no chance to play out, being completely covered by Wu Xinghe's palm strength, and could only rely on footwork to dodge continuously.

  "Expand the circle, fast, expand the circle!" That Japanese ninja knew well the magical power of ancient Chinese martial arts. Such an attack could only be countered by expanding the circle, or else they would be annihilated.

  As for who can avoid this attack circle, it's all up to luck.

  "Want to escape?" Wu Xinghe saw the Fuso ninja and came in anger, a palm force was spat out, directly sealed on his ninja blade. The blade tip cut back, slashing across the throat, a streak of blood shot out.

  Knock one down.

  Wu Xing's feet moved swiftly, his true energy surging forth as he executed the "Nine Yang Palm" in conjunction with the inner strength of the "Inferno Scripture", each palm strike landing on his opponent's chest like a lion pouncing on a rabbit.

  "This Yan Yang Zhen Jing is the most overbearing and masculine internal power in China's ancient martial arts world. Once hit, it's like being burned by fierce flames, or scorched by the scorching sun, its power is so great that it's frightening."

  Wu Xinghe's legs were like a rabbit's, swift and agile. On the grassy ground, his shadow danced repeatedly, flashing by like a butterfly among flowers. Of the five enemies, four had already fallen.

  The old man in black robes was left behind, with Wu Xinghe's two fingers pressed against his throat.

  "Wu Xing shouted: 'Everyone hiding, come out now!'"

  The old man in black robes looked as pale as death and muttered a question: "Are you human?"

  "Cut the nonsense. Do you want 5 billion dollars or do you want your life?" Wu Xinghe, changing his previous image as a weak student, said in a deep voice, "Take your life, and exchange it for my sister."

  "Mission failed... only death remains... Your sister? My comrade will bring her to see you. Haha, he will complete the mission that we couldn't!"

  As soon as he finished speaking, a thread of black blood flowed out from the corner of his mouth, and with an eerie and satisfied smile on his face, he actually poisoned himself to death!

  "Whoosh!"

  Wu Xinghe took advantage of the momentum and threw the corpse forward, following which his body rolled over.

  Bang!

  The tree trunk as thick as an arm, where he originally stood, was hit by a bullet and fell with a loud crash.

  Wu Xinghe's speed was incredibly fast, his reaction even quicker than bullets. In just a few ups and downs, he had already closed in to within 400-500 meters. Suddenly, he let out a loud shout, and a burst of true energy shot out.

  Buddhist Kung Fu - Lion's Roar!

  The hidden sniper had been holding back for so long, until all his companions were dead, without firing a shot. He was brewing the previous fatal shot, but did not expect Wu Xinghe's sense of crisis to be more vigilant than a wolf.

  Not a single shot hit, and Wu Xinghe rushed towards him instead. He hastily aimed at the scope to fire another shot. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced his ear, followed by the sound of "clank", and the scope shattered into pieces!

  Wu Xinghe's roar was so powerful that it directly shattered the sniper's eardrum and scope!

  A sniper without a scope is like a tiger with half its teeth knocked out. Add to that the broken eardrum, and what's left to stop Wu Xinghe from getting close?

  Ah!

  Wu Xinghe's two hands squeezed the sniper's forehead, and a crisp sound was heard. The skull split open with a loud crack, and fresh blood gushed out of his eyes, nostrils, and mouth. He fell to the ground instantly.

  Killing six people in a row, Wu Xinghe didn't have time to deal with the aftermath. He now had only one thought: hurry back home and save his sister.

  As soon as I returned home, a pungent smell of blood could be clearly smelled in the corridor downstairs.

  Wu Xinghe's heart was racing like a wildfire, he pushed open the door and entered the house, only to see his sister lying naked on the ground, already at her last breath. Wu Xinghe's heart sank to the bottom of the valley in an instant, and the tears that had never fallen from his eyes suddenly poured down like rain.

  "Sister..."

  Embracing his sister's body, Wu Xinghe was overcome with tears and his heart was on the verge of going mad.

  Just then, Wu Xinghe's face suddenly changed, and a strong sense of crisis surged up in his heart. Almost subconsciously, Wu Xinghe's right palm chopped downwards.

