The Third Rebirth (REBIRTH)
The dagger fell far away on the ground.
Vulture retreated two steps in a flash before swiftly drawing a folding steel knife from the sheath on his calf.
With a "snap", the knife extended straight, and he held it as he executed a seamless upward slash that narrowly grazed Ye Xiao's forearm.
The cold metallic sensation of the blade brushed against his skin, and Ye Xiao, taking advantage of Vulture's momentary lack of defense, thrust the blade directly toward Vulture's face!
Both of their reaction speeds were top-notch, and in their exchanges, the cold glint of the blades left only afterimages on their retinas.
Ye Xiao's nerves were taut as he almost summoned the same level of focus he had during his time with the Silver Blade. The thrill of danger and bloodshed crawled up his nerves, spreading and exciting him.
No.
Ye Xiao warned himself in his heart.
He couldn't indulge. Once you get addicted to killing, there's no turning back.
Touching the small wooden rabbit hanging on his scabbard, Ye Xiao's mind calmed once more.
Holding the hilt with his right hand, he firmly blocked Vulture's diagonal slash. The collision of metal blades produced a sharp, ear-piercing sound.
Vulture's strength was immense, making Ye Xiao feel as if the base of his thumb was about to split from the impact.
Both of them retracted their blades in an instant, and in the blink of an eye, Ye Xiao struck Vulture's elbow joint with the scabbard. Vulture winced in pain but didn't retreat. Instead, he stepped back slightly and kicked Ye Xiao in the abdomen!
The force of this kick was astonishing. Although Ye Xiao tightened his abdomen in time, he was still left breathless for a few seconds.
‘Can't get injured.’
Ye Xiao's face was as cold as ice and his eyes were like frozen pools. He swallowed the metallic taste of blood in his mouth, and his attacks suddenly became more ferocious!
Vulture stood nearly two meters tall with his muscular build imposing like an iron tower. In contrast, Ye Xiao still retained some of the slimness of youth, looking as fragile as a chick next to Vulture.
But Vulture didn't dare to let his guard down. He quickly realized that Ye Xiao could almost perfectly predict his next move and react with the fastest speed. After five consecutive thrusts missed, Vulture's shoulder was slashed by Ye Xiao, blood soaking through his clothes, the scent of blood thick in the air.
Vulture grew more irritable and his pupils narrowed as a ferocious glint appeared in his fluorescent yellow eyes, like a ferocious beast about to pounce.
Ye Xiao's thumb, wrist, and entire forearm were numb and aching from Vulture's powerful strikes. As he moved slightly, he heard Vulture's voice, "You're not an ordinary person." Vulture's voice was strange, like a steel saw scraping against wood, with a grating roughness.
Ye Xiao didn't respond with his expression cold.
At this moment, both sides were in a standoff, waiting for the other to make the first move.
Ye Xiao held the Long Blade with his expression unchanged.
Finally, Vulture couldn't hold back.
Gripping the blade with both hands, he slashed toward Ye Xiao's neck! Ye Xiao ducked with his movements swiftly, and the Long Blade accurately pierced Vulture's abdomen!
"Returning the favor."
He twisted the hilt twice as he exerted force with his fingers, and swiftly pulled out the Long Blade, bringing forth a string of blood droplets.
The pain and blood stimulated Vulture's ferocity.
His eyes faintly glowed with a bloodthirsty red. Vulture's nostrils flared and his breathing became heavy as a low growl escaping his throat that didn't sound human.
Throwing away the folding knife, he clenched his fists as the force of his punches carried brute strength as he aimed directly for Ye Xiao's eyes.
Ye Xiao blocked a punch, feeling as if he had caught a solid iron ball thrown from a distance—the force was terrifying.
Realizing the disparity in strength between himself and Vulture, Ye Xiao didn’t try to block again.
He tilted his head to dodge the second punch, but Vulture’s speed was too fast. The finger knife on Vulture’s hand still grazed Ye Xiao’s cheekbone, leaving a bloody mark.
Maintaining a composure that didn’t belong to someone his age, Ye Xiao relied on the combat instincts honed at Silver Blade to dodge three consecutive attacks from Vulture. His expression revealed a disdainful look, as if he were toying with a clown.
Noticing Vulture’s bloodshot eyes, completely enraged, Ye Xiao raised his gaze. The dried blood under his eyes tinted his pupils as he coldly said, “If I were you, I wouldn’t have thrown away my blade. It’ll only make you die faster.”
The ferocious onslaught of the Long Blade forced Vulture to retreat. As the blade swept past, it carved a deep, bone-exposing wound into Vulture’s shoulder that caused blood to gush out. Ye Xiao, like a vicious young beast or an experienced hunter, step by step, pressed Vulture into a position of complete helplessness.
In the end, Vulture couldn’t even see where Ye Xiao’s blade was coming from. By the time he reacted, the cold gleam of the blade was already in front of him. His pupils contracted, only to realize he had been cornered against the wall without even noticing!
There was no escape.
Ye Xiao didn’t give him a chance to counterattack.
