C15 Retreat

Lin Yuan sprinted toward the hillside when suddenly, a deafening explosion rang out, and an overwhelming aura of death descended upon him. Mid-sprint, Lin Yuan contorted his body in a split-second maneuver, narrowly evading a bullet by a mere half-inch.

He touched down on the ground, a smirk playing on his lips, his eyes icy with a thrill. Was that the best they could do? He had expected a high-caliber sniper rifle, yet it seemed he was up against nothing more than a small handgun. Had it been a more formidable sniper rifle, Lin Yuan wouldn't have been so nonchalant. A bullet of that caliber, even half an inch away, would carry enough force to tear flesh apart. But alas, it wasn't so.

In under 30 seconds, Lin Yuan had covered nearly 300 meters. All the while, he zigzagged at breakneck speed, causing the hidden marksman to miss three times.

Reaching the top of the hill, where only a few solitary trees stood, Lin Yuan let out a hearty laugh, his voice resonating clearly. "Here I am, standing in the open. Don't have the guts to shoot?"

Seconds later, a mound of earth stirred, and a man emerged. Clad in dirt-yellow attire, he blended seamlessly with the surroundings, gun in hand, aimed squarely at Lin Yuan.

"If I were you, I wouldn't pull the trigger. It'd only hasten your demise," Lin Yuan said, unfazed.

"I'll concede I misjudged this time. I never imagined that the old man's bodyguard for Bai Shuang would be you!"

The sniper seethed with frustration. Who could have guessed that Bai Shuang's protector was her own husband? He prided himself on being a top-tier assassin. He had bided his time, refraining from acting until this moment. He hadn't struck at the company entrance and had even dispatched others as a diversion, all for a surefire kill.

Yet, before he could take his shot, Lin Yuan had charged, his speed almost beyond belief. Instinctively, a sniper's first response to an approaching threat is to neutralize it. Even if he could have taken out Bai Shuang in record time, it would come at the cost of his own life.

Because he lacked the confidence to escape from the man before him.

Mid-sentence, he abruptly fired. The pressure from Lin Yuan was overwhelming. Without resorting to a surprise attack, he had no confidence whatsoever.

Yet Lin Yuan appeared to have anticipated the move. He stepped back with ease, avoiding the bullet, then counterattacked. With a sudden burst of power from his stance, he materialized in front of the sniper.

"Your eyes have given you away."

Lin Yuan's voice was icy and detached, echoing in the sniper's ear.

He seized the sniper's gun-wielding right arm and forcefully twisted it, eliciting a sharp crack of splintering bone.

The sniper let out a scream.

Before he could muster any defense, his other hand was effortlessly snapped. His knee shattered, and he crumpled to the ground, rendered immobile in the act of turning.

For Lin Yuan, it was as if he had performed a trivial task, casually flicking dust from his shoulder.

But a green mark on the sniper's arm caught Lin Yuan's eye.

"You're with Yama Palace?"

Yama Palace was among the world's elite assassin guilds, rumored to be founded by a mysterious figure from within the country, whose identity remained unknown.

Lin Yuan couldn't fathom what Bai Shuang had done to provoke the Yama Palace's hitmen.

The man before him might hold a low rank within Yama Palace, but he was still considerably skilled compared to other assassins.

The sniper's pupils dilated in shock. The name Yama Palace was not known to the layperson, so how did the man before him know of it? And yet, he spoke of it with a nonchalance that betrayed no fear.

The uninitiated didn't grasp the peril of Yama Palace. Only those privy to the secrets understood the weight those three words carried.

In the criminal underworld, 'Yama Palace' was synonymous with death. Since its inception, its mission success rate was an astonishing 99%, with failure being almost non-existent. To be marked by Yama Palace was to be on the brink of death.

"Don't be surprised. I've crossed paths with half of the Great Ten. Confess who sent you, and maybe, out of respect for King Qinguang, I'll let you live."

The Great Ten are the most formidable figures within the Yama Palace, with the top assassins among them being akin to the Grim Reaper himself, boasting impeccable records devoid of failure. King Qinguang stands as one of the elite three.

Lin Yuan, the founder of the War God Shrine, naturally had dealings with these titans of the underworld. King Qinguang once took on a contract to assassinate him, and Lin Yuan narrowly escaped with his life, leaving in disarray.

Since then, the Yama Palace has steered clear of any contracts targeting the War God Shrine, and it was that very incident that forged a sort of camaraderie between Lin Yuan and King Qinguang.

The sniper's pupils shrank, his complexion ashen. He had crossed paths with a major player, someone who could sit as an equal with King Qinguang. How could he possibly provoke such a person?

"If you're aware that I'm affiliated with the Yama Palace, you shouldn't ask such questions. If I were to divulge anything, my fate would be far grimmer than death," Lin Yuan said, a smile playing on his lips. Secrecy is paramount for a premier assassination organization; without it, who would dare commission a hit?

"However, you and your twin are an exception. Reveal what I want to know, and I'll spare your brother. Otherwise, he'll meet the same end as you. Consider your options carefully."

The Yama Palace was home to a diverse array of assassins, but none were as unique as the twins. Some twins shared an uncanny connection, making them exceptionally effective in their line of work.

Each type of assassin bore a distinct mark, and Lin Yuan was familiar with them all. The assassin before him was teetering on the edge of despair.

"Who exactly are you?" he asked.

With a gentle smile, Lin Yuan opened his palm and slowly applied pressure, revealing a faint golden pattern that coalesced into a symbol—a divine throne amongst the clouds.

"Holding the divine throne... You're the founder of the War God Shrine?"

The man's body shook uncontrollably, his emotions surging more intensely than when he had faced death itself. Now, recognizing Lin Yuan's identity, his excitement was palpable.

"It's no surprise I stood no chance against the renowned War God. It all makes sense now. I'll tell you who's pulling the strings, but you must promise not to go after my brother once this is over."

"Knowing who I am, you should understand—I never negotiate with others."

"The individual hailed from the capital, a member of the Gu family."

With those words, the man offered a serene smile, then clenched his teeth and took his own life.

Agents of the Yama Palace always carried lethal cyanide in their mouths, ready to take their lives should their mission end in failure.