Chapter Thirty-Two: Powerful Intimidation

“What’s going on here?” The assassin cried out in shock.

Liu Jingye smiled, “I told you, the gun in your hand is nothing but a toy to me.”

“Die!” The assassin roared, pulling the trigger once more.

Liu Jingye stood unmoved, merely tilting his head aside, dodging the bullet yet again.

“How… how is this possible?” The assassin shrieked as if she’d seen a ghost.

Yet, those two bullets had indeed been avoided by Liu Jingye, and at a mere five or six meters’ distance. To dodge a sniper rifle’s round so close—it could only be described as incredible.

The assassin now lacked even the courage to fire again; she was utterly subdued. In her heart, she was convinced that Liu Jingye was beyond her ability to defeat.

“Hmph…” Liu Jingye, seeing her spirit broken, sneered inwardly. “This is the weakness of all pure snipers. When they fire, they habitually aim for the opponent’s forehead, seeking a fatal shot. But, though bullets are fast, it still requires someone to pull the trigger.”

Throughout the entire encounter, Liu Jingye hadn’t looked at the barrel at all; his gaze always fixed on her finger at the trigger. The instant her fingertip twitched, he would move his head—he didn’t need to be faster than the bullet, only faster than her finger.

This was a skill forged from countless battles amidst gunfire and storms, and he’d always been prepared to act. If her muzzle dipped or she fired in rapid succession, his blade would be at her throat in a heartbeat.

“I have no wish to kill. Put down your gun and everything else on you, and leave,” Liu Jingye suddenly withdrew his smile, his tone cold.

Though his words claimed reluctance to kill, the murderous aura he exuded made the assassin tremble.

“Who are you, really?” The assassin asked, unwilling to accept defeat.

Liu Jingye patted his chest, “I am a man.”

The assassin paused, glanced at her own chest, and understood immediately. Next time she had a mission, she’d be sure to bind her chest, lest it draw too much attention.

Frustrated and helpless, she slowly laid down her gun, her phone, wallet, and a bunch of keys.

Clutching her bleeding arm, she fled swiftly. When she reached the courtyard, she stopped, turned back, and glared fiercely at Liu Jingye, as if etching his image into her memory.

Listening to her footsteps fade, Liu Jingye finally exhaled. His gaze fell upon the sniper rifle lying quietly on the ground, stirring chords that had lain dormant in his heart for so long.

He crouched, trembling as he reached out, only to pause: “Picking up this old companion again… does it mean I’m returning to that world filled with gunpowder and blood?”

“Old friend, you’re still the closest,” Liu Jingye finally couldn’t resist, grasping the rifle in his hands. Instantly, he felt a surge of kinship.

The Steyr Scout, favored for its lightness, was a common choice among snipers, and Liu Jingye was intimately familiar with it.

Beside him was the violin case the assassin had left, containing a box of gleaming bullets.

Like assembling a puzzle, Liu Jingye deftly disassembled the rifle and carefully packed it into the case, gathering up the rest—especially the wallet, which held a fair amount of cash. He considered it his performance fee.

When he returned to the park, Wei Xiaorou was still clutching her clothes, frozen in an embrace, attracting the stares of countless passersby. Seeing Liu Jingye return, she blushed and hurried away in embarrassment.

They made their way back to Liu Jingye’s modest hotel room. Though still empty, the two now had each other for company.

As soon as they entered, Wei Xiaorou fixed her gaze on Liu Jingye. “You made me play the lovesick fool in the park alone. I trust you had your reasons, but unless you explain, I won’t let this go.”

“This girl is showing her true colors,” Liu Jingye mused. “This morning she was fearful, like a startled dove, and now, after a day of shopping, she’s radiating confidence.”

He smiled wryly, opening the violin case. Even though the rifle was disassembled, it was still unmistakable.

Wei Xiaorou was stunned, recalling the gunshot incident beneath her building that morning. Tears welled up, but she uttered a sentence that warmed Liu Jingye’s heart: “Are you alright?”

It was a trivial question, but Liu Jingye was touched. She cared first for his safety, not the outcome—a sign of her innate kindness.

“We walked back together; do I look harmed?” Liu Jingye smiled. “Besides, I confiscated their weapons.”

Wei Xiaorou was shocked, but her surprise quickly turned to delight. “I knew I chose the right person.”

“You’re worthy of your first time,” Liu Jingye blurted out unconsciously, and both of them froze.

In the quiet of the night, with no one around, the topic was far too suggestive.

“If he asks to share the bed again, what should I do?” Wei Xiaorou’s heart raced as she blushed and lowered her head. “I need his protection right now, and things have already started—where there’s a first, there’s a second… Actually, experiencing it again wouldn’t be so bad. Yesterday wasn’t unpleasant.”