With a swift motion, he slit Vulture’s throat. In just a few seconds, Vulture disappeared before his eyes.
Confirming the enemy was dead, Ye Xiao leaned weakly against the wall—the kick Vulture had landed on his abdomen was brutal, and his entire right arm was trembling. After catching his breath, he stood up again, gripped the Long Blade tightly, and ran toward the control room.
……..
Rewind ten minutes earlier.
Jiang Cancan was hanging on the outer wall of the third floor. Aside from the uncomfortable position, he was quite enjoying the night breeze.
Jian Lan’s voice came through the communicator in his ear, “The sniper scope is a great thing. I see it now—damn, everyone in the control room is dead—wait, no, there’s one left. A Holy Judgement guy has a gun pointed at him and forcing him to operate the defense system.”
Jiang Cancan didn’t make a sound with his muscles tense and waiting for Ling Chen’s command.
Jian Lan continued reporting, “The control room has windows. Harrison is being cautious, standing in a spot I can’t hit unless someone drags him in front of the window. The others, tsk, are moving around so much it’s making me want to pull the trigger!”
So frustrating!
Jiang Cancan wanted to join in the ranting, but he didn’t dare make a sound, so he could only listen to Jian Lan’s endless chatter while feeling utterly stifled.
Finally, Ling Chen’s voice came through, “Go!”
In the next second, Jian Lan fired a bullet from the rooftop of the opposite building and hit a Holy Judgement member while also shattering the glass window for Jiang Cancan.
Jiang Cancan grabbed the window frame, flipped into the room, and rolled on the ground. Before the people inside could react, he took out three of them in one go.
“Sniper!”
“Enemy attack!”
In the past, Jiang Cancan would have shouted, “Hands up! Resist and you’ll be killed on the spot!” But this time, he didn’t get the chance. After taking out three people, a barrage of bullets nearly grazed his heels as they embedded into the floor.
He dodged with extreme agility, drawing most of the attention. At the same time, Ling Chen and Jiang Mu burst in through the main entrance, firing a rapid volley of shots with overwhelming firepower.
Jian Lan lay prone on the rooftop and muttering softly, "Every time, I never get a chance to show off. I want to play with a submachine gun too!"
No one paid her any attention.
She pouted as she quickly hoisted the heavy sniper rifle, and moved to a new position, continuing to lie low. Just then, she caught a glimpse of a shadow in her peripheral vision. Jian Lan focused her gaze and said, "Chen Ge, the opponent assigned to you isn't in the control room. He's next door, and I'm not sure what he's up to."
At this moment, the control room was already secured under overwhelming force. Ling Chen, hearing Jian Lan's report, instructed Jiang Mu, "You take care of the defense system."
Jiang Mu nodded, "Yes."
Ling Chen then turned to Jiang Cancan, "You protect him. Jian Lan, provide long-range cover."
"Yes!"
After giving his orders, Ling Chen strode towards the adjacent room.
Seeing the metal plaque that read "Data Archives", Ling Chen kicked the door open with a sharp, blade-like gaze and his killing intent was palpable.
Harrison stood in front of a desk with the cold light from the monitor casting half of his face in shadow. Their eyes met, and without a word, both discarded their guns.
Ling Chen twisted his neck and sneered, "Coming to my turf so casually isn't a good idea."
This wasn't the first time the two had clashed. Harrison grinned maliciously, "Last time, we agreed that if we met again, I'd kill you."
Ling Chen raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Let's see if you have what it takes!" His features, sharp and chiseled under the dim light, exuded a wild and ferocious aura, especially when his eyes were filled with killing intent.
Harrison, a mixed-race Caucasian, was of similar height to Ling Chen, with taut muscles and a fierce fighting spirit.
It was unclear who moved first, but their fists collided mid-air with a dull thud. Ling Chen spoke word by word, "I'm definitely going to win!"
As he spoke, his eyes caught a glint of cold steel.
Ling Chen swiftly drew the military knife from his waist and knocked the dagger from Harrison's hand in one fluid motion. He then slashed upwards, grazing Harrison's face and leaving a bloody mark on his earlobe, from which blood immediately welled up.
Harrison retaliated with a knee strike aimed at Ling Chen's abdomen, but it missed. He quickly changed tactics by forming a fist with his left hand and thrusting it towards Ling Chen's eye.
"Your methods are truly dirty!" Ling Chen mocked. "Can't fight without these little tricks like finger knives, huh? Let me teach you a lesson today!" With that, his right hand shot out like lightning, grabbing Harrison's wrist and slamming it onto the desk. Then, with his left hand holding the military knife, he swiftly and precisely stabbed it into Harrison's palm!
Blood spurted out as Ling Chen, like a bloodthirsty wolf king, coldly said, "Did you learn your lesson?"
Harrison broke out in a cold sweat from the pain, but in the next second, a small blade the size of a pinky finger shot out from his left hand, aiming for Ling Chen's neck.
