Detecting the direction of the sound, Elder Guo pulled Xia Xue along and kicked towards the source of the noise, but missed! This mistake cost him the initiative, and at that moment, Xiao Lang, who had been hiding on the side, suddenly attacked, using his advantage to quickly leap to Elder Guo's side and launched a fierce attack on his back.

Elder Guo's mind was preoccupied with finding the person with that overwhelming oppressive aura, and he didn't pay attention to the presence of this small character. The sudden attack caused him another slip; he released Xia Xue with a scream. Xiao Lang seized the opportunity, exposing himself in front of Elder Guo, and dashed forward, aiming a stab at his left hand.

In the cramped space, Elder Guo, forced into a corner, had only two choices: let go of the hostage Xia Xue or lose a wrist. Caught in a dilemma, he released Xia Xue. The person pulled away was still in shock, and gunfire erupted from behind Xia Xue. No one expected the assassin to fire a gun. Xia Xue had no chance of survival. In a desperate moment, Xiao Lang lunged forward heroically, shielding Xia Xue. He didn't avoid the bullet; it entered through his back and exited through his chest.

Xia Ranxue instinctively covered her mouth. If not for Xiao Lang, she would be the one lying on the ground now. Her mind went blank as she instinctively searched for Xiao Lin. In the surrounding darkness, there were people everywhere, yet she couldn't find him.

"Lin! Lin!" Xia Xue's helpless cry made others' hearts tremble.

"I'm here!"

A warm embrace enveloped her, and Xiao Lin's scent calmed Xia Xue's trembling body, making her feel unafraid.

"Xiao Lang, he..."

"He's not dead. You won't let him die, right? You're a doctor." Xiao Lin understood Xia Xue's helplessness, and he witnessed Xiao Lang shielding Xia Xue from the bullet. At that moment, he was genuinely furious.

"Yes, I'm a doctor." Xia Xue nodded. As long as Xiao Lin was there, she wouldn't be afraid or tremble. Xiao Lang lay on the ground, blood still flowing from his chest. She stepped forward, pressing her hand on his wound to stop more blood from escaping. "There's a medical kit downstairs." Miao Shaoqing nodded in understanding and rushed down, while Xiao Lin kept a close watch on Elder Guo.

Feeling like a hunted prey, Elder Guo recognized such a gaze. Once targeted, escaping was out of the question. He discarded his gun and switched to a short dagger for close combat.

Xiao Lin gave a cold smile. Behind him was Xia Xue, so he wouldn't take a single step away. Elder Guo noticed this and began attacking Xia Xue, covering her wound, aiming to divert Xiao Lin's attention.

The hidden oppressive aura once again radiated towards Elder Guo, who was startled, watching Xiao Lin. This person's aura had completely changed, enveloped in a murderous intent. He found himself unable to move forward another step, forced to retreat step by step.

The guards of the estate arrived, enclosing Xia Xue in a protective circle. Miao Shaoqing fetched the medical kit.

Xiao Lin glanced back; the protective circle was tight. He took a step forward. "You, the head of the Southeast Asian assassin organization?"

Recognizing his identity, Elder Guo nodded silently. This person was not simple, and he underestimated the other's power. Tightening his grip on the dagger, he charged towards Xiao Lin.

"Overestimating yourself." No one saw how Xiao Lin did it; the two separated in an instant. A cut appeared on Elder Guo's chest. "You're indeed strong, but you're not my match."

Xiao Lin leapt forward, aiming a kick at Elder Guo's right side. Although blocked by an arm, it paralyzed half of Elder Guo's body with numbness, forcing him to swallow back the taste of blood rising in his chest. "The opponent didn't use full force; he will definitely lose." With this thought, Elder Guo feigned a move to escape through the window, but Xiao Lin was faster, forcing him back.

"You think you can leave without leaving something behind?"

Saying this, Xiao Lin closed in on Elder Guo's defensive space, grabbing his wrist. The latter chuckled twice as the dagger fell into his left hand, trying to stab Xiao Lin's abdomen.

"Left-handed?" No surprised shout, just a realization. "But missed by two centimeters." He didn't dodge, merely shifted slightly to the side, hardly noticeable, causing the dagger to miss, and Elder Guo ended up within Xiao Lin's reach.

A hand clamped tightly around his neck from behind, fingers squeezing his artery. "Using a weapon to kill you is disrespectful." Tightening his grip, Elder Guo felt the pressure on his artery gradually shrinking, his mind going blank. He had never tried killing in this way, nor felt so close to death.

"I told you, your death is deserved." The artery under his fingers pulsed with a rare rapid rhythm. Xiao Lin's dark eyes turned crimson.

Xia Xue looked up to see those eyes, struck speechless by surprise. This wasn't the Xiao Lin she knew; it was like facing Satan from Hell, instilling terror in her heart. Killing seemed as easy as swatting a fly, while the old man struggled futilely.

With external pressure on his artery causing cracks to form, Xiao Lin's icy voice emanated once more. "Hear the sound of your artery breaking? You'll savor this marvel." Like playing a prelude to death, Xiao Lin murmured in Elder Guo's ear, escalating the sensation of impending death.

Elder Guo was breathing, but not in the agony of suffocation. His limbs were stiff yet limp, unable to describe this waiting pain. His nervous system disrupted, clarity of mind rendered incapable of response, as if body and mind were separated, the brain powerless to direct the body.

"I rarely kill this way. You're fortunate to be the first." Xiao Lin pressed harder, causing liquid to flow from Elder Guo's trousers in lost control of his bladder.

Miao Shaoqing dumbfoundedly observed Xiao Lin, recalling an evening before leaving the village, Elder Miao's words to him: following Xiao Lin would lead to a different life.

At that time, he didn't understand the meaning. Before heading to the Middle East, Dragon Soul selected a new face from the recruits to accompany Hua Qingyi, and he volunteered because of Xiao Lin.

Thus, after walking along the edge of death several times, he still couldn't comprehend what made this seemingly unremarkable man earn Elder Miao's appreciation and trust. Now he began to understand, this deeply hidden person was just showing the tip of the iceberg, that invisible pressure was only part of him. (To be continued. If you like this work, you're welcomed to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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