Her youthful mind wandered, and the room was eerily silent, broken only by the ticking of the wall clock.

Wei Xiaorou glanced at the time and suddenly exclaimed, “Oh no, it’s almost ten. This is bad.”

She quickly pulled out her phone, which had been off since she called the police that morning. She powered it on, “Oh dear, I forgot to call Mom and Dad—they must be worried.”

“Well, you really are a dutiful daughter, reporting in morning and evening,” Liu Jingye teased.

“Of course. Otherwise, they’d worry.” Wei Xiaorou answered earnestly. “A mother always worries for her child far from home. If I can’t return often, I call twice a day just to reassure them.”

Liu Jingye immediately stopped joking. As he’d once said, these days, a husband is just a laborer, vows are broken promises, and dreams are departures.

“Hmm? Are Mom and Dad already asleep? They don’t usually sleep so early. Why is no one answering?” Wei Xiaorou wondered aloud, phone to her ear.

She dialed several times, but no one picked up. Anxiety began to grow. “This has never happened before…”

Just then, her phone rang—a strange number. She glanced at Liu Jingye, saw his nod, and nervously answered. Her face quickly lit up with joy.

“Mom? Whose phone is this? Where are you and Dad?” Wei Xiaorou asked anxiously.

“Why did you turn off your phone this morning?” her mother complained on the other end. “We’ve just landed and arrived at the hotel.”

“Plane?” Wei Xiaorou asked, surprised.

“Don’t play dumb. I know you wanted to surprise us—such a thoughtful child,” her mother said excitedly. “I didn’t expect your company to be so generous, even inviting family for a trip. Your father and I arrived this morning, and now we’re at the hotel. We know you’re working late, so we won’t disturb you. See you tomorrow.”

“What? You’re here? Company benefits? Where are you exactly?” Wei Xiaorou instantly sensed danger, firing questions in rapid succession, but the call had already ended.

She hurriedly called back, but the phone was off.

A moment later, her phone rang again, another unfamiliar number. A clear male voice sounded, “Wei Xiaorou, hello. I’m your boss, Huang Xing. Are you satisfied with the family travel arrangement our company provided?”

“You’ve abducted my parents?” Wei Xiaorou broke out in cold sweat, her face pale.

“How can you call it abduction? Let’s say I invited them,” Huang Xing replied calmly. “I invited the elders for a trip, to see the city where their daughter works. First-class seats, five-star hotel. I’m quite a generous boss, wouldn’t you say?”

“What do you want?” Wei Xiaorou trembled, her voice quivering.

“Nothing much. Just want to see you. Tomorrow morning at half past five, meet me at Pier Four at the company,” said Huang Xing, hanging up before she could respond.

“What do I do, what do I do…” Tears streamed down Wei Xiaorou’s face, panic rising. “How could they be so naïve!”

Liu Jingye was about to comfort her when his own phone vibrated unexpectedly—it never did that. He realized it was the phone left by the assassin. He gestured for Wei Xiaorou to keep quiet and answered.

The voice on the other end, cold and hard, was unmistakably Huang Xing, despite his attempt to disguise it.

“The police showed up today. We mustn’t meet again. Take care of the woman soon. I’ve arranged to see her at Pier Four tomorrow morning at five thirty. You can deal with her there,” Huang Xing whispered.

To avoid exposure, Liu Jingye simply grunted and hung up. A killer must have a killer’s temperament.

It seemed the busty female assassin hadn’t contacted Huang Xing yet—likely intimidated by Liu Jingye’s overwhelming presence—so Huang Xing continued to call her phone. This played perfectly into Liu Jingye’s hands.

Wei Xiaorou, eyes brimming with tears, asked weakly, “What should I do?”

Liu Jingye placed his hands gently on her shoulders, silently imparting strength and confidence. He spoke softly, “Stay here. I’ll handle it. Wait for your parents’ call in peace.”

Wei Xiaorou looked at him. Though his tone was gentle, she could sense the fierce resolve burning within him.

“Harm must not come to wife and children. That is the code of the underworld,” Liu Jingye vowed inwardly. “Huang Xing, you have brazenly kidnapped Wei Xiaorou’s parents. You’ve broken the iron law of the underworld, and crossed my line.”

“Trust me. I’ll settle this for you.” Liu Jingye didn’t say anything sentimental or moving, just a simple phrase, but it radiated powerful confidence.

With that, he rose and headed for the door, only to be stopped by Wei Xiaorou.

He turned, and she flung herself into his arms, holding him tightly, her face streaked with tears and flushed red. “Be careful. I’ll wait here for you to return!”