C3 Let Go of That Girl!

Upon witnessing his poison sac being taken, the Black-clothed Man's complexion drained of color.

"Ah!" he screamed.

The excruciating pain that seemed to disassemble his entire body elicited a harrowing cry from the Black-clothed Man, sending shivers down the spine of anyone who heard it.

Wang Xiao didn't immediately press him for information. Instead, he methodically dislocated and relocated the Black-clothed Man's joints several times before finally ceasing.

"How does it feel? Not too bad, right? Makes you wish for death, doesn't it?" Wang Xiao asked, his face beaming with a sunny smile.

"I do, I wish to die. It was the Chen Family... the Chen Family wants the girl dead..." The Black-clothed Man's face was ashen, his lips tinged with blue, his body quaking, drenched in sweat. He looked at Wang Xiao with eyes that saw a demon from the depths of hell, his voice quivering as he divulged the truth.

"The Chen Family?" Wang Xiao mentally noted the name.

At that point, the Black-clothed Man seemed to completely unravel, desperately clutching at Wang Xiao's clothes, pleading in anguish, "Please, just kill me! End it now! I can't endure this torture any longer!"

"Ah, but you haven't yet revealed which assassin organization you belong to. You're not allowed to die just yet!" Wang Xiao responded, the corners of his mouth curling into a benign smile as he chuckled at the Black-clothed Man.

To his surprise, the Black-clothed Man, upon hearing Wang Xiao's words and seeing his 'devilish' grin, convulsed, eyes rolling back as he lost control of his bodily functions and was literally scared to death.

"How did he just die from fright? Am I truly that terrifying?" Wang Xiao mused, a wry smile flickering across his face at the Black-clothed Man's pitiful demise.

Despite the Black-clothed Man's death, Wang Xiao's quest for information was not hindered. He examined the dagger in his hand; it bore no distinctive marks. Then, he unbuttoned the Black-clothed Man's shirt and upon discovering a mandala flower tattoo on his chest, Wang Xiao's eyes gleamed with recognition as he murmured to himself.

The mandrake flower, blossoming along the path to the underworld, symbolizes the existence of the living and the passage of the departed into the afterlife...

"It turns out to be a top-tier assassin organization from abroad, the Rebirth Camp. I hadn't realized they'd already started to infiltrate. The old man sent me away from the mountain to gain experience—could it be he wants me to restore order to this underground world?"

"Well, now that I've descended the mountain, it's time for these scoundrels to scatter!"

Wang Xiao's lips perpetually curved into a faint smile, but with each word he uttered, the gleam in his eyes grew more intense. It was as though he held the renowned Rebirth Camp in utter disregard.

Casting a glance at the corpse of the Black-clothed Man on the ground, Wang Xiao nonchalantly retrieved a small jade bottle, sprinkling its powdery contents onto the body. Instantly, the corpse began to bubble and dissolved into a puddle of blood in the blink of an eye.

Having disposed of the body, Wang Xiao then turned and walked away from the scene.

...

In the bustling commercial heart of Eastern City within Forest City, the Chen Group's headquarters towered over forty stories high, its glass façade exuding a modern and imposing air.

In front of the Chen Corporation building, a cadre of uniformed security guards patrolled methodically, steel rods in hand, their faces stern and eyes sharp—clearly not a place for loiterers. Many passersby looked on with envy, as if landing a job at the Chen Group was a matter of great prestige.

The Chen Group, a family-run enterprise, primarily employed members of the Chen Family, rarely opening its doors to outsiders. Consequently, the criteria to join the Chen Group were exceptionally stringent.

"I didn't expect the security at the Chen Group to be so formidable. I had hoped to meet with the Chen Group's executive."

Wang Xiao stood in a secluded corner outside the Chen Group, eyeing the disciplined security detail. He murmured to himself, "No matter. I'll leave this headache to Tong Waner's father. If I go in now, I might just spook the quarry."

Ultimately, Wang Xiao shook his head, abandoning his plan to infiltrate stealthily. Over dinner, he had already ascertained Tong Waner's background and was aware of her father's influence in Forest City's Eastern District. The Chen Group's attempt on Tong Waner's life was undoubtedly connected to his so-called 'father-in-law'.

...

Having left the Chen Group behind, Wang Xiao strolled through the streets, the moon shining brightly above and a gentle breeze creating a pleasant atmosphere.

He found himself reflecting on the tales the old man would share after a few drinks—stories of his heyday as the world's foremost god of slaughter, the feared Prison Department that once made nations cower...

Each time the old man concluded his tales, his eyes would sparkle with an intense light.

As Wang Xiao was deep in thought, a commotion from a nearby secluded alleyway broke his reverie.

"What do you think you're doing? Stay back!"

A scowl crossed Wang Xiao's face, and a surge of anger flickered in his eyes as he peered into the alley.

"To disrupt such a perfect mood, to spoil the beauty of this moonlit night, and to attempt such a thing in my presence? You're asking for trouble!"

With a cold huff, Wang Xiao's figure blurred, and he vanished from sight.

...

In the dim alley, a stunning woman clad in a white blouse and black miniskirt pressed herself against the wall, her face etched with panic. Her eyes, wide with fear, darted to the thugs before her as she trembled.

"If you come any closer, I—I'm going to call the police!"

Ding Mengqi had intended to take a shortcut back to her apartment after a late night of grading papers at school, hoping for a quick shower and some much-needed rest.

Unexpectedly, she encountered these ruffians in the desolate alley, who had stopped her and were insisting she join them for drinks.

"Call the police? Heh, we'll see if you even get the chance."

The thugs wore smug grins, and the ringleader lasciviously licked his lips at Ding Mengqi, his leering chuckle cutting through the air. "Come on, beautiful, have a few drinks with us, keep us company for a bit of fun, and then maybe I'll let you go."

"That's right, just have a good time with us, and then we'll set you free."

"Boss, this chick is a real catch. I've been hanging around bars for years and I've never come across anyone like her. Plus, I think she's a teacher."

The gang of thugs snickered and leered at Ding Mengqi, their eyes brimming with lust, while the sleazier ones among them smirked in anticipation.

If only I'd known, I wouldn't have taken the shortcut. What do I do now?

Ding Mengqi, realizing the vile intentions in their stares, was consumed with regret, her face etched with panic.

The thought of being defiled by these goons was unbearable; she'd rather die.

With that thought, Ding Mengqi bit her lip and her hands, as white as snow, balled into fists, ready to fight back with all her might.

The thugs were taken aback by the fierce stance of this stunning beauty, but then burst into raucous laughter.

"Look at her, still trying to put up a fight. Boss, what's our move?"

One thug chortled and turned to their leader for instructions.

"What else? Play along and let the little lady throw her punches," the head thug replied with a sly grin, amusement twinkling in his eyes.

Hearing this, Ding Mengqi's cheeks flushed crimson like ripe apples. She tightened her fists and, with gritted teeth, lunged at the head thug.

But she was just a delicate girl; her blows were no more painful than a tickle to the thug leader.

"Sweetheart, you're not packing much punch there. Could it be you're holding back because you don't want to hurt me?" he taunted, his sinister smile widening as he tugged at the grotesque scar on his face, looking all the more menacing.

As he spoke, his burly hand reached out for Ding Mengqi's delicate one.

"Stay back, leave me alone!" she exclaimed, her voice sharp with fear as she quickly retracted her fist and stared at the scar-faced thug, her eyes wide with terror.

"Heh, my dear, there's no escaping tonight. Just give up quietly!"

As Ding Mengqi flailed her small pink fists in the air, the scar-faced thug appeared to take it as a challenge. His malicious grin widened as he prepared to forcefully seize her.

"Stop, release that girl!"

Just then, a voice resonant with conviction echoed from the entrance of the secluded alley. It carried a tone of righteous indignation, as if the speaker was ready to fight to the bitter end.