Stronger with Crimson Modifier-Chapter 88: Slaughter (1)
Above, a thick layer of lead-gray clouds hung heavy in the sky, pressing down like a giant, damp cloth that looked ready to drip rain at any moment.
Outside Anshan Academy, a commercial street ran along the road directly opposite the main gate.
It was packed with all sorts of snack stalls and boba tea shops, their neon signs flashing as an endless stream of people came and went.
At this moment, by a window near the second floor, a Young Man in a white shirt and headphones sat with a cup of boba tea, seemingly playing a game.
However, his eyes would occasionally sweep over the entrance of Anshan Academy.
"Skinny, what’s the situation? Anything happening?"
A steady male voice came through his headphones.
"Shit, he’s holed up tight, just hiding in the tall grass and refusing to come out."
The man called Skinny cursed. It sounded like he was complaining about the game, but he was actually referring to their target.
He was utterly exasperated.
’This guy must be part turtle,’ he thought. ’It’s been a whole month, and he hasn’t taken a single step outside of Anshan Academy.’
As for why they didn’t just sneak in and kill him?
If they had that kind of skill, they wouldn’t be working as assassins.
"Maybe we should just call it quits on this one. We’ve been here too long. If his allies spot us, we’re done for."
Hearing Skinny’s words, the man on the other end fell silent for a moment.
He understood the risks just as well as Skinny did.
The longer they stayed, the more likely they were to be noticed by the Shexin Sect.
But he really couldn’t bear to part with the generous mission reward.
"Wait, that’s—!"
Suddenly.
In that fleeting moment.
Skinny’s gaze flickered over habitually.
He was shocked to see a figure walking out of the Anshan Academy gate.
Even though they were far apart, he recognized the person at a glance. It was the target they had been monitoring for over a month. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
It was no exaggeration to say he was so familiar with the man’s appearance that he could recognize him even if he were turned to ash.
"The guy on the other side is dead."
Skinny said, then turned off his phone.
He picked up the boba tea from his table, stood up, and left his seat.
On the other end, hearing Skinny speak the code phrase,
the originally stubble-faced man’s expression froze for an instant before he quickly sprang into action.
...
After leaving the academy, Hu Qi went to a bus stop, waited a short while, and then boarded a bus.
He sat in a seat by the window, watching the scenery recede.
Suddenly, his expression shifted.
Using the reflection in the glass, he looked at a gray van three car-lengths behind the bus.
That van was following him.
Having cultivated the Snake Form Posture to the Ninth Layer and reached Qi Blood Three Transformations Perfection, his abilities were enhanced by the Qi Blood Ball in his body.
Hu Qi’s five senses had grown sharper, reaching an almost unbelievable level.
He could feel that these people, if he wasn’t mistaken, were coming for him.
’Interesting. Who is it?’
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
’Is it that Xie Guang, or someone else?’
As he thought this, his face showed no trace of alarm.
With his current strength, unless someone from a true Martial Arts Family made a move, he had absolutely nothing to fear.
’Perfect. I can use this to test my own strength.’
At this thought, a dangerous light glinted in his eyes.
...
"Stay on him, don’t lose him."
In the van, Xiaoya spoke in a low voice.
She stared intently at the bus in the distance, her eyes glowing with a feverish light, as if it were a mountain of gold waiting for her to claim.
"Relax, he won’t get away. Get your weapon ready."
The stubble-faced man driving said coolly.
His face was grim, with hard lines and a clenched jaw that conveyed a sense of steely resolve.
"Once we pull off this job, we leave this place immediately and never come back!"
Hearing this, the woman and Skinny, who was sitting beside her, nodded with serious expressions.
At the same time, the two of them began checking the pistols they carried, loading the magazines.
When facing a student from that place, none of them dared to be the least bit careless.
They had encountered someone from that place once before.
The unbelievable physique the person displayed was simply inhuman.
But in the end, that person still died by the gun.
Besides, according to the information they had on this target, he had only just joined two months ago. In that short amount of time,
no matter how much of a prodigy he was, how strong could he possibly be?
These two factors combined were the reason they dared to make a move on Hu Qi.
...
More than ten minutes later, the bus stopped in front of a convention center.
At this moment, the area around the entrance was bustling with excitement.
The crowd surged like a tide, a dazzling array of colorful clothing and costumes.
Cosplayers in magnificent anime outfits gathered in small groups. Some held meticulously crafted props, striking cool poses that attracted the gazes and camera flashes of those around them.
After getting off the bus, Hu Qi’s figure flickered and vanished into the crowd.
Seeing this, the three pulled their van over to the side of the road and quickly got out.
"Stick to the plan. Skinny, you wait here for pickup. Xiaoya, let’s go."
The stubble-faced man said in a low voice.
With that, he quickened his pace and walked forward.
The woman named Xiaoya followed close behind.
Skinny saw this and said nothing, simply moving to the driver’s seat.
Among the three of them, his combat ability was the worst and his aim was poor. His only skills were driving and computers, so it was only natural for him to be left behind.
He started the van and sat waiting quietly.
PATTER!
A single drop of rain fell from the sky, hitting the dry ground and leaving a small, dark mark.
Almost simultaneously, the sky opened up. A torrential downpour began, with raindrops the size of beans hammering the ground and kicking up splashes of water.
The street instantly turned into a rushing river, the rainwater carrying leaves and debris as it flowed.
The crowd that had been lingering by the entrance began to run into the convention center to take shelter.
The stubble-faced man and Xiaoya pretended to be visitors, bought tickets at the entrance, and walked inside.
Rain battered the windows, creating winding streaks of water, but it did nothing to dampen the enthusiastic atmosphere inside.
The convention center was brilliantly lit, with bright lights illuminating every corner.
A swordsman holding a Longsword.
A Mage in a black robe.
A young girl with beast ears...
There was an endless variety of characters.
As their eyes swept over the faces, the heavy makeup and diverse costumes were dazzling.
The stubble-faced man looked around with a curious expression on his face, acting no different from an ordinary cosplay enthusiast.
However, both of their right hands were in their pockets, gripping pistols with the safeties off.
Xiaoya at his side was doing the same.
But ten minutes passed, and they still found nothing.
She thought for a moment, then suggested in a low voice:
"Boss, there are too many people here. Should we split up to search?"
The stubble-faced man’s brow furrowed, and he was just about to say something.
Just then, a girl in a black robe and a pink wig walked past them.
The girl had delicate, cute makeup on her face.
Judging by her attire, she seemed to be a wizard from some anime.
Beside her, another person with a camera wanted to take her picture as a souvenir.
The pair only glanced at her before looking away.
Their attention was focused on the taller, larger men in the crowd.
Just as the three of them passed each other.
WHOOSH!
Suddenly, a vicious gust of wind erupted.
The delicate-faced girl, in a single step, appeared before the two of them.
From under the black robe, a thick, muscular arm shot out, grabbing for their faces.
"Not good!"
The pair’s expressions changed drastically. They immediately rolled on the ground, drew their pistols, and fired.
BANG!
A gunshot rang out.
The figure before them abruptly dropped low, dodging their shots.
At the same time.
A sickening CRACK of breaking bone echoed through the air.
Xiaoya’s vision went dark. She saw a figure close in on her, and then a fist struck her throat.
Her body flew back several meters as if hit by a battering ram, landing hard on the ground.
Her neck was bent at a grotesque angle.
She twitched and struggled a few times, then went still.
