Fire Attack

Ye Chen's injuries were minor, while Xiaowaluwen had been drenched in blood on the spot and could no longer maintain his Invisibility.

Seeing him in such a sorry state, Ye Chen immediately wanted to press his advantage and finish off the most dangerous prey in front of him.

But just then, a rush of footsteps suddenly came from outside the dining room.

Clearly, the Elite Guard was closing in.

Ye Chen made a snap decision. Rather than risk pursuing the wounded Xiaowaluwen, he immediately sprinted toward the other end of the corridor and, concealed by the shadows, swiftly disappeared from sight.

The second and third groups of Elite Guard members arrived at the dining room in succession. When they saw the ten identically dressed corpses, their faces went pale. They then hurried to the rear corridor, where they found Xiaowaluwen leaning against the wall, drenched in sweat and covered in blood.

"Lord Xiaowaluwen, are you—are you all right?"

They asked in trembling voices, but Xiaowaluwen merely waved a hand at them.

"I'm fine. I can heal these injuries myself."

As he spoke, countless viscous, pitch-black streams of mud suddenly welled up beneath his shirt. They divided into two streams and began repairing his severed left hand and mangled right shoulder, covering them, filling them in, and replacing them.

Dozens of seconds later, Xiaowaluwen flexed his brand-new black left hand and right shoulder, then stood up. Looking at the disbelief on everyone's faces, he issued new orders with a grave expression.

"The enemy's reactions, technique, speed, strength, awareness, and experience are all beyond anything I imagined. If we mishandle him in the slightest, today may be the day the Xiaowalu Family is destroyed."

Xiaowaluwen spoke haltingly. He had been lying in wait in the shadows for a long time, deliberately choosing the moment when Ye Chen was focused on reloading to launch his ambush.

Xiaowaluwen had thought he could finish him off with that unexpected strike. He never imagined his opponent would react anyway—and even turn the tables on him, nearly inflicting a fatal injury.

Ye Chen's composure, decisiveness, and almost pathological vigilance had made him a terrifying presence in Xiaowaluwen's eyes: the strongest opponent he had ever faced in his life.

"So from now on, we have to change our strategy. No matter the cost, tonight must be the night he dies!"

"Since he's good at fighting in the dark, we'll light up the entire mansion and leave him nowhere to hide!"

"Set fire to it. Burn the building down!"

After hearing Xiaowaluwen's new orders, the twenty remaining members of the Elite Guard were all overcome with confusion and alarm.

"Set fire to it—burn the building down!?"

"Lord Xiaowaluwen, are you sure?"

"This mansion has been in the Xiaowalu Family for over a hundred years!"

But in the face of their doubts, Xiaowaluwen firmly nodded.

"I've made up my mind. This is our best chance of success. Even if this place is reduced to ruins, I will avenge Lord Xiaowalus!"

"Go get the oil and set the fire now! Once the entire mansion is engulfed in flames, head outside and keep watch!"

"I'll move my brother's body first, then take up a position on high ground and support you with sniper fire!"

After speaking, Xiaowaluwen rushed straight to the study without the slightest hesitation.

The guards exchanged glances. With no other choice, they could only obey Xiaowaluwen's orders and prepare to sound the craziest counterattack in history.

Ye Chen hid in a bedroom on the second floor of the mansion. He took the Red Blood Flower Tea out of his handkerchief, lifted it to his lips, and gulped down a large mouthful. Then he spilled some blood into the revolver's cylinder, where it coagulated into tonight's third Blood Bullet.

In another five minutes, he would be able to make a fourth.

After his second encounter with Xiaowaluwen, Ye Chen was certain that Xiaowaluwen couldn't remain invisible while launching close-range attacks.

Moreover, there were limits to what the other man could make invisible. So far, that only included his clothes and dagger. His enormous sniper rifle wasn't affected by Xiaowaluwen's Spirit Art.

That made things much easier.

Leaning against the window in the moonlight, Ye Chen finished loading his revolver and began preparing for his next move. But then a strange crimson glow caught his eye.

He turned to look outside and saw thick black smoke billowing from all sides of the attic across the way.

Blazing flames danced merrily inside the attic, flaunting their enchanting movements. In an instant, the dim, silent loft had turned into a roaring sea of red.

These people... had actually set their own home on fire?

Ye Chen stared in astonishment at the flames engulfing the mansion across from him. Several figures emerged from the fire, raising torches and setting the rooms adjacent to the attic alight as well. In no time, one corner of the once magnificent mansion was swallowed by towering flames.

Ye Chen couldn't imagine that his opponents would go to such ruthless lengths to flush him out.

But there was no denying it: this was a good move.

With the flames lighting everything up, he could no longer hide in the shadows as he had before and catch them off guard.

And as the fire spread rapidly, there would be fewer and fewer places for Ye Chen to hide in the enormous mansion. In the end, he would be forced out into the open, where Xiaowaluwen and the others would most likely be lying in wait for him.

That had to be why they had resorted to such a vicious fire attack.

Cunning. Though he had no room to criticize them.

Ye Chen reflected as he took a deep breath and glanced at the ready revolver in his hand. Then he made up his mind.

If Xiaowaluwen wanted to drive him outside, he would do the opposite: turn defense into offense and take the initiative!

As long as he killed all his prey before the fire completely consumed the mansion, every problem would solve itself!

It really was that simple—and brutal!

Ye Chen put away his revolver, took out the single-shot rifle he had just seized beside an Elite Guard corpse, and immediately charged toward the advancing edge of the fire.

Meanwhile, after moving his brother's body, Xiaowaluwen carried the heavy sniper rifle to the mansion's top floor, opened the skylight, and quickly climbed onto the circular roof of the Xiaowalu Mansion.

From there, he could see the broad estate grounds in every direction. He could also observe most of the mansion's interior on the first and second floors through its many doors and windows, from a variety of positions and angles.

It was unquestionably the best vantage point on the Xiaowalu Manor, and the perfect place for a sniper to lie in wait.

If Ye Chen tried to flee outside and escape the Xiaowalu Manor, he would have to cross half a kilometer of open grounds.

And this time, Xiaowaluwen wouldn't make the same mistake he had in the rear corridor.

He would keep the rifle steady and focused, bring decades of honed shooting skills to bear, and shoot Ye Chen full of holes, one bullet at a time, until he could never stand again.

"Now then, let's see how long you can hold out in that sea of fire."

Holding the rifle stock, Xiaowaluwen gazed down at the Xiaowalu Mansion, where so many memories of his past life had been made, now gradually being devoured by the flames. His lips curled upward without a trace of concern, and he let out a cold laugh.

The Frost White Person let the Abyss Matter beneath his neck crawl and writhe across his cheek. The raging flames were reflected in his eyes, which gleamed with the color of madness.