Interest

On a street in the western part of the city.

Three young men in splendid brocade robes were heading toward a restaurant with a retinue of guards, chatting as they went.

Two of them wore arrogant expressions. Although the third could join in the conversation, he kept showing traces of flattery toward the other two.

"Young Master Ao, Young Master Le, the usual tonight?"

"Yes, the usual. That Xiaolan is quite nice."

"Heh, Brother Ao, you certainly have unusual tastes, taking a fancy to little girls like that. No wonder you can't forget Xiao Xun'er."

"Ah, Brother Le, you don't understand. Young maidens are the most delightful. Once you've had a taste, you'll understand the flavor."

"I'll pass. Compared to a green apple, I still prefer a fully ripe honey peach."

"Hahaha, you're both right, young masters. Each has its own flavor, and I like them both."

"Oh? Young Master Xu certainly knows how to enjoy himself. But making you foot the bill every time really leaves us feeling rather guilty."

"What are you saying, Young Master Le? It's my honor to treat you both. The Cheer Family still has to rely on you two young masters."

"Hahaha, of course, of course."

These three were none other than Jia Lie Ao, Aoba Le, and Cheer Xu.

By joining forces to surround and kill Zhou Changqing last time, the three families had offended Mittel while leaving him alive as a potential threat.

Thus, the three families had readily agreed to form an alliance, hoping that by banding together, they could make Mittel think twice.

Clearly, this had some effect. At the very least, Wutan City's Mittel Auction House truly lacked the strength to openly fall out with them.

Unless it brought in powerful fighters from its main family in the Imperial Capital.

To strengthen the alliance, the three young men's fathers had told them to spend more time together, which was why they were now keeping each other company.

Over the past few days, the three had found that they shared the same foul tastes, spending all day carousing in brothels. One look at their kidney-depleted appearance made it clear how much they had indulged.

What they did not know was that a pair of eyes was watching them from a hidden corner of the street.

Quite a few men, and three Dou Shi guards too. Looks like those three old bastards have some brains, though not much.

As Zhou Changqing secretly observed Jia Lie Ao's group and their guards, a trace of mockery flashed through his eyes.

They had tried to surround and kill him just eight days ago, yet now they were letting these three swagger around in broad daylight. Who knew what Jia Lie Bi and those other two old bastards were thinking?

Do they think I was gravely wounded after taking a hit from a Da Dou Shi? Or that I wouldn't dare? Or that Mittel and the Xiao Clan wouldn't strike at the younger generation?

Zhou Changqing did not believe the three families had failed to hear that he had left Mittel.

But whatever they were thinking, all that mattered was that they had given him an opening.

Whether they had overlooked the possibility or were simply arrogant was none of his damn business.

Taking out a white mask and covering his face, Zhou Changqing stepped out.

Before long, he had blended into the crowd.

Although his attire looked somewhat unusual compared to the other pedestrians', it attracted no attention.

Wutan City was so large, with countless people coming and going along its streets. Beyond humans, there were even some unusual races.

He was merely wearing a mask. Plenty of people did that. What was so strange about it?

On the contrary, if Zhou Changqing had shown his real face, he would probably have drawn attention—and plenty of it.

Moving forward with the crowd, Zhou Changqing soon approached Jia Lie Ao's party.

The three guards were fairly alert and noticed Zhou Changqing drawing closer.

But they only gave him a wary glance. Once he walked past their group, they paid him no further attention.

Clang!

At the very instant he brushed past Jia Lie Ao's party, the sound of a blade leaving its sheath abruptly rang out!

Then the Horizontal Saber swept straight across the backs of the necks of two guards following behind the three young men!

In an instant, two heads went flying.

It had been too fast and too sudden. The two guards had no time to react, let alone form their Dou Qi Veils, before their headless bodies collapsed to the ground.

"Who are you?!"

The remaining guard was instantly horrified when he realized what had happened. Turning with an angry shout, he formed his Dou Qi Veil and attacked Zhou Changqing!

By then, the pedestrians who had noticed the commotion had stopped in their tracks. The quick-witted ones immediately retreated behind others, watching only out of the corners of their eyes.

Jia Lie Ao and the other two were not particularly strong, but they were Dou Zhe, after all, and had already reacted.

An assassin!

"You..."

Jia Lie Ao turned, his eyes widening slightly. Seeing the head that had landed at his feet, his face filled with anger and a trace of lingering fear, and he was about to lash out.

Then he saw the assailant slice off the attacking guard's right arm with a single stroke and kick him to the ground!

"Aaargh!"

The screams coming from the guard rolling on the ground made all three young men shudder, and they instinctively tried to retreat!

But after a flash of lightning before their eyes, that figure appeared right in front of them.

Then all three felt pain shoot through their legs, and their bodies involuntarily fell to the ground!

"My legs! Aaargh! My legs!"

"Who are you?! Who the hell are you?!"

"Aaargh! I'll cut you into a thousand pieces! I'll kill your entire family!"

It had been sudden—far too sudden!

It took Jia Lie Ao and the other two several seconds to understand what had happened.

Crying out in pain, they looked down at their lower bodies. Their lower legs had all been cleanly severed, and blood was pouring out!

The agonizing pain gave rise to boundless rage, instantly robbing all three of their reason. As they screamed incessantly, they hurled vicious curses with bloodshot eyes!

By then, Zhou Changqing had crouched down. Looking at the three sprawled before him, he removed his mask and revealed his handsome face.

"You're... Zhou Changqing!"

Jia Lie Ao had been staring fixedly at the man before him with endless hatred and venom, but his eyes suddenly went wide!

He knew this face well. Although he had never seen the man in person, he had seen his portrait more than once!

The same was true of the other two.

How could they fail to understand now why he had suddenly attacked them?

In an instant, fear, venom, and madness flickered across their faces in turn, until only pleading remained.

"Spare me! Spare me! It had nothing to do with me! Attacking you was my father's decision!"

"Yes, yes! Young Master Zhou! I didn't want it either! But that old beast at home made the decision himself and was dead set on going after you. I had no say at all!"

"I wasn't involved! It was the clan's decision! Spare me! As long as you spare me, I, Aoba Le, will be your dog from now on!"

Watching the three beg incessantly for mercy, Zhou Changqing gave a gentle smile. But to them, that smile was utterly chilling!

"I don't need a dog, and I don't care whether you were involved. All I wanted was to live in peace, but your fathers just had to provoke me. This is only the interest. Don't worry. Before long, everyone in your clans will join you down below."

"Aaargh! My father will avenge me! When that happens, everyone connected to you will die!"

"No! I don't want to die!"

Faced with their wailing and shouting, the icy eyes in Zhou Changqing's smiling face showed not the slightest ripple.

After standing, he swept the Horizontal Saber across the ground, and three heads instantly fell.

Then Zhou Changqing walked over to the guard, who lay trembling on the ground, clutching his arm as blood pooled around him.

Under the guard's terrified gaze, Zhou Changqing slowly spoke. "Go back and tell those three old bastards, and everyone else involved, to wash their necks and wait for me. The day I return will be the day they die!"

With that, the Horizontal Saber flashed, and the guard's legs were severed at the knees.

"Aaargh!"

Amid the guard's renewed screams of agony, Zhou Changqing unleashed Thunderclap Flash and swiftly departed in a few flickering movements.

The crowd quickly parted of its own accord. No one dared block this harbinger of death's path.

(End of chapter)