Nian Yan was alarmed. Since these people managed to enter Xie Yao’s house, they must have been well-prepared. They even used dangerous weapons like heavy sniper rifles. He wondered what their goal was—could it be Xie Yao they were after?
What were they planning with a heavy sniper? Nian Yan’s mood darkened. Could they intend to assassinate Xie Yao? That was absolutely intolerable!
Xie Yao was extremely important to both the Zhengrong and Longyue conglomerates. These people’s actions today were definitely connected to the two conglomerates.
Nian Yan carefully approached them. He didn’t know how Xie Yao was doing now, so he set his phone to silent and sent her a message: “Xie Yao, where are you now?”
Xie Yao replied: “I’m still in the bathroom of the bedroom. The bathroom glass is bulletproof and the system is voice-controlled. I’m too scared to come out.”
Nian Yan could sense Xie Yao’s tension and fear. He sent her another message to comfort her: “Stay inside and don’t come out. I’ll be there soon!”
The buildings of “Bishuiyunjian” used the highest-quality materials, including every brick and every pane of glass. Even the ubiquitous glass was made of composite materials. The bathroom in the bedroom was voice-controlled by the user and couldn’t be opened by others, so Xie Yao was somewhat safe inside.
Xie Yao sent another message: “Nian Yan, be careful. My security guards will arrive in three minutes.”
Crouching low, Nian Yan gradually approached the two men ahead and faintly overheard their conversation.
One of them, with a cold laugh, said, “Cidao, you understand the consequences of what we’re doing.”
The other man, called Cidao, replied firmly, “Ghostfire, we mercenaries have a principle—we don’t attack the elderly, the weak, or women and children. You didn’t explain the situation before we came here, so it’s not me who’s breaking the rules.”
“If it weren’t for your access to the military’s anti-satellite technology, I wouldn’t have brought you along, you blockhead. Principles are meaningless. You’re a mercenary, I’m a hitman. The employer pays us, and we do the job regardless of whether the target is old or young, male or female. Don’t forget, your comrades who lost limbs are waiting for your money to support their families.” Ghostfire said contemptuously.
Cidao hesitated slightly, then said after a pause, “My comrades also survived the battlefield as mercenaries. They would understand my actions.”
“Even if they understand, when you return, you might not see them again.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The employer entrusted us with this mission, and he was already prepared in case you changed your mind.”
“Who is the employer?” Cidao stared at Ghostfire coldly and asked.
“As hitmen, we have a rule—we don’t disclose any information about the employer to outsiders.”
Listening to their conversation, Nian Yan roughly understood the situation. These two had come together to abduct or assassinate Xie Yao. Ghostfire had accepted the mission and invited Cidao, the mercenary, because Cidao had access to the military’s anti-satellite technology, which could help them infiltrate Bishuiyunjian. However, upon arrival, they started arguing. Cidao had a principle—he refused to harm the elderly, the weak, or women and children. Xie Yao was merely an 18- or 19-year-old girl, so Cidao had second thoughts.
Nian Yan felt a sense of respect for Cidao, who still upheld his principles even in such a situation.
Suddenly, a beam of red infrared light pierced through the darkness, leaving a red dot on Cidao’s chest. The dot moved slightly across his chest as Ghostfire smirked contemptuously and said, “You need to understand the current situation.”
Cidao glanced toward the rooftop in the distance. If the sniper in the darkness pulled the trigger, with the speed of the heavy sniper’s laser bullets, he wouldn’t survive the next second.
“Let’s go. Where is that girl?” Cidao hesitated slightly and said.
“Glad you’re being reasonable. Don’t try any tricks. If anything goes wrong here, your comrades will pay the price together with you.”
Cidao’s eyes turned cold as he said, “No matter who the employer is, tell him from me—before I die, he’d better not touch my comrades, or he’ll never have peace of mind.”
Ghostfire heard Cidao’s words and smiled without responding. He had worked with Cidao several times and understood Cidao’s strength well. Cidao never made empty threats.
But what could he do? He was only responsible for completing the mission. Once the mission was done and he received his payment, he could enjoy his life freely. Others’ lives were none of his concern.
The two started moving toward Xie Yao’s villa. Nian Yan didn’t know their intentions—whether they aimed to assassinate or abduct Xie Yao. If they were here to assassinate her, once they entered the house, she would be in danger. Although the bathroom glass in her room was bulletproof, the voice-control system would be no match for people who could even block satellites.
At that moment, near the entrance of Xie Yao’s villa, seven or eight figures rushed in—they were the security guards from Xie Yao’s family.