  A sharp dagger fell with a thud.

  The blade of the dagger was covered in a blue glow, obviously having been fed highly toxic substances.

  Ambush!

  With an incredulous expression, the sister in his arms slipped out like a fish.

  Wu Xinghe suddenly stood up, staring at this "sister" in front of him. Except for the suffocating killing intent on her body, he couldn't see any flaws!

  "Xīnghé Gé xià, nǐ guǒrán lìhài!" Duìfāng tōu xí bù chéng, dài zhe mǎnqiāng hèn yì, pēn bó zhe nù huǒ, níng shēng wèn dào, "zhème shuō lái, wǒ de tóngbàn dōu yǐjīng..."

  Translation:

  "Xinghe Ge, you're indeed formidable!" The opponent, having failed in their sneak attack, was filled with resentment and anger, and asked in a stern voice, "So, that means my companions have all...".

  "They've all set off already!" Wu Xing said calmly.

  "What about my sister?"

  "Your sister? Haha!" The woman suddenly burst out laughing, "Wherever my companion goes, your sister will go too!"

  "Wu Xinghe's pupils suddenly enlarged: 'You killed her?'"

  "What you said is right, I not only killed her, but also refined her corpse into a certain kind of medicine, haha!"

  Wu Xinghe's heart sank to the bottom of the valley, and he growled: "In that case, you can go die too!"

  Wu Xinghe let out a cruel laugh, his entire body's aura suddenly surging, the Blazing Sun True Qi wildly surged, and his palm grasped.

  The dagger on the ground flew upside down and was absorbed into Wu Xinghe's palm, and a fierce blue light burst out of his body.

  Whoosh!

  A single knife cut with no resistance, a fatal knife cut.

  Directly inserted into the woman's throat.

  Although he had clearly won against all his opponents, Wu Xinghe's face was devoid of joy, and in his heart, he was on the verge of going mad.

  Sister, he will never find someone closer than you for the rest of his life.

  The true energy of the body was constantly boiling. Wu Xinghe suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest, and with a loud "Ah", a mouthful of fresh blood spurted out from his throat.

  Wu Xinghe's face changed slightly, and immediately, he felt that the true energy in his body was like boiling water, bubbling up.

  Something is terribly wrong!

  It turned out that Wu Xinghe had been trying to break through the bottleneck with his true energy for several months, attempting to make a breakthrough and impact the innate. The true energy in his body was supposed to be cleared today. However, he didn't expect to be found by the killer of Shi Xue's Blood Rose, overusing his true energy, adding insult to injury.

  Signs of true energy backfiring have actually appeared!

  This internal energy counterattacks, is the thing that martial artists most dread, lightly then running fire into madness, heavily then immediately collapsing.

  Wu Xing's legs trembled as he leaned against the table, panting heavily. Suddenly, his eyes stopped on the tabletop. On the table, a piece of paper was pressed down, staring at him.

  "Xiao Wu, my sister's unit is organizing an event in the countryside and she'll be back in about a week. Take good care of yourself during this time."

  Wu Xinghe was taken aback, and then his mind quickly turned. This killer just arrived today, so my sister should have already left... Could it be that my sister isn't dead?

  Emotions fluctuate greatly, with extreme highs and lows; true energy counterattacks, making a bad situation even worse.

  She took out her phone and dialed her sister's number with trembling hands.

  "Hey, Little Wu, have you seen your sister's note?"

  A crisp voice, a familiar tone, Wu Xinghe's heart that had been hanging in the air suddenly put down.

  He gently hung up the phone, and another mouthful of blood spurted out.

  "Murmuring to herself: 'Sister, take care of yourself on your future path...'"

  Wu Xinghe's footsteps gradually faltered, his vision gradually blurred, and his consciousness also became increasingly unclear. He muttered to himself: "Sister... Wu Xiao can't take care of you from now on..."

  The true energy backfired, and the inner fire impacted the five organs and six viscera. Wu Xinghe's consciousness became even more blurred, and his legs were unable to take another step...

  A legendary folk hero, a rare talent in the ancient martial arts world, Wu Xinghe, the youngest ancient martial arts master in history, actually died tragically in this humble abode due to his own inner energy backfiring!