Chapter 29: A Brief Clash

If their target was Zhao Ying, Lin Fan was confident he could save her at the very first moment. If it was him they were after, all the better—this would spare him a lot of trouble. After all, if he had to rescue Zhao Ying, he’d inevitably end up killing someone right in front of her.

For someone who’d spent years dancing on the edge of death, Lin Fan possessed an acute intuition, especially when it came to sensing danger—by now, it had become almost instinctual. Every nerve in his body would tense at the first sign of a threat, which was how he’d earned his notorious nickname: the Reaper. The previous captain of Dragon Soul, Han Feng, had once remarked that Lin Fan was ill-suited to life in the military, serving his country; he was born to be a mercenary, destined to become a king among soldiers on the battlefield.

Lin Fan didn’t return, but instead walked slowly toward a more deserted area. He figured Zhao Ying, unable to find him, might simply go back, and he could always explain things to her later. For now, dealing with the people tailing him was his top priority. It was already past ten at night, and Lin Fan quickened his pace, swiftly arriving at a place where few people passed.

He stopped, turned his head slowly, and said, “Come out, all of you. Hiding in the shadows—what kind of hero does that make you?”

“It’s said the leader of Dragon Soul has a unique sense for death, which is why he’s called the Reaper. Seeing you today, the stories ring true,” came a voice as three figures, faces veiled and clad in black, stepped out from the shadows.

“Who are you?” Lin Fan frowned slightly. Over the years, thanks to Dragon Soul’s influence, they’d gathered intelligence on nearly every organization worldwide. Yet, at a glance, he couldn’t place these three at all—perhaps they belonged to some secretive organization? That made their motives all the more suspect. He’d only just arrived in China, and already his whereabouts had been exposed.

“Do you really think I’d tell you? Hand over the Millennium Blood Jade and the Violet Sword, Reaper, and we can each go our own way. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee you’ll leave here alive,” the leader said, his voice brimming with confidence, as if Lin Fan’s life were already in his hands.

“Sorry, there are plenty of people who want me dead, but I always come out alive in the end. I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed,” Lin Fan replied. He strongly suspected this organization was connected to his parents’ deaths. Though he couldn’t be certain the Violet Sword was the family heirloom, he couldn’t take that risk. And as for the Blood Jade, a single misstep could put Feifei in danger. At that thought, a murderous glint flashed in Lin Fan’s eyes.

“Enough talk. Hand over the Violet Sword and Blood Jade, or you won’t leave here alive,” one of the women among them snapped, her tone full of arrogance. This was the first time Lin Fan had been so underestimated, which only suggested that either this organization was truly powerful, or they were bluffing. Either way, Lin Fan resolved not to let them leave alive—that was the price for underestimating him.

“Little sister, don’t tell me you want big brother to stay and ‘keep you company.’ I know I’m handsome and good in ‘certain ways,’ but I’m worried you couldn’t handle it—you’d be begging for mercy before long,” Lin Fan said with a wicked grin, his eyes roving over her chest. Though she wore a veil, her figure was impressive; her face was probably just as attractive.

“Hmph, apparently the Dragon Soul’s leader isn’t just good at fighting—he’s got quite the mouth as well,” the leader said, clearly surprised by Lin Fan’s words.

“Heh, I told you—fighting, words, and even in bed, I excel at them all. I guarantee I’d send you straight to heaven and back. Want to try? But before that, you’d better take a bath; I can smell your musk from all the way over here,” Lin Fan continued, ignoring the leader and taunting the woman, holding his nose for effect.

“Courting death!” the woman spat, lunging at him. His words had clearly enraged her. Whatever else she was, she was still a woman; even the boldest and most wanton of women prefer to be called pure—at least outside the bedroom, where being called ‘wild’ only excites them more.

A cold smile flickered across Lin Fan’s lips. She’d taken the bait. He had no interest in actually following through with his crude flirtation; even if she offered herself freely, he wouldn’t touch her. The whole point was to provoke her into attacking first, so he wouldn’t have to reveal too much about his own abilities before figuring out who they were.

She struck straight for his groin, which genuinely surprised Lin Fan. If that kick landed, he’d be ruined if not dead. Since when were female assassins so sensitive to teasing? Shaking his head, Lin Fan’s hand shot out like a claw. At the very instant they were about to clash, Lin Fan twisted his body in an incredible arc to evade her kick, then seized her shoulder with a swift grappling move. The feel was surprisingly pleasant, but Lin Fan had no intention of taking advantage. He immediately followed up with a brutal shoulder strike and then a sharp kick to her chest, sending her flying sideways—blood spraying onto her veil before she even hit the ground.

The grappling techniques of the Yanqing Fist were all about speed, precision, and lethal force. Lin Fan’s moves were nearly fatal, and as the woman fell, a flash of silver streaked through the air—a needle, silent and swift, buried itself in her brow. In her final moments, disbelief filled her eyes. She’d thought that, even if she lost to Lin Fan, it wouldn’t happen so quickly. But she hadn’t expected his close-quarter explosiveness or his elusive footwork. Nor had she anticipated the hidden weapon...

“So the Reaper resorts to such base tricks as well—using hidden weapons to save his own skin,” the leader sneered, for in their world, attacking with hidden weapons was a shameful act. All present had seen the flash of silver. The organization hadn’t warned them that the Reaper, Lin Fan, was skilled in concealed weapons. Though it surprised them, the leader still believed they stood a strong chance of killing Lin Fan—after all, a sniper was hidden in wait.

Lin Fan only chuckled, saying nothing. As if he could explain that the hidden weapon hadn’t come from him—who would believe it? When he saw the needle, he’d muttered inwardly, “Damn, those guys got here fast.”

“Who’s there?” the other man suddenly shouted, glancing sideways before dragging someone out of the darkness.