Special Forces Medic

Chapter 931 903: A No-Loss Gamble

Flocks of birds leapt out from the thickets, the sound of their wings slowing the footsteps of those rushing to arrive. Xiao Zhenfeng raised his hand to signal those behind him to stop.

"Master!" Master Qin stood behind Xiao Zhenfeng, his face filled with concern. "This aura of killing intent…"

"There are others!" He could sense Xiao Lin's killing intent merging with another aura, bearing an inexplicable similarity not indicative of murderous malice. Kill intent that lacks malice is merely a reflection of power. It appeared neither of them noticed their feelings, but this wasn't the reason for his concern. "Find someone to investigate who else has entered Liger City, and do it without conventional methods."

Master Qin quickly set out the arrangements, never straying a step from Xiao Zhenfeng. Until Flame Swallow completes the mission, he is the one replacing Flame Swallow's position. "Master, Flame Swallow hasn't returned yet. Shouldn't we avoid this for now?"

The existence of another person mentioned by Xiao Zhenfeng was beyond his ability to detect, thus his concern; it could only mean this person was extremely formidable. Even sending someone to scout would probably yield nothing.

"Lao Qin, it's been over ten years!" Xiao Zhenfeng suddenly said something cryptic, to which the latter pursed his lips and swallowed his words back. "Don't you find this quite intriguing?"

"Young master is taking too much risk; he will certainly mind the other's identity and hold back."

Xiao Zhenfeng shook his head, well aware of his son's weaknesses, which often become his point of eruption, becoming stronger when challenged. "I know what I'm doing."

The two entangled in combat exchanged a glance, both sensing someone approaching, smelling a familiar scent. Xiao Lin revealed a strange smile, but for Mu Rongyun it only added to his animosity. "Your other objective?"

"You can leave now if you don't want to fall into my trap, but…" he pointed at the Rose Staff above, chuckling at Mu Rongyun twice, as if saying to abandon or not was his own matter, he wouldn't stop him.

Mu Rongyun took off his glasses, swung his fist towards the infuriating face of Xiao Lin. "Haha, now that's more like it."

The speed whipped the sound of wind as it roared within the territory marked by the two; this was a battle between them, involving outsiders was a crime. Xiao Lin, consumed by these thoughts, sank silently into the fight, which Mu Rongyun detected.

Such disparity might be something he could never catch up to, for he was relentless until reaching his goal. He wasn't a good person, not knowing kindness, employing every means for his objectives. Xiao Lin was a formidable opponent, though both suppressed their Inner Strength, only utilizing agile limbs. The equally matched struggle grew exhausting with time. The longer the timing dragged out, the more unfavorable it became for his aims, thus Mu Rongyun shifted his focus to those innocuous people.

Perceiving Mu Rongyun's shift, Xiao Lin furrowed his brows. Following his direction, he retaliated with a kick, only to realize it was merely a feint. Mu Rongyun's true aim was the person guarding the Rose Staff.

"Not good!" As Mu Rongyun swiftly darted in the opposite direction, Xiao Lin, unable to halt due to his momentum, found the distance between them extending. Saving the person hidden in the thickets was impossible. Snapping a branch, breaking it into sections, he shot them toward Mu Rongyun while forcefully rebounding from the tree trunk.

The piercing force rang through the air, compelling Mu Rongyun to pause and handle the hidden weapons, granting Xiao Lin additional time. The fallen branches embedded deeply into trunks or soil, Xiao Lin was slightly breathless, standing before him.

Without allowing him a respite, Mu Rongyun aimed two kicks at Xiao Lin, heading towards his weak spot, the left lower abdomen, a previous fatal injury, a blind spot. Though it had a remedy now, it remained vulnerable.

Right hand deflects the attack, followed by Mu Rongyun's left hand probing again into Xiao Lin's left lower abdomen. Both were ambidextrous, using their hands with ease. Inevitably, Xiao Lin could not evade, retreating two steps backward against a tree. Mu Rongyun did not press the attack, instead climbing the trunk towards the fallen staff, leaping to grab it.

Xiao Lin leaped up, pulling Mu Rongyun down by the legs, missed opportunities won't repeat. The staff, fallen high, was moved away, or perhaps taken by someone, and Mu Rongyun stared hatefully at Xiao Lin, authentic killing intent began to coalesce in his eyes. "Don't impede me further!"

"You can't stop me; you never truly wanted to put me to death, nor will you now."