Ghostfire’s regional intercom device suddenly crackled: “Ghostfire, some pesky fish are approaching.”
Ghostfire smiled, exuding a chilling killing intent, and said, “Eliminate them.”
A beam of light flashed across the air. With a dull “boom,” it pierced through a guard’s heart. The guard didn’t even have time to cry out before collapsing.
At the villa entrance, chaos erupted as the guards quickly took cover behind terrain features.
“They have heavy snipers!”
“Take out the sniper!”
From their agile movements, it was clear these guards had also received special training.
“Three minutes to locate the target, get her out. Anything that happens after that is not our responsibility!” The distant sniper with the heavy rifle said through Ghostfire’s regional intercom.
“Understood. Three minutes will be enough.”
Ghostfire and Cidao leapt into Xie Yao’s villa.
Nian Yan crept to the window of Xie Yao’s villa and found it open. He jumped inside and swiftly made his way toward Xie Yao’s bedroom. Familiar with the layout of Xie Yao’s villa, he arrived at her bedroom slightly ahead of the two intruders.
The arrangement in Xie Yao’s bedroom hadn’t changed—it was the same as before. Nian Yan glanced around and hid beside the bed.
Xie Yao, inside the bathroom, immediately became anxious upon noticing another person in the room. Although she had trained in Taekwondo and other martial arts, she was no match for professional killers.
“Don’t worry, it’s me,” Nian Yan said in a low voice.
Xie Yao immediately calmed down. Nian Yan’s voice eased her anxiety slightly.
“Stay hidden and make no sound,” Nian Yan said. In this situation, he could only take a chance. He absolutely couldn’t allow those two to harm Xie Yao.
He didn’t know how skilled the two intruders were, but from their conversation, one was a professional hitman and the other a former mercenary—both undoubtedly formidable. Nian Yan estimated that if he attacked stealthily, he could probably handle only one of them. If both were present, it would be a problem.
But if the two entered Xie Yao’s bedroom, Nian Yan had no choice but to confront them.
Nian Yan could sense two figures rapidly approaching down the hallway. Although their footsteps were light, he could still detect the slight vibrations in the floor.
He lay on the ground, partially hidden beneath the bed, and between his fingers appeared a sharp small knife. He had casually taken it from his room when he left. Normally, it was just a decorative piece. Though only slightly longer than a finger and seemingly harmless, if wielded with enough force, such a short dagger could be deadly.
Suddenly, the bedroom door opened, and Nian Yan’s nerves tensed. He held his breath.
As he entered, Cidao slightly furrowed his brow. Having lived in the most dangerous environments for years, his sense of smell was far more sensitive than that of ordinary people. He detected the scent of two people—one was a woman’s fragrance, and the other was a man’s.
Cidao paused slightly but said nothing.
Ghostfire followed Cidao into the room. Though skilled in assassination, his sensitivity to danger wasn’t as sharp as Cidao’s.
“Where is that little girl?” Ghostfire asked, emitting a strange laugh as he quickly locked onto the nearby bathroom and started walking toward it.
Cidao remained expressionless and intentionally slowed down, letting Ghostfire go first.
Suddenly, Ghostfire threw a small metal plate in his hand. The plate flew and stuck to the bathroom’s glass door.
With a loud “boom,” an ear-splitting explosion occurred. The glass door shattered into pieces, scattering across the floor. A startled scream came from inside the bathroom.
Xie Yao pretended to be panicky and helpless, aiming to attract Ghostfire’s attention. Though nervous inside, she remained calm because she knew Nian Yan was nearby—she wasn’t alone. Regular Taekwondo practice and occasional sparring had given her strong mental resilience.
Ghostfire’s action caused Cidao to frown slightly. He said, “The employer wants her alive.”
Ghostfire smiled and replied, “Don’t worry, she won’t die.” Saying this, he walked toward the bathroom.
Seeing Xie Yao inside, frightened and pale, Ghostfire grinned lewdly: “Tsk tsk, she’s really not bad-looking—much prettier than in the photos.” At this moment, Xie Yao’s hair was slightly disheveled, but Ghostfire could still see her delicate beauty.
“Cidao, want to have some fun together?” Ghostfire’s lips curled into a sinister smile as he looked at Cidao.
“We don’t have much time!” Cidao replied with a look of disgust.
As Ghostfire was about to enter the bathroom, Nian Yan, who had been lying in wait beside the bed, suddenly sprang up like a coiled spring. In one swift motion, he lunged forward, his short dagger aimed directly at Ghostfire’s back.
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