"You are very stubborn. I know there's an old saying in Huaxia: 'You won't shed tears until you see the coffin.'"
The buzz-cut youth's eyes flashed with cold malice. He grabbed Liu Ping'er's chin, a sinister smile twisting his face. "You took my words for granted. Even now, you dare to be so defiant."
"See clearly. He died because of you."
Saying this, he released Liu Ping'er's mouth and walked towards Xu Tianyou.
He stepped on the wound on Xu Tianyou's back.
"Mmmph..." Xu Tianyou trembled with pain, but his mouth was taped shut, preventing any sound.
"You lunatic, what are you doing?" Liu Ping'er's face lost all color, her voice hoarse and desperate.
Unfortunately, the soundproofing in this presidential suite was exceptionally good.
People outside could not hear anything happening inside.
"Killing, for someone like me, is as natural as eating or drinking. It's something that must be done." The youth didn't turn back. He bent down and squatted beside Xu Tianyou, hooking his chin with his hand.
He bent Xu Tianyou's upper body backward.
Then, he moved him to face Liu Ping'er, his smile growing increasingly cruel and ferocious.
He drew a short dagger made of Damascus steel from his waist and pressed the blade against Xu Tianyou's throat.
The chilling aura from the blade sent goosebumps erupting all over Xu Tianyou. His eyes were filled with terror.
He had always been the one protecting the younger brothers and sisters from the orphanage.
But he had never felt this kind of fear before.
Even during the assassination attempt, he had only felt a surge of anger, not this overwhelming dread.
This fear encompassed his own life and death.
More than anything, it was for Liu Ping'er.
"Mmph mph..." He wanted Liu Ping'er to tell the truth. Only by speaking the truth could she save her life.
Unfortunately, his muffled sounds were like pleas.
Liu Ping'er's beautiful eyes seemed on the verge of tears, her eyes about to split. She stared fixedly at the youth, her teeth grinding audibly. "Let him go. I truly don't know what you're talking about."
"That document, I've never given it to anyone."
"Kill me..."
*Squelch...*
Before she could finish speaking, a faint tearing sound like ripping silk was followed by a spurt of blood that flew nearly two to three meters.
The incredibly sharp Damascus steel dagger had sliced across Xu Tianyou's throat, the blade emerging without a drop of blood.
Xu Tianyou's body convulsed violently, his blood gushing from the severed artery.
It stained the ground from in front of him all the way to Liu Ping'er's feet, painting it crimson.
"Ah..." Liu Ping'er let out a piercing scream, her mind blank. She immediately closed her eyes tightly.
Tears burst from the corners of her eyes.
From childhood until now, the brother who loved and protected her had been brutally murdered before her eyes.
And she could do nothing.
She hated!
She hated herself for being so powerless.
She hated her own recklessness that had implicated her loved ones.
She wished she could die, for only death could erase the guilt and hatred in her heart.
She dared not look into Xu Tianyou's dying eyes.
"This is your last chance. Tell me who copied the document." The buzz-cut youth wore a pathological smile, seemingly relishing the torment.
Having worked as a mercenary in Southeast Asia for many years, killing was his sole means of livelihood.
Therefore, he had to enjoy the thrill of it.
Otherwise, he would quickly grow weary.
He released Xu Tianyou's head, letting it fall to the floor.
Then, stepping carefully on the ground not yet splashed with blood, he walked over to Liu Ping'er.
The chilling dagger was gently placed against her throat.
His voice, like that of a demon from the icy depths, echoed in Liu Ping'er's ear: "I'll count to one, two, three. If you don't speak, you'll have to join your friend."
"But I can guarantee that everyone you care about will follow you within a day."
"For a beautiful woman like you, I'm truly reluctant to..."
*Thump!*
Before he could finish speaking, the room's door suddenly exploded with a deafening roar.
The solid wood door, made of eight-centimeter-thick rosewood, split in the middle after this tremendous impact.
Wood splinters shot out like arrows.
They struck the sofa in the living room with sharp cracks.
One splinter flew the furthest, heading directly for the killer.
With a clang, he blocked it with the dagger he wielded.
The killer's eyes narrowed into slits. He released Liu Ping'er and stared fixedly at the figure that appeared after the door was breached.
Liu Ping'er also blinked her beautiful eyes open wide at the tremendous commotion, then a look of disbelief dawned on her face.
Through the dust and smoke, Li Zhonglou, carrying a fire axe, kicked open the shattered door and strode into the room.
Seeing Xu Tianyou's lifeless body on the floor, a cold glint erupted in his eyes.
"Li Zhonglou, run!" Liu Ping'er cried out urgently.
She never imagined that at her most desperate moment, when she was ready to die, Li Zhonglou would actually come.
He had called earlier, and the killer had answered.
They wanted to lure him to the hotel, to kill him without question.
She never expected him to be so foolish as to come to the hotel to find her.
The killer before him was extremely cruel.
This was a suicide mission!
"Did you kill him?" Li Zhonglou ignored Liu Ping'er, staring intently into the killer's eyes, and asked in a cold voice.
As he spoke, he continued walking, dragging the fire axe behind him towards Liu Ping'er.
"You're the one who called not long ago, aren't you?" The killer squinted, looking at Li Zhonglou with interest. He didn't stop Li Zhonglou from approaching; instead, he asked with a sinister grin, "Another one coming to die."
