The moment Xiao Ke and Qin Bing stepped through the doorway, the air in the room crackled. On the faces of Black Wolf and Old Hu, shock was warring with something else. For Old Hu, it was pure, unadulterated terror. For Black Wolf, it was a flash of raw fury.
Just seconds before, they'd been mocking the idea that these Imperial soldiers would dare to challenge them. Now, here they were. And not just here—Xiao Ke had already dropped two of Black Wolf's best men. The sight sent a jolt of rage through the big man. With a guttural roar, he heaved the heavy wooden table, sending it spinning through the air like a discus aimed right at Xiao Ke's head.
Xiao Ke didn't even flinch. He just took a step forward and met the incoming table with a powerful, snapping kick.
CRACK!
The cheap wood exploded into a shower of splinters.
But it had been a diversion. Using the airborne wreckage as a screen, Black Wolf was already charging. He was a mountain of a man, over two meters tall and built like a wild beast, his bare chest a mat of thick, black hair. Next to him, Xiao Ke looked like a boy.
More importantly, Black Wolf had seen it—the slide on the kid's pistol lock back. Empty. That was all the invitation he needed.
As the last of the wood fragments clattered to the floor, Black Wolf was on him, his massive fist swinging like a cannonball aimed at turning Xiao Ke's skull into pulp.
But Xiao Ke's recent training with Qin Bing had forged him in fire. He moved without thinking, ducking under the whistling punch and driving forward into the giant's personal space. He slammed a vicious elbow strike directly into the soft spot under Black Wolf's right arm.
A sickening snap echoed in the tavern. The cartilage in Black Wolf's armpit had just been shattered.
A strangled cry escaped Black Wolf's lips. His right arm went limp, and he staggered back, his face a mask of agony. He knew this wasn't just a skirmish. With two of his men already dead, he knew Qin Bing and Xiao Ke were here to wipe them out. His right arm was useless, but he wasn't going down without a fight. His left hand fumbled for the pistol at his hip.
Drawing, disengaging the safety, and aiming with his off-hand took two precious seconds. It was one second too long.
Just as his finger tightened on the trigger, Xiao Ke was on him again, a blur of motion. He grabbed the barrel of the gun, wrenching it skyward as a BANG tore through the room, the bullet burying itself in the ceiling. He gave Black Wolf no chance for a second shot. His other fist drove straight into the big man's throat. A dull, wet thump followed, and the cartilage in Black Wolf's larynx collapsed.
Black Wolf dropped the gun, his hands flying to his ruined throat as he stumbled backward, choking. Xiao Ke was a shadow, following his every move. He launched himself into a flying kick, and an impossible amount of force erupted from his lean frame. The blow sent the mercenary flying across the room, his body crashing hard against the floor. His chest was caved in, and blood bubbled from his mouth. He was done.
The handful of patrons, the owner, and a lone waiter could only stare, their faces pale with shock.
A small, satisfied smile touched Qin Bing's lips. His performance wasn't just good; it was stunning. She'd found something special in this kid. He was a natural-born warrior. A few days of intense training, a few doses of military-grade recovery meds, and this was the result. She couldn't be more pleased.
Xiao Ke's gaze shifted to the last man, Town Master Old Hu, who was still frozen in his chair, trembling so hard the wood rattled. A dark, wet stain was spreading across the front of his pants.
"What about him?" Xiao Ke asked, turning to Qin Bing.
Qin Bing's eyes narrowed with disgust. Before she could speak, Old Hu scrambled from his chair and fell to his knees.
"Lord Chiliarch! Lord Decurion!" he blubbered. "Please, I have a family! I was forced to work with them, I swear! I haven't done anything to betray you. Think of how I've cared for you, bringing you food and supplies… please, spare me! I'll never do it again!"
"That was your duty," Xiao Ke sneered. "Local officials are required to supply Imperial troops. You want a medal for doing your job?"
Qin Bing held up a hand. "You helped these animals terrorize this town," she said, her voice like ice. "You sent innocent women to them. For that, you deserve to die. But a zombie horde is coming, and this town needs someone who knows how to manage a crisis. So for now, I'll let you keep your pathetic life. But if you even think about crossing us again, you'll end up just like them." She gestured to the bodies on the floor.
Relief washed over Old Hu's face. "Thank you, Lord Chiliarch! Thank you!" he sobbed, knocking his forehead against the floorboards.
"Don't thank me yet," she cut in. "You're going to help us. We're taking down the rest of the Wolf Pack. Tonight."
Hu's eyes went wide. His mind screamed at the insanity of it. The zombie tide was almost upon them, and she wanted to start a civil war with the town's best-armed mercenaries? But one look at the cold resolve in her eyes, and the memory of Xiao Ke's brutal efficiency, told him arguing was a death sentence.