Sensing the danger, Ling Chen raised his arm to block, leaving a deep gash near his elbow. The wound was severe, with flesh torn and blood immediately soaking his sleeve. Ignoring the injury, he used his bleeding hand to deliver a powerful punch to Harrison's face!
Ling Chen's fists were hard enough to dent steel plates. This punch landed on Harrison's cheek, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood.
Realizing that Ling Chen had the upper hand and that the situation was unfavorable, Harrison forcefully pulled the military knife out of the desk, causing blood to gush from the wound in his palm and splatter across the floor.
The Military Knife fell into Harrison's hands, but Ling Chen showed no fear.
He assumed a fighting stance with his fingers forming claws, each strike aimed at vital points. Harrison spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, looking somewhat disheveled, but his ferocity remained undiminished. The two men grappled with each other, and in the narrow data archive room, the dull thuds of blows landing on flesh echoed continuously.
Ling Chen was pinned to the ground by Harrison and unable to move. His gaze fell on the frosted glass, and his brow furrowed as he uttered two words, "Glass."
Two seconds later, a loud "crash!" resounded as the entire pane of glass was struck by a sniper bullet before cracks started spreading rapidly, and shards of glass cascaded down like an avalanche!
Ling Chen exerted all his strength before flipping over and pinning Harrison to the ground. He grabbed a shard of glass and drove it deep into Harrison's neck.
Harrison cursed, his body covered in blood. Suddenly, his muscles tensed and bulged, and Ling Chen was thrown off. He caught himself with one hand, pressing it into a pile of glass shards. At this moment, pain only fueled his fighting spirit. Using the strength of his core, he sprang up and hurled a handful of bloody glass shards toward Harrison's eyes!
Instinctively, Harrison closed his eyes to protect himself. Ling Chen wiped his face, the blood on his hand leaving a streak on his cheek. His already cold and hard facial features were now filled with a terrifying mix of ferocity and brutality.
Breathing heavily, Ling Chen grabbed Harrison by the throat and lifted the nearly two-meter-tall, muscular man off the ground, then slammed him hard onto the windowsill.
With his left hand clenched into a fist, he delivered a powerful blow to Harrison's face, repeating the words he had said earlier, "I—am going to win!"
Harrison glared at Ling Chen with wide, furious eyes. Ling Chen tightened his grip on Harrison's throat and said, "I'll give you one chance. Tell me, what exactly are you plotting?"
Harrison's eyes were bloodshot as he rasped, "Not unless I die."
Ling Chen's gaze turned icy. "Oh, then die."
With a "crack", Harrison's windpipe was crushed in an instant, and he stopped breathing.
Ten seconds later, the data archive room was left in disarray, with shattered glass and scattered furniture. Ling Chen turned and strode to the control console, where he discovered that Harrison had been accessing the files of the Silver Blade from years ago, using Xia Yunfeng's credentials.
On the screen was a list of names, most of them codenames, with only a few real names. At the top of the list was "Night Owl."
Almost instinctively, Ling Chen clicked on the name, and a photo immediately popped up.
The photo showed Ye Xiao, probably around thirteen or fourteen years old. His face was small and his black hair slightly long, covering his ears. He looked delicate and pretty, almost like a young girl.
Ling Chen's fingertips touched the screen, and a lazy smile spread across his lips—’His Little Fuzzball was always the cutest, no matter what.’
Ling Chen casually printed out the photo and tucked it into his pocket.
At that moment, familiar footsteps echoed in the hallway. Ling Chen turned and walked to the door, just in time to meet Ye Xiao, who had come looking for him.
The ferocity in both of them had yet to dissipate, and their eyes met in the air, as if igniting a fire between them. Without hesitation, Ling Chen reached out, picked Ye Xiao up, turned, and pressed him against the cold wall of the hallway before kissing him fiercely.
The taste of blood mingled in their mouths, burning like strong liquor and heating the palms of their hands. A shivering sensation awakened millions of dormant nerve endings, coursing wildly through their bodies. Ye Xiao wrapped his arms around Ling Chen's neck and parted his lips.
This kiss held no trace of gentleness, only instinctive aggression and plunder. Their tongues intertwined, breaths inseparable and transparent saliva trickling down the corners of their mouths. Ye Xiao couldn't catch his breath as he let out muffled whimpers.
Finally, Ling Chen released him before setting him down and trapping him between himself and the wall.
He kissed his way to Ye Xiao's delicate, pale ear before nibbling on his red, burning earlobe, sucking and licking.
"Captain..."
"The captain is here," Ling Chen's voice was hoarse and low. "Don't call me that, or the captain won't be able to hold back."
Ye Xiao's mind was slow to react as he did not understand Ling Chen's words. He let out a soft moan, unconsciously cooing, "I... I can't stand."
Ling Chen stared into his eyes, which seemed to hold a pool of water, the slightly red arcs, and the lips reddened from kissing. He closed his eyes in restraint, his voice dropping even lower, "Let the captain rub against you."
Ye Xiao felt something pressing against him and responded with a trembling voice, "...Okay."
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