Stopping the Car

"Whooo—"

On the desolate county outskirts highway.

Xu Qing sped past in the jeep, sending fallen leaves flying across the ground.

He would be back at the company in another hour. Xu Qing was looking forward to the secret manual that would soon be delivered.

Along the way.

Xu Qing casually glanced at the rearview mirror.

Only to unexpectedly discover.

That a military-green armed jeep was following far behind him.

"Hmm? This vehicle looks familiar."

He muttered in surprise.

Then he thought it over.

Suddenly, Xu Qing frowned.

He remembered!

This jeep seemed identical to the one driven by the kidnappers who had abducted Liu Yun.

That was strange.

This model of jeep was no longer new.

Other than those kidnappers, was anyone else still driving this kind of vehicle?

Xu Qing was briefly puzzled but did not pay it much attention.

However.

After passing three or four intersections in a row.

Xu Qing finally realized in surprise.

That the other party had been following behind him the entire time, neither too close nor too far.

Were they after him?

Could these people be connected to those kidnappers?

No matter what the problem was, he hoped to settle it before returning to the company.

At that thought.

Xu Qing turned to look at the long spear resting on the passenger seat.

Then slowly pulled the car over to the roadside.

However, the worst-case scenario still arrived.

That jeep stopped as well, blocking the road directly in front of Xu Qing's car.

Xu Qing quickly assembled the long spear.

He placed it by the window, where he could grab it at any moment.

Then he pushed open the door and got out, standing beside the driver's seat as he looked at the other side.

Two men stepped out of the jeep.

Both wore military-green short-sleeved shirts and combat pants, looking like retired soldiers.

One of them walked with a powerful, tiger-like stride, as though he had some real skill.

The other's steps were completely unsteady. He was merely an ordinary person.

Both appeared to be in their thirties.

Neither seemed to be carrying any weapons.

"Why have you two been following me all this way?"

Xu Qing did not move away from the vehicle. He looked at them calmly as he asked.

The two men did not make a move after getting out of the car.

Instead, one stood in front and the other behind, subtly blocking all of Xu Qing's escape routes.

Then the unsteady man looked at Xu Qing and asked with a frown, "What is your relationship with Wang Zhengqi?"

Xu Qing's expression did not change, but his mind raced.

These two had unknown origins, yet the first thing they did was ask whether he knew Wang Zhengqi.

What was Wang Zhengqi's relationship with them?

Xu Qing did not know.

He also had no idea whether they were enemies or allies.

If he carelessly admitted it and they turned out to be Wang Zhengqi's enemies, would he not be taking the blame for someone else?

But if they were Wang Zhengqi's friends, what did they want with him?

Could it be because of that warehouse access card?

But he had made sure no one was around before entering.

Or perhaps they had some other means of surveillance?

Xu Qing could not figure out their purpose for the moment.

He might as well test them.

So Xu Qing shook his head. "Who? I don't know him. What do you want?"

The two exchanged looks and shook their heads. The unsteady man's expression turned hostile. "Don't know him? Then where did you get the Silver Sparrow Warehouse access card in your possession?"

Xu Qing's heart skipped a beat. So they really had come for this.

His face immediately crumpled, and he asked nervously, "Y-you! How did you know—"

Sure enough.

The moment he said those words.

The man smiled smugly. "That card belongs to my brother. Of course we have ways to monitor the warehouse! Did you think no one would know? Speak! How did you get that card?"

Xu Qing hurriedly said in "panic," "Th-this card was sold to me by someone else! That warehouse blind box! I bought it for ten thousand yuan. I don't know where he got it. If you want it, I'll give it back to you!"

As he spoke, he pulled a card from his pocket and tossed it at their feet.

He did not want to cause trouble, and there was no grudge between them.

What if they were pretending to be weak while actually hiding their strength, and one of them was a concealed expert? If he hastily started fighting, he might suffer a loss.

