Translator: CinderTL
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The Jinghu Lake Estate was a luxurious retreat, built by powerful elites around this picturesque landscape.
There were sixteen mansions in total.
Each one covered an area ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands of square meters.
Normally, these estates remained quiet, as their owners rarely stayed there—leaving only servants, gardeners, and guards to maintain them.
But over the past few days, the Jin family had gathered here, hiding in numbers.
To ensure their safety, they hired an elite security force—Xuan Yue Security, one of Xuanzhou's most renowned private security firms.
As soon as Xuan Yue's team arrived—ten internal staff, twenty-six field operatives—they began fortifying the 18,000-square-meter estate.
In just a few days, they had turned the place into an impenetrable fortress.
According to their leader, Lu Jing, "Not even a mosquito gets in without our permission."
Just like now—
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The outer perimeter patrol team was making its routine inspection.
Captain Kong Fang led three men as they checked the defense measures.
These included traps, surveillance equipment, and high-tech weaponry, all guarding the 150m x 120m estate.
"All equipment is functional."
"None of our warning traps have been triggered."
"No one's been near this area."
One by one, the team reported their findings.
A thin operative grinned and said, "This time, our best operatives are all on duty. Even our weakest members are Internal Strength martial artists. Captain, you and Minister Lu are Integration Realm martial artists! With our skill and expertise, anyone dumb enough to challenge us is asking for death!"
"Don't get careless."
Kong Fang warned, "Our opponent this time is no ordinary man. Stay sharp, or we'll be the ones getting killed."
Another middle-aged man nodded grimly. "I heard that this criminal we're up against is beyond ruthless. In just half a month, he's killed over a hundred people! Not ten, not twenty—a hundred! And that includes more than twenty Internal Strength martial artists—plus an elite Grandmaster who had reached the Integration Realm! This guy is a monster! So, stay focused!"
A younger operative hesitated, then muttered, "They say he started this killing spree because of our employer…"
"Xiao Zhao!"
Kong Fang immediately snapped, cutting him off with a harsh tone.
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't. You're here for one reason—your job. We took this contract, so we focus on protecting our employer. That's it. You don't need to know more."
Xiao Zhao hesitated, then replied, "Understood."
Kong Fang noticed his reluctance and added, "Xuan Yue is one of the most elite security firms in Xuanzhou. If you want to continue working here, you need to maintain professional discipline."
The middle-aged man also advised, "Xiao Zhao, just focus on keeping our employer safe. The rest isn't our concern."
"I get it."
Xiao Zhao quickly responded.
He valued this opportunity—being a special operations agent for Xuan Yue Security was a big deal.
Sure, he had sympathy, but…
If he had to choose between his career and his conscience—
He had to kill that sympathy before it killed him.
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At that moment—
Kong Fang sensed something.
His gaze snapped toward a flowerbed nearby.
"Who's there!?"
He barked out a warning.
Not even two seconds later—
A shadowy figure exploded from the darkness ten meters away, moving at incredible speed!
"Careful!"
Without needing commands, the four-man squad instantly fell into a combat formation—
Weapons drawn!
But—
The figure bursting from the night was too fast!
Ten meters—crossed in an instant!
The four-man squad barely had time to form their battle stance before the intruder closed in, sending dirt and grass flying in his wake.
Then—
He leapt.
A seventy-kilogram body launched like a cannonball, and at its peak—
A gleaming sword flashed in the night sky.
Fast!
Too fast!
Beyond human reaction speed!
"Whizz!"
As an Integration Realm martial artist, Kong Fang immediately realized—
This strike—he couldn't block it!
But a veteran of life-or-death missions, he made a split-second decision.
If he couldn't block it—then he wouldn't!
He wasn't alone.
He would leave the counterattack to his teammates—
Even if it meant using his own life to create an opening!
In a flash of instinct, Kong Fang made the best choice for survival.
No dodging. No blocking.
His muscles roared as he unleashed all his power.
His longblade swung with full force, slicing past the incoming sword strike—
A decisive counterattack aimed directly at the enemy's head!
Perhaps he would have his throat pierced in the next instant—
But his blade would take the enemy's head in return!
And—
His teammates struck at the same time.
The three-man formation closed in from all angles—
A perfect, inescapable attack pattern!
Even the youngest member, though a second slower, was perfectly positioned to follow up.
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"Bzzzt!"
But—
At the last moment—
The incoming sword suddenly shifted!
Blade met blade!
A single twist of the wrist—
And the longblade that should have blocked the strike was instead knocked away like it had been struck by a hammer!
The redirected blade slashed toward the thin operative, forcing him to dodge sideways.
At the same time—
The intruder's foot shot forward, smashing directly into Kong Fang's chest!
Even though Kong Fang instinctively tried to block with his elbow—
The sheer force behind the kick was too overwhelming!
It was like being hit by a speeding car—
Kong Fang's body was flung backward, crashing straight into the young operative behind him!
The four-man formation collapsed instantly!
And—
As Kong Fang's blade was knocked aside—
The enemy's sword, which was meant for him, changed direction in a split second—
Aiming straight for the middle-aged operative!
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The middle-aged man reacted fast—
But not fast enough.
His eyes widened as he tried to raise his blade—
But—
Before he could even finish his motion—
The cold steel of the enemy's sword had already pierced the side of his neck, driving straight through!
"No!"
Kong Fang roared in despair as he was sent flying.
But—
The enemy wasted no time.
With a flick of the sword—
Blood splattered in the air, forming a beautiful, lethal arc—
Before the blade stabbed forward once more—
Straight at the airborne Kong Fang!
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Sword like a dragon!
The piercing thrust ripped through the air—
A shrill whistle echoing through the night!
Speed?
No—this was raw power!
Absolute strength, translating into absolute speed!
And at that very moment—
His left hand moved—
A flick of the wrist—
A hidden dagger flew like a lightning bolt—
Slamming into the forehead of the thin operative, who had just barely recovered!
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Flawless battlefield control!
Reactions honed to absolute perfection!
Every movement—a killing instinct!
Every motion—explosive brutality!
Kong Fang's eyes filled with horror.
The gap was too wide!
This wasn't just an ordinary opponent.
This—
This was a monster.
(End of the Chapter)
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