Swift as the wind, quiet as the forest, aggressive as fire, and steady as the mountain; it moves like a thunderclap. These were the words Ye Qiu's master had imparted to him as he left, setting the bar for Ye Qiu's conduct and encapsulating the impression he left on others.
Ye Qiu's appearance was deceptively innocent, with a clean and gentle face and a physique that, while not frail, lacked the robust muscles suggestive of immense power. Rather than appearing as a martial artist, he could be mistaken for the star attraction at a high-end brothel.
Unexpectedly, in an instant, he had broken free from Jin Haili's bodyguards' grip, throwing them to the ground.
Jin Haili's eyebrows furrowed upon hearing Ye Qiu use his own words against him, yet he felt a sliver of pride. He had correctly assessed Ye Qiu's capabilities, recognizing that this young man was no ordinary opponent. He hoped that by bringing him down, Ye Qiu wouldn't disappoint him.
With a wave of his hand, Jin Haili commanded, "Beat him to death."
Jin Haili was a shrewd man who never left himself vulnerable. His ruthlessness had ensured his survival while his rivals had perished.
Excluding the two bodyguards groaning on the ground, the room still held four more guards and a young man in a black suit with frameless glasses, likely a secretary. Since Ye Qiu had entered the room, this man had silently stood in the corner, exuding a cold, snake-like presence.
Those employed by Jin Haili as bodyguards were highly skilled. From the moment Ye Qiu entered, they had subtly encircled him. Now, with their boss's clear command, they formed a diamond formation and moved in on Ye Qiu.
Ye Qiu smirked internally. Only a fool would let himself be surrounded. Instead of turning to block the attacks from behind, he rushed toward the two men in front. It was better to quickly eliminate two opponents than to face all four at once.
The two in front were caught off guard by Ye Qiu's unexpected move. As they closed in, one aimed a punch at Ye Qiu's temple from the left while the other transformed his fist into a chopping motion aimed at Ye Qiu's neck.
"Their combat experience isn't bad, and their coordination is decent. But that's all," Ye Qiu evaluated.
Without dodging, Ye Qiu extended his hands, grabbing their wrists like a monkey snatching at the moon, quickly locating the Daling acupoints. Their bodies instantly stiffened, unable to move. Understanding acupuncture, how could he not know how to target acupoints?
Releasing their wrists as swiftly as he had grabbed them, Ye Qiu's fists shot out, giving both men panda eyes.
With the front two down, Ye Qiu continued his forward momentum, causing the rear attackers to miss their initial strikes. He threw a backward punch, landing squarely on the nose of the lean bodyguard behind him.
Crack!
The sound of a nose breaking echoed, sending chills through the remaining occupants.
The secretary, observing the fight intently, glanced at his boss, Jin Haili, for instructions. Jin Haili nodded subtly, and the secretary discreetly reached into his pocket.
Ye Qiu, with heightened senses, felt the impending danger from the secretary he had been wary of. As he finished off the fourth bodyguard, a silver bullet whizzed towards his head.
Like a lurking snake, the secretary's precise shot aimed to end Ye Qiu's life in one blow.
Though uncertain if Jin Haili was the mastermind behind Tang Guo's kidnapping, Ye Qiu was here to investigate. Despite the conflict, he hadn't intended to kill anyone, merely incapacitating them.
But now they had drawn a gun, changing everything.
Ye Qiu wasn't a superhero capable of catching bullets with his hands or teeth. However, with his precognition and sense of the bullet's trajectory, dodging was feasible, though requiring high-speed movement.
Bang!
The bullet struck the door, splintering it. Ye Qiu had dropped to the ground just in time.
The secretary's expression remained unchanged as he saw Ye Qiu evade. Holding a small-caliber black M9 with strong penetration, he aimed again, firing two shots in quick succession. Anticipating Ye Qiu's movements, he created a narrow kill zone.
This guy is skilled. If it were anyone else, they'd be dead by now, Ye Qiu thought, but not me.
With his forward path blocked and bullets trailing his retreat, Ye Qiu calmly sidestepped, letting the bullets graze his clothes.
For the first time, the secretary's expression showed surprise. As he aimed for another shot, Ye Qiu smiled chillingly, revealing his white teeth. Suddenly, he threw a white object at the secretary.
Ahhh---
The secretary dropped his M9, clutching his eyes, blood seeping through his fingers as he screamed, the room filled with the stench of blood.
"I don't like your eyes," Ye Qiu said with a smile.
He kicked the fallen gun aside, turning to Jin Haili. "I think we can have a proper conversation now."
Seeing Ye Qiu's playful smile, Jin Haili felt a rare sense of helplessness. This was only the second time someone had made him feel this way.