Chapter Seventy-One: Racing Through the Night (Third Update)

The Spade Captain, ranked twelfth on the personal assassin leaderboard, was just one spot behind the famed Thousand-Step Flying Knife. In truth, however, their strengths were evenly matched; should they truly clash, it was impossible to predict who would emerge victorious.

“I want that young man,” the Spade Captain said, pointing at Qin Tian.

“Isn’t that a bit underhanded?” Thousand-Step Flying Knife replied cautiously. The Spade Captain was not someone to be taken lightly—not like the useless assassin from before.

“Then, shall we fight for it?” The Spade Captain shook the bottle in his hand.

“I’ll let you have him, but I have a question for him first. Once I’ve got my answer, his fate is none of my concern.” Thousand-Step Flying Knife was not eager to battle the Spade Captain; it served no purpose for him.

“You have five minutes,” the Spade Captain replied, waving dismissively as he raised the bottle to his lips and took several deep gulps.

Thousand-Step Flying Knife’s gaze fell coldly on Qin Tian once more. “Speak! Don’t force me to cut your fingers off, one by one!”

“I told you! I don’t know! I’ve never even seen your apprentice!” Qin Tian snapped impatiently.

“You insolent brat! You really don’t know what’s good for you!” Thousand-Step Flying Knife was thoroughly irritated by Qin Tian’s attitude.

All at once, Qin Tian lashed out with a kick. Thousand-Step Flying Knife instinctively raised his arms to block. Using the recoil, Qin Tian landed at the stairwell’s corner, made a mocking face, and shouted, “Old dog! See you around!”

In a flash, Qin Tian dashed down the stairs and reached the ground floor just as a car screeched to a halt in front of him.

“Brother Qin Lei, get in!” The window rolled down to reveal Nangong Xiao’e, who had somehow procured a car.

Without hesitation, Qin Tian yanked open the door and jumped in.

“Damn it! You let him escape!” Spade Captain cursed at Thousand-Step Flying Knife, then charged down the stairs, pried open a car parked on the roadside, hot-wired it, and sped after Qin Tian and his companion.

Thousand-Step Flying Knife, however, remained where he was. After his interrogation, he was mostly certain that his apprentice’s disappearance had nothing to do with Qin Tian.

Years spent on battlefields had honed his understanding of human nature; he could discern the truth from the slightest change in expression. Qin Tian’s reactions showed no sign of deceit—Thousand-Step Flying Knife did not believe any young man could conceal a lie so flawlessly.

“My dear apprentice, where have you gone?” he sighed.

Hundred-Step Flying Knife had been adopted by Thousand-Step Flying Knife, but he had always treated the boy as his own. The two had relied on each other for over a decade. Now, with his sudden disappearance, the sense of loss was something only those who had experienced it could understand.

Out on the street, two cars raced one after the other, their speed far exceeding the legal limit.

“Brother Qin Lei, shoot him!” Nangong Xiao’e exclaimed as she watched their pursuer draw closer in the rearview mirror.

“Huh? Shoot him? How?” Qin Tian was momentarily stunned.

“Of course with a gun! What else?” Nangong Xiao’e replied matter-of-factly.

“With a gun?” Qin Tian drew a sharp breath. He was fairly certain Nangong Xiao’e was driving—and indeed, she was. With one hand on the wheel, she reached into her clothing with the other and produced a shotgun.

“Here!” She tossed the shotgun to Qin Tian.

He caught it quickly; it was heavy—anyone who handled this regularly would need considerable wrist strength.

“You want me to shoot?” he asked.

“Exactly! Or do you plan to wait for death? The Spade Captain isn’t someone you can take lightly!”

“But... we’re in the city! Firing a gun here isn’t a good idea,” Qin Tian hesitated. If he fired, how would he ever explain it to Lin Jian? It was better not to use a firearm at all.

“If you don’t shoot, how will you get rid of him? I should have stolen a better car! No wonder this thing can’t outrun a German one—C-country’s cars can’t compare!” Nangong Xiao’e grumbled, glancing at the car’s logo on the steering wheel.

Behind them, the Spade Captain’s car roared like an enraged lion, refusing to let up.

“Give it to me!” Nangong Xiao’e snatched the gun back from him.

She had her foot nearly pushing through the floor, but the car just wouldn’t go any faster!

Leaning out the window, using the rearview for aim, she fired several shots at their pursuer.

Qin Tian turned to see the Spade Captain’s windshield shatter under the assault.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Spade Captain was not to be outdone—he returned fire in kind, riddling the rear window of their car with bullets.

“Captain Lin, there’s a gunfight on Kangyuan Avenue, Central Street! Two cars are racing down the road!” a team member reported, bursting into Lin Jian’s office.

“What? A gunfight?” Lin Jian dropped his files in shock, rallied his men, and rushed out.

Meanwhile, on Qin Tian’s side, Nangong Xiao’e had emptied her magazine, and the Spade Captain’s shots had also slowed—he must have run out of bullets too.

“You take the wheel!” Nangong Xiao’e ordered.

“Me? What are you going to do?” Qin Tian asked.

“If the tiger doesn’t bare its fangs, do you take me for a chihuahua?” With that, she pulled a hand grenade from her pocket.

“No, no, no! Not that! Absolutely not!” Qin Tian was horrified—she’d actually pulled out a hand grenade? In the city center? If it exploded, the consequences would be unimaginable!

“Relax, it’s just a smoke grenade,” Nangong Xiao’e grinned.

Somewhat reassured, Qin Tian took the wheel from her.

Nangong Xiao’e floored the accelerator, twisted her body, and slipped through the sunroof. With a flick, she tossed the smoke grenade at the relentless Spade Captain.

It landed in his car, erupting into thick clouds of smoke that filled the rear with a choking haze.

“Done!” Nangong Xiao’e beamed as she reclaimed the wheel from Qin Tian.

But before they could celebrate for even three seconds, the Spade Captain’s car burst through the smoke, still hot on their heels.

“He’s still not shaken off?” Qin Tian was astonished.

“As expected of the twelfth-ranked killer,” Nangong Xiao’e muttered through clenched teeth. Their opponent was far too tenacious.

The two cars sped down the road, the commotion growing ever greater until soon they were being chased by a convoy from the Bureau of Comprehensive Management, who shouted over their loudspeakers, demanding they pull over for inspection.