"That's fine."
Lin Ao nodded in agreement, then said to Ningguang,
"I'm a man, after all. I'll let you make the first move."
"And there's no need for you to leave afterward. We can work together."
"Sure."
Ningguang's indifferent voice had barely fallen when Lin Ao suddenly felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. A tremendous force slammed into him, and his body flew like a torn sack, crashing five or six meters away.
Bang!
He hit the ground hard.
"Ugh—ahhh—!"
His entire body curled up like a cooked shrimp, twitching nonstop.
"Huh? That weak?"
The woman was stunned. Hadn't he been so confident just now? How could he fail to take even a single hit?
He was still a man, after all. She'd thought he could at least exchange a couple of moves. Instead, he went flying in one blow.
She turned to Ningguang with delight.
This bodyguard was impressive—one kick sent someone flying that far!
She'd struck gold.
"That was a sneak attack! You cheated!"
The old man immediately protested. This was completely lacking in martial virtue.
"He told me to go first. How is that my fault?"
Ningguang spread her hands helplessly. He asked for it—now he wanted to deny it?
"Ugh… ah… damn it…"
That kick wasn't light. Lin Ao writhed on the ground for a long time before finally catching his breath.
He struggled to his feet, sweat dripping down his forehead as he looked at Ningguang.
"That one doesn't count… I wasn't ready."
"Didn't you tell me to go first? How were you not ready?"
"Hiss—ha—"
After forcing his breathing steady, Lin Ao argued shamelessly,
"I let you make the first move, but you used your foot."
"Fine. Then you go first this time."
Ningguang laughed in anger. This man was clearly well-practiced at being shameless. In that case, she'd beat him into submission today.
Back in Liyue, she'd rarely fought personally. But that kick just now?
It felt surprisingly good.
"Alright. Be careful, then."
Lin Ao showed no embarrassment at all. He rushed forward in a few quick steps, forming his right hand into a palm and pushing toward Ningguang.
This was enough, he thought.
Last time, he'd been caught off guard. This time, using his real skill, Ningguang wouldn't stand a chance.
Besides, he used a push—gentle, gentlemanly, and it wouldn't hurt such a beauty. Best of both worlds.
"Hmph."
In the next instant, his vision blurred.
Ningguang had already sidestepped, then punched straight at his face.
Crack!
Lin Ao was sent flying again, crashing five or six meters away.
In midair, two front teeth spun gracefully before clattering onto the floor with two crisp sounds.
"This time, I used my hand."
Silence.
The hall fell completely quiet, save for Lin Ao's miserable groans.
"Grandpa, did you see that? The person you found is just a paper tiger. How is he supposed to protect me?"
The woman was delighted. This was satisfying even for her.
"I still have things to do. I'm going to the company."
She turned and left immediately, taking Ningguang with her.
Outside the courtyard, she grabbed Ningguang excitedly, eyes shining.
"Are all the bodyguards from your company this strong?"
"Yes. I'm considered one of the weaker ones."
Ningguang answered honestly. Even though everyone's combat power was equal in this game, her real combat experience couldn't compare to the others.
"You're too modest, really."
In the woman's eyes, Ningguang was already terrifying—one punch sending someone flying. That wasn't something an ordinary person could do.
And dressed in a black suit and sunglasses, she looked straight out of a movie—like a Terminator.
The car started and slowly drove out of the villa.
After the headlights disappeared around the corner, a man in a black suit vaulted over the wall.
"To end the game faster… sorry about this."
Blade muttered as he walked toward the door.
He'd already decided—he would kill all the employers and end the game as quickly as possible.
And he'd start by killing the employers from Teyvat's side, securing victory for his own faction.
He pushed the door open and saw only an old man sitting inside, with Lin Ao beside him applying medicine.
"Where are they?"
Blade frowned. He was only a little late—how were they already gone?
"Who are you?"
Lin Ao was furious. After being beaten senseless by a woman, his confidence was shattered. Now seeing another man in a black suit, his anger flared immediately.
He couldn't stand the sight of it.
"Where are Ningguang and that woman… did they leave?"
He scanned the room. No sign of Ningguang. Had he come too late?
"I asked who you are!"
Lin Ao stormed over and shoved Blade.
Blade didn't move an inch.
"Looks like they're gone."
Since the targets weren't here, Blade turned to leave, planning to head back to the company and wait there.
But Lin Ao was still seething. He slapped Blade's shoulder hard.
"I asked who you are! Don't you know trespassing is illegal?"
In the livestream chat:
[Yae Miko]: Oh my… still trying to court death?
[Bronya]: Mr. Blade doesn't seem like someone who holds back.
[Seele]: The Dragon King is done for.
[Dan Heng]: May heaven be free of lunatics…
[March 7th]: !!!
[Trailblazer]: Dan Heng, were you possessed?
[Welt]: If Blade kills again, he'll definitely be wanted.
[Silver Wolf]: Doesn't matter. He's used to it.
[Beidou]: That's not something easy to respond to.
[Jingliu]: Three inches below the chest. One strike is lethal. He should remember that.
[Valerius]: How could he forget? He's been minced more times than I can count.
Valerius covered his face. Jingliu had killed Blade countless times, revived him, then killed him again—forcing those techniques into his bones. How did she even have the nerve to say that?
"Something's not right…"
Valerius suddenly felt uneasy.
Did these two have some kind of special attributes?
One S, one M?
Jingliu was staying by his side right now. She wouldn't suddenly try that on him too… right?
Inside the space.
With his shoulder grabbed, Blade turned to look at the young man whose face was still swollen.
"Let go. I won't kill you."
"Oh?"
Lin Ao's mouth twisted into a crooked smile—this time with a smaller angle.
"Go on. Try and see if you can manage it."
He thought Blade was no different from that woman.
Did this guy really think he could kill him? He clearly didn't understand the terror of the Dragon King.
Whoosh!
A fist flew.
Lin Ao was sent flying once more. This time, his lower teeth scattered, bidding farewell to his mouth.
"So weak."
The casual evaluation plunged Lin Ao into despair.
Am I really this weak?
Anyone can just beat me like this?
Only one thought remained in his mind:
This country is terrifying. I'm going back abroad.
Blade left the villa and continued on his path.
No matter what, he had to kill at least one employer today.
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