The wind on the rooftop seemed to freeze at the words "Kill her".
Leng Nan's body stiffened like a statue. She forced a smile onto her lips, but her clenched fists dug her nails deep into her palms. She was waiting, waiting for Qin Xiao's answer. She wanted to know what choice this man would make in the face of such a desperate situation.
Should we sacrifice her as a "burden" without hesitation, or...?
Qin Xiao smiled.
He ignored the gun barrel pressed against his forehead, as if he had heard an amusing joke.
"A pledge of allegiance? Your vision is far too narrow."
He shook his head, a gesture that didn't even cause Mei Xinya's fingers to tremble.
“I don’t need such low-level things to prove myself. But you, Mei Xinya, do you want to see what your sister’s real ‘pledge of allegiance’ is?”
"You!" Mei Xinya's voice trembled violently for the first time, and her lifeless eyes finally stirred with emotion.
"Your sister, Mo Meigui. She's doing very well now." Qin Xiao completely controlled the rhythm of the conversation. His voice was devoid of any emotion, yet it struck Mei Xinya's most vulnerable nerves like a heavy hammer. "She no longer has to live a life of danger, nor does she have to obey those foolish orders from the Dragon King's Palace."
"She has a new identity, a clean identity. She is learning how to be an ordinary person. Although she can't even tell the difference between an oven and a microwave, and her cooking is barely edible, she is trying very hard."
Qin Xiao took a step forward.
The gun barrel was still pressed against his forehead.
“Yesterday, she complained to me that the tiramisu I bought for her wasn’t authentic and the cream was too rich.” Qin Xiao’s lips curled into a smile. “She said she wanted to learn how to make it herself. She wanted to make you the best birthday cake in the world. You know what? She still remembers your birthday, the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month. She said that every year on that day, you would secretly eat a bowl of longevity noodles.”
"...Stop talking."
Mei Xinya's hand holding the gun began to tremble slightly.
Suppressed, heavy breathing could be heard from beneath the mask.
My younger sister... tiramisu... birthday cake... longevity noodles...
These warm, almost jarring words form a cruel contrast with her life of over twenty years, filled with bloodshed and betrayal. It was a scene she never dared to dream of.
“The night before last, she asked me if my sister would like the cookies she made,” Qin Xiao continued, her voice carrying a strange gentleness. “I said she definitely would. She was so happy to hear that, and she even said she would make you a big box of cookies, all kinds of flavors.”
Mei Xinya's breathing became more rapid.
"Her biggest wish right now is to see you again. Not amidst killing, not amidst bloodshed, but simply to sit together and have a meal."
"Why should I believe you?" Her voice was hoarse and full of struggle.
"You don't need to believe me." Qin Xiao's voice softened slightly. "You only need to make a choice. Do you continue to be Ye Chen and the Dragon King's Palace's dogs, carrying out the next mission, killing another innocent person, and then praying that your sister will survive by chance? Or..."
He stepped forward again, and this time, he pressed his forehead against the cold muzzle of the gun.
"...Choose me. I'll give you a chance to personally repay all the pain the Dragon King's Palace inflicted upon you, and to personally bring your sister out of that hell with dignity. I'll make sure every piece of cake she eats from now on is sweet."
At this moment, Mei Xinya's psychological defenses completely collapsed.
She looked at the man before her, a man who spoke the gentlest words with the most arrogant attitude.
Every word he uttered was like a poison tailor-made for her; she knew it would be deadly, yet she couldn't resist it.
"You really...saw her?" Mei Xinya's voice trembled slightly. "Was she really learning to make cakes?"
"She also said she'd make you strawberry-flavored food because she remembers you loved strawberries when you were little." Qin Xiao's voice was as soft as a feather. "She said that when you come back, she'll cook you a whole meal herself. Even though her cooking is really terrible these days."
These words instantly brought tears to Mei Xinya's eyes.
Her hand, which was holding the gun, slowly and limply fell to her sides.
Standing behind Qin Xiao, Leng Nan finally released her breath. Looking at Qin Xiao's back, an unprecedented mix of shock, admiration, and an indescribable emotion surged within her.
He...did it.
He really managed to get a top assassin to lay down his weapon with just a few words.
However, in the very instant that this brief peace arrived—
"Bang!"
A crisp gunshot pierced the night sky.
A cluster of sparks exploded on the concrete ground at Mei Xinya's feet, sending shards of stone flying.
The sudden turn of events left everyone stunned.
Mei Xinya's body seemed to be electrocuted, and her lowered arms instantly rose up. The killing intent that had just been extinguished reignited with a hundred times more ferocious force!
"trap!"
She let out a low, beast-like growl.
She was fooled!
All of Qin Xiao's previous words were just to lull her into a false sense of security and to create an opportunity for the ambushing snipers!
All those words about his sister, all those warm descriptions, were carefully woven lies!
Anger and the shame of betrayal instantly overwhelmed her last shred of reason.
She no longer pointed her gun at Qin Xiao.
Instead, she suddenly turned to look behind Qin Xiao at Leng Nan, the "bait" representing the military, who was wearing a black dress!
"You all must die!"
All of this happened in the blink of an eye.
Leng Nan's pupils suddenly contracted. Her instinct as a soldier made her want to dodge, but her body couldn't keep up with the speed of her opponent.
It's over.
The thought had just flashed through her mind.
A figure suddenly bumped into her.
The immense force sent her flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground.
In her unbalanced vision, all she saw was Qin Xiao with his arms outstretched, his back completely and seamlessly facing the dark muzzle of the gun.
"Bang!"
The second gunshot was muffled and chilling.
Time stood still at this moment.
Leng Nan fell to the ground, ignoring the pain. She looked up and saw a scene she would never forget.
Qin Xiao's body jolted violently, and his suit jacket was visibly stained with blood.
He turned his head and looked at Leng Nan lying on the ground.
His face showed no pain, but rather a helpless, bitter smile.
"Really..." His voice was soft, with a hint of teasing, "I thought I could get away unscathed."
Then, his body went limp and he fell straight forward.
"No--!"
A piercing scream finally erupted from Leng Nan's throat, tearing through the entire night sky.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com