Chapter 33: The Kiss

Qi Shaokang’s heart sank.

The person’s movements were eerie, managing to appear behind him and seize his vital point without a sound—a feat even more formidable than that of the Iron-Faced Lord.

With the cold silver hook pressed against his throat, Qi Shaokang took a deep breath and forced a smile onto his face. "Hero, there’s no need to rush. I just gathered clues about Jiang Luan at that pharmacy. Please, be patient; I’ll open it and show you right now."

The masked man said nothing.

Qi Shaokang stepped back slightly, distancing himself from the silver hook. Seeing no reaction from the masked man, he boldly moved to a safer spot. Facing his captor, he retrieved a paper parcel from his waistband and nodded. "The clues are in here."

Qi Shaokang gambled that the masked man was anxious to find his target and would act in haste. Just as he expected, the moment the man heard there were clues about Jiang Luan, he withdrew his weapon and instinctively took a step forward.

Perfect!

In that very moment, Qi Shaokang tore open the parcel and decisively blew the powder inside toward him.

But before he could celebrate the success of his scheme, he felt an agonizing pain in his abdomen and was sent flying, crashing into the alley wall.

"You're playing tricks?" The masked man’s voice rang out coldly.

Not only was he wrapped tightly in protective gear, but he also wore iron gauntlets. He grabbed Qi Shaokang by the forehead and shoved his head deep into the brick wall.

Qi Shaokang had practiced martial arts since childhood and was a man of some discernment; how could he have ever encountered such bizarre and overbearing techniques? No, perhaps the man himself was uniquely gifted—possessing strength that seemed truly boundless.

Held by the iron gauntlet, Qi Shaokang trembled violently. Was this man going to crush his skull?

At that thought, a deep chill spread through him. He shouted, "I’ll talk! I’ll talk! I truly don't know where Jiang Luan is, I only know that it was the Prince of Suping from the Qi residence who sent people to capture him!"

The words spilled out of Qi Shaokang instantly, and this small bit of quick thinking saved his life.

"Continue," the masked man stopped his movements, his tone indifferent.

With his head still gripped by the iron hand, blood trickled down from Qi Shaokang’s forehead. He gasped for breath, his voice trembling. "Dou Kou didn’t use people I recognize this time; they were all just a bunch of low-life thugs. You might have better luck inquiring at the Star-Picking Pavilion!"

Realizing Qi Shaokang dared not lie anymore, the masked man muttered, "Understood."

Qi Shaokang let out a faint sigh of relief. But the next second, he heard the masked man let out a low, chilling laugh. "But you are no longer of any use."

Qi Shaokang felt his forehead tighten, his intracranial pressure spiking as his skull began to creak under the man’s grip.

The masked man’s murderous intent was absolute. Before fear could even fully take hold, scenes from Qi Shaokang’s life flashed before his eyes like a spinning lantern.

"Xiao, stop!" an elderly voice commanded. "Come with me!"

The pressure on his head suddenly vanished.

Qi Shaokang collapsed to the ground like a broken doll. His eyes were bloodshot and bulging, his forehead deformed from the pressure, and he knelt on the ground, spitting blood.

"Spare me, spare me..."

Qi Shaokang knelt, begging repeatedly, but his vision was blurred by a mist of blood, and the person who had held him was already gone. High atop the bell tower at the end of the alley, a figure wearing a green-faced, fanged ghost mask stood with hands behind his back, watching the scene.

"Are you insane?"

In a dilapidated house, a man slammed his hand against a table, furious.

"If you had killed Qi Shaokang at that moment, it would have been no different than driving the Iron-Faced Lord to madness!"

The man looked strange; despite having the face of an ordinary middle-aged man, his hair was entirely white, his eyes held the weight of many years, and his voice sounded incredibly aged.

Standing before him was the masked man who had nearly crushed Qi Shaokang’s skull.

"I am insane," the masked man replied with an indifferent smile. "Then let him come."

