Chapter 58: I Gave You a Chance, But You Failed to Seize It!

As the dagger sank completely into his companion’s skull and was finally driven deep into the concrete, several of the black-clad kidnappers actually let out a collective sigh of relief. Deep down, they even felt that Qin Chuan’s method showed a hint of mercy.

“Now it’s your turn to show some sincerity! Don’t let me down!” Qin Chuan said as he shook the small porcelain vial in his hand, making the few kidnappers who had just regained their ability to speak swallow nervously.

With the sizzle of the corpse being dissolved, the black-clad bodyguards scrambled to spill all the intelligence they knew.

“We kidnapped that... that Professor Qin this time just to test whether Qin Chuan is really a remnant of the Qin family from Yanjing years ago.”

“It was the captain who gave us the order. I heard he’s a killer of the Earth rank in the Red Maple organization, an elite group of hitmen based overseas.”

“That’s right, I know that too. Our vice-captain is a Mysterious rank killer, and if he completes this mission, he’ll be promoted to Earth rank.”

“We were also planning to wipe out all remaining members of the Qin family. Someone up top seems to want to know some secrets about the Qin family.”

“And, most of the people in our organization are wanted criminals...”

The more Qin Chuan listened, the more irritated he became. Much of what they said he already knew or had deduced, and the only new piece of intelligence was that the captain and vice-captain orchestrating this kidnapping belonged to the Red Maple organization.

“You said someone up top wants to know the Qin family’s secrets. Who exactly is this ‘someone’?” Qin Chuan suddenly asked in a low voice.

The black-robed kidnappers exchanged glances and fell silent. After a moment, all eyes turned to the vice-captain in the black robe.

Qin Chuan sighed silently. As expected, these small fry knew very little; only the higher-ups commanded the core secrets. But the vice-captain was clearly determined to keep his mouth shut, and prying information out of him wouldn’t be easy.

“The information you just provided is useless to me. If you want a quick and painless death, you’re far from earning it, let alone a chance to live. Too bad your vice-captain won’t talk—otherwise, I might actually spare one of you.”

Qin Chuan put on a helpless look, shifting all their hatred onto the black-robed vice-captain.

The vice-captain was so furious he ground his teeth, but he couldn’t utter a sound, nearly suffocating with rage.

“I’ll give you ten more seconds. If you don’t offer me any more useful information, then I’m afraid you’ll have to accept my apologies. This little bit of corpse-dissolving powder is more than enough for all of you.”

As he spoke, Qin Chuan pulled a dagger from one of the mobsters and began pacing around them, tapping one kidnapper’s face with the flat of the blade, rapping another on the head. Soon, a strong stench of blood and fear filled the air.

These hardened killers, each with countless lives on their hands, were so terrified that they wet themselves.

The black-robed vice-captain fared no better. When Qin Chuan stood before him, he swiftly slashed a few cuts across his chest, back, and thighs, making it clear he was ready to try the corpse-dissolving powder on him at any moment.

“Five!”

“Four!”

“Three!”

Just as Qin Chuan was about to reach “one,” one of the black-robed kidnappers trembled and said, “I just remembered something. It should be very important information.”

“Speak!” Qin Chuan’s heart leapt with anticipation; if he could extract even the smallest clue, he might be able to trace it back to the true mastermind.

“I once overheard the captain on the phone. He referred to the person above as ‘Mr. Long.’”

With this revelation, a storm surged within Qin Chuan’s heart.

The surname Long was rare, and someone named Long who could control an organization of such deadly assassins was rarer still. The first that came to Qin Chuan’s mind was the Long family—one of Yanjing’s ten great families—but they were the very family his master had chosen as his betrothal partner. Even if his master didn’t know his true background before, he hadn’t objected after Qin Chuan confessed, which suggested that the Long family couldn’t possibly be behind the destruction of the Qin family.

Though his masters could be devious at times, Qin Chuan knew it was always for the sake of training him. They would never push him into a marriage with someone who held a deep-seated grudge against him.

“Are you certain he said ‘Mr. Long’?” Qin Chuan’s eyes narrowed, a fierce gleam flashing in his gaze. The black-robed kidnapper shivered and nodded repeatedly.

