Executing Crossbones

Nalan Qing had clearly put a lot of effort into his staff techniques. Unlike Li Congxin, who just grabbed a weighted vest and swung wildly, his moves were exceptionally well-organized, embodying the essence of speed, precision, and ferocity from the very first strike.

Crossbones hadn't expected the unexpected challenger who appeared out of nowhere to be so formidable. In his haste, he had no time to dodge and could only swing his saber to block.

However, the power that could be unleashed by a large staff was hardly comparable to a short saber!

With a crisp "clang!", the short saber in Crossbones' hand was directly knocked away by Nalan Qing's staff. It hit the wall of a nearby building, then ricocheted back and fell, landing in a corner behind a trash can.

Seeing this, Li Congxin's eyes immediately lit up.

He hadn't expected Nalan Qing to have such a potent staff technique in addition to his Tan Tui.

Coach is amazing!

At this rate, if the two of them teamed up, they might actually be able to kill Crossbones here?

The bloodthirsty thought that had just surfaced in his mind was immediately replaced by an intense sense of crisis.

Seeing Crossbones' short saber fly from his grasp, Li Congxin, as Crossbones rapidly retreated to avoid Nalan Qing's pursuit and simultaneously reached towards his own lower back with his right hand, suddenly realized what was happening. Li Congxin's body instinctively dodged to the side, and he shouted a warning to Nalan Qing: "Brother Ah Qing, be careful!"

However, his warning came a step too late. Crossbones' right hand emerged from his lower back, and when he brought it forward again, a handgun was already in his hand!

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" With a gun in hand, Crossbones unhesitatingly fired four shots at Li Congxin and Nalan Qing. Three bullets were aimed at Li Congxin, while the other was fired at Nalan Qing, who was in pursuit with his staff.

Li Congxin, relying on the combat awareness enhanced by the "A Man Should Better Himself" BGM, foresaw the danger in advance. Coupled with his relatively greater distance, he narrowly avoided Crossbones' three consecutive shots.

Nalan Qing, without the BGM's enhancement, reacted a beat slower. When he saw Crossbones pull out the gun, he only then remembered to dodge, but he only managed to avoid vital areas, resulting in him being shot in the ribs by Crossbones.

Blood splattered everywhere!

"Brother Ah Qing!" Seeing Crossbones raise his gun to finish him off, Li Congxin lunged forward and grabbed Nalan Qing's waist. With a roll, he directly pulled Nalan Qing behind a trash can by the corner of a wall, and then anxiously asked, "Brother Ah Qing, how are you?"

Nalan Qing's face was already pale with pain, but he still shook his head, indicating he was fine.

"Heh heh!" Just then, Crossbones' voice rang out again: "I didn't expect you kid to have a helper, but it's just one more person to die."

As he spoke, Crossbones, holding his handgun, slowly approached the trash can.

As a top-tier mercenary, a master assassin, and a key operative of Hydra, Crossbones was unlike those villains who got carried away after gaining a slight advantage!

His mental fortitude was exceptionally strong. He knew that the closer victory seemed, the less he could afford to be careless. He also understood how to maximize his current advantages and turn them into a decisive victory!

His seemingly casual steps at this moment, under the delicate circumstances, could create immense psychological pressure on the opponent. If the opponent succumbed to this psychological pressure and felt fear, they would truly have no chance of turning the tables.

Each step Crossbones took was neither light nor heavy, but incredibly rhythmic, as if the very notes of death were being played out under his feet.

Then, it was drowned out by the stirring music of "A Man Should Better Himself."

Keeping as much distance as possible between himself and the trash can along the opposite wall of the alley, Crossbones was only two steps away from seeing Li Congxin and Nalan Qing hiding behind the trash can when he suddenly accelerated, instantly breaking his previous rhythm. The dark muzzle of his gun pointed at the only spot behind the trash can where someone could hide.

Suddenly, a dark object shot out from where they were hiding, as if it had anticipated his landing spot, and flew directly towards his face.

Immediately after, Li Congxin's figure leaped out from behind the trash can and lunged directly towards Crossbones.

If it were someone with weaker mental fortitude, they would have unleashed a barrage of gunfire in such a situation. However, Crossbones was no ordinary opponent. He calmly sidestepped, avoiding the incoming sandbag, and simultaneously aimed his gun at Li Congxin's chest as he lunged forward, pulling the trigger.

Almost at the same moment Crossbones' finger pulled the trigger, Li Congxin abruptly raised his left hand. His left arm was already re-bound with a specially made weight.

It turned out that Li Congxin had prepared to fight desperately, re-tying the weight to his left arm and using it as body armor, willing to take a shot to close the distance.

"Bang!"

The bullet spun out of the muzzle and, as expected, hit Li Congxin's weighted arm.

Li Congxin's weight was not a real bulletproof vest. Although the iron sand inside could provide some cushioning effect against the bullet, the effect was ultimately very limited.

Iron sand scattered, and blood flowed!

Li Congxin's weight ultimately couldn't stop Crossbones' handgun. After penetrating the weight, the bullet directly pierced his flesh.

Before Crossbones could fire a second shot, Li Congxin swung his arm, directly knocking aside Crossbones' gun-holding left hand. His entire body then slammed into the opponent, causing Crossbones to lose his balance, his hand hitting the wall behind him.

At the same time, Crossbones suddenly felt a chill in his lower abdomen, followed by a piercing pain.

Looking down, a short saber was deeply embedded in his abdomen!

From the hilt held by Li Congxin, it was clear that this was the short saber that had been knocked out of his hand by Nalan Qing earlier.

Received +999 Impression Points from Brock Rumlow!

"Damn it!"

With a roar, Crossbones landed a heavy punch on Li Congxin's jaw, sending him flying backward.

Li Congxin, however, kicked out with his leg, hitting the wrist of Crossbones' gun-holding right hand. In pain, Crossbones lost his grip, and the handgun flew out of his hand, tracing a beautiful parabola through the air before Li Congxin, whose leg skills were superior, snatched it first.

At this moment, Li Congxin seemed possessed by a god of guns. He gripped the gun, turned, and stylishly pointed the muzzle at Crossbones.

Facing Li Congxin's gun, Crossbones remained unfazed. He lightly raised his right hand and waved it at Li Congxin, holding something in his hand – the magazine of the handgun.

Li Congxin was stunned by this. His triumphant expression vanished from his face.

The next moment...

"Bang!"

Li Congxin directly pulled the trigger, and a bullet shot out, hitting Crossbones directly in the heart!

Received +999 Impression Points from Brock Rumlow!

"Tch! Just because I haven't eaten pork, does that mean I don't know what it tastes like?"

"Do you really think I don't know that even if you remove the magazine from a loaded handgun, there's still a bullet in the chamber!?"

Received +1000 Impression Points from Brock Rumlow!

Crossbones, died!