"Director, the target has entered Construction Road. Unit 3 is in pursuit."
"Hold off on continuing. Unit 4, take over."
"Director, the target has entered the winding mountain path, heading towards Langshan. Unit 4 is following."
There was a brief pause over the communicator before a man's voice responded with a cold chuckle, "He's already noticed your tailing. Units 3 and 4, withdraw immediately. Deploy the female operative."
Ye Qiu hadn't turned his head once, using only the car's rearview mirror to observe the situation behind him. Seeing the two cars alternately advancing and retreating in a coordinated manner, he couldn't help but smirk inwardly. Such petty tricks might fool ordinary people, but those trained in special operations would never overlook such details.
"Young man, there's no one around Langshan during the day; it only gets lively at night. Lots of young folks come here for street racing. If I were twenty years younger, I'd be tempted to try it myself," the driver said with a chuckle.
Ye Qiu had visited Langshan once before and witnessed its bustling night scene, but during the day, the place was eerily quiet. The only remnants were heaps of litter, abandoned cars, and not a single soul in sight, save for the sound of plastic bags rustling in the wind.
"Stop at the next intersection up ahead," Ye Qiu instructed, pointing towards the road that led to the summit of Langshan. This was the main route the street racers used.
"Alright. When are you planning to head back? Need a ride? If you're not staying long, I can wait for you. Otherwise, you won't find a cab here," the driver said kindly as he handed Ye Qiu his change.
Ye Qiu smiled and replied, "Thanks, but no need to wait. I'm meeting some friends who are driving up."
After watching the driver pull away, Ye Qiu began walking up the mountain path, smiling to himself. Now, with a clear view of Langshan's layout, he could see the winding road spiraling up the mountain, bordered by steep cliffs on one side and a deep ravine on the other—a fall from here would surely be fatal.
These young people seeking thrills by risking their lives... Ye Qiu couldn't fathom it.
Without pausing, he continued walking until he reached a slightly lower ridge midway up the mountain. He climbed up, leaning against a large rock to rest, and kept his eyes on the path he had just traveled.
"Come out. No point hiding now that you're here," he called out, sniffing the air and catching a faint scent of a woman's perfume, which made him smile. It was a woman after all.
Sure enough, a woman emerged from the shadows. Dressed in black athletic wear that concealed her shapely figure, she wore canvas shoes suitable for running and climbing. Her long hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her face was bare of makeup, revealing a cold, delicate beauty.
"If I asked why you're following me, would you tell me?" Ye Qiu asked, smiling as he stared into the woman's eyes.
Though his smile was bright, internally he was on high alert. The eyes are the windows to the soul, and no matter who you are, your eyes will reveal some part of your inner self. But this woman's eyes were devoid of emotion—no joy, no sorrow, not even a glimmer of life. It was like staring into a clear, bottomless well. This was the gaze of a natural-born killer.
The woman, evidently not finding Ye Qiu's question amusing, had no intention of answering. In her hand, she held a peculiar-looking dagger, which, upon closer inspection, appeared to be a miniature version of a Japanese tanto.
"Are you from Japan?" Ye Qiu asked, startled. Something didn't feel right.
He had assumed that those tailing him were sent by International Jiaye, likely with the intent of kidnapping him to pressure Tang Buyi into withdrawing from the Langshan project. But now, it seemed the situation was more complex than he had anticipated.
Judging by the woman's stance and the cold weapon she wielded, it was clear she was no ordinary opponent. If domestic forces were behind this, how could they afford to hire a Japanese assassin? Could their objective be something other than Langshan?
A chill ran down Ye Qiu's spine as he realized there might be a powerful force lurking around them, and what he was seeing now could be just the tip of the iceberg.
The woman didn't respond to Ye Qiu's question. She raised her dagger in a horizontal slash and lunged at him. Though small, the Japanese tanto was something Ye Qiu couldn't afford to underestimate. As the blade whistled through the air, the woman's eyes finally revealed a change—excitement, bloodlust.
Ye Qiu didn't dodge; instead, he flicked a stone at her. He had used this move countless times, once even knocking a bird out of the air. It was a habit he had developed as a child, always carrying three stones in his pocket just in case. Back at the club, he had used a stone to blind Jin Haili's sharpshooting secretary.
Clang!
The Japanese woman slashed the stone out of the air, but in doing so, she lost the initiative.
Ye Qiu moved quickly, his body a blur as he closed the distance between them. His left hand shot out to block her wrist, forcing her dagger arm upward, rendering her attack useless. Then, with his right fist, he delivered a powerful punch to her abdomen.
The woman staggered back several steps, stopping only when she collided with a large boulder. Her throat tightened, and she resisted the urge to cough up blood, knowing it would only weaken her further.
When she looked at Ye Qiu again, her expression was one of shock mixed with fear. Could this Chinese man really be so strong that he could send her flying with just one strike?
Ye Qiu wasn't one to show mercy, especially after that punch. He had put all his strength into it, expecting to cripple her, but the fact that she was still standing showed just how resilient she was. Not giving her a chance to recover, he charged at her again.
Seeing the man charging at her once more, the woman took a couple of quick breaths, feeling a bit more composed. She switched her grip on the tanto, holding it like a dagger, and ran towards Ye Qiu.
In close combat, the bold win. Forced back by her fierce and precise strikes, Ye Qiu found himself retreating to his original position, growing frustrated.
After dodging another slash, he slid his right foot sideways and lowered his body, getting in close to the woman while avoiding her dagger. Despite her ordinary athletic wear, Ye Qiu could feel her curvaceous, resilient body as he collided with her, and the scent of her perfume grew stronger, reminding him of Shen Monong.
The Japanese woman was alarmed when Ye Qiu got inside her guard. She twisted her body, trying to stab him even at the cost of wounding herself—a vicious, all-or-nothing move.
But Ye Qiu didn't give her the chance. He grabbed her shoulder joint, and with his other hand, he caught her ponytail, yanking her head back. Using her own momentum against her, he ruthlessly slammed her head into a nearby boulder.
Thud!
The woman's body crumpled against the rock, her head spinning, blood streaming from her forehead, leaving her dazed and disoriented.
Ye Qiu dusted off his hands and said, "I hate people who act tough. That's your punishment for not answering my questions."
After saying that, he suddenly felt a bit self-conscious. But, considering the desolate surroundings, he reassured himself that no one had heard him.
To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8