Xia Xiaomo looked directly into Ren Yuanhao's extremely confident eyes, as if ignited by the flames burning within his gaze, and without a moment's hesitation, placed her palm against his.
"I'm not afraid!"
The contract between mage and knight was established in an unbreakable manner after those three words.
"Chen Tao, isn't the Xia family the largest shareholder of your head office? I'm giving you an opportunity now to climb up to the shareholder's daughter. Are you willing?"
Ren Yuanhao's eyes burned like flames, capable of igniting not only the seemingly fragile Xia Xiaomo but also a timid office worker like himself.
"Of course, I'm willing to serve." Chen Tao also extended his hand.
"Even if it means risking your life?"
Ren Yuanhao emphasized, a gamble and a high-stakes bet, requiring a price of life from all three.
"Willing!"
"Very good. Below, the Super Plan is activated. Gather 'round and listen."
...
A moment later, Ren Yuanhao lit a cigarette, strode out from the crowd of nervously confronting people, opened the door, immediately drawing everyone's gaze, and then leaped out.
Seeing this, almost everyone believed he had abandoned them with his martial arts skills, despair like an endless darkness engulfing them instantly.
At that moment, the twilight was deep, the clouds were light and the wind was gentle, maple trees trembled, branches danced, and the heavens and earth were filled with a肅殺 atmosphere.
Ren Yuanhao took a deep drag of his cigarette, leaving only half a stick, which he placed on the ashtray atop the trash can. As the smoke curled upwards, a crisp whistling sound suddenly surged from the west, stirring a piercing hum!
Ren Yuanhao flashed and turned with the wind, his body like a supple willow, an illusion taking shape. The steel needle seemed to strike a phantom and plunged directly into the stone road, immediately splitting open a lightning-like crack.
Ren Yuanhao cupped his palms to form a telescope, quickly spotting the clock tower to the west. It was unobstructed, the terrain elevated, and jutting out abruptly—an excellent sniping position.
Missing the target, the assassin on the clock tower was about to crouch down when a gaze like a sharp sword pierced through. The moment their eyes met, an identical frequency resonated within both of them.
"Ability User!"
They both spoke in unison, sneering.
Meanwhile, the main hall of the Xia family mansion was completely silent to the outside commotion. With Chen Tao's help, Xia Xiaomo successfully navigated through the crowd to reach the encirclement.
"Bitch, you want to help these lunatics tie us up too?" Xia Yun'er pointed her gun at her without hesitation. However, as she looked at her half-sister, the shrewd light in her eyes stirred a killing intent within her.
She hated those eyes, just like her father's, as if they were so wise they could see through everything.
What she hated even more was that Xia Xiaomo, despite being a bastard child, slightly surpassed her in appearance and figure. What kind of peerless beauty must Xia Xiaomo's mother have been.
The more she thought about it, the fiercer her anger grew. Her hand on the trigger trembled uncontrollably, and the enraged killing intent was about to consume her entirely!
But at that moment, Xia Xiaomo, under everyone's watchful eyes, slowly pulled back her sleeve, revealing her pale white arm bit by bit.
"What do you want to do!"
Xia Yun'er suddenly became a little scared, her hand holding the gun trembling even more violently.
"What are you afraid of? Afraid my arm has the same patterns as yours? Afraid to admit I'm a descendant of the Xia family?"
As Xia Xiaomo spoke, Chen Tao stood in front of her. He was gambling, and she was gambling too. And the one who gave them the courage to take such risks was currently rushing towards the assassin, drawing fire.
But as soon as Xia Xiaomo uttered these words, the surrounding individuals seemed to suddenly regain their senses, or perhaps they were stunned by Xia Xiaomo's actions, feeling utterly ashamed.
They loosened their ropes, as if expecting something, and waited with shame on their faces. As Xia Xiaomo's sleeve was gradually torn open, her pale white arm finally revealed the unique crest of the Xia family descendants!
"This, this is indeed the crest of a Xia family descendant!"
"But, at this moment, admitting to being a Xia family descendant would only give the assassin one more target to kill?"
"Miss, by doing this, you're putting yourself in the line of fire. In front of you are mountains of knives and seas of fire! You, aren't you afraid of death?"
The crowd exclaimed repeatedly. Such reckless acts were only undertaken by daring gamblers who frequented casinos!
And before them stood a delicate young woman.
"I am afraid, but I am a descendant of the Xia family, so even if I have to die standing, I refuse to live in disgrace!" Xia Xiaomo stood in the center of the crowd, spreading her arms, and said with a calm and detached tone, "Now, I am also a target for the assassin. And you are distinguished guests of the Xia family. Protecting you is the Xia family's duty. Therefore, you are welcome to tie me up and exchange my life for yours. I, Xia Xiaomo, will have no regrets."
"Yes, yes, this bastard is also a descendant of the Xia family, that's right. You can do as she says, go on!"
Xia Yun'er gripped the butt of her gun, as if finding a chance to survive through Xia Xiaomo. She thought this fool was incredibly stupid for wanting to prove her identity in such a deadly situation!
But Xia Yun'er's words played right into Ren Yuanhao's hands!
"Sister, you finally admit I'm a Xia family descendant."
"If you want to be, then be it. No one will stop you if you want to die! You foolish woman, do you think the Xia family surname is still a symbol that can let you live a life of comfort and mingle in high society? Now, it's a death warrant!"
Xia Xiaomo's eyes once again resembled her father, Xia Zhennan's, wise yet filled with ruthless mockery.
"If you don't even dare to face the risk of death, what right do you have to be a Xia family descendant?" Xia Xiaomo seemed to have transformed, walking step by step towards her sister. "To survive, you can point a gun at your own partner. To survive, you can disregard the lives of these innocent people. To survive, you can even shoot at innocent people. Your surname gave you honor, but it cannot give you a noble character!"
Xia Yun'er was forced to retreat repeatedly, the cold stone wall behind her. She likely never dreamed that a daughter born out of wedlock would dare to speak to her this way. Overwhelmed with shame and anger, her compact pistol suddenly aimed at Xia Xiaomo's forehead.
"What? You want to kill your sister with this gun? Very well. Anyway, the assassin is outside. Once the gunshots ring out, perhaps a steel needle will blow your head off. Now, there's no one willing to risk their life to save you anymore."