Chapter 53: A Bloody Struggle

Ye Wenbin’s eyes lit up with excitement. He sprang up from his large chair, reaching out to grab the fangs. But Liu Zijun curled her fingers, sprang into a graceful backflip, and dodged his outstretched claws with ease.

Ye Wenbin’s lips curled into a cold, sinister smile. “Heh heh, impressive—some skills you’ve got there!”

Liu Zijun remained composed. “The usual rules—let’s inspect each other’s goods.”

Ye Wenbin gestured politely, signaling the black-clad men guarding the black case to step back.

Liu Zijun stepped forward, took a blue vial from the black case, and shook it hard. Instantly, the blue liquid inside solidified, turning into grains like sand that slid down the glass walls.

She nodded. “The goods are fine.”

Ye Wenbin licked his lips, eyes glued to Liu Zijun’s pert figure, and leered. “Heh heh, of course they are. Our Ye Group and your Nirvana Phoenix have done so many deals—why would we ever try to cheat you?”

Liu Zijun said nothing. She snapped the black case shut, placed the Vampire’s Fangs atop a gasoline drum, picked up the case, and turned to leave.

Clang, clang, clang!

The factory’s iron doors slowly dropped, blocking her exit.

Liu Zijun’s face changed dramatically, her voice trembling. “Young Master Ye! What is the meaning of this?”

“Hahaha!” Ye Wenbin sank back into his chair, crossed his legs, and spoke with utter ease. “No need to rush, little lady. The transaction is done, your mission’s complete—why not stay a while and chat? Let’s deepen our relationship. That pretty face, that petite yet curvy body of yours—it makes my mouth water!”

“Ye Wenbin! Don’t push your luck! Do you really want war with Nirvana Phoenix?”

“Haha, relax, I’m only joking. Just showing a little concern for my business partners. I heard your Nirvana Phoenix has swallowed up quite a few small organizations, recruiting new members, set up base in Jinsha Village on Star City’s outskirts, even bought off the local officials and are sourcing supplies from there—is that true?”

Liu Zijun’s face grew darker. “You’ve been investigating us!”

Ye Wenbin savored her look of shock, bursting into laughter. “Haha, such harsh words! Investigating? No, no, just looking after my partners. If I’m not mistaken, you’re that so-called Evolution Guild under the Wisdom Corps, aren’t you? Tsk tsk, such nerve! The Shadow Corps are attacking every guild they find, leaving mountains of corpses, and yet you dare to build a guild!”

Chen Mo listened, holding his breath, afraid to miss a single word. The amount of information was staggering. He’d only ever heard about such things on TV—never dreamed he’d witness them in person: the Wisdom Corps, guilds! Tsk! Just like in the ancient days—one must never let ordinary people wield power, or the consequences would be unimaginable.

Liu Zijun was on full alert, her voice sharpened to a blade. “So? Ye Wenbin, what exactly do you want?”

Ye Wenbin licked his lips and pointed at her black case. “Leave the case. You can go. I’ll pretend I never saw you.”

“You’re threatening me!” Instantly, Liu Zijun transformed—donning a full suit of refined steel armor: breastplate, longsword, battle boots, all gleaming with a dazzling white light.

Most striking of all, her face was now concealed behind a black veil. With her slender, slight frame, she looked every bit the assassin.

Ye Wenbin exaggerated his response. “Oh my, she’s transformed! How terrifying—so frightening!”

Shing! Shing! Shing!

The twenty black-suited bodyguards behind Ye Wenbin drew black pistols and aimed them at Liu Zijun.

“Heh, pretty girl, care to bet whose is faster—your sword or my bullets?”

Liu Zijun raised her sword with one hand, pointing it at Ye Wenbin. “Try me. Let’s see if your head hits the ground before a bullet finds me.”

Ye Wenbin was startled by the decisiveness and confidence in her eyes. He quickly hid behind his bodyguards. “Refuse to drink the toast, you’ll get the penalty! Kill her!”

Click-click!

The twenty bodyguards moved with lethal precision, chambering rounds in unison and pulling the triggers almost simultaneously.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The factory’s battered steel beams shuddered at the deafening gunfire, as twenty bullets sped toward Liu Zijun.

No human could ever outpace a bullet.

Even an ordinary handgun fires at four hundred meters per second—faster than sound.

But Liu Zijun was no ordinary human. She didn’t dodge, because she knew she could never outspeed bullets. Instead, before the guns fired, she twisted her wrist, spinning her steel longsword in a rapid circle, forming a ring of blinding white light.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Every bullet was caught by the spinning light.

The bodyguards stared in disbelief, frantically pulling their triggers.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang-bang-bang!

The shots rang out wildly, like firecrackers during the New Year—chaotic and furious.

But no matter the angle, every bullet was blocked by the spinning sword light.

Invincible.

Chen Mo was dumbfounded. According to his analysis, Liu Zijun only had two skills—none for defense. What was this sword ring? Had she developed this sword move on her own?

Back at school, grandmasters from the Emei Sect had taught Emei sword techniques. Chen Mo had attended one class—it was dull, all showy moves with no practical use. He’d never attended another weapon course since, sticking to Jeet Kune Do.

But this girl—this was no skill, but a true sword technique. Unbelievable! Incredible! Instructor Moon Fox was right: never rely on skills alone. The person is the greatest asset of all.

When the magazines were emptied, Liu Zijun stood unharmed.

Her killing intent was palpable. “I told you, your heads would hit the ground first.”

Whoosh—

Suddenly, Liu Zijun darted forward, a whirlwind of sword light dancing among the black-suited bodyguards.

Slash, slash, slash, slash!

Heads fell one after another.

The bodyguards, terrified beyond reason, turned to flee.

Slash—a sword through the heart!

Liu Zijun moved like an assassin—swift, ruthless, every strike fatal, not a single wasted motion.

Thud, thud, thud!

Heads rolled, blood spattered across the ground.

In less than ten seconds, all twenty bodyguards lay dead, their bodies strewn about in a gruesome tableau.

Drip, drip.

Blood fell from the steel sword to the floor. Liu Zijun raised her blade, pointing it at Ye Wenbin, her voice devoid of emotion. “Any last words?”