SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

On Haitian Road, a Qi Surge coursed through He’s body as he sprinted for his life, Li Wenwei tucked under one arm and Zhao Qin under the other. Several distinct blade wounds and a few deep bullet holes were visible on his body. Though not fatal, they bled ceaselessly.

He was by no means weak. As the strongest martial artist for the National Salvation Association in Celestial Sea Prefecture, he had reached the level of a Martial Arts Hall True Inheritance. However, the City Defense Army unit sent to capture Zhao Qin was also formidable. They not only carried firearms but had also deployed three powerful Cross-Training experts.

Furthermore, He had to break out of the encirclement while carrying both Li Wenwei and Zhao Qin, which drastically increased the pressure and difficulty. Successfully breaking through was a feat in itself.

Now, three soldiers in Giant Spirit Army uniforms trailed them from a distance, in hot pursuit.

HUFF! HUFF!

He’s stamina, after all, was no match for Zhao Xuanqi’s. Carrying two people while injured and trying to maintain enough speed to outrun his pursuers was incredibly draining. He was already beginning to pant, watching as the three soldiers behind him steadily closed the gap.

Seeing the situation, a flash of resolve appeared in Li Wenwei’s eyes, and he said to He in a grim voice,

"He, you can’t get far carrying two people. I’ll stay behind. Stick to the plan and get Zhao Qin to the rendezvous point. Someone will be there to meet you."

"Impossible! How could I possibly leave you behind! Don’t worry, I can keep going. Once we’re off Haitian Road and into the side streets, we can lose them!"

He let out a roar and, as if to prove his point, mustered his strength for another mad dash.

He knew Li Wenwei would never let himself be captured. He held too many secrets; his capture would expose a great deal about the National Salvation Association.

Therefore, if Li Wenwei was left behind, he would only have one path available to him.

"Mr. Li, how could we leave you behind?!"

Zhao Qin cried out, aghast.

But Li Wenwei, still pinned under He’s arm, suddenly grabbed He’s clothes and hissed:

"I came here prepared! Xu Shaohe! Remember who you are. This isn’t a request—it’s an order! And you must remember this in the future: in our line of work, success demands sacrifice! Anyone can be sacrificed. It could be me, or it could be you. Right now, your role is more important than mine, so it has to be me!"

"You must escort Zhao Qin to safety! If danger comes again, you will shield her with your life! And you, Zhao Qin—dignity and ideals may be equal for all, but people’s value is not. Cast aside your weakness and guilt. Remember, you have to live. You *must* live!"

"He, I’m going to count to five. You put me down and keep running! Do not hesitate!"

HSSSSSS!!

Before He could respond, Li Wenwei reached for his waist and gave a sharp tug. The faint hiss of a burning fuse sounded. He clamped his hand over his clothes to keep the smoke from alerting their pursuers, the scorching fuse searing his skin and sending a jolt of excruciating pain through him.

Li Wenwei had prepared for the worst before the mission, strapping a belt of explosives to his waist—a precaution he took before every dangerous assignment.

"Mr. Li!!"

He cried out, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face.

"One!"

"Two!"

"Three!"

"Four!"

Yet Li Wenwei’s expression remained unshaken as he calmly counted out each number.

"Five!"

Finally, he uttered the last number.

"AHHH!!"

He roared, clenching his jaw so hard that blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. The simple act of letting go seemed to sap every last ounce of his strength.

Once steady on his feet, Li Wenwei immediately charged the three pursuers.

Hm?!

’Sacrificing a limb to survive?’

The three pursuing soldiers narrowed their eyes. They were about to rush forward and subdue Li Wenwei when they suddenly sensed something was wrong.

Smoke seemed to be rising from his body, carrying the faint but distinct smell of gunpowder.

’This is bad!’

The three men instantly realized what was happening. They skidded to a halt and dove for cover.

Their eyes met Li Wenwei’s.

BOOM!!

Gunpowder erupted. Smoke and dust billowed as a spray of flesh and blood and a blinding flash of light slammed into the three soldiers’ faces. The terrifying blast wave threw them backward, smashing them against the walls of nearby buildings. The force caused a violent Vibration in their internal organs, leaving their heads spinning. Shrapnel tore through their bodies, drawing blood.

But thanks to the terrifying Physical Ability afforded by their Cross-Training, combined with the quick reflexes that had allowed them to avoid the epicenter of the blast, the three were severely injured but still alive. If Li Wenwei had merely thrown the explosives, he likely wouldn’t have even managed to injure them without perfect timing.

In their current state, however, they had lost the ability to give chase. They could only watch helplessly as He, now much faster having shed his burden, disappeared into an alley at the street corner.

...

...

「Meanwhile, at the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall.」

"Is what you’re saying true?"

Liu Changfeng asked Ma Maocheng grimly.

A short time earlier, Ma Maocheng had urgently sought out Zhao Xuanqi’s assistant, Cai Mingliang. He had revealed his identity as a member of the National Salvation Association and relayed the intelligence.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Cai Mingliang had immediately brought Ma Maocheng to the Martial Arts Hall to see Liu Changfeng.

"Every word is true. If I’m lying in the slightest, you can hand me over to the city garrison yourself. I would never have exposed my identity if the situation weren’t critical. There’s nothing in it for me."

Ma Maocheng said grimly.

Liu Changfeng narrowed his eyes, studying Ma Maocheng for a moment before seeming to reach a decision. He summoned all the key figures within the Martial Arts Hall.

"Take some men and immediately notify everyone at our various businesses. Tell them all to lie low for now and stay out of sight. If things go south, they should be ready to leave Celestial Sea. A few of you, come with me to the apothecary. We need to move the valuables out first."

Liu Changfeng ordered in a low voice.

Just then, however, a clamor of shouts and screams erupted from the front courtyard.

"Damn it! The City Defense Army must be here!" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

The color drained from Ma Maocheng’s face.

Liu Changfeng’s expression faltered as well.

Soon, a disciple rushed in from the front courtyard. "Senior Brother Liu," he reported to Liu Changfeng, "Military Officer Hou Rong is here in person with his men!"

"Forget the valuables! All of you, get over the back wall and leave, now! Get as many people out as you can. Notify our brothers everywhere to take their families and get out of Celestial Sea. Be quick! I’ll do my best to buy you some time here."

Liu Changfeng immediately ordered the men around him.

He realized Ma Maocheng had been telling the truth. The entire Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall was about to be implicated. Whether they could resolve this matter or not, knowing Military Officer Hou Rong of the City Defense Army, he would surely use this as an excuse to tear a chunk of flesh from the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall. The other martial arts halls, and even the Jili Empire, wouldn’t pass up such an opportunity either.

If the core members of the Martial Arts Hall couldn’t escape now, they would all be in grave danger.

And at that point, the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall would be well and truly finished.

He had once said that the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall was his home. ’And I will fight to the death anyone who tries to destroy my home or harm my family.’