Mu Rongyun froze for a moment, attacked Xiao Lin once more. Though the methods differed, the maneuvers varied, the moves seemed amusing amidst dodging and striking. "Fight back!" Mu Rongyun couldn't grasp Xiao Lin's intent, this was turning into child's play.

Xiao Lin shook his head and deliberately sat down on a large rock, waving his hand at Mu Rongyun. "It's quite heartless for someone to watch us kill each other and not lend a hand! Besides, there's another way to peacefully resolve this without me having to be taken out for you to get the staff."

Mu Rongyun squinted his eyes. The third person Xiao Lin mentioned had been hiding around them from the beginning, and if he was not mistaken, there should be another person; the presence coming and going, drifting everywhere.

"How about this! Let's gamble. If as I sit here without resisting, you can kill me, then the staff is yours. Conversely, if you can't, you tell me your story, and likewise, you can take the staff. Isn't it a good deal? Either way, I'm the one at a loss."

"Why should I trust you?"

"Listen, everyone. Anyone who dares to trouble Xia Ya is opposing me. Regardless of how this gamble turns out, the owner of the Rose Staff is Xiao Ya. Even if I unfortunately die, if you dare to defy my order, his men will hunt you down to the ends of the earth." Xiao Lin said in one breath, and his resounding voice penetrated into people's ears, the words neither too heavy nor too light, like a deadly curse that sent chills down their spines.

"Master, should we really let the young master do this? If he really makes a move, we are too far away to save him." Master Qin didn't dare to step forward and stood in front of Xiao Zhenfeng, rubbing his hands anxiously, a rare panic on his face.

"He's saying this for me to hear!" Xiao Zhenfeng faced forward with an expressionless face and his hands behind his back. This provocation put him in a tight spot; staking his life as a wager was his way of saying Xiao Ya had no intention to kill him? Truly childish. "This person cannot be left alive."

"Master!"

"Have the people dispatched had any results?"

"Someone sent back their left hands! They should all be dead." Xiao Zhenfeng exhaled, the crisis drawing closer to them. "Should we continue to send people to investigate?"

"There's no need! This person isn't coming for us. If necessary, kill!"

Master Qin looked past Xiao Zhenfeng's shoulder at the two people in front, his gaze easily falling on Mu Rongyun, looking at him with complicated emotions. "Lao Qin, sympathy is a luxury for us. Only one person between Xiao Lin and him can remain. That will never change. I only regret being too merciful back then; I should have cut it off to prevent future troubles forever."

"Master, there is no regret medicine in this world. Since the young master has encountered him, he won't let you do that."

"This is clearly a trap, a means used by the other side to suppress me. Are you saying I should let that unfilial son cause chaos? The Xiao Family cannot be destroyed by my hands, nor can it be destroyed by Xiao Lin's." How long can a person live? Live half a life, watch half a life, in total that's a lifetime. He couldn't control what would happen in the future, but at least during the time he could act and watch, he wouldn't allow such things to happen.

Sacrificing the small self for the greater self; such an idea is foolish, but compared to the two people in front of him, they are even more foolish. When Mu Rongyun heard Xiao Lin call his name, his expression froze momentarily. Xiao Ya was like a branded criminal mark etched on his heart, suffocating him. It was precisely because of this that he indeed moved against Xiao Lin. It was like a curse, giving motivation to someone who had been hesitant.

Xiao Lin closed his eyes. At this moment, he wasn't so certain that Xiao Ya would really kill him, even though he never fought a battle without confidence. But this time was different; he really had no confidence at all.

Hatred can truly change human nature! He realized this firmly and had seen many examples like this; Xiao Ya's hatred for them far exceeded those examples by many folds. He just didn't understand what he was obsessively tangled over, considering himself or weighing another person? It seemed he was doing something impulsive and childish once again.

The branch in his palm wasn't sharp, but enough to take a person's life. After a loud shout, Xiao Ya charged unhesitatingly in the direction where Xiao Lin was sitting. He hated making choices, but he despised even more this person who took everything away from him. If he hadn't appeared, he wouldn't have been abandoned, wouldn't have endured those painful experiences. It was all because of this person, all because of him, all…

The branch pierced Xiao Lin's heart! A bit deep, a bit painful! But not fatal!

"You should've gone two centimeters lower, and I'd really be dead!" Xiao Lin's left hand rested on the branch. Although the position looked like it stabbed right in the heart's center, he knew Xiao Ya missed, only landing two centimeters above the heart on the pectoral muscle. The wound would heal in a few days, but a crowd had already jumped out from the outside, their guns aimed at Xiao Ya, ready to riddle him with bullets, absolutely nowhere to escape. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)