C6 Killing Without a Trace

After their meal, Qi Xiao left his sister at home and stepped out into the evening.

The most potent water spirit energy required for mending the sword soul could be found in the world's water veins, and West River City, aptly named for its river, was naturally a site for such veins.

West River City was situated along the western bank of the Asakawa River. Within the city, a tributary of the Asakawa fed into a lake known as Shapin Lake.

Qi Xiao's home was a short distance from Shapin Lake, and with no particular rush, he strolled leisurely toward its tranquil waters.

Arriving lakeside in under thirty minutes, Qi Xiao found a secluded spot to sit and meditate.

As he settled into his meditation, he could sense the concentration of the lake's feminine spiritual energy. Given that the Asakawa River was one of Dragon Country's major water veins, even the energy from its tributaries was remarkable.

Qi Xiao had a hunch that Shapin Lake might be a node in the water meridian network. Such purity of gentle force could only be explained by the presence of a node, as only nodes maintained their purity through the exchange of energies within the water meridian.

Other areas along the water meridians would inevitably accumulate a mix of disordered energies.

In his meditative state, Qi Xiao absorbed the surrounding water and Yin energy, which flowed into him with the force of converging rivers, steadily healing the sword soul within his consciousness.

Time passed unmarked until the night had fully descended, and although Qi Xiao's sword soul was only ten percent restored, he was jolted by the sudden sensation of a familiar, threatening presence.

He swiftly expanded his perception, pinpointing the source of the danger, yet unable to discern its nature.

In the heavy night, a black Maybach business car was parked not far from Qi Xiao, its headlights piercing the darkness and revealing a figure standing before it.

A middle-aged man in a sharp suit stepped out, his face set in a grim expression as he faced the figure.

"Who are you?"

The shadowed figure, clad in black with dark sunglasses, responded with a grave tone:

"The one who's come for your life."

The man's expression grew even more severe as he replied coldly,

"Do you have any idea who I am?"

The man in black didn't even acknowledge him, instead bellowing, "Attack now!"

Suddenly, three or four burly men in black burst from the lakeside shrubbery, quickly encircling the man.

Startled, the man attempted to flee but was swiftly floored by a punch.

The black-clad strongmen seized him, searching his person and extracting a circular jade pendant.

So it was this very object!

At that moment, Qi Xiao, who had been covertly watching, confirmed that the ominous presence he sensed was emanating from the jade pendant.

However, the real source of Qi Xiao's perceived danger wasn't the pendant itself, but rather its association with Soong Tiansheng, the young heir of the Soong family, from his past life.

That man had driven Qi Xiao to the brink time and again, and it was the jade pendant he carried that had triggered Qi Xiao's sense of peril.

Given that the jade pendant was an exceptional treasure, it was no surprise that this man was being pursued.

If Qi Xiao's hunch was right, the pursuers were indeed the Soong family's henchmen.

One of the men in black presented the pendant to their leader.

The leader scrutinized the jade piece, then gave a nod of approval.

"Dispose of him, then dump the body in the lake!"

Another man decisively pulled out a dagger and plunged it towards the incapacitated man's chest.

"No, please!"

"Ah!"

The plea came from the man under attack, but the scream was from the assailant, whose arm had been severed clean off!

Realizing something was amiss, the group turned to see that although the blade had penetrated the man's chest, the attacker's arm was now gruesomely detached.

"Who's out there? Show yourself!"

One of the muscular men in black roared.

That's when Qi Xiao leisurely rose to his feet, dusted himself off, and stepped out from the thicket where he'd been meditating.

"I'll count to three. Drop what's in your hand and scram..."

Qi Xiao's voice was even, unflustered.

"Or face death!"

The man on the ground, heartened by the arrival of help, managed to lift his head despite the searing pain, only to despair at the sight of a plainly dressed youth.

Seeing the newcomer was just an unremarkable young man, the leader scoffed contemptuously:

"Cut him down!"

His men, brandishing their knives, charged at Qi Xiao.

Qi Xiao slowly lifted his hand, raising a single finger.

"One!"

In an instant, all the assailants who had charged at him collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

The man in black, witnessing his men dispatched in mere moments, broke into a cold sweat and spun around to flee.

"I told you to drop what you're holding."

Qi Xiao showed no inclination to pursue. With two fingers poised like a blade, he executed a distant slash.

The man in black crumpled without uttering a scream.

The man sprawled on the ground was speechless, stunned by how quickly the ordinary-looking young man had subdued a cadre of black-clad assassins.

Qi Xiao strolled over to where the man in black lay and checked his neck.

Indeed, with 10% of his sword soul restored, he could sever the neck's meridians with ease—a formidable technique against the average foe, though it did deplete a significant amount of spiritual energy. Currently, he could only muster such a strike twice.

Moreover, against a master skilled in internal energy, his intangible sword qi wouldn't penetrate their protective force so effortlessly, rendering it less effective.

Qi Xiao retrieved a jade pendant from the man's grasp. The round pendant shimmered subtly, its light elusive upon closer inspection.

"Help... Save me!"

The man's faint plea interrupted Qi Xiao's examination of the pendant's mysteries.

After a moment's consideration, Qi Xiao pocketed the pendant and returned to the man's side.

His lack of urgency wasn't born of compassion; rather, he recognized the potential value of this man as a pawn in his struggle against the formidable Liang and Soong families.

Crouching beside him, Qi Xiao assessed the man's condition. The heart meridian had sustained minor damage, nothing too serious.

Settling into a seated position, Qi Xiao placed a hand over the man's heart.

The yin energy of the water vein was not only adept at mending shattered souls but also remarkably efficient in healing physical wounds.

Harnessing the power of Shapin Lake's water vein, he mended the man's heart and significantly healed his external injuries. It was only after this that the man came to.

Gasping for breath, the man was overwhelmed with a sense of fortunate survival. He rose to his feet and offered Qi Xiao a deep bow of gratitude.

"Sir, your life-saving grace will never be forgotten!"

"It was a mere trifle," Qi Xiao replied with an air of nonchalance, as if dispatching those assassins was as simple as crushing a swarm of ants beneath his foot.

A flicker of astonishment passed through the man's eyes. He recognized that despite the youth's age, his prowess was nearly on par with the fabled Martial Arts Masters.

He was well aware that his pursuers were no ordinary killers, yet they had been effortlessly eliminated...

Had he the protection of such a formidable figure, he would never have been driven to such dire straits!

With this realization, the man's respect only deepened.

"I am Xue Rensheng, president of A Group. I owe you my life, sir. Might I have the honor of your name?"

"I am surnamed Qi."

Upon hearing this, Xue Rensheng promptly stood and bowed again, retrieving a card from his pocket and presenting it to Qi Xiao.

"Mr. Qi! Here is one million. It's not a fortune, but please accept it as a token of my gratitude. And here's my business card. Should you need anything in the future, do not hesitate to ask."

Qi Xiao nodded in acceptance and took the offerings with grace.

He then pulled a jade pendant from his pocket and dangled it before Xue Rensheng, who visibly tensed at the sight but quickly masked his reaction.

"Consider the jade pendant a gift to you, Mr. Qi."

With a smile, Qi Xiao pocketed the pendant without ceremony and departed.

Xue Rensheng's gaze lingered on the lifeless bodies scattered around him, his expression a tumultuous mix of emotions.