Chapter 200 War Veteran Vs. Assassin
The assassin also uncovered the fact that Supreme General Sullivan had no living relatives, his wife having passed away. Hostage leverage was not an option. However, despite his veteran status from the Anti-Unification war, the General was, at his core, an ordinary individual. With this knowledge, Li Xian's confidence swelled. The stage was set for him to carry out his mission in the evening of the fourth day, well-prepared and armed with the intimate details of his target's vulnerabilities.
— Evening 4 th day —
In the heart of the noble district, there stood a modest house. While it could be deemed luxurious, its size was modest, fit for a single occupant. Nestled amidst the sprawling estates of the district, this dwelling stood out like a lone black sheep.
Within the backyard of this house, Supreme General Sullivan sat contentedly, devouring a serving of curry rice ordered through a delivery service. His focus was on the dish, the world around him fading into insignificance as he gazed at the moon, basking in the gentle evening breeze.
"If you're here to do your job, kindly wait until I've savored every last bite of this bowl," the Supreme General remarked without turning around. He was aware that an assassin had been observing him from behind for some time.
"I see... as expected of a war veteran from the Anti-Unification war," a man's voice responded. A figure in his late twenties emerged from the shadows, bathed in the soft glow of neon lights. He wore the traditional attire of the Qing Empire, a sharp contrast to the General's jogging suit.
"Agreed. Think of this as your last meal. Enjoy," Li Xian responded with a curt nod, patiently awaiting the completion of the General's meal.
A few minutes passed, and the General finished savoring the flavors of his curry rice. He rose slowly and turned towards Li Xian.
"Shall we begin?" he inquired, shifting into a standard military close-quarters combat posture.
"To honor an old warrior like you, I'll give it my all," Li Xian replied coldly, adopting the stance of his Bajiquan.
In an instant, Li Xian became a blur of motion, hurtling towards Sullivan at a speed far beyond that of an ordinary human. His elbow aimed straight for the General's heart, a move designed to swiftly end the battle and minimize the General's suffering. However, Sullivan deftly deflected the elbow with his left arm, countering with a palm strike directed at Li Xian's chin.
Pow! Pow!
Li Xian employed his other arm to block the General's attacking limb, but Sullivan's hand swiftly seized Li Xian's left wrist before he could evade. With a quick, forceful pull, the General attempted to draw Li Xian closer, but the assassin managed to slip his wrist from the General's grasp, swiftly retreating to gain distance once more.
"For an old warrior, you're surprisingly fast," Li Xian remarked, a faint smile gracing his lips. It was a rare occurrence for him to face an elderly opponent who could match his swiftness.
[This old man... despite his age, his agility is remarkable. If he were in his prime, how formidable would he be? Ah, what a regret. I've found someone who can truly challenge me, but he's no longer at the peak of his strength.] Li Xian thought to himself, a sense of lament washing over him. He was acutely aware of the missed opportunity to face this opponent in his prime.
"It's a shame you're not in your prime. Otherwise... I might have failed this contract," Li Xian remarked.
"No, you're mistaken. Right now... I AM in my prime!" The elderly General responded boldly, his eyes filled with determination and his posture radiating confidence. There was no hint of bluff in his demeanor.
Hearing that, Li Xian was taken aback. [What kind of nonsense is this old man talking about?] he thought.
"You seem unconvinced, but it doesn't matter..." Sullivan began but was abruptly interrupted by a surprise attack from Li Xian. The assassin rushed at him like a shadow, delivering an elbow strike aimed at his heart.
Boom!
The sound of the strike resonated, and a cloud of dust billowed in the aftermath of its explosive force. However, Li Xian sensed that something was amiss. The sensation from the strike didn't match what he expected. It didn't feel like he had crushed the opponent's ribs and heart. Instead, it felt as if he had struck a steel plate.
As the dust settled, the shocking truth was revealed to Li Xian.
General Sullivan stood tall, having received the strike without any apparent injury or defense.
"Impossible..." Li Xian muttered in disbelief, but his words were met with the General's fearless smile.
With determination and quick thinking, Li Xian gathered his inner qi and used his left fist to strike at the General's abdomen, hoping to obliterate the man's internal organs.
Boom!
Once again, his fist connected, but the sensation was like hitting a solid steel plate. Li Xian couldn't believe what he was experiencing, causing him to fall into a daze.
"Have you had enough? Now it's my turn," the General declared, gathering his strength and delivering a punch at Li Xian.
Instinctively, Li Xian raised his guard, fully aware that an unguarded blow from the General could be fatal.
Boom!
The force of the punch propelled Li Xian through the backyard wall and onto the deserted street outside. It was late evening in the noble district, and the affluent residents tended to stay indoors at this hour. Thus, no one ventured out to investigate. The two adversaries remained alone, their battle ongoing.
Li Xian slowly climbed to his feet, his body aching as if he had been hit by a truck. Thankfully, his quick reaction to guard against the punch had spared him from more severe injuries. He had relied on his inner qi to bolster his defense; otherwise, his arm might have been shattered, or worse, his head could have been pulverized.
The tall and muscular general fearlessly strode through the hole in the wall, coming to a stop a few meters away from Li Xian.
"What's wrong, assassin? Is that all you've got?" the general taunted with a fearless smile, provoking Li Xian, who stood still, channeling his inner qi to stabilize his injuries.
Li Xian didn't let anger consume him. As an assassin, especially one of his caliber, his mind remained cool. He had already categorized this job as one of the few that he might fail, given that the opponent appeared to be stronger.
The 𝘮ost uptodat𝑒 novels are pub𝙡ished on fre(e)webno(v)el.𝒸𝑜𝘮