“I’m sure. I heard it very clearly, and the captain didn’t just say it once. There’s no mistake.”

Qin Chuan could sense the kidnapper was telling the truth. Could it really be that the Long family was involved in this test-kidnapping? Or perhaps someone from the Long family had participated in the Qin family’s destruction all those years ago, and that person now held a significant position in the Long family. Still, something about this answer felt too easy, as if someone was deliberately trying to direct his attention toward the Long family.

“That’s decent information—enough, barely, for a quick death.”

Before the words had faded, Qin Chuan flashed to the kidnapper’s side. A cold gleam flickered in the air, and a thin red line appeared across the man’s throat.

With a thud, the black-clad kidnapper’s corpse toppled to the ground.

The remaining kidnappers’ faces turned ashen. None of them had more valuable information to offer, and seeing their companion dissolve into a pool of black blood with not even bones left, terror consumed them utterly.

“Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll give you all a chance to live. Whether you can seize it or not depends on your own abilities,” Qin Chuan said suddenly.

The kidnappers were instantly animated, all asking how. After all, no one’s life is forfeit by choice—who wants to die if there’s a chance to survive?

“It’s simple. In the end, only one of you can live. I’ll give you a fair chance to compete for it.”

With that, Qin Chuan pulled out the silver needles embedded in their bodies and placed a small pill into each of their mouths.

In seconds, the black-robed kidnappers had all regained their mobility. They exchanged quick glances, instantly understanding one another.

Run!

Scatter in different directions!

This devil was alone—he couldn’t possibly kill them all at once. That was their best chance at survival.

In a flash, the kidnappers bolted in four directions.

But reality was harsh, and their hopes were short-lived.

Qin Chuan proved with action that, as long as one was swift enough, there was no such thing as being spread too thin. And speed meant not just footwork, but hidden weapons as well.

With a flick of his wrist, several silver darts shot out in four directions, each like a guided missile, unerringly piercing the heads of the fleeing kidnappers.

Qin Chuan’s force was so great that the needles entered through the back of the head and exited the forehead. The kidnappers’ bodies jerked and then collapsed without a sound, life snuffed out before they could even cry out.

“There you go—I gave you a chance, but you just couldn’t seize it,” Qin Chuan shrugged, then walked over to the vice-captain, smiling. “The pawns are all dead. Now it’s your turn, chief. Make your choice: will you stay silent, or will you spill everything you know?”

Looking into "Qin Youyou's" breathtakingly beautiful face, the vice-captain felt only a chill to his core. When Qin Chuan finally pulled the silver needle from the back of his neck, he regained his ability to speak.

“Who are you, really?” the vice-captain demanded, his voice trembling despite its chill.

Qin Chuan replied coolly, “If I tell you my true identity, you’ll die for sure. Are you sure you want to know?”

“I’m sure.” There was no hesitation. “Even if I die, I want to die knowing why.”

“Why should I give you that satisfaction, when your aim is to kill me?” Qin Chuan’s retort left the vice-captain speechless.

“So, you won’t cooperate. Very well, I admire your backbone.”

As he spoke, Qin Chuan sliced two deep wounds into the vice-captain’s palms, down to the bone, and sprinkled a special white powder onto them.

Sizzle!

“Ah!” As the sound of flesh dissolving like sulfuric acid filled the air, the vice-captain couldn’t help but scream, watching his hands melt away before his eyes.

Just as his forearm was about to dissolve completely, Qin Chuan’s blade fell, severing the limb at the elbow.

“Out of respect for your iron will, I’ll give you another chance. What’s your decision now?” Qin Chuan’s smile was dazzling, but in the vice-captain’s eyes, it was the smile of a demon.

“If you’ve got the guts, just kill—” The vice-captain hadn’t finished when Qin Chuan sprinkled more powder on the severed stump.

“Ah…” His defiant words turned into an inhuman scream.

As his upper arm was about to melt away, Qin Chuan struck again, hacking off what remained at the shoulder.

“Think carefully before you answer. My patience is limited,” Qin Chuan said cheerfully as he moved to the vice-captain’s remaining arm, cutting three bloody gashes into his palm.

“I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything…” The vice-captain’s psychological defenses finally and utterly collapsed.