BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted, instantly reducing the entire two-story abandoned factory to rubble. The blast radius extended several meters beyond the building, swallowing everything in its path.
The ground shook violently, as if struck by an earthquake.
Debris and shattered stones, propelled by the explosion’s force, shot outward like bullets, lethally indiscriminate. The twenty or so black-clad operatives Ye Yuanyuan had brought—whether they’d charged into the factory or remained outside—were nearly wiped out after inhaling the toxic gas, buried alive in the collapse.
The fugitive had clearly prepared meticulously, lying in wait for Ye Yuanyuan’s pursuit.
Jiang Fei even suspected that the fugitive had intentionally let Ye Yuanyuan discover and track him, all to set up this deadly trap and teach her a brutal lesson.
Now that his identity was exposed and he was a top wanted criminal, he had nothing left to lose. Going all out was hardly surprising.
The explosions roared relentlessly, toxic gas and dust choking the air. Fortunately, Jiang Fei reacted swiftly—clamping a hand over Ye Yuanyuan’s mouth and nose, pulling her back before the blast, and diving to the ground the moment it hit.
Though the explosion was devastating, aside from the ear-splitting noise leaving them momentarily dazed, neither sustained serious injuries.
Ye Yuanyuan, despite her military upbringing and decent physique, was temporarily deafened. Her vision blurred by dust, her ears rang, drowning out all sound.
But Jiang Fei, whose stats had multiplied after several level-ups, proved far more resilient. Shaking off the disorientation, he stood quickly, scanning the smoke-choked surroundings. Despite the limited visibility, his enhanced senses soon locked onto the muscular figure fleeing from the factory’s second floor—a man carrying Mangguo, darting away in erratic, serpentine strides.
This was none other than Tian Fei, the deceptively simple-minded right-hand man of Hua Handong, who had accompanied the Poison King to Beijing.
After their plot to manipulate the Sino-Western Medical Exchange failed, the hidden duo had been flushed out by Ye Yuanyuan. The Poison King died in the aftermath, while Tian Fei stayed behind as a decoy, buying time for Hua Handong to flee abroad.
The toxic gas in the factory was the Poison King’s parting gift. The buried explosives? Obtained through special channels.
Tian Fei’s zigzagging escape was a countermeasure against snipers. A straight sprint would’ve made him an easy target, but this way, the pre-positioned marksmen stood no chance.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Jiang Fei heard the sniper rounds whizzing past, each missing the agile fugitive.
“This guy’s a real pro,” Jiang Fei seethed internally.
The sight of Tian Fei—potentially the mastermind behind the assassination attempt that nearly killed him—ignited a white-hot rage. Yet, he couldn’t deny the man’s terrifying prowess.
Leaping from five meters up while carrying someone, yet landing unharmed? His ability to disperse momentum rivaled even Jiang Fei’s incomplete Tai Chi. And his speed? Unmatched. Slipping through a sniper gauntlet like it was nothing.
“Bastard!” Ye Yuanyuan snarled, staggering to her feet, fists clenched.
She knew the losses this time dwarfed the last. Twenty elite operatives—gone. No survivors.
Before she could give chase, Jiang Fei was already airborne, his Threefold Cloud lightness technique propelling him like an arrow. Though outclassed by his later skills like Dugu Nine Swords or North Dipper Divine Skill, in the real world, it was still breathtaking.
In seconds, he rounded the smoldering ruins, hot on Tian Fei’s heels. Ye Yuanyuan, though lagging, followed with gritted teeth.
Tian Fei’s raw speed was staggering—even with Mangguo in tow, he outpaced Jiang Fei initially. Only his serpentine evasion (for sniper avoidance) kept Jiang Fei within range.
“Should’ve invested in Agility earlier,” Jiang Fei cursed, realizing how narrow the gap was. Without sniper suppression, Tian Fei might’ve escaped entirely.
“Next skill points go to upgrading Threefold Cloud,” he resolved.
Suddenly, his speed surged. A faint warmth—internal energy—flowed through him, amplifying his movement.
“So this is neigong!”
The North Dipper Divine Skill, though only at Level 0 after mere hours of practice, had already borne fruit.
The chase stretched on, terrain shifting to open ground. With no obstructions, Jiang Fei considered splurging on another Little Li Flying Dagger to end this.
Abruptly, Tian Fei spun around, halting. He yanked Mangguo in front of him as a shield, his憨厚 (simpleton) face now eerily calm as he stared Jiang Fei down.
Jiang Fei skidded to a stop. “Did he read my mind? Know I was about to use the dagger?”
“Of course—if he’s the one who sent those assassins, he knows my skills. Now he’s forcing a direct fight.”
A cold smirk curled Jiang Fei’s lips.
“Fine by me. Saves me 300 gold.”
