Howard also knew the matter was urgent. He nodded grimly. "I will do my best to speed things up."
·
In the isolation room, a male mber of the Blood Race was sunbathing and sipping juice. He suddenly chuckled. "They're gone."
"A bunch of uncivilized, inferior lifeforms," a female mber of the Blood Race sneered rcilessly, admiring her sparkling manicure. "Seeing their ugly, excited faces, I can't even be bothered to laugh. It just feels like a waste of ti."
"Don't be so harsh. They've never witnessed the true principles of the world, so it's understandable they'd think that way. Nearly every intelligent being craves eternal life."
"We should understand them," a very Zen-like male mber of the Blood Race said slowly. "We should guide them patiently, lead them toward true 'immortality,' and help them witness the eternal truth."
"So, are you ready?" the one drinking juice asked.
"Shouldn't that be, 'Are *we* ready?'" the Zen-like one asked in return.
Then, identical, deeply intriguing smiles appeared on the faces of the seven mbers of the Blood Race.
"It seems 'we' are ready."
"Then let it begin. Usher in the End and grant them the 'immortality' they so desire!"
·
'They just keep on coming. What a damn nuisance.'
Night. In a dim alley, Yang sighed, flicking his dagger clean of blood.
A car passed outside the alley, its headlights flashing and fading, but the driver never noticed a thing.
A bleeding corpse lay in the alley. The kidneys were pierced, the heart shredded, and the throat slit—a brutal killing executed with exquisite technique.
This was one of the assassins from the Arican Chainsaw Murder Association.
Over the past few days, Yang had not only beco an official fugitive of the Star Association but had also been targeted by the Arican Chainsaw Murder Association over the C-220 Bloodthirsty Chainsaw Sword. He was forced to hide and scurry about like a cornered rat, a truly pathetic sight.
These psychopathic Killing Maniacs had noses more sensitive than bloodhounds. The mont he paused to catch his breath, they would be on him. Left with no choice, Yang had to keep running. It took him three days to set a trap, and only then did he find an opportunity to isolate and kill one of them, weakening their numbers.
'Boss, when are you going to co bail out...?' Yang sighed to himself as he expertly looted the corpse, pocketing all the man's money and Artifacts.
'Since Jiang Che didn't co to Hong City imdiately, he must have run into trouble. Either sothing happened with Jinzhu, or he's facing resistance here in Hong City... Considering I was inexplicably put on the wanted list, it's more likely that the Hong City Star Gathering is preventing Jiang Che from coming.'
The most frustrating part was the Curse that had been placed on him, which caused all nearby electronics to fail. Between that, being constantly hunted, and his wanted status, he hadn't found a single opportunity to contact Jiang Che.
Finished looting the body, Yang quickly left the alley. He put on a hat, pulling the brim low to cover his face. As he walked down the silent, empty street, he suddenly froze as if sensing sothing. His weary expression hardened, turning serious and grim as a cold glint entered his eyes.
The streetlights cast a dim glow. An old utility pole was plastered with flyers and small ads.
In the hazy night, a graceful figure appeared beside a streetlight like an apparition. She wore a tracksuit, her long hair was unbound, and her gaze was as sharp as a razor's edge.
Yang froze, whispering subconsciously, "Christina..."
Before he could finish, a gleaming dagger materialized in his forr girlfriend's hand, reflecting the cold, hard light.
With the wind howling around them, Christina displayed an incredible Rapid Speed, dashing forward like a thunderclap. In an instant, she crossed the dozens of ters between them and swung the dagger at the man she once loved.
CLANG!
Sparks flew. A dagger was now in Yang's hand as well, blocking the incoming strike.
Without a single wasted word, Christina twisted her wrist and thrust again. She moved so fast she was like a silver teor streaking through the dark night, leaving a sharp, deadly trajectory in her wake.
The air shrieked. Yang scrambled to parry, then stepped forward, launching his own attack.