"I do not wish to waste over a decade of effort only to produce a corpse," the man said coldly. "Lin'er, do you truly believe you can kill the Iron-Faced Lord now?"

"..."

The man removed the silver mask from his face.

Moonlight spilled in through a large hole in the roof, illuminating his young, clear face. Qi Shaokang Lin’s voice was weary as he spoke. "Master, I only want him dead. I want to drag him down to hell with me."

"With your current state?" The man sneered. "I fear you don't even have the qualifications to die with him. Furthermore, you would implicate both me and Bao'er."

Qi Shaokang Lin fell silent for a moment before slowly calming down. "I am sorry."

"We have endured for over a decade. Lin'er, you have never been this rash," the man sighed. "I took you on as my disciple against my better judgment because I valued your patience and your ruthlessness. What has changed you? Is it the wife you just took into your home?"

Qi Shaokang Lin: "..."

"Emotions can be a burden... but at times, they can also aid in your revenge," the man said. "Lin'er, I do not wish to hinder you; you and Bao'er are like my own children. I do not want you to be alone forever, but you must consider whether your actions will harm the person you love most."

"This disciple understands," Qi Shaokang Lin nodded. "Master, please forgive me for taking my leave."

He turned and walked out of the ruined house, his figure flickering and vanishing into the vast night.

The man stood in the center of the ruins, whispering to himself in a voice only he could hear:

"We must wait... we must keep waiting, until the day Bao'er returns to the position that is rightfully his..."

...

...

Back in the ruined house.

Watching the scarred man approach with drool hanging from his mouth, Ruibao’s brow furrowed deeply. "What are you doing!"

"What am I doing?" the scarred man leered. "Why, doing something that will make us all happy, of course."

Ruibao was tied to the pillar facing the door, naturally making him the first target. The scarred man walked up with a lecherous smile, his grimy hands reaching for Ruibao’s legs.

Jiang Luan, tied behind him, coughed loudly. "Aren't you afraid that he is the Jiang Luan you were sent to capture?"

The scarred man paused for a split second, then burst into laughter. "Then you must not know that the employer who sent us already said that once we capture Jiang Luan, we can do whatever we want with him..."

Jiang Luan’s heart skipped a beat.

The man continued, "Who knew we’d be so lucky today? A buy-one-get-one deal, two little beauties delivered right to our doorstep. I’ve heard that boys are different from women—much more fun to play with. Today, I’m going to have a real good time..."

"You dare!" Ruibao glared at him. He tried to kick out, but having been drugged, his limbs were weak, and the man blocked him effortlessly.

"Oh, the little beauty looks even prettier when he’s angry," the scarred man smiled, then pulled a dagger from his waist and slammed it into the floor between them. "I already said, we can do whatever we want. If you two don’t cooperate, I’ll have to kill you first and then have my way."

Jiang Luan’s heart tightened. His mind raced, scanning the room for any chance to escape. If it were just him, he might have a sliver of a chance to break his ropes and run. But the problem was Ruibao, whose legs were softened by the drug.

After the scarred man pulled out the dagger, Ruibao stopped talking, bowing his head in silence. The scarred man took this as resignation and, with a lecherous grin, began to undo Ruibao’s belt and outer robe.

Jiang Luan had assumed that, given Ruibao’s fiery temper, he would rather die than suffer such humiliation. Yet, even as the scarred man threw his robes wide open, revealing his pale, white chest, Ruibao didn't make a sound.

"You..."

Jiang Luan was about to intervene when Ruibao gripped his hand.

Ruibao said coldly to the scarred man, "If you want to do it, just do it. Don't be so hesitant. Take me and be done with it, then get out of here and don't disturb our sleep!"

Jiang Luan froze, suddenly understanding Ruibao’s intent. Ruibao knew he was a burden and couldn't escape. Since that was the case, he was willing to sacrifice himself to satisfy the man, hoping that once he left, they might still have a chance to survive.

But...

Jiang Luan offered