Besides, they did not know that he had killed the man.

If they only wanted the warehouse card, there was no need for them to attack him.

Moreover, they were not far from the county town.

Unfortunately.

Xu Qing had still underestimated just how brazen these kidnappers were.

Sure enough, after the unsteady man picked up the card from the ground and checked it, he nodded to the other man beside him.

Only then did he turn to Xu Qing. "Everything in the warehouse is still there, right?"

Xu Qing hurriedly shook his head. "I didn't go in. I don't know."

The man sneered. "I saw you go in with my own eyes. Lying is useless. Looks like you already know what was stored inside. Then you have to die."

Xu Qing's heart sank. Fear appeared on his face as he shouted, "Don't kill me! I really don't know anything!"

Then.

Without the slightest hesitation, he grabbed the long spear propped against the car window.

His feet kicked off the car door.

His entire body abruptly launched into the air.

This sudden movement, combined with his earlier tone and expression.

Briefly deceived the two men.

Amid their stunned expressions.

Xu Qing focused his mind, raised his hand, and viciously thrust downward!

With one strike, he pierced straight through the unsteady man's chest!

"Ah!"

Along with a scream.

"Seventh Brother!"

The remaining man's expression changed drastically. In rage, he drew a short blade from behind his back.

Then he charged forward with a boom.

Carrying a fierce gust of wind as he rushed at Xu Qing.

Every movement revealed considerable strength.

This man was actually a Gene Martial Artist!

Bang!

Still in midair, Xu Qing used the force of the spear planted in the ground and lightly twisted the shaft.

Blocking the slash.

As the weapons collided.

Fist-sized sparks burst and scattered in every direction.

Feeling the tremendous force recoil through his hand, the man finally looked at Xu Qing in shock. "You're a Gene Martial Artist too!"

Xu Qing stood with spear in hand, his expression icy.

Without saying a word, he strode forward again.

The man's face darkened as well, and he stopped wasting words.

With an angry roar, he crouched slightly. Watching Xu Qing charge toward him, he tilted the short blade in his hand.

Then he fiercely slashed upward!

The short blade cut through the air with incredible speed, its afterimage already impossible to see.

Bang!

The lightning-fast spear thrust was instantly knocked aside.

The man inwardly breathed a slight sigh of relief and was about to press the attack.

But before he could relax.

The spear he had knocked away came sweeping back after Xu Qing spun, surging toward him once more like a dragon emerging from the sea.

Drill Spear!

The Battle Spear moved as swiftly as lightning.

The man no longer had the strength to defend.

He could only watch helplessly as the spear viciously stabbed into his chest.

"Pfft!"

The Alloy Battle Spear instantly pierced through his chest.

With a violent shake from Xu Qing, his corpse was immediately flung away.

It landed in a field amid the wilderness.

Killed with a single strike.

The battle was resolved in the blink of an eye.

Yet Xu Qing did not relax.

He gave each of them another strike to the head, confirming that they were completely dead.

Only then did he hurriedly wipe the spear clean.

He also took any useful valuables from their bodies before driving away at high speed.

It was already evening when he returned to the company.

After returning the car to the rental agency.

Xu Qing avoided attracting anyone's attention and quietly returned to the dormitory.

He washed himself thoroughly.

Then changed out of all his dirty clothes. Only after putting on a fresh set did he lie on the bed and let out a sigh of relief.

He had killed someone again.

He no longer felt the fear and discomfort he had experienced the first time.

He had never wanted to kill anyone proactively.

This had all been forced upon him out of helpless necessity.

He had no choice but to act, so he did not carry much psychological burden.

Still, he was surprised that there had been a Gene Martial Artist among the kidnappers.

He did not know why such a powerful Gene Martial Artist had ranked below the others.

While their leader himself had been an ordinary person.

But regardless of the reason, as a Gene Martial Artist, he had chosen to become a kidnapper.

Xu Qing felt no sympathy.