Chapter 15: A Dignified Way to Die

Without any warning, at the very moment he dropped his hands, his entire body twisted at an unnatural angle. As his form contorted, five flashes of cold light shot toward Xiao Kaitian, swift as lightning.

Red Carp, a bounty hunter from the island nation's underground, though not a martial artist, was still unmatched by ordinary people in the conventional realm. His greatest reliance was the flying knives that vanished without a trace.

Yet the pressure Xiao Kaitian exerted was immense. Even with his confidence, and his familiarity with Han and Tang culture—knowing the legend of the “Little Li Flying Knife, never misses”—Red Carp, who always fancied himself a master of the flying knife, understood himself well enough that, after throwing the knives, he dashed toward the closed exit with astonishing speed.

He had no time to care where the knives landed. All he saw was the tightly shut door; what he needed was a desperate gamble.

With his abilities, so long as he reached the door, breaking it open would be no issue.

Ten meters... five meters... three meters... one meter... His eyes brightened instantly. Had it not been for his years of cultivated composure, he might have glanced back to see where his knives had landed.

But just as he reached out his right hand in a surge of frantic joy, a massive figure loomed before him. Through the warped patterns in his vision, he was struck hard between the bridge of his nose and his brow.

He was sent flying like a wad of paper shot from a slingshot, bouncing several times across the cement floor, crashing through a few spots before rolling to the edge of the corner. Only now, belatedly, did he realize that what he’d seen was the sole of a shoe.

He coughed harshly. His once neat suit was now torn in places. Letting his hand hang limp, he realized this blow had completely fractured his right hand. He barely managed to stand, facing the young man in the black trench coat, who stood nonchalantly, the coat billowing gently in the wind.

“Who are you?” Xiao Kaitian tossed aside his nearly spent cigarette, stamping it out so that a wisp of smoke rose and the butt vanished, leaving no trace of his presence.

“Two choices,” Xiao Kaitian slowly raised two fingers. The gesture, once a symbol of victory, now seemed mocking. “One: tell me everything you know and submit to me. Two,” he twisted his neck, stiff from hours spent poring over computer files, “jump from here yourself.”

The first option was not without reason. Xiao Kaitian felt no interest in the man before him; killing him would be like crushing an ant. Yet, in this world, he needed power—not just his own strength, but something more.

He already knew much about this world; he was no fool acting blindly.

The storm had passed but the wind still raged. The sweat on Red Carp’s body quickly dried. He swallowed hard, considering Xiao Kaitian’s terms.

This was the twenty-sixth floor, the rooftop. Jumping from here would have a predictable outcome. But as a leader among underground organizations, to follow the first choice was unacceptable. If anyone in the business learned of his actions, he would face the wrath of the entire island nation’s underground.

No one could ignore the rules of the trade. The underground also had its share of martial artists. Though he belonged to no particular group, the system was still binding.

Yet, seeing Xiao Kaitian with his hands casually in his pockets, a faint smile on his lips, Red Carp realized things were not as simple. In this man’s eyes, the so-called rules of the underworld were meaningless.

“You... Since you’re a martial artist, you must understand some things,” he tried to salvage the situation. “If I must die, I’d rather choose a dignified way.”

Xiao Kaitian smiled and waved his fingers; this was not the answer he sought. “You’re only half right. With the two choices I gave, you won’t die.”

“Trust me—I can guarantee that if you jump from here, you won’t die. But from then on, you’ll have no sensation below your neck. That’s all.”

A chill rushed from Red Carp’s feet to his head. Xiao Kaitian’s casual words felt utterly true, and he couldn’t even muster the thought of denial. Under the overwhelming pressure, cracks had formed in his spirit.

“Fine,” he gritted his teeth, making the only choice he had. “Actually, I don’t know who’s truly behind all this. I only saw your name marked in the deep web system here. The bounty and the information I gathered about you—my actions were based on a comprehensive assessment.”

Xiao Kaitian neither confirmed nor denied this answer. Cold sweat broke out on Red Carp’s brow again.

“Based on the intelligence, I personally judge the mark probably came from Han and Tang,” he continued, his anxiety easing as the breakthrough appeared. “As far as I know, there were many watching the mission, but apparently, some even tried to save your life.”

Satisfied enough with this answer, Xiao Kaitian changed the subject. “Your name?”

“Red Carp!” It wasn’t his real name, but in this business, names and code names were essentially interchangeable.

“Organization?”

“None. But I follow the rules of the underground.” As he spoke, his lips quivered.

As expected, Xiao Kaitian smiled indifferently. “Serve me, and the rest isn’t your concern.” He straightened his disheveled coat and shirt, his meticulous nature on full display. “In exchange, I can guarantee your status in this country—as my representative.”

If not for tonight’s surreal experience, Red Carp would have cursed aloud. He knew Xiao Kaitian’s profile by heart, could write a ten-thousand-word essay without trouble. Yet here he was, a proud member of the island nation’s underground bounty hunter organization, about to become the proxy of the biggest fool in Shangjing, Han and Tang—a glorified lackey.

But the oppressive atmosphere and the pain in his arm reminded him it was all real.

“For now, don’t act,” Xiao Kaitian crossed his left arm over his chest, his right hand resting atop, fingers pinching his chin. “In a few days, I’ll meet the Higawara family. Then, I’ll have tasks for you all.”

“The Higawara family...” Red Carp’s mind was in turmoil. His intel was a day old; if he’d known Xiao Kaitian had already tangled with the Higawara, he never would have acted. He’d always thought the only group sheltering Xiao Kaitian was a minor syndicate like Yokobin Ichido.

“Let’s go.” Xiao Kaitian had no desire to linger. After giving his instructions, Red Carp stared blankly as Xiao Kaitian’s figure vanished, leaving behind only the hunched Red Carp, legs trembling, muttering to himself, “Was it all a dream?”