Approaching

Lakeview Manor was a resort area built by powerful figures, each establishing an estate amid its picturesque scenery.

There were sixteen estates in all.

They ranged in size from several thousand square meters to tens of thousands.

In ordinary times, the big shots rarely came here to stay. They left only servants, gardeners, and guards behind, so the area was usually very quiet.

But in the past few days, members of the Jin Family had gathered here to hide. They had also paid a fortune to hire Xuan Moon Security, one of the most famous security companies in all of Xuan Province, to protect them. That had made the area a little livelier.

As soon as Xuan Moon Security's professional team arrived—ten office staff and twenty-six field operatives—they began laying layer upon layer of defenses around the Jin Family's estate, which covered more than eighteen thousand square meters. After several days of work, they had turned the entire estate into an iron fortress, sealed tight against any intrusion.

According to Lu Jing, the person in charge, not even a mosquito could fly in without their permission.

Just like now.

Kong Fang, captain of the outer perimeter patrol, was inspecting the defensive measures with three others.

The measures included traps, surveillance equipment, and high-tech weapons, all guarding the estate, which was one hundred and fifty meters long and more than one hundred and twenty meters wide.

"Equipment is in working order."

"None of the warning traps we set have been triggered."

"No one's been over here."

The four men reported one after another.

Then one of the skinny men grinned. "This time, all our ace field operatives are here. The weakest among us is an Internal Strengthening martial artist. You and Minister Lu are even Harmony Realm masters, Captain. With our skills and experience, anyone who comes looking for trouble is just asking to die, right?"

"Don't let your guard down."

Kong Fang said, "Our opponent this time is no ordinary person. Stay sharp. One careless mistake, and we could end up dead in a ditch."

"I've heard the thug coming after our client is vicious. In just half a month, he's racked up over a hundred lives! Not ten or eight—over a hundred! At least twenty of them were Internal Strengthening martial artists, and one was even a top-tier master who'd reached Circulating Energy Through the Heavens! He's brutal! So we need to stay on full alert!"

The middle-aged man beside him nodded.

A younger man, however, said, "I heard the reason this thug went on a killing spree was because of our client..."

"Xiao Zhao!"

The young man hadn't finished when Kong Fang cut him off sharply. "Don't say what you shouldn't. Just remember why you're here! We took this job, so we give everything we've got to protect our client. Don't ask questions you shouldn't, and don't bother learning what you don't need to know."

Xiao Zhao hesitated for a moment after being scolded, but still answered, "I understand."

"Xuan Moon is one of the most elite security companies in Xuan Province. If you want to keep working here, you need to have a proper sense of professionalism."

Kong Fang could tell Xiao Zhao still had some misgivings, so he added that.

The middle-aged man chimed in with a word of advice. "Xiao Zhao, all we need to do is keep our client safe. The rest has nothing to do with us."

"I understand."

Xiao Zhao hurriedly replied.

Being sent out on missions as a special operative for Xuan Moon Security was an opportunity he took seriously.

He had compassion.

But if indulging it meant throwing away his career...

He could only crush that useless compassion before it went any further.

Just then, Captain Kong Fang seemed to sense something.

He suddenly turned toward the flower bed nearby.

"Who's there?!"

He barked the question.

Less than two seconds later, a pitch-black figure burst out from a dozen meters away, sprinting forward at full tilt.

"Watch out!"

Without needing a signal, the four instantly formed a coordinated battle formation.

Weapons flashed into their hands!

But the figure that shot out of the night sky was too fast!

It crossed more than ten meters in a single second!

The four had only just formed their battle line when, amid flying grass and dirt, the figure charging to within a few meters of them leaped into the air. His seventy- or eighty-kilogram body was like a cannonball fired from its barrel.

At the very tip of it, a cold glint bloomed in the night.

Fast!

Far too fast!

Faster than they could react!

"Whoosh!"

Kong Fang, a Harmony Realm master, realized at once that he couldn't block this sword!

But after years of fieldwork and surviving at least three brushes with death, he made his decision in an instant!

If he couldn't block it, then he wouldn't!

He wasn't alone!

He would leave the chance to counterattack to his teammates!

He would use his opponent to fight for that sliver of survival!

In a flash, Kong Fang's combat experience led him to the choice most favorable to himself.

No block, no dodge!

His bones and muscles roared in unison as his inner and outer strength merged. He poured every bit of his explosive power into his arm and swung his long saber. Its gleaming edge tore through the air, slipping past the impossibly swift flash of cold light as he fearlessly brought it down toward Li ChunJun's head!

The killer might run him through the throat with a single sword thrust, but Kong Fang's slash would take his head clean off!

And besides...

As he struck, the middle-aged man and the skinny man attacked right behind him.

The three formed a flawless triangular assault, sealing off every possible path of attack.

The remaining young man was a fraction slower, but his attack was perfectly positioned to cover their rear.

"Vmm!"

But just then, the sword that had flashed forward like lightning suddenly swayed!

Blade clashed against blade!

It was only a slight deflection, yet the long saber—which should theoretically have been able to unleash even greater force—was knocked aside as though struck by a hammer. It swung toward the skinny man beside Kong Fang, forcing him to twist out of the way.

At the same time, the figure charging in for the kill lifted a leg and kicked Kong Fang square in the chest.

Kong Fang reacted immediately and tried to use his elbow to deflect the kick, but the force packed into that leg was overwhelming. Under the impact of its savage strength, he was hurled backward like a man struck by a speeding car, crashing hard into the young man covering their rear.

The four-man team's coordinated formation was shattered in an instant!

And after knocking aside the long saber with which Kong Fang had risked his life, the sword that should have been aimed at the Harmony Realm master abruptly changed direction and darted straight at the middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man reacted swiftly, bringing his saber across to block.

But...

Reacting quickly didn't mean his body could move just as fast.

As his eyes flew wide, the saber he had swung to guard his flank had yet to fall into place when the cold sword point stabbed in from the side of his neck and pierced straight through.

"No!"

Kong Fang let out an unwilling roar as he flew backward.

The figure who had killed the middle-aged man yanked his sword free without hesitation!

The blade flicked, spraying blood as if it had formed a tangible sword-flower, then stabbed again at Kong Fang, who had been kicked away.

The sword shot forth like a dragon!

Its sharp point split the air with a piercing whistle, catching up in an instant to the Harmony Realm master, who had yet to regain his balance!

Speed!?

No!

It was strength!

The absolute speed unleashed by absolute strength!

And even as he unleashed that absolute strength in a thunderclap of a thrust at Kong Fang, his left hand swept swiftly across his waist!

A short blade flew from his hand with that subtle motion and buried itself in the skinny man's head just as he managed to steady himself.

Such precise control of the battle!

Reflexes honed to the utmost!

A killing instinct that could erupt from any part of his body!

And that terrifying burst of power...

All of it filled Kong Fang's eyes with an overwhelming despair!

The gap was too great!

This time, Xuan Moon Security had to face...

What kind of monster was this!?