Li Jiangyu, startled, raised his pistol. Li Yan, just as quick, aimed the dark muzzle of his own gun at the other.

Sweat beaded in the palm of Li Jiangyu’s hand.

“Chang Shen’s hitmen couldn’t kill you, you’re not afraid of Ba Snake, you can’t possibly be new to the Yanfu Incident…” His voice was laced with a venomous bite, but a chill suddenly ran through his heart.

“Are you a Defector?”

Li Yan’s eyebrows knotted, a sudden memory of Ah Xiu’s dismembered corpse in her home flashing in his mind.

“So, you say Chang Shen sent people after me, which means you truly are in league with Consecutive Victories.”

Li Jiangyu pursed his lips, remaining silent.

Li Yan glanced at the gun in Li Jiangyu’s hand.

“An m1923? You can’t hold that steady with your left hand, can you?”

“Why don’t you try?” Li Jiangyu spat through gritted teeth, his bravado tinged with a hint of fear.

Li Yan licked his gums, tasting the sweet, metallic tang in his mouth.

“Let the woman go, and I’ll make you a deal—we both throw away our guns, how about that?”

Ah Yu’s temples bulged with black veins, dark smoke roiling around his body, gradually taking on the form of a Black Python.

Li Yan’s eyes widened. If Li Jiangyu, with Ba Snake at his side and a pistol in hand, were to act now, the advantage Li Yan had gained by sacrificing his right hand would be lost.

“Shoot, his gun’s out of bullets!”

Li, barely able to stand, suddenly spoke up. Her voice wasn’t loud, but it startled both men.

Ultimately, it was Li Yan who reacted faster, hurling his gun. Why didn’t he shoot? Because his gun, too, was empty.

Ba Snake’s head clamped down on the pistol, then staggered, as if it could dissipate at any moment.

Li Jiangyu’s eyes were about to burst from their sockets as Li Yan’s fist closed in!

Ba Snake reared its head in a furious hiss, shattering like glass, its body breaking apart into myriad fragments. Amidst the debris, a streak of black light shot straight for Li Yan’s forehead!

It was searing, ferocious, terrifying.

The scent of death.

Inescapable…

Li Jiangyu bled from every orifice, his eyes bulging.

“You’ve triggered a self-destruct on Ba Snake. This Heritage Ability will now enter a cooldown period reflective of the Yanfu Incident.”

“Your Specialization has been forcibly reduced by 10%.”

The final skill, Heritage Explosion!

“To trigger the self-destruct of your Heritage, you pay a steep price for a lethal blow.”

Just survive this ordeal…

Li Jiangyu’s gaze was sinister.

“You’ve pinpointed your opponent’s weakness!”

A Fleeting Glance suddenly prompted Li Yan!

Weakness revealed: The speed of your next attack (including but not limited to gunfire, blades, poisons, and any other harmful actions) will increase by one hundred percent, and the damage inflicted will be doubled.

“Thud.”

A hand rested on the handle of the Dogleg Knife on Li Jiangyu’s shoulder. The blade was drawn and swept across in a fluid motion, a harrowing Bloodline emerging on Li Jiangyu’s neck. The black streak of light also pierced Li Yan’s forehead!

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Li collapsed to the ground, staring blankly at the two motionless figures.

Blood rained down. After a while, she struggled to grasp Li Yan’s trouser leg.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

Li Yan lowered his head, gazing indifferently at the woman.

"You..."

Li struggled to find her words.

Circumventing his injured right hand, Li Yan lifted Li into his arms, not mentioning the softness he felt.

"I'll take you to the hospital. Where's Judy?"

Outside, the wail of police sirens filled the air. Li Yan, holding Li, approached the window. Judy, frantic inside the police car, peered out to see Li Yan above, cradling Li and looking down at her. His face, smeared with grime, quirked an eyebrow at her.

"Phew!"

Judy slumped into her seat, utterly deflated.

...

"You've killed the Predator!"

"You've obtained all the Purchase Authority earned by your opponent in the Yanfu Incident and a 30% settlement reward."

"Regrettably, as you possess no Heritage, you are ineligible to assimilate the Ba Snake."

...

"In three months, I expect to see the Chang family fathers and sons in Red Pillar Prison."

Judy sat in a wheelchair, her hands clasped together on the table.

The man opposite her was quite aged, his features obscured in shadow. He glanced at a spoon and conversed with Judy in fluent Mandarin.