"It just saves me the trouble of dealing with them one by one."
"It's just that you're too rough. Why did you have to smash the hotel door? Do you know I have to pay for that?"
"As punishment, I'll break all your limbs, just like you broke the door."
Saying this, he moved past Liu Ping'er, twirling the Damascus steel dagger in his hand with practiced ease, its cold glint flashing.
His eyes were filled with mockery.
Although Li Zhonglou held a fire axe, he didn't care at all.
Weren't the hardened men with guns in Southeast Asia all killed by his blade?
What was a mere greenhorn a few years younger than him?
*Crack, crack!*
After the killer finished speaking, he suddenly accelerated, his foot splashing through the blood pool.
He charged at Li Zhonglou and swung his dagger straight for him.
*Hummm...*
Almost simultaneously, the fire axe Li Zhonglou was dragging behind him let out a fierce whistling sound as it cut through the air, striking from behind.
"You're asking for death." The killer hadn't expected Li Zhonglou to react so quickly. A savage glint flashed in his eyes. Refusing to dodge, he reached out his left hand to block the axe handle.
His experience told him that this position could deflect sixty percent of the force.
It would directly render the fire axe useless.
Meanwhile, his dagger would be able to pierce directly into Li Zhonglou's throat.
He particularly enjoyed the moment after piercing the throat and pulling the blade out, the gushing blood he called art.
Unfortunately, he had miscalculated one thing.
He had mistaken Li Zhonglou for an ordinary person.
*Crack!*
His left arm met Li Zhonglou's axe handle as expected, but it couldn't withstand the impact, instead emitting a piercing sound of bone cracking.
The killer's expression instantly turned to horror, accompanied by a heart-wrenching scream of pain.
His entire arm was directly smashed apart from his body by the immense force.
Ever since Li Zhonglou broke through to the second realm, his strength and speed were ten times that of an ordinary person.
Imagine, if a person's full explosive power was one hundred kilograms, he could achieve one thousand kilograms.
Although this one thousand kilograms was reduced by sixty percent by the killer using leverage,
There were still four hundred kilograms remaining.
Under a tenfold gravitational acceleration, what did this mean?
Coupled with Li Zhonglou's indignant strike, this blow was utterly unrestrained.
It directly tore his entire arm from his body, the broken bone ends glistening, blood gushing out.
The killer was instantly sent crashing to the ground.
He curled up like a shrimp in pain.
His face was completely contorted.
Gritting his teeth, he cursed, "Beast... Beast..."
Liu Ping'er watched this scene with wide, astonished eyes, her face filled with shock.
She never imagined that Li Zhonglou could subdue this demonic killer in a single move.
And in such a bloody and violent manner.
Her heart welled with immense gratitude and satisfaction.
Evil reaps its reward.
Just when she thought she was surely going to die, Li Zhonglou appeared before her like a divine warrior descending from heaven.
This man had saved her for the second time.
Compared to last time, he was now like a god of war, someone to be looked up to.
"Who sent you?" While Liu Ping'er's heart was in turmoil, Li Zhonglou had already stepped on the killer's chest and questioned him in a deep voice.
The killer's mouth was full of blood, and his right hand, unable to grip the dagger, dropped to the side.
The pain on his face slowly subsided, replaced by a perverse grin.
He looked at Li Zhonglou and taunted, "Kid, I was careless and fell into your hands this time."
"But would you dare to kill me?"
"If you kill me, everyone related to you will be hunted endlessly."
"If you want to know who ordered me, feel free to try!"
A naked threat.
This kind of unyielding scoundrel, accustomed to life and death, knowing he would meet a bad end eventually, felt no fear whatsoever.
Under such circumstances, he could still threaten back.
Li Zhonglou's eyes flickered with a hint of hesitation.
The killer's words indeed made him wary.
Killing a pawn would bring endless pursuit. He wasn't afraid, but what about his mother, wife, and friends?
He was not a god; he couldn't protect everyone perfectly.
This exchange was not worth it.
Seeing his hesitation, the killer's grin grew wider, his face filled with smugness. "Kid, you crippled one of my arms."
"Remember this, I will come back for you."
"And when I do, I will leave not a single chicken or dog in your house alive!"
Saying this, he tried to use his remaining right hand to push Li Zhonglou's foot away.
It had to be said, his Chinese was extremely fluent. Although it was mixed with a southern accent, there was no problem with comprehension.
Unfortunately, he didn't know that misfortune often comes from speaking too much.
Li Zhonglou, who had been hesitating, instantly became resolute upon hearing this.
His killing intent surged like a mighty river.
*Crack!*
Before the killer could push him away, Li Zhonglou stomped heavily on his chest.
His ribs instantly shattered, and his heart exploded under the immense pressure.
The killer's movement froze mid-air, his eyes bulging as if about to burst, his gaze filled with extreme horror.
It was as if he had countless questions as to why Li Zhonglou dared to act against him.
But he didn't even have a chance to grunt before he was completely dead.
"You... you killed him?" Liu Ping'er asked, stunned.
"If he doesn't die, you and I will never know peace!" Li Zhonglou said calmly, stepping away without changing his expression.
He hadn't intended to kill, but the killer wanted to destroy his entire family.
Since they had touched his bottom line, there was no reason for him to be allowed to live.
Those who dared to harm his family.
Would be killed without mercy!