Rainy Night, Forced Kill

Night, pitch-black.

Night, ice-cold.

Transparent raindrops struck the dark green banana leaves, making a sound that set one's nerves on edge.

In a tiny courtyard stood an inconspicuous little building. On its third floor was a study pavilion open on all four sides. Lin Qi, his face bluish and his eyes bloodshot, sat before a small square table, staring at the war-chess board forged from silver before him. His sole remaining piece—the one representing the supreme commander of the Continental Allied Army—was surrounded on all sides by the opposing beastman coalition.

Hu Xinzhu, seated across from Lin Qi, happily held out his hand. "A thousand taels of gold, if you please. Thank you. Another round?"

Two days had passed since Ying Jue had been handed over to the people from the Heavenly Temple who had come to receive him. Under the escort of men sent by Hu Xinzhu, Lin Qi had secretly returned to Twin Sun Red Dragon City, then immediately brought a group of subordinates to stay in this secret stronghold belonging to the intelligence organization under the Commissioner of Rumors.

For the past two days, Lin Qi had temporarily vanished from Twin Sun Red Dragon City, quietly remaining here.

On the first day, Lin Qi had sat quietly in the little building, admiring the two peach trees in front of the hall, the few banana plants beneath them, and the large dragonflies lightly mating atop the banana leaves. The tails of the two dragonflies happened to join into a lovely heart shape.

But on the second day, heat had begun to rage through Lin Qi's body. He constantly felt that this little courtyard was a damned prison. When he swung the Army-Slaying Axe in the courtyard to limber up a little, he frightened the servants attending the place