Chapter 59: Hanging by a Thread

"Name!"
"Mo Xiaodao!"
"Who is your handler?"
"Leng Chunli!"
"Who do you serve?"
"I’m not entirely sure. All I know is that the captain refers to him as Mr. Long, and from their conversations, it’s clear that Mr. Long resides in Yanjing."
"Is the Red Leaf Assassins involved in this as well?"
"It’s an employment relationship!"

The deputy captain in the black robe had already been so thoroughly broken by Qin Chuan’s methods that his psychological defenses had collapsed; he answered every question without resistance.

The interrogation lasted for half an hour. Qin Chuan sensed that the deputy had already revealed everything he knew. From the information gleaned, Qin Chuan could deduce that Mr. Long was likely a core member of the Long family in Yanjing, though what precise role he played in the Qin family massacre years ago remained uncertain.

"You were involved in the Qin family massacre. Do you know if anyone besides the Long family participated?" Qin Chuan asked one final question.

The deputy shook his head. "Back then, my rank was too low. I was only responsible for hunting down the Qin family’s remnants who managed to escape. At best, I was an outer member, never privy to core intelligence. I’ve already told you everything I know. Can you spare my life now?"

"If you still possessed a whole life, I’d keep my word. I’m a man who stands by what he says—my word is my bond," Qin Chuan replied with a smile as warm as spring sunlight.

A chill of foreboding rose in the deputy’s heart, but faced with Qin Chuan’s ruthlessness, he dared not protest openly. He gritted his teeth and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, you only have half a life left. You don’t meet the condition I set, so unfortunately, I can only send you to hell."

"You—you can’t—"

Whether he intended to accuse Qin Chuan of lacking honor or trustworthiness, he never got to finish. The gleaming dagger sliced across his throat, a crimson line spurted forth, and his body crashed to the ground, lifeless.

Qin Chuan had never once shown mercy to his enemies, especially not to someone complicit in his family’s slaughter. There was simply no reason to let him live.

After using corpse-dissolving powder to dispose of the kidnappers’ bodies, Qin Chuan left the abandoned warehouse, having changed into the black-robed deputy’s appearance.

According to the intelligence he’d gathered, after completing the mission to kidnap Qin Youyou and test Qin Chuan’s identity, the deputy was supposed to rendezvous with the captain in a cluster of unfinished buildings on the southern outskirts of Binhai.

Qin Chuan suspected that this captain, Leng Chunli, was highly likely to know Mr. Long’s true identity, and perhaps even more about the events of the Qin family massacre. If he could pry open the captain’s mouth, his investigation would be complete.

With that thought, Qin Chuan pressed harder on the accelerator, wishing he could sprout wings and fly to the derelict buildings.

About an hour later, he glimpsed over a dozen abandoned high-rises in the distance. He used the deputy’s phone to call, but the call was hung up immediately. The next attempt only brought a shutdown message.

"What’s going on?"

A sense of foreboding crept into Qin Chuan’s heart.

"Something’s wrong!"

Hesitating briefly, the ominous feeling grew stronger. He flung open the car door and kicked with all his might, launching himself outwards—and just as he did, the business van rolled over onto its side.

In the same instant, Qin Chuan used the tremendous recoil to hurl himself a dozen meters away. Almost simultaneously, the van erupted in a violent explosion.

A blazing fireball engulfed the vehicle, lifting it two or three meters into the air. When it crashed back down, only a battered metal skeleton remained.

The blast wave hit Qin Chuan as well, but his quick reflexes and the distance he’d covered saved his life. Had he delayed for even a moment, not even his bones would have been left.

"To silence all witnesses!"

The realization flashed in Qin Chuan’s mind.

Clearly, Mr. Long had always considered the black-robed deputy and his subordinates expendable. Whether the mission succeeded or failed, they were all doomed to die—especially the deputy, who knew some internal secrets. There was ample reason to silence him permanently.

Judging by the magnitude and effect of the explosion, the van had been rigged with a homemade remote-controlled bomb.

But such devices, limited by the range of their remote triggers, require the perpetrator to be nearby.

With that in mind, Qin Chuan sped towards the nearest unfinished building and concealed himself, confident that whoever had detonated the bomb would come to check the aftermath.

Even if not, the road past the explosion was the only exit from the complex. By waiting here, he was certain to intercept the bomber.

As expected, five or six minutes later, a blue Harley-Davidson motorcycle sped out from deep within the skeleton of the buildings.

It drifted to an elegant stop near the blast site. The rider, clad in a black robe and masked, glanced at the mangled van, frowning as he surveyed the wreckage.

"Such power—there’s not even a scrap of bone left?"

The masked man immediately dismissed the thought. Having made the bomb himself, he was well aware of its effects. Blasting someone into pieces was normal, but erasing all traces was impossible.

"This place isn’t safe!"

He twisted the throttle, intending to leave at once.

"You’re not going anywhere!"

A cold voice rang out behind him.

The masked man turned instinctively, only to see a black shadow racing toward him like lightning. As he started the bike, the shadow launched a flying kick.

"Damn it!"

He had no chance to evade. The kick struck his shoulder, sending him flying from the massive motorcycle. The Harley, out of control, skidded and toppled over.

"Who are you?"

Struggling to his feet after a painful roll, the masked man’s shoulder throbbed—his bone was certainly broken.

"Captain, have you forgotten me so soon?" Qin Chuan mocked, imitating the deputy’s voice.

A look of disbelief flashed across the captain’s eyes. He stared at the familiar face, now wholly unfamiliar, especially the murderous glint in his gaze that sent an involuntary chill down his spine.

"Who are you, really?" the captain demanded coldly.

He knew his deputy’s abilities well. That inhuman speed was already beyond his deputy—and surviving a sudden car bomb? Even he himself would not have escaped unscathed.

With these realizations, an astonishing possibility dawned in the captain’s mind.

"I’m the one who’s come to claim your life."

Qin Chuan clearly had no intention of giving the captain a chance to catch his breath. Before the words had faded, he vanished, and in the next instant, cold steel flashed—a dagger slicing toward the captain’s throat.

"So fast!"

The captain was stunned. He was now certain the man before him was not his deputy. In other words, the team sent to carry out the kidnapping had likely been wiped out.

But just as the blade was about to cut his throat, its direction shifted, and instead it sliced a wound three or four inches long across his chest.

Sticky blood and searing pain overwhelmed the captain’s mind. He dared not linger or fight back. It was clear the attacker could have killed him outright, yet deliberately spared him—he wanted information.

"So, you can’t bear to kill me?"

The captain staggered back, barely steadying himself, and sneered.

"How about we each get what we want? You spare my life, and I’ll tell you everything I know. How about it?" he proposed, seeing Qin Chuan’s silence.

Qin Chuan stroked his chin, considering, then said, "If you’ll kneel and make your proposal, I might consider it."

"Don’t push me too far!" the captain growled through gritted teeth.

Qin Chuan sneered, "Were you worried about going too far when you tried to blow me up?"

"I—"

"Double standards, are we?"

"You—"

"You know I’m right."

The captain was left speechless, suddenly feeling that Qin Chuan’s sharp tongue was even more terrifying than his strength.

"Wait, I have a gun!"

A glimmer of hope appeared in the captain’s eyes, but when he reached for his waist, his hand found nothing.

"Looking for this?" Qin Chuan asked with a playful smile.