C9 The Power of the System!!

Wang Faang strode into the grand lobby.

His eyes quickly found the figure encircled by the crowd, then the bodies of his own men sprawled on the floor.

He mused to himself, 'Li Qing Cheng's underling is rather intriguing.

Unfazed by our numbers, and he's even taken a few of us down.'

The sheer poise of the man was enough to make Wang Faang feel a twinge of inadequacy.

"Who are you?" he inquired, feigning ignorance.

"Boss Wang, wasn't it you who summoned me here?"

"I've arrived. Where's the money?"

Qin Xiaoliu was in no mood for chitchat; he was eager to finish the job and collect the points of destiny. After all, he needed them for the upcoming showdown with Lin Feng.

"Kid, you've got nerve showing up here. I'm impressed."

"Listen, let's make a deal. Work for me instead. Whatever Li Qingcheng pays you, I'll double it."

Wang Faang had been on the lookout for someone with the ability to stand on their own two feet.

He saw potential in Qin Xiaoliu. If he could recruit him, it would be a surefire win.

And if he refused? Well, Wang Faang wouldn't be returning the money anyway. He could just as easily dispose of Qin Xiaoliu and still come out ahead.

Internally, Wang Faang congratulated himself on his own cunning.

"What I want, you can't provide. Enough talk. Hand over the money, and I'll be on my way."

Qin Xiaoliu had no desire to engage in further dialogue; he wanted to wrap up his task swiftly to avoid any further complications.

"Damn it, boy, you're really pushing your luck."

"Take him down, cripple him!"

Wang Faang commanded, his voice laced with malice.

His two dozen henchmen swarmed, closing in on Qin Xiaoliu.

One of them brandished a machete, aiming for Qin Xiaoliu.

With a swift dodge and a deft move, Qin Xiaoliu seized the assailant's knife-wielding hand.

A firm squeeze and a crisp "snap" echoed, followed by the underling's howl of agony.

The machete clattered to the ground, and Qin Xiaoliu swiftly claimed it in his grasp.

He gripped the machete's handle tightly, eyeing the oncoming group of twenty-odd assailants.

A surge of valor welled up within him. With a blade in hand, I command the world!

His eyes squinted, a glint of bloodlust flickering within. He braced himself to meet the charge.

The underlings watched, bewildered, as Qin Xiaoliu charged at them. Shouldn't a normal person's first thought be to flee in the face of such odds? What was up with this kid?

Was he some kind of masochist?

Confusion aside, they remembered their purpose.

"Take him down. If this kid's got a death wish, we'll grant it," they resolved.

The air was electric with the imminence of battle.

Qin Xiaoliu plunged into the fray, his blade arcing through the air.

A lackey, too slow to react, had his arm severed in a spray of blood that splattered Qin Xiaoliu's face.

The wounded man collapsed, howling in agony.

Qin Xiaoliu licked the blood from his face, his eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger as he surveyed the crowd, a wolf among sheep.

The approaching thugs, faced with Qin Xiaoliu's demonic presence, were paralyzed with fear, hesitant to make a move.

Wang Faang, initially startled, quickly regained his composure—such scenes were not new to him. Once settled, he declared,

"Two hundred thousand yuan to the man who takes him down!"

The promise of a hefty reward can inspire bravery. Wang Faang's words sparked a fire in his men's eyes.

Qin Xiaoliu merely glanced at Wang Faang, his intent to kill crystal clear.

This man truly sought his end, with no regard for the allies at his back.

So be it. Qin Xiaoliu would show no mercy. After all, should the heavens fall, Li Qingcheng would be there to hold them up.

With that thought, he steadied himself, gripping the knife handle tightly as his bloodthirsty gaze swept over his underlings.

The best defense is a good offense!

Qin Xiaoliu gripped his machete and charged towards their location with lightning speed.

He took a leap, propelled into the air by gravity, and came down with a vicious slash.

He struck where the crowd was thickest.

The seven lackeys, seeing him swing his blade, quickly raised theirs in defense.

Blades clashed, emitting a shrill metallic screech.

Then, the seven lackeys were seen flying backward, slamming into the ground with a heavy thud.

They felt as if their bones had shattered, as though struck by a truck, and were instantly devoid of any fight left in them.

Qin Xiaoliu himself was momentarily dazed. This was his first full-force attack since reaching a hundred points of force value, and the power was unexpectedly overwhelming!

But Qin Xiaoliu didn't dwell on it; distractions in combat were a cardinal sin.

He glanced at the encroaching crowd and, with a thunderous yell, struck once more.

Wang Faang, looking on, was completely dumbfounded. Qin Xiaoliu became a blur, weaving through the crowd, his lackeys dropping like flies. Was this even humanly possible?

As his men continued to fall, Wang Faang plotted his escape.

Decisively, he spun on his heel and bolted for the exit.

But just as he neared the door, a resounding "bang" stopped him cold.

Wang Faang looked up to see a bloodied knife embedded in the door.

"Boss Wang, trying to leave so soon?"

The voice came from behind him.

Wang Faang jolted, turning laboriously to face the carnage. The ground was slick with blood, strewn with severed limbs, and filled with the agonized cries of his men, sending a chill down his spine.

He faced those hellish eyes, belonging to the blood-soaked figure of Qin Xiaoliu, advancing slowly towards him.

Wang Faang's heart pounded furiously.

With each step Qin Xiaoliu took, Wang Faang's heart matched the rhythm, beating with a fierce intensity.

Qin Xiaoliu strode over and towered above him, casting a disdainful glance his way.

As he slowly extended his right hand, Wang Faang was so terrified that he immediately dropped to his knees.

"Brother, oh no, master, spare me, please! I'll pay you, whatever the amount, I'll pay it."

In that moment, Qin Xiaoliu withdrew the knife that had been stuck in the door.

He laid the blade flat against the expanse of Wang Faang's face.

"Hmm? Where might you be off to, Boss Wang?"

Qin Xiaoliu regarded Wang Faang with a sneer.

Is that all? And you still expect my boss to wait on you?

Do you think you're worthy?

"No, master, I'm not going anywhere. I was just about to get your money."

"I don't have enough cash on hand, so I was heading to the bank to withdraw it."

Wang Faang's voice shook as he felt the viscous warmth of blood on the knife.

Damn it, the blood's still warm!

Qin Xiaoliu taunted, slapping the flat of the blade against Wang Faang's cheek.

"So, Boss Wang, you still think my boss should wait on you?"

"Do you really think you can handle it?"

Wang Faang's fear intensified at the words, his body starting to quiver.

"Master, I was just muddled before, I misspoke."

"How could I dare expect Chief Lin to wait on me? You must've misunderstood."

"If anyone is to be served, it should be you, the venerable one."

"You are unmatched in your dominance, wise and valiant... Ah!"

He was cut off mid-sentence by a kick from Qin Xiaoliu.

Wait on me? I'd be lucky to avoid that enchantress, let alone wait on her.

Wang Faang must have a death wish. Yes, he definitely needs to be taught a lesson later!