"Years ago, I survived by sheer luck, Xu Lingshan. In the last twenty years, I’ve been living the life of knife-edge battles on the front lines. My will to survive was only fueled by bringing you to justice. It’s time to settle our score today."
A dagger toyed in Yan Yong’s hand, he was now a Seventh-Rank Big Master, a formidable force.
"You want to seek vengeance on me is fine, but don’t drag innocent bystanders into this. Those who kill will meet their ends!" Xu Lingshan said.
"Playing the saint now are we, Xu Lingshan? Starting to believe your own hypocrisy? You’re far from innocent! You’ve crossed as many lines as I have." Yan Yong sneered.
"Yes! I’ve done some bad things, and I’ve received retribution in return."
Xu Lingshan had resigned himself to his fate. His son’s illness had made him regret his past deeds.
"Your retribution comes in the form of me. I’ll kill you...and your entire family!" Yan Yong declared furiously.
Xu Lingshan knew he couldn’t escape his fate and instructed the wait-staff of the restaurant, "Go! All of you, leave."
"President Xu, we aren’t afraid. We outnumber him, let’s take him down!"
A handful of male waiters and kitchen chefs were filled with righteous indignation, armed with kitchen knives.
Xu Lingshan had always treated his employees with kindness and they reciprocated by defending their boss.
"You bunch of suicidal fools trying to fight me with pebbles, I’ll end you."
Yan Yong pushed himself off from under the table, spinning his dagger within his palm.
"What do you think you’re doing? This is my fight, not yours! Get out! All of you, get out!" Xu Lingshan roared.
The restaurant staff finally backed off. Yan Yong licked his lips and said, "What a pity, it would have been more fun if they fought back. Xu Lingshan, stop wasting time. It’s time to meet your end!"
Yan Yong knew that Dragon Soul was a formidable opponent, he couldn’t afford to tarry long. His priority was to kill Xu Lingshan. This wasn’t the frontier after all, he couldn’t kill freely.
Just then, Xu Lingshan’s friend Bao arrived at Dongling Hotel with a dozen of his underlings.
"Brother Shan, who dares to stir up trouble here? Is it this guy?" Bao said.
"More incompetent brutes, perfect to warm-up." Yan Yong remarked, cracking his neck.
"Boys, charge! Hack him to pieces!" Bao gave the order.
Xu Lingshan, however, quickly intervened, "Hold on!"
"Yan Yong, you can kill me, but I implore you to let my family be. As long as you agree to this, you can take my life anytime, I won’t fight back!"
"Brother Shan, we have the advantage of numbers, why should we fear him?" Bao asked.
Xu Lingshan shook his head, "He’s a tough adversary, not someone you could take on, even with your combined strength. I can’t involve you in this."
Had Xu Lingshan known that Yan Yong was seeking revenge, he wouldn’t have called Bao and the others to risk their lives.
"You are in no position to negotiate! When I say I’m going to wipe out your entire family, I mean it! Or else, wouldn’t I be a man of empty words?"
With that, Yan Yong dropped any pretense of conversation and lunged forward, dagger in hand.
"Protect Brother Shan!"
Bao, once an underling of Xu Lingshan, had taken over the activities in the city after Xu Lingshan retired. Bao was given a set of rules to follow by Xu, prohibiting him and his followers from doing bad deeds, oppressing the weak, or charging for protection.
A few of his underlings charged forward with machetes only to fall under Yan Yong’s flashing blade. Three of them fell to the ground, their throats slit open.
Seeing this, the other underlings were taken aback, hesitant to advance recklessly.
Yan Yong licked the blood off his blade, his murderous aura intensifying, "Ignorant masses, asking for death!"
"Bao, quickly take your men and leave." Xu Lingshan was deeply distressed by the loss of three lives and ordered urgently.
Yan Yong’s formidable power had instilled fear in Xu Lingshan. He knew that Bao and his men didn’t stand a chance and would only waste their lives.
"Brother Shan, if we leave, what will happen to you?" Bao implored.
"What goes around comes around. I’ve lived peacefully all these years, living up to it. Death holds no terror for me! Moreover, you guys aren’t his match and staying here would only throw your lives away! Please take care of my family!"
Xu Lingshan had accepted his fate. Bao stomped his foot, he was well aware of the situation and knew they wouldn’t be of any help. Grudgingly, he ordered his men to retreat, he had to protect Xu Lingshan’s wife and son and hide them away!
"None of you are leaving!"
Yan Yong was overcome with a murderous rage, he had no intention to let anyone escape. At this point, Xu Lingshan drew out a gun and pointed it at Yan Yong, pulling the trigger.
Yan Yong was forced to dodge the bullets, allowing Bao to make his escape with his men.
"Yan Yong, it’s me you want dead! Come and kill me!"
Xu Lingshan fired two more rounds, resolved to meet his end. Yan Yong found some cover and with the agility and speed of a Seventh-Rank Big Master, it was quite a task to hit him.
Xu Lingshan had emptied his weapon but was unable to injure Yan Yong. His hand was pierced by the flying dagger thrown by Yan Yong, who then rushed over to pull it out. Xu Lingshan was splash with blood and was kicked and tossed away by Yan Yong.
"You thought you could hurt me with that shoddy handgun?"
Xu Lingshan was severely wounded by Yan Yong’s kick and couldn’t muster the strength to stand up.
Yan Yong approached him step by step, his face distorted with glee, "Don’t worry, I won’t let you die a quick and easy death. I will cut off your fingers one by one, gouge out your eyes, and slowly cut off your flesh, letting you die in excruciating pain."
Knowing his death was certain, Xu Lingshan merely closed his eyes and said, "Get on with it! Come on, kill me!"
Yan Yong dragged Xu Lingshan up from the floor, ready to cut his fingers off with the dagger.
Just then, a voice echoed from the entrance of the restaurant.
"Xu Lingshan still owes me something, you cannot kill him."
When Yan Yong turned around, Xu Lingshan opened his eyes and saw Su Chengyu slowly walking into the restaurant.
Xu Lingshan felt a spark of hope but remembering his situation, he urged, "Mr. Su, Please leave. He’s my enemy, you need not concern yourself with me! The item is in my office. Once you have taken it, I please ask that you spare my son’s life. Then, I can die with no regrets."
"Oh, another one offering himself up for death!" Yan Yong dismissed Su Chengyu with contempt.