Taking a side job

Two days earlier, Lin Shuguang had gotten the contact details of someone called Coach Huang from Feng San.

That night, Coach Huang had only told him to wait for news, then gone silent.

Just as Lin Shuguang thought the whole thing had fallen through, he received a text from Coach Huang early that morning.

"Eight o'clock. Meet at the tunnel entrance. Bring your own weapon. We won't wait if you're late! Your identification code: 9896."

Lin Shuguang checked the time. There was still half an hour. He could make it.

He hurriedly stuffed an egg into his mouth.

He had snatched it straight from Lin Xiaoxi's hand, then turned and ran to the door to change his shoes.

Furious, Lin Xiaoxi charged at him with her chopsticks, but she couldn't get near him despite trying for ages. She shouted angrily, "Dad, Lin Shuguang stole my egg! Beat him up for me!!!"

Lin Haiyang looked up, smiled, and went back to his newspaper.

Ignoring his sister's glare, Lin Shuguang called into the apartment, "I won't be back for lunch. I'm going to a classmate's place. I'll be home tonight!"

Mother Lin poked her head out of the kitchen. "What time will you be back?"

Lin Shuguang made up an excuse offhandedly. "Not sure. There's been a lot of homework lately."

"Then stay safe on the way."

Before Mother Lin finished speaking, Lin Shuguang reached out and ruffled his sister's hair, then swiftly shut the door amid the little girl's shrieks.

Seeing that Lin Shuguang had turned her bangs into a bird's nest, Lin Xiaoxi's eyes blazed with fury.

"Lin Shuguang, if you don't bring fried chicken home tonight, you and I are sworn enemies!!!"

At the tunnel entrance.

By the time Lin Shuguang arrived, quite a few bodyguards in black suits were already there. They had sealed off the entire tunnel entrance, a necessary route off the expressway.

"Such a big operation?"

Even now, Lin Shuguang had no idea who exactly he was supposed to protect.

The more things went on like this, the more mysterious he found the person's identity.

He just didn't know who it could be.

"Identification code!" A man in black stopped Lin Shuguang.

"9896."

The man entered it into a device, which displayed Lin Shuguang's information. Once verification succeeded, the men in black on either side immediately let him through.

"Go find Coach Huang in the back. He'll give you your specific assignment."

Lin Shuguang nodded and soon found Coach Huang.

He was in his forties, tall and sturdily built, with a crew cut. Both his speech and his actions were crisp and efficient.

"Lin Shuguang?" Coach Huang gave him a quick once-over, checked something off in his booklet, then called to one side, "Wei Sheng, take this man! Your team's complete. Twenty minutes to get ready!"

Wei Sheng looked at Lin Shuguang and frowned slightly, then withdrew his gaze and turned away. "Follow me," he said coldly.

Lin Shuguang didn't care about his attitude and followed without a word.

Soon, the two entered a large tent.

Seven or eight people were already inside.

At the sight of Lin Shuguang behind Wei Sheng, a fat man immediately cried out theatrically, "Seriously, Captain? With that scrawny build, couldn't you just assign him to logistics? Putting him with us will only drag us down!"

Wei Sheng glanced at him expressionlessly. "Coach Huang's orders. Take it up with him if you don't like it."

The fat man immediately shrank back, though he shot Lin Shuguang an unreadable glance.

"Now that everyone's here, I'll explain our assignment." Wei Sheng wasted no words, handing out the documents he held. "This time, we're responsible for the target's security. Nobody leaves his side. Here's the target's information. You have one minute to read it, then destroy it immediately."

Lin Shuguang received the target's information too.

--

Target: Li Yihai;

Identity: physician;

[A photograph attached]

--

The information was simple, but Lin Shuguang found it baffling.

Was such a massive operation necessary for a mere physician?

The fat man who had complained about Lin Shuguang couldn't wait to ask, "So after all this, we're just protecting some little old man? Is this really necessary?"

Wei Sheng gave him a cold look. "Don't ask questions you shouldn't."

The fat man shrugged. "Fine. I know the rules."

A man off to one side, toying with a dagger, spoke in a sinister tone. "I heard something's happened to Master Jin of Huai City. Think about it-our employer's surname is Jin, isn't it?"

Everyone caught on at once.

If something had happened to Master Jin, Huai City's power structure was bound to undergo a major reshuffling.

For the forces hostile to Master Jin, this would undoubtedly be a perfect opportunity.

The fat man suddenly frowned again and asked, "If this Li Yihai is so important to Master Jin, shouldn't the Jin Family hire a Martial Artist? Wouldn't that be more reliable?"

The man with the dagger snickered. "Hire a Martial Artist? Do you have any idea how much that costs?"

Someone else nodded. "Good point. The other side might not be able to get a Martial Artist either. It wouldn't be worth it."

But Wei Sheng suddenly spoke up. "Who said there aren't any Martial Artists?"

There really are Martial Artists?!

Everyone was jolted.

Even Lin Shuguang looked over.

In other words, non-Martial Artists like them were merely the visible security force, while fierce clashes between Martial Artists would take place behind the scenes.

Now this is getting exciting!

Both the fat man and the man with the dagger looked unsettled, seemingly considering backing out.

Wei Sheng swept his gaze over everyone. Only Lin Shuguang's expression remained unchanged, but Wei Sheng didn't let his gaze linger on him because of it.

"The fighting between Martial Artists won't spill over to us. Don't forget, the Special Management Bureau is watching closely from the sidelines. Nobody dares break their rules in Huai City."

Only after hearing this did everyone relax a little.

Lin Shuguang frowned slightly.

The Special Management Bureau again.

Just how much power does it wield?

Someone nearby also tried to ease the tension. "Think of Master Jin's reputation. Who'd be stupid enough to make trouble for him? Maybe we won't have to do a thing this time, and we'll finish the job without any effort."

"Let's hope so."

As they spoke, the phone at Wei Sheng's waist suddenly rang.

Three seconds later.

Wei Sheng put away his phone. "He'll be here any moment. Everyone, get ready! Prepare to move out!"

"Understood!"

Everyone's expression grew solemn.

Inside a private club somewhere in Huai City.

Incense smoke drifted through a dim room. A little light filtered through the screened window, and a cold, murderous air filled the room.

A figure sat cross-legged before an incense burner.

A middle-aged man stood respectfully at the door and said softly, "Young master, the person the Jin Family hired has appeared."

After a long while, the person sitting cross-legged slowly brought his practice to a close. His voice brooked no argument. "He must die. Understood?"

The middle-aged man hurriedly bowed his head. "Understood. They say this physician, Li Yihai, has a way to treat Heart-Eating Gu. As long as we kill him, Master Jin is certain to die!

"To avoid leaving any clues, I specifically selected men prepared to die. They won't leave a single trace."

The young master said casually, "I heard the Jin Family hired outsiders."

The middle-aged man told him everything he knew. "They hired people from the Quicksand Hunting Group."

A scoff came from the young master. "Even Quicksand dares meddle in this? Once this matter is settled, teach them a lesson."

The middle-aged man bowed. "Yes, young master."

The young master suddenly tossed over a black token.

The middle-aged man hurriedly picked it up.

The young master's indifferent voice rang out. "Have Wuming take action. Kill them all."

Hearing that name, the middle-aged man's heart abruptly tightened.

That monster...

After he withdrew, the young master gave a sinister smile. "Starting tonight, Master Jin of Huai City-will cease to exist!"