"It wasn't exactly Zhao Ji who knew her, but Guiying who met a very peculiar bounty hunter during one of her missions. She had some interactions with her. Later, when Guiying came to the City Lord's Mansion to chat, she mentioned it to me in passing as an amusing tale," Cai Yan said softly.
Strictly speaking, she had only heard of her name and a few deeds. She didn't know much else—merely rumors at best.
"Who exactly is she?" Yi Tianxing asked with a hint of curiosity.
"I only know her name: Tong Huang," Cai Yan replied. "She's a young girl, but her methods are incredibly ruthless. Among bounty hunters, she's top-tier and quite renowned in the Hunter Hall. It's said she has a child's voice, but her killing methods are terrifying. According to some rumors, she is actually an assassin. Moreover, she's formed a hunter team within the Hunter Hall, known as the Twelve Fiends of Heavenly Pool (Tianchi Twelve Fiends). Each member possesses unique skills and formidable strength. They have a near-perfect mission success rate—virtually 100%."
Such a success rate was anything but easy in a world brimming with danger and uncertainty. No one could guarantee success in every mission, so such a record was pure gold.
Naturally, such a person and team caught Mu Guiying's attention. She even encountered them during missions and spoke directly with Tong Huang. After their interaction, she developed a strong sense of dread toward her.
According to Mu Guiying, Tong Huang looked like a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl—delicate, petite, and doll-like, with a childlike face and a bright, innocent smile. But she could generate killing intent in the blink of an eye. She had a child's heart—pure and unrestrained, unbothered by the act of killing.
"Tong Huang, Twelve Fiends of Heavenly Pool... could it be them?" Yi Tianxing's face showed a trace of surprise.
These names were far from unfamiliar. This was the name of a terrifying assassin organization from the Wind and Cloud world. The Twelve Fiends of Heavenly Pool consisted of:Tong Huang, Iron Broom Immortal, Gourmet Immortal, Paper Flower Scholar, Dog King, Ghost Shadow, Plaything, Husband Sings, Wife Follows, Dancing Hands, Rice Feet, and Matchmaker Granny.
Twelve elite assassins—each with a deadly, unique signature technique.They were once said to have served Xiongba, but clearly they had since parted ways.
Xiongba had once founded Batian Village after entering the Eternal Continent. If he hadn't died, it could have grown into a town—or even a Celestial City. Even Xiongba himself had been wary of the Twelve Fiends, especially Tong Huang.
That alone spoke volumes.
"Interesting. If it really is Tong Huang and her Twelve Fiends, and I can recruit them, then the Dark Division I've been planning will finally have a complete framework," Yi Tianxing's eyes gleamed sharply.
If they were still united, bringing them all under his command would be a major boon.
"The founding of Great Yi and its recognition as the first Destiny Dynasty in the world is truly attracting powerful karma. This is heavenly fortune indeed. Tong Huang and the Twelve Fiends—I shall meet them myself," Yi Tianxing said decisively after a moment of contemplation.
The Great Yi was still being built. Some things couldn't be delayed.
"Deliver my verbal decree. Find Miss Mu and have her bring the Twelve Fiends to the palace," Yi Tianxing commanded firmly.
A nearby eunuch bowed and quickly left to carry out the order.
"You seem rather anxious this time, my husband," Cai Yan commented with a hint of curiosity.
"I must be. Who knows how many eyes are currently watching Great Yi. This war with the Beastmen—someone clearly manipulated it from the shadows. I suspect the Blood Demon Clan may not be the final puppet master. There's a darker force behind all this. But without concrete intelligence, I can't trace any clues," Yi Tianxing replied grimly.
Even though the Blood Demon Clan had been exposed, he could still sense that something more sinister lurked behind them—something that had covered its tracks flawlessly.
This only made his need for a dedicated intelligence agency more urgent.
At this time, in Xuanhuang City.
Inside a tavern known as Hunter's Haven, there wasn't an empty seat in sight. It was owned by someone from the modern world, and its setup and decor had a very modern aesthetic. The atmosphere was relaxed and unrestrained.
It was close to the Hunter Hall, so bounty hunters loved to frequent it.
On the second floor, in a private room, sat twelve figures. At the head was a girl with a doll-like face, with astonishing curves, holding a plush toy. She looked utterly harmless—smiling sweetly, with the innocence of a child.
She was Tong Huang.
The rest were all equally bizarre.
One carried a metal broom, looking more like a street cleaner than a killer.
Another wore a theatrical mask, which shifted its expression like a Sichuan opera performer.
One had a big red flower in her hair and a large fan, looking just like a living matchmaker.
Each person looked utterly mismatched with the next—but they sat together in harmony.
They'd just entered, still buzzing from the shock of the recent founding of the Great Yi Dynasty.
"What would the honored guests like to eat or drink today?" asked the server, approaching with a smile. Tong Huang and her group were regulars—famous and feared figures among bounty hunters. It was said each of them had the power of a Life Aperture realm cultivator.
"The usual wine—and bring plenty of side dishes. Don't worry, we'll pay," said a fat man, licking his lips.
That was Gourmet Immortal—famous for his obsession with food and drink.
"One Blue Rose, and eleven Blazing Flame Wines," he added.
The server nodded cheerfully and hurried off.
"You have to admit, the wine here really is something else. That bartender has skills. Who knew alcohol could be mixed this way? Especially that Blazing Flame Wine—pure fire," said Gourmet Immortal, smacking his lips.
The tavern's fame was built on its unique, crafted drinks—not ordinary wine, but alchemical concoctions using ingredients like Heroic Blood, blended using modern mixology to create magical results.
The Blue Rose, for example, manifested a vivid rose-shaped illusion in the glass. Drinking it gave a feeling like floating in a sea of blue petals—calming and intoxicating.
Tong Huang especially liked it.
"Boss, I was scared stiff these last few days. That war with the Beastmen was brutal—dragged on for days. On a battlefield like that, personal strength feels insignificant. If we weren't this strong, we'd be dead for sure. Now there's this dynasty and all its proclamations... Great Yi is going to skyrocket. No one can stop it now," said Paper Flower Scholar, folding origami with nimble fingers as he spoke.
"Great Yi is a Destiny Dynasty—blessed by Heaven. I heard that even soldiers gain a massive boost to their cultivation speed, sometimes doubling. If we could get a share of that, our progress would soar," added Gourmet Immortal.
"The King of Great Yi is truly a remarkable man. His ambition rivals even Xiongba's. The dynasty he built didn't come easy. He's a deep, formidable figure. I heard the Hall of Loyal Talents is still recruiting. And the Tower of Heaven's Path is accepting protectors. Once accepted, you gain the blessing of fate. Maybe we should join? After all, this is the first Destiny Dynasty of the Human Race," said Dog King, petting a large golden dog beside him—clearly a beast of rare lineage.
"The King of Great Yi is admirable. But we're assassins—would we even be accepted?" asked Tong Huang, her voice carrying that eerie, comforting childlike tone—soothing, disarming, and oddly enchanting.
She cultivated the True Canon of Child's Heart (童心真经)—a technique that sustained the purity and boundlessness of a child's mind, giving rise to infinite transformations.