Ye Tian sat in the private chamber of Night Hall headquarters. Lanterns flickered, casting gentle shadows on the walls. On the table lay ledgers, reports, and maps — trade routes, merchant houses, and key cities meticulously plotted. Night Hall had begun as an escort and information service, but its true purpose was far greater.
"Control trade, gather intelligence, and eliminate threats… and the continent bends quietly under our hand," Ye Tian murmured.
Mu Qingyao leaned against the table, fingers brushing over the ledgers. "Night Hall is growing faster than we expected. Merchants are coming for protection, nobles for information… and assassinations?"
Ye Tian nodded. "Assassination is the Hall's main initiative. High-ranking officials, rival clan leaders, corrupt magistrates… anyone can request it, but only those deemed necessary by Nightshade Hall receive it. Every assignment is logged, executed by disciples, and remains untraceable."
Lan Yuhua's eyes glimmered. "So people pay to remove obstacles while thinking it's luck or coincidence?"
"Exactly," Ye Tian replied calmly. "We are the unseen hand. Night Hall is the public face; Nightshade Hall is the shadow behind it. Only the most cunning, ruthless, and observant survive in this game."
---
Reports began arriving in waves:
A minor prince requested the elimination of a rival noble to consolidate influence in the southern provinces.
A wealthy merchant wished to remove competitors obstructing trade routes.
Even a faction of the Mo Clan quietly sought Nightshade Hall's services to eliminate rebellious vassals, unaware of Ye Tian's deeper involvement in Mo Clan politics.
"Patriarch," a disciple whispered, bowing low, "the requests have increased tenfold in the past week. All missions are high-risk. Nightshade Hall cannot refuse."
Ye Tian's dark eyes glinted. "Good. Let them test us. Every blade that falls will spread our reputation further. Fear is a tool, and we wield it silently."
Mu Qingyao smiled faintly. "Dear… it's incredible how everything moves without you ever appearing in person."
"Control is the key," Ye Tian replied. "Precision, observation, and understanding human nature. Fear, loyalty, ambition… all tools. Assassination is only a demonstration of our reach when subtlety is not enough."
---
Then came troubling news: whispers intercepted in key family estates revealed that the masterminds of the Tian, Huo, and Shen families had discovered the truth. They now knew that Ye Tian, not the Hall's public face, was the real master of Nightshade Hall.
"They've begun to notice," Ye Tian murmured, calm but calculating. "If they mobilize openly, it could destabilize everything. We cannot allow it."
Mu Qingyao frowned. "Do you plan to strike preemptively?"
"Not overtly," he replied. "We manipulate fear, uncertainty, and rivalry. Trade routes collapse, alliances fracture, and key figures are quietly removed. Let the families destroy themselves while Nightshade Hall continues to expand."
Lan Yuhua's eyes shone. "So assassination where necessary, manipulation otherwise. Everything unseen."
"Yes. And the Hall operates beyond sight. Secretaries in every major family, disciples hiding in shadows… they report everything, act where needed, and eliminate threats silently. The continent will bend without realizing who holds the strings," Ye Tian said.
---
Over the following days:
The Tian family lost trade routes to rival merchants through subtle sabotage.
The Huo family found their top-secret messages leaked, causing panic and distrust.
The Shen family's heir mysteriously fell ill during a public event.
Meanwhile, high-profile assassination requests were executed flawlessly:
A corrupt magistrate in the western provinces disappeared overnight.
A rebellious vassal of the Mo Clan was eliminated in his sleep.
Rivals of minor princes vanished under mysterious circumstances, their deaths blamed on accidents.
Disciples moved invisibly through cities, alleys, and noble estates, leaving no trace but fear. Ye Tian reviewed reports, noting the effect: the Hall's influence spread while his enemies weakened themselves.
Mu Qingyao whispered, smiling, "Dear… you truly are untouchable. And these missions… people will fear Nightshade Hall even without knowing it's you."
Ye Tian glanced at her, lips twitching. "Fear is only one tool. Respect, loyalty, and love for those who matter… these are what I protect. The rest… they exist only to teach lessons."
Lan Yuhua leaned against him, teasing softly. "And love?"
Ye Tian's eyes softened slightly. "Love… is a different kind of strength. Family, wives, disciples — they are untouchable. Everyone else learns the cost of underestimating us."
By night's end, Night Hall offices were fully operational, Nightshade Hall's assassination network was expanding, and Ye Tian's control over key merchant families deepened. The masterminds' knowledge of his identity was countered with subtle manipulation and targeted eliminations, ensuring the Hall's influence grew while his enemies weakened themselves.
> [System Status]
Night Hall Reputation: 1,950
Nightshade Hall Influence: 18 families under partial control
Disciples Active: 140
High-Level Assassination Requests Completed: 12
Ye Tian leaned back, his dark eyes glinting. "The continent bends quietly, and by the time anyone realizes it… it will already be mine."