Chapter 284: Killing Intent Surges

It was unclear how much time had passed before a basin of cold water was splashed over Sparrow’s head, jolting him awake.

His body trembled violently, and his eyes snapped open.

“I’m not dead?”

The first thought to cross Sparrow’s mind was one of fleeting joy.

But the moment he saw the man standing before him, his euphoria was extinguished like a candle in the wind.

The room was an abandoned warehouse, reeking of decay. Cobwebs hung everywhere, and the floor was cluttered with debris and garbage.

In front of Sparrow stood a young man with ordinary features, seemingly around twenty years old. His deep, ocean-like eyes were devoid of emotion, and though his posture was casual, he exuded an unyielding presence as imposing as a mountain.

A look of despair spread across Sparrow’s face.

The searing pain radiating from his limbs told him that his arms and legs had been broken. He was utterly powerless, at the mercy of this man.

Sparrow recognized him. It was the very target they had been tasked with monitoring. And because of that, he knew there was no chance of survival.

In the young man’s eyes, Sparrow saw an indifference to life and death. The kind of detachment possessed only by someone who had emerged from countless bloody battles. Although Sparrow himself had killed many and carried a palpable aura of menace, compared to this young man, he was as insignificant as a firefly before the full moon.

This young man was none other than Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao looked at the ashen-faced Sparrow and spoke calmly.

“If you tell me everything I want to know, I’ll grant you a dignified death. Otherwise, you should understand there are countless ways to make life worse than death.”

“Heh…”

Sparrow let out a bitter laugh, devoid of resistance. Lin Xiao’s earlier display of skill left him completely hopeless.

“What about my companions who were monitoring the school?”

“They’re dead. But rest assured, their deaths were painless, just like yours will be.”

Lin Xiao’s tone was so steady and detached it was as if he were describing something as trivial as squashing ants.

“Well, at least I won’t be lonely on the road to the underworld. I’ll have my brothers for company.”

A veteran of countless battles, Sparrow knew better than anyone how easy it was to make someone’s life unbearable. He had done it before. And he was certain this ruthless man in front of him could do the same.

All he desired now was a quick end.

Closing his eyes, he said, “Ask your questions. I’ll tell you everything I know. Just keep your promise and make it quick.”

***

Ten minutes later.

Lin Xiao snapped Sparrow’s neck with a swift motion, ensuring his death was painless, and left without hesitation.

His heart, however, was filled with astonishment.

Initially, he thought these men were sent by Wan Shixuan. To his surprise, they were from the Hundred Seats Society.

Lin Xiao was no stranger to the name. Though he had never directly crossed paths with the organization, his indirect encounters were numerous.

From being mistaken as a member of the Hundred Seats Society by police officer Su Mengjia when he first arrived in Jinghai City, to killing an underworld boss affiliated with them, and saving Su Mengjia from one of their assassination attempts. His connections to the Hundred Seats Society were undeniable.

Now, they had tried to kidnap Yuan Yu.

Though he didn’t yet understand their motive, Lin Xiao’s killing intent surged.

A dragon has its reverse scale; touch it and you die.

For Lin Xiao, his reverse scale was the people he cherished.

Anyone who dared to harm them, no matter who they were or where they hid, would be hunted down and eradicated, even if it meant pursuing them to the ends of the earth.

Now, the Hundred Seats Society had recklessly set their sights on Yuan Yu, completely igniting Lin Xiao’s fury.

His eyes glinted with a cold, deadly light, and his entire being radiated an overwhelming killing aura, like a predator ready to deliver a fatal strike.

His body flickered, transforming into a blur as he vanished from sight.

***

At the same time, in a remote estate on the outskirts of Jiangbei City.

Black Fury, the leader of a mercenary group, paced back and forth in the living room. He was fully armed. Though he tried to maintain composure, the frustration on his face was impossible to hide.

Seated nearby were Uncle Wang, the Dark Force master who Lin Xiao had defeated, and Fang Haoyan, the leader of the Hundred Seats Society. Both men seemed calm, their eyes downcast, seemingly unaffected by Black Fury’s agitation.

In terms of composure, Uncle Wang and Fang Haoyan, both seasoned in their respective fields, were far superior to Black Fury.

“Why haven’t we heard anything yet?” Black Fury suddenly stopped, his face darkening as he turned to Fang Haoyan. “What’s going on with your men? Why no updates?”

Fang Haoyan lifted his gaze, briefly flashing a sharp glint in his eyes.

“I’ve already sent my best men. Kidnapping a little girl is a simple job. What could possibly go wrong?”

“I don’t know, but I have a bad feeling about this,” Black Fury muttered, his fingers absently stroking the pistol at his waist. “You’d better check on them. Something feels off.”

Though visibly annoyed by Black Fury’s persistence, Fang Haoyan didn’t argue. After all, Black Fury was Wan Shixuan’s subordinate. Instead, he called out toward the door, “Come here.”

A lean, sharp-eyed young man quickly entered the room.

“Boss, what’s wrong?”

“When did Sparrow’s team set out? Have we received any updates?” Fang Haoyan asked.

The young man thought for a moment.

“They left before dawn. About an hour ago, they called to say they couldn’t find a chance to act in the morning and planned to wait until the afternoon.”

“Call them again,” Fang Haoyan ordered.

Without hesitation, the young man pulled out his phone and dialed a number. The call rang for a long time but went unanswered. His expression darkened, and he quickly tried two other numbers, only to meet the same result.

Fang Haoyan’s face grew grim, his earlier annoyance replaced by unease. Though he had dismissed Black Fury’s concerns earlier, he now had to admit that something had gone wrong.

“Is there a problem?”

Uncle Wang and Black Fury both tensed, sensing the shift in Fang Haoyan’s demeanor.

“I don’t know.” Fang Haoyan’s voice was low and strained. “None of my men are responding. That never happens.”

Both Uncle Wang and Black Fury were equally shocked, their unease growing by the second.

For Uncle Wang the ominous situation triggered a deep sense of foreboding. His instincts as a master martial artist warned him of a looming danger.

“We need to leave immediately!” Uncle Wang said, rising abruptly. “This place isn’t safe.”

“When did you become so cowardly?” Black Fury sneered, his tone laced with killing intent. “Lin Xiao is just one man. Even if he’s found us, so what? If he dares come here, he’ll save us the trouble of hunting him down. I guarantee he won’t leave alive.”

Before Uncle Wang or Fang Haoyan could respond, a cold, detached voice echoed from above.

“Oh? Is that so?”

Everyone froze. The mercenaries and Fang Haoyan’s subordinates instinctively raised their weapons, aiming toward the source of the voice.

“Who’s there?” Black Fury bellowed, drawing his pistol and firing two shots into the air.

A figure descended from the roof like an eagle, landing gracefully.