Uh… this voice…
This time, it really is Lin Yijing! Damn it, HeShang! This misunderstanding is a total disaster…
"S-Sorry, I thought HeShang was messing with me. Uh… I'm Xu Mo." Just realizing he had just blurted out something as embarrassing as "jerking off," Xu Mo wished he could bury himself alive.
"Oh, it's fine… Actually, my phone signal was bad just now, so I didn't really hear what you said." Lin Yijing's tone sounded somewhat flustered.
That's such a bad lie… If you didn't hear it, why are you so eager to explain?
Hearing Xu Mo's awkward chuckle without a response, Lin Yijing probably realized her excuse was unnecessary and quickly changed the subject, "About today… I actually wanted to thank you in person, but when I went to find you afterward, you had already left."
"Oh, something urgent came up at home..." Due to the recent humiliation, every extra second talking to Lin Yijing felt torturous to Xu Mo. He quickly said, "We're schoolmates, helping each other is natural… Oh, I'm home now, let's talk another time."
Before Lin Yijing could reply, he hurriedly hung up.
Damn that HeShang! He made me embarrass myself so badly! Next time I see him, I swear I'll take apart his favorite Gundam model and glue Pikachu's head onto it…
Xu Mo's residential area was an old-style apartment complex, not very large. It took no more than three minutes to walk from the entrance to the end. After stepping through the gate, he instinctively glanced at his phone. 8:50 PM—he was a full ten minutes early from the deadline, so he wasn't in any rush. He simply walked at a normal pace along the path toward his building.
Two headlights flickered behind him as a taxi pulled up at the entrance. The door opened, and a middle-aged man in a long black trench coat hurriedly stepped into the complex. Xu Mo subconsciously turned to glance at him, noticing that the man was holding a slip of paper and seemed to be checking addresses against different building numbers.
Probably someone visiting relatives… The residents here were quite mixed, and it wasn't uncommon to see people visiting friends or family every few days, so Xu Mo didn't pay much attention.
Just as Xu Mo reached his building entrance and was about to pull out his keys, the same middle-aged man suddenly approached and politely asked, "Hey, kid, can I ask you something? Do you know if Wang Yuanze lives here?"
"Wang Yuanze? Never heard of him… Are you sure you got the right address, sir—"
Before he could finish his sentence, the motion-sensor light at the entrance flickered on. In the bright glow, Xu Mo suddenly noticed—the slip of paper in the man's hand was completely blank!
Crap! This guy isn't just asking for directions!
A flash of cold steel gleamed in the corner of Xu Mo's vision. Startled, he instinctively leaped backward, but the blade followed like a venomous serpent, unwaveringly aiming for his throat. Xu Mo's heart pounded in terror. His right hand instantly activated "Demon Hand," its metallic form manifesting in a blaze of dark flames. Relying on its impenetrable durability, he attempted to grab the incoming blade. The middle-aged man, wary of Xu Mo's glowing arm, swiftly twisted his wrist. His short blade, smooth as an eel, slid effortlessly along Xu Mo's right arm instead of meeting it head-on.
So fast!
Xu Mo wasn't sure how strong his opponent was, but based on sheer speed and reflexes, this man was at least 20% faster than him—beyond the limits of ordinary human ability. In other words, his attacker was an Apocalyptic Shard Wielder!
Damn it! He came so fast?!
Seeing the man's lethal blade dance around him, coupled with the undisguised bloodlust in his eyes, Xu Mo realized he had just hit the jackpot. Just earlier, he had been talking about ability-wielding murderers robbing victims—and now, one had come knocking at his door!
Xu Mo didn't know how this guy had found him, but one thing was certain—this was no friendly sparring match. The moment this assassin struck, it was clear he had no intention of leaving Xu Mo alive!
This was a true battle for survival. There was no room for hesitation. As a silver mask covered his face, Xu Mo activated night vision, rolled to the ground, and grabbed his USP pistol.
"Scorching Lick!"
A barely perceptible blue glow flickered in the assassin's eyes. Suddenly, the USP pistol in Xu Mo's hand felt like a searing brand. He yelped in pain and immediately dropped the gun.
The burning pain in his left hand caused a brief moment of hesitation—just enough time for the assassin to seize the advantage. His short blade flicked through the air, slicing toward Xu Mo's chest. Unable to dodge in time, Xu Mo activated "Immovable as a Mountain" at full power. But against the all-out attack of an Apocalyptic Shard Wielder, his defensive skill was practically useless. The thirty-centimeter blade pierced straight through his left shoulder, its momentum flinging him backward two or three meters.
"Ugh—!"
Blood gushed from the wound, soaking his left shoulder. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Xu Mo struggled to his feet and lunged for his fallen USP pistol. He knew that such a reckless move would only worsen his injury, but he had no other choice. He had already used up all five of his daily Zero Eruptions—his USP was his only chance at survival!
The assassin, having watched Xu Mo's every move, reacted instantly. He kicked the pistol away before delivering another fierce kick that sent Xu Mo tumbling into the roadside bushes.
"I've already killed two Apocalyptic Shard Wielders before you," the assassin sneered, stepping forward with deliberate leisure. "You've got me curious. You could've called for help, but you didn't. Why?"
Lying on the ground, Xu Mo coughed up blood and gasped, "Because… this is my home. My parents are here. Even if I die… I won't let them be put in danger!"
The assassin clapped slowly, a smirk on his face. "A filial son, huh? I appreciate people who don't cause trouble for me. As a reward, I'll make it quick for you."
"You want me to thank you?" Xu Mo leaned against a bush, forcing himself into a sitting position. Blood loss was making him lightheaded, even speaking was becoming difficult. "There's something I don't understand. I've never met you—how did you know who I am?"
A golden flash flickered in the assassin's hand as he summoned another identical short blade. Smirking, he explained while advancing, "Oh, I was actually stalking a pair of people you met earlier—a man and a woman. They were always together, which made it hard for me to strike. But today, while tailing them, I spotted you instead. You, all alone, were a much easier target! Guess I lucked out—haha!"
By now, he was standing right over Xu Mo, raising his blade for the final blow. He grinned darkly, "Blame the two who led me to you!"
Yet, facing imminent death, Xu Mo didn't panic. Instead, he smiled and said calmly, "Luck? Are you sure it's not bad luck?"
"What?"
In that brief moment of hesitation, a dark, fluttering shadow shot out from behind Xu Mo. With a series of shrill caws, it wildly flapped against the assassin's face!
"Damn it! What the hell is this?!"
The assassin cursed furiously, swatting at the chaotic flurry of wings. By the time he finally cleared his vision, his pupils suddenly contracted—
A pitch-black gun barrel was aimed straight at his forehead!