Chapter Seventy-One: Mr. Y Again

“Hey kid, do you know who I am?” The man in black shouted at Xue Tian’ai.

“I don’t care who you are. I only know you’re trying to hurt my wife—that’s something I won’t tolerate! Even before I met her, I swore that no one but me would ever dare lay a finger on her!” Xue Tian’ai replied with a faint smile.

At that moment, Qin Mengxue, who was supporting herself against the car door, heard Xue Tian’ai’s confident and domineering declaration. Her delicate body trembled, and a warm current quietly swept through her heart. A strange emotion slowly surfaced in her eyes as she gazed at Xue Tian’ai.

The man in black burst out laughing at Xue Tian’ai’s words. “Ha! What a sentimental promise. Then let me make your death a bit clearer for you. I am ranked tenth on the China Assassin List—no, wait. With today’s new rankings, I am now eighth: Chain!”

“Never heard of you,” Xue Tian’ai shook his head, smiling with disdain.

Seeing Xue Tian’ai’s contemptuous expression, Chain’s fury grew. How could a nobody dare look down on him, the eighth-ranked assassin in China?

“Hmph, you’ll find out soon enough. When you report to the King of Hell in the underworld, remember to say it was Chain who killed you!” Chain snarled, pulling the trigger.

Bang! The Desert Eagle roared with a thunderous shot, the bullet flying straight at Xue Tian’ai.

“No!” As the gun fired, Qin Mengxue screamed in hysteria.

Chain’s grin grew more brazen at her cry, but before his lips could stretch any further—

A strange scene unfolded. Xue Tian’ai’s figure blurred and vanished from where he stood, leaving the bullet to strike nothing but a tree, scattering a lonely shower of wood chips.

“What?” Chain’s eyes widened in disbelief, his mocking smile frozen on his face, now rendered ridiculous.

“The thing I hate most is people pointing guns at my head,” a languid voice sounded behind Chain.

Goosebumps prickled across Chain’s skin. Shock! Utter shock! How did this man dodge the bullet and appear behind him?

Chain spun around, ready to fire again, but things didn’t go as he wished. Behind him, Xue Tian’ai’s hands became blades, striking forward to hit Chain’s wrist with brutal force.

Bang! The clash of hand and wrist gave off a muffled thud. Pain shot through Chain, and the Desert Eagle, gripped tightly, flew from his hands.

But Chain was no ordinary assassin. He reacted quickly, lashing out with a whip-like kick at Xue Tian’ai’s legs.

“A clown, overestimating yourself!” Xue Tian’ai snorted coldly, lifting his leg and kicking at Chain with lightning speed.

Though Xue Tian’ai attacked second, his strength and speed were superior. His foot landed hard in Chain’s stomach, sending him flying. Just as Chain’s body was about to be launched, Xue Tian’ai’s right hand shot out, grabbing Chain by the hair and yanking him back.

In the next second, Xue Tian’ai raised his left hand and delivered a slap.

Whoosh—

A seemingly casual slap scattered the air, creating a gust as it swept toward Chain.

Smack! Xue Tian’ai’s slap landed like a whirlwind, its force exploding on Chain’s face.

Yet Xue Tian’ai showed no sign of stopping. A high, whipping kick screamed forth, terrifying power whistling through the air.

Bang!

The muffled sound rang out again. Xue Tian’ai’s kick struck Chain’s head, and simultaneously, his grip on Chain’s hair loosened, letting the force of the kick send Chain flying.

Clang!

Chain’s body glided through the air for some distance before crashing heavily to the ground.

Now Chain could only hear a buzzing in his ears, crimson blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. The side of his face that had been slapped and kicked had collapsed inward.

“How... how is this possible?” Chain lay on the ground in shock. He, who had killed hundreds and was ranked eighth among China’s assassins, had been beaten so easily and simply?

Chain curled up on the ground, convulsing, completely losing all strength to fight. Xue Tian’ai, on the other hand, stood calm and composed, not even breathing hard, not a bead of sweat on his brow—utterly unruffled.

A one-sided slaughter! No wasted motion, just ruthless violence. Their fight was never on the same level.

