Gang Qi lets you project the qi within your body outward to injure an opponent without direct contact.
That was exactly what Du Yan was doing now.
Even though he was still several meters away from Zhao Fei, the force of his qi was already striking him.
"Ah!"
After the initial shock, Zhao Fei let out a miserable scream and collapsed to the ground.
Zhang Wen, watching from the side, was stunned. If his legs were still intact, he would have jumped into the river without hesitation.
"I'll ask again—who sent you?"
Du Yan lowered his head, calmly pinching the corner of his black uniform. "Sometimes I think it's unfair. All I have to do is put on this outfit, and I'm legally allowed to kill you."
Cold sweat poured down Zhao Fei's back.
But Cleaners did have that authority—especially since, as a martial artist, he had already attacked a so-called ordinary person like Xu Mu.
"I…I'm with the Dai family. Young Master Dai Xiao ordered me to deal with Xu Mu."
Du Yan glanced at Xu Mu and continued, "Why target him?"
"It should be because Chen Cai from the Feng family asked for help," Zhao Fei explained. "Young Master Dai Xiao originally didn't plan to touch Xu Mu. But after he had a meal with Chen Cai today, I received this order."
Xu Mu's eyes turned cold as he listened.
He'd known Chen Cai wasn't easy to deal with, but he hadn't expected her to go this far.
If that's the case, then don't blame him for showing no mercy.
He knew exactly where Chen Cai and Dai Xiao liked to meet. Looked like it was time to make a little video and expose it to the public.
"And you?" Du Yan turned to Zhang Wen.
Having witnessed Zhao Fei's fate, Zhang Wen hurried to answer, "I just got an order to capture Xu Mu alive, tie him up, and leave him in a forest outside the city."
"Who gave the order?" Du Yan asked.
"I don't know—it came through a middleman," Zhang Wen said.
Du Yan looked to Xu Mu. "Want to meet the one behind this? If so, you can pretend to let him take you."
Xu Mu thought for a moment, then asked the two, "Who put the tracker on my car?"
"I had someone install it," Zhang Wen raised his hand.
He was shocked—he hadn't expected Xu Mu to know ahead of time. Clearly, Xu Mu had come here on purpose. Did he know this Intermediate Cleaner?
"Fine. I'll go with you. Tie me up and dump me in the forest outside the city."
Xu Mu had nothing else pressing; he wanted to see who else was making a move against him.
Dragging his injured leg, Zhang Wen led the way.
After Xu Mu had walked a few steps, he looked back at Du Yan, who had already sat down again to fish.
"Brother, you're not coming with me?"
"No need. His mission isn't to kill you anyway," Du Yan said, yawning and taking a swig of beer.
He had only been suspicious at first, but once he heard Xu Mu mention the tracker on his car, he was certain—Xu Mu had lured them here on purpose.
Two martial artists hunting him down, and instead of running to a crowded place, he came to this empty riverside? And when both attackers lunged at him at the same time, he hadn't even flinched.
This kid… was no ordinary person.
"Fair enough," Xu Mu cupped his hands. "Thanks for the help, brother. I'm Xu Mu. See you around."
He then followed Zhang Wen away.
"I'll drive," Xu Mu said evenly, glancing at Zhang Wen's leg.
Zhang Wen nodded, then asked once inside the car, "Aren't you afraid this is dangerous?"
Swish!
Zhang Wen's eyes widened—two silver needles had appeared in his leg. Before he could react, Xu Mu had already pulled the dagger from the wound.
"You'll make me bleed out like this—"
He stopped mid-sentence, stunned. Despite how deep the wound was, aside from a little red around the edges, there was no heavy bleeding.
He stared at the needles. Could those two alone have stopped the blood?
"So you're a real expert," Zhang Wen muttered, amazed. On second thought, anyone who was on friendly terms with an Intermediate Cleaner couldn't be ordinary.
"Now, tell me the whole story," Xu Mu said coolly.
"You know the Death List, right?" Zhang Wen began.
"Of course. Don't tell me you're on it?"
"Hardly. With my level? Not close." Zhang Wen shook his head. "There are eighteen top killers on the Death List. Below that is the 'Hundred Ghosts.'"
As he spoke, Zhang Wen took out his phone and opened an app with a skull icon.
Xu Mu took the phone. The app was called Hundred Ghosts Night Parade.
"A killer app?" he said, surprised.
"Yeah. Register and you can take jobs. I've got an old client—he messaged me this time." Zhang Wen pointed at the chat. "Open it."
Xu Mu opened the thread. The client had listed Xu Mu's license plate and attached photos, ordering Zhang Wen to capture him alive.
The photo was taken by a surveillance camera—specifically, at the antique market.
A hired killer. The antique market.
Put those together, and one person came to mind—Dai Xingluo.
Xu Mu's gaze darkened. He knew Dai Xingluo was ruthless, but he hadn't expected her to go this far. Just because he refused to join her, she wanted him taken?
Fine—he'd like to see exactly what she planned to do.
He wouldn't mind removing her if necessary. He had plenty of ways to deal with the Dai family; using Dai Xingluo was merely the simplest. If she was courting death, then he wouldn't hesitate to be ruthless—even to a beauty.
…
The chat provided an address. Xu Mu drove to a deserted forest on the outskirts. With Zhang Wen's help, he let himself be tied up.
Zhang Wen snapped a photo and sent it to the employer.
"All right, you can go," Xu Mu said. "I'll tell them I came willingly. I won't sell you out."
Gratitude filled Zhang Wen's face. He bowed and limped away.
Xu Mu leaned against a rock, scrolling on his phone to pass the time. He wouldn't wait forever—if no one showed by afternoon, he'd leave.
While browsing, he kept his perception spread out.
At last, after half an hour, a woman in black casual wear entered his range. She wore a cap, black mask, and sunglasses—her face thoroughly covered.
"Finally," Xu Mu murmured.
He pocketed his phone, put his hands behind his back, and posed as if he were still tied up.