How Many Strokes Are in the Character "Death"?

Lin Xiao could not help but laugh inwardly. The words Xue Qinghe had spoken seemed to possess a strange magical power. If a genuine rare talent had been standing before her, he might truly have hesitated because of those words and been deeply moved.

The assassin was not merely facing the heir to the Heaven Dou Empire, but the vast Heaven Dou Empire that controlled half of Douluo Continent. If he truly succeeded in assassinating Xue Qinghe, then for the rest of his life, he would only be able to hide in dark corners, never again seeing the light.

Moreover, the death of the Heaven Dou heir would be a blow to the Heaven Dou Empire, a blow to its dignity. Even if they had to dig three feet into the ground, the Heaven Dou Empire would pursue him without rest or end!

The assassin's family, the assassin's friends, even everyone connected to the assassin—regardless of where they were, even if they were hidden in some corner of the Star Luo Empire—would all be implicated without exception.

Xue Qinghe also fully displayed her eloquence. First, she carefully explained the advantages and disadvantages of successfully assassinating her, then clearly laid out the consequences. Next, while he was still considering it, she extended an olive branch.

Watching Xue Qinghe remain composed and unflustered, Lin Xiao could not help but silently nod in praise. To possess such poise and ability at this age was truly remarkable; there was practically no weakness to be found.

Xue Qinghe stared at the assassin, who seemed to be deep in thought. She slowly rose and walked over to Lin Xiao, her expression as calm as still water. "Have you made up your mind? Join my ranks, or become a rat hiding in the darkness. I think you should understand which choice offers better opportunities and a vast world ahead of you—and which makes you a street rat!"

With her hands behind her back, Xue Qinghe slowly approached, her gaze fixed on the young man before her. Yet she suddenly realized that his features seemed faintly familiar. No matter how hard she racked her brains, however, she could not remember where she had seen him before. He felt familiar, yet also unfamiliar.

Their eyes met, and Lin Xiao slowly spoke in a deep voice. "Xue Qinghe, how laughable. Where did you get such confidence? And what if I say no? What will you do then?"

Xue Qinghe slightly shook her head. "The path to survival is clearly right before you, yet you insist on refusing it and choosing that road of certain death. You cannot blame me for that. I had thought you were a rare talent and intended to recruit you, but if you remain so determined, then you can only die!"

After realizing that she could neither persuade him to change his mind nor recruit him, Xue Qinghe no longer maintained her pleasant tone. Since he was unwilling to serve her and had even come to assassinate her, then even if he were a peerless genius seen only once in ten thousand years, his only fate would be death!

Lin Xiao watched Xue Qinghe change her expression as swiftly as turning a page, then said with interest, "Xue Qinghe, you are the one facing death now, not me!"

"Perhaps." Xue Qinghe's expression remained unchanged as she quietly stared at Lin Xiao. Without making the slightest movement, she waited calmly and steadily for him to strike first.

Lin Xiao's face was icy as he lightly shifted his feet and slowly raised his right hand. With incomparably fierce momentum, he lunged at Xue Qinghe's face with a savage grab!

Just as Lin Xiao's hand was about to reach Xue Qinghe, two immensely powerful and forceful auras suddenly erupted with astonishing speed.

Immediately afterward, those violent auras spread throughout the room. Lin Xiao felt as though a massive boulder weighing ten thousand jin had been pressed heavily onto his shoulders, though it did not affect him in the slightest.

A tall, muscular figure and a short, fat figure suddenly appeared at Lin Xiao's sides. Both wore solemn expressions as they firmly placed one hand each on his left and right shoulders.

Those two broad palms were the source of the boulder-like force weighing upon Lin Xiao. Though they rested lightly on his shoulders, they were in fact incomparably heavy, carrying the force of a thousand jun.

The two figures wore dazzling golden armor. The tall and exceptionally muscular man slightly opened his mouth and said, "You dared to come assassinate our young master? In my opinion, brat, you must be sick of living. You do not even know how to write the character 'death,' much less how many strokes it has!"

Xue Qinghe looked at the hand stopped steadily before her, so close it was within reach. A smile hung on her face as she said lightly, "Do you still think you can kill me so easily?"

As Xue Qinghe's words fell, soul rings slowly emerged beneath the feet of the two men restraining Lin Xiao and instantly lit up. Nine soul rings each—both were Title Douluo-level powerhouses!

"I am a Title Douluo. Brat, although you have the ability to break into the Crown Prince's Mansion, you absolutely do not have the ability to kill our young master." The short, fat Title Douluo spoke with mockery and scorn.

For many years, their young master had entered the Heaven Dou Empire to carry out the Usurpation Plan, suffering countless assassination attempts. Yet among all those assassins, only the one before them had managed to break through layer upon layer of tight defenses, enter the Crown Prince's Mansion, and reach their young master.

Indeed, he possessed extraordinary ability; the fact that he had reached their young master's side already proved everything. But regrettably, though this assassin might have been the most capable one in years, he was facing two Title Douluo.

"Elder Snake Spear, Elder Pufferfish, what are you standing around for? Since this assassin refuses the path to life and insists on taking the road to death, are you planning to keep him until the New Year before killing him?" Xue Qinghe said.

Xue Qinghe quietly watched the assassin before her, feeling that the young man looked increasingly familiar. Yet she still could not remember where she had seen him before. Perhaps she had indeed seen this assassin somewhere before, while he had been plotting how to assassinate her.