Qin Mengxue, who had watched the entire battle, was deeply shaken. She hadn’t seen how Xue Tian’ai dodged the bullet or how he got behind the black-clad man, nor how he attacked. Before she could process it, the fight was already over.

But whatever the case, the outcome was the best.

“Xue Tian’ai!” Qin Mengxue called his name anxiously.

“Ah, wife, wait a moment. I’ll handle this quickly,” Xue Tian’ai smiled gently, waving at her.

Then he walked over to Chain, casting a contemptuous glance at the battered assassin lying on the ground. “There aren’t many killers who dare to act tough in front of me.”

“Who... who are you really?” Chain spat blood, staring at Xue Tian’ai in terror. This young man had shattered his understanding of strength. And now regret flooded him—why had he taken what seemed an easy job?

“Haven’t you already found out? Xue Tian’ai, twenty-eight years old, former bar waiter... Why ask?” Xue Tian’ai smiled down at him.

“Impossible! Impossi—cough, cough—” Chain tried to protest, but was seized by a fit of violent coughing, blood frothing from his mouth.

He simply couldn’t believe Xue Tian’ai was just a former bar waiter. Could a mere waiter possess such power? Could he be beaten so thoroughly, with no chance to fight back? Even the top assassin in China couldn’t do this!

“Enough, save your strength. Tell me, why did you try to kill my wife?” Xue Tian’ai pressed his foot to Chain’s chest, asking calmly.

“I... I was wrong, I won’t dare again! Please spare me!” The crushing force on his chest pressed hard on Chain’s heart, filling him with terror.

“Don’t give me evasive answers! I asked why you tried to kill my wife!” Xue Tian’ai’s disgust deepened at Chain’s cowardly plea. Truthfully, he despised killers who valued their own lives above all else.

“No... no...”

“Bullshit!” Xue Tian’ai suddenly exerted force with his foot, and the sound of bones breaking echoed.

“Ah!” Chain screamed in agony, his voice tearing through the night.

“I’ll give you one last chance. Don’t think I’m as stupid as you! Speak! Why did you try to kill my wife?” Xue Tian’ai’s face was twisted with venom.

“Or you can keep silent, but then I’ll see whether your chest bones are harder than your stubborn mouth!” His eyes glinted with chilling, deadly light, murderous intent radiating from his body.

Hearing Xue Tian’ai’s icy voice, feeling his towering indifference and sensing the murderous aura, Chain’s inner defenses finally collapsed. Sweat, like beans, rolled down his blood-stained forehead.

“Someone... someone contacted me privately, offering a reward of ten million for Qin Mengxue’s head.”

“Who was it?”

“I don’t... I don’t know...”

“Don’t tell me you don’t know! Don’t test my patience!” Xue Tian’ai lifted his right foot and stomped down on Chain’s chest again.

Another painful howl burst from Chain’s mouth.

“I’ll tell... I’ll tell... Just stop!” Chain cried out in panic. “It was a client called Mr. Y! That’s all I know! Even his phone number changes every time!”

Hearing Mr. Y mentioned again, the cold light in Xue Tian’ai’s eyes grew fiercer.

Mr. Y! Why does he want Qin Mengxue dead?

“I’ve told you everything I know. I really know nothing else. Please, let me go! I won’t dare again!”

Looking at Chain’s desperate pleading, Xue Tian’ai’s lips curled into a chilling smile. “Let you go? Ha ha ha... Have you ever heard of Phantom Butterfly sparing any enemy? Especially one who tried to kill his wife?”

At the mention of Phantom Butterfly, Chain’s eyes went wide with utter despair.

“You... You’re... Phantom—”

But before Chain could finish, Xue Tian’ai flicked his fingers, sending a silver needle directly into Chain’s brain.

Chain, eighth on the China Assassin List, died on the spot. If he had known the woman he was targeting was the wife of the legendary assassin Phantom Butterfly, he would never have taken the job—but there are no such second chances in this world.

Xue Tian’ai looked down at Chain’s gradually slackening corpse, his expression turning cold. He took out his phone and dialed a number.

“Hello? I just took care of an assassin with the codename Chain at the location I sent you. Send someone to clean up.”