Volume One: A First Glimmer of Brilliance, Chapter Ninety-Six: Ambushed

Three days ago, Wang Jue had received a contact from his senior apprentice brother, Monkey, for someone named Ning Qing.

That night, Ning Qing had only told him to wait for news, and then fell silent.

At times, Wang Jue could not help wondering whether there was something wrong with his head.

He had wasted three whole days for a private job that paid five hundred thousand when nothing happened and two million when it did.

Because of this, he had not gone to Blood Wolf Valley for three days, losing at least several million.

Just as Wang Jue thought the matter had fallen through, a text from Ning Qing arrived early that morning.

Meet at Origin Hotel at nine. Bring your own weapons. Latecomers will not be admitted. Your identity code is 9527.

Wang Jue glanced at the time. Less than two hours remained, but if he left now, he would still make it.

He quickly stuffed an egg into his mouth.

It had been snatched from Wang Xiaoyu, and he was already at the door changing his shoes when he turned and ran.

Wang Xiaoyu was instantly furious. She charged at him with her chopsticks, but could not get close no matter how hard she tried, and finally shouted in rage, Dad, Wang Jue stole my egg! Help me beat him up!

Wang Jianbin glanced up, smiled, and kept reading the newspaper.

Wang Jue ignored his sister’s glare and called into the house, Mom, I’m not coming back for lunch. I’ll be home tonight!

Wang’s mother poked her head out from the kitchen. What time will you be back?

Wang Jue casually made up an excuse. We’ll see when the time comes.

Oh, then be careful outside.

Before his mother had even finished speaking, Wang Jue reached out and messed up his little sister’s hair, then slammed the door shut amid her outraged cries.

Seeing her bangs turned into a bird’s nest by Wang Jue, Wang Xiaoyu glared furiously, eyes blazing. Wang Jue, if you don’t bring back roast duck tonight, we are enemies for life!

...

Outside Origin Hotel.

By the time Wang Jue arrived, quite a few bodyguards in black suits had already gathered there.

Such a huge show?

To this point, Wang Jue still did not even know exactly whom he was protecting.

The more mysterious the situation seemed, the more curious he became about the other party’s identity.

Who on earth could it be?

At that moment, a man in black stopped him. Identity code!

Nine five two seven, Wang Jue answered.

Beep...

The man keyed the number into a device, Wang Jue’s information appeared on the screen, and with a beep, verification succeeded. The black-clad guards on both sides immediately let him pass.

The verifier said to Wang Jue, Go on ahead and find Ning Qing in the back. He’ll tell you your specific assignment.

Got it. Wang Jue nodded.

Soon enough, Wang Jue met Ning Qing.

He had originally assumed the man would be in his twenties or early thirties, but unexpectedly he was actually a man in his forties, old enough to be Wang Jue’s father.

Ning Qing was tall and broad, with a crew cut, and every word and movement of his was crisp and efficient.

Wang Jue?

After a quick glance, Ning Qing marked something in the booklet and called to one side, Lin Shengli, take this one with you! Your team is complete. Twenty minutes to prepare!

Lin Shengli looked at Wang Jue and, seeing how young he was, frowned slightly. Then he withdrew his gaze, turned around, and said in a cool tone, Follow me.

Wang Jue did not care about the other man’s attitude and silently followed.

After a short while, the two arrived at a room in the hotel.

At that moment, four or five figures were already inside.

When they saw Wang Jue behind Lin Shengli, a fat man immediately exclaimed in an exaggerated tone, Seriously, Captain Lin? With a build like his, wouldn’t it have been better to assign him to logistics? Bringing him in with us is just dragging us down, isn’t it?

Lin Shengli glanced at him without expression. If you have a problem with Ning Qing’s arrangements, take it up with him.

Uh...

At that, the fat man immediately shrank back, though he still shot Wang Jue an unreadable look.

All right, since everyone in our group is here, I’ll explain the mission.

Lin Shengli wasted no words and handed out the documents in his hands. This time, we are responsible for protecting the target’s safety. Nobody is to leave his side. This is the target file. Read it in one minute, then destroy it immediately.

Wang Jue took the file and found that it was only a one-inch photograph.

This was absurdly sparse.

Wang Jue stared at it in bafflement.

At the very least, they should have given a name, or a profession, or even just a surname if nothing else.

Was it really necessary to mobilize such a massive force for someone whose name he did not even know?

The fat man who had been dissatisfied with Wang Jue earlier could not hold back and asked, So after all this, the guy we’re protecting is just this little old man? Was all this really necessary?

Questions you should not ask, do not ask. Lin Shengli shot him a cold look.

The fat man shrugged. Fine, I know the rules.

A man to one side, idly toying with a dagger, let out a faint, sinister chuckle. I heard Lord Chu has run into some trouble. And isn’t our employer surnamed Chu?

The others instantly reacted.

If something had happened to Lord Chu, the underworld of Peace Town would inevitably be thrown into a massive reshuffle.

That would certainly be the perfect opportunity for those hostile forces that had long been eyeing Lord Chu.

No, if this old man is that important to Lord Chu, wouldn’t it be more secure for the Chu family to hire some Red Star Realm martial artists?

The fat man suddenly frowned and asked, If we run into a real expert, aren’t people like us, with only Body Refining and Spirit Nurturing cultivation, just going to be delivered as prey?

