Ren Yuanhao heard the sound of the door handle turning, the mechanism whirring and interlocking.
He was ready, his fists clenched, and even prepared to use the short blade Cheng Li had left him if necessary!
The instant the door opened a crack, Ren Yuanhao's heightened senses detected a strong smell of blood. His expression changed, and with one hand gripping the hilt of his dagger, he pushed the door open forcefully!
With Ren Yuanhao wearing a hood and keeping his head down, not only did Zhu Qingfeng fail to recognize him, but Xiao Chong also did not.
The bloodstains, illuminated by the dim light, lay like fallen red plum blossoms on the white floor. Ren Yuanhao closed the door. Before he could speak, he saw Zhu Qingfeng pull out a short dagger.
"Lift your head. My blade does not kill the unknown."
"Heh heh, sounds like you think you've got me cornered, cross-dresser?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Qingfeng's heart tightened. He immediately realized that the man standing before him was Ren Yuanhao, who had previously put him in a very awkward position. Xiao Chong also recognized the voice and knew that he was unlikely to escape this ordeal today. He simply closed his eyes.
"Ren Yuanhao! Could it be that you are the third esper from the martial arts dojo?"
"Esper? Sorry, I don't understand. But you, a cross-dresser holding a weapon, breaking in to commit murder, with blood splattering five steps, and the curtains not even drawn. Perhaps there's a man across the street with a penchant for peeping, who's recorded your entire… well, your killing spree. Tsk tsk tsk, it's enough to make one shudder. You're quite bold, aren't you?"
While talking nonsense, Ren Yuanhao was actually observing his surroundings and assessing Xiao Chong's condition.
"Damn, this guy isn't splattered with a single drop of blood, and he doesn't seem to have any injuries at all. Not even his shoes are stained with blood. This means this guy completely dominated Xiao Chong in their fight. So, what kind of terrifying ability does he possess?"
"You don't need to worry about that. I've already scouted the building opposite. They're all vacant units, and turning on the lights at night is just to attract tenants. Besides, don't you think you should be more concerned about your own safety right now?"
Zhu Qingfeng toyed with his gleaming knife, his body relaxed, seemingly without any intention to attack. However, he suddenly leaped forward, his right hand gripping the hilt of the knife as if it were a Miao Dao. With a sweeping, powerful slash, he brought the blade down! Da Feng Novel Network
"Hey, hey, hey, sneak attacks are the actions of petty individuals!"
Ren Yuanhao was already prepared. He immediately drew his short dagger from his waist to block. The moment the blades collided, a brilliant spark erupted, scattering like phosphorescence, accompanied by a slightly grating sound.
"Hmph, it seems you're prepared too. Why not just admit you're an esper?"
In reality, Zhu Qingfeng's move was a probe. After all, Ren Yuanhao had managed to conceal his aura so perfectly in the martial arts dojo; he must be a master.
At least, that's what he thought.
"My goal isn't the same as yours."
"Don't flatter yourself. The ability to plunder the powers of others is the nature of espers. Today, there are three of us here. It seems the final victor will reap a great harvest."
Zhu Qingfeng's eyes gleamed, his excitement beyond measure!
"I'm afraid you'll try to steal a chicken and end up losing the rice, which would be rather awkward."
Ren Yuanhao lacked any specific knife skills. As soon as he spoke, his opponent, with a peculiar movement, pushed the hilt of the knife. The blade spun halfway around, and as he pushed his hand forward, he thrust it directly at Ren Yuanhao's chest.
Ren Yuanhao's soul was nearly scared out of him. His right foot instinctively pushed backward, but the blade relentlessly continued its trajectory towards his chest. In desperation, he deliberately stumbled and fell to the ground.
"Weren't you so fierce at the martial arts dojo?" Zhu Qingfeng said, raising his blade like a frenzied beast, about to tear open his own chest!
Ren Yuanhao had a flash of inspiration. He propped himself up on one foot and kicked hard at Zhu Qingfeng's wrist, narrowly deflecting the blow. He immediately got up, gripped his dagger, and prepared to counter.
"There's no need for further probing. We're both espers, why hide it!"
Zhu Qingfeng glanced slightly to the side at the medieval retro clock pendulum hanging on the golden decorative wall. It was already eight o'clock. He knew very well that the longer the time dragged on, the more suspicion it would attract.
"It seems this guy's knife skills are decent. I probably won't have an advantage in close combat, and I don't know what his esper ability is. This is getting tricky."
Ren Yuanhao, gripping his dagger, circulated his internal energy, constantly guarding against his opponent using his esper ability. Zhu Qingfeng, however, seemed hesitant, or perhaps was brewing something. He spoke of using his esper ability but continued to restrain Ren Yuanhao with his sharp blade skills.
In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged blows forty to fifty times. Ren Yuanhao, relying on the immense agility and strength within his body, was at a slight disadvantage in close combat, with minor cuts on various parts of his body, though they were not serious.
"Why is this guy not using his esper ability, and I can't sense any esper aura from him? Could it be that my deduction is wrong? Is this person really not the third esper?"
At this thought, Zhu Qingfeng seemed to have made a decision. His entire demeanor suddenly changed. Ren Yuanhao's perception, already stronger than that of ordinary people, immediately detected a dangerous aura. His body tensed, prepared to face an esper with his mortal flesh.
And at this very moment, the system's urgent tone suddenly chimed!
"Beep, beep, detected dangerous aura. Host, please heighten your vigilance!"
"Nonsense, I know!"
As Ren Yuanhao muttered to himself, he felt a strange shower of pale green light descending before him!
"Don't let the light touch you!"
In a flash, it was Xiao Chong who gritted his teeth and warned him. He had heard the clash of blades and, out of curiosity, had opened his eyes to watch. Although the figures and scenes in his pupils were extremely hazy, he could clearly distinguish the green light!
Ren Yuanhao took half a second to process. The emerald light, like a flying snake, was about to engulf him. In desperation, he had to activate the Flying Dragon Plundering Cloud Hand technique. With all his might, he lunged over Zhu Qingfeng's head!
Zhu Qingfeng, his attack unsuccessful, turned pale. The immense physical toll of this esper ability, if it missed, would put him in a disadvantageous position. Fortunately, Ren Yuanhao was unaware of its intricacies and did not seize the opportunity to attack.
"Damn, what kind of crappy esper ability is this? Hey, kid, what happens if you get hit by that 'forgiveness green' light?"
Ren Yuanhao was not a petty man. Seeing Xiao Chong's well-intentioned warning, his perception of Xiao Chong's character began to shift slightly.