The night was deep, and neither Xiao Ning nor Shen Guan had undressed.
Inside the warm room, the two children were already sleeping soundly. Shen Guan tucked Niannian’s small feet back under the quilt and then drew the quilt up over Xiao Yuan’s shoulder. He looked at the two children, momentarily reluctant to extinguish the lamp.
Xiao Ning was in the outer room, drinking one cup of wine after another. It wasn’t until a knock sounded downstairs that he stopped. Shen Guan’s expression became sharp, and he immediately blew out the lamp in the warm room.
Xiao Ning stood up, picked up the candle lamp, gave Shen Guan a long, heavy look, then turned and headed downstairs.
Shen Guan’s arm dropped as a slender sword sliding from his arm to be firmly grasped by his fingertips. His robes didn’t stir in the faint breeze, and his breathing was so quiet it nearly disappeared as he stayed concealed behind the half-open door on the second floor.
The door bolt was slowly drawn back, and a person in a black cloak slipped inside.
“Boss Xiao.” The black cloak’s voice was hoarse. As he spoke, he slapped a banknote onto the table, “Thank you for your trouble.”
Xiao Ning pulled a wooden box from beneath the stove, opened it to reveal a pile of disguise tools. He silently washed his hands, then picked up a three-inch-long willow-leaf-shaped knife and flipping it with a cold, sharp flourish at his fingertips.
The black cloak man closed his eyes. In that instant, a cold blade broke through the air! A silver line flew from the second floor, as fast as lightning, heading straight for the black cloak man’s vital spot. Everything happened too quickly, too fast for anyone to react. The black cloak man suddenly opened his eyes just to met the sharp sword edge. The sword was as thin as a willow leaf and as soft as a stream, yet it contained the most impersonal killing intent.
Just as the sword edge was about to cut into the black cloak man’s chest, the black cloak man moved, like a slippery fish. He suddenly became thin and flat, his bones seemingly retracted together, retreating a zhang (about 3.3 meters) away in an instant. He shot a venomous look at Xiao Ning, and without a word, flipped over to escape out the window.
How could Shen Guan let him go? The sword tip turned, while the slender, soft sword twisted like a nimble snake, wrapping around this difficult black fish. The black cloak man was tripped by the thin sword qnd within a few rounds, fell into a disadvantage. Shen Guan naturally wasn’t afraid of him escaping; the outside was already surrounded by people from the Tianyi Division. He was determined to capture this cult leader.
Xiao Ning held his willow-leaf knife while watching coldly from the side. The black cloak man was no match for Shen Guan, so there was no need for him to step in.
The wounds on the black cloak man kept increasing, blood shooting from several major acupoints. His expression turned even more savage. He paid no attention to Shen Guan’s grip and put all his strength into getting away. Shen Guan’s sword moved with his will, “parting the clouds to see the moon,” striking straight toward the black cloak’s back, determined to run him through. The man in the black cloak sensed the killing intent closing in, realized he was trapped, and flicked his palm, launching three flying knives at Shen Guan.
Xiao Ning’s expression darkened. The willow-leaf knife in his hand then flew out, striking down one flying knife. Shen Guan twisted his wrist, his long sword sweeping away another. Only the last knife headed straight for his heart. It was too close! Shen Guan instinctively wanted to dodge but stopped short, as Xiao Ning was right behind him!
The dull thud of the blade entering flesh was not obvious in the night. At the same time, Shen Guan’s long sword pierced the black cloak man’s shoulder, pinning him to the window frame! The agonizing shriek was stifled as Shen Guan stepped forward and squeezed his throat. The black cloak man could only make strange gurgling sounds as blood surged from his mouth, while his venomous, fish-like eyes rolled back, and he instantly died.
Shen Guan indifferently tossed the black cloak man’s corpse down, placed his fingertips on his lips, and blew a low whistle. The secret guards of the Tianyi Division immediately floated in through the window.
“Take his body away,” Shen Guan instructed the secret guards. “All of you retreat and return to the Division.”
The secret guard of the Tianyi Division glanced at Shen Guan in the darkness and said, “Young Division Master…”
“Go.” Shen Guan interrupted coldly.
The Tianyi Division men dared not disobey. They simply lowered their heads and said, “Yes,” leaving with the cult leader’s corpse.
Xiao Ning looked at Shen Guan’s straight, bamboolike back and hesitated, “Are you… alright?”
The sword in Shen Guan’s hand slipped to the floor with a sharp clang. Clutching his chest, he spun around, a half-broken blade still lodged between his fingers.
“Shen Guan!” Xiao Ning rushed forward and grabbed Shen Guan’s shoulder.
Shen Guan staggered, spewing a mouthful of black blood over Xiao Ning, and sank weakly into his arms. Forcing a smile, he whispered, “Boss Xiao… I’m not leaving anymore…”
