Killing Game

The black-clad martial artist shrank his neck, and just as he was about to turn his head, a hand shot out from the rain behind him, clamping onto his throat like an iron pincer.

The force was so immense that he couldn't even let out a sound.

He felt as if the bones in his throat were about to shatter; his windpipe was completely constricted, leaving him unable to make a noise or even draw a breath.

His eyes bulged wide, his limbs flailing wildly as he tried to pry that hand away, but it didn't budge—it felt less like a human hand and more like solid steel.

Panic seized him instantly.

Who was behind him?

How could there be absolutely no sound at all!

Li Pingsheng remained expressionless, lifting the hundred-plus-pound man with a single hand.

He tapped his toes against the slick rooftop, his body weightless as he drifted silently into a nearby dead-end alley filled with debris.

"Thud."

The man in black was slammed heavily into the muddy ground, splashing up a spray of filthy water.

He coughed violently, finally managing to gasp for air, but before he could catch his breath, a foot stomped onto his chest with such crushing force that he felt his sternum about to snap.

Terrified, he looked up and saw that dead-eyed face washed by the rain.

Li Pingsheng.

The piece of trash Instructor Wu said had broken meridians?

How could he be here!

Wasn't he supposed to be patrolling the streets, panting after every few steps?!

"Who sent you?"

The man in black's mind began to spiral.

He was just a piece of trash; even if he had some brute strength, he himself was a martial artist of the Black Water Gang!

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes as his right hand suddenly darted from his sleeve, a poisoned dagger thrusting toward Li Pingsheng's ankle!

But to Li Pingsheng, this movement was as slow as a joke.

Li Pingsheng applied a little more pressure with the foot pinning the man's chest.

"Crack!"

The sound of bone fracturing echoed.

The man's chest caved in, his body arching as the dagger clattered to the ground.

The pain made his entire body convulse, his face turning a deep, suffocated purple as he struggled to scream.

Li Pingsheng bent down, picked up the dagger, and waved it in front of the man before expressionlessly grabbing his left wrist.

"I'll ask one more time."

The man's eyes were filled with nothing but pleas and terror; he shook his head frantically, trying to beg with a raspy, wheezing sound.

Li Pingsheng ignored him.

He exerted force with his five fingers.

"Snap!"

Another teeth-grinding sound of shattering bone followed, and the man's left hand was crushed into a mangled mess of flesh.

This pain was far worse than before; the man shivered uncontrollably, tears and snot mixing with the rain on his face as he shook in the mud like someone suffering a seizure.

"Speak!"

Unable to bear the agony any longer, the man completely broke, abandoning all other thoughts as he trembled and whispered in a voice barely audible: "It's... it's Master Scar..."

"Master Scar is... is bringing men tonight..."

"Taking advantage of the heavy rain... to kidnap your whole family..."

"He wants... wants to make you watch... as your family... dies... one by one..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

Tonight!

A surge of killing intent exploded from the depths of his heart, rushing through his entire body.

He didn't waste another word.

The hand gripping the man's throat gave a violent twist.

"Crack."

The man's head lolled to an unnatural angle, his body twitched twice, and then he went still.

The rain washed over his wide-eyed, dead face, and it washed over the blood in the alley.

Li Pingsheng let go, and the corpse slumped limply to the ground.

He looked at the corpse, his eyes devoid of even a ripple of emotion.

After a moment, he calmly crouched down, swiftly stripping the still-warm black clothes and face mask from the body, then dragged the corpse to the deepest part of the alley, shoved it under a foul-smelling pile of trash, and covered it up.

Having finished this, he pulled the black clothes onto himself and covered his face with the mask.

Turn the tables.

The oriole follows behind.

Li Family old residence.

With a creak, the courtyard gate was pushed open.

Old Master Li, Mother Li, and Second Aunt, who were pacing anxiously in the main hall, were startled.

"Who is it?"

"It's me."

Li Pingsheng slipped into the room and quickly shut the door.

"Pingsheng? Didn't you go on patrol? Why..."

Mother Li saw her son soaked and wearing unfamiliar black clothes, and she panicked instantly.

"Mother, Grandfather, Second Aunt, listen to me."

"There might be thieves coming tonight. Lock all the doors immediately, take Yunmei, and hide under the bed in my room. Remember, no matter what noises you hear, do not come out and do not make a sound."

"Thieves? What thieves? Pingsheng, what on earth is going on?"

The old man leaned on his cane, his hands trembling.

"There's no time to explain, Grandfather. Trust me."

"Hide, and you might live. Come out, and you will die."

Looking into his son's eyes, Old Master Li knew something major had happened.

He stopped asking questions, nodded firmly, and said in a deep voice, "Alright! We will listen to you!"

Soon, with the help of the family, they quietly hid under the bed in Li Pingsheng's room, blocking the gaps with quilts, not daring to draw a full breath.

Seeing them hidden, Li Pingsheng jumped onto his own roof and crouched in the shadows of the eaves, his entire form blending into the dark night.

The rain grew heavier.

Bean-sized raindrops pelted the roof tiles, the clattering sound drowning out everything else.

Li Pingsheng crouched there, motionless.

He was waiting.

Waiting for those fools who thought they were the hunters to walk right into the trap set by the oriole.

About half an hour later.

From the pitch-black alley entrance in the distance, a chaotic sound of footsteps, muffled by the rain, finally arrived.

Li Pingsheng saw a dozen black shadows braving the heavy rain, rapidly closing in on his old residence.

The man leading them was none other than the Black Water Gang branch leader, Master Scar.

Beside him was Master Qin.

"Master Scar, this is the place."

"That brat's family is all inside; not a single one will escape!"

Master Scar stopped at the alley entrance and saw the black shadow crouching on the roof.

That was the sentry he had sent out.

Master Scar raised his hand and made a gesture only those within the Black Water Gang understood.

"How is the situation?"

On the roof, the masked Li Pingsheng felt perfectly calm.

Mimicking the habitual movements of the sentry from his memories, he also raised his hand and returned the gesture.

Everything is normal, the family is inside.

Seeing this gesture, he knew it was done.

He turned his head to glance at the dozen elite gang members behind him; these were the most capable desperadoes under his command, more than enough to deal with the family of a piece of trash.

"Master Qin, haven't you always wanted to see that brat's expression of despair?"

Master Scar patted Master Qin's face and laughed, "Today, I'll let you see enough of it."

"Thank you, Master Scar! Thank you, Master Scar!"

Master Qin was trembling with excitement, as if he could already see Li Pingsheng kneeling and begging for mercy.

"Do it!"

Master Scar grinned hideously and waved his hand, no longer hesitating.

"Charge in! Break the men's legs and tie up the women! Keep it quiet, don't alert the martial arts hall disciples on night patrol!"

At his command, over a dozen thugs from the Black Water Gang crept toward the Li Family's fragile-looking courtyard gate like starving wolves, making not a sound.

Master Qin followed at the rear, a twisted smile on his face as he muttered to himself.

"Li Pingsheng, oh Li Pingsheng, you dared to fight me, and this is your end!"

"I wonder what expression you'll have when you return to find your home destroyed and your family gone? I am... just so looking forward to it!"

None of them noticed.

On the eaves above their heads, the shadow of the "sentry" had already quietly stood up.

A pair of eyes stared down at every one of them as if they were already dead.

In the rainy night, the killing intent was thick.