"Miss Judy, I completely understand your feelings, and I assure you, the government will not tolerate such a heinous criminal running rampant in Hong Kong."

Judy narrowed her eyes.

"Mr. George speaks excellent Mandarin, but I hope you're not just placating me."

"How could that be?" The man shook his head. "However, I would still prefer if Miss Judy addressed me by my Chinese name."

"Then I'll leave it in your hands, Uncle Zhong."

A smile blossomed on Judy's face. She rose to her feet and picked up a hat from beside her.

"If that's the case, I'll take my leave."

"So soon?"

George stood up.

"My two friends perished in that incident. I must attend their funeral."

Judy's bright eyes dimmed, her visage evoking pity.

"That is truly regrettable."

The man sighed, shaking his head.

"Uncle Zhong, I've heard that besides organized crime, the Chang father and son are also involved in large-scale drug trafficking in Hong Kong. You must investigate thoroughly."

"Rest assured on that account."

The man nodded.

On the second day of the seventh month in the Year of the Tiger, Li Yao Guang received a call from the Provincial Governor. The moment he hung up, he knew—the Changs were finished.

...

"Achoo!"

After finishing his third bowl of wonton noodles, Li Yan let out a hefty sneeze.

The salty sea breeze tousled his hair. Sitting across from him was Judy, legs crossed, wearing a pair of white sandals, her crystalline toes peeking out.

The two were aboard a dining boat named Treasure Seafood Restaurant, one of Hong Kong's most renowned floating eateries. The vessel, with a displacement of 3,300 tons, could accommodate nearly four thousand people and was built at a cost of 32 million Hong Kong dollars. Its elaborate carvings and ornate decorations resembled a palace.

It's worth mentioning that this boat had a cameo in the 1990s in Stephen Chow's film "God of Cookery." The very boat where Stephen Zhou prepared the Heartbroken Meal...

Today, the entire boat had only two guests, Judy and Li Yan.

"Is it enough to eat? Let's have a talk after a good meal..."

"I think I could go for another bowl."

Li Yan replied with utmost seriousness.

Judy snapped her fingers and said to the approaching waiter, “Please serve this gentleman ten more bowls of wonton noodles.”

Her smile was brimming with mirth as she said to Li Yan, “We have all night.”

The waiter retreated with a smile. The woman had chartered the whole dining boat and ordered thirteen bowls of wonton noodles throughout the evening. He certainly had no objections. Even if Judy wanted thirty bowls, or three hundred, he would instruct the kitchen to prepare them immediately.

"That's too many..."

"Why did you break up with me?"

Judy's smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

Li Yan simply shrugged.

"Why not ask the Magical Conch?"

Judy swallowed hard, suppressing the urge to curse.

"Is it because of Taisui?"

When Judy asked this, her eyes were filled with a murderous glint.

"Who?"

Li Yan didn't catch on.

"Don't play dumb."

Li Yan shook his head.

"A sharp sword needs a suitable scabbard for rest, not a Precious Sword sharper than itself."

"What's the reason then?"

Li Yan sipped the hot soup and said, "The wonton noodles here are really good. Call the chef over later, I want to ask how they make them."

Judy watched the man in front of her, her expression turning sour.

"So I can make them myself after I leave Hong Kong."

After saying this, Li Yan's gaze met Judy's.

The woman's beautiful eyebrows furrowed.

"Where are you going?"

Li Yan didn't answer. The woman took a deep breath.

"I'm asking you, where are you going?"

Judy's eyes were earnest, her voice raised.

"What's important is not where I'm going, but that I must leave."

Li Yan's expression turned serious.

"As for the matter of breaking up, I've been wondering if I was out of my mind. You're beautiful, with a sweet voice, and a sultry figure, not to mention coming from a wealthy family. To have a fling, pat my butt, take the money, and run – who could find me?"

Li Yan seemed to be talking to himself, yet also explaining to Judy.

"To be honest..." Li Yan looked earnestly at Judy.

"I thought you were just playing around at first..."

Some questions are clichéd, but that doesn't mean they don't need to be confronted. People nurture feelings, and when the moment comes, things happen naturally, but one should also know where to draw the line.

However, Li Yan later realized it wasn't so simple. He didn't know whether it was the moment Judy tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing her earlobe, or when she chuckled with her eyebrows raised, but suddenly, Li Yan had an absurd thought.

"This girl is good, don't harm her."

Once this damn noble thought arose, it refused to dissipate.

**********

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