Heh.

The dagger man sneered. The higher a martial artist’s realm, the greater the cost to make them act. Just hiring one Red Star Realm fighter could probably pay for several peak ninth-tier Spirit Nurturing experts.

Someone else nodded. Now that you put it that way, it does make some sense. Besides, the other side may not even be able to hire a Red Star Realm martial artist to deal with us. It would not be worth it.

Who said there are no Red Star Realm martial artists?

Lin Shengli suddenly spoke.

After all, he was a captain and knew more of the inside story than these temporary bodyguards.

There really are?

Everyone was shaken.

Even Wang Jue, who had initially been rather indifferent, now looked solemn.

No one present was stupid.

A quick thought made it clear that they were only the open-facing protection force, while in the shadows there would also be fierce clashes at the Red Star Realm level.

Now this was getting interesting.

The fat man’s expression changed, as did the dagger man’s, both showing signs of retreat.

Rest assured. Battles at the Red Star Realm level will not spill over onto us.

Lin Shengli swept his gaze over everyone, noticing that only Wang Jue remained unchanged. His eyes did not linger on Wang Jue, however, and he continued, Do not forget that there are hunting team members watching from the side. No one dares break the rules of Peace Town.

After those words, the tension in everyone’s hearts eased slightly.

The hunting team?

Wang Jue frowned faintly.

Why did it seem as though they were everywhere?

Just how much power did they have?

Someone else nearby helped smooth things over. Exactly. Think of Lord Chu’s name alone. Who would dare be blind enough to go looking for trouble with him? Maybe this time we won’t even need to do anything, and the job will be finished easily.

Let’s hope so...

While everyone was talking, the phone at Lin Shengli’s waist suddenly rang.

Three seconds later, Lin Shengli put the phone away. They’re almost here. Everyone get ready! We’re moving out!

Received!

Everyone’s expression tightened.

...

Inside a private club in Peace Town.

In a dim room, incense smoke drifted faintly. A young man in his twenties sat on the sofa.

A little light filtered through the gauze curtains, filling the entire room with a cold, murderous air.

At the doorway, a middle-aged man stood respectfully and said softly, Young Master, the people hired by the Chu family have appeared.

He must die. Do you understand?

The person on the sofa did not move, but his voice carried an unquestionable authority.

The middle-aged man hurriedly bent lower. Your subordinate understands. This time, everyone will die without exception. To avoid leaving any clues, I specially selected death warriors. Not the slightest trace will be exposed.

The young man said carelessly, I heard the Chu family hired quite a few outsiders.

According to the information I received, they hired people from the Fierce Tiger Adventure Team, the middle-aged man reported honestly.

Tch, tch, tch...

A derisive snort came from the young master. The people from the Fierce Tiger Adventure Team dare to meddle in this matter? Once this is settled, give them a lesson.

The middle-aged man bowed. Yes, Young Master.

At that moment, the young man on the sofa suddenly tossed over a red token.

The middle-aged man quickly picked it up.

The young man’s indifferent voice sounded again. Have the Nightshade Organization send people. Kill them all.

At the mention of the Nightshade Organization, the middle-aged man’s heart suddenly tightened.

This organization...

After he withdrew, the young man gave a sinister smile. As the times change, so must the right to speak in the underworld. It is time for the underground king of Peace Town, Lord Chu, to be removed from the rolls!

...

On the other side.

Outside Origin Hotel.

Wang Jue finally saw the target.

The little old man was dressed in a traditional Chinese tunic, looked vigorous and alert, and walked with a steady step.

Seemingly aware of what he was about to face, he had no objections to Ning Qing’s arrangements. Whatever others told him to do, he did, which made him remarkably easy to deal with.

This time, the Chu family had arranged four identical motorcades, taking four different routes in order to confuse the enemy’s line of sight.

Wang Jue followed Lin Shengli and the others, veterans who had come from the Fierce Tiger Hunting Team, while they protected the true target.

Still, Lin Shengli had placed him at the very edge, no different from logistics.

The meaning was obvious: go make your easy money in peace, and do not come here to interfere with our work.

Wang Jue knew he was being sidelined, but he also understood. Lin Shengli and the others were seasoned veterans from a proper adventure team, with very rich experience.

Toward someone like him, who had joined halfway through, they simply did not trust him and looked down on him from the bottom of their hearts.

In a mission like this, he could still tell what mattered more and what mattered less.

Being treated like a transparent man in the team was, in fact, rather relaxing.

Along the way, after leaving the hotel, the four motorcades split up and moved separately.

Wang Jue’s group chose to take the highway.

By now, the journey was more than halfway complete, and just as everyone thought this mission would pass with minor danger but no real trouble, fate pulled an abrupt reversal.

The convoy had barely emerged from the mouth of a tunnel when assassins wrapped in black cloth sprang up from all directions.

Enemy attack! Enemy attack!

Someone at the front of the convoy shouted, only to be struck in the forehead by a silenced bullet immediately after finishing the words.

At once, the surrounding assassins opened fire as well.

Bang bang bang...

A storm of bullets poured toward Wang Jue’s convoy from all directions, as though ammunition cost nothing at all.

As panic broke out in the convoy, everyone drew their weapons and began to counterattack, clearly determined not to let the enemy break through.