He knew exactly how formidable his ex-girlfriend was. Christina had beco an Ascender before he had, and was now at Tier Three. All these years working for Oga had given her far more combat experience than he could ever hope to match.
Christina's face was a mask of ice. Every rciless strike aid for Yang's most vulnerable points, the swift, sharp flashes of silver a torrential downpour of attacks.
Yang's brow furrowed. Not daring to be careless for even a second, he used his dagger to block and parry. In just a few seconds, their blades had clashed dozens of tis. But as her assault grew more ferocious, Yang began to lose ground, his arm suffering one cut after another.
Finally, Christina sent his dagger flying and plunged her own into his shoulder, her assault coming to a halt.
Yang gasped for breath. Just as he was about to say sothing... SLAP!
The slap echoed, exceptionally loud in the silent night.
Christina's expression was icy, but her eyes were starting to redden. She gritted her teeth. "You bastard..."
Yang opened his mouth, his voice dropping. "I'm sorry, Xiao Na. It's all my fault. You're right, I really am a bastard. You can beat however you want, even slit my throat... as long as it makes you feel better..."
"You think I don't have the guts? I wish I could beat you to death with my bare hands!
Why did you break up with ?!"
"It's the sa as before. Our principles didn't align," Yang sighed.
"So you just left a breakup letter and walked out without a word? Why didn't you talk to ? How could you be such a bastard?! How could you be SUCH a bastard?!" Christina roared, grabbing Yang by the collar.
"Back then, I'd already beco a thorn in the organization's side. The higher-ups didn't know we were a couple. If they found out about us, you would have been in danger. It was the only way I could think of to protect you," Yang sighed.
Christina stared at him, saying nothing.
After a long mont, Yang gave a wry smile and pointed to the dagger in his shoulder. "Can we maybe patch this up first? Afterward, you can make do whatever you want... I'll even kneel on a bed of nails if it helps..."
Christina gave him a look filled with bottomless resentnt. She yanked the dagger out and tossed him a vial of concentrated Blood Bottle. "Follow ."
Yang quickly followed. They walked the whole way in silence.
More than ten minutes later, Christina led Yang to an apartnt. 'This must be one of Oga's safe houses,' he thought.
"Drink this. It'll get rid of the Curse."
Christina coldly handed him a murky, black Alchemy Potion. It slled like traditional dicine mixed with durian and pickled bamboo shoots—an incredibly potent combination. Yang could only pinch his nose and gulp it down. A wave of bitterness assaulted his very Soul, twisting his face in agony. 'He knew Christina had added sothing extra as payback, but he didn't dare say a word.'
"If your superior hadn't contacted in secret, I wouldn't have even known you were in Hong City," Christina said, sitting on the sofa. She crossed her legs and interrogated him with an icy expression, as if he were a criminal. "Why didn't you co find ?"
Yang, sitting beside her, fell silent for a mont. He scratched his hair and sighed. "I didn't dare."
"Coward!"
Christina swore, "What was there to be afraid of? What were you scared of? That I'd actually kill you? Or that the organization would send people to wipe us out? I'm Tier Three now, and you're backed by the Star Association! As long as the higher-ups aren't completely insane, they wouldn't dare..."
"I was afraid you didn't love anymore," Yang said suddenly.
Christina's voice died in her throat.
"I ssed up. I broke your heart. If you didn't love anymore, showing up would only have made things harder for you. Plus, you're here on an important mission... Taking all that into consideration, I decided not to look for you. But I swear, I was planning to find you and apologize after your mission was over." Yang's tone was utterly sincere.
Christina rubbed her temples, exasperated. "You goddamn scumbag..."
"I'm sorry..."
"Get lost! You could apologize ten thousand tis and I still wouldn't forgive you!"
"Then I'll apologize twenty thousand tis. I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
"Enough!" Christina took a deep breath, doing her best to calm herself.
"We'll put our business aside for now. Your superior told to tell you this: wait in Hong City for orders. Zhou Chen needs your help."
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