NOVPUBChapter 324: 324, Swamp Poison Gas (1)_1
Chapter 324: 324, Swamp Poison Gas (1)_1
Tree shadows swayed to and fro, the fallen leaves on the ground rustling.
In the faint moonlight, a figure of ink-black stealthily navigated through the forest, almost blending with the night. Upon closer look, another person could be seen carried on their back.
The piercing cold wind brushed past her ear, Jian Qing looked at the person beneath her, the broad and sturdy back providing her with an unparalleled sense of security.
This was her first experience with an assassination attempt, and she had surprisingly become the one being protected.
It was a situation she could hardly fathom in the past.
The increasingly urgent footsteps behind were drawing closer. Her eyes suddenly deepened, and she leant in towards the man’s ear, “Xiaojing, put me down.”
It would be better to deal with those people sooner rather than later.
In the midst of the shrubbery, Quan Jingwu abruptly halted his steps, his purple eyes seemingly detecting something odd.
Having lived amidst dangers and assassination attempts for many years, Jian Qing had a keen instinct for peril.
Noticing Quan Jingwu’s unease, she looked up, following his line of sight.
Not far away was a marsh.
However, the surrounding plants were withered, and a thin layer of mist blanketed the marsh, making it eerily surreal.
Her nostrils twitched slightly, her facial expression hardening.
Poisonous!
“Xiaojing, I’m afraid the mist from the marsh is poisonous,” she said, holding her breath.
Clearly, Quan Jingwu had also detected this, responding with a serious nod.
Detouring around such an extensive marsh could prove challenging, besides there was an unknown danger lurking in the depth of the forest. Charging in recklessly was not a wise choice.
“Xiaojing, let’s turn this place into their tomb,” Jian Qing stated calmly, a ruthless glint flashing in her eyes.
Subsequently, she lightly jumped off his back, landing gracefully on the fallen leaves.
Quan Jingwu gently patted her head, advising, “Be careful.”
He knew his lovable girl was not a canary caged within a birdcage; she was capable of fighting alongside him. Her pride wouldn’t allow her to be sheltered consistently.
Jian Qing nodded with a smile.
She knew, he understood her.
Suddenly, the sounds of rapid footsteps echoed through the woods, shattering the deathly silent forest.
The next second, a band of black-clothed figures rushed in.
Approximately twenty or so.
Two against twenty or so, it was unbalanced in terms of numbers.
Seemingly, a fierce battle was imminent.
“Why don’t you continue running?” A black-clothed figure coldly jeered.
Jian Qing smirked, not showing a hint of fear on her face, “Who is your employer?”
Only a few knew of their plan to attend old master Han’s birthday banquet, to plan an assassination with such precision, it must have been quite some time in the making. She was slightly curious as to who was behind this.
The black-clothed man adorned with a red mask had a deep gleam in his eyes but ignored Jian Qing’s question, and instead issued a stern command, “Attack.”
Before his words fell, the assailants took out their guns, aiming at Quan Jingwu and Jian Qing before opening fire.
Silent yet ear-piercing gunshots rang out in the night-
Despite the use of the silencer, the echo of the gunshot was clear.
Quan Jingwu and Jian Qing exchanged glances before springing into action.
They moved amongst the black-clothed men, not avoiding their firearms at all.
Realizing the imminent danger, they knew they needed to strike first.
“Ahh–”
Horrendous screams echoed through the sky, the boastful black-clothed man was thrown back, harshly crashing into the ground.
Jian Qing held a gun she snatched, darting over quickly.
Her slender legs mercilessly slammed into the man’s chest, the sound of bones fracturing particularly distinct in the silent forest.
“Ahh–”
The consciousness of the black-clothed man wavered, he stumbled upon a pair of black, whirlpool-like cold eyes, sending chills down his spine.
Before he could react, Jian Qing, holding the gun, aimed at his head and without hesitation, fired.
A single shot blew his head, instantly ending his life.
“Bang–”
The black-clothed men were startled, seemingly not expecting Jian Qing’s exceptional combat skills.
For a moment, not one of the assailants dared to underestimate her again.
However, they seemed to overlook someone else, someone who was even harder to deal with.
That man, whose very presence was akin to a merciless god of death emerging from the ancient underworld.
Quan Jingwu spun around, approaching behind the black-clothed man, his hand seized the man’s neck, with a forceful twist, the sound of cracking bones echoed.
The black-clothed man could barely let out a cry of pain. His eyes bulging, blood frothing at the corner of his mouth, his head slanted on one side, he was devoid of any signs of life.
The gun dropped from his hand, deftly caught by a hand with excellently chiseled knuckles.
Casually, Quan Jingwu flung the corpse of the black-clothed man aside.
Strangely, it seemed all of the black-clothed men were targeting Jian Qing, with only a few engaging Quan Jingwu. The rest surrounded Jian Qing.
Quan Jingwu, with a sweep of his leg, threw the attackers coming towards him off balance. Barely landed, the man anticipated a discomfort in his chest.
His pupils contracted, glancing at the gunshot on his chest, his body trembled for a moment before lying motionless.
Seeing his wife surrounded by the black-clothed men out of the corner of his eye, a ruthless glint flashed across Quan Jingwu’s icy eyes. Before he could rush in, a figure blocked his way.
“Your opponent is me”, the man with the red mask declared.
Quan Jingwu’s profound gaze met the man with the red mask, a cold glaze reflected in his eyes.
Just then, his figure moved.
The rolling murderous intent, the phantom-like speed, the man with the red mask was disarmed within a round, forced into a defensive state.
The gun slipped from his hand and planted onto the ground. Shock filled the eyes of the man with a red mask, a dagger sharp enough to cut iron like mud slipped out from his sleeve. He clenched his fist around it, aiming for Quan Jingwu’s throat.
He was fast, but Quan Jingwu was faster.
His body swerved, the blade narrowly scraping past his skin, missing Quan Jingwu’s contact by merely millimeters.
“Ha.”
A cold laugh vibrated, similar to the bitter wind of winter, causing a stark stinging against the ear.
He moved behind the red-masked man, ruthlessly striking his waist and sliced at his neck with his hand.
“Uggh–”
A deep moan echoed, causing the red-masked man to stagger and kneel on the ground.
Before he had the chance to turn around, he felt the chilly presence of a gun against his head.
“Who sent you?”
Quan Jingwu radiated a murderous aura, his gaze ice-cold.
