Chapter 33: Silencing Witnesses?

In the southern district of Phoenix City, an area newly designated for development, half-finished, abandoned buildings dotted the landscape. Most residents had already moved out due to the ongoing construction, leaving the place desolate. Yet, in one dilapidated building, a faint glimmer of light flickered in the darkness.

A middle-aged man sat before a makeshift fire on the third floor, gnawing on a piece of bread and sipping bottled water. He had thick brows and large eyes, a long, centipede-like scar running down his face, and a cold, sinister gaze—one look was enough to know this was not a good man.

This was the driver who had crashed into Ye Shihan’s car and then fled the scene. Though he was eating, his eyes ceaselessly scanned the surroundings; his every movement betrayed an instinct for counter-surveillance, marking him as a seasoned criminal.

Suddenly, a shrill phone rang, piercing the quiet. The man tossed aside his food, pulled out the phone, and when he saw the caller ID, he let out a cold chuckle.

“I’ve handled what you asked for. Where’s the money we agreed on? When will it arrive?” he demanded the moment he answered.

“You’ll get what you’re owed. My people have reported back to me—you did well. Wait at the usual place for the payment. Once you have the money, lay low for a while.”

The voice on the other end was slow and sinister; from the sound, it was none other than Wang Bolin of the Wang family, one of the Four Great Clans.

After their failed attempt at commercial warfare, Wang Bolin, who suffered the greatest losses, found the defeat unbearable. With Huayi Corporation’s involvement, he knew the Wang family could not retaliate through business. Driven by bitterness, he had turned to the shadows and hired this man from the underworld.

“Fine, I’ll wait,” the man replied, ending the call. He rose and moved to the window, watching the street below.

Minutes passed, then an hour, but no one came with his payment. Frustration began to mount within him.

A faint sound broke the silence—like a twig snapping. He stiffened, then spun to face the darkness, his voice icy: “Since you’re here, come out. I’m just waiting to collect my money and leave.”

No one appeared. The man’s expression grew grave; he was certain the noise had come from that direction. A sense of foreboding crept into his heart. He slowly drew a knife from his waistband, gripping it tightly.

At that moment, crisp footsteps echoed through the gloom, and two figures emerged from the shadows: Xiao Yu and Taesui.

“Are you here to pay me?” the man asked, brow furrowed, seeing they held nothing.

“Were you behind today’s incident? Who is the mastermind?” Xiao Yu approached, his tone devoid of emotion.

The man’s face changed instantly—so they weren’t here to pay him, but to apprehend him.

“Who are you?” He raised the knife before his chest, eyes wary.

“My big brother is asking you a question!” Taesui snapped, stepping forward. A wave of overwhelming pressure surged toward the man.

Ordinary people would have been cowed into silence, but though the man’s face was tense, he showed little else. Taesui was intrigued; clearly, this was no ordinary thug.

But the man’s composure was a facade. The moment Taesui released his aura, he hesitated, realizing he was outmatched. If even their presence was so intimidating, he stood no chance in a fight—especially with the other man, who remained calm and inscrutable.

“I’ll ask you once more: who orchestrated today’s attack? Tell me, and I’ll let you die with your body intact,” Xiao Yu’s voice was chill and sharp. The accident with Ye Shihan had shattered his former composure; now, all that mattered was rooting out the mastermind and annihilating them.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The man gritted his teeth, refusing to admit anything. He was a killer, one with a reputation in the business. If he broke the code and betrayed a client to save his own life, he would be hunted down by his peers even if he got away today.

“Taesui, capture him alive.” Xiao Yu knew talking was pointless; better to take him and force the truth out.

Taesui grinned and charged. The man’s grip on his knife tightened—he was ready. Yet, in the blink of an eye, Taesui was upon him.

Startled, he barely had time to react before Taesui struck him in the chest, sending him stumbling backward. Blood trickled from his lips as he steadied himself, then he lunged forward, hoping to seize the initiative. His speed was impressive, and his knife slashed toward Taesui’s chest.

Even Taesui was surprised by his agility, but such skills were nothing to him. With ease, Taesui dodged and countered, turning the fight into a game of cat and mouse. The killer realized his predicament—no chance of victory, no hope of escape. Never before in his career had he been so utterly powerless.

After a dozen exchanges, Taesui, having had his fill of the chase, dodged another attack and swept his leg, smashing into the man’s arm. The limb broke with a sickening crack, left dangling uselessly. Despite the excruciating pain, the man bit his lip and uttered not a sound.

Desperate, he hurled his knife at Taesui, then drew a gun from his pocket. With one hand, he chambered a round and took aim. Taesui, having deflected the knife, saw the dark muzzle pointed at him and grinned. In a flash, he vanished from sight.

“Damn!” The man’s heart lurched. Instinctively, he squeezed the trigger, but just as he did, a sharp pain shot through his hand. He looked down—his gun was gone.

Before he could react, something cold pressed against the back of his head—a gun, he knew at once.

He turned slowly, terror in his eyes. Taesui held his own weapon, and the man’s face turned ashen.

Remembering Xiao Yu’s orders to keep him alive, Taesui didn’t shoot. He disassembled the weapon in a blur, letting the pieces clatter to the floor.

“If my brother didn’t have use for you, you’d be dead already,” Taesui sneered.

The man’s legs gave out and he collapsed, overwhelmed by helplessness. Never in his career had he faced opponents like these.

“I don’t like repeating myself. Tell us who hired you, and I might let you go,” Xiao Yu said coldly as he stepped forward.

The man managed a bitter smile. “What if I told you I don’t even know who the employer is—would you believe me?”

“You don’t know? How do you get paid?” Xiao Yu was unconvinced.

“He contacted me through the darknet. All the clients there use fake identities, as you must know. As for the payment, I was told to wait here—someone would bring it.”

“How do you communicate?” Xiao Yu watched him closely, searching for any sign of deceit. He hadn’t expected the mastermind to be so cautious; even if someone did show up with the money, it would likely be an uninvolved party.

“I have his number.” The man reached into his pocket, intending to hand over his phone.

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out. Before Xiao Yu and Taesui could react, a bullet shattered the phone and buried itself in the man’s skull. He collapsed, dead before he hit the ground.

The abruptness of it all ignited Xiao Yu’s fury. Both men looked toward the abandoned building across the street, catching a glimpse of a shadowy figure retreating.

Without hesitation, Taesui vaulted out the window, rolling as he landed, and took off after the fleeing shooter.

On the third floor, Xiao Yu picked up the battered phone, his expression dark. The killer’s death was clearly a silencing—he had never expected to die so pointlessly.

“Hmph! I don’t care who you are. Since you’ve dared to strike at my people, prepare to taste my wrath.”

With a wave of his hand, Xiao Yu set the corpse ablaze. That done, he turned away.