PSST!!
The dull thud of metal piercing skin and muscle sounded out.
Under Zhao Xuanqi's masterful control, the incredibly sharp tip of the scissors plunged deep into the man's neck.
It was like a bird's sharp beak pecking into its prey's throat.
The carotid artery, vagus nerve, and vocal cords were all pierced in one strike!
The man couldn't make a sound or even move. His eyes rolled back, his mouth fell slightly open, and all signs of life vanished.
Fast! Precise! Ruthless!
Once an opportunity presented itself, he left his opponent no chance of survival!
This was the Hundred Beasts Fist, a truly terrifying Killing Life Boxing Technique.
In truth, killing a person was often easier than killing a chicken, provided one had the right skills.
A chicken, at least, retained its wild animal instincts and was far more alert than most people.
These Guards were nothing more than common porters, with some street fighting experience at best. They couldn't be considered Martial Artists at all. Although Zhao Qi's body was still very weak, a sharp blade in hand increased his offensive power exponentially. Combined with the support of Zhao Xuanqi's Martial Dao experience, his lethality against ordinary people was still terrifying. How could men like these possibly stand a chance?
The man's body slowly slumped, and the pipe he was holding in his mouth fell through the air.
Zhao Xuanqi moved with it, catching the falling body with one hand. His other hand shot out and precisely snatched the pipe from mid-air. He gently lowered the man to the ground and set the pipe down beside him.
He then turned the corpse's neck so the wound faced a stack of goods inside the lean-to, and with his other hand, yanked out the scissor blade.
This was to prevent the sudden spray of blood from the neck from splattering onto his clothes, which would have left him reeking of blood and compromised the rest of his stealth assault.
PSST!!
The moment he pulled out the scissors, hot blood shot out like a water gun. Most of it splattered against the crates, making little noise, but a small amount still splashed onto his arm. If he hadn't taken precautions, the smell of blood would have started to spread immediately.
He casually wiped the blood from his hand and the scissors on the dead man's clothes, then lifted the man's shirt to cover the wound and the pooling blood, further preventing the scent from spreading. He quickly crept toward his next target.
Silently, without anyone noticing, Death had quietly arrived outside the Hengsheng Warehouse.
Zhao Xuanqi perfectly embodied the law of the beast: stalk, lie in wait, and strike with explosive force.
In less than five minutes, all five Guards outside the warehouse were eliminated. Two of them had even been chatting together, but they still couldn't make a sound before they died.
After dealing with the Guards outside, Zhao Xuanqi approached the warehouse. He could faintly hear voices talking inside, but he couldn't make out the words.
He paused for a moment, then slipped quietly through a window into the warehouse. He hid in a dark corner behind some crates to survey the situation inside.
'Taking care of the Guards outside had been simple enough. The real trouble is the people inside the warehouse.'
'It's an enclosed space, but the line of sight is fairly open. If there are too many people gathered together, it will be quite troublesome.'
'After all, a direct confrontation isn't to Zhao Xuanqi's advantage right now. This body of Zhao Qi's is still too weak; it can't take much abuse.'
The center of the warehouse was brightly lit by two yellow lamps hanging from the ceiling, illuminating a clearing of several dozen square meters.
Five men were seated around a round wooden table. On several chairs beside them lay daggers, long blades, and iron rods. On the table itself were several jars of wine and some side dishes.
Deng Zhuo and the two cronies who had been with him the other day were among them.
"Zhuo, did that kid Zhao Qi really pass the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall's test? Something about this feels off."
"Yeah, the guy collapsed from illness not long ago. I heard he was on death's door. When we saw him two days ago, he looked like a gust of wind could knock him over. How could he possibly pass the Martial Arts Hall's test?"
"..."
The men were discussing matters related to Zhao Qi.
"I thought it was strange too, so I had someone ask around. The kid really did pass the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall test. They say he achieved Four Sounds."
"Now not only is the deal off, but we'll also have to worry about this kid coming after us in the future. What rotten luck."
From his vantage point, Zhao Xuanqi could clearly see Deng Zhuo pick up a wine bowl, drain it in one gulp, his expression grim.
"The Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall is a bit of a problem, sure, but luckily he's just a new disciple in the Outer Sect. If you're really worried, we can find a way to get rid of him or cripple him."
A tall man sitting next to Deng Zhuo spoke up.
"Chen Ting, that's not a good idea. The kid is part of the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall now. If we touch him, the entire Sanshui Gang might have a problem."
Deng Zhuo said with a frown.
"Of course we won't do it ourselves. This is a chaotic era. What kind of people can't you find in Celestial Sea Prefecture? As long as the money is right, what won't those desperados do? But even if we hire someone, we have to plan it properly. For example, start a fight while the kid is eating out, injure him, and then run. The point is not to leave any evidence that could lead the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall back to us. The Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall is a behemoth, true, but they don't rule everything in Celestial Sea."
"You brought me to see that Zhao Qi last time. I have a good read on him. He has no connections or background, and you can tell at a glance he has no real combat experience. His fighting ability is not worth mentioning."
Chen Ting said flatly.
"He can achieve Four Sounds. That's not weak, is it?"
Deng Zhuo asked, somewhat doubtful.
"Heh, he's just a fledgling. Probably hasn't even been in a couple of fights. What's the use of striking a pose to make a few sounds? The stuff those Martial Arts Halls teach Named Disciples is all for show. It looks intimidating when they practice, but in a real life-or-death fight, who's going to wait for them to get into their Stance? I could cut him down in a single exchange. A fight to the death isn't about making a few noises. I'll be honest with you, I've cut down other practitioners before, some even more skilled than him."
"Just leave this to me. I know a few guys from my hometown. They're all desperados—ruthless and vicious. Perfect for the job."
Chen Ting said with a smile.
"Alright, then I'll leave this matter to you, Chen."
Hearing this, Deng Zhuo was overjoyed and repeatedly toasted Chen Ting.
'Just as I thought, a hidden danger should be eliminated as soon as possible. It was right to come here tonight.'
Hiding in the dark, Zhao Xuanqi's expression was as calm as still water. He moved slowly and silently through the shadows of the crates, getting as close as he could to the five men. He quietly tucked the two scissor blades into the cloth pouch at his waist. Then, he took out a needle pack from his breast pocket, made a fist with his right hand, and wedged all the embroidery needles from the pack between his five fingers.
With his other hand, he opened a lime pack and held it in his left palm.
He crouched slightly, took a deep breath, and then lunged forward with a sudden step.
"Deng Zhuo!!!"
Zhao Xuanqi forced the air from his lungs, vibrating his vocal cords to produce a massive roar like that of a ferocious tiger.
The roar echoed off the walls of the spacious, enclosed warehouse, growing even louder, almost like the explosion of a hand grenade.
The sudden, immense sound made the five men at the table shudder, and they instinctively whipped their heads around toward the source.