Qin Yexuan walked into Kim Tae-hyung’s simple, antique office.
The scent of tea still lingered in the room, the screen had been removed.
Kim Tae-hyung sat opposite him, a seemingly benevolent old man, the kind who seemed harmless.
But as Qin Yexuan entered, his hair stood on end.
His eyes narrowed, and he instantly activated the Equalizer, his barrier activating at once.
Simultaneously, Qin Yexuan’s left hand, hidden behind his back, flashed with a silver light.
Stab!
He staggered back, a long, thin wound appearing on his chest, blood flowing uncontrollably.
Only then did a faint shadow appear, right in front of Qin Yexuan, where he had just been standing.
An invisible assassin.
Within the Equalizer’s barrier, the invisible assassin’s spiritual power was locked, forcing him to reveal his true form.
He was a skinny man with no clothes, his head completely shaved.
He grabbed a nearby strip of cloth, wrapped it around himself, and then bowed to Kim Tae-hyung, “My spiritual power is indeed locked. It hasn’t disappeared, but I cannot use any abilities near him.”
Kim Tae-hyung stood up excitedly, the assassin standing obediently to the side.
“Mr. Qin Yexuan, please forgive my rudeness. I had to test it. After all, what is deduced is sometimes incomplete.”
Qin Yexuan clutched his wound and pulled a chair over to sit down. “So you watched my combat videos and the explosion site and deduced that I have this ability to lock abilities?”
Kim Tae-hyung smiled. “At my age, I’m less inclined to fight and more inclined to solve problems with intellect. In fact, I noticed you the moment you appeared in Puyan.”
“That’s when I started researching you, your legends in Great Xia, including the truth about the spiritual energy revival… Speaking of which, Mr. Qin’s Equalizer ability, in my opinion, is not invincible.”
Qin Yexuan was very interested. “Oh, elaborate.”
Kim Tae-hyung propped himself up, a sly glint in his eyes. “Your ability, to put it simply, requires foresight. You must know where the enemy is and when they will attack to activate it in time. Unfortunately, it’s not a passive talent.”
“Since it needs to be activated, there’s a delay process.”
Kim Tae-hyung’s eyes flashed. “Therefore, you cannot defend against long-range sniping and close-quarters assassination.”
He slowly raised his hand and made a gesture towards the window.
Qin Yexuan’s ear felt hot, and only then did the sound of a sniper rifle reach him.
The bullet grazed his ear and pierced the wall behind him.
“It’s not just you, Mr. Qin. I’m also very fond of old-world weapons. So I collected a battle sniper rifle capable of penetrating a human head from three kilometers away. And I also took in a super sniper who participated in old-world battles.”
Kim Tae-hyung could not hide his pride. “In the old days, this top assassin was a formidable figure in the Middle East. A mastermind of the dark world, the leader of the world’s number one mercenary group, the Heavenly Demon Legion.”
Qin Yexuan’s lips curved. “That’s enough. You don’t need to brag about your sniper anymore, Mr. Kim Tae-hyung. What do you want?”
Kim Tae-hyung clasped his hands behind his back. “I just want to make one point clear to you: your life is now in my hands.”
Qin Yexuan interrupted him again. “If you want to find me for cooperation, you’d better not beat around the bush.”
“Why would I want to cooperate with you? Mr. Qin, didn’t you walk in here yourself?”
Qin Yexuan slowly stood up. “Kim Tae-hyung, you consider yourself far-sighted and manipulative, but in my eyes, you are still too young.”
What?
Kim Tae-hyung was, strictly speaking, a big shot of the same generation as Kim Won-seong’s father, and he was almost eighty years old. Yet, he was being told he was too young?
He felt a sense of helpless amusement.
Qin Yexuan smiled. “The three great Taoist sects of Goryeo are about to hold a secret gathering at the Azure Dragon Temple. Their purpose is to elect a new sect leader. The Goryeo National Intelligence Agency will also be attending this gathering. For you, the Kim Se Group is just worldly affairs. What you truly desire is to control the three great Taoist sects.”
Kim Tae-hyung’s expression changed.
He hadn’t expected this Great Xia man to understand him so well.
“Then, what do you want?” Kim Tae-hyung seemed to be losing patience.
Qin Yexuan coldly raised a finger. “You will completely withdraw from the Kim Se Conglomerate, open its defenses, and let the Seven Stars Society deal with those two useless pieces of trash, Kim Jun-soo. I can allow you to take one squad, only one.”
Kim Tae-hyung frowned and hadn’t spoken when Qin Yexuan raised a second finger. “Don’t rush, there’s a second condition. I want Kim Won-seong and his wife Choi Eun-cheol to return safely.”
Kim Tae-hyung stiffened. “Kim Won-seong’s disappearance has nothing to do with me!”
“Do you think I believe that?” Qin Yexuan snorted. “Since we are cooperating, let’s be honest. I know you have locked them up and sold Kim Go-wol to the Yongcheon Base.”
Kim Tae-hyung snarled. “I just said, you are not invincible. Even if I can’t use my abilities, my sniper and assassin can still take your life.”
Qin Yexuan suddenly smiled. “Your sniper, what is that old master from the past era called?”
Kim Tae-hyung chuckled. “Have you ever heard of Hell’s Heavenly Demon, Lie Yuanzun?”
Qin Yexuan revealed a strange smile. “Alright, he is indeed a top assassin. But if you kill me now, how will you deal with the Azure Dragon Temple gathering? I know you have secretly cultivated three subordinates within the three sects, but unfortunately, their positions are too low and their cultivation is too weak. Besides me, no one can help you achieve your ambition.”
Kim Tae-hyung thought intensely.
After a long, long time, he raised his palm. “Deal!”
Qin Yexuan clapped hands with him in agreement, and the atmosphere immediately became harmonious.
“Kim Woo-bin is already preparing to attack Kim Jun-soo. His plan is quite brilliant. He gets Kim Jun-soo’s territory, controls four squads, and can also control the Ten Floors’ influence, making him my equal.”
Kim Tae-hyung opened the ubiquitous surveillance screens.
They saw Kim Woo-bin personally leading a force comprised of three squads, attacking Kim Jun-soo’s core territory from three directions: the elevator, the stairs, and from outside the building.
At the same time, assassins from the five major forces of Seoul, led by Liu Yuan-tae himself, appeared in the building’s parking lot.
“Let Liu Yuan-tae and them in. They can directly attack from the fiftieth floor of your territory downwards. They can reap the benefits of both sides being exhausted and clean up the mess after they are both wounded.”
Kim Tae-hyung smiled slightly. “Brilliant. Then I can sit here and watch a good show.”
Qin Yexuan easily left Kim Tae-hyung’s territory and headed for the top floor.
On a tall building opposite, Lie Yuanzun, with stubble on his chin, lowered his sniper rifle and activated a secret communicator.
Qin Yexuan’s ear then heard his voice. “Master, should I shoot that old man?”
“No, he is very useful to me now. After the Azure Dragon Temple gathering and rescuing Kim Won-seong and his wife, he can die.”
At this moment, the greatest internal strife in the Kim Se Conglomerate had just begun.
Kim Woo-bin had already reached the 49th floor, which was Kim Jun-soo’s last line of defense, and his stronghold.