"Whatever you need, Lord Chiliarch," he stammered. "I'll do it."
"Good," she said. "We're going to their base at the old Ye estate. You're going to walk up to the front gate and get them to open it for us. Their leader, Wild Wolf, is cautious. He won't be expecting you. You're our ticket inside."
"Yes, Lord Chiliarch!"
As they left the tavern, Xiao Ke paused and looked back at the terrified onlookers. His eyes settled on the one-eyed owner. "Lock the doors," he commanded. "Nobody in, nobody out. Not until sunrise. Anyone who breaks that rule, I'll kill them myself. Understand?"
The patrons nodded furiously. The owner, a grim-faced man known as One-Eye, gave a single, solemn nod. "Understood, my lord."
The tavern door slammed shut behind them, leaving them in the quiet dark of the street.
As they walked, Hu Benan's head was on a swivel, his eyes darting into every shadow.
"Looking for a way to run?" Xiao Ke asked, his voice low and dangerous.
"No! Of course not, Lord Decurion!" Hu said, his voice trembling. "I was just… where are the other soldiers? Are they already in position around the estate?"
A slow, knowing smile spread across Xiao Ke's face, mirrored by Qin Bing.
Hu was confused. "My lords… did I say something wrong? Where are our reinforcements?"
"To take out trash like the Wolf Pack," Xiao Ke said, a newfound swagger in his voice, "the Chiliarch and I are more than enough." He was posturing—before the tavern, he'd been a nervous wreck. But that first taste of victory was a powerful drug.
The blood drained from Hu Benan's face. He thought they were leading a full-scale assault with all fifty soldiers. The realization that it was just the two of them—against more than twenty heavily armed mercenaries—hit him like a physical blow. He nearly collapsed on the spot.
"My lords, you must be joking," he pleaded, his face a canvas of pure horror. "Two of you? Against all of them? They have guns! We'll be slaughtered!"
"What about us?" Xiao Ke shot back. "Forget me. The Lord Chiliarch could handle this scum by herself. Now, are you going to be a problem? Because I can solve that problem right here."
"No, no! I'll go!" Hu squeaked.
"Then shut up and walk," Qin Bing ordered.
Twenty minutes later, they stood before the gates of the Ye Family estate. Qin Bing and Xiao Ke had pulled up the hoods of their cloaks, flanking Hu Benan like a pair of silent bodyguards.
As they approached, a sharp voice called out from the darkness above. "Who goes there?"
A makeshift watchtower on the wall. They were on high alert.
Hu Benan tilted his head up into the moonlight. "It's me! Town Master Hu! I need to speak with Captain Wild Wolf."
There was a muffled exchange, then a voice from the tower shouted, "It's Old Hu! Open up!"
The heavy gate creaked open to reveal a mercenary with a wild, bushy beard. "Get in," he grunted.
Hu stepped inside, with Qin Bing and Xiao Ke right behind him. The bearded guard's eyes fell on the two cloaked figures, and his nose twitched. He caught the faint, subtle scent of a woman. Confused, he glanced down, and his blood ran cold.
Beneath the hem of their cloaks, he saw military-issue combat boots.
His head snapped up, his eyes locking with Xiao Ke's as his hand instinctively flew to his sidearm. But he was too slow. In a single, fluid motion, Xiao Ke's left hand clamped over the man's mouth, stifling his shout, while his right hand produced a gleaming combat knife that plunged deep into his throat. The guard's body went rigid, and then limp.
Qin Bing watched with a flicker of admiration in her eyes. The kid was learning fast. He was made for this.
Xiao Ke dragged the body into the shadows just as two more mercenaries sauntered over. "Hu! What's the big idea, coming here in the middle of the—"
The man never finished his sentence. Xiao Ke exploded from behind Hu, a dark blur of motion. In two swift, brutal slashes, both men were on the ground, clutching their throats as their lives poured out into the dirt.
From the watchtower, the sentry saw the commotion. His mouth opened to scream an alarm. Xiao Ke's arm whipped forward, sending his dagger flying through the air. The sentry dodged, and the blade thudded into the wood beside his head. He had a split second of relief before another flash of silver streaked through the night. This one didn't miss. The second dagger, thrown by Qin Bing, struck him squarely between the eyes. He toppled from his perch without a sound.
Meanwhile, in a lavish bedroom deep within the estate, Wild Wolf was busy with a woman when a knock echoed on his door. He paused, scowling. "I gave orders! No interruptions! What is it?!"
The door swung open. Xiao Ke stood there, a lazy smile on his face.
"Sorry to interrupt," he said. "But we need to have a chat."