Chapter 74: Gravely Wounded on the Brink of Death
Chapter 74: Gravely Wounded on the Brink of Death
As the atmosphere at the venue grew feverish, the charity auction slowly neared its end. At that moment, Lin Mu, who had been covertly watching Ao Shaolong, suddenly stood up. The people beside him glanced over in surprise.
“I’ve got something else to attend to, so I’ll be leaving first. Head back without me.”
“What is it, A-Mu? Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” Song Yuru asked. It was getting rather late.
“It’s important. I need to handle it. Don’t wait up; go to sleep.”
Lin Mu smiled slightly, then left the gathering alone. It happened that Ao Shaolong had slipped away just moments before. Lin Mu wanted to find out where the necklace was hidden so he could retrieve it later.
Stepping through the main exit, Lin Mu scanned the area. He spotted Ao Shaolong boarding a Rolls-Royce Phantom with several bodyguards and driving off.
With a subtle exertion of strength, Lin Mu shot forward silently, keeping pace behind the car. With plenty of traffic lights in the city, he wasn’t worried about losing it.
After tailing the vehicle for several intersections, as they approached the left-turn lane at the next crossing, the streetlights abruptly went dark. Three faint black figures flickered through the air the very next instant.
The instant they appeared, three blinding flashes of steel shone from the figures. They acted with perfect coordination: three long, narrow blades struck simultaneously, aiming unerringly for Lin Mu’s vital points.
Seeing Lin Mu frozen like a statue, the three shadows felt a thrill of victory. So easily dealt with! The money this time was practically a handout!
Then, Lin Mu twisted. His body flexed unnaturally, like he had no bones, avoiding all three strikes in the same second.
The three masked assassins immediately tensed, shocked he’d slipped their ambush so easily. They shifted to merge their attacks, but Lin Mu didn’t give them the chance.
His feet shifted almost imperceptibly. In a blur, he was beside one assassin. His left hand flicked out, plucking a narrow blade from the figure’s grasp. An elbow strike flew out, smashing into the assassin and knocking him away, while the other assassin’s sword remained in Lin Mu’s grip.
True energy pulsed through Lin Mu’s fingers. With a muffled crack, the blade snapped neatly between them. Lin Mu flicked the broken halves. They shot forward, embedding deeply into the shoulders of the other two assassins.
Two loud clatters rang out as the remaining swords hit the pavement. In mere seconds, Lin Mu had disarmed all three.
Lin Mu saw no need to spill blood. Sparing their lives might yield information.
He opened his mouth to question them. But ignoring their wounds, they snatched short daggers from hidden sheaths. Their forms flickered once, fading into the night.
Their speed surpassed human limits, ghostly quick. Yet Lin Mu tracked them effortlessly. Each time he struck, their positions twisted unnaturally, dodging his blows as if blown sideways by invisible winds.
Intrigued, Lin Mu focused harder on their movements. A strange technique! Before long, he fathomed its secret.
They manipulated swirling energy currents, distorting perception! Sizing up their essence, Lin Mu mimicked the motions. Abruptly, he grasped the technique!
His own silhouette now blurred. Their knives slashed through empty space. The longer the fight lasted, the more their confidence bled away. Soon, Lin Mu’s execution of the form surpassed theirs. Drastically!
This Mist Concealment Technique was an advanced Blood Thorn method, taught only to high-ranking killers. Even these three only knew its fragments! Yet Lin Mu wielded it better than its masters!
They exchanged glances. Together, they leaped back, widening the gap.
“Are you… also from Blood Thorn?” the trio asked, utterly confused.
The unexpected phrase startled Lin Mu, but comprehension dawned instantly. He also withdrew calmly, assuming a neutral stance. “So you are too. But why hunt your own?”
“We didn’t know! We were just sent to execute a mission target. No one informed us you were one of ours,” the assassins confessed in unison.
“Knowing that now,” Lin Mu’s tone was eerily level, “will you continue pursuing me? Or return to report?”
“Of course not! Blood Thorn’s first law is, ‘No brother murders brother.’ A mistake has occurred. Come back with us. We’ll investigate,” urged one, still clutching his bleeding shoulder.
“Not possible now. I’m still tracking a vital target — you three interrupted it.” Lin Mu gestured toward the departed vehicle’s path.
“But if you don’t return, trouble will follow! They dispatched nine killers in total. Others are stationed elsewhere,” another warned. “For operational security, we have no contact. Can’t signal them. You might face another ambush!”
“Who ordered my execution?” Lin Mu pressed bluntly.
“Blood Thorn’s code binds us. Never reveal a client. Besides, we know nothing except the target and the location,” they admitted.
Lin Mu sighed inwardly. He truly wasn’t surprised. Peons like these wouldn’t know much.
“Then report back alone. Worry not about the others; they’re no match for me. If we meet, I’ll spare them like I did you.”
With that, Lin Mu vanished into the enveloping darkness.
He raced down the road, analyzing what he’d learned. These killers were clearly more organized than the throwing knife guy from the last encounter. They had codified techniques — a structured faction! That meant they possessed deep, sustained power. Lin Mu couldn’t underestimate a foe like this.
Deep in thought, a sudden breeze brushed Lin Mu’s neck. An instant later, a dim blade edge flashed past him, almost missing.
A man appeared directly ahead. White mask. White gloves. White shoes. Each piece bore an identical insignia: a small, coiled green viper.
Lin Mu barely took in the details. A cold sting penetrated his waist! All strength fled. He collapsed. Blood pooled rapidly beside him.
“An expert!” Lin Mu coughed violently, spraying fresh crimson onto the asphalt. “Never thought someone of your caliber… would stoop to ambush.”
The man flicked his pristine gloves along his blade’s edge. His voice was chillingly soft. “I’m a hunter. My goal’s completion. Stealth, betrayal, poison — I use any tool. I’ve stooped far lower than this.”
Another hacking cough shook Lin Mu. Blood bubbled on his lips. “True professional… timing… pinpoint… You watched… my fight… didn’t you?”
“Indeed.” A soft laugh escaped the masked lips as his knife slid cleanly into its sheath. “Your strength… demanded surprise. Years have passed since I needed such tactics. Only my second ‘blitz-kill’ target ever.”
“I’m dying… tell me… who orders it?” Lin Mu pleaded weakly. His eyes fluttered shut. “Just let me… die knowing!”
The assassin shook his head, turning away. “Death ends all cares… Why burden an end?”
“Can’t you grant… this?” Lin Mu rasped one final time, his breathing faint.
The masked head tilted. That eerie softness held a trace of contempt. “I cannot. But I’ll gift you this: know your reaper’s name… Remember it in the afterlife… I am Green Snake.”
He pivoted sharply, dismissing the fallen shadow behind him.
That instant — pure, primal instinct shrieked! Green Snake’s years of slaughter had honed his body’s alerts to perfection! Danger surged too suddenly! No thought — survival only! He detonated his Dantian’s reserves! Full power exploded outward, veins crackling!
Green Snake twisted violently! His form distorted, shadow-phasing — a desperate sideways lunge!
An enraged roar ripped through the spot Green Snake vacated! Lin Mu exploded upright! Stunned disbelief touched his face! How!? That ambush was flawless! His heart raced even in the leap as Green Snake’s body blurred sideways — that evasion! Swiftest Lin Mu had EVER witnessed! And… that energy surge confirmed it! The man stood equal ground! Another Spirit Gathering Master! Dantian unleashed!
Lin Mu hurled himself down Green Snake’s path! His movements blurred even more intensely! Air currents rippled around his frame! Wisps of thick mist seemed to curl into existence!
Green Snake’s mind raced frantically. He never faced foes relying solely on senses till now! He evaded Lin Mu’s prior assaults by sheer feel, blind precision honed over time! But Lin Mu’s sudden mastery of the Mist Concealment Technique shattered that advantage! It scattered Green Snake’s perception like windblown leaves!
Panic seized Green Snake’s heart. He shifted forms mid-lunge — thrice over! Each frantic twist a blur — yet Lin Mu clung! Surging faster! Relentless! Implacable!
Green Snake dug his heels! Enough fleeing! He’d pivot, unleash everything! Fight for survival!
Lin Mu’s hand shot out! Not a fist — a piercing stab! Index and middle fingers rigid!
A faint, translucent sliver condensed between them! It looked frail: twisting, unstable, barely holding form — a gust away from dissipating!
Yet this flicker-thin Sword Qi punched clean through Green Snake’s back. Piercing fabric. Muscle. Bone! His heart erupted! True energy tore his flesh apart! He channeled frantic Qi to block — far too late! The phantom force shredded his core instantly!
Green Snake’s mind screamed disbelief! He half-wheeled instinctively — fingers clawing out! Trying in vain for a vengeful strike!
But Lin Mu had withdrawn — staggering several steps away himself, looking pale.
Green Snake stumbled. He clutched his chest. Strangely, little external bleeding gushed. Yet he felt it inside — the awful certainty! Blood flooding his lungs. His heart pulped! Life already leaking away!
“You…! Impossible!” Green Snake gasped out, staring wild horror at Lin Mu still standing despite being sliced moments earlier! “My blade struck true…!” He remembered the blood spill! He remembered Lin Mu’s collapse! How?!
That final question burned behind his eyes — unanswered forevermore as his vision dimmed. His knees buckled entirely. He toppled face first into the pavement. Silence returned.
Only after Green Snake stopped moving did Lin Mu’s strained expression finally collapse. A surge of thick, sickly darkish blood burst from his lips. His vision swam violently.
Barely upright, he staggered away from the road. Half-falling into a narrow alleyway, he leaned heavily against a wall, scraping himself raw as he stumbled blindly.
Green Snake’s blade had been fearsome — blinding speed! — but the wound alone wouldn’t have ravaged Lin Mu so. The true culprit festered deep: virulent poison! Seeping through his veins!
After stumbling an impossibly long time, a vaguely familiar figure entered Lin Mu’s blurring sight. Names vanished from his mind, lost to fogs of toxins burning his thoughts. Yet pure survival-instinct screamed forward motion! He stretched out a trembling, desperate hand…
But speech remained impossible. Lin Mu’s face had turned an unnatural purplish-black shade. All strength drained, plunging downward. He collapsed onto the alley floor with a heavy thud! Consciousness flickered — drowned in the poison’s spreading dark flood.