First Kill

"I'm asking you, as hunters... are you mentally prepared to be killed, too?"

For a moment, everyone froze, unsure what he meant. Looking at Cheng Xiaoyu's expressionless face, they suddenly felt something was off about the kid.

"Brother Dongshi, let me handle this."

One of the team members stepped forward and came to Cheng Xiaoyu's side, putting an arm around his shoulder as he spoke with a smile.

"Kid, you don't seem to understand the situation. What can a poser like you, a Shadow Element Mage, even do..."

Before he could finish, a chill suddenly brushed his neck. The next second, his head rolled to the ground, blood pouring from the stump.

"What..."

At the sight, everyone present stood frozen, staring in disbelief at the headless corpse lying in a pool of blood. They couldn't say a word.

The sharp dagger severed the man's neck with ease. Blood dripped from its tip as Cheng Xiaoyu stared indifferently at the head and body by his feet.

I killed someone. But if I hadn't acted, I'd be the one dead... There's no turning back now!

"One."

[Enemies killed: 1/6]

"J-Juntai?!"

"No way! When did he get a weapon? Where was he hiding it?!"

Cheng Xiaoyu stared at everyone before him, his eyes lifeless, then rushed forward.

"If only the strong can survive... then you're all going to die!"

He charged up to two men and casually swung the dagger in his hand, plunging it into their bodies.

The next moment, they clutched their stomachs in agony where the blade had pierced them. Blood streamed from their eyes, noses, mouths, and ears, and they finally collapsed helplessly to the ground.

[Effect activated: Paralysis]

[Effect activated: Bleeding]

One team member tried to cast a spell, but his vision suddenly blurred. Cheng Xiaoyu had already appeared at his side, driving the blade into the back of his neck with a reverse grip.

"Damn it!"

Bowen linked up his Fire Element Stars and hurled a fireball at Cheng Xiaoyu.

But this time, Cheng Xiaoyu easily dodged with a sidestep. In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of Bowen. A flash of cold steel passed before his eyes, and then he lost consciousness for good.

[Enemies killed: 5/6]

Staring at the blood and corpses covering the ground, Huang Dongshi looked at the tall figure in terror. He stumbled backward a few steps, tripped over a stone, and fell.

"You... You killed all my men in an instant. So you were hiding your strength all along!"

Cheng Xiaoyu tilted his head slightly, fixing Huang Dongshi with a pair of icy eyes that stood out in the dim surroundings. He looked like a demon returned from hell.

"W-Wait! Please, spare me..."

"M-Money... I'll give you money. I'll give you all the Agate Stones here. Isn't... isn't that enough?"

Seeing how terrified Huang Dongshi was of dying, Cheng Xiaoyu lowered his head to look at him, his expression utterly calm.

"You're begging someone you tried to frame... to spare your life?"

At his words, Huang Dongshi fearfully crawled backward. Realizing his legs were too weak to stand, he hurriedly shouted.

"S-Stop! Do you think you can get away with doing something like this?!"

Cheng Xiaoyu's gaze grew colder, and the corner of his mouth curled into an indifferent smile. He raised the sharp dagger and drove it hard into Huang Dongshi's forehead.

"No one will know what happened Outside the Safe Zone. Wasn't that what you said..."

[Enemies killed: 6/6]

[Emergency Mission complete]

[Mission Rewards]

[1. Status Recovery]

[2. Ability Points +10]

[3. Skill: Killing Intent]

Putting away the dagger, Cheng Xiaoyu looked at the information displayed by the system. He hadn't expected this kind of mission to give rewards, so he carefully read through the new skill's description.

[Killing Intent: Terrifying effect. All stats of the target of an attack -50%.]

He glanced at the corpses on the ground, then walked over to the small patch of Agate Stones. The system displayed a [Collect] prompt.

The next second, all the Agate Stones on the ground disappeared, and Agate Stones appeared in the [Item Inventory].

So that worked too... It saved him the trouble of digging them up.

Sigh, time to go home. My little sister's waiting for me. I can't break my promise...

"Brother, you're back... Huh, why did you bring so much food?"

Hearing a noise at the door, Ye Xinxia looked over happily. Cheng Xiaoyu had brought in a whole lot of delicious food, and a puzzled look appeared on her little face.

Before long, the small table was covered with food: barbecue, fried chicken, cake, milk tea... It was all so dazzling that they didn't know where to start.

"What, can't the two of us have something nice to eat?"

Cheng Xiaoyu picked up a piece of cream cake and handed it to Ye Xinxia. He took a fried chicken leg for himself and bit into it with a smile.

"That's not what I mean... I'm just worried about getting a little belly."

Ye Xinxia accepted the beautiful cream cake. She worried she'd gain weight from eating so late at night, but she couldn't resist the temptation of the food.

"How could you? You're already so thin. You're still growing, so you should eat more. It wouldn't look good if you got so thin you were like a bamboo stick."

At Cheng Xiaoyu's words, she swallowed the delicious cake and lowered her head to look at her already full, rounded chest. She glared at her brother in a huff. She wasn't thin at all.

"By the way, Brother, I haven't told you the good news yet. I awakened the Healing Element!"

Hearing that, Cheng Xiaoyu set down his milk tea and looked at his younger sister in surprise. He hadn't expected her to awaken the Healing Element.

"Congratulations! There aren't many Healing Element Mages in Bo City. You'll definitely be very popular, Xinxia."

Ye Xinxia took Cheng Xiaoyu's hand, her little face earnest as she spoke each word carefully.

"Brother, once I can cast magic, I'll be able to help you. You won't have to come home covered in wounds anymore!"

Hearing this, Cheng Xiaoyu froze for a moment. His thoughts returned to when he had first become a hunter. He hadn't needed to fight in the team and had mainly been responsible for scouting, but he would still get hurt sometimes.

Back then, every time he came home, Ye Xinxia would worry and apply ointment to his wounds. He always had to spend ages reassuring her before she would finally calm down.

Thinking of this, Cheng Xiaoyu clasped Ye Xinxia's hand in return and looked earnestly into her eyes as he spoke softly.

"Don't worry. I absolutely won't get hurt again, and I won't make you worry anymore."

Seeing how solemn Cheng Xiaoyu looked, as if he were making a very important vow, a blush crept over Ye Xinxia's fair cheeks. She lowered her head slightly.

"Mm..."

Seeing this, Cheng Xiaoyu smiled faintly and reached out to ruffle Ye Xinxia's hair.

"Xinxia's all grown up, and she still gets embarrassed."

"Mind your own business!"

"All right, hurry up and eat, or it'll get cold."