Dark Confrontation

"Wuaa—"

His throat had been clutched until he suffocated, and then he had been kicked in the abdomen. The moment Le Yu got back to his feet, he felt his stomach churning and vomited up even the acid in it.

Fortunately, the pain suppression from his "Low Health Constitution" was remarkably effective. Le Yu not only felt no pain, he even found the dizziness from suffocation and the nausea merely "slightly uncomfortable." Although he couldn't avoid the physical reactions, he could immediately return to a normal combat stance after vomiting.

He turned to glance at Yin Yinyin in the shadows, then looked at the braided girl whose face was pale with pain. He wanted to say something, but held back.

Le Yu didn't possess Yin Yinyin's exquisite technique of altering his voice into a high-pitched mixed tone. The moment he spoke, Kui Zhao would definitely recognize him. That was why, when Kui Zhao had clutched his throat until he suffocated, he hadn't even cursed once—not to mention that he didn't dare use the techniques of Biting Combat Arts. Although he had disguised himself with makeup sorcery, his height and build hadn't changed. The moment he used a combat technique, it would easily remind Kui Zhao of Qian Yuliu.

Kui Zhao stood with his hands behind his back, coldly watching Yin Yinyin and Le Yu without saying a word.

He did not demand that Yin Yinyin release Kui Nianruo.

Nor did he utter any harsh threats.

Yet this version of Kui Zhao made Le Yu feel even more horrified, as though he were being stared at by a vicious wolf.

Sometimes, silent stillness conveyed one's resolve to the other party more readily than words could, because communication itself was the art of compromise, the skill of concession, and the bridge to cooperation. In the many works of entertainment Le Yu had seen, once an enemy was willing to communicate, it meant he would certainly be persuaded, understood, or redeemed afterward. Even his convictions would no longer be firm, and an enemy with wavering convictions could be turned into an ally.

Whatever Kui Zhao said, it meant there was still a possibility that he might continue to concede and compromise. But his current silence made both Yin Yinyin and Le Yu realize clearly: he would no longer accept any threats.

To refuse communication was to refuse to be controlled.

He had already placed his corresponding stake on the scale. Whether the deal succeeded or failed, he would never pay any further price.

"Break those two streetlamps." Yin Yinyin gave the order.

At his words, Kui Zhao took a step forward, crossing from the edge of the streetlamp's illumination into the realm of darkness as blood-colored light took shape around his body. Even so, he kept half his body within the light and made no further move.

"Deputy Director Kui, tonight was merely an accident." Yin Yinyin's voice was light and even a little mischievous, completely unlike his true self. "There was only one name on our assassination list: Dong Heng. Believe me, the last person we wanted to encounter was you. This was supposed to be a simple, pleasant job, but not only were we exposed, we also offended you. We took a terrible loss on this deal."

"We have no intention of making an enemy of you. Once this matter is over, we'll find a way to leave Star Engraving Prefecture. We hope you won't retaliate against us. So you can rest assured that, to avoid provoking your hatred further, I won't do anything to your daughter—when it comes to killing people, we're professionals. I avoided the vital points with both these stabs. If you take her to the Medical Officer Department tonight, she'll be able to get out of bed and walk tomorrow. She won't even be left with scars."

By this time, Le Yu had also found two pebbles and hurled them forcefully at the streetlamps behind Kui Zhao.

When Le Yu threw the pebbles, Kui Zhao had already begun retreating. When the streetlamps shattered, Kui Zhao had already retreated into the illuminated area behind him. Not for a single moment had he allowed himself to be completely swallowed by darkness.

Le Yu knew perfectly well why Kui Zhao had retreated instead of advancing: Kui Zhao understood that in the darkness, he was absolutely no match for the Sword Hider. Whether he wanted to save Kui Nianruo or capture the two assassins, Kui Zhao first had to ensure that he held an overwhelming advantage in combat power. Otherwise, he would only be offering himself up to die.

That said, the fact that Kui Zhao could still make a rational judgment at this moment, without being swayed by emotions such as anger or worry, also made Le Yu recognize the gap between himself and Kui Zhao—not technically, but mentally. The difference between them was as vast as that between an elementary schooler who didn't even know how to curse and a veteran nobody from Zu'an whose parents had survived eight years of gaming.

The dark street fell silent again. Kui Zhao stood motionless at the edge of the light. Two minutes later, two Patrol Guards carrying lanterns appeared on the main road. Seeing Kui Zhao's silhouette, they didn't dare come any closer and shouted, "Who's there?"

Kui Zhao hooked a finger backward. Blood-colored light transformed into claws that snatched the Patrol Guards' lanterns and flung them into the darkness ahead. With a crack, they shattered on the ground. The glowing charged Radiant Stones rolled a few times, illuminating the area once more.

The road was deserted. Only the weakened Kui Nianruo lay sitting by the roadside, leaning against a large tree. Kui Zhao strode over, crouched before her, and examined her injuries for a few moments before turning his head and shouting, "Go find a tricycle!"

The Patrol Guard whose lantern had been taken was unable to suppress his anger and wanted to say something, but the Patrol Guard beside him restrained his reckless companion. Recognizing Kui Zhao by his conspicuous long braid, he said respectfully, "Yes, we'll go right away. That Light Burst Bomb just now was lit by you, Deputy Director Kui, wasn't it? Is there anything else you need us to do?"

"There is. Notify the people from your Judicial Department to come here. A murder has occurred."

"A murder..." Although they had vaguely anticipated it, hearing that a murder had occurred in the wealthy district made the Patrol Guards realize that they had run into trouble this time. One of them sighed and asked, "May I ask who died?"

"Your Judicial Department Director, Dong Heng."

The two Patrol Guards froze, then their faces paled. They turned and sprinted toward the nearest Judicial Department branch. They weren't rushing to investigate the Director's case. They wanted to drag more people into it instead—this kind of major incident was far beyond what the two of them could bear alone!

"Dad..." Kui Nianruo called weakly.

"If you had mastered the basics of Wolf-Eagle Fist, how could you have been captured?"

Kui Zhao's tone was as hard as cold iron, but he picked up the glowing Radiant Stone and used it to illuminate Kui Nianruo. After crouching down and gathering himself for a moment, he sent an invisible halo of light to his fingertips and gently wiped it over Kui Nianruo's wounds. Kui Nianruo let out a muffled groan of pain, but the wounds that had still been bleeding moments ago immediately stopped.

Kui Zhao had also studied healing combat arts. Or rather, among those who had once served on the front lines of the Coastal Army, few didn't know healing combat arts. They didn't need to be as proficient as medical officers at bringing the dead back to life and restoring flesh to bone. As long as they knew how to stop bleeding, their own and their comrades' chances of surviving on the battlefield would at least double.

Kui Nianruo asked weakly, "Who... are they?"

Kui Zhao looked over Kui Nianruo's clothes and noticed a small knife mark stabbed through the fabric over her left chest. Anger rose in his heart, accompanied by a trace of unease. The indecisive thoughts he had harbored while discussing matters with Dong Heng had now reached a decision.

"Just a bunch of rats hiding their identities."