Chapter 128: The Unknown Game

"Yes!" Li Nanxing replied, walking slowly forward. His eyes burned with a deep, intense hatred that felt like hellfire, chilling anyone who dared to meet his gaze.

Scorpion lay on the ground, his body twitching incessantly. Although Lin Fan had shattered his wrists, it was not enough to kill him—not yet.

There is no such thing as a free lunch. When confronted with profit, many lose their heads, unable to think calmly or analyze the pros and cons. Scorpion was undoubtedly such a man; the moment he challenged the authority of Dragon Soul, his fate was sealed: he was destined to rot in this desolate wilderness.

Scorpion’s death was gruesome. Not a single bone in his body remained intact; Li Nanxing had pulverized them all. The harrowing screams that echoed through the valley were those of a man being tortured to death. Scorpion should have been grateful that Li Nanxing hadn’t brought his poisons; otherwise, his end would have been a hundred times more agonizing.

Lin Fan did not know much about Li Nanxing’s family background, only that during the transition from the Ming to the Qing Dynasty, there had been an organization called the Heavenly Demon Sect, whose members were masters of poison. The sect leader was a woman named Li Shengnan. Later, her nephew took over, and Li Nanxing was a descendant of this line. As time passed, the sect had long since withered away, but Li Nanxing’s father had strictly adhered to the ancestral teachings, refusing to let the family’s toxic arts vanish. From a young age, he had taught Li Nanxing how to use and ingest poisons.

The name "Li Nanxing" was that of the second sect leader, Li Shengnan’s nephew. His father had named him this in the hope that he would always remember the ancestral code and carry on the legacy of the Li family’s toxic arts.

After his parents passed away, Li Nanxing was brought into Dragon Soul by Han Feng. He lived up to his parents’ expectations, becoming the only poison expert among all the members of Dragon Soul at a young age. His specialty was making his targets pray for a death they could not find.

Of course, within Dragon Soul, he also served as the medic. He could kill, but he could also save. Poison itself is neither good nor evil; it all depends on how it is used and who is wielding it.

In ancient times, masters of poison were often the greatest healers, for only by understanding the nature and pharmacology of toxins could one fully master their application. During the Purgatory Angel’s previous attack on Dragon Soul, despite the surprise nature of the assault, Li Nanxing had managed to concoct an antidote just in time to neutralize most of the poison’s effects. Coupled with Ren Qianxing leading the others to stall for time, the Dragon Soul members managed to survive that critical period. Had it not been for that, Lin Fan might have died in that battle.

Thinking of those days made Lin Fan’s heart ache. After all, the one who had poisoned him back then was Ling Xue—his first woman. Sometimes, Lin Fan questioned if her feelings for him had ever been real, or if she had simply been playing a part to earn his trust. In his view, a top-tier assassin could not afford to have emotions; attachment was the greatest taboo in the underworld. In the world of assassins, there was only the organization’s command and ruthless slaughter.

If he were to face Ling Xue again, Lin Fan did not know if he would kill her or... perhaps she was truly dead.

Seeing that Li Nanxing had finished, Lin Fan glanced at the hundred or so bodies scattered across the ground and said coolly, "Let’s go."

After the group set fires throughout the camp, they left the now-obliterated base of Scorpion’s gang. The battle had been swift, lasting little more than an hour.

...

"They’re long gone. What’s left to look at? Can’t bear to let go?" The man in black who had just traded blows with Lin Fan reached out and pinched Ling Xue’s chin, sneering.

Ling Xue was forced to look up at her brother. A flicker of terror crossed her eyes before she quickly turned her head away; in her eyes, that expression no longer belonged to a human, but to a wild beast.

"Little sister, in a while, I’ll have a mission for you. I think you’ll be quite willing to carry it out. As long as you follow my plan, I guarantee there won't be a single mistake. Don't let your big brother down." The man in black pulled her into his arms, a wicked smile playing on his lips.

Ling Xue trembled violently, as if her brother were a demon.

The man in black rested a hand gently on her neck, murmuring, "This time, you must succeed. Failure is not an option. By the way, I forgot to tell you—Death is now in China, and he has a girlfriend. If I’m not mistaken, their relationship has likely progressed further. So, you should know how to handle this man." The man in black had removed his mask, revealing a face more handsome than a woman’s, now filled with excitement and mischief, as if he were orchestrating a delightful game.

...

After descending the mountain and stashing their weapons in a secure location, the group drove back toward their hotel. Li Nanxing didn't ask why Ren Qianxing had suddenly appeared in the Golden Triangle; after being brothers for so many years, they shared an unspoken understanding.

As for Xu Qiang, Li Nanxing had long since learned through Tan Zhiyong that Lin Fan had reunited with his former brother from the Falcon unit while in China. Because of Lin Fan, Xu Qiang had integrated perfectly into the Dragon Soul family.

In a man’s world, there are some you might know for ten years—or even a lifetime—without ever becoming true brothers, remaining nothing more than acquaintances. But there are others you meet, and you are destined to be life-and-death brothers from the start. That is the wondrous, inexplicable bond between men.

Time drifted by, and the light finally overcame the darkness to return to the world. The rising sun was brilliant and crimson, bringing with it a new day—a new beginning.

"Boss, look at all this drugs. If we sell this to other countries, we’ll be rich," Zhang Lei said to Lin Fan in the hotel, holding several bags they had brought from Scorpion’s camp. He knew full well the market value of these narcotics.

Lin Fan nodded slightly but said nothing. He truly hadn't expected the Purgatory Angel to be behind this, and while things had proceeded smoothly, he remained deeply worried about the "game" the man in black had mentioned.

This trip to the Golden Triangle had been fruitful. Not only had he successfully rescued Li Nanxing, but he had also formed an alliance with Jin Zhengyang. With this, Dragon Soul would rapidly move into the narcotics market, allowing them to both cripple the Japanese people and secure massive financial gains—a win-win situation.

After resting for a day, Lin Fan gathered